Gossip: Man United target to cost £75m; Fred coming
SPURS NAME MASSIVE PRICE FOR TOBY
We know Manchester United need a centre-half, but do they need a centre-half enough to pay in the region of £75m for Toby Alderweireld, because that is the kind of figure Tottenham want for the Belgian, according to the Daily Mirror. They think he is as good as Virgil van Dijk, you see.
United will presumably point out that they can get Alderweireld for £22m next summer if he stays and refuses to sign a new contract, so surely a price closer to £50m makes more sense.
His replacement at Tottenham could be West Brom’s Ahmed Hegazi, were we to believe ESPN.
FRED THE RED VERY SOON INDEED
‘The MEN understands United expect to complete a deal for the 25-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of next month as they attempt to conclude the majority of their transfer business early in the window.’
It’s terribly written but the gist from the Manchester Evening News is clear: Fred is on his way. There follows a lot of conjecture about him being in England for a World Cup warm-up game next week so he might as well come for a medical, but the message is that this is a transfer that will be done and be done early.
SERI SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST TRANSFER
On Wednesday we brought you claims that Jean-Michael Seri could be Unai Emery’s first signing as Arsenal manager, but reports in France suggest that Chelsea are in fact leading the race for the Nice midfielder who – in all honesty – did not have the best of seasons.
Well we did say they need a new midfielder to play alongside N’Golo Kante.
AND THE REST
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan are both interested in signing West Brom striker Salomon Rondon…Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has been spotted with his agent Beppe Bozzo meeting Juventus sporting director…West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini wants to make Reims goalkeeper Edouard Mendy his first signing…Real Betis have joined fellow La Liga side Athletic Bilbao in the chase to sign Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino.