Gossip: Man United to sell three first-team players
MOURINHO WANTS TO SELL JONES AND SMALLING
Now we might not agree with everything that Jose Mourinho has done during his time as Manchester United manager, but you really can’t fault this. We’re told by the Daily Mirror that Mourinho plans to revamp his central defence this summer by getting rid of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
It’s a story that surely comes off the back of Manchester United’s latest defeat, but you can see why they might want to upgrade those particular options. Jones and Smalling have played far too often, while Victor Lindelof has been a total disaster and Eric Bailly cannot keep fit.
So that’s two central defenders, a right-back, a central midfielder and a right-sided attacking midfielder needed this summer. And then United can challenge for the title?
ARSENAL AND LIVERPOOL WANT MEYER
Max Meyer is a little gem, and he’s a little gem that will be available on a free transfer this summer. The Schalke midfielder has failed to sign a new contract and made it pretty clear that he is off in the summer.
The Daily Star’s chief football writer Dave Woods reports that Arsenal and Liverpool are the two English clubs most interested in Meyer, who could agree a move with either already if he so wished. Woods also writes that Bayern Munich and Milan are both very keen. If Bayern want him, do Bayern get him?
HERRERA COULD LEAVE FOR MILAN
Interesting story from Italian media now, although we’re always suspicious of just how much you can trust Tuttosport.
Anyway, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. They reckon that Milan will bid £30m for Ander Herrera this summer, well aware that he has dropped down the pecking order at Manchester United.
The Mirror pass on this information and add that United will surely dig their heels in for more money, but it’s pretty clear that Mourinho wants at least one more central midfielder and Herrera is already struggling for starts.
ARSENAL VS CHELSEA VS MAN CITY FOR VAGNOMAN
Vagno, Vagnoman. I wanna be a Vagnoman.
Can’t say that we’ve heard of this kid, but The Sun say that Arsenal have joined Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich in tracking Hamburg’s 17-year-old defender Josha Vagnoman. He is valued at… wait for it… £2.66m.
Don’t want to pour cold water on the story, but this is one of those that is basically an everyday occurrence dressed up as important news. It is hardly surprising that Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City are ‘tracking’ a player The Sun calls a starlet. This is literally how scouting systems work.
AND THE REST
Gareth Bale’s agent says that the player does not want to leave Real Madrid… Manchester United will not be signing Arturo Vidal (again)… Dortmund want Michy Batshuayi on a permanent deal… Newcastle can sign goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for less than £4m in the summer.