Gossip: Man Utd eye £52m midfielder, Liverpool forward to depart

Ian Watson

MAN UTD PREPARED TO PAY FOR ROMA STAR
There is good and bad news for Manchester United fans hoping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will significantly strengthen his side in January.

First, the bad. The Sunday Mirror says United’s hopes of landing Erling Haaland are being hampered by RB Leipzig. The Bundesliga club are said to have first refusal on RB Salzburg’s in-demand striker and to sign the 19-year-old – a ready-made replacement for Timo Werner – all they would have to cough up is around £25.7million to trigger some kind of agreement they have with their Austrian friends.

Consolation may come in the form of an Italy midfielder. Word from Il Messaggero suggests United are more than willing to pay the £52million it would take to prise Nicolo Zaniolo from Roma. The presence of PSG in the same report, however, suggests it could be a whisper started by Zaniolo’s representatives as they look to whip up some interest in the 20-year-old.

Solskjaer also reckons his primary target might not be available in January so he could use the loan market instead.

 

PREM PAIR EYE LIVERPOOL STRIKER
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are thinking along similar lines. And both clubs are hoping to borrow a Liverpool striker.

Rhian Brewster has failed to break into the Reds’ side this season, making only two starts in the Carabao Cup. Jurgen Klopp has revealed his willingness to do without the teenager of the second half of the campaign and the Sunday Mirror reckons Villa are the favourites to land the striker.

But they’ve got competition. Palace are also sniffing, as are Leeds and Swansea.

 

DORTMUND CHIRP UP FOR PARROTT
Troy Parrott is another young prodigy being lined up for a move. The Tottenham striker is being eyed by seemingly every big club on the continent.

The Sunday Express names Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus as interested parties in the 17-year-old, but Borussia Dortmund seem to be at the front of the queue for the Republic of Ireland forward.

There were whispers on Saturday that Dortmund could make Mauricio Pochettino an offer to become their new coach, which would inevitably reinforce those links with Parrott.

 

AND THE REST
Raheem Sterling is waiting on Pep Guardiola’s plans before committing to a new £450,000-a-week deal at Man City… Roberto Martinez put himself forward for the Tottenham job… AC Milan remain committed to re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic… Arsenal and Inter Milan are fighting for Flamengo’s 17-year-old attacking midfielder Reinier Jesus… Galatasaray want Mario Balotelli… Newcastle have put Ki Sung-yueng up for sale, while Steve Bruce wants to sign Jarrod Bowen from Hull… Aston Villa are eyeing Brentford winger Said Benrahma but Jack Grealish and John McGinn won’t be sold in January… Leeds want Burnley flop Matej Vydra.