Gossip: Barca ‘not an option’ as Man Utd close in on €55m man

Joe Williams
Donny van de Beek Ajax Man Utd

Man Utd are favourites to sign an Ajax midfielder, while Man City are set for a ‘double whammy’ deal…

 

MAN UTD FAVOURITES FOR DUTCHMAN
Man Utd have moved to the front of the pack as they look to win the race for Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, according to reports.

The Dutchman has been linked with Barcelona, Man Utd, Spurs and Real Madrid in recent months. He’s emerged as one of the most valuable players in Holland and is the latest star to come through Ajax’s famed academy.

Reports on Saturday claimed that he was prioritising a move to the Nou Camp ahead of a move to England this summer. He’s reportedly asked his agent to hold off on transfer talks and to wait for a bid from Barca.

However, ESPN claim that Man Utd ‘are favourites to land’ Van de Beek with a move to Barcelona ‘not an option’ this summer. The 23-year-old was left out of Ajax’s pre-season friendly squad against Frankfurt on Saturday with Erik ten Hag admitting his absence was because of transfer developments.

Van de Beek, who has two years left on his contract with the Dutch club, is reportedly valued at around €55m by Ajax. Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar previously confirmed the Red Devils’ interest in Van de Beek.

 

MESSI ASSURANCES
Manchester City are ‘on the brink’ of signing Lionel Messi with Pep Guardiola set to extend his deal at the club in a ‘double whammy’ for the Premier League club, according to reports.

There were claims on Saturday that ongoing talks between Man City and Messi are ‘at an advanced stage’ ahead of a summer move. The Argentina international has been closely linked with a move to the Etihad after he submitted a shock transfer request earlier this week.

And now the Daily Mirror says that the arrival of Messi ‘will secure the future of boss Guardiola for another three years’ with new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman ‘already planning for life without Messi’. The Catalan giants are ‘hoping to agree a £250million players-plus-cash deal’ with interest also coming from Inter Milan, PSG and Juventus.

The report adds that Messi ‘wanted assurances from Guardiola that his former Barcelona boss would not be leaving Manchester at the end of the coming season’. Guardiola’s contract expires next summer but ‘Messi’s arrival will seal the deal’ as City look to give him a new deal.

 

AND THE REST…
Senior figures at Barcelona expect Messi to join Manchester City…Inter Milan have told Tottenham they are interested in signing Tanguy Ndombele…Aston Villa want to bring back back Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham to Villa Park following a successful loan spell in 2018-19…Aston Villa are also preparing a £10m offer for Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez…Newcastle have emerged as favourites to sign Arsenal defender Rob Holding…Newcastle have also been linked with Porto striker Moussa Marega.