Gossip: Man Utd in £97m battle for duo with Liverpool, Man City
Everyone wants Man Utd in their bidding war and Ryan Fraser is back in demand…
KOULIBALY SLOG
Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent has apparently had to inform Napoli that ‘Manchester United have joined the race for his signature’, which is an odd state of affairs.
Perhaps speaking to a club about signing a player they own is now deemed old hat in the transfer world, but maybe a cursory phone call from United?
Manchester City have been frontrunners for some time in what has felt like a marathon slog to land Koulibaly, but his agent Fali Ramadani had made sure the Serie A club are aware that United are in the chasing pack, reports Il Mattino (via the Mirror).
Despite their reported financial problems, Napoli are still holding out for £70million for Koulibaly: a figure that is said to have frustrated the Senegal international, who is worried he will be denied the opportunity to move on this summer by being priced out of a transfer. He may be right.
THIAGO INVITATION
Everyone is very keen to get United involved in transfer battles and negotiations; they’ve also ‘been invited’ to bid for Thiago Alcantara by Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga side are resigned to losing their star midfielder this summer, but don’t want him to leave for less than their £27million valuation.
ESPN sources claim Liverpool still lead the race for the 29-year-old, despite playing down their interest privately, but Bayern are keen to start a bidding war between the Premier League giants.
Liverpool’s interest will be piqued should Barcelona manage to lure Georginio Wijnaldum away from Anfield, with reports suggesting they may have to sell to buy in the summer.
But despite securing the £40million signing of Donny van de Beek, United could make a late bid, with the deeper lying midfield position still an area in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may feel he needs to strengthen.
FRASER FINALLY
Last summer – Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal: this summer – Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Ham. At least Ryan Fraser is back in demand.
Having been ousted by Eddie Howe and forced to train on his own in the latter stages of his Bournemouth career, suitors have been far more reticent than they were at this point last season.
But Alex Crook, talkSPORT’s ‘transfer guru’ claims the toy-throwing winger is now close to a move to Newcastle.
“Terms between Fraser and the club have been agreed. I think he was holding out just to see what other interest there was out there.
“My understanding is that he did hold talks with Crystal Palace and West Ham as well.”
