TRANSFER NEWS

​📌 Barcelona have offered £56.9m plus two players for @Inter forward Lautaro Martinez according to reports in Spain.

📌 Liverpool are reportedly interested in Lazio forward Joaquin Correa, according to Italian outlet CalcioMercarto.

📌 Manchester United are yet to decide if they will allow England prospect Dean Henderson to extend his loan spell at Sheffield United.

📌 Leicester have had the door opened to sign Robin Gosens from Atalanta for £25m, according to 90Min.

📌 On-loan Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic discusses returning to training with @Milan, his friendship with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his work with the United Nations Refugee Agency.

📌 Thiago Alcantara has suggested Bayern Munich are keen to keep Philippe Coutinho at the Allianz Arena next season.

📌 Chelsea have received a boost in their pursuit of Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana and Fiorentina forward Federico Chiesa, report the London Evening Standard.



#TransferCentre

Man Utd delay Odion Ighalo transfer decision amid coronavirus confusion

Man Utd delay Odion Ighalo transfer decision amid coronavirus confusion

May 7, 2020 by Matt Maltby, https://www.mirror.co.uk/authors/matt-maltby/

Manchester United have had second thoughts over the permanent signing of Odion Ighalo and will wait to find out about the Premier League's future before making a decision.
The former Watford forward has scored four goals in eight games since joining on loan from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenua in January.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was expected to turn Igahlo's temporary deal into a permanent one this summer as he overhauls his squad.
But the uncertainty surrounding the future of the current Premier League season has forced United to put the brakes on a permanent move for Ighalo.
The Daily Mail reports that the coronavirus crisis, which has wreaked havoc all over the globe, has led United to delay their decision.
Manchester United have had second thoughts over the permanent signing of Odion Ighalo 
United, it is claimed, want to know when the Premier League campaign will resume before making a decision on Ighalo, who has racked up wages of £130,000 a week during the two months of lockdown.
And the return of Marcus Rashford has also given United a boost, as the striker's injury was one of the reasons United were forced to bring in Ighalo in January.
Therefore, the club will assess Rashford and Paul Pogba, who has also been out injured, before making a concrete decision.
Last month, Ighalo revealed he has yet to receive an off to extend his stay at Manchester United beyond the summer.
Ighalo and Bruno Fernandes have impressed after arriving at the club in January
He told ElegbeteTV : "There is no offer on the table yet because the season is still on and I’m yet to finish my loan deal. I don’t just take decisions alone in my life.
"I have a principle and I have a guideline for everything I do. I always pray to God to direct me.
"I have seen so many tweets about this. I have seen so many people going crazy, [saying] 'go back to China', some say stay with Man United.
"Have you seen me say a word? I don't have anything to say. When the season's finished and I get two offers from the two teams, then I will sit and think about it, pray about it and whatever God says I should do, I will go with that.
"I don't just sit down and take decisions, and I don't get carried away with whatever people say. I came to Manchester United to play for a pay cut because I wanted to.
"So anything could happen, but I want the season to finish and my loan to finish. Then I will see everything I have.

Man Utd put brakes on Jadon Sancho transfer due to coronavirus financial impact

Man Utd put brakes on Jadon Sancho transfer due to coronavirus financial impact

May 6, 2020 by John Cross, https://www.facebook.com/johncrossmirror/

Manchester United might wait another 12 months before signing No1 transfer target Jadon Sancho.
Borussia Dortmund are under no financial pressure to sell Sancho this summer and will refuse to lower their asking price because of the financial impact of the coronavirus.
United are huge admirers of England star Sancho and have been working on a deal for months to the point that they believed it would definitely happen this summer.
However, United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has already warned publicly that huge transfers would be ignoring the “realities that face the sport.”
Dortmund want in excess of £100m for Sancho who is regarded as one of Europe’s top prospects but United clearly have concerns about spending that level of money not just from a financial point of view but how it would be viewed by society.
Sancho has been back in training at Dortmund ahead of the Bundesliga returning
That has left Dortmund beginning to think 20-year-old Sancho may yet stay for another year until 2021 and have already begun planning along those lines.
Dortmund have made no secret that they will be ready to sell him in the future as they have made a successful business model on buying young talent and then cashing in when the time is right.
But they are also very happy for him to stay and would not suddenly begin to entertain lower bids so it would be up to United to meet their price or potentially have to wait a year.
Sancho may stay at Dortmund for another season 
United are determined to strengthen their squad and see Sancho as the perfect signing and have already moved well ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool who would have similar financial concerns.
There has been interest from Spain but United are firm favourites - but the coronavirus situation may mean the deal is delayed.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's transfer budget is set to be affected (Image: PA)
United have earned huge praise for the way they have conducted themselves, helping the local community, supporting staff and captain Harry Maguire has been at the forefront of the Players Together initiative.
They have been acutely aware of the crisis and some clubs are concerned about what sort of message it would send to spend hundreds of millions - even if they have it.

HOT GOSSIP

​

📌 Lyon striker Moussa Dembele would find it hard to reject a move to Manchester United this summer, report the Manchester Evening News.

📌 Kepa Arrizabalaga has underlined his commitment to Chelsea and insists his relationship with manager Frank Lampard is healthy.

📌 Gareth Bale has declared he would be interested in joining the MLS at some point in his career.

📌 Chelsea winger Willian has revealed he keeps in contact with Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho, paving the way for a possible summer reunion.

📌 Barcelona head coach Quique Setien has labelled Lautaro Martinez a "great footballer" and believes the chance to play alongside Lionel Messi is a huge incentive for the @Inter striker.

📌 Chelsea are ready to sell Michy Batshuayi this summer with West Ham keen on his signature, according to Belgian outlet HLN.

📌 A report from Football Insider states that Ryan Fraser has set his sights on joining Tottenham this summer.

📌 Liverpool have made contact with Napoli over long-time Manchester United transfer target Kalidou Koulibaly, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

📌 Manchester United want Ajax starlet Donny van de Beek to replace Paul Pogba if he leaves Old Trafford, accoridng to the Daily Mail.

📌 Bayern Munich remain determined to sign Leroy Sane from Manchester City this summer despite the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Sky Germany.

📌 Bayern Munich are the latest top club who are considering a move for Hearts' 17-year-old starlet Aaron Hickey. (Daily Record)

📌 Dayot Upamecano is set to sign a new contract at RB Leipzig - ending the two Manchester clubs' hopes of landing him this summer.

📌 @Arsenal have joined @Milan in pursuit of Real Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir, reports Marca.

📌 Barcelona will not sanction the sale of Philippe Coutinho for anything less than €100million (£87m), reports Mundo Deportivo.

📌 Bayern Munich have entered the race to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, claims Eldesmarque.

📌 Talks between Manchester City and Barcelona over a swap deal involving Joao Cancelo and Nelson Semedo are at an advanced stage, reports Mundo Deportivo.

📌 Fernandinho has told Sky Sports he would be open to holding talks over a contract extension at Manchester City.

📌 @Arsenal are interested in signing Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, according to reports in the Daily Express.

📌 Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is one of the leading candidates to become Pep Guardiola's new assistant at Manchester City, says the Mail.

📌 Chelsea have been boosted in their pursuit of Dries Mertens after it emerged the Napoli forward is interested in a move to London.

📌 Manchester United will offer Jadon Sancho their iconic No. 7 shirt in a bid to convince him to join the club from Borussia Dortmund, according to the Daily Mirror.

📌 Timo Werner has ruled out joining another club in Germany next, opening to door further to a move to Liverpool, reports Bild.

#TransferCentre

Kevin De Bruyne says he could quit Man City if

Kevin De Bruyne says he could quit Man City if Champions League ban is upheld

Kevin De Bruyne has hinted that he could quit Manchester City if the club's Champions League ban is upheld.
The Belgian international insists that his future at the Etihad will NOT be shaped by whether Pep Guardiola decides to sign a new contract to stay at the club.


But he has revealed his concern over UEFA's decision to ban the Blues from Europe for two seasons for breaking FFP regulations.
And De Bruyne has admitted for the first time that it might have a bearing on where he will spend the peak years of his career.
De Bruyne said: “I'm just waiting. The club has told us that they are going to appeal - and that they are almost 100 percent sure that they are right.

“That's why I'm waiting to see what will happen. I trust my team.
De Bruyne says he may quit City (Image: Getty Images)
De Bruyne, talking on a video call with Belgian publication HLN, was asked about whether Guardiola's plans would affect his future.
The Catalan is out of contract in the summer of 2021, but the midfielder replied: “Not particularly.
The Belgian thinks Guardiola will stay at the club (Image: PA)
“Then his contract ends. But I'm not going to let my decision depend on what Pep is doing.
“Of course I have already worked with other trainers and when Pep leaves, I have to continue working with someone else.
“But I haven't really paid much attention to that for the time being.
“There are more important things at the moment.”
There will be no shortage of takers should De Bruyne decide to leave Manchester if City's ban is confirmed when the Court of Arbitration for Sport hears their appeal.


by Simon Mullock, https://www.mirror.co.uk/authors/simon-mullock/

THESE PLAYERS WILL GO AS FREE AGENTS

Premier League players whose contracts expire on June 30 can walk away from their clubs even if the 2019/20 season has not resumed by then, a leading UK sports lawyer has warned. A few of those players will likely come up in our takeover.

So who are the 57 Premier League players that could be faced with this dilemma? Sky Sports News has built this conclusive list and has attempted to find out what the future may hold for each player...

HEADLINES FOR TODAY

​📌 Borussia Dortmund are “totally relaxed” about Jadon Sancho's future amid reported interest from Manchester United, according to sporting director Michel Zorc.

📌 Wilfred Ndidi insists he is happy at Leicester amid reported interest from Manchester United and @Arsenal.

📌 Tottenham, Everton and Southampton are among a host of clubs who have sent scouts to watch Strasbourg defender Mohamed Simakan, according to RMC Sport.

📌 Manchester United are reluctant to break the £89million fee they paid for Paul Pogba, according to the London Evening Standard, despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's determination to complete his squad overhaul this summer.

📌 Manuel Neuer has been urged to sign a new contract at Bayern Munich by honorary president Uli Hoeness.

📌 Tottenham are among a group of three clubs that submitted an offer for Barcelona midfielder Arthur, reports Catalunya Radio.

📌 Bayern Munich are preparing to snatch another Celtic starlet with Barry Hepburn set to head for Germany, according to the Scottish Sun.

📌 @Milan are keen on signing Luka Jovic this summer as a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to reports in Italy.

📌 Watford have reportedly joined the race to sign @Inter full-back Kwadwo Asamoah, who has fallen out of favour at the San Siro.

📌 @Arsenal have jumped ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign the Chelsea winger Willian on a free transfer this summer, according to ESPN.

📌 Newcastle have opened talks with Napoli over defender Kalidou Koulibaly and also want to sign PSG striker Edinson Cavani and Real Betis forward Nabil Fekir, according to Foot Mercato in France.

📌 Newcastle could make a move for Philippe Coutinho if they are taken over, according to Mundo Deportivo.

📌 Manchester City are keen to boost their defensive depth by signing Juventus centre-half Leonardo Bonucci, according to Goal.com.

📌 Chelsea are keeping a close eye on the highly-rated Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz, according to The Athletic.

📌 Chelsea came close to signing Neymar three years before he left Santos for Barcelona, according to one of the now PSG star's former agents (The Sun)

📌 Liverpool are closing on an unlikely financial boost as Juventus want to sign Luis Alberto, who the Anfield club included a 30 per cent sell-on fee on when they sold him to Lazio in 2016 (Daily Express)

📌 Bukayo Saka left @Arsenal fans scratching their heads when he posted a cryptic social media video amid speculation Borussia Dortmund are plotting a move for the left-back (Daily Mirror)

📌 Tottenham have joined the race to sign Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic after he admitted he is considering his future at the club, according to Mundo Deportivo.

📌 Liverpool have stepped up their bid to sign Kylian Mbappe with Jurgen Klopp reportedly contacting the PSG forward’s father in a bid to bring him to Anfield, according to Le10sport.

📌 Everton transfer chief Marcel Brands is teeing up Dutch AZ Alkmaar star Teun Koopmeiners for a £12m swoop, according to The Sun On Sunday.

📌 @Inter have emerged as frontrunners to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with @Arsenal ready to sell this summer after pulling the plug on contract talks with the striker, according to the Sunday Express.

📌 Jose Mourinho is interested in signing right-back Thomas Meunier on a free transfer but will have to convince chairman Daniel Levy to relax his desire to bring down the average age of the Tottenham squad. (Sunday Telegraph)

#TransferCentre

WAS UNITED A MISTAKE?

Paul Pogba "told off" by ex-Juventus star Claudio Marchisio for Man Utd transfer mistake
Paul Pogba was "told off" by former Juventus teammate Claudio Marchisio over his transfer to Man Utd, who claimed the Frenchman had made a mistake.

The pair featured in the same Juventus side during Pogba's spell at the club from 2012-2016, prior to his mega-money return to United.
His second stint at United has not gone as well as first hoped, and he has now been linked with a switch back to Juventus this summer.

And Marchisio has already been on Pogba's case about him returning to play for the Old Lady.
“Last year I met him at a private event and told him off, saying he got it wrong when deciding to go to Manchester and should’ve remained with the Bianconeri,” Marchisio told Sport Mediaset (via Football Italia ).
Pogba was told he had made a mistake by joining Man Utd (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
"Now things have changed a bit, the Juve midfield has changed, but I hope he returns, because it’d be good for both parties.
"He already knows Serie A, would increase the quality in a squad that is formidable anyway."

United are still keen on holding onto Pogba's services and are hoping their mini-revival following the signing of Bruno Fernandes will convince the midfielder to stay put.
But former United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Pogba may be better off plying his trade outside of England.
"If I’m him and I’ve been treated the way he has with the media etc I’d be saying, 'You know what I don’t need this in my life," Ferdinand said.

"I think it’s unfair some of the criticism he gets and some of that is based on social media presence which I think is ridiculous.
"Some players in my era did far worse things that would influence the dressing room but it got swept under the carpet. I don’t get it.
"He’s a player, he lives and breathes football, social media goes before him a lot of the time I believe

WHO SIGNS SANCHO

Manchester United 'ready to cash in on Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard' to raise funds for Jadon Sancho deal after Ed Woodward rules out big money moves

Manchester United may sell Paul Pogba to raise funds for a Jadon Sancho deal
Jesse Lingard, Marcos Rojo, and Andreas Pereira could all be sold as well
United chief Ed Woodward has ruled out big money moves in the summer

Manchester United are prepared to listen to bids for Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard this summer in order to raise funds for transfer target Jadon Sancho, according to The Sun.
United chief Ed Woodward has warned that the purse strings will be tight in the coming transfer window due to the financial uncertainty the coronavirus pandemic has brought.
With Sancho valued at £100million by Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United may be forced into a clear out if they want to get their man.

Manchester United are willing to cash in on Paul Pogba this summer in order to raise funds
Jadon Sancho is a high priority target, but United finances are tight due to the coronavirus
Luckily for Manchester United, it appears Juventus are ready to pull out all the stops to bring Pogba back to Serie A.

The Italian champions are reportedly willing to offer players as part of a deal, with Aaron Ramsey, Miralem Pjanic, and Adrien Rabiot all being mentioned.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did spend £47million on Bruno Fernandes in January, which might give United chiefs pause ahead of spending even more cash this year.
Jesse Lingard, Marcos Rojo, and Andreas Pereira could also be sold to fund a deal for Sancho
Pogba has long been looking for an exit route from Old Trafford, while Lingard has fallen down the pecking order in Solskjaer's plans.
The Sun claims Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, and Andreas Pereira are all potential players who could also be sold to fund a move.

Sancho has made a tremendous impact this season for Dortmund, as evidenced by his return of 17 goals and 19 assists in 35 appearances.
His current contract at Dortmund is set to run until the summer of 2022, but there remains much speculation regarding his future.
After starting out at Watford and then moving to Manchester City as a youth player, Sancho joined Dortmund in 2017 in a move that has worked out extremely well.

HOT NEWS

​📌 Chelsea intend to take up their option to extend Olivier Giroud's contract by a year to prevent him becoming a free agent in the summer.

📌 Hakim Ziyech says he will be a Chelsea player as planned on July 1 and is not concerned his move could be impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

📌 Barcelona are set to test Manchester United's position on Diogo Dalot after a strong assessment of the right-back, according to Sport.

📌 Alexis Sanchez is facing a footballing limbo with neither @Inter nor Manchester United wanting him, The Sun reports.

📌 Everton are reportedly considering a stunning bid to bring Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho to Goodison Park, according to the Daily Mirror.

📌 Barcelona want to sign Tanguy Ndombele and have offered players to Tottenham in the hope of striking a part-exchange deal.

📌 Kepa Arrizabalaga could get another season to try to impress Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard following the coronavirus crisis. (Daily Telegraph)

📌 Saudi Arabian investors were reportedly interested in buying Manchester United before turning their intentions to Newcastle. (Daily Star)

📌 @Arsenal’s Premier League and European rivals believe the club will be forced to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the next transfer window. (Daily Telegraph)

📌 Aubameyang’s father has appeared to back calls from @Arsenal fans for his son to extend his contract with the club beyond next summer. (Daily Star)

📌 Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has been told to stop waiting and make his move for Paul Pogba this summer. (Daily Mirror)

📌 Juventus are considering a summer bid for Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik, according to reports in Italy.

📌 Arsenal face competition from Sevilla in the race to sign Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu.

📌 Zlatan Ibrahimovic has kept alive the possibility, if only slightly, of playing for Swedish club Hammarby if and when their season starts after the coronavirus pandemic. The 38-year-old striker, who joined @Milan in December, is training with the club in which he bought a stake last year while the Serie A season remains suspended.

📌 Real Madrid accept it will not be possible to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe this summer, reports L’Equipe.

📌 Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is not among Manchester United’s main transfer target, reports the Manchester Evening News.

📌 Willian has held conversations with Liverpool over a potential move from Chelsea, reports Sport.

📌 Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring Wolves winger Adama Traore, according to the Daily Express.

📌 Tottenham defender Serge Aurier is drawing interest from Milan, according to Calciomercato.

📌 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer intends to deploy Jack Grealish on the right wing if the Aston Villa captain moves to Manchester United when the transfer window re-opens, according to The Athletic.

📌 Manchester City are considering a summer move for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, reports Don Balon.

📌 Manchester United remain determined to sell Paul Pogba when the transfer window re-opens, reports the Daily Star.

📌 RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner is ready to sign for Liverpool if they pay his £52m release clause before it expires on June 15.

# Sports Digest