The winter transfer window is closed, but now it’s time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around following the Jan. 31 deadline day.
TOP STORY: Real Madrid target Man City’s Sterling
La Liga leaders Real Madrid will do everything in the club’s power to snap up Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling in the wake of the club’s Champions League ban, The Sun reports.
The newspaper says Los Blancos had already been preparing a mammoth £180 million offer to land the 25-year-old’s services, but now firmly believe they will land their man following the recent revelations of City’s Champions League ban.
Sterling still has three years to run on his deal with City, who began talks over a new contract in November that would see the England international earn a staggering £450,000-per-week.
Ex-Liverpool man Sterling has previously hinted he would one day like to play abroad and the Madrid hierarchy see now as the ideal time to tempt the pacey attacker with a move to the Bernabeu, whilst Serie A side Juventus are said to be plotting an approach for City boss Pep Guardiola.
Sterling has struck 24 times in 40 appearances across all competitions for club and country this season.
LIVE BLOG
09.30 GMT: A storm is raging across Europe this weekend. Will be see any thunder and lightening in the transfer market today? Stick with us.
PAPER ROUND
Man United to sell Pogba back to Juventus
Those Paul Pogba rumours just won’t go away. After Friday’s confirmation from Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola that the France playmaker would be willing to return to Juventus, the Daily Mirror now reports that Manchester United had already made the decision to sell the player and are willing to accept £125m to part with their star asset.
If those reports are accurate then a deal may be closer that first thought, with La Gazzetta dello Sport suggesting the Old Lady are preparing a substantial £125m-plus-player offer that would see ex-Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey and Pogba’s compatriot Adrien Rabiot head to Old Trafford.
Both Ramsey and Rabiot joined Maurizio Sarri’s side just last year but have struggled to hold down regular spots in his starting XI and would add some much-needed depth to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad, while Pogba has endured an injury-hit campaign this season and has featured just eight times in all competitions
United have struggled heavily for creativity at times in Pogba’s absence, while Ramsey’s arrival would add some vital Premier League experience to the ranks, particularly as Nemanja Matic also continues to be linked with the Old Trafford exit door.
Man United set condition on Henderson sale
Manchester United are prepared to sell 22-year-old goalkeeper Dean Henderson to Sheffield United this summer but only on one condition, TEAMTalk reports.
The Blades’ loan star has produced a series of impressive performances between the sticks since initially moving to Bramall Lane at the beginning of last season, and the youngster’s efforts did not go unnoticed as the club returned to the Premier League for the first time since 2007.
Henderson’s contribution has again proved invaluable this campaign, with the talented shot-stopper recording nine Premier League clean sheets so far to help the Blades place Europe firmly in their sights.
Unsurprisingly, they are now desperate to snap up Henderson — already tipped to star for England at Euro 2020 — on a permanent deal, with Chelsea and even Paris Saint-Germain also said to be interested.
According to the report, the Red Devils are willing to sell Henderson, but only if a buy-back clause is inserted into the contract as they still see Henderson as the long-term successor to David De Gea.
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Tap-ins
– Amid reports that Manchester United are preparing a huge bid in their pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, manager Dean Smith has told the Birmingham Mail that he expects the Midlands club’s hierarchy to go all out in their attempts to keep hold of the impressive midfielder.
– Newcastle United boss is keen to add more “hungry” talent to his squad following the loan signings of Tottenham left-back Danny Rose, Inter Milan winger Valentino Lazaro, and Schalke’s Nabil Bentaleb. “We want hungry players. One of the better players this season has been Jetro [Willems] on loan and he had a point to prove.”The problem we have, if they do well, is keeping them,” Bruce told the Chronicle.