Gossip: Man Utd ‘on the lookout’ for £55m forward; huge Chelsea boost
Man Utd continue to monitor a Barcelona star, while Chelsea have received a boost in their pursuit of a midfielder…
MAN UTD STILL THERE…
Man Utd are still keen on signing Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele after missing out in the summer, according to reports.
Dembele was linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer as a £55m alternative for Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho. Rumours intensified on deadline day as Dembele missed training with his teammates. But neither transfer materialised after Dembele decided he wanted to remain in Spain and Dortmund rejected all offers for Sancho.
Previous reports have claimed that Barcelona were angered by Dembele’s actions as they wanted to sell him to make up transfer funds. Barca officials aimed to sell the Frenchman to free up money for their pursuit of Lyon’s Memphis Depay. However, Dembele apparently refused to leave the club as he aimed to force his way back into the first team.
But Catalan newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness) now claims that Man Utd are once again circling for the France international with the Premier League club ‘perfectly informed’ of his situation. The report adds that they are ‘on the lookout’ over the possiblity of wrapping a deal up.
The publication also mentions Chelsea, Juventus and Bayern Munich as being interested with Man Utd expected to make a move for Dembele in the coming months or wait to see if they can get him for free when his contract expires next year.
RICE RICE BABY
Chelsea have been given a huge transfer boost with reports that West Ham are willing to sell Declan Rice for £50m this summer.
The England international has consistently been linked with a move away from West Ham in the last 12 months with both Chelsea and Manchester United rumoured to be interested. Rice came through the Chelsea academy alongside the likes of Mason Mount before completing a move to the Hammers in 2015.
Man Utd are thought to be keen on Rice as a long-term successor to Nemanja Matic at the base of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield. A report in 90min confirms that Manchester City, Liverpool and United have all joined Chelsea in the race to sign Rice.
It is understood that Rice’s value ‘could drop to around £50m ahead of the summer transfer window due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic’ after West Ham had been valuing him at £80m. Chelsea are thought to ‘see Rice as a long-term answer to their problems at centre-back’ but the 22-year-old would rather remain in midfield, which is something Man Utd and Liverpool are willing to offer.
However, the report adds that Rice is still ‘open to the idea’ of a move to Chelsea with his father Sean – who is a season ticket holder at Stamford Bridge – now in charge of his affairs.
AND THE REST…
Liverpool are to prioritise a new deal for Virgil van Dijk before considering talks over a fresh contract for Mohamed Salah…Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will delay a decision over his future at the club until the end of the season as the Old Trafford club challenge for the title…Arsenal are weighing up a move for Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand…France centre-back Raphael Varane wants to leave Real Madrid…Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has played down suggestions the club will make a move to sign Danny Ings.