teamtalk.com | L United Kingdom

Sancho tells agent to get Man Utd transfer 'done' as revised price tag emerges - Teamtalk.com

Jadon Sancho has apparently told his agent to get his dream move to Manchester United done and is confident it will be wrapped up before the Monday deadline.

Jadon Sancho has apparently told his agent to get his dream move to Manchester United done and is confident it will be wrapped up before the Monday deadline. On Tuesday, United submitted a bid for Sancho worth up to £91.3m, which was rejected by Borussia Dortmund. Sky Sports claim the offer was for an initial £73m, rising to £91.3m. However, that fell short of Dortmunds £108m valuation, which they publicly sticking to. Dortmund have insisted that Sancho will not be sold this summerafter United missed the August 10 deadline imposed by the Bundesliga club. Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said last month: Jadon Sancho will play with us next season. The decision is final. The Scottish Sun report that Dortmund want a minimum of £80m up front, plus add-ons. But sources suggest Dortmund may be willing to accept £15m in added-on clauses, taking the deal to a revised £95m. Whatever the price, the 20-year-old wants his top advisors to “pull out all the stops” to secure his move to Old Trafford. The paper claims Dortmund are privately resigned to losing the player and cite a source, saying: “He wants this deal done. “He’s told his agent and various advisors to do all they can to make it happen. “They are pushing for him.” Ed Woodward and the United board are frantically looking for a wide attacker and have a list of other targets should they not complete a move for Sancho. Sancho was left out of the Dortmund squad for the German Super Cup clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday.  The Bundesliga club cited a respiratory infection, but the England international has tested negative for Covid-19. Chiesa enquiry rebuffed Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph report that United had a loan enquiry turned down for Italy winger Federico Chiesa. Fiorentina were not willing to consider a loan for the 22-year-old Chiesa, who is rated around the £45m mark. Juventus are said to be keen on the attacker, who will not be arriving at Old Trafford. Its understood that United are talking to Barcelona over a move for Ousmane Dembele, A renewed offer for Sancho though has not been ruled out and the paper say the deal is not dead. Sky Sports also suggest that Solskjaer and Ed Woodward are considering an improved offer for Sancho. READ MORE…

Former Tottenham star says Dele Alli should 'not hesitate' in joining Arsenal - Teamtalk.com

Tottenham star Dele Alli needs a "fresh challenge" and Arsenal could be the place for him, according to one former Spurs star.

Tottenham star Dele Alli needs a “fresh challenge” and Arsenal could be the place for him, according to one former Spurs star. Alli has been left out of Tottenham’s squad for the last two Premier League games, and has been linked with PSG and Inter Milan in recent weeks. And Darren Bent admits he would completely understand if the England midfielder wanted to quit Spurs. The 24-year-old has scored 62 goals in 224 appearances for the club since joining from MK Dons in 2015. But Bent thinks Alli is too good to just be restricted to cup outings. Stating that he should look for a move elsewhere. “For players at times, hes been at Tottenham for a while now, and I think maybe hes a product of a process where hes been at Spurs, theyve got to the Champions League final, but other than that, theres been a couple of top-four finishes,” Bent told talkSPORT. “I think any player comes to a point where they need a fresh challenge. “I think for Dele Alli, Mourinho has come in, theyve clashed, and I think hes thinking, I need a new challenge here and I think he deserves that. “Hes not going to be happy playing Carabao Cup games. Because they play Chelsea in the week and if they get beat thats no more Carabao Cup. “So are we saying we wont see him in the Premier League for weeks and weeks? “We cant wait until the FA Cup. So if Im Dele Alli Im looking at an option to get out of there.” When asked if a move to bitter north London rivals Arsenal would be good for Alli, Bent replied: “100 per cent. I wouldnt even hesitate.” FULHAM MAKE MOVE FOR SPURS STAR Fulham have reportedly entered the race for unsettled Tottenham defender Juan Foyth. Scott Parker wants to sign a defensive reinforcement before the deadline, after top target Marlon failed a medical. The Cottagers were keen on Sassuolos Marlon, but the Brazilian has failed a medical, according to The Athletics David Ornstein. The former Barcelona defender had been on the verge of a £13m move, but that has now fallen through. Therefore, Fulham are now having to look elsewhere for a defensive reinforcement. And Ornstein claims the answer could come from a London rival. The player in question is Juan Foyth. The Argentine defender has fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho, and is looking to leave Spurs before deadline day. Read more…

Wolves eye Liverpool raid for electric midfielder facing game-time crisis - Teamtalk.com

Wolves are keen on pushing through a second raid on Liverpool, this time for midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to a report.

Wolves are keen on pushing through a second raid on Liverpool, this time for midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to a report. The two clubs have already conducted business with one another this transfer window. Young defender Ki-Jana Hoever moved to Molineux on Friday, before Diogo Jota went the other way on Saturday. Both Nuno Espirito Santo and Jurgen Klopp have made key acquisitions; Hoever will go some way to replacing Matt Doherty at right-wing back, while Jota will provide crucial support to Liverpool’s front three. However, according to the Sunday Mirror, Wolves are keen to do more business with the Anfield club. The newspaper claims Nuno’s side want to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain, who could fall down Klopp’s pecking order this season. The England international has previously struggled for game time in Liverpool’s midfield, Klopp’s strongest area. However, Thiago Alcantara’s arrival could see his pitch minutes diminish further, the report claims. The Reds confirmed the arrival of former Bayern Munich star Thiago on Friday. Oxlade-Chamberlain made 30 Premier League appearances in all competitions last season but rarely completed 90 minutes. Indeed, he was often a substitute or brought on to make an impact with his energy. The 27-year-old can provide a crucial boost to Liverpool with his forward runs and willingness to run at the opposition. However, the Sunday Mirror says Thiago’s arrival makes Oxlade-Chamberlain’s hopes of game time unclear. As such, Wolves are reportedly looking to take advantage of the situation with a swoop for the ex-Arsenal star. The newspaper adds that Liverpool will look to earn as much of the £35million they paid the Gunners for his signing in 2017. Thiago’s arrival means Liverpool have the Spaniard, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner all competing for game time in midfield. Curtis Jones, 19, could also rival the more established first-team players for game time. Klopp stressed on Friday that Thiago’s arrival would not impact any member of his squad in a “negative way”. Indeed, the Reds boss likes to rotate in midfield to maintain high energy levels and his side’s penchant for pressing. READ MORE: Liverpool learn fee as journalist claims approach for Bundesliga defender

Gareth Bale 'willing to make' Man Utd loan - but rivals storm into lead - Teamtalk.com

Manchester United face the prospect of missing out on Gareth Bale, despite reports suggesting the winger is willing to move to Old Trafford on loan.

Manchester United face the prospect of missing out on Gareth Bale, despite reports suggesting the winger is willing to move to Old Trafford on loan. Bale has fallen down the pecking order in the past couple of years at Real Madrid. The Wales winger has spoken out about his frustration at being frozen out of the team and denied the chance to leave. The former Tottenham star was close to leaving the club for China in 2019, but that deal fell through. Now, a return to the Premier League could be on the cards. Reports emerged recently suggesting Man Utd had reignited their interest in Bale. The Red Devils rivalled Madrid for his signature back in 2013, before his then-record move to the Bernabeu. However, if he is to leave Madrid before the window closes, it could be for a vastly-reduced fee. According to Mundo Deportivo, Real are willing to sell Bale for just £18m. Thats because they are desperate to get his £15m-per-season wages off the books. Furthermore, The Times reports Bale would also consider a loan move to United if that were to improve his prospects of a move. They state Bale is that desperate to leave Madrid he will take any means necessary to secure a move away. United, on their part, appear in no hurry to tie up the prospective deal. With the window open until October 5, United will leave it as long as possible to secure top target Jadon Sancho. Those hopes, however, appear to be fading by the day. A lesser-heard Borussia Dortmund official further dampened United’s chances when questioned about the player. United’s delay in making a decision over Bale has, it would appeal, allowed Tottenham to move to the front of the queue. According to ESPN, Jose Mourinho and Daniel Levy have already held talks about the prospect of bringing the 31-year-old back to the club. They claim the chance to re-sign the star they sold for over £85m back in 2013 ‘hugely interests’ the club. The £18m asking price is also said to be not pose a problem. The issue for Spurs, however, remains Bale’s wages. Real are said to be willing to pay 50% of his £600,000 a week deal. However, the £1.2m a month cost that remains still represents a sticking point. Indeed, their current top earner, Harry Kane, is thought to earn £200,000 a week. However, the club are desperate to sign a left-sided attacker. Furthermore, they also need a morale-boost after Sunday’s miserable 1-0 home defeat to Everton. As such, it’s believed Tottenham will explore all angles to try and pull off his signature. And their hunger to secure his signing could prove the difference and help them beat United to the punch.

Bild accuse Thiago Alcantara of 'lying' amid major Liverpool transfer update - Teamtalk.com

German paper Bild are adamant Thiago Alcantara will be joining Liverpool this transfer window and have accused the player of covering up the truth over his future.

German paper Bild are adamant Thiago Alcantara will be joining Liverpool this transfer window and have accused the player of covering up the truth over his future. Spanish midfielder Thiago was one of the key players in Bayerns victorious Champions League campaign. However, with just one year left on his contract, the club arent optimistic about keeping him. Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Thiago, especially if Georginio Wijnaldum moves to Barcelona. Some reports suggest that Manchester United want to hijack Liverpools move. However, the 29-year-old apparently prefers a switch to Anfield for two reasons. Those Liverpool hopes have grown over the weekend. As per the Daily Express, they claim the midfielder is in the advanced stages of talks over the move to Liverpool. However, Thiago himself has done his best to distance himself from claims he wants to quit Bayern. In fact, the midfielder’s latest comments would suggest he’s irked at speculation he wants to leave the Allianz Arena. I have not said at any time that I am leaving. Every year you put me in a different team,” he said. I am on the sidelines, my future is Sunday’s game right now. I neither care nor am I interested in what I know I talked. However, that denial has prompted an article from Bild entitled, ‘Why is Thiago lying?’. In the article, translated by Sport Witness, they state Thiago caused ‘astonishment’ in the German media with his statement. The surprise comes after the German paper state the player has already made it clear he will be leaving Bayern. They state his luxury Villa in Grunwald has long been for sale. In addition, Bild claim the player has already said his goodbyes to his Bayern teammates. Furthermore, Bild are adamant the player will emerge from this transfer window as a Liverpool player. The article even brands Liverpool the ‘hottest favourites yet’ to sign the classy midfielder. However, they do offer two solid reasons as to why Thiago has tried to distance himself from the rumours. Bild believes the fact Jurgen Klopp’s side are yet to table an official bid are likely to be behind the player’s denials. Furthermore, the longer the saga goes on, the more pressure Bayern will find themselves under the sell Thiago. Their asking price is believed to currently stand at 30m (£27m). However, the nearer the end of the window it gets, the more pressure Bayern will be under to sanction the deal. That could yet work in Liverpool’s favour. And especially given the Reds will likely have to sell before they can buy. Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, is excited to see what Thiago can bring to the Liverpool side. The Bayern star is reported to be in advanced talks as a move from Bayern Munich nears. Speaking in a Daily Telegraph Q&A, Carragher hailed what he would bring to Liverpools midfield. He has come through the Barcelona school. The Liverpool midfielders all do a brilliant job but are similar. Thiago can control the game more and add a bit extra in midfield technically, Carragher said. Carragher also believes, but for the coronavirus, Liverpool would have signed Timo Werner. He added: It is just whether the same team can do it again without reinforcements. I think there would have been new faces but for Covid-19. Liverpool, I think, would have signed Timo Werner if the situation was not as it is. I just hope they can get the Thiago Alcantara deal over the line. I think you trust Liverpool on transfers now. They are masters of the transfer market in terms of getting players for good fees and receiving big fees for their players. It may be a game being played with Thiago at the moment. It looks like someone they want, and they are playing the long game. He would be a good signing. But if he does come in, I think it will be towards the end of the transfer window and Liverpool trying to get him as cheap as possible. Read more here.

Gareth Bale departure from Real Madrid hit by £30m wage snag - Teamtalk.com

Gareth Bale's exit from Real Madrid looks set to be held up further due to the Spanish giants refusing to pay the the final two years of his salary.

Gareth Bale’s exit from Real Madrid looks set to be held up further due to the Spanish giants refusing to pay the the final two years of his salary. Bale’s £15.1m per year deal means the pay-off would hit a sizable £30.2m. And Real claim they are not willing to do a deal with the Welshman. Right now, it seems an impasse has been reached. While Spanish outlet Marca suggest Bale’s representatives have set up a meeting, Sportsmail say nothing is in place. The saga is a long-running one. Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane seems to have lost faith in the player. That is shown by Bale seeing just 100 minutes of action in Real’s final 11 games. As the friction grew, Bale opted not to travel to the Champions League last-16 leg against Manchester City. Marca report that Real now want to meet with Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett to test his commitment to the club. However, Barnett is understood not to want to instigate a meeting. He insists the player will see out his contract. The chances of that could have been improved by James Rodriguez looking set to complete a move to Everton. Bale is now on international duty with Wales. But national coach Ryan Giggs says he can’t shed more light on his star winger’s situation. “I haven’t spoken to Zidane,” said Giggs. “My French and Spanish isn’t too good. That’s my way out of that one. “I know Zidane’s English isn’t very good from experience. I’m just monitoring the situation. When Gareth gets on camp I will speak to him like I always do. “I’ve always said to him if he wants to speak then I’ll listen and be more than happy to help him. “He’s experienced and professional enough to look after himself. But I’m there if he ever needs to speak.” If Bale does depart, his next move remains open to debate. Ahead of last season, he was on the verge of a switch to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning but the move collapsed. Previous reports have linked him with a return to Tottenham. However, it appears that no current bids are on the table.

Swap deal an option as Man Utd learn price of Sancho alternative Brooks - Teamtalk.com

Manchester United have learnt the price Bournemouth are seeking for David Brooks this summer - and it's likely to tempt an approach, claim reports.

Manchester United have learnt the price Bournemouth are seeking for David Brooks this summer – and it’s likely to tempt an approach, claim reports. Uniteds chase for Jadon Sancho has slowed in the past week, with Borussia Dortmund refusing to lower their valuation. The Bundesliga giants want £108million, with United yet to submit a bid despite agreeing personal terms with the England international. Our exclusive on Wednesday revealed that a deal was still a long way from completion. As such, United are considering viable alternatives. On Wednesday, the name of Brooks came to the forefront. The Wales winger has an army of admirers, despite his injury issues last season, where he missed all but nine matches. Nonetheless, he is a player that United greatly admire. The Warrington-born wideman is being tracked by Everton and Tottenham this summer. As the Cherries prepare for life back in the Championship, their Russian owner Maxim Demin is reported to have named his price. As per The Sun, Bournemouth will sell Brooks if any club matches their £40m asking price. It’s suggested the price will be enough to tempt United to make their move. The paper claims Solskjaer is more than keen to bring him to Old Trafford. They state the Wales winger is their No 1 pick should efforts for Sancho fail. In addition, they claim Solskjaer will seek the advice of Ryan Giggs, who has managed the player for Wales. However, talks with the Cherries or the players representatives have not yet begun. However, the idea has been floated that United could offer Daniel James on a season’s loan to help sway Bournemouth. Reports last month claimed the Red Devils could allow the winger to make a temporary move away James started brightly at Old Trafford but soon lost his way thereafter. Brooks, meanwhile, cost Bournemouth £11.5m from Sheffield United in the summer of 2018. He enjoyed a stellar debut season in the Premier League, scoring seven goals in 30 games. READ MORE: Man Utd on the road first but face delay to Premier League start Manchester United will reportedly offer goalkeeper Sergio Romero as part of negotiations for Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a major dilemma this summer with Dean Henderson returning to the club after an impressive two-year loan stint at Sheffield United. MEN Sport states that Henderson is determined to become the first-choice goalkeeper at Old Trafford. However, he will consider his options if he doesnt receive assurances over regular game time. Romero has impressed for United in the Europa League this season but lost his place for the semi-final defeat against Sevilla. Read more here…

EXCLUSIVE: Solskjaer warned of glaring chance to reel Liverpool in - Teamtalk.com

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a fantastic chance to close the gap on Liverpool by securing top signings this summer.

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a fantastic chance to close the gap on Liverpool by securing top signings this summer. United are keen to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, with the German side proving difficult negotiators. The Bundesliga giants are refusing to budge from their £108million valuation of the winger, with United feeling that fee is unrealistic. Nevertheless, Ferdinand believes the opportunity is about to knock for his former club as they aim to get back to winning ways. The former defender added that he believes Solskjaer is one of the few managers in world football working with a substantial budget in a summer impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. “The transfer window is open and not a lot is happening, which says it all about what is happening this summer,” Ferdinand told TEAMtalk. “The clubs are not going to be as frivolous as they were in the past, we can all see that. The situation we have all lived through in the last six months will affect what clubs can spend. But I still feel that one big transfer will lead to a few more around Europe. “The big clubs with the big revenues can still spend money. But it is the teams below them that will struggle to spend what they did before. That gives United, Chelsea and Man City a chance to close the gap on Liverpool if they get their signings right this summer.” Ferdinand added that Solskjaer is wrong to be criticised after his side bowed out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage on Sunday. Sevilla, the recent masters of the competition, dumped United out with a comeback win and the game was the third semi-final tie the Red Devils have lost this season. Yet United legend Ferdinand has said that despite the hat-trick of near misses – completed in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – Solskjaer can still hail this season as a success on a couple of levels. “The main target for Manchester United was a top-four finish in the Premier League and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got the tick in his box,” Ferdinand said. “His remit was to qualify for the Champions League and it doesn’t matter how many points they were behind Liverpool as he did what he was expected to do. The Europa League or the FA Cup were always going to a bonus. “The second big plus from this season is the way Ole has changed the dynamic around the club. It feels different than it did say a year ago. There is more positivity and the personalities are not overshadowing the team. “I like the tone Ole has taken from the start. He has always said he doesn’t want to sign players who are not willing to sign up to a team ethic. We always had big stars during my time at United, but first and foremost we were a team and that’s why we won so much. “The team comes first and he has hit a lot of the right notes, but they will not be far away when things go wrong again, which is inevitable in this game. “They have had disappointments this season, they are still a team that has a lot to improve on, but I have seen signs of progress from Manchester United and they have to build on that now going into next season.” Watch every UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League game exclusively live on BT Sport. Sign up contract-free with a BT Sport Monthly Pass for just £25 per month. For more info visit bt.com/sport

Arsenal face troubling £180,000 wage hurdle as Willian deal stalls - Teamtalk.com

Arsenal must shift Henrikh Mkhitaryan's £180,000 weekly wage off their expenditure list if they are to complete a deal for Willian, according to a report.

Arsenal must shift Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s £180,000 weekly wage off their expenditure list if they are to complete a deal for Willian, according to a report. The Gunners are keen on a deal for Chelsea winger Willian, whose contract in west London is expiring. Indeed, recent speculation suggests Arsenal will secure his signing this week. Willian has long had a contract dispute with Chelsea. However, Arsenal are willing to meet the Brazilian’s demand of a three-year deal and The Sun claims this gives the club a significant advantage over other sides, including Inter Milan, in the race. The newspaper adds, however, that Arsenal could struggle to follow through with their wish to pay Willian £130,000 per week. That is because they must first wipe Mkhitaryan’s wage off their bill in order to finance the move. Mkhitaryan is one of several players to have lofty salaries at Arsenal, with top earner Mesut Ozil earning £350,000 per week. Mkhitaryan moved to Roma on loan in September and does not feature in Mikel Arteta’s future plans. What’s more, he has previously revealed his desire to stay in Serie A. The Armenia international has struck an initial agreement to stay at Roma for the 2020/21 season. However, his future past that point is unclear. Reports in May suggested the Italian side want Arsenal to pay a chunk of Mkhitaryan’s wages in the event of a permanent deal in Serie A. Another concern for Arsenal is their growing reliance on influential agent Kia Joorabchian. The deal broker works with Gunners stars David Luiz and Cedric Soares and has been heavily involved with the club in recent months. Meanwhile, Arsenal have reportedly overtaken Manchester United in the hunt to sign Gabriel Magalhaes. The Lille defender is hot property after a strong spell with the French club in the last 18 months. Recent reports suggested United were close to a deal, but Chris Smalling’s return has allegedly cooled their interest. Read more…

Solskjaer briefs Ed Woodward on three new big-money Man Utd signings - Teamtalk.com

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reportedly told Ed Woodward that he wants three signings this summer.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reportedly told Ed Woodward that he wants three signings this summer. Having secured Champions League football for next term, the Norwegian now wants to build a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts. But the Red Devils chief knows the club will need to invest. And he is hoping that executive vice-chairman Woodward comes up trumps. A report in The Sun states that Jadon Sancho and Ben Chilwell are the top two targets, with a central midfielder also on Solskjaer’s radar. United have told Solskjaer that he will have a budget of around £140m to improve his squad. But that figure is unlikely to be enough to secure his preferred options. Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho remains the top priority, but the two clubs are still some way apart on a fee. The German giants still want in excess of £100m for the England man, while United have so far offered £89m. Chilwell is another player who will not come cheap, even though Leicester missed out on Champions League football. Foxes chief Brendan Rodgers insists that none of his best players will be sold this summer. However, it is thought that an offer of around £70m may change their mind. Midfield still an area of concern A new midfielder is also a key addition for Solskjaer, despite the success of Bruno Fernandes and the likelihood that Paul Pogba will stay. Indeed, reports on Tuesday suggested that United had turned back to a former target to strengthen that position. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the player in question, with the Serbia international now valued at around 80m (£72.6m). Unfortunately for Solskjaer that could be an outlay of more like £250m. It would mean the Norwegian having to look at bargain options, if the expected deal for Sancho goes through. Meanwhile, United have been tipped to complete a summer deal for Joshua King after a big development swung factors in their favour. Read more…