Football rumours from the media
What the papers say
Paul Pogba is expected to part ways with Manchester United in the summer, but the club are stringently holding on to the 26-year-old’s £150million valuation price, according to the Daily Mail. Although United are believed to be open to transfer talks with any serious bidder, there are doubts as to whether Barcelona, Real Madrid or Juventus could afford such a hefty pay packet. However according to the Mail, Pogba’s value will only decline in the lead-up to the transfer window and Real Madrid’s £50m offer may be the best deal the club can get.
Manchester City are believed to be eyeing a deal for Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry in a deal that would also send current City winger Leroy Sane to the German giants. The Sun reports City manager Pep Guardiola has watched Gnabry in person multiple times in recent months and has been very impressed with the 24-year-old’s performances.
Back to United, The Independent says the club are considering former Paris St Germain sporting director Antero Henrique and former RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick for their technical director role. Sources close to Henrique suggest the 51-year-old is nearing a deal, however Rangnick is supposedly favoured by some senior figures at Old Trafford.
Stoke midfielder Giannelli Imbula is in discussions with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow, according to the Daily Mail.
Social media round-up
Man Utd open to making Odion Ighalo's transfer permanent https://t.co/fNF2PWzhSl— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) February 19, 2020
Ray Parlour makes Bukayo Saka demand amid Man Utd and Liverpool transfer interest https://t.co/W39SIiWJhEpic.twitter.com/xwTcVXXqaN— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 18, 2020
Players to watch
Daley Blind: Arsenal could make a move for the ex-Manchester United defender who is currently on the books at Ajax, The Sun reports.
Martin Braithwaite: Barcelona are free to pursue the 28-year-old Leganes forward as an injury replacement for striker Ousmane Dembele, Sky Sports have said.
Dayot Upamecano: The RB Leipzig defender knows he is being courted by a number of clubs, including Barcelona and Arsenal, according to the Evening Standard.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
FourFourTwo was launched in 1994 on the back of a World Cup that England hadn’t even qualified for. It was an act of madness… but it somehow worked out. Our mission is to offer our intelligent, international audience access to the game’s biggest names, insightful analysis... and a bit of a giggle. We unashamedly love this game and we hope that our coverage reflects that.
‘Maybe I’ll be signed by Wrexham, who knows? English football would suit me – if an offer came, I wouldn’t think twice, I’d go immediately’ Euro 2024 cult hero reveals his UK dream
‘Managing Leeds? It was an option that appeared, but it wasn’t the right timing. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to leave the club I was at mid-season’: Premier League boss admits to turning down opportunity to replace Jesse Marsch in 2023