Real Madrid recently confirmed that Sergio Ramos would be leaving the club after the expiry of his contract on June 30. The Spaniard wanted a multi-year deal with Los Blancos, but the hierarchy were only prepared to hand him a 12-month extension. The centre-back eventually changed his contract stance, but it was too late as there was an expiry date on the proposal that had surpassed. The 35-year-old is set to pursue a fresh challenge after 16 years, and he could yet be joined by Raphael Varane through the exit door. Varane has only 12 months left on his existing deal with the Madrid giants, and the club are yet to negotiate a suitable renewal with him. He will assess his future following the European Championships, and Los Blancos will be desperate to commit him to a new long-term deal. Le...
Tottenham Hotspur could compete with Everton and Manchester United to sign Norwich City defender Max Aarons this summer, Sky Sports reports. The north London club are braced for the departure of Serge Aurier, and they are actively looking for a quality young replacement. A move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey was recently touted, but a deal seems unlikely due to the hefty £50 million price tag. Spurs appear to have revived the pursuit of Aarons, who could be available for £30m. They could face competition from Everton and United. Sportslens view: Aside from Aurier, Spurs have Matt Doherty and Japhet Tanganga, who can operate in the right-back role, but the latter is naturally a central defender. Doherty has had a tough time with Spurs, having had to cope with more defen...
As famously quoted by Sir Matt Busby, ‘football is nothing without fans’. In England, the sport has always been ingrained with tradition and rivalry. The authenticity and competitiveness of the English top-flight have made it stand out from the rest of the leagues around the world. With the advent of globalisation, many Premier League clubs have been subject to takeovers from foreign owners. Investment in training facilities, stadium development and the possibility of a greater budget in the transfer market can be a fruitful proposition. However, many of these owners have used the clubs as cash cows, extract...
Charlie McNeill has already caused a stir of excitement since rejoining Manchester United from local rivals Manchester City. The 17-year-old is a lifelong United fan and grew up playing for the academy with the likes of Mason Greenwood. However, he made the controversial switch to Manchester City in 2013 to get more playing time. After scoring 600 goals in six years for City’s academy, no one could argue that McNeill isn’t an exceptional talent. Despite facing interest from RB Leipzig, Juventus and a host of English clubs, McNeill decided to re-join his boyhood club Manchester United in 2020. He signed for the Red Devils for an initial fee of £750,000 plus bonuses. Playing style The striker has been sensational in front of goal for United’s U18s, netting 21 times in 24 appearances. One of ...
Borussia Dortmund have set a non-negotiable asking price for Jadon Sancho amid ongoing negotiations with Manchester United, talkSPORT reports. The Red Devils were heavily linked with the forward’s services last summer, but they were put off by Dortmund’s €120 million valuation. Sancho is likely to be available for a lesser fee this time around with just two years remaining on his contract with the German club. United recently failed with a £67m (€78m) bid for the England international, and they have since made an improved offer of more than £75m (€87m). Dortmund are unsatisfied with the latest proposal from the Red Devils, and they have now set a take-it-or-leave-it asking price of €90m plus add-ons. Sportslens view: United tried to negotiate the transfer fee for Sancho last summ...
Manchester United are ready to make Paul Pogba the highest-paid player in the Premier League in order to convince him to stay, The Sun reports. Pogba has only 12 months remaining on his contract, and he recently acknowledged that the club have yet to hold concrete negotiations over a renewal. There has been speculation that Pogba could be sold for £50 million this summer if United are unsuccessful in renewing his deal after Euro 2020. It is now reported that the club are willing to make the midfielder the highest-paid player in the division with staggering wages of £400,000-a-week. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to keep Pogba, and the hierarchy appear set to back the manager with a bumper deal for the 28-year-old. Sportslens view: Pogba has been with the Red Devils since 2016...
Paris Saint-Germain have made contact with Real Madrid over a possible summer deal for Raphael Varane, Foot Mercato claims. The centre-back has been with Los Blancos for the past decade, but he could be on the move following the European Championships. He has just over 12 months remaining on his current contract, and the Madrid giants have so far been unsuccessful in renewing his deal. Manchester United recently failed with an opening bid of around £50 million for Varane, and it appears that they are set to face competition. Les Parisiens have made contact with the Madrid giants for the 28-year-old. Sportslens view: Varane is widely regarded as one of the world’s best defenders. He has amassed over 350 appearances during his time in Madrid. Los Blancos are eager to keep hold of him, b...
Manchester United will sell midfielder Paul Pogba this summer if he does not put pen-to-paper on a new long-term contract, The Mirror reports. Pogba’s current deal with United expires in June next year, and the midfielder recently admitted that there have been no concrete negotiations. He is likely to hold fresh talks after the European Championships, but there are doubts whether he will commit his future to the club. United are fearful that the midfielder is looking to run down his contract such that he can negotiate a free transfer elsewhere in January. They are keen to avoid the prospect, and will sanction his sale this summer if there is no breakthrough in the contract negotiations. Pogba was once valued by United at around £150 million. It is suggested that they may be lucky to r...
Manchester United have made an improved bid to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho, Sky Sport reports. The Red Devils were heavily linked with the Englishman last summer, but a deal failed to materialise as they were put off by the £108 million valuation. Sancho could be available for a lesser fee this time around, but United are yet to reach an agreement with the Bundesliga outfit for his services. United recently made an opening offer of £67m plus add-ons which was rejected, and they have now made an improved bid of more than £75m. The offer remains short of Dortmund’s valuation, but there is ‘a willingness from all parties’ to get the deal done with Sancho’s contract expiring in June 2023. Sportslens view: Sancho was in sublime form for Dortmund this past season, registerin...
Liverpool are reportedly showing keen interest in signing Austrian attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner in the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old impressed last season at Hoffenheim, where he bagged six goals and five assists in 31 Bundesliga games. The Reds are looking to sign a new midfielder to fill the void left by Gini Wijnaldum, who will join Paris Saint-Germain this summer. With Curtis Jones expected to play a more prominent role, Liverpool are looking at a different sort of midfielder and Baumgartner has been earmarked as an option. According to reports from German media outlet Kicker, the Reds are chasing a player who has a contract at the club until 2025. The report claims that Manchester United have also shown an interest in the player, but they have no...
If you’re following the transfer window closely you might be knowing that Manchester United are keen to sign Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid this summer. The England international, who has just got the taste of winning a league title, apparently finds that he has spent enough time on Iberian shores, and homesickness is creeping in. He wants to return to the Premier League and has started house-hunting as well. United are interested in signing a right-back and finds Trippier as the perfect option. Experienced? check. Can he play on both flanks? Check. Quality? Check. Winning mentality? Check. What more do you need? There are hurdles that need to be crossed to get the deal done, and by the looks of it, it seems improbable. The price being quoted by intermediaries is more than £30 millio...
Manchester United have identified Alexander Isak as an alternative target to Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland this summer, The Star reports. The Red Devils recently committed Edinson Cavani to a new contract, but they are still searching for a quality young striker to add to their ranks. They have been heavily linked with Dortmund, but a deal appears unlikely with the Bundesliga outfit having no plans to sanction his sale. Haaland has a release clause worth £68 million in his contract, but that does not become active until the end of the 2021/22 campaign. It is now reported that the club have a ‘Plan B’, and could look to swoop for the services of Isak, who is currently contracted with Real Sociedad. Isak had another promising season with Sociedad last term, registering 17 goals an...