MANCHESTER UNITED are going ‘all out’ for £55m-rated Pau Torres, according to reports.
And his potential centre-back partner Harry Maguire has returned to fitness with England at the perfect time in their 1-0 win over Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, the club are ramping up their chase for Jadon Sancho with an improved bid submitted to Borussia Dortmund.
But he is not set to wear the famous number 7 shirt if he signs, as it is already held by Edinson Cavani.
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FROM SUNSPORT’S NEIL CUSTIS
Man United are closing in on an £80million deal to buy Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
The Old Trafford club made a £72m bid yesterday but they are prepared to go to £80m to get their man.
Personal terms based on a five-year deal worth £350,000-a-week have already been agreed.
United also spoke to Erling Haaland before the Euros, but the Dortmund striker has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid.
RON RETURN
Man Utd are the bookies’ favourite to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.
Betfair also have Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid high in the running for the Juventus star.
Cristiano Ronaldo next club odds – Betfair
- Manchester United – 7/4
- Paris Saint-Germain – 5/2
- Real Madrid – 5/1
- Sporting Lisbon – 6/1
- Bayern Munich – 17/2
- Inter Miami – 10/1
- LA Galaxy – 10/1
- Any Chinese Club – 14/1
- Manchester City – 14/1
- Barcelona – 22/1
MAX POWER
Man United are battling Spurs and Everton for Norwich right-back Max Aarons.
Sky Sports claims there’s three-way battle for the talented young defender this summer.
Norwich have already sold Emi Buendia to Aston Villa after winning the Championship title.
And they are prepared to sell Aarons for £30million.
GUNNING FOR RON
Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to ‘insults and beatings’ from Arsenal when the former Manchester United star tried tricks.
Former Gunner Robert Pires told Record: “Cristiano made feints and the English didn’t like it. It was just a beating.
“You can’t play like that against the English and you couldn’t do that at Highbury, Arsenal’s home. It was just insults and beatings.
“At first he didn’t stand it very well, it was complicated for him. Football in England is completely different.”
WEL I NEVER
Ex-Man United and Arsenal ace Danny Welbeck has signed on for another year at Brighton.
The striker, 30, was a hit at the Amex last term after joining as a free agent on a one-year deal from relegated Watford.
He played a key role in the Seagulls beating the drop, scoring six goals and grabbing three assists in 24 league appearances.
LUK’S OUT
Ex-Man United star Romelu Lukaku batted away the question of joining Manchester City when ex-Etihad ace Trevor Sinclair asked him outright in a Twitter Q&A.
Sinclair wrote: “Fancy the blue half of Manchester Rom?”
But Inter Milan star Lukaku, strongly linked with a return to Chelsea, simply replied: “I am happy at inter” – along with a smiling emoji.
GOR BLIMEY
Leon Goretzka has emerged as a target for Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as a host of Premier League clubs.
Bayern Munich are in talks over extending the midfielder’s contract, which runs out in 2022.
According to German outlet Sport1, a deal is very much in sight with Bayern determined not to lose the player.
But interest is high with Premier League clubs as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly contacting his new representatives.
SAN-GO
Man Utd have reportedly finally agreed to meet Borussia Dortmund’s £77m valuation of Jadon Sancho.
United have already had bids in excess of £67m turned down for Sancho with Dortmund demanding a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ offer of £77m.
German outlet BILD claim the Red Devils have now gone back to the Bundesliga side with a new offer that has met their valuation.
The report added that the deal could be concluded in the coming days with the 21-year-old set to finally become a United player.
VAR OUT
Real Madrid are reportedly ready to sell Raphael Varane after the Manchester United target asked for a new challenge.
A summer transfer is said to be the 28-year-old’s desire following a decade at the Bernabeu.
Varane is out of contract in a year’s time and Los Blancos do not want to lose him on a free while battling the pandemic financial crisis.
According to The Athletic, a bid as little as £40million could persuade Real to sell up after talks with the player’s representatives.
ROY OF THE ROVERS
Man United legend Roy Keane revealed he drank ‘six or seven’ pints the night before his Nottingham Forest debut almost thirty years ago.
Keane said: “I went over pre-season and was obviously doing a lot of training with the reserves.
“Forest had played their first league game at home on the Saturday against QPR and I went to watch it, and I was on the bench for the reserves on the Monday night.
“I got on for the last ten minutes and the first-team were playing Liverpool on the Tuesday night.
“Went out that night with the players, as you do after a reserve match, I didn’t drink too much – maybe six, seven pints after the game. Came in on the Tuesday and was told ‘get dressed up’.”
RAM RAID
Chelsea have joined Man Utd in the transfer race to land Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos, according to reports.
AS claims Thomas Tuchel wants Ramos to add depth to his centre-back options.
But the Spaniard would prefer a move to Paris Saint-Germain as he wants to play alongside Neymar.
CASE FOR DEFENCE
Man Utd captain Harry Maguire has defended England’s defensive march to the Euro 2020 knockout stage – claiming they are playing the football needed to win tournaments.
Maguire said: “I know everyone wants to play well and create numerous chances but teams are well drilled and organised.
“It’s not all perfect, we can improve but you can’t argue with seven points from three games.
“Can we play better? Of course we can. Will we improve? We will do everything we can to improve.
“The fundamentals are there and now we’ve got to tidy up in every part of our game when we’re on the ball and there is a little bit more we can get out of each other and push each other.
“If we are going to progress in this tournament we’re going to have to do that.”
OPENING DAY MADNESS
Man Utd kick-off the 2021-22 Premier League season against fierce rivals Leeds!
LONG-TERM FUTURE
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Donny van de Beek has a future at Man Utd.
But the Dutch international is constantly being linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
Should van de Beek leave, it would see him leave the English giants after just one season.
One place van de Beek is being linked with a move to is Italy.
But FCInterNews say Inter Milan are unlikely to make an approach for the player, ruling them out.
STAYING PUT
Paul Pogba will NOT leave Man Utd this summer despite being linked with a move away.
And United are not locked in any negotiations with any clubs over the Frenchman, according to Fabrizio Romano.
United want to tie Pogba down to a new deal, but negotiations are not in the advanced stage yet.
CHIEF CREATOR
Man Utd left-back Luke Shaw has created the most chances for England in the group stages despite playing two of the three games.
‘I THOUGHT HE DID FANTASTIC’
Former England striker Emile Heskey praised Man Utd captain Harry Maguire for his performance against the Czech Republic last night.
Maguire completed his first 90 minutes of football since early May, and he helped England pick up another clean sheet.
Speaking on the official England podcast, Heskey said: “I thought he did really well, considering I don’t think he’s had loads of training sessions.
“I thought he did fantastic. Controlled it, bossed it in there.”
MAIN MAN
Bruno Fernandes finished top of both goals and assists for Man Utd last season.
MAGUIRE RETURNS
Harry Maguire returned to action after a spell on the sidelines with an injury.
The Man Utd captain missed the last few weeks of the season, and missed Man Utd’s Europa League final against Villarreal.
But Maguire returned to action for England last night, playing a pivotal role in keeping a clean sheet against the Czech Republic.
90 minutes under his belt and England are through to the knockout stages!
Credit: GETTY IMAGES LEW BEAUTY
Arsenal are interested in signing Man Utd and Real Madrid target Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to reports.
The Gunners are looking to bolster their attacking options this summer in a bid to fire themselves back into European contention.
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal will push to sign the England international with Alexandre Lacazette’s future at the club uncertain.
The striker scored 21 goals in 39 appearances for Everton last season.
SMILE
Gerard Pique spent four years at Man Utd, but left for Barcelona in 2008!
MOURINHO’S MAGUIRE ASSESSMENT
Former Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho assessed Harry Maguire’s return to football.
He said: “I keep saying when you have an option to take 26 players, you have to risk, gamble and take an injured player if the player deserves that. Maguire is one of those players.
“He was confident, he was stable, he was intelligent, read the game well, and has a good partnership with [John] Stones.
“[Tyrone] Mings is doing a fantastic job, you could feel he was happy to come in for 10 or 15 minutes, he is a team player.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the next game is against Germany, the way they play with three at the back – I wouldn’t be surprised if England went with Stones, Maguire and Mings at the back.”
PSG PLOT MOVE FOR VARANE
PSG are plotting a move for Man Utd target Raphael Varane, according to reports.
Spanish outlet MARCA are reporting that Varane is expected to leave Real Madrid this summer.
And there will be serious competition for the four-time Champions League winner’s signature.
United have already seen a £50million bid turned down for the Frenchman.
But Madrid want closer to £80m.
And now PSG have enquired about bringing the French international back to his home nation.
TORRES ON FUTURE
Man Utd target Pau Torres was asked about his future, but he insisted that he has a contract with Villarreal.
Quizzed by Goal about speculation, the 24-year-old said: “I have a contract at Villarreal, I just won the first title for the club, we have qualified for the Champions League and it is something that excites me a lot.
“Now I’m focused on the Euros. Then the Super Cup and nice things will come, so I’m totally calm.”
But there is a growing belief that Man Utd could get a deal done for around £51million.
POG TOP
Man Utd need to try and close the gap on league winners and city rivals Man City
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
