Man Utd transfer news

MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Napoli and South Korea centre-back Kim Min Jae.Kim was instrumental in helping Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990, making 45 appearances at the heart of their defence.
Napoli star Kim Min Jae looks to be Bayern-boundCredit: Getty
He has been one of Erik Ten Hag’s top targets since the beginning of the window but United are in serious risk of missing out on the defender according to Fabrizio Romano.
The defender has a £42.6million release clause in his Napoli contract, with Napoli being unable to stop him from leaving if this is activated.
Romano reports that while United were in advanced talks to sign Kim, they never confirmed to Napoli that they would pay his release clause.
That opened the door for Bayern Munich who have agreed a five-year deal with the defender.
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He is likely to join the German giants when the clause becomes active on July 1st.
Romano tweeted: “The agreement between Bayern and Kim Min-Jae is at final stages, details to be sorted on a five-year-deal.
“He’s prepared to accept, not signed yet,
“The release clause will become valid on July 1 – unless other clubs send new bigger salary proposal next week, Kim will join Bayern.”
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While United could yet submit a better proposal than Bayern, Romano said in a later tweet that the club have already begun looking at alternatives.
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United will look at Monaco defender Axel Disasi and Nice centre-back Jean Clair Todibo.
Both are adept with the ball at their feet and would be a valuable part of Ten Hag’s attempt to implement a more posessional style of play in his second season.
Disasi, 25, is a highly rated French international who was included in his country’s World Cup squad.
So far he has made four appearances for the national side.
The defender has made 129 appearances for Monaco since joining from Reims in 2020.
Todibo, 23, represents a younger alternative.
He has had a varied career despite his age, having joined Barcelona as a youngster in 2019.

Following loans to Schalke and Benfica, he signed for Nice in 2021 and has made 103 appearances for the club.
Todibo has said that as a youngster he idolised Andrea Pirlo, which goes some way to explaining his slick passing style despite being a defender. More

ERIK TEN HAG will let striker Anthony Martial leave the club in order to fund a move for Atalanta target Rasmus Hojlund.According to Football365, Ten Hag is “willing” to offer the French forward to Atalanta in a swap deal for the highly rated Danish 20-year-old.
Signing a striker is Erik Ten Hag’s priority this summerCredit: Rex
Hojlund has made an impressive start to his international careerCredit: Getty
Martial could be used as a makeweight for HojlundCredit: Getty
The news comes after Atalanta bosses met last week to discuss the sale of Hojlund and decided they would demand a record fee for the striker.
Their previous record sale was Cristian Romero to Tottenham in a £42.5million deal – and they will demand £86m for the Danish international.
The news came as a blow for United, who were hoping to land the striker as a cheaper alternative to Tottenham’s Harry Kane for around £50m.
A new striker remains the top priority for Erik Ten Hag with the Manchester club also looking to sign a new central-midfielder and goalkeeper.
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The need for a number of players in key positions has seen United try to come up with creative solutions when signing players and offering Martial is an example of that.
United are also willing to offer winger Amad Diallo on loan to Atalanta as part of any deal for Hojlund.
United signed Diallo, 20, for £19m from Atalanta in 2020 and he is coming off the back of a superb loan spell at Sunderland.
The Ivory Coast international scored 14 and assisted four times in his 42 appearances for the Black Cats.
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His time in the North-East was described as “incredible” by Sunderland midfielder Luke O’Nien.
Hojlund is fresh off the back of a breakout season at Atalanta that saw him score 11 and assist six times in his debut season.
He scored a hat-trick on his Denmark debut against Finland in March before adding a brace in his second game against Kazakhstan.
Hojlund shares the same agent as Erik Ten Hag and there were reports that the two had shared a video call about the prospect of the striker joining United.
While Hojlund denied claims of a call taking place while on international duty, he was not coy on his interest in joining United.
He told Danish outlet Berlingske via Football 365: “There has been no video call.
“I can’t say anything about that.
“It’s a huge club, so I must have done something right if it says they want me.
“My goal is to reach the top shelf, and you can say that Manchester United is. So it will be huge.” More

OH, what joy it is to be a Manchester United fan at the moment — and not because of those three trophies at the Etihad, either.Even the most diehard Red knows their FA Cup final loss was a 2-1 hammering and no one can argue Manchester City, the best team in the world, aren’t worthy European champions.
Manchester United’s transfer plans are uncertain amid the ongoing takeover sagaCredit: PA
But, while a Sky Blue Treble didn’t help, it’s not the reason every United supporter I’ve spoken to looks like they’ve found a quid and lost a tenner.
It’s the prospect of another transfer window opening to a chorus of bold  promises only for them to prove as empty as Tottenham’s trophy cabinet.
Fair enough, we’re only four days in, so there is plenty of time. But there is already a feeling of gloom at how it’s going to pan out.
This is the summer, remember, when Erik ten Hag’s rebuild really takes shape. When a host of deadwood — and there’s plenty  — is replaced by men fit to wear the shirt.
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Because for all his first season was better than expected, with a third-placed finish and the League Cup, there was still a sense of make do and mend with a lot of the players.
Seeing Jude Bellingham holding up a Real Madrid shirt was no real kick in the teeth. He was never coming to Old Trafford — why would he? So no major disappointment there.
But then the news was leaked that United were no longer pursuing Harry Kane. Oh, and they wouldn’t be in the bidding for Declan Rice either.
Even the deal for Mason Mount — supposedly all but signed and sealed — had failed and the Chelsea star wouldn’t be heading north.
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Instead just a growing realisation that, Champions League football or not, nothing much had changed in the transfer stakes.
When Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the shrewdies warned at the time that David Gill’s departure would have just as devastating an impact. How right they were.
Gill, for all he was often an easy target for fans, knew how to get transfers done. Very rarely did they fail to get a target over the line when he was doing the negotiating.
Nowadays no one seems to know with 100 per cent surety who’s actually responsible for sealing a deal.
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Erik ten Hag’s rebuild is on hold as Manchester United expect their new ownersCredit: Getty
Oh, and don’t forget there is still no sign of the “it’s close to being agreed” takeover going through any time soon. So not even the optimism of knowing a decent kitty which new owners would bring is on the horizon either.
The reality is increasingly and painfully clear: Ten Hag’s only chance of spending serious dough is going to come from sales. And that’s easier said than done.
United would be delighted to offload Harry Maguire, who the manager just doesn’t rate, simple as that. Fair play to him for keeping schtum, by the way, for all his disappointment.
But where does he go? Another season of splinters in the backside from sitting on the bench looks likeliest. Certainly more than the England centre-back finding an acceptable new home.
Will they find a buyer for Fred, for Scott McTominay, for Anthony Martial? For David de Gea if he doesn’t agree to the reduced-terms deal on the table?
That’s before we even get to the players still on the books who haven’t been near Old Trafford for 12 months.
Anyone remember Eric Bailly and Alex Telles? The way it’s going, you’ll see a lot more of them again soon.
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Maybe United’s money men will suddenly surprise us all. Maybe they’ll pull a rabbit out of the hat and there he’ll be, a shiny new superhero ready to lead the revolution.
But then again, maybe not. Still, they can always bring Wout Weghorst back for another season… More

ERIK TEN HAG is angry that his plans to sign Declan Rice are being foiled by Manchester United’s takeover saga.The Red Devils boss feels West Ham skipper Rice would be a perfect addition and has been desperate to make an offer.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is frustrated with the takeover sagaCredit: Rex
Ten Hag is targeting West Ham star Declan Rice but the takeover saga is getting in the wayCredit: EPA
But United’s protracted takeover drama has let Arsenal move into pole position for the England ace, 24.
Ten Hag’s spending is restricted while the Glazers decide whether to sell or stay put —  particularly as United are yet to offload any of the expensive dead wood in their squad.
Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is edging closer to winning the takeover battle.
But Prem chiefs would still have to complete the Owners’ and Directors’ Test which takes around ten days — meaning Ten Hag’s hands may be tied for at least another two weeks.
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Arsenal’s initial bid of £90million plus add-ons for Rice was rejected.
But they are expected to up their offer with Manchester City also preparing to hijack the deal.
This comes as Marcus Rashford is prepared to become United’s top earner with a new £375,000-a-week deal.
Rashford earns a basic £200,000 per week and has another year left on his contract after the Red Devils triggered their 12-month option to extend.
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David de Gea already earns the amount being offered to the forward but is now out of contract.
United have offered De Gea a new deal at a vastly reduced £200,000-a-week — and told him they will not go any higher.
Should the goalkeeper sign, it would effectively see him and Rashford trade salaries. More