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    Wout Weghorst offers to pay compensation fee to Besiktas to seal Man Utd transfer as announcement nears

    WOUT WEGHORST has reportedly offered to pay the compensation fee to Besiktas out of his own pocket in order to complete a move to Manchester United.The Dutchman, 30, is being heavily linked with a loan transfer to Old Trafford this month.
    Wout Weghorst is currently on loan at Besiktas from BurnleyCredit: Getty
    He has emerged as the No1 target for fellow countryman Erik ten Hag following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.
    But Man Utd have been struggling to get a deal over the line due to the complexity of Weghorst’s situation.
    He is a Burnley player but on loan at Besiktas until the end of the season.
    And the Turkish giants want a fee in order to prematurely end his spell there.
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    They are also want a replacement lined up, with Vincent Aboubakar a possible arrival after his Al-Nassr contract was terminated to allow Ronaldo to register for the Saudi outfit.
    According to journalist Gokhan Dinc, Weghorst is prepared to pay the compensation fee himself if that is what it takes to complete a move to United.
    Dinc also claims Besiktas are expected to announce his exit on Tuesday, although it is unclear whether the striker has paid the compensation fee or the two clubs have simply come to an agreement.
    Weghorst, who appeared to say goodbye to the Besiktas fans after scoring at the weekend, has bagged nine goals in 18 appearances so far this season.
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    He will bring a more direct approach to the United attack, with Ten Hag currently relying on Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as his main forwards.
    If a deal for Weghorst does fall through, the Red Devils have also been linked with moves for Edin Dzeko and Olivier Giroud.

    Man Utd currently sit fourth in the Premier League table after four wins in a row.
    Next up for Ten Hag’s men is a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Charlton on Tuesday evening, before they host Manchester City in a local derby on Saturday lunchtime. More

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    Chelsea face missing out on Marcus Thuram as Barcelona ‘scout striker ahead of summer transfer’

    CHELSEA are facing an uphill battle to sign Marcus Thuram after Barcelona sent scouts to watch him, according to reports. Thuram, 25, is out of contract in the summer and consequently represents a cut-price option in a heavily inflated January market.
    Chelsea face missing out on Marcus ThuramCredit: Getty
    Chelsea are one of a number of sides who have been linked with a move for the Frenchman, who can play as a winger or a striker.
    However, Barcelona are understood to be taking the most keen look at him.
    According to Mundo Deportivo, the club’s present financial situation is restricting them from being able to freely navigate the market.
    Therefore, they have been seeking cheaper alternatives – a profile Thuram fits due to the nature of his contract.
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    The report indicates the Spanish giants have sent scouts to watch the Borussia Monchengladbach star, with “favourable” reports being returned.
    Thuram is typically deployed through the centre in Germany, but during the World Cup he made his impact off the bench coming from the wing, showcasing his versatility.
    With him thought to be available for just under £10million as well, the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham and Liverpool have all retained an interest.
    But each of these clubs seem to have transfer target priorities which, for now at least, lie elsewhere.
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    Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is said to have now stepped down from his role as interim sporting director, but it has not stopped the club pressing forward with deals.
    The Blues have verbally agreed to cough up the £10million loan fee for Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, which they hope will alleviate some of their issues for the remainder of the season.
    Here’s how Thuram has performed in the Bundesliga this season More

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    Gary Neville questions ‘radical’ new Man Utd wage cap and fears it will ruin Mbappe, Bellingham and Rice transfers

    GARY NEVILLE has hit out at Manchester United’s new £200,000-a-week salary cap.The Red Devils are reportedly preparing to introduce a “Cristiano Ronaldo rule” which will see wages limited.
    Gary Neville is not a huge fan of Man Utd’s new salary capCredit: Rex
    He says that will rule out signing the likes of Kylian MbappeCredit: Getty
    The club’s most recent annual wage bill was around £228m – the biggest in the Premier League.
    Before Ronaldo’s departure to Al-Nassr, he was earning a staggering £480,000-a-week, while keeper David de Gea is still raking in £375k every seven days.
    However, chief executive Richard Arnold, director of football John Murtough and manager Erik ten Hag are set to employ a squad-wide pay cap in order to avoid a culture of jealousy in the dressing room.
    But ex-United captain Neville completely disagrees with that policy and says they should not be introducing “radical policies” while the Glazer family are looking to sell the club.
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    The former England defender and now Sky Sports pundit tweeted: “Not sure why any radical new policy is being introduced IF new owners are imminent.
    “Capping wages is a radical policy. Rules out [Declan] Rice, [Jude] Bellingham and others in that bracket.
    “Any new owners would probably want to enter the running for these types and probably Mbappe as well. 200k won’t get you Rice or Bellingham let alone [Kylian] Mbappe!”
    Bruno Fernandes signed a new five-year deal back in April and is believed to be earning within the pay bracket.
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    Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Casemiro are said to be on similar salaries.
    And the Man Utd players have wage sanctions written into their contracts for failing to qualify for the Champions League.
    Luke Shaw, whose deal expires in 2024, will reportedly be offered a wage packet in the same range.
    But it could spell trouble for De Gea, whose contract expires in June. More

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    Man Utd must thrash out break clause fee as Erik ten Hag refuses to give up on Wout Weghorst transfer

    MANCHESTER UNITED are still confident of landing Dutch forward Wout Weghorst on loan despite Turkish club Besiktas insisting no deal is in place.Weghorst, 30, is on loan at Besiktas from Burnley but United want to get him out of that deal and take him for themselves.
    Manchester United are negotiating with Besiktas to let them sign Wout WeghorstCredit: Getty
    However a Besiktas statement read: “The claim that there is an exit clause in our football player’s contract, stating that his contract can be terminated with a compensation of 2.5 million euros (£2.2m) in case of an offer from the Premier League, is fictitious.
    “However, the news that the player in question will leave the team on Tuesday is completely untrue. The initiative regarding Wout Weghorst belongs entirely to Beşiktas.”
    United will now have to negotiate a break clause fee for a player who has eight goals in 16 games in the league this season for Besiktas.
    Erik Ten Hag has been looking for another striker for his squad since Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was terminated during the World Cup.
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    United have even been linked to a loan move for the man who’s place he will take at Al-Nassr, Vincent Aboubakar.
    But Weghorst remains their no1 target with the Netherlands striker believed to be keen on the move to Old Trafford.
    Eden Dzeko and Olivier Giroud have also been mooted as alternative options this month.
    United are looking for a short-term solution to bolster their attack, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial their only other striker options.
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    The club is planning to sign a big-name forward in the summer and has drawn up a wishlist of three names.
    England captain Harry Kane is said to be on the transfer shortlist along with Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko. More

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    Man Utd fans fume as transfer target Joao Felix set for £10m loan move to rivals Chelsea after also missing out on Gakpo

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans are fuming after Chelsea moved to sign Joao Felix on loan.It comes after Liverpool snapped up another of their transfer targets, Cody Gakpo.
    Manchester United are set to miss out on Chelsea-bound Joao FelixCredit: EPA
    United lost out on Cody Gakpo to LiverpoolCredit: Getty
    The Red Devils have turned their attention to Wout WeghorstCredit: Getty
    United have been linked with both attackers since the summer but were seemingly unwilling to pay the fees demanded.
    Gakpo joined Liverpool in a deal which could rise to £44million, while Chelsea have verbally agreed to pay the £10m loan fee Atletico Madrid are demanding for Felix.
    That has frustrated several Red Devils supporters, some of whom have taken aim at the board.
    One wrote: “Absolute joke we couldn’t do this [Felix] deal was only £11m as well.”
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    Another added: “We need new ownership immediately. Why are we losing out on the best talent to other clubs like this? Gakpo, now Felix??? Come on man!”
    And a third said: “So Gakpo and Felix joining hey? Weghorst it is 😂😂.”
    One commented: “Felix goes Chelsea and Gakpo goes Liverpool, ridiculous they were cheap as well.”
    Another remarked: “We lost Gakpo and now Felix too 😂 Two signings I was so sure about. Wow.”
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    After missing out on the pair United have turned their attention to Burnley star Wout Weghorst, who is on loan at Besiktas.
    But the Turkish outfit rejected the proposal and have insisted they want to keep the ex-Wolfsburg man until the summer.
    Man Utd are understood to be working on a compensation package that would convince Besiktas to end Weghorst’s loan in the January window. More

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    ‘It’s no secret I’m happy here’ – Diogo Dalot confirms talks with Man Utd over new long-term contract

    MANCHESTER UNITED defender Diogo Dalot has revealed he is in talks over a new long-term contract with the club.The 23-year-old has this season left with the option on the club’s side to extend by another year.
    Diogo Dalot has confirmed that he is in talks over a new contract with Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    The right-back has been a regular under new manager Erik ten Hag, having played 22 times in all competitions.
    He has been the preferred option to Aaron Wan-Bissaka and has become the first-choice player at the club this season.
    Dalot has now confirmed that he is in discussions with the club over a new contract.
    The Portuguese defender said: “I think we are in the position to say we are talking about it.
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    “We are negotiating, we are seeing how both can benefit about it.
    “It’s no secret that I’m happy to be here.
    “I love this club, and I love to play for this club.”
    Dalot joined the club from Porto in 2018 and spent the 2020-21 season on loan at AC Milan.
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    The Red Devils have been linked with moves for another right-back despite Dalot’s good form.
    They have reportedly scouted Lyon star Malo Gusto.
    The 19-year-old established himself as Les Gones’ first-choice right-back mid-way through last season and has gained a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising full-backs. More

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    Man Utd ‘name Harry Kane in stunning three-man summer striker shortlist with Wout Weghorst transfer just short-term fix’

    MANCHESTER UNITED are hoping a loan for Wout Weghorst will only be a short-term solution for the striker position.And the Red Devils are reportedly planning a summer move for a big-name attacker with three players on their shortlist.
    Harry Kane is reportedly one of the names on Manchester United’s shortlistCredit: Getty
    Serie A star Victor Osimhen is also on the listCredit: EPA
    Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko is another targetCredit: Getty
    Top of that list, according to ESPN is Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
    While they are also keeping an eye on Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and RB Salzburg star Benjamin Sesko.
    United have long been linked with Kane only to be thwarted by Spurs’ sky-high demands.
    That situation remains unlikely to change, but Old Trafford chiefs hope Kane’s dwindling contract might make Tottenham entertain offers.
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    Osimhen would be a different style of striker, but has been prolific for Napoli since joining the club and has continued his form this season with 11 goals in 16 games.
    While Sesko is more of an unknown quantity but is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects in Europe.
    And although Salzburg’s sister club RB Leipzig have reportedly agreed on a £20million deal to sign him, it is believed that the deal could be cancelled should a team come in with a higher offer.
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    United, in the meantime, have been linked with Dutch international Weghorst, who is currently on loan at Turkish side Besiktas.
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    A move for the 30-year-old striker is set to only be a short-term fix for the club, according to the ESPN report.
    Should he arrive at the club, Weghorst will offer manager Erik ten Hag a different option up front as he is more of a traditional number nine.
    United will hope that Weghorst can fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club in November.
    He would then compete with more typical wide players such as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford for the striker role.
    The report says that United are aiming to have a “clean slate” in the summer.
    The report has suggested that United are not able to make moves now as the players that are available are “castoffs who don’t play, strikers who have been injured, or those who just aren’t good enough.”
    The club are cautious about rushing into a long-term commitment with another striker after their recent struggles with players.
    United spent big on Romelu Lukaku, while the likes of Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao joined the club for high wages.
    Wout Weghorst is seen as ‘short-term fix’ for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty More

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    How Man Utd can still sign RB Salzburg wonderkid Benjamin Sesko despite RB Leipzig having £20m agreement in place

    MANCHESTER UNITED’S pursuit of a new striker has been handed a boost after it was revealed they are still able to sign RB Salzburg star Benjamin Sesko. Sesko, 19, has a £20million agreement on his head to move to Salzburg’s German sister club RB Leipzig.
    Man Utd could hijack a move for Benjamin Sesko.Credit: Getty
    And while United are not likely not try and sign him in January, they are far more likely to make a move in the summer following the revelation Leipzig could be bought out of the deal.
    According to ESPN, while Leipzig have an agreement in place to sign the Slovenian at the end of the season, a major bid from another club could change the trajectory of his career.
    This gives United a final chance to make a move for the highly-rated striker.
    Of course, the club appears to be prioritising a short-term solution in the January window.
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    Loans for Wout Weghorst and Joao Felix have been earmarked.
    But in the case of Felix, the fee it would cost United to take him on for six months has been a major stumbling block – though Chelsea have just agreed a deal to bring him in according to reports.

    This has seen negotiations for on-loan Burnley star Weghorst accelerate.
    And while he is the exact mould of striker Erik ten Hag wants in a centre forward, any prospective loan for him will depend on Besiktas, where he is currently situated.
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    As well as Sesko, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Tottenham star Harry Kane are being discussed as more long-term solutions.
    England captain Kane is entering the final year of his Spurs contract in the summer and faces a pivotal decision in his career. More