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Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! The World Cup resumes today as the Red Devils continue being linked to some of the finest players that live under the sun.
Without going into many details right here and now, we shall just dive into the world of Manchester United rumours!
#5 Verratti and Fellaini
Manchester United may have only just signed Fred from Shakhtar but there seems to be no stopping the rumour juggernaut. Despite the fact that Fred has been signed, the Red Devils are still being linked with numerous midfielders and one of them is Marco Verratti.
The Italian joined Paris Saint-Germain from Pescara in 2012 and has been at the club ever since. Some think that the Italian – who has been compared to the great Andrea Pirlo – has stagnated his growth by staying at PSG and should leave the French giants as soon as possible.
This is why rumours have been circulating about the former Pescara boy leaving France for a move to England, with Manchester United being interested in him.
However, according to Duncan Castles, the transfer might just not happen. The moderately reliable journalist believes that Jose Mourinho is unlikely to sign the Italian due to his small physical stature.
Mourinho likes his players tall and well-built – which is why most United players are big in size – but has already signed a relatively small Fred, so it is unlikely that he will a midfield with two small players in it.
“Verratti is not the tallest of midfielders, and Jose Mourinho has already signed an uncharacteristically small midfielder in Fred to knit the defence and attack,” he said.
“Fred will be a starter and I can not imagine a Mourinho midfield with two players of such diminutive stature.”
Meanwhile, according to the reliable The Times, Marouane Fellaini was in talks with Arsenal before finally signing an extension with Manchester United. However, despite talks with the Gunners, the Belgian was convinced to stay at the Old Trafford after he was awarded with a two-year extension with an option to add a further year.
#4 Fosu-Mensah to fight plus Willian
Timothy Fosu-Mensah is set to stay at the Old Trafford as he has no plans to leave Manchester United on a permanent transfer if this report from Sports Witness is to be believed.
The youngster seeks to fight for his place in the first team after completing a successful loan spell with Crystal Palace in the recently concluded season.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s want to Willian will be tested after Barcelona saw their £50 million bid for the Brazilian rejected.
According to Express, Chelsea are bracing themselves for a bid from Manchester United for the former Shakhtar star who worked under Mourinho at Chelsea.
#3 More money and Jorge Mendes
According to Manchester Evening News, Jose Mourinho has been given a transfer boost by the board as they have allotted more funds for the self-proclaimed Special One to make signings this summer.
Mourinho, the report adds, is set to be granted “club-record” transfer budget to make Manchester United great again.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils’ interest in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic seems to have moved to an advanced stage as the Old Trafford outfit could really sign him with the help of super-agent Jorge Mendes.
According to Tuttosport (via Calcio Mercato), Mendes’ contacts with the Serie A club means that he can actually help the Premier League outfit land Milinkovic-Savic.
#2 Fekir and Ronaldo
Nabil Fekir almost joined Liverpool before the World Cup but a problem in the Frenchman’s knee – found in his medical – made Liverpool lower their offer for him, which was obviously rejected by Lyon.
And now, if this report from GFFN, who quote Lyon-based newspaper Le Progres, then Manchester United have submitted an offer for the Lyon player.
They also add: “Liverpool decided to lower the price for Nabil by €5m, hiding behind a cartilage problem of the player’s knee, which was an old story and is not at all preventing him from playing in the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, according to Diario Gol, Real Madrid may have upped their asking amount for Gareth Bale as the Galacticos are willing to let him go for €150 million while stamping a price-tag of €120 million on Cristiano Ronaldo – both of whom are linked with the Red Devils.
#1 Toni Kroos
Jose Mourinho’s team has been linked with a move for Toni Kroos for a while now and, according to a representative of Betstars, Manchester United do have a chance to sign the German midfielder, who has a €500 million release clause.
“And the Red Devils lead the field as the 3/1 favourites to sign the Real Madrid star,” he said.
“Manchester City sit just behind at 5/1 to reunite Kroos with his former Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola at the Etihad next season.
The report also said Liverpool were priced at 7/1 to add the Germany international while Chelsea had an outsiders chance at 11/1 to land the 2014 World Cup winner before the season got underway.
While he might have failed to inspire his team to qualify for the second round, there is still a lot of demand for him it seems.
