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Hello and welcome back to the Manchester United Transfer News round-up for 30th May 2019. We are back with the top transfer stories of the day involving Manchester United and here are our top five picks for today.
#5 Mino Raiola revelation hints at Matthijs de Ligt to United deal
We start the day with another news about the Matthijs de Ligt saga. Solskjaer has been on the hunt for a new leader in defense this summer and according to latest reports had zeroed in on Ajax wonder-kid Matthijs de Ligt as his preferred option. The Dutch defender even had the seal of approval of his countryman and United legend, Jaap Stam, who said
I think he would fit very well over here (at Manchester United) if they’re trying to pick him up.
Now news has surfaced which will definitely delight United fans. de Ligt's agent, Mino Raiola has apparently instructed his client to generate hype in the interviews, according to the Spanish reporter Diego Martinez. Martinez also revealed, via Twitter, that there was an underlying hint in these instructions, which indicated that the Dutchman was on his way to Old Trafford.
Lots of questions with regards to De Ligt
The interviews are to build hype, which is something that Raiola has instructed him to do! #MUFC love hype on announcements!
There have been talks in the press that this United interest in de Ligt was just a tactic from Raiola to mint a better deal from Barcelona. However, Martinez went ahead to explain why that was not the case, as revealed by the Express.
Tell me, when was the last time Barcelona had a ‘transfer saga’? They don’t
They prefer to announce their signings as soon as possible.
De Ligt has been strongly linked to Manchester United since the start of this transfer window. We revealed in this segment on 29th May that the Red Devils had overtaken Barcelona in the race to sign the teenager, by virtue of their willingness to meet his demands. Martinez's latest insight about Raiola seems to provide another indication that the Dutchman might truly be on his way to Old Trafford.
#4 Adrien Rabiot considering United offer
The French midfielder has been enduring a nightmare of late at PSG. Rabiot has just 20 appearances for the French giants this season, scoring twice and picking up 1 assist. Adrien Rabiot has not seen action since the start of December last year, because of ongoing issues with his club. He dropped out of PSG Manager Thomas Tuchel's plans, and also refused to sign a contract extension, which made him available for free in the summer. The French midfielder had recently attracted the attention of La Liga side Real Betis, who were willing to sign him.
Mundo Deportivo now reports that Manchester United have put forward a hefty offer for Rabiot, as Solskjaer looks to find an able replacement for Ander Herrera. The Frenchman also represents good value for money, as he will not cost a penny. However, Rabiot comes with a reputation of being very difficult to work with. Is Solskjaer willing to risk bringing such a character to his already fragile dressing room? Only time will tell.
#3 United monitoring Real Madrid midfielder
This is a name that has not been linked with United before. AS reports that Manchester United are monitoring Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente, who is apparently no longer in Zidane's plans for next season. The defensive midfielder has not been able to break into the Real Madrid team this season and as such, is looking for a move out of the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Spanish news outlet reveals that Llorente has received offers from quite a few Premier League clubs, while also generating interest in Spain as well as Germany. The Spaniard had a superb loan spell at Alaves in 2016/17, which caught the eye of his suitors. He is still just 24 years old, so he will suit Solskjaer's plans for the next season. Even though Athletico Madrid and Sevilla are both keen to get his signature, the midfielder reportedly prefers a move out of Spain.
This is where United have emerged as one of the favourites to land him. Even though no official bid has been submitted yet, Solskjaer could be tempted to bring the Spaniard to Old Trafford, as a back up for Nemanja Matic.
#2 Solskjaer willing to give Eric Bailly a second chance
ESPN reports that Eric Bailly will get a second chance to impress Solskjaer next season, with the club reluctant to sell the Ivorian. Bailly picked up a knee ligament injury in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the end of April, which effectively ended his season. The Ivorian has been ruled out of the African Cup of Nations but is recovering well on course to join United when they embark on their pre-season tour in July.
The United No. 3 could only manage 17 appearances for United this season, as injuries, suspension and lack of form limited his chances once Solskjaer took over. It was rumoured that Bailly was on his way out in the summer, with Arsenal interested in his signature. However, United are not looking to sell to a direct rival and as such, any such move is extremely unlikely.
Bailly enjoyed a fantastic first season with United since joining from Villareal in 2016, but has failed to kick into a higher gear since even though he has been better than all the current centre backs at Old Trafford apart from Lindelof. Bailly might be getting a second chance next season, but Solskjaer definitely is on the hunt of a new center back in the summer, so the Ivorian will definitely have new competition to deal with.
#1 Manchester United interested in Philippe Coutinho
The Metro reports that United have been in touch with Barcelona regarding a possible move for Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian started life at the Camp Nou on fire after making the move from Liverpool in January last year. However, he was unable to carry forward that form this season and failed to impress both the club hierarchy as well as the fans. As such, the Catalans are mulling over the idea of letting him leave, however, they are interested in recuperating a chunk of the £142m they paid for Coutinho, which means that they want at least £88m for the player.
Mundo Deportivo reveal that the Brazilian has told his close friends that he wants to quit Barcelona in the summer. If reports are to be believed, the Catalans offered him to PSG this week in a cash plus player deal for Neymar, however, nothing concrete has been registered yet.
Chelsea and Manchester United were apparently interested in Coutinho, but with the London club slapped with a transfer ban, the Red Devils are currently the front runners in that race. However, United's lack of Champions League football have put them in the backfoot in the deal. This is one transfer that has a lot of complications and might not be sorted out easily.
Stay tuned for more Manchester United news and rumours.
