'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! As usual, it is a heavy day in the office for the Red Devils with some major updates on Anthony Martial, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
#5 Alderweireld and Martial
According to reputed journalist Duncan Castles, Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Toby Alderweireld's agent is trying to find a club for his client. He also added that while he is on United's shortlist of potential acquisitions this summer, he doesn't top it because of Spurs' high asking price as well as his wage demands.
"Alderweireld's agent has been working hard to find him another club," he said.
"He's on the recruitment list for Manchester United but I understand he's not top of that recruitment list at centre-back - partly because of the price, partly because of the wages involved."
He further stated that the Belgian doesn’t have any offers from elsewhere, which is why he is considering the possibility of staying in north London for another season. The rumoured price that Spurs want for him is £75million.
"At present I think he's in quite a difficult situation because he doesn't have a firm offer from Manchester United and doesn't have a firm offer anywhere else. From what I understand, he might have to stay for another season or accept lesser terms than he was expecting elsewhere. I think the asking price for Alderweireld has been £75m - which is essentially the price Southampton secured for Virgil van Dijk."
Meanwhile, Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth revealed some of his own tidbits on Anthony Martial. According to him, the talented Frenchman is perhaps not even a second choice option in Mourinho's preferred formation as his competitors Alexis Sánchez and Marcus Rashford are both left-sided players - which is where Martial also plays.
As a result, he is keen to move away from the club. "It seems to me there's quite an imbalance, and that Martial is not even second in that pecking order," he said.
"Hence why there's unhappiness, and if I'm being cynical as well his agent has been very vocal. He's said they've been in contract negotiations for eight months and there are five other clubs interested. It all really depends on whether Jose sees him as a regular first-teamer next season or not."
#4 Price tag placed on Martial
Continuing the topic in the last slide, Manchester United have set a price on Anthony Martial after the attacker’s agent revealed that he wants to leave the club. It also feels like the Red Devils don’t want to sell him as they see him as an important part of their future.
Nevertheless, if this report from The Sun is to be believed, then they have placed an expensive £100m price tag for the Frenchman's services, which could upset Martial's camp for placing such a high asking price to deter potential suitors.
Meanwhile, the value goes down as Daily Star believe that the price slapped on him is £70m in order to fend off interest from both Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain. This also reveal that David de Gea is being offered a £350,000-per-week contract to stay at the Theatre of Dreams.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo has bad news
Despite the fact that he only just scored a hat-trick against Spain in their opening group stage game of the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo might have some bad news to ponder on the club front.
According to Don Balon, there are currently no offers for Ronaldo from any club - as United themselves will find it very difficult to pay Real's high asking price. The Portugal captain, as of now, doesn’t want to go to Asia or venture to Major League Soccer in America, which is why it is getting incredibly hard for him to find a new club.
Meanwhile, Duncan Castles has given his own view on the saga, saying that Real are not prepared to meet the Portuguese star's increasing wage demands, meaning that he may leave Los Blancos this summer.
"Ronaldo's agent has met with Florentino Perez to try and push the matter and get the contract he feels, and Cristiano feels, he deserves. And they have got no positive response to that," he said.
"The stance at present, it is unlikely he will remain at Real Madrid beyond the end of the summer and they are looking for outs."
#2 Gareth Bale
If the previous slider isn’t enough to upset the Portugal captain, then this certainly should. According to Duncan Castles, Manchester United prefer signing Gareth Bale over their former star.
"They [Ronaldo and his agent] don't think Manchester United is a strong possibility because United are well stocked in that area of the field and more likely to recruit on the right-hand side of attack and are working on a deal for Gareth Bale," he said
Express, however, don’t think that Bale will make a move to the Old Trafford. They believe that the Welshman is set to stay at the Bernabeu after the appointment of Julen Lopetegui.
The reasoning behind this decision is that Lopetegui can speak fluent English – whilst Zidane couldn’t – and that would help Bale break the communication barrier with his new coach.
#1 James Rodriguez ft. Boateng
Both of them currently play for Bayern Munich. The former is loan at Germany while the latter joined the Bavarians from Manchester City – and if rumours are to be believed, then both of them could leave the club on permanent deals.
According to Don Balon, James Rodriguez is unsure of his future at Bayern Munich after the appointment of Niko Kovac. As a result, he could leave the club with Manchester United interested in him along with Juventus and PSG. It must be noted though, that he has a €500m release clause inserted in his existing contract.
Meanwhile, another report from the same folks believe that Manchester United are close to landing towering centre-back Jerome Boateng, who is also attracting interest from Real Madrid. However, Los Blancos will probably face defeat in the race for his signature, as he is moving closer towards England than to Spain, which arguably isn't as challenging in comparison.
