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Welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. This has been an exciting transfer window so far and one look at the ongoing sagas is enough to suggest that it will remain that way till we're done with it in a few weeks.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news from 20 July 2019.
Major setback for Real Madrid as Ornstein reveals Pogba is set for Manchester United stay
If Real Madrid do end up signing Paul Pogba before the transfer window closes, this could go on to be one of the best summers that the club has ever had in terms of transfer activity. However, despite Pogba vocalizing his desire to leave and Raiola being Raiola and constantly talking up his clients, the Frenchman looks destined to kick on at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested multiple times already that Paul Pogba remains a top candidate for club captaincy and has also maintained that the club is yet to receive any offers for Pogba. Manchester United are under no pressure to sell the World Cup winner as he is currently tied to the club on a long-term contract.
Now David Ornstein has revealed that Manchester United will not sell him and that they cannot be bullied this summer. Ornstein said,
"Despite the noises coming out of Pogba and Mino Raiola, Manchester United will never be bullied. They will never sell when they don't want to. The guy's under a long-term contract. I think we can pour a little bit of cold water on this one."
Despite interest from European giants like Real Madrid and Juventus, Manchester United are not convinced about either party having the financial setup to pull off a move as big as this given the fact that the Red Devils' valuation of Pogba falls somewhere around £150 million.
Pogba is currently travelling with the Manchester United squad on their pre-season tour and has played in both of United's wins so far on the road.
Zinedine Zidane reveals there has been no change in Bale's situation
Gareth Bale's current situation is proving to be a pain in the neck for all parties concerned. Zinedine Zidane, talking to the press ahead of the Blancos' International Champions Cup matchup against Bayern Munich, maintained that the Welshman is not a problem even though the situation hasn't really changed since June.
Zizou said,
"He's not a problem, I'm not going to say that a player is a problem/ Anything could happen. He has a contract, we'll see. Nothing at all has changed with respect to Bale between June and now."
"He is a Real Madrid player right now and we'll see what happens. He is on holiday at the moment and I can't say more."
Zidane gave another vague reply when asked about the potential signing of Paul Pogba. He said,
"The club know what we want and there is time ahead. Right now we are focussed on these matches. We'll see what happens."
Manchester United reject Inter Milan's bid for Romelu Lukaku
As per latest reports, Manchester United have rejected Inter Milan's offer for unsettled striker Romelu Lukaku as their bid did not meet the Red Devils' valuation of the player. The Serie A side offered all of £53.9 million in cash to Manchester United. The offer did not include any add-ons.
Manchester United have rejected the offer and are holding out for a fee in excess of the £79 million that they paid to bring the big Belgian to Old Trafford from Everton in the summer of 2017. Inter Milan are desperate to replace Mauro Icardi who has been informed that he has no future at the club and manager Conte has confirmed their interest in Lukaku.
Speaking to the press ahead of Inter Milan's pre-season game against Manchester United, Antonio Conte said,
"You know very well that I like this player, also in the past when I was Chelsea's coach and I tried to bring him.
"But I repeat: today Lukaku is a player of United. I have great respect for United.
"I consider him an important player for us to have a good improvement. We know which is our situation; we will see what happens."
Roy Hodgson says he is unaware of Zaha telling the club he wants to leave
As per several reports, Wilfried Zaha had informed Crystal Palace of his intention to leave the club in the summer on his return after the African Cup of Nations. However, the Eagles' manager Roy Hodgson has now aired a claim that he is unaware of the Ivory Coast international making any such admissions.
Arsenal are said to be keen on signing Zaha before the transfer window closes and have already had a £40 million bid rejected. However, they're expected to return with an improved offer.
Speaking at the City Ground, Roy Hodgson said,
"He has not spoken to me. I don't know if he's spoken to the club [asking to leave]," said Hodgson, speaking at the City Ground.
"As far as I'm concerned, he is coming back, he is our player and I've been given no information that the club is interested in selling him at the moment. I'm just expecting him back, looking forward to working with him and seeing some of the things he can do for us."
What this could mean for Arsenal is that they will have to price Zaha out of Crystal Palace as the club and the player are resigned to continue working together.
Lionel Messi is behind Barcelona's pursuit of Neymar
Spanish football expert Graham Hunter has revealed that it is Lionel Messi who is backing Barcelona to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain before this transfer window closes. As per latest reports, Barcelona have offered 2 players + cash to PSG and it remains to be seen whether or not the bid will be accepted.
On the Transfer Talk podcast, Graham Hunter said,
"Messi is a central player in all of this. Messi is not a stroppy player - people have portrayed him as such falsely. But when he sneezes, Barcelona catches a cold."
"Bartomeu, the president, has said before he leaves - and he must quit the club in 2021 at the latest - he wants to leave Messi renewed once more."
"Whether Messi is saying 'get me Neymar' or whether he's whispering 'before we sit down to negotiate, I want the front line reinforced with Neymar', the fact is: Messi wants Neymar back."
He also touched upon how Messi realizes the need to get more quality around him to make Barcelona's Champions League dream a reality. The fact that Luis Suarez, Messi and Neymar enjoyed a fruitful spell together at the Camp Nou is also a driving point.
"He, [Luis] Suarez and Neymar - even though they're different characters - are very friendly. Messi found a partner that understood him technically, who served him and who created masses of space. The last time Barcelona won the treble, they had that 'MSN' up front.
"It's clear Messi believes his route back to the Champions League isn't just Neymar specifically, but more people supplying goals around him. Messi is saying 'if you want me to sign a new contract, first renew Neymar'."
