Neymar would leave Barcelona to join Manchester United? And Karim Benzema at the Emirates? That and more from Monday's papers.
Neymar would go to United - Neymar has told
Manchester United that he would be open to joining the club, according
to The Guardian. Ed Woodward met with the Brazilian in Barcelona last
week and, while he will try to bring him on before the transfer window
shuts, it's much more likely that he makes an Old Trafford move next
summer. The Red Devils will continue to pursue the Brazilian and make
him their biggest signing in years, but they are also weary of Neymar
using them as a negotiating tactics to get a new, improved contract from
Barcelona.
Paper Round's view - If Neymar were to leave
Barcelona, United would be one of the few clubs big enough and rich
enough for him. That said, it's unlikely he leaves Barcelona. He's
representing the Champions League winners and is a global superstar at a
club that will always pay him among the world's best. Unless he is a
player who wants to hop around to a few different clubs and experience
being a footballer in several countries, he's probably not going
anywhere. At least not anytime soon. Still, it's a remarkable story to
even suggest that Neymar would be open to leaving Barcelona at this
stage.
Read the full story
Arsenal will need to bid £50m for Benzema - Karim
Benzema has changed his mind and is willing to move to Arsenal, but The
Star understands that the Gunners will need to submit a £50m bid to
land him. A week ago, Benzema declared his desire to remain at Real Madrid,
but such a giant bid would show how badly the Gunners want him and
would make him open to a north London move. Real Madrid won't take less
than their £50m valuation for the striker.
Paper Round's view - A first rate striker would be a big boost for Arsenal, who have a fine front man in Olivier Giroud,
but lack the brilliant finisher in front of goal that most of the
Premier League's top sides have. Benzema would be just that, but he
would come at a price of £8m more than their current record transfer
fee. He also wouldn't immediately make them title contenders because
they have other places they need to improve. It would be out of
character for Arsenal to shell out the cash for Benzema, but they claim
that they have the money to spend for the right players and this is the
going rate for great strikers.
Read the full story
Balotelli might join AC Milan on loan -
Mario Balotelli
could go back to AC Milan, according to The Sun. The club's president
confirmed that they are discussion a loan move for the striker, but that
Liverpool
picking up a portion of Balotelli's wages is a stumbling block right
now. The Sun claims that AC Milan want Liverpool to pay 50 per cent of
the striker's £80,000-per-week wages.
Paper Round's view - Balotelli's wages are
going to keep anyone from buying the striker, but if he goes on loan
then Liverpool can pay part of them and make a deal work. The question
is how much are they willing to pay? It's tough to imagine anyone paying
more than half of his wages so Liverpool may have to take this deal
from AC Milan and get Balotelli out. They have no use for him and don't
want him around Anfield so even if it costs them £40,000-per-week to be
rid of him, that might be their best option.
Southampton have decision to make on Wanyama - Tottenham
want Victor Wanyama and the player wants to leave Southampton, putting
the club in a very difficult spot, according to the Daily Mail. The
Saints don't want to sell with so little time left in the transfer
window to sign a replacement, but Wanyama only has two years left on his
contract and he's unlikely to sign a new deal with the club. If they're
not going to sell him, he'll leave on a free transfer in two years and
between his £40,000-per-week wages and lost £18m transfer fee, it would
cost Southampton £213,000-per-week.
Paper Round's view - If Wanyama is unhappy
and will not sign a new contract at Southampton, this is the club's last
chance to sell him at a decent price. If they hold on to him then their
options are to sell him at a cut-rate price next summer or watch him
leave on a free in two years. That kind of lost money is a huge hit to a
club like Southampton. At the same time, they probably can't afford to
lose both Morgan Schneiderlin
and Wanyama in the same summer. The Saints are in a terrible spot and
the only decent outcome is to convince Wanyama to sign a new contract,
but that doesn't look likely.
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