Transfer Gossip: Ten Hag leaves Pochettino raging as Man Utd swoop in for €70m Chelsea target; Wolves in triple swoop on Barcelona as part of swap
Manchester United are ready to bid €70m after learning a Chelsea target would prefer Old Trafford, Wolves could take three players from Barcelona with a star man heading the other way, while Monday’s Transfer Gossip can reveal Youri Tielemans’ next club.
TEN HAG READIES MAN UTD MOVE FOR DUSAN VLAHOVIC
Erik ten Hag has told his bosses at Manchester United to bid for Dusan Vlahovic, amid a growing belief a deal can easily be done.
The United manager is seeking a new striker this summer with Wout Weghorst and Anthony Martial both likely to leave.
And while he awaits to find out the outcome of a takeover bid – and therefore how much he will have to spend – he is considering moves for a number of attacking options.
However, deals for two of the men in question – Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen – look impossibly tough to pull off. And with neither Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy or Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis wanting to deal with United, Ten Hag is having to look elsewhere.
Now according to Football Transfers, a deal for Vlahovic is beginning to take shape.
And United seemingly have a key advantage over Chelsea in the race to sign the Serbian striker.
That’s because Vlahovic is reportedly only willing to leave Juventus for a team that can offer Champions League football. And with United strongly fancied to finish in the top four, they have a major advantage over Chelsea in that race.
That would come as a huge blow for Mauricio Pochettino, who had made Vlahovic a top target.
Furthermore, reports claim Juventus are open to selling the striker this season after mediocre season. Indeed, with just 14 goals from 41 appearances, he has not been quite as prolific as they might have hoped.
And with finances tight, they will seemingly not stand in United’s way if a €70m (£60.1m) bid is lodged.
Ten Hag keen on Vlahovic signing
Per reports, Ten Hag believes the striker, who stands 6ft 3in tall has all the attributes needed to be a success in the Premier League.
Ten Hag likes to operate with a strong and tall striker at the heart of the attack, as exemplified by the signing of Weghorst. He operated a similar system at Ajax, with Sebastien Haller a key figure under the Dutchman.
As a result, Manchester United are reportedly now preparing a bid in the belief a deal can be easily tied up for Vlahovic.
Vlahovic has been at Juventus for 18 months, arriving in a deal that could reach €80m with bonuses.
In that time, he has 23 goals in 62 games, a strike rate of a notch every 2.7 matches.
For his country, Vlahovic has 13 goals in 21 games, while his overall career record reads 75 goals in 197 appearances.
Ten Hag is also reportedly targeting a new defender and midfielder this summer.
And reports claim the club have also agreed a blokbuster defensive signing.
WOLVES AND BARCELONA AGREE BLOCKBUSTER SWAP DEAL
Barcelona have reached ‘full agreement’ with Wolves over a deal that will see Ansu Fati and Ruben Neves trade places.
The Portugal midfielder has proved one of Wolves‘ best signings over the past decade, arriving from FC Porto in a shock £15.8m deal in 2017.
In his six seasons at the club, he has amassed 252 appearances and 30 goals – many of which have been spectacular.
But he has never hidden from his wish to play at a higher level, and speculation over his future has never been far away.
In recent times, Neves has been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
And with the 26-year-old last week expressing his desire to play Champions League football, it seems he will soon have his wish.
According to Sport, a deal has been brokered to bring Neves to Barcelona this summer.
He will reportedly sign a four-year deal with the Blaugrana, signing up until summer 2027.
And to help finance the deal, agent Jorge Mendes will send another of his clients, Fati, in the opposite direction.
The tricky winger has lost his way at Barcelona this season and will likely move on. As a result, Sport now claims Fati is weighing up the potential move to Molineux.
As part of the deal, Mendes is also lining up another Barcelona star for Wolves. And they are also reportedly looking at a deal to sign Moroccan playmaker Abde Ezzalzouli and unwanted full-back Sergino Dest.
READ MORE ~ Sources: Stoke City nearing superb Wolves coup, with Alex Neil the catalyst behind new starter signing
YOURI TIELEMANS SAGA TO END AS MIDFIELDER NEARS ITALY SWITCH
Leicester City star Youri Tielemans is seemingly close to signing for a new club after months of speculation.
The Belgian star will leave the King Power this summer after a hugely eventful five-year stay. After scoring their FA Cup final winner against Chelsea in 2021, he will go down in club folklore.
But sadly, his spell looks set to end on a sour note with Leicester on the brink of relegation from the Premier League.
Several clubs have been linked to his signature with Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool among his suitors. But none of the Premier League trio have followed up on their initial interest, leaving the player to consider a move overseas.
Now, according to il Gazzetta dello Sport, a move to take Tielemans to Roma is starting to take shape.
Their manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly made the Belgian a top target and is ready for talks to bring him to the Italian capital.
Roma are into the Europa League final this season, where they will face Sevilla. The winner will secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
In addition to Tielemans, Roma are also looking at two other free agents. And in Evan Ndicka and Houssem Aouar, they could be landing three of the best free agents.
READ MORE ~ Sources: Leicester battling Leeds Utd for Spanish striker who’s putting €120m Man Utd target to shame
