Man United extend striker search – TRANSFER CONFIDENTIAL
TRANSFER CONFIDENTIAL: Man United expand striker search after Harry Kane rebuttal and make call on Mount vs Rice, Chelsea turn to £80m Moises Caicedo and Liverpool launch midfielder talks
- Man United have been told by Spurs that Harry Kane is not for sale this summer
- Chelsea turn to Brighton’s Moises Caicedo after missing out on Manuel Ugarte
- To get Transfer Confidential sent directly as a newsletter to your inbox every Monday go to mailplus.co.uk/transferconfidential
Hello and welcome to another edition of our transfer newsletter, brought exclusively to you.
My name is Simon Jones and, as well as writing regularly for the Daily Mail and MailOnline, I’m aiming to give you insight, news and the latest chat from across the globe on all the deals taking shape in this summer’s transfer window.
It promises to be busy once again in the Premier League as the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea look to splash further millions in a bid to close the gap on champions Manchester City while those teams who were relegated will be in fear of the proverbial vultures preparing to swoop for their best players.
Below, I bring you the latest news from across the globe.
Man United extend striker search and make Mount vs Rice call
Manchester United have been told Harry Kane is not for sale.
That does not mean their pursuit is over but the message from Tottenham is clear as Real Madrid assess their next move.
As Mail Sport reported in March, Spanish eyes have been on Kane’s situation and Madrid hope Daniel Levy would prefer to sell the England captain to them ahead of United.
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Kane, who also has interest from Saudi Arabia, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich, has been leaning towards seeing out his final year at Tottenham which would cost the club a substantial fee for one of the world’s best strikers and their captain.
Karim Benzema’s departure to Saudi Arabia has accelerated Madrid’s need but they are reluctant to pay £100m and have half an eye on a future deal for Kylian Mbappe. Chelsea’s Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku have also been discussed as candidates to fill the void left by Benzema.
Manchester United have been told by Tottenham that main target Harry Kane is not for sale
United are also weighing up whether to move for Declan Rice (left) or Mason Mount (right)
United believed a Kane deal could be reached for the £100m figure but are now discussing other targets while maintaining a watching brief on developments.
Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt, another target for Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain, has re-emerged on United’s list of options as has Goncalo Ramos of Benfica.
Brighton’s highly-regarded Evan Ferguson is expected to stay at Brighton till at least next January after signing his contract.
United believe Mason Mount also wants to join them from Chelsea, if they can agree to lower the fee, but a simultaneous move for West Ham’s Declan Rice is viewed as difficult considering the finances required for everything they want this summer.
United held a party for staff, players and families in London’s Langham Hotel after the FA Cup final on Saturday where chief executive Richard Arnold professed ‘love at first sight’ for Erik ten Hag and commended the progress he has made. The Dutchman subsequently addressed the room and underlined the need to remain competitive for trophies. Key to that will be the quality of the striker they buy.
Chelsea are back in for £80m-rated Caicedo
Their £52million bid for Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte may have hit the buffers but Chelsea are training their sights on Brighton’s £80m-rated Moises Caicedo once again.
After a move for Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte fell through, Chelsea have turned their sights to Brighton’s £80m-rated Moises Caicedo once again
The deal for Ugarte was off last night but Chelsea have been running parallel discussions regarding a move for Caicedo with N’Golo Kante now attracting interest from, yes, you guessed it Saudi Arabia
Brighton, who have agreed to sign free agent Germany international Mahmoud Dahoud, are understood to have fielded an offer for the Ecuador international with three clubs interested and Chelsea have been evaluating whether any of their plentiful fringe squad could be thrown into negotiations.
As Mail Sport reported last week, Brighton offered £30m for defender Levi Colwill but Chelsea do not wish to sell the 20-year-old and want to find another solution as a potential makeweight.
Chelsea bid £55m for Caicedo in January while Arsenal offered £70m.
Paris St Germain are now pushing to finalise Ugarte’s transfer, following on from reaching agreement to sign Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio on a free ahead of Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest eye-up Leeds’ Adams as they target more signings
Nottingham Forest made 29 signings last year and have already held meetings about who they could target next. Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is one of the names under consideration. The USA international will be one of a number of high profile departures from Leeds this summer with compatriot Brenden Aaronson possessing a release clause also.
Forest have confirmed the signing of Chris Wood from Newcastle and have a deal in place for Manchester United’s Dean Henderson but will face plenty of competition for Adams after his agent met clubs last week. Forest’s biggest task this summer may be to streamline their squad.
Forest, who have released six including Jesse Lingard and Andre Ayew, were the lowest spenders on agents fees in the Premier League with just over £4.3m and will need to be creative this window to fashion a more manageable squad size for Steve Cooper.
Nottingham Forest are keen on Leeds United star Tyler Adams as they target further signings
Man United to open talks over new Martinez deal
Manchester United are expected to open talks over an improved deal for Lisandro Martinez during the club’s US tour in July.
Despite initial fears he would be too small to handle the Premier League, the Argentina centre-back has been a big hit at Old Trafford following his move from Ajax. Martinez, who argues he is at least an inch taller than his registered 5ft 9ins, was in Carrington with Donny van de Beek on Monday as he recovers from a broken metatarsal and United will reward his progress with an appropriate rise.
However, with United’s new investment pending and ratification of David de Gea’s deal more pressing, next month has been deemed the better time to talk.
United remain in the hunt for a new defender such as Napoli’s Kim Min Jae as they look to find a new home for Harry Maguire. Hibernian and Aberdeen are angling to hook Manchester United defender Will Fish on another loan… apologies to the Fish family there.
Man United plan to open talks over an improved contract for Lisandro Martinez this summer
Phillips wants to fight for his place at Man City
He was serenading Sir Elton John at the airport on Saturday night and Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is singing that he wants to stay this summer.
After a difficult first season, and despite the pending arrival of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, Phillips wants to give his City career a go which may disappoint some Premier League admirers.
City still intend to add a centre-back with long-term favourite Josko Gvardiol of Red Bull Leipzig top of their list.
Despite a tricky first season with Man City, Kalvin Phillips wants to stay and fight for his place
Liverpool launch midfielder talks
Liverpool have tied up loose ends with Carlos Mac Allister ahead of signing his son Alexis from Brighton this week, pending his medical. Jurgen Klopp still wants another two midfielders if possible.
Kephren Thuram of Nice has been tracked and Liverpool have spoken to the entourage of Kouadio ‘Manu’ Kone at Borussia Monchengladbach. Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, who has been the subject of offers from Chelsea, has also been discussed.
Kone is the more defensive minded and passes well from deep. Liverpool’s new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke should have easier lines of communication to Gladbach as his son Nils joined the German side as a recruitment consultant.
Liverpool have begun talks with several midfield targets already ahead of a summer rebuild
Sunderland told to stump up cash for Bellingham
Sunderland have been told they will need to raise their offer for Birmingham City midfielder Jobe Bellingham. Sunderland have offered around £1million for the 17-year-old whose elder brother Jude is set for Real Madrid.
Sunderland hope to be more successful with the saintly-named Nectarios Triantis. Sunderland are offering around £500,000 to sign the Australian centre-back from Central Coast Mariners ahead of competition from Crystal Palace. Part of the Australia U23 squad due to play at the Maurice Revello Tournament in Toulon this week, the 20-year-old would have had to go out on loan initially if he joined Palace and is keen to play for Tony Mowbray.
Sunderland teenage keeper Toby Bell is wanted at Manchester City.
Sunderland have been told they must improve their £1m offer to sign the highly-rated Jobe Bellingham (centre) from Birmingham City this summer
Rangers midfielder Kamara courted by Turkish giants
He impressed Mail Sport columnist Martin Keown at the European Championships and was named Finland player of the year last season, now Rangers midfielder and former Arsenal graduate Glen Kamara is a target for Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Besiktas.
Kamara has been told he can leave Ibrox with Rangers looking for around £6m. Galatasaray tried last year for the 27-year-old while French club Rennes also had an offer rejected.
Kamara, who has 50 caps for Finland, could be beaten to the Rangers exit door though by Ryan Kent with Fenerbahce expected to sign the former Liverpool winger.
Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara is attracting interest from both Bestikas and Galatasaray
Wolves and Leicester battle it out for ex-Villa youngster
Wolves and Leicester City are jostling for midfielder Arjan Raikhy following his release by Aston Villa.
The 20-year-old, who won the FA Youth Cup with Villa against Liverpool in 2021, made his first team debut also against Liverpool in the FA Cup. From a punjabi sikh family, Raikhy had a trial at Leicester last month and played against Manchester United U21s.
Wolves, meanwhile, want around £3m for defender Dion Sanderson amid offers from Birmingham City and Stoke City.
Wolves and Leicester are jostling to bring in former Aston Villa youngster Arjan Raikhy (right)
Dykes set for QPR exit door
Australian-born QPR striker Lyndon Dykes is looking increasingly likely to depart Loftus Road.
The Scotland international saw a £2million offer from Millwall rejected in January but Burnley, Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers are all showing an interest.
A whole host of English clubs have outlined their desire to sign QPR forward Lyndon Dykes
Man United among clubs keen on USA starlet
Interest is heating up in Chicago Fire midfield prospect Brian Gutierrez.
Premier League clubs, including Manchester United to a degree, have been taking note of the 19-year-old’s performances, as have Rangers.
However, a work permit would be difficult to achieve here for the USA U20 international so Borussia Dortmund, Red Bull Leipzig and Girona are keen to take him.
Man United are one of several teams interested in USA wonderkid Brian Gutierrez (left), 19
Agents head to Brazil for luxury transfer summit
Some of world football’s agents and decision makers will be packing their Factor 50 Ambre Solaire later this month for the Transfer Room summit in Brazil.
After meeting in chilly London in March, football’s version of speed dating travels to the Marriott Hotel in Sao Paulo for two days of networking.
Those taking part include Athletico Paranaense chief executive Alexandre Mattos and Flamengo sporting director Bruno Spindel. Monday’s itinerary includes two 90 minute sessions where those taking part squeeze in six, one on one meetings per session to discuss strategies and what players are available from clubs across the globe.
If that’s not enough, there’s another three sessions on Tuesday. As one director of football said: ‘Haven’t they heard of Zoom?’
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