Manchester United ‘in pole position’ to sign wonderkid as Chelsea contemplate ‘unthinkable’ £45m sale
A round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Chelsea & Newcastle.
The rumour mill is really starting to roll as the end of the season approaches, and as always we’re here to keep you up-to-date with our daily round-up of the juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting, today, with a story for Manchester United fans.
A story from Sport Witness suggests that United are “in pole position” and one of the “leading candidates” to sign emerging Argentine superstar Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, widely considered to be one of the most talented youngsters in South America right now.
Apparently an offer for the sublimely-talented 17-year-old will be lodged “in the next few days”, with Real Madrid supposedly pulling out of the race for his signature. AC Milan remain interested, and it’s likely that quite a few other teams are keen too, especially after he scored a magnificent free-kick against River’s deadly rivals Boca Juniors at the weekend.
The bad news for United fans hoping that Mastantuono would give them a shot in the arm this summer is that the “feeling” in Argentina is that he will stay with River until December, when their domestic season comes to a close, but it looks like the Red Devils have a real chance at snagging a top-tier talent.
The 3AM Verdict: Maybe we’ll finally get a wonderkid going somewhere other than Chelsea for a change… No financial details here, but it sounds like reports of United’s interest are increasingly widespread in Argentina. No smoke without fire, and all that?
Chelsea contemplate ‘unthinkable’ sale this summer
Over to a report from Chelsea News now – they reckon that the Blues have “begun considering” the possibility of letting Roméo Lavia leave this summer, a move which they describe as both “shocking” and “unthinkable”.
Chelsea would, it’s claimed, consider a fee of around £45m and may also let him leave on loan after two injury-ravaged seasons at Stamford Bridge – in other words, they could be ready to cut losses on a player who cost a reported £58m when he signed from Southampton.
Whatever Chelsea News’ sources for the claim, they add their opinion that Chelsea are “in no position” to sell the Belgian, and “don’t see any world” in which the club decide to cut ties with him. It sounds like some people in the Chelsea hierarchy may see things differently, however…
The 3AM Verdict: If Chelsea were prepared to sell Conor Gallagher after a season in which he was probably their best player, then we don’t think anyone is sacred, and certainly not a player who has made only nine league starts in two years. That said, will anyone pay a high enough fee for a player whose fitness is in such deep and abiding doubt? Given Chelsea’s need to sell to stay PSR compliant, we would be less surprised than Chelsea News if they try.
Newcastle enter race for star striker
Finally, a story for our friends in the north – according to GiveMeSport, Newcastle United are “entering the race” for Lille striker Jonathan David, who is set to be a free agent this summer having run his contract down at the Ligue 1 side.
Apparently Inter Milan made a contract offer to the Canadian in March, but no decision has been made and interest from multiple teams is anticipated, with Newcastle putting their name forward as they look to replace Callum Wilson and give Alexander Isak some company at the top of the club’s goal-scoring charts.
David, who has recently passed the 25 goal mark for the third consecutive season in France, is apparently “certain” to leave Lille and sign elsewhere in the summer, and Newcastle are “keen” to add him to their ranks ahead of another European campaign.
The 3AM Verdict: We imagine that a few clubs will have a close look at signing David, who has one of the best and most consistent goals-coring records on the continent, but will he move to Newcastle knowing that he’d likely be second fiddle to Isak? Other teams may well offer him a starting role for the get-go, but we’ll see. David certainly seems to be keeping his options open.