Manchester United are apparently willing to sell £120million worth of players to West Hamthis summer. Enjoy this, and more juicy gossip.
WEST HAM’S UNITED RAID Let’s get straight into it, why don’t we? Anthony Martial, Harry Maguire, Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay. That is who the Hammers want to sign, with the Red Devils ‘prepared’ to let them all leave, according to CaughtOffside.
Transfer expert Ben Jacobs has said “outgoings are going to be very important” for United this summer as Erik ten Hag looks to sign some new players. McTominay “could depart”, though Ten Hag was reluctant to let the Scotland international leave in January. Despite this, he will be “available on the market”. Another club to watch here? Newcastle United, apparently.
Van de Beek is also likely to leave, though he is out injured until next season, so who knows what will happen with him. I don’t know, and neither does Mr. Jacobs.
West Ham have always “liked” Martial, while a move back to AS Monaco can’t be ruled out. “Everyone” at Old Trafford “likes” the Frenchman, but the club may be forced to cut ties due to his ongoing fitness problems.
Finally, club captain Maguire has been heavily linked with an exit since last summer as Ten Hag continues to prefer Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw. A departure is “hard on Maguire”, Jacobs says, but it would create some much-needed space in the squad.
DE GEA SUCCESSOR SELECTED Sticking with United, they are feeling frisky and want to sign a Leeds player. Dangerous business, that.
According to The Sun, Ten Hag wants Ilian Meslier to succeed David de Gea as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. United’s top priority is to extend De Gea’s contract, however, though the report states that Meslier is who they want to come in as the Spaniard’s ‘long-term replacement’.
Dean Henderson is ‘set to be sold’ as Ten Hag clearly does not want him to take on the No. 1 shirt.
There are some ‘complications’ in United’s pursuit of Meslier, however. They are apparently willing to wait to sign him said No. 1 is there for the taking, so he is not sat on the bench for a season or two as De Gea keeps his place. Leeds’ relegation could throw a spanner in the works. Should they go down, Meslier will probably be snapped up by another team, unless the Red Devils move more swiftly.
SPURS WANT RUDIGER Any Tottenham transfer news should probably be taken with a pinch of salt given head coach Antonio Conte’s uncertain future. Saying that, there is a pretty intriguing story coming from Spain.
Speaking of taking things with a pinch of salt, Fichajes reckon Spurs want to sign former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger. The German left the Blues last summer to join Real Madrid on a free transfer. Unfortunately for the German, the jury is still out in the Spanish capital, the report states.
Daniel Levy wants to ‘ensure the continuity of Conte’ and ‘win the Premier League’, and the signing of Rudiger could set them on their way. Defensive reinforcements are essential and ‘interest in Rudiger has been confirmed.
An early Los Blancos departure could be on the cards as RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol tickles the fancy of the European champions.
As someone who thrives in a back five, Rudiger would fit Spurs perfectly, though the north Londoners know he will not cost ‘little money’. The German international does not want to be a part of a rotational defence, and he would be the main man at Spurs, you’d think.
