Manchester United may still be in the process of a possible takeover, with the Glazer family either moving on or reducing their stake in the club, but some squad activity is underway.
The club, it has been widely reported, has agreed personal terms with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, who had also been a player of interest for Liverpool and Tottenham. It looks as if United are in pole position, then, to land the England international. Chelsea will be looking for up to £70m for Mount but United will come in around the £50m mark and the haggling can begin.
While the club has tied up full-back Diogo Dalot to a contract extension, announced on Wednesday, they appear content to let Swedish attacker Anthony Elanga leave the club. The 21-year-old scored three goals, and had three assists in 27 appearances [18 starts] last season. He has been marginalised under Erik ten Hag, this season, starting only seven of his 26 appearances and only contributing two assists.
United were considering loaning Elanga out for a full season, and getting a small fee for that, but Manchester Evening News is now reporting a bid as little as £10m could see him permanently leave Old Trafford. Brazilian midfielder Fred may also be on his way, with Fulham interested and keen on reuniting him with Andreas Pereira.
So, Dalot staying, Mount looking set to join and possibly Elanga and Fred heading the opposite way. Anthony Martial's latest injury, which ruled him out of this weekend's FA Cup, surely means he has played his last United game. Amid all this, two massive stars have reportedly made 'United or else' ultimatums to their respective clubs.
[caption id="attachment_279509" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Neymar Junior of Paris Saint Germain in action during the Ligue 1 match against AJ Auxerre at Parc des Princes. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)[/caption]
Neymar and Harry Kane eyeing Man United moves
Sensing that Manchester United may be a serious club, and contender, again, Neymar Jr. and Harry Kane have both pressed their representatives to secure them summer moves.
The Sun has reported that Kane does not want a move abroad and has set his heart on a United move. Bayern Munich had been interested but may now turn their attentions to Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Should Tottenham seek to hang onto Kane or set United too steep a price, their captain is reportedly willing to play out the final year of his contract and leave for free, next summer. Kane bagged 30 Premier League goals for eighth-placed Spurs, this season.
The same outlet claims Neymar has set Paris Saint Germain an ultimatum, should he move on over the summer months. Again, the Brazilian is leaning on a United or nowhere stance. With a Qatari bid in for United, moving Neymar from one of the gulf state-owned club to [potentially] another may be attracted to some. One wonders if Erik ten Hag would agree.
L'Equipe has reported that United and PSG representatives have already met for transfer talks, but transfer soothsayer Fabrizio Romano believes those talks were mainly around the English club coming back for another Adrien Rabiot nibble.
It looked as though the French international would join the club last season but that move went awry and United, handily enough, ended up with Casemiro.
As for a couple of United loanees, it would appear that Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer will, respectively, head back to Burnley and Bayern Munich after the FA Cup Final.
Neymar Junior of Paris Saint Germain in action during the Ligue 1 match against AJ Auxerre at Parc des Princes. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)[/caption]
