Paper Round: PSG snub Sergio Aguero, David De Gea and Thibaut Courtois in battle to be Madrid keeper

Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain are apparently not interested in signing Man City ace Sergio Aguero this summer, according to The Mirror. The striker was dropped by boss Pep Guardiola in favour of new signing Gabriel Jesus, sparking speculation around the Argentina international’s future with the club. However, though you might think many a club would be biting City’s hand off to land Aguero, not so for front-runners PSG, who, we are told, would rather find a winger to accompany their star striker Edinson Cavani.

Paper Round’s view: Sergio Aguero is not realistically going to sit on the bench for the rest of the season, nor should he, though he might not be as easy to shift with a pretty hefty wage bill attached to him. Guardiola will have some sympathy with PSG’s reported assessment of the situation, given where he finds himself with Aguero and Jesus – surely The Etihad is big enough for the both of them?

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The Sun mentions on Thursday that Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea will do battle against his Chelsea counterpart Thibaut Courtois for the top spot at Real Madrid - the club favoured by both Premier League keepers, according to reports. Both keepers spent time in the Spanish capital with rivals Atletico Madrid before moving to the Premier League and the newspaper claims the Chelsea stopper has already reached out to Real in a bid to replace Keylor Navas.

Paper Round's view: Courtois has before hinted at returning to Spain and of course de Gea looked good to go back in 2015 as the world awaited the move to the Bernabeu that never came after the paperwork was alleged to have been sent after the transfer deadline passed. It would be no surprise certainly if De Gea made another bid for freedom at Manchester United, but (a rumoured) £60m or otherwise, United will not want to part with their No.1.

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Former England captain Steven Gerrard has urged the squad to relax and enjoy their time on international duty, ahead of forthcoming games in March. With England due to play a friendly against Germany ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, it will be Gareth Southgate’s first matches undertaken as permanent manager. Gerrard said the message to players is “’make the most of it now while it is there because once it is over, you wish you could have one more go.’”

Paper Round’s view: Sure, we get it, coulda, shoulda, woulda… but has anyone looked at Raheem Sterling’s face when he lines up for England duty?

When Gareth Southgate took his post as the permanent England manager, he expressed his desire that his team should have the “freedom to play” but from where does that freedom come? It is all well and good urging the players to relax, but it will not be up to them whether they are afforded the luxury of relaxing into their roles until the media frenzy around them is calmed or they are given more help in dealing with it.

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Contrary to the usual football rumour mills, the main gossip on Thursday seems to be all about players staying, rather than going. The Daily Star reports that Southampton ace Virgil van Dijk, will in fact stay on at St Mary’s beyond this summer, rather than making a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Man City or any other number of clubs linked to the defender over the last few months.

Paper Round’s view: Here at Paper Round, we kind of want this to be true, but we’re not convinced – no pun intended. Van Dijk is 25 now – not old in football player years, but not young either. An extra year may not hurt van Dijk’s ambitions – which we assume he has – to progress beyond the south coast, but what’s the point? What if this is his peak, valued at £50 million so say reports, and he misses it? Are we really to believe it’s the captain’s armband he’s taking the risk for?

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