Paper Round: Manchester United demand £75m for Anthony Martial
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Updated 17/06/2018 at 06:54 GMT
Manchester United want £75m for Anthony Martial but may miss out on Gareth Bale, Spurs close in on Wilmar Barrios, and Newcastle United want Kenedy to stay.
Anthony Martial of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United at Amex Stadium on May 4, 2018 in Brighton, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
United ward off Martial interest
Manchester United are keen to keep Anthony Martial. The 22-year-old French international has two years remaining on his current deal, and rejected the latest offe from his current club. Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain are all interested, but Spurs will likely be put off by United's asking price of £75m. Martial wants to leave after struggling to break into the first team on a regular basis under Jose Mourinho.
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Anthony Martial
Image credit: Getty Images
Paper Round's view: If Spurs are put off by £75m for Martial, that would be no surprise, because it is at the top end of what many clubs would pay for the best talent. And, despite failing to cut it under Mourinho, that is what Martial possesses. As such, £75m might not be seen as a way to put off other clubs from bidding, but Manchester United simply naming a fair price for one of the most promising young players in European football.
Bale could stay at Real Madrid
Gareth Bale could now stay at Real Madrid for at least one more season. After scoring the winner in the Champions League final, Bale had hinted that he would leave the club in pursuit of finding more time in the first team. However, that has changed as Julen Lopetegui has been appointed as a new manager, and Bale bellieves that as the new man speaks English - something Zinedine Zidane did not do - he stands a better chance of being involved.
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Gareth Bale
Image credit: Eurosport
Paper Round's view: Everyone has their different talents, and Bale might well have tried exceptionally hard, but it is hard to see how Bale has managed to live in Spain for five yearss without picking up enough Spanish to get by, at the very least with his managers. Other players have struggled with the lifestyle and language in Spain and failed to show their best form - to be fair to Bale, despite any linguistic difficulties, he continues to impress.
Spurs close in on Barrios
Tottenham Hotspur may not be able to afford Anthony Martial, but they could be in the driving seat over another, cheaper deal. They have been linked to Boca Junior's midfielder, Wilmar Barrios. The 24-year-old Colombian international might stay in Argentina as he is being offered a new deal by his current club, but they are concerned that Spurs will activate his current £14.5m release clause.
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Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur shows appreciation to the fans after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 13, 2018 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Paper Round's view: Spurs are much better at acting at this end of the market. They are able to hunt down players who are available for much lower fees, and trust their manager - something Mauricio Pochettino is excellent at - to coach them both to the required standard of the Premier League, and to a level where if they are sold that the club makes a big profit. As Mousa Dembele may be leaving, they must strengthen their midfield.
Benitez wants Kenedy stay
Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez is trying to improve his squad for life in the Premier League next season. One way to do that is to seize Kenedy, the Brazilian midfielder who joined the club on loan from Chelsea last season. A fee of £20m has been mentioned, and that would be a record fee for Newcastle. The 22 year old impressed in the North East, and Newcastle will try to structure a suitable deal to keep him on a permanent deal.
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Kenedy of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton
Image credit: Getty Images
Paper Round's view: As Mike Ashley remains owner of Newcastle United, it is no surprise that they are dragging their heels in the transfer market. Additionally, it is no surprise that they are having to tailor deals carefully to make sure that the accountants at the club will let the deal go through. Kenedy certainly has the potential to do well in the league, but bringing him in from loan to a permanent deal doesn't actually do more than help the club tread water.
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