Manchester United fans, get ready to feel conflicted.
If David de Gea signs on for a new contract at Old Trafford, it might not be the fantastic news that you had been hoping for.
That’s because that deal could see on-loan flop Radamel Falcao stay with the Red Devils next season because the club will be forced to appease the man who represents both players, super-agent Jorge Mendes.
Manchester Evening News report that the futures of both players are intertwined with one another because United will not want to anger Mendes by refusing to hang on to the Colombian forward.
Mendes is keen on securing Champions League football for Falcao, which he would likely get if he remains at Old Trafford, so it does seem very much like a case where either both players will be at United next season, or neither.
In other transfer updates that might frustrate Louis van Gaal, it looks like Liverpool have now become favourites to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay.
The pursuit of the Dutchman appeared to be a three-horse race between Liverpool, United and Paris Saint-Germain but the French club have apparently pulled out of the running.
And Manchester United have thus far been non-committal when it comes to Depay which leaves the Reds in pole position for the signature of the €29 million rated player. The Sun
Another youngster on Liverpool’s radar is Paulinho (not that Paulinho).
17-year-old Paulo Alves, who goes by Paulinho, is currently lining out for A.D. Sanjoanense in the Portuguese third division but he has already been flown to Merseyside to put pen to paper on a deal for next season.
The player is just the latest wonderkid that Brendan Rodgers is looking to bring through the Liverpool system with his philosophy that’s rooted in young, attacking talent. (Daily Mirror)
One player who could be on his way to Old Trafford is the Ghanaian midfielder Bernard Mensah (not that Bernard Mensah).
Vitoria Guimaraes’ Mensah was watched by Manchester United scouts at the weekend and reports in Portugal suggest that Louis van Gaal is willing to up his attempt to sign the 20-year-old who has been compared to a young Yaya Toure. (Allsports)
In other transfer news, Jose Mourinho looks set to pull an Arsene Wenger and bring a whole bucketload of Frenchmen to London
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, Real’s Raphael Varane and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette are all on Chelsea’s radar for the summer.
The Blues are looking for attacking reinforcements as they found themselves a little goal-shy during the periods when Diego Costa was either unfit or suspended this season.
But with a potential front four of Costa, Griezmann, Hazard and Lacazette, Premier League defences may as well throw in the towel now. (Daily Mirror)
English clubs may also need to forget about signing Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba this summer as the player’s agent was rumoured to have been spotted at Real Madrid’s hotel in Turin yesterday.
The 22-year-old has been linked with moves to Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as a return to Manchester United, but now it looks most likely that he will become the latest Galactico.
Reports in this morning’s AS claim that Mino Raiola, the Frenchman’s representative, had paid a visit to the hotel in which Real were staying last night but it’s unknown whether or not he officially met with club president Florentino Perez.
