Man Utd want Wolves defender and prepare €60m bid for Sporting winger – Paper Round
Updated 26/11/2024 at 09:03 GMT
Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim keen to strengthen his left-back options by signing Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri. United are also stepping up their interest in Sporting winger Geovany Quenda, preparing a €60m bid for the 17-year-old. Elsewhere, Manchester City’s search to address problems without Rodri has seen them target two midfielders.Rayan Ait-Nouri celebrates during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux on September 28, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Man Utd want Ait-Nouri
Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri is on the radar of Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, The Sun reports. The new United boss is aware of his side’s need to strengthen at left-back.
And Ait-Nouri could prove a strong option, with the Algerian’s contract expiring in 2026 and the 23-year-old likely to vastly improve his salary should he move to Old Trafford.
The Sun adds: “Amorim has made signing a left-back a priority. He wants to boost his options given Luke Shaw’s injury record.
“Shaw could also eventually move into the back-three once the former Sporting Lisbon manager fully instils his 3-4-3 system at Old Trafford.
“Ait-Nouri, an attacking wing-back, ticks all of the boxes for Amorim and the style of the football he likes to play.
“Ait-Nouri is currently on a deal of £33,000-a-week at Wolves and the Red Devils would be able to tempt him with a substantial uplift in his wages.”
Man Utd move for €60m Quenda
Manchester United have progressed with their interest in Sporting winger Geovany Quenda and are preparing a bid of €60m plus bonuses, A Bola in Portugal reports. United have already been linked with the 17-year-old, before Amorim swapped Sporting for United.
But now with Amorim’s move to United strengthening this possibility, the Red Devils are ready to start negotiations for Quenda.
A Bola adds: “Sporting are open to negotiations, but with the certainty of keeping the winger until the end of a season, in which they are fighting for a feat they have not achieved in 70 years, a second straight championship that Ruben Amorim promised at the end of the previous season.”
City eye ‘younger Rodri’
Manchester City have two midfielders in their sights as they look to save their season by spending in the January transfer window, the Daily Mail reports.
Both Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Atalanta’s Ederson are being eyed with Rodri’s absence due to injury leading to a five-game losing run, the worst of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.
The Mail writes: “When that shuffling of the pack starts is up to the champions. There is nothing stopping them dipping into the January market if sporting director Txiki Begiristain and Guardiola believe the right player is available. And even though the problems during this worrying run of form are deeper than purely missing Rodri, a central midfielder would be top of City’s list.
“Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi – the man who excelled for Spain in the European Championship final against England after replacing an injured Rodri at half time – has been mentioned, along with Ederson at Atalanta. At 25, neither are old nor raw.
“City have been fixated on somebody who can operate in the holding role but also capable of progressing forward; both of those mentioned appear capable of that. Ederson carries slightly more threat going forward, whereas Zubimendi is basically a younger Rodri.”
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