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Transfer Gossip: Man United lodge '£69m bid' for Mbappe, Arsenal identify Ozil 'replacement', Chelsea 'ponder' Verratti move

Marco Verratti, Kylian Mbappe and Mesut Ozil
Marco Verratti, Kylian Mbappe and Mesut Ozil

“You have so many relationships in this life, only one or two will last,” sang Hanson in their 1997 smash hit MMMbop. And while it is yet to be confirmed that the song was written in a prophetic tribute to Kylian Mbappe, those profound lyrics do seem to bear an eerie pertinence to the life of the Monaco forward, 20 years later.

For Mbappe (who has refuted suggestions that his surname actually sounds anything like MMMbop despite Hot Football Transfer Gossip’s repeated insistence that it does) is being tipped to end his fledgling relationship with childhood sweethearts Monaco and begin a new one with Manchester United.

The Sun reports that the Red Devils have made a £69m bid for Mbappe, which according to the tabloid makes them the first team to have made a formal offer for the teenager.

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This follows a claim in yesterday’s Mail that Monaco had rejected a “£96m bid” for Mbappe from an “unnamed Premier League club”. Sounds like someone might have made a numerical typo somewhere along the way. (But in the modern football age, what’s £27m between friends anyway?)

In any case, no team in their right mind would accept an opening offer from Man Utd, so Monaco haven’t. The Sun adds that the Ligue 1 leaders are “refusing to sell” Mbappe, or in other words are awaiting an even more astronomical offer.

Would Mbappe’s relationship with Man Utd last if he went to Old Trafford? It’s a secret no one knows. Oh, no one knows. (Yep, Hanson again.)

Meanwhile, Arsenal will seek to replace Mesut Ozil with Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan, reports the Times. The Gunners are planning a £25m summer bid for the 30-year-old Turkish international, who is likely to be “surplus to requirements” following a squad shake-up at the Nou Camp. (Obviously – it’s not as if Arsenal could attract someone from Barca’s first team.)

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Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil of Arsenal celebrates scoring

Another Gunner on the move is likely to be Jack Wilshere, who is unwanted at both Arsenal and Bournemouth so will seek a summer move abroad – and not just on his holidays (Bleacher Report).

West Ham want to sign Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu, currently on loan at AC Milan, for £15.5m as part of a “major summer overhaul”, says the Star. However, Milan also want to keep the winger, while Barcelona may take up a buyback option to re-sign him for £10.3m. Sounds like this one could get confusing.

Elsewhere, Chelsea and Man Utd are pondering a move for “unhappy” Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti (Mirror), Real Madrid are interested in Yuri Berchiche, a 27-year-old left-back who was released by Tottenham (via a loan spell at Cheltenham) seven years ago (Express) and Liverpool have been told they will have to make an “outrageous offer” if they want to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Mirror). What about £24.99?

@darlingkevin