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Gossip: United 'target Lewandowski instead of Griezmann', Liverpool 'still want Gotze', Barca 'swoop for Southampton duo'
In every good narrative, there have to be a few twists along the way. Otherwise, stories would be boring and no one would read them. Like: they met and then they fell in love and then they bought a car. Or: they wanted to buy Antoine Griezmann so they did.
And there’s no way the papers could have sustained the tale of Manchester United’s pursuit of the £86m French striker for the past nine months if it had been as uneventful as that. They have to make it sound dramatic – and it has to stay dramatic for another three months.
In fact, it has to get even more dramatic as we get closer to the climax. For instance, with some sexy but less-suitable love rivals appearing on the scene, or someone being abducted by aliens who are trying to create a new type of killer monkey to help them take over the world.
Even the English press wouldn’t come up with something that far-fetched (well maybe the Star would), so they are focusing on the love rivals angle instead.
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The Independent reports that United have identified hunky Pole Robert Lewandowski and French vixen Kylian Mbappe as potential alternatives to Griezmann, who has been “lessened in priority”.
Snaring the 25-year-old from Atletico Madrid has apparently become too “complicated”, so Old Trafford bigwigs are now courting Monaco’s Mbappe and view Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski as “an especially attractive signing”.
Another attractive male who could join the Red Devils is dishy German Toni Kroos, who the Star says will consider a move to Old Trafford “if Real Madrid don’t win a trophy this year”. Not sure the EFL Cup would quench his thirst for silverware though.
Meanwhile, the Alexis Sanchez/Arsenal romcom appears to nearing a rather grisly end, with various papers confirming the Chilean’s desire to quit the Emirates as soon as possible.
The Mail says the Gunners will let Alexis leave on the condition he does not move to a Premier League rival, which makes Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain the “front-runners”. Although we seem to remember them insisting last week that Sanchez wanted to go to Spain.
Another man who has had enough of life under Arsene Wenger is Gunners goalkeeper David Ospina, who the Times says is “eager” to leave the club at the end of the season because he never gets picked for league matches. Chin up Dave, you’ll get to play against Lincoln though.
Torino’s decision to put a £130m price tag on their striker Andrea Belotti has piqued the interest of Manchester City, who would love to spend that much money on a player. The Mirror says City have “joined the race” to sign the 23-year-old Italian, who is also said to be wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea.
Elsewhere, Chelsea and City will battle to sign Middlesbrough’s £25m-rated centre-back Ben Gibson (Star), Jurgen Klopp is still interested bringing Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Gotze to Anfield despite his “metabolic disturbances” (Metro) and Barcelona are lining up a sensational double swoop for Southampton duo Cedric Soares and Oriol Romeu (Express). Who do they think they are, Liverpool?
