Advertisement

Hot Transfer Window Gossip: Man Utd 'confident of Griezmann deal', Shaw 'set for Old Trafford exit', Chelsea 'want Morata'

Being the best is important to Manchester United, although a subtle change has taken place at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. Under Fergie they were the best at winning trophies; now they’re the best at paying world record transfer fees. It’s a slightly different thing, but Red Devils fans can console themselves that at least they’re the best at something.

And having proved their unrivalled skill at being able to spend a huge amount of money on one player when they signed Paul Pogba for £89m last summer, United are reportedly planning to do it again next summer – although whether they can break their own record is mainly dependent on the pound/euro exchange rate.

Today’s Independent says United are “increasingly confident” of signing Pogba’s French international team-mate Antoine Griezmann for “another world-record fee”.

[JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW 217 LIVE – ALL THE INS AND OUT AS THEY HAPPEN]

[CLUB BY CLUB FANS GUIDE TO THE PAYERS THEY WANT TO SIGN – AND SELL]

The Atletico Madrid striker is said to have a release clause of €100m, which at the current rate works out at £86.72m (no commission if you do it at Thomas Cook) – so slightly less than Pogba. But by June, €100m could be worth £110m – depending on the contents of Theresa May’s next hard Brexit speech.

Still, one reassuring thing about forking out a world record fee is that you’re guaranteeing the transfer will be a success. Right?

Well, actually, maybe not, because Luke Shaw – who became the world’s most expensive teenager when United signed him from Southampton for £31m in 2014 – is reportedly set to leave the club.

The Independent (again, they are on fire today – for once) says United are “open to offers” for the left-back, although those offers are likely to be below £31m.

Jose Mourinho is said to have become “frustrated” with Shaw’s “lack of progress” and the Indy suggests that Chelsea or Tottenham (if they sell Danny Rose) would be interested in taking him.

At least Shaw isn’t the world’s most expensive teenager anymore. That’s Anthony Martial – the forward who has scored two league goals for United all season. Oh well.

Meanwhile, Diego Costa is back in training and apparently ready to stay at Chelsea for the rest of the season, but that hasn’t stopped the Blues planning for his replacement.

The Telegraph says Antonio Conte has identified Alvaro Morata as Costa’s “successor”. The Spain striker rejected the advances of Premier League clubs to return to Real Madrid last summer, but he may currently be questioning the wisdom of that decision after starting just six La Liga games all season.

Another striker on Conte’s shortlist is Romelu Lukaku, who has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge more times than he’s shoved defenders to the ground with his bum. The Mirror says Lukaku is open to leaving Everton in the summer, even if he signs a new contract at Goodison Park in the meantime. Charming.

Elsewhere, West Brom, Hull, Sunderland and Swansea are interested in signing Leonardo Ulloa, who has got fed up with Leicester buying loads of other strikers and slapped in a transfer request (Express), Memphis Depay is set to seal his £15m move from Man Utd to Lyon “within the next 48 hours” (Mirror) and West Ham have reached a “breakthrough” in their pursuit of Brentford striker Scott Hogan (Mail). Which basically means they have given up trying to get him on the cheap and decided to just cough up the asking price. It would be nice if Marseille followed suit with Dimitri Payet.

@darlingkevin