..::Football IV::..

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'Pickford is a bargain at £30m' - Southall and Shilton praise Everton target

Retired goalkeeping duo Peter Shilton and Neville Southall have both heaped praise on £30 million Everton target Jordan Pickford.

The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Toffees, and would become the third most expensive goalkeeper in history should he move from Sunderland for £30m.

Pickford's proposed transfer fee has sparked much discussion as he has played just 31 top-flight games, but former Everton goalkeeper Southall believes that the young shotstopper could be worth as much as 12 points a season for Ronald Koeman's side.

Ex-Wales international Southall tweeted that Pickford has the "potential to go all the way to world level", while former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton also believes the youngster is definitely worth the money being mooted.
"This sort of money should be spent on goalkeepers," Shilton told the Liverpool Echo .“For someone like Jordan, who is young and has great potential, it does not seem a great fee.

“In the big scheme of things it is not a lot of money, considering how important the goalkeeping position is. It is second to a striker who scores 20 goals a season. You cannot have a really good side without a good goalkeeper.”

 

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Corentin Tolisso completes €41.5m Bayern Munich move

Bayern Munich have announced that they have signed France international midfielder Corentin Tolisso from Olympique Lyonnais.

The 22-year-old midfielder has arrived at the Allianz Arena for a fee of €41.5 million and has agreed upon a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions, who saw off reported competition from Chelsea for the midfielder.

Although Tolisso’s primary position has been in the centre of the field for OL, he has proven to be an exceptionally versatile presence since breaking into the first team in 2013. He has played in a myriad of positions, from right-back through to playmaker and even as a false nine for periods this term.

By moving to Munich he has put to an end a 10-year long association with Lyon, who he joined aged nine in 2007 having been born 30 miles from the city. Tolisso expressed his delight at signing for Bayern, and also thanked his former club.

“I had a wonderful time at Lyon, and I’m very thankful for that," he told Bayern Munich's official website. "Now I’m really pleased to be at one of the best clubs in Europe. I have great aims for my time at FC Bayern. Today is a great day for me.”

He has played 160 times for OL, scoring 29 times, including 14 in the last season, and made his international debut for France against Spain in March, despite also being eligible to represent Togo, where his father was born.

Lyon confirmed the transfer fee for Tolisso as €41.5m with a maximum of €6m in further bonuses depending on his performances at the Allianz Arena.

Tolisso follows Sebastian Rudy, Niklas Sule and Serge Gnabry as new additions to Carlo Ancelotti's ranks this summer, with the Italian still keen on countryman Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain.

 

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Premier League fixtures 2017/18​

Reigning champions Chelsea and runners-up Tottenham will go head-to-head at Wembley in the second week of the Premier League season.​

The new campaign gets under way on Saturday 12 August with Antonio Conte's Chelsea hosting Burnley in their first fixture three months after winning the title by seven points ahead of their London rivals.​

The Manchester and Merseyside derbies are scheduled to take place on the same weekends. Manchester City visit Old Trafford and Everton travel to Anfield on December 9, with the return fixtures pencilled in for April 7.​

All eyes will be on Arsenal this season after Arsene Wenger's decision to stay and the Frenchman will be fired up for their third game when he takes his Gunners to Liverpool on August 26.Jose Mourinho's Manchester United will take on West Ham in their opener at Old Trafford, while neighbours City and Pep Guardiola head to new boys Brighton.​

Championship winners Newcastle welcome Spurs at St James' Park on the first day and Huddersfield, fresh from their play-off win, face a trip to the capital when they play Crystal Palace.​

Opening day fixtures:​

Arsenal v Leicester City
Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City
Chelsea v Burnley
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town
Everton v Stoke City
Manchester United v West Ham United
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Swansea City
Watford v Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth​

Final day fixtures:​

Burnley v Bournemouth
Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion
Huddersfield Town v Arsenal
Liverpool v Brighton and Hove Albion
Manchester United v Watford
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Southampton v Manchester City
Swansea City v Stoke City
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City
West Ham United v Everton​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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Paris Saint-Germain turn their backs on Aubameyang

Paris Saint-Germain have stopped their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Goal understands.

New sporting director Antero Henrique has elected to look at other options in attack, with the club still hoping to sign a major player before the start of the new campaign.

It was former Porto director who elected to drop the chase for the 27-year-old Gabon striker, who has already turned out in Ligue 1 for Monaco, Lille and Saint-Etienne.

Indeed, PSG were close to brokering a deal with the player before Henrique’s arrival at the club, but they will not overpay for the speedy forward.

Alexis Sanchez remains at the top of PSG’s wish list, though with Manchester City and Bayern Munich hot on the tail of the Chile star, who is not certain to depart Arsenal, it appears a difficult deal to force through.

Instead PSG’s first signing of the summer could well be a left-back, though no names have been made public by the Ligue 1 runners-up.

 

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OFFICIAL: Everton sign Pickford for £30m

Everton have confirmed the signing of Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for a fee of £25 million, rising to £30m based on performances.

The 23-year-old is a club record transfer and signs a five-year deal with the Toffees.Everton were reported to have had a previous bid rejected for Pickford, who attracted interest from Arsenal after a fine season despite Sunderland's relegations.

The Toffees have since reached an agreement with the Black Cats, and the England U21 international will become the third most expensive goalkeeper in history if it reaches its full value.

“It’s great to sign for the club," Pickford told Everton's website. "Last season was my first in the Premier League so to get this opportunity with Everton now, to be able to go forward with my career and show everyone what I can do with Everton is unbelievable. “I think it’s a great opportunity and the right time for me to come to Everton and show what I can do.

“This is an exciting time for the club and for me, too, with the ambition being shown. I just want to be the best I can be to help."Everton coach Ronald Koeman spoke of his delight at bringing in a goalkeeper tipped for an excellent future.

“I’m really pleased we’ve made what I'm sure will be a significant signing," he said.
“Jordan is a very talented young professional who also has a real hunger for success, and that's important for us as we now look to make further progress in the seasons ahead.

“We've seen the quality he has through his performances in the Premier League last season and, given his young age, we're sure he will get even better."

Pickford signed for Sunderland at a young age and had spells on loan at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End before breaking into David Moyes' side in 2016-17.
He conceded 50 goals in the English top-flight, but won the Sunderland supporters' Young Player of the Year award.

 

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AC Milan announce Donnarumma will not extend contract

AC Milan have announced that Gianluigi Donnarumma has rejected their offer of a new contract and does not intend to extend his current deal, which expires in 2018.The news was confirmed by the club's chief executive, Marco Fassone, at a press conference arranged after talks on Thursday.

Fassone said that he had been informed by Donnarumma's agent, Mino Raiola, that the young goalkeeper's decision to leave the club upon the expiry of his current terms was "final".

Milan will now have to decide whether to cash in on the 18-year-old, who is widely regarded as the brightest goalkeeping prospect in world football, or allow his contract to run down and receive what is likely to be significantly smaller fee through a tribunal.

"Mino Raiola has informed me of Donnarumma's decision not to renew his contract with AC Milan," Fassone said. "It's a final decision taken by the player.

"I remember that 10 days ago we made an important offer to the player - even more important that what the newspapers have written. The player made his technical, economical and personal considerations and has decided to reject it.
"He will end his relationship with AC Milan on June 30, 2018."

Donnarumma became the second-youngest goalkeeper to play in Serie A when he made his Milan debut as a 16-year-old in 2015.He has since cemented his position as the club's No. 1 stopper and became the youngest goalkeeper to play for Italy at 17 years and 189 days last year.

Donnarumma has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, with the Red Devils expected to enter the market for a new goalkeeper if they sell David de Gea to Real Madrid.

Madrid themselves have also been credited with interest in the man regarded as Gianluigi Buffon's long-term successor as they seek an upgrade on current first-choice Keylor Navas.

Goal reported on Thursday morning that Donnarumma was set for a decisive day of talks involving Raiola and Milan negotiator Massimiliano Mirabelli.

The Rossoneri were ready to pay the teenager €4.5 million per year before bonuses and willing to insert a release clause into the deal, but have been unable to persuade him to sign.

Milan have monitored established Serie A goalkeepers such as Neto, of Juventus, and Pepe Reina, of Napoli, as contigency options should an agreement to sell Donnarumma be struck this summer.

 

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OFFICIAL: Ranieri appointed Nantes coach

Claudio Ranieri is back in football less than four months after being sacked by Leicester City after agreeing a two-year contract with Nantes.

The Italian was unceremoniously dumped by the Foxes in February as they battled for Premier League survival, despite having led them to a stunning league title the season before.

Ranieri had been linked with a return to English football with Crystal Palace and Watford following the end of the 2016-17 campaign, but he has opted for a move to Ligue 1.He replaces Sergio Conceicao at Nantes after the Portuguese coach left for Porto, having guided them to seventh in the table last time out.

Ranieri has penned a deal that will run until the end of the 2018-19 campaign with Les Canaris - who had accused the French Football Federation of holding up the appointment on Tuesday - and he will hope to replicate the success he had with Leicester and lead the club into the European places.

It will be his second spell in France having previously spent two seasons with Monaco, the 65-year-old leading them back to the top flight in his first season in charge.

He then took them to second place behind Paris Saint-Germain before leaving for the Greek national team and then Leicester.

 

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Real Madrid & Monaco hold talks over potential Mbappe deal

Real Madrid and Monaco have held talks over a potential deal for France sensation Kylian Mbappe, Goal understands.

Madrid - specifically coach Zinedine Zidane - are huge admirers of Mbappe and the teenager revealed this week that the reigning European champions have been trying to sign him since he was 14 years old.

Mbappe has risen to stardom in Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season and will almost certainly command a world-record transfer fee should he leave the principality.

The two clubs met at the end of last week but Monaco do not want to sell the 18-year-old, and reports in France have suggested they could demand as much as €135 million (£118m) for his signature - comfortably topping the fee Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last summer.

Madrid will have the means to meet those demands by selling Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez in deals that are likely to bring in close to €150m combined, but they are unlikely to want to do so.

That has not discouraged them from sitting down with Monaco and attempting to work out a resolution, though, as they see Mbappe as the best replacement for Morata and long-term successor to Karim Benzema on the market.

For his part, Mbappe will go on holiday and mull over his options after meeting the Monaco hierarchy on Thursday morning, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City also interested in signing him.

He could decide to stay at Monaco as they will be a Pot 1 team in the draw for the Champions League group stage and can offer him guaranteed first-team football, giving him the platform he needs to play a major role for France at next summer's World Cup.

But Mbappe is known to be a Real Madrid fan and has previously visited the club's Valdebebas training ground. Joining them would give him a chance to learn from two of his idols in Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

There will also be some doubt around Monaco that they can replicate their 2016-17 season, with Bernardo Silva already having been sold to Manchester City and Benjamin Mendy likely to follow. Fabinho also looks set to depart.

Having already decided to keep Keylor Navas and Danilo and sell James, Morata, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, Madrid hope to conclude their transfer business sooner rather than later.

 

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Mbappe Real Madrid join wei​

 

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Juve boss Allegri confirms Douglas Costa interest

Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed Juventus are interested in signing Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa.

The Brazil international is unhappy at Bayern after failing to secure a regular starting berth and recently admitted he was considering his options.

As reported by Goal, Bayern are believed to be willing to let go of the 26-year-old if an offer in the region of €45 million comes in and Allegri has revealed Juventus are keen to lure him to Turin.

"Douglas Costa is one of our objectives, he is a very good player," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia, before providing updates on the proposed transfers of forward Patrik Schick and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny from Sampdoria and Arsenal respectively."Schick has not arrived yet, but he does things that are out of the ordinary. Szczesny is not done.

"I know that when I get back for pre-season, the club will have signed players who improve the squad, but that is not easy because we have reached such a high level now that there are only a few players around who fit the bill. To move on, you need to find players who complete the areas where we are most lacking."Numerically, the squad is done, apart from up front. We will just need to replace those who leave, but the club are very good at this."

 

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Redknapp confirms Birmingham City offer for Terry

Former Chelsea captain John Terry has been offered a contract by Championship side Birmingham City.

Birmingham manager Harry Redknapp has made an approach to bring the 36-year-old to the second-tier club, even though he thinks the centre-back remains capable of playing at any level.Terry has also been linked with a move to the United States, China and Premier League clubs West Brom and Bournemouth.

But Redknapp hopes his "good offer" will be enough to lure Terry to Birmingham, who only avoided relegation to League One on the final day of last season."I would love to have him at the football club," Redknapp said to talkSPORT. "He is a fantastic captain and great leader.

"We have made him a good offer and we have done the best we can. It is up to John now, but we would love him at Birmingham.

"He could play for anybody still – he has got a couple of good years in him.
"He played for me the other week in Michael Carrick's testimonial. I had John at the back with Jamie Carragher and I would have them two together all day long.They were fantastic."I had a chat with him and said to him come in - he's doing his coaching badges - have a year or two and who knows what he wants to do in the future?"

Terry left Premier League champions Chelsea at the end of the season after 22 years at the club, a spell that saw him win 15 major trophies.He fell out of favour after Antonio Conte's arrival as manager, only making nine top-flight appearances in 2016-17.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Don't blame Raiola for Donnarumma's shock AC Milan exit

As AC Milan’s fall from grace has continued over the past couple of years, there has been just a single seemingly-unfailing bright light in the wreckage. Gianluigi Donnarumma’s phenomenal rise to regular first-team football at the age of 16 was the stuff of fairy tales.

It was the good news story onto which Milanisti could cling at their lowest moments as their team scuffled around for positive results of any sort. All Milan fans could relate to ‘Gigio’. He, like them, was a Rossonero, and his successes were reflective of a dream he shared with every supporter of a red and black faith.

But that now lies in ruins after it was announced by the club that Donnarumma’s agent, Mino Raiola, had informed them it was his client’s decision to “definitively” reject a new contract, leaving Milan facing the probability of losing the jewel in their crown for peanuts when his current deal expires in 12 months’ time.

Raiola’s role in the 18-year-old’s decision has quickly been admonished by fans and pundits far and wide, with many seeing the super-agent as the instigator of Donnarumma’s ultimate choice to look elsewhere. The notorious Dutch-Italian wheeler-dealer has developed a reputation for securing hugely-rewarding transfers for players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mario Balotelli, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and his inculcation of the young keeper with a sense of his worth has been pilloried far and wide.

Yet in truth, Raiola has done nothing other than exploit football’s current administrative shortcomings for the good of his players. He might be making huge sums of money for himself by farming Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan and Pogba to Manchester United, Balotelli to anyone who’ll take him, and alerting Donnarumma to the possibilities available to him, but he is also making sure young men with the football-watching world at their feet get the financial packages their talents deserve.

Morally, there are questions to be asked of Raiola, but the same can be said of any agent who has ever helped to broker a deal. Better to have a Raiola than one who has no deal with a player - yet still attempts to stage a transfer between clubs without a prior agreement with the player involved. All in all, the latest developments regarding Donnarumma just underline the fact that football is in trouble of swallowing itself whole if continued finance-first tactics eventually persuade fans to simply stop watching.

But for those Milan fans who are too invested to stop caring, Donnarumma’s decision comes like a knife to the heart. As the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester United are left pondering a move for the superstar youngster, Milan have to face up to life without their greatest of home-grown talents.

After watching the likes of Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Del Piero, Javier Zanetti and most recently Francesco Totti exit the Italian stage in recent years, Serie A’s reputation as the home of sentimentality is fading. Once Gianluigi Buffon retires in 12 months’ time, the last of the great bandieri will be gone.

Donnarumma was being singled out as the leader of the next generation of dyed-in-the-wool club legends, but instead looks set to be just another player lost to the power games of modern football.

 

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Everton complete deal for Ajax's Davy Klaassen

Everton have completed the signing of Davy Klaassen from Ajax in a deal worth €27 million.The Netherlands international has signed a five-year deal with the Premier League side after passing his medical.

Klaassen came through the ranks of the Ajax youth academy and made his official first-team debut in a Champions League encounter with Lyon in November 2011.

He has since gone on to make 180 appearances in all competitions over the past six seasons, winning three Eredivisie titles in the process.

The attacking midfielder, who was Ajax captain for the past two seasons, netted an impressive 20 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions in 2016-17 as Ajax finished runners-up in the Eredivisie and reached the Europa League final, where Manchester United proved to be too strong.

Klaassen, 24, becomes Everton's second signing ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, quickly following in the footsteps of Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who also joined on Thursday."I've walked around the training ground and talked with a few people and it feels good," Klaassen told Everton's official website.

"I spoke a few weeks ago with Ronald Koeman about Everton. I wanted to come here and check if this was the right club for me and since I came here I feel so happy. It's a great club.

"The moment that I spoke with the manager directly I got a good feeling. He's an honest guy, we talked about the club, about the way he wants to play and that gave me a positive feeling.

"I talked to him about the club and everything we want to achieve and he was really positive. It's difficult to leave Ajax but I think this is a good step for me now and I'm really looking forward to my time here."

Klaassen's arrival bolsters Koeman's squad at Goodison Park as they look to build on his first season at the helm, in which the Toffees placed seventh in the Premier League, and he is thrilled to have made two key signings in one day."I'm delighted we've been able to bring Davy to Everton," he said.

"He's a player who is only 24 but has a lot of experience and is a leader on the pitch. He has already captained Ajax for two seasons and that shows you the type of person he is."He is hardworking, likes to press and, of course, will give us more creativity and goals.

"It is another major signing for Everton Football Club and I am really happy we have been able to complete the deal so early in the summer."

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid because he does not want to play in Spain any more, Sky sources understand.The former Manchester United winger is angry about the way he has been treated by Spanish tax authorities and has told Real he wants a move away from the club.

Spanish prosecutors have accused Ronaldo of avoiding £14.7m in tax - a charge he completely denies.The Portugal captain is facing allegations from Madrid's regional state prosecutor of four counts of tax fraud relating to image rights payments.

The four-time Ballon d'Or winner spoke briefly when quizzed on the subject by reporters following a training session with Portugal on Wednesday, saying he had a "clear conscience".

Ronaldo, 32, signed a new five-year contract last November which means he is contracted to Real until 2021, but has previously stated a desire to return to Manchester United at some point in the future.There is interest from China with the mid-season window there opening on Monday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Meka atthakda?hithagannath amarune.

Come to Manchester United C.Ronaldo.We need you
​

 

[ObeliX]

Meka atthakda?hithagannath amarune.

Come to Manchester United C.Ronaldo.We need you
​

Skysports eke tibba ohoma seen ekak attada danne na.
Tax case ekak kiyala tamai kiyanne.

 

[Alucard_SxE]

Meka atthakda?hithagannath amarune.

Come to Manchester United C.Ronaldo.We need you
​

1. Some madrid fans are pure shit! They don't know how to treat players
2. Madrid board doesn't know how to treat players. Similar case with Pepe
3. perhaps Ronaldo is guilty in this case and maybe he's trying to evade by leaving spain somehow
4. Just pure rumors. Although Marca & a portugese paper both have apparently reported this.

Anyway it's not likely he'll return to man u with murinho as coach. They have bad blood between them. But there's a 1 billion dollar transfer fee so might happen.

I hate this shit! Not a player that should leave by any means ​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Madrid should sign 'new Ronaldo' Mbappe - then loan him back to Monaco, says Leboeuf

Real Madrid should sign Kylian Mbappe and then loan him back to Monaco for the benefit of his development, according to Franck Leboeuf, who thinks the forward could become "the new Ronaldo".

Ex-France defender Leboeuf believes Les Bleus' new star would be best served by spending another season with Monaco, but understands the Ligue 1 champions would struggle to resist a world-record offer for the 18-year-old.

Lebouef therefore believes a sign and loan strategy from Madrid could be the best solution after Mbappe discussed the European champions' interest in him this week.

"He seems to be able to handle everything and able to become, I don't know, maybe the new Ronaldo," Leboeuf said to ESPN."It is very complicated because he is not the only one to decide [his future]. Monaco have something to do with it.

"If you offer £100 million or £130m to come to Real Madrid it is hard for Monaco to say no, but if we only talk about the football I wish him to stay in Monaco for another year to be able to handle more of his football under pressure.

"He only played for six months - don't forget he didn't start the season, he only started in November. He is very young and very inexperienced even if he shows the opposite.

"He has to be patient, his time [to move] will come. Obviously we don't wish him to get injured but if he carries on like that there is no way he is not going to have a fantastic career.

"Being under Leonardo Jardim in Monaco with all the players that he knows, and with a certain way of life in Monaco with no pressure, he can become even bigger and maybe go to Real Madrid."Maybe Real Madrid can sign him from Monaco and loan him for a year to Monaco, that could be the best way."

Leboeuf is extremely impressed with Mbappe's maturity after he won his fourth France cap in the 3-2 victory over England at Stade de France, setting up Ousmane Dembele's winner."He has everything," Leboeuf said. "He's not 20 yet and already mature, he is a very smart person on top of being a fantastic football player.

"He has that little plus which makes players exceptional and he's very humble.When he talks to the press you see somebody who already seems to be already 30.

"He has the pace, he has the technique, he seems to have the physique to carry on all season long and be effective. "He's really exceptional, he has everything. Now, how is he going to cope with the fame? I don't know.


"His feet seem to be on earth, but I don't know what's going to happen in the future, his close future, whether he's going to stay in Monaco or go maybe to Real Madrid or somewhere else."

 

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Perisic seen as a perfect fit for Man Utd by former coach Meulensteen as he backs bid for Inter winger

Inter winger Ivan Perisic would be a perfect addition for Manchester United this summer, according to former coach Rene Meulensteen.The Croatia international has emerged as a top target for the Red Devils as they seek to bring added creativity and goal threat into the Old Trafford fold.Perisic has proven himself over several years in Germany and Italy, with his assist and goal tallies to be admired for a player operating on the flanks.

Meulensteen believes it is those qualities which would make him a useful signing for United, with Jose Mourinho clearly in the market for greater attacking spark.

Meulensteen, speaking exclusively to 888sport, said: “Perisic has good experience and pace and could come in and create things.“He is comfortable on the ball, can beat a man and has a fantastic pass.“It’s important that United have a man who can open up defences with one pass and he has that.“He can offer them another level of a goal threat.”

United have also been heavily linked with a move for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, with the Spain international facing fierce competition for places at the La Liga and Champions League double winners.

Meulensteen sees that as another deal which makes sense for the Red Devils, as they seek to fill the goalscoring void created by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure at the end of his 12-month contract.The Dutchman added, with Torino’s Andrea Belotti also in the transfer picture: “Morata is a good striker, he’s mobile, agile, and creates chances.

“The same can be said of Belotti but both would be coming from abroad and would have to adapt to the Premier League which we all know is difficult.“If Belotti comes in it’s important that he scores early and get the monkey off his back. Then he could be a good fit.

“For me, though, it would be Morata. We haven’t seen enough of him lately but then again it is extremely hard to get into that Real team.”