Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho 'sees Paulo Dybala as perfect replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic'

A round up of the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip from Old Trafford

Evan Bartlett
Thursday 12 January 2017 10:57 GMT
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Dybala scored 23 goals for Juventus last season
Dybala scored 23 goals for Juventus last season (Getty)

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Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign the highly-rated French defender Dayot Upemecano.

The 18-year-old has been winning plaudits for Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg this season and Jose Mourinho is lining up a £7m bid, according to The Sun.

A potential obstacle to an Old Trafford move is that Salzburg share the same owners as Bundesliga high-flyers RB Leipzig who are thought to have a first refusal.

One of the more unlikely rumours surrounding United today is their supposed interest in Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.

Spanish newspaper El Confidencial and The Sun both report that Mourinho sees the Argentine as the "perfect replacement" once Zlatan Ibrahimovic hangs up his boots.

But with rumours of interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona too in recent days, the 23-year-old has committed his future to the Italian champions, telling reporters: "I'm only thinking about Juventus."

Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj are both being linked with a move to Lyon by the Daily Mail.

The French club would have to pay around £15m to sign Depay but his £100,000-a-week wages are thought to be a stumbling block.

Januzaj is on loan at Sunderland until the end of the season but could move in the summer.

Luke Shaw could be on his way out of Old Trafford, according to the Daily Mirror, with Mourinho set to call young left-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson back from his loan spell at Wolves to compete for a first-team place, according to the Daily Mail.

Arsenal and Liverpool are rumoured to have made a "concrete approach" for United target Tiemoue Bakayoko, while Chelsea have reportedly joined the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Hakan Calhanoglu.

One man who won't be moving anywhere in January is United midfielder Marouane Fellaini after Mourinho triggered a one year extension in the 29-year-old's contract to keep him at Old Trafford until 2018.

The Belgian has been unpopular with sections of United fans, no more so than after giving a late and reckless penalty away against Everton in December, but appeared to have turned that around after scoring in the League Cup semi-final first leg win over Hull on Tuesday night where he received warm applause and even a hug from his manager.

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