Transfer news: Paul Pogba to Manchester United could cost Arsenal Gonzalo Higuain, Mario Gotze latest
Pogba's potential departure could fund Juventus with enough firepower to trigger Higuain's enormous buy-out clause at Napoli
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Paul Pogba’s proposed move to Manchester United could result in Arsenal missing out on Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain for the second time after reports emerged in Italy that Juventus will compete for the Napoli forward’s signature.
Gazzetta dello Sport claim that talks have already taken place between the Serie A champions and Higuain’s agent, his brother Nicolas, but the club are yet to make any approach to the club. Arsenal are being linked with a move for Higuain, who has already rejected a contract extension from Napoli, but they could miss out on the 28-year-old for the second time in three seasons.
The Gunners looked poised to sign Higuain in 2013 only for Napoli to blow their offer out of the water with a £42.5m bid, and should Juventus’s interest prove genuine in the form of an official transfer offer, Arsenal may decide against competing. It’s claimed Juventus could even look to activate Higuain’s release clause, which falls just short of the £80m mark.
Juventus’s financial firepower stems from the sale of Alvaro Morata to Real Madrid, though such an offer for Higuain would also raise questions over Pogba’s future and whether a potential world record move would fund the Higuain deal. United are mounting a public pursuit of Pogba in an attempt to bring him back to Old Trafford four years after his departure on a free transfer, and the Premier League club are said to be willing to pay up to £100m this summer.
Pogba spoke warmly of United earlier this week, in which he called them his “first family”, but talks between the two clubs so far have proven inconclusive.
One player who has been linked with a move out of United is Bastian Schweinsteiger, but the World Cup winner may now be poised to stay at Old Trafford after it was revealed the club will need to pay the midfielder £14m if he leaves this summer.
Despite Paris Saint-Germain being interested in the 31-year-old, Schweinsteiger is reported to be determined to stay at United unless his contract is paid up in full. A United source reportedly told The Sun: “Bastian will cost every penny of the £14million still owed to him on his two-years left.
“He has had talks with Jose over his future but it is still uncertain at this stage. The next few weeks will reveal more.
“He will not be pushed out and will sit tight for pay-off.”
Borussia Dortmund are leading the race to sign Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko, although the Championship club are refusing to lower their £35m valuation. As revealed by The Independent last week, Newcastle will demand £35m to let the France midfielder leave the club, despite their recent relegation to the second tier of English football.
French newspaper L’Equipe reports that Dortmund are keen to sign Sissoko though in an effort to replace Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with the Armenian joining Manchester United for £26m earlier this month, and Dortmund appear to be closing in on another summer signing after reports in Germany revealed that Mario Gotze is nearing a return to the Signal Iduna Park.
It was claimed last week that Tottenham were nearing a surprise move for the World Cup winner, but the Evening Standard reports that Spurs are not interested in the Bayern Munich midfielder and reports in Germany claim he has held discussions over a return to Dortmund.
Finally, Manchester City’s move for Schalke’s attacking midfielder Leroy Sane has reached a stalemate after the Premier League side refused to meet Schalke’s £42m valuation, with the club unwilling to up their current bid of £35m.
Sane is currently on holiday after his Euro 2016 commitments with Germany, and The Telegraph reports that a disagreement in the asking fee has led to the delay to a move that was expected to go through last weekend.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments