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In today’s Manchester United transfer roundup we have three of the biggest stories involving the Red Devils to share with you. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly interested in Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, a Serie A club takes the lead in the race for Nicolas Pepe and United fail in a late approach for Idrissa Gueye.
United make Sessegnon approach
Report: As per Duncan Castles on The Transfer Window Podcast (24/07), Manchester United have made an approach for Ryan Sessegnon. Fulham could be ready to sell but will demand £27m for the 19-year-old’s services.
Verdict: Sessegnon may not have been able to hit the heights of his 2017/18 campaign last season, but he is still a talented player and managed to make history by becoming the first player born in the 21st century to score in the Premier League. The England U21 international has refused to sign a new contract at Craven Cottage, so a move away from his current club looks likely. Castles mentioned on the podcast episode that Tottenham, Juventus, PSG and RB Leipzig have all also made enquiries, so there will be a battle for his signature. Mauricio Pochettino’s track record of working wonders with younger players would make Spurs an appealing destination, whilst themselves and the other three clubs will all be playing Champions League football next season. United, therefore, would need to make a very attractive offer to convince the left-footed player to move to Old Trafford.
How likely is the deal? 6/10
Napoli agree Pepe fee
Report: Napoli have agreed a fee of €80m (£71.7m) with Lille for Nicolas Pepe, the French club’s president Gerard Lopez has told Tuttosport (via Football Italia). He added during the interview that they are one of four clubs to satisfy the Ligue 1 side’s financial demands. The player will now decide where to move to.
Verdict: If United do not manage to bring in the Ivory Coast international this summer, it would be a crushing blow and would say an awful lot about their current pulling power. In all fairness, the Red Devils could be one of the other three clubs still in running, but Lopez’s name-dropping of Napoli would indicate that they are favourites, especially considering the 24-year-old’s representatives met with the Italian team on Thursday. Adam Ounas is expected to go the other way and, whilst the LOSC president has stressed that the negotiations for the Algeria international are not part of the deal for Pepe, it would be nigh on impossible for it not to have some impact on the thought process of the two clubs. Once again, United’s lack of Champions League football could be a killer blow.
How likely is the deal? 6/10
Gueye snubs Old Trafford move
Report: Everton have agreed a deal with PSG for Idrissa Gueye, but it could have been different according to L’Equipe. They are reporting that United made a late attempt to sign the Senegal international but, despite “hesitating for a moment”, the 29-year-old stuck with the Ligue 1 champions.
Verdict: The Red Devils already have Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic as defensive options in midfield. As such, a move for Gueye makes little sense and goes against the current transfer policy that appears to be in place at Old Trafford. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dan James, the two new faces to arrive in Manchester this summer, are both 21 years old, and most of the names also linked with moves, such as Sean Longstaff, Sessegnon and Pepe, are in their early 20s at the oldest. Gueye has already stated that he wanted the move to PSG back in February, so it comes as no surprise that he would snub United.
How likely is the deal? 1/10
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