RB Leipzig eye Jadon Sancho as Manchester United chief visits Saudi Arabia for transfer talks – Paper Round
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Updated 18/12/2023 at 23:20 GMT
Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Manchester United, where winger Jadon Sancho is among four names mentioned in the Daily Mail’s report claiming football director John Murtough has visited Saudi Arabia for transfer talks. Sancho is also attracting interest in Germany. Elsewhere, Wolves want two signings next month, while Chelsea are unwilling to let a winger go out on loan.
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Leipzig in for Sancho?
RB Leipzig could be ready to rival Borussia Dortmund for the signature of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, the Daily Mail reports – based on a post from Bild’s Christian Falk.
Sancho has been banished from United’s first team since a falling out with head coach Erik ten Hag in September, after he was dropped for the Premier League game against Arsenal.
Sancho is expected to move on in the January transfer window, with the rift showing no sign of healing given Ten Hag is awaiting an apology from the forward before welcoming him back into the fold.
The Daily Mail adds: “Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund are also keen on re-signing the forward, but his £17m-a-year salary will prove to be an issue.
“Barcelona and Juventus are also monitoring developments. Off-loading Sancho is United's priority next month, either on loan or in a permanent deal.”
The £230m outcasts
As well as Sancho, their £73m signing from Dortmund in 2021, United are looking to sell Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and Casemiro, with the Daily Mail claiming football director John Murtough flew to Saudi Arabia to discuss potential transfers.
Clubs in the Saudi Pro League could pay the fees United are after, but perhaps not until the summer after a bumper previous window saw players including Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante move to Saudi Arabia.
The Mail writes: “Murtough is understood to have left Saudi Arabia without reaching agreement on any transfers, but established some important new relationships for United and further talks are planned.
“After spending over £750m on new signings last summer SPL clubs will not be as active during the January window however, not least as many of the top-flight's 18 clubs have already filled their overseas player quota, so United may have to wait until the summer to trade with the cash-rich Saudi clubs.”
Wolves want two January signings
Wolves would like to sign two players in the January transfer window despite being poised to report financial losses of £65m, the Telegraph reports. Gary O’Neil is keen on a striker and a winger as the club look to offload several fringe players.
The Telegraph adds: “Viktoria Plzen forward Rafiu Durosinmi remains a £7m target, though Wolves face serious competition for his signature from Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Wolves are likely to consider the departures of £35m forward Fabio Silva, Austrian international Sasa Kalajdzic and Jonny Otto, to free up cash in either permanent or loan deals, as they have been short of game-time this season.”
Chelsea won’t loan out Madueke
Chelsea are not willing to let Noni Madueke leave on loan in January, The Athletic reports. The 21-year-old has made just two starts amid eight appearances this season in all competitions, with fitness issues impacting his chances of selection.
The Blues could loan out midfielder Andrey Santos, who has played just twice at Nottingham Forest, but amid interest from Strasbourg it is unlikely that Madueke could leave for the second half of the season as well.
The Athletic adds: “Chelsea already have the maximum of seven players out on international loans — Gabriel Slonina at Eupen, David Fofana at Union Berlin, Angelo Gabriel at Strasbourg, Diego Moreira at Lyon, Hakim Ziyech at Galatasaray, Kepa Arrizabalaga at Real Madrid and Romelu Lukaku at Roma.
"One of those loans could be ended to facilitate a temporary move abroad for Santos or any other player in the Chelsea squad.”
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