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Richard Arnold is in Spain to hurry Barca along while simultaneously working on Cristiano Ronaldo to withdraw his transfer request…
MAN UTD ATTEMPT TO MOVE BARCA AS LEEDS WAIT
The ball is very much in Barcelona’s court this morning, with Manchester United and Leeds both waiting on the Catalans to get their sh*t together.
Richard Arnold and John Murtough were in Barcelona on Monday, meeting with officials from the Nou Camp club to urge them to do what is necessary to speed up the deal for De Jong. The two clubs have agreed a fee but the player, quite rightly, isn’t shifting until he’s paid what he is owed in deferred wages, while Barca attempt to wriggle out of their obligation. The Manchester Evening News says Arnold and Murtough will meet with De Jong while they are in Spain.
Erik ten Hag is obviously desperate to get De Jong through the door but Talksport says Youri Tielemans and Ruben Neves are both on United’s contingency list if needs be.
When it comes to Raphinha, Chelsea have also had to make alternative plans since they appear set to miss out on the Brazilian. The Daily Mail reckons the Blues will move for Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry instead.
Top ten transfer needs still to be addressed by Premier League clubs this summer
UNITED HOPEFUL OF CONVINCING RONALDO TO STAY
Arnold is a busy boy at the moment, fighting fires in Barcelona and back in Manchester, where Cristiano Ronaldo remains despite his team-mates being in Thailand.
Ronaldo wants to leave United this summer, even if he hasn’t told Ten Hag directly. The United boss yesterday insisted that the 37-year-old is not for sale.
And The Times says the Red Devils are hopeful of pulling Ronaldo back into the fold, with Arnold working to convince the Portugal star to withdraw his transfer request. The United chief-exec is even said to have been ‘sympathetic to Ronaldo’s discontent, granting his representatives permission to explore options at Chelsea and Bayern Munich and suitors in Italy and Spain’. But Arnold remains intent on convincing the veteran to stay.
SPURS IN RACE FOR MEMPHIS
Back to Barcelona, where Memphis Depay is waiting for his future to be decided amid offers from the Premier League and Serie A.
Depay has a year remaining on the two-year contract he signed when he joined Barca last summer and though the Dutchman would prefer to sit out the final 12 months, the Catalans are keen to cash in, especially while they chase other targets without the funds to close deals.
Sport says Tottenham are one of three clubs keen to land Depay this summer, with Inter Milan and Juventus also sniffing.