Manchester United transfer roundup: Man City swoop in for €500m-rated United target as Guardiola waits for player’s answer and more – 3 August 2018

Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! With each passing day, it seems as though the rumour mill is reaching closer to its stopping point.

Although, this is most likely going to be wrong since the mill never ceases from weaving stories for the rest of us. The transfer window might shut down for Premier League clubs on 9 August, but the stories will never stop – just like it hasn’t halted today as here are some of the best stories regarding the most popular club in England.

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#5 Anthony Martial & Toby Alderweireld swap?

Manchester United’s interest in Toby Alderweireld has been well documented over the past few months. While the Belgian might not have played many minutes of football last season, he still has a strong suitor in the form of Manchester United.

According to Dharmesh Sheth of Sky Sports, the relationship between Mourinho and Anthony Martial is just going downhill, which is why there is a slight chance for him to be sold.

Will Toby Alderweireld move away from Spurs?

While he thinks that the Red Devils are not willing to sell him to a Premier League rival, in the off chance that they do, it could end up being a swap deal that would see Toby Alderweireld join the Theatre of Dreams while the former Monaco man moves to the North London outfit as the Lilywhites have been interested in acquiring the signature of Martial for quite some time now.

“I think you can safely say all is not well between Anthony Martial and Jose Mourinho,” Sheth said on the Sky Sports transfer talk podcast. "We’re told he wants to leave, now United may be prepared to let him go but not to a Premier League rival.

“The transfer window in this country finishes on August 9,” he said. “If in the small chance they were to deal with a Premier League club, then I wonder whether they would consider a swap deal perhaps.

“He’s had a history of it at United, hasn’t he? Back in January Sanchez for Mkhitaryan. Adam, you mention Willian there, is there potential for a swap with Chelsea there, or is there a chance of a swap with Tottenham for Alderweireld.

“Because Tottenham have had a long standing interest in Martial."

#4 Yerry Mina

Mina to United?

Manchester United’s want for a centre-back might just end by next Thursday if this report from El Mundo Deportivo is to be believed.

The Catalan outlet has claimed that after 10 days of negotiations between the Red Devils and Barcelona, a deal could reach to a conclusion by next Thursday.

The report claims that United have agreed on terms with the Colombian defender and all that remains is for the two clubs to decide on to a fee. Barca, they add, want around €40 million for him.

Meanwhile, another Catalan outlet, Sport, also state something similar as they report that the Colombian defender is aware that his next destination is going to be Manchester United.

#3 Anthony Martial

Martial could leave

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed that the club have no intention of acquiring the signature of Anthony Martial. There had been reports previously that claimed of the Bavarians’ interest in the player but Rummenigge has dismissed those reports.

He stated that Bayern already have four inside forwards in the team, which means that there is no place for another one in the form of Anthony Martial.

“We have four outside strikers: [Franck] Ribery, [Arjen] Robben, [Kingsley] Coman and [Serge] Gnabry," Rummenigge said.

“And [Alphonso] Davies is there too. You must not turn the wheel over. That's what some clubs do, but it's a problem for the coach.”

#2 Paul Pogba

The World Cup winner

Barcelona have been linked with a move for World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba over the last few weeks but according to a report from Sport, Pogba is not on the top of the Catalan club's priority list.

The reason for this is that the Camp Nou outfit deem Ajax’s Frenkie De Jong and PSG’s Adrien Rabiot as better fit to their system than the former Juventus man.

However, there is a contradictory report doing rounds in the Italian media. According to Calcio Mercato, who picked it up from Tuttosport, Paul Pogba is apparently keen to join Barcelona and wear the legendary number 8 shirt that has been vacated with the departure of club hero Andres Iniesta.

#1 Toni Kroos

Wanted by both Manchester clubs?

And, finally, the rumour of the day. Toni Kroos’ Germany might have had a terrible World Cup in Russia and the German might not have been at his best in the tournament.

Still, his talent and application are apparent and it is for this reason that he has a €500 million release clause with Real Madrid.

However, that doesn’t make the former Bayern Munich star immune to be linked out with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu. According to the information obtained by Don Balon, Pep Guardiola wants the German star to join his ranks at the Etihad.

They also add that Jose Mourinho likes the player and that Guardiola wants to buy him to kill two birds with a stone as he will not only sign a great player but also someone his arch-rival coveted.