Paper Talk: Zlatan hint; Roma put fee on United, Chelsea target

Manchester United are closing in on a £250,000 a week deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Roma want £35million for Radja Nainggolan, while Man City will battle Juventus for a Real Madrid star, according to Friday morning’s newspapers.

UNITED CLOSE IN ON ZLATAN DEAL

Manchester United have reportedly met with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s representatives as they close in on a sensational summer move for the Swede.

According to the Daily Star, United  executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward hopes to tempt Ibrahimovic with a two-year deal worth a staggering £250,000-a-week – worth £24million to the player.

The 34-year-old will be a free agent in June after failing to agree a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain, where he has won four straight league titles.

Ibrahimovic is also a target of Arsenal and Chelsea, but United are willing to blow them out of the water and flex their financial muscle.

The deal on offer would make Ibrahimovic one of the highest-paid stars in English football.

A club source reportedly told the paper: “The team needs a major injection of talent and some superstar additions.

“Zlatan fits the bill. He might be getting on a bit but he can still do it at the highest level and would be worth the risk in terms of big wages because no fee is involved.”

The paper also suggests the news gives another ‘strong indication’ that Louis van Gaal is heading for the Old Trafford exit at the end of this season.

Van Gaal has clung to his job for months, despite overseeing another disappointing campaign at the helm.

But Van Gaal and Ibrahimovic have a mutual dislike for each other after falling out during their time together at Ajax in 2004.

ROMA DEMAND £35M FOR MAN UNITED AND CHELSEA TARGET

Roma have slapped a £35million price-tag on midfielder Radja Nainggolan.

That is according to Italian publication Tuttosport, who claim Roma are keen to send a clear message that they want to keep hold of the Belgian.

But the Giallorossi will reportedly consider any offer over £35m for a player they paid Cagliari £15m for in January 2014.

Football Italia claim Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester United and Serie A rivals Juventus are all interested in Nainggolan’s services.Incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly keen to make Nainggolan his first signing at Stamford Bridge, while United have been keeping tabs on him since the summer.It is unlikely Nainggolan would accept a move to Juve, however, after he mocked the Italian champions following his move to Roma last summer.”I don’t think it’s necessary to go into a star-studded team to win a trophy. I am in a great side and I want to win with the Giallorossi,” he said in July.“For me it’s better to win one trophy at Roma than 10 at Juventus.”

CITY TO BATTLE JUVENTUS FOR ISCO

Manchester City and Juventus are ready to battle it out for Real Madrid midfielder Isco and James Rodriguez could also be heading for the exit at the Bernabeu.

Isco is set to be chased out of the club by a “furious” manager Zinedine Zidane in the summer, but he won’t be short of suitors .

He is already at the centre of a tug-of-war between the Blues and Italian champions Juve after the Premier League club made further contact with the player.

The Daily Mirror understands Zidane had planned to make Isco a key part of his team, having being impressed by him when working as part of Carlo Ancelotti’s staff.

Ancelotti even compared the player’s style and potential to Zidane’s – but the new boss has been “shocked” by the playmaker’s lack of application and poor attitude since taking over.

City had a deal in place to sign former Malaga star Isco when Manuel Pellegrini arrived from that Spanish club in summer 2013, only for late interest from the Bernabeu to turn his head.

The arrival of Pep Guardiola, of whom Isco has heard only glowing reports, and the chance to earn many times in excess of his current £2million per year salary, are factors that senior City figures believe will convince the Isco to join the Etihad club.

AND THE REST

Arsenal and Liverpool have been given encouragement in their bid to sign Spain striker Alvaro Morata (Daily Mail)

Liverpool may offer striker Christian Benteke, 25, as part of a deal to land Roma’s Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, 21, who is currently on loan at Empoli (Daily Mirror)

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is preparing a summer move for Stuttgart and Serbia left winger Filip Kostic, 23, although work permit issues could hamper the move (Bild)

U21 boss Gareth Southgate says England are right to be cautious about calling up Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford (Daily Star)

Mario Gotze has been linked to Liverpool and his team mate Thomas Muller admits the 2014 World Cup final goal scorer ‘might not be satisfied at Bayern Munich’ (Daily Mail)

Leeds midfielder Lewis Cook is a £10m summer transfer target for Everton and Stoke (The Sun)

Former Swansea boss Garry Monk has emerged as a leading contender for the Aston Villa job, with Remi Garde considered likely to leave (The Sun)

World Cup winning Germany midfielder Toni Kroos thinks England have a good chance at Euro 2016 (The Sun)

Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata has been linked with a shock move to Turkish side Fenerbahce (Daily Express)

Roma have reportedly slapped a £35m price-tag on midfielder Radja Nainggolan, who is a possible target for Chelsea and Manchester United (Daily Express)

West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace are both eyeing a move for Werder Bremen midfielder Florian Grillitsch, 20 (Birmingham Mail)

Brighton & Hove Albion are giving a trial to Manchester City’s Nigeria youth international defender Nathaniel Oseni, 19 (Brighton Argus)

Newcastle United striker Adam Armstrong, 19, will stay on loan at League One Coventry City as Magpies boss Rafael Benitez does not want to scar him in a relegation fight. Armstrong has scored 19 goals in 33 league appearances for the Sky Blues (Newcastle Chronicle)

Five players who may leave top Euro clubs in January

With the transfer window now open, teams across the continent could look to strengthen before the end of the month. WhoScored.com take a look at five players in Europe who could be on the move from the continent’s elite.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Barcelona

After playing his part in Barcelona’s Champions League success, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a player who will certainly be keen for regular game time.

The young German only made his debut in La Liga back in September, despite moving to Spain almost 18 months ago, and that was due to Claudio Bravo’s enforced absence. The Chilean has established himself as the club’s number one in Spain’s top tier and has shown no signs that he deserves to relinquish the position to Ter Stegen.

The 23-year-old, though, is a keeper who warrants regular action, particularly if his performances in Europe’s elite competition is anything to go by. Only Gianluigi Buffon and Fernando Muslera (both 54) have made more saves in the Champions League since the start of last season than Ter Stegen (50).

If he is to develop, a move away from Camp Nou could be on the cards having been linked with a January switch. Liverpool have been credited with an interest in the young German, who would surely be an upgrade on Simon Mignolet.

Isco – Real Madrid

While Rafa Benitez’s sacking could convince the creator to remain at the Bernabeu, Isco’s lack of first team opportunities thus far will no doubt have led him to consider that his future may lie elsewhere.

Indeed, behind the likes of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in the Real Madrid pecking order, the 23-year-old is another who, like Ter Stegen, needs regular game time if he wishes to realise his immense potential.

Isco has impressed for Los Blancos in the Champions League this season, with his six appearances returning a WhoScored.com rating of 7.59, the 28th best in the competition. His three assists are bettered only by five players on four.

Nonetheless, he warrants first team action, not waiting on the peripheries of the starting XI hoping for his chance to shine. Zinedine Zidane’s appointment may persuade the player to stay put for the time being, but any top team needing to acquire a creative midfielder could do far worse than test Madrid’s resolve to retain Isco’s services.

Marquinhos – PSG

For a team that has shipped just nine league goals this season, PSG have no need to alter their defence at present. The age old adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is certainly applicable to the Parisian outfit, who are the only team yet to lose in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

With the David Luiz-Thiago Silva axis currently Laurent Blanc’s favoured centre-back pairing, this has meant Marquinhos has often been forced to contend with a place on the bench.

A lack of first-team action has seen the young Brazilian question his future at PSG, though the player insists he will not look to leave France this month.

However, Manchester United and Chelsea have both been linked with the 21-year-old, who boasts the joint-second best pass success rate (93.8%) in Ligue 1 this season.

United and Chelsea prefer to play the ball out from the back and Marquinhos is indeed a centre-back who would match the requirements of the two teams having gained a WhoScored.com strength of ‘passing’.

Interest will intensify between now and the end of the month in the youngster’s signature, particularly if he continues to struggle for regular game time over the coming weeks.

Mario Gotze – Bayern Munich

Once dubbed the German Messi, Mario Gotze has failed to match expectations following his controversial switch from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich. Having dropped behind Thomas Muller, Douglas Costa and Arturo Vidal in the pecking order, the World Cup winner has seen his opportunities limited, with injury restricting Gotze to just four league starts this term.

One goal and three assists have contributed to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.23, though Gotze may be tempted against a move away from Bayern. With Pep Guardiola leaving at the end of the season, the slate would be wiped clean for the 23-year-old, with the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti presenting him with the chance to re-establish himself at the Allianz Arena.

However, with Euro 2016 looming and Gotze hoping to secure his place in the Germany side, a January transfer bid tempt the young attacker to consider his future at the Bundesliga champions.

Simone Zaza – Juventus

A number of teams across Europe will look to strengthen their frontline this month in a bid to achieve their seasonal goal, with many on the lookout for a new striker. They could certainly do a lot worse than move for Simone Zaza, who has struggled for regular first team action upon his permanent return to Juventus from Sassuolo.

The Italy international has made just three league starts this season, with Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata ahead of Zaza in Max Allegri’s picks.

Given reports suggest Juventus will re-sign Domenico Berardi at the end of the season, the club may entertain offers for the 24-year-old frontman this month. Tottenham are a team in need of a striker to ease the burden on Harry Kane, and so could look to Zaza as a means of swelling the attacking ranks.

The striker seems tailor made for English football and one would expect interest in his signature to increase as the transfer window’s end begins to edge closer.

Isco vs James: let the battle recommence

Competition comes with the territory in all walks of life and, in the football world, benefits the team and fans alike. James Rodríguez and Isco are vying for a single spot in Rafa Benítez's Real Madrid side, and the pre-season action has made it clear that when the shoe is not on one foot, it is on the other.

With the BBC in place, there is only room for three midfielders, two of whom - Luka Modric and Toni Kroos - look nailed-on starters. James appears to be slightly ahead in the pecking order, but Isco is gunning to raise his game and win over his new coach.

The stats from last season make interesting reading. The Spaniard actually made more appearances (53 to the Colombian's 46), although it must be remembered that both James and Gareth Bale had spells on the sidelines, which opened the doors to the former Málaga man. Where minutes are concerned, there isn't much in it: James clocked up 3,507 to Isco's 3,755.

Such healthy competition is par for the course at a club as demanding as Real Madrid. Karim Benzema's battle with Gonzalo Higuaín and Fábio Coentrão's challenge to Marcelo are just two recent examples of positions where players have had to earn their berth. Isco is well aware of James's ability, but is hopeful that he can play an important role under Benítez, a coach famed for his love of rotation.

Benitez: I don't mind Ronaldo getting angry

The Real Madrid coach says his relationship with the Portugal star is good and admits James Rodriguez and Isco represent a real selection dilemma

Rafael Benitez says Cristiano Ronaldo is welcome to get angry during training - as long as he keeps producing the goods on the pitch.

Ronaldo caught the headlines after becoming aggravated with Benitez during a recent Real Madrid training session, though he promptly delivered a typically ruthless display in the 4-1 win over Manchester City.

And his head coach says he has no problem with such outbursts from his players, provided they deliver when it matters most.

"My relationship with him is good," he told reporters in China when asked about Ronaldo. "When someone gets angry during a training session, but then does their job, there's no problem, it's fine."

Benitez also admits having a fully-fit James Rodriguez and Isco to choose from will present a welcome selection dilemma heading into the new season.

"As a coach I am delighted to have players with quality like that," he said. "To be competitive, they need to be at 100 per cent and after that I will make my decision. Both of them are going to make my job much harder."

Madrid take on Inter in the International Champions Cup on Monday.