Erik ten Hag draws up four-man shortlist for Manchester United transfer window – Paper Round

The Mirror reports that Manchester United already have four names on their shortlist for next summer’s transfers.

Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Edmond Tapsoba, and Evan Ferguson of Brighton are included.

“Bayer Leverkusen defensive duo Jeremie Frimpong and Edmond Tapsoba were on United’s radar in the summer when the club considered making moves. The Red Devils are huge admirers of right-back Frimpong, 22, while centre-back Tapsoba, 24, could be a long-term recruit amid Raphael Varane’s injury concerns.

“Up front, United monitored the progress of Evan Ferguson in the summer and could come back in to try and sign the 18-year-old in 2024. Ferguson scored his first Premier League hat-trick earlier this month when he bagged three for Brighton against Newcastle, taking his tally to 10 in 24 top-flight appearances.”

Two Premier League sides, Burnley and Crystal Palace, are in the running to sign Bradley Ihionvien from Colchester United.

“The 19-year-old striker has impressed for the League Two side this season and has scored two in his last three appearances against Gillingham and Tranmere.

“And that has alerted the Prem pair as well as Championship trio Leicester, Watford and Norwich.

“All the clubs have sent scouts to watch the powerful forward in action.

“Talented Ihionvien made his league debut in May 2022 against Hartlepool.

“But his form has caught the eye during his six outings for Ben Garner’s side this term.”

Barcelona continue to struggle to balance the books and The Telegraph notes a new development that could hit president Joan Laporta hard.

“The football finance company Libero, listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, has seen its share price plummet by as much as 25 per cent in recent days as its deal to buy 9.8 per cent of Barca Vision, a newly constituted subsidiary of the club, has looked in doubt.

“Barcelona have been trying to sell off assets in order to boost their revenue and thus increase their permitted wage bill under La Liga regulations. Last summer the club sold €700 million worth of future income streams and were able to sign the players who won the league title.”

After a year away from West Ham, Jesse Lingard might be on his way to return to the London club.

“Lingard spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at the Hammers, and quickly endeared himself to the fans with a string of stellar performances that saw him hit the back of the net nine times in 16 games.

“With his time at United coming to a close at the end of that season, there was an expectation that he might return to east London permanently, only for the England international to sign a big-money one-year deal with Nottingham Forest instead.

“Now, having left the City Ground, Lingard has spent the last three weeks training with his former club, leading to speculation that he may be in line for a new deal.”