Erik ten Hag offered Bundesliga escape route if he gets sacked by Manchester United this summer – Paper Round

The Daily Star believes that several Bundesliga clubs could make a move for Erik ten Hag if he leaves Manchester United at the end of the season.

With the Dutchman under pressure, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Bayern Munich are all interested.

“Ten Hag is battling to keep his job at Old Trafford following a disappointing season with United. United have failed to challenge for the Premier League title and crashed out of the Champions League at the group stages.

“The Dutchman has to secure Champions League qualification to stand a chance of surviving, with new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe targeting England boss Gareth Southgate as his replacement should he decide to make a change.

“Bayern Munich have been keeping close tabs on the Ten Hag situation and are admirers of the 54-year-old, although Xabi Alonso remains their No.1 choice to replace the outgoing Thomas Tuchel.

“But German rivals Bayer Leverkusen and VFB Stuttgart also like Ten Hag – and could be willing to hand him a swift return to management. Leverkusen will need to replace Alonso, who is weighing up offers from Bayern and Liverpool, who want him to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.”

Sporting Lisbon want to insert a £102 million release clause into a new contract for striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The Sun reports that with Arsenal and Chelsea two of the clubs keen on the Swede, his current side want to warn off any clubs from thinking they will land him on the cheap.

“The Swedish striker cost a club-record £17m last summer from Coventry City but he has already repaid that faith with his scintillating form.

“The 25-year-old has scored 27 goals in 33 appearances, as well as recording double figures in assists, to catch the eye of Europe’s big guns.

“Both Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with the hotshot – with the latter allegedly having a £74m approach rejected in January.

“Previous reports had claimed that Sporting Lisbon were holding out for the £87m release clause fee that was part of his package.

“Sporting Lisbon are hoping that the reward of a pay rise would see Gyokeres pen his new contract and agree to a release clause of a whopping £102m.”

The Mirror believes that Manchester United have added Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes to their list of transfer targets for the summer.

The player, valued at around £40 million, could be in line to replace Casemiro, who is regularly linked with an Old Trafford exit.

“United are looking to sign a holding midfielder this summer – with Casemiro likely to leave – and have identified £40million-rated Gomes as a potential replacement for his fellow Brazilian. Gomes has been watched by United on several occasions this season, most recently earlier this month, when Wolves beat Fulham 2-1 at Molineux in the Premier League.

“The 23-year-old, signed by Wolves for £12m from Flamengo in January 2023, is expected to be handed his first cap for Brazil against Gareth Southgate’s side at Wembley on Saturday.

“Gomes, a combative central midfielder nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’ in his homeland, has also attracted interest from United’s Premier League rivals Tottenham and Newcastle.”

Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, looks set to stay with the Spanish club as the two parties discuss fresh terms.

The Athletic reports that the club want to keep hold of the 25-year-old and he wants to stay.

“Lunin’s current contract runs out in 2025, as by The Athletic reported in December. Until then it was understood to end in 2024, as the club had not announced a renewal since the Ukrainian’s signing in 2018, when he signed for six seasons.

“Negotiations are still at an early stage, but Real Madrid wanted to make it clear to Lunin that they count on him and that their intention is for him to renew. The goalkeeper will have to analyse what to do when he has the definitive proposal, but he has always been in favour of staying according to sources with knowledge of his thinking.”