Man Utd prepare to extend contracts for five players entering final year, including David de Gea – Paper Round

Man Utd to trigger extensions

Paper Round’s view: Makes sense, given the free agents we have seen leave over the years at United and beyond. And even if United eventually deem some of them surplus to requirements, a new deal can at least help the club get a decent fee – if possible.

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Saudi clubs back in for Ronaldo

Paper Round’s view: Yeah, this ain’t happening. Call it a hunch, or call it the fact that he simply didn’t opt for this move in the summer, but Ronaldo seems too wedded to the idea of returning to Champions League football to suddenly be ready to move to Saudi Arabia in January. By that point, he may also be helping the United cause, although Portugal’s World Cup exploits could end up dictating his mood by then.

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The Ox to Villa?

Paper Round’s view: On paper it looks like a decent swap but Villa would be right to be concerned about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s unlucky brush with injuries over the years. No doubt Villa will hold out for plenty of money if clubs push for Luiz in January – they rejected £25m from Arsenal, and seem unlikely to budge for anything under £40m.

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Ecuador’s World Cup spot under threat

Paper Round’s view: Safe to say, we’ll leave this one for the Appeals Commission, although intriguing that it could – could – alter England’s potential last-16 opponents, depending on who ends up where in Groups A and B.