Manchester United ready to sign Cody Gakpo with Aaron Wan-Bissaka linked with January exit – Paper Round

United want Gakpo

Manchester United prioritised signing Antony from Ajax last transfer window but now they want to return to the Netherlands for PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo. The 23-year-old forward has been one of the best players at the World Cup in Qatar, and a 50m euro bid could be enough to secure the striker, with Gakpo already admitting he would be ready to consider the move, reports the Telegraph.

Paper Round’s view: United need reinforcements up front after Anthony Martial has once again struggled with injury, and Cristiano Ronaldo has departed. Gakpo seems like the pragmatic candidate. He is young enough that he will continue to improve if he works hard, he is affordable, and he is ready to move mid-season. There will be few better options for Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo move poses problems

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently training at Real Madrid’s facilities, but he is not expected to sign for the Spanish club for a second time, The Mail reports that he has been offered a three-year deal to join Saudi Arabia side Al-Nassr, but if he were to move he would be expected to be an ambassador for their 2030 World Cup bid, setting him against Portugal’s joint bid with Spain.

Paper Round’s view: Really, taking money for a bid from Saudi Arabia would make little difference when it comes to FIFA’s decision making, so it seems tough to see why Ronaldo should be a problem back home. More meaningful would be the criticism that comes with taking money from the country at all, given the poor human rights record in Saudi Arabia,

Wolves lead chase for Wan-Bissaka

Wolves are ahead in the battle for Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but they are not the only club interested in the player. The Sun report that former club Crystal Palace are also keen on the 25-year-old, with interest from Leeds United and West Ham. One obstacle to any move, on loan or permanent, is the right-back’s weekly £80,000 wages.

Paper Round’s view: Wan-Bissaka was exceptional at one-on-ones when he arrived at Old Trafford but he is exceptionally limited going forward. The best players work on their weaknesses but if anything the sometime England international defender has regressed since his move to Manchester, and a different club might help him rediscover his confidence.

PSG could offer Rashford huge deal

Marcus Rashford could earn 50 million euros (£44m) a season if he joins Paris Saint-Germain, according to Spanish newspaper Marca. The 25-year-old is a free transfer at the end of the season and in January is free to negotiate with clubs abroad. PSG are keen on the player as he would be a cheaper alternative to Kylian Mbappe, who could still leave the French capital.

Paper Round’s view: While PSG’s interest in Rashford does indeed seem genuine, the wrinkle is that United have a unilateral option to extend the player’s contract by another season. That would prevent PSG from opening talks with Rashford directly, but United might be open to doing a deal for a cut-price valuation rather than losing him for nothing the summer after next.