Football transfer rumours: David Brooks to sign for Manchester United?

Let’s get Jadon Sancho out of the way by saying that Manchester United have set their sights elsewhere and what would appear a rather less complicated deal for Bournemouth’s David Brooks. Jason Tindall, the former Eddie Howe assistant who is now manager, may not wish to sell but relegation has loosened Bournemouth’s hand.

Related: Chelsea reopen talks over Havertz fee but still at least €20m shy of valuation

Juventus’s redux under the trestles of Andrea Pirlo’s flowing mane continues and the arty one would also to recall the prodigal son of Paul Pogba from Manchester United. Pirlo believes he can get the best from the Frenchman who was once his colleague in Juve’s midfield. How might United be tempted? Answer, and this is not the first time this has been mooted: Paulo Dybala.

Another Juve player who may interest United is the winger Douglas Costa, someone linked with the club as far back as Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign but now surplus to requirements in Turin. He would be another option should Sancho fail to make it back to Manchester.

Remember Aaron Ramsey? Handy player on his day, went to Juventus for lavish wages on a free transfer. Well, should Juve get their way, then he will be cashed in as a makeweight for Wolves’ Raul Jiménez, who is valued at €90m by a club reluctant to sell their top striker.

One player who will be at United next season is goalkeeper Dean Henderson, outstanding for Sheffield United but set to be handed a lucrative new contract by his parent club. And while that may beg serious questions of David de Gea’s long-term future it more immediately sets Sergio Romero, back-up to De Gea for five years now, for a move. The Argentinian has options, with a link-up with compatriot Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds one of them as well as Everton, and as a possible answer to Chelsea’s current goalkeeping issues.

It’s a day featuring some regular transfer mainstays, with Chelsea’s move for Kai Havertz set to be revived, though they are attempting to lower Bayer Leverkusen’s valuation, which is as high as €100m. There is a deadline for that deal, within 10 days, and Havertz wants a five-year contract.

Another relegated club are trying their best to get good money when cashing in an asset. Watford have rejected Everton’s initial bid for midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré and want £25m for the Frenchman. The suggestion is that Doucouré has already agreed personal terms with the mighty Ev so it’s all down to haggling. Joining him in a new-look Toffees midfield could be Allan of Napoli, who will cost around £27m.

Related: Arsenal wait on Gabriel Magalhães decision after agreeing fee with Lille

As reported on Tuesday by the Guardian, Arsenal have agreed a fee with Lille for Gabriel Magalhães of around £22m but still face competition from Napoli to sign the Brazilian defender. Napoli want Magalhães to replace Kalidou Koulibaly, who has been most closely linked with a move to Manchester City.

Arsenal will need to clear out a defender and that means Sokratis Papastathopoulos could head to Roma, who are beginning to worry that their hopes of signing Chris Smalling on a permanent deal are going to be dashed by Manchester United’s asking price.

Video: Pep Guardiola dismisses the idea of signing Lionel Messi (Manchester Evening News)

Pep Guardiola dismisses the idea of signing Lionel Messi

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