IT’S set to be a summer of change at Old Trafford.
With the 2019/20 season still to be completed, Manchester United chiefs are still planning ahead and eyeing their targets for when the transfer window opens.
After snaring a gem in Bruno Fernandes back in January, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to open the chequebook again and look to build a team capable of bringing glory back to the red half of Manchester.
Man Utd transfer targets
UNITED face a battle to secure European football next season – and that’s even if this campaign resumes as planned.
Creativity and goals were a big issue for Ole’s side, especially when Marcus Rashford went down with an injury in January.
But the arrival of on-loan striker Odion Ighalo, coupled with the boost of Fernandes’ form since joining from Sporting Lisbon, have given United fans plenty of optimism going into the summer.
Here’s the every latest from SunSport on the main transfer targets…
Jack Grealish
UNITED are reportedly ready to offer Jack Grealish £150,000-a-week to join from Aston Villa.
Old Trafford chiefs have made the Villans midfielder their top summer target and would TRIPLE his current pay packet, writes Tom McDermott for SunSport.
United initially expressed an interest in Grealish in January and are prepared to pay up to £60m to get their man.
But they felt they had more chance of concluding a deal with Sporting for Fernandes – which they did.
Grealish signed a bumper five-year Villa deal in September – taking him to around £50,000 per week.
He tarnished his reputation when crashing his £80,000 car after being out at an all-night party – just hours after urging everyone to stay at home.
Villa are willing to offer him a new deal but boss Dean Smith admitted before the coronavirus crisis that the club had no chance of keeping their star man if they were relegated.
Smith, speaking in the build-up to the Carabao Cup final which Villa lost 2-1 to Manchester City, said: “Staying in this league is probably one of the biggest things that will help us to keep Jack Grealish.
“He wants to play at the highest level and win trophies.”
James Maddison
IF a move for Grealish proves too expensive, Maddison appears to be United’s second choice.
According to reports, it looks like Grealish’ Range Rover antics could cost him a dream move to Old Trafford.
Maddison, who “United have been keen on for some time” has reportedly jumped to the top of the shortlist.
It would leave United fans drooling at the prospect of Maddison alongside Bruno Fernandes in a creative midfield.
United are long-term admirers of Leicester City star Maddison, but will face competition from Arsenal for his signature.
Jadon Sancho
DORTMUND star Jadon Sancho is “very open” to joining Manchester United this summer, according to reports.
The 20-year-old has long been a top target for the Red Devils, writes Etienne Fermie for SunSport.
And while the coronavirus pandemic is set to dramatically alter the transfer market, United’s interest in Sancho hasn’t waned.
Marcus Rashford last week revealed on a Bleacher Report Instagram Live that he hopes to play with Sancho, saying: “Hopefully we can all play together, that would be good.
“He plays off the cuff, he’s creative and imaginative, these are the things you need to be world class.”
And according to The Athletic, Sancho wants that too – with a return to Manchester very appealing to the 20-year-old sensation.
Harry Kane
TOTTENHAM were prepared to sell Harry Kane to United for a world-record fee, according to shock reports on April 13.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is allegedly furious with the striker’s recent comments about ambition and needs cash to balance the books amid the coronavirus crisis.
The Mail On Sunday reported that the North London club are willing to sanction a £200m move, eclipsing the £198m fee Paris Saint-German paid for Neymar in 2017.
But Tottenham later said they had no interest in selling their captain.
Juventus, Real Madrid and Manchester City have also been linked with a stunning move for the England skipper.
However, given the current climate of uncertainty, that estimated figure seems unlikely.
