Paper Round: Manchester United set to battle Liverpool for Ezequiel Lavezzi

Manchester United keen on Liverpool target Ezequiel Lavezzi - Manchester United are set to battle it out with Liverpool for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, reports the Metro. Liverpool have been keen on Lavezzi for a while and declared an interest in the Argentina international in January, but it seems that United are also set to pounce for the player, according to reports in Spain. There are also suggestions United would be willing to trade Angel Di Maria for Lavezzi as part of a swap deal.

Paper Round's view: Lavezzi may well be on United's radar, but it would surely be a cash offer for a player who will cost around £20 million. It would be difficult to see United willing to let Di Maria go so soon after signing him. Lavezzi's quality is obvious, but it will be interesting to see what plans Louis van Gaal has for his United team. There is surely going to be a heavy list of potential targets with Lavezzi being just one of them.

Valencia keen to sign United flop Falcao - Valencia are apparently waiting in the wings with a bid to sign Radamel Falcao, whose agent is set to hold talks with Manchester United this week to see whether or not the Colombian forward has a future at Old Trafford. United are unlikely to meet Monaco's £50m asking price for the player as he continues to struggle to regain top form after his knee ligament injury that kept him out of the World Cup last summer. Falcao is on £265,000 a week, but agent Jorge Mendes wants an answer sooner rather than later.

Paper Round's view: Falcao's future surely lies away from United. This is a figure who has not scored for the club in his past four matches. The Mirror claims he is low on confidence. Which is hardly a surprise. Where does his future lie? It is difficult to see Valencia willing to meet such a high asking price, but would Real Madrid really be interested in taking a gamble on a figure who appears to be a shadow of his former self?

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Liverpool and Arsenal chase Alvaro Morata - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is apparently keen to land Juventus striker Alvaro Morata, but may have to fend off Arsenal to sign the former Real Madrid forward, say the Express. Morata has been keeping Fernando Llorente out of the Juve side, but the Serie A champions are apparently keen on signing Palermo forward Paulo Dybala. If the Dybala deal goes through, Morata might need to move to be sure of first team football. Morata has scored six goals in 19 games for Juve.

Paper Round's view: Rodgers and Arsenal Wenger will have to stump up around £14.5m to sign Morata, but that is hardly expensive for any Premier League club. Whether or not Liverpool can do business for such a player depends on how successful they are in clearing the decks with Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini likely to be leading the exodus. Still only 22, there is also speculation that Morata could be on his way back to Madrid with the future of Karim Benzema in doubt.

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And finally... Everton and Aston Villa are keen to sign Brazil attacking midfielder Diego, who is set to depart Fenerbahce. The Sun also claims that Newcastle are in the market for the Sevilla forward Carlos Bacca. But they are unlikely to pay the £25 million fee that is being touted in Spain.

Paper Round's view: Diego once looked like one of the best playmakers in the world but after emerging with such promise along with Robinho at the Santos academy, both players have suffered prolonged downturns in form. Still, it'd be fun to see him in England.