Paper Round: Manchester United plan to beat Liverpool to Danny Ings signing

Manchester United will try to lure Burnley striker Danny Ings to Old Trafford at Liverpool's expense - The Red Devils are hoping Burnley striker Danny Ings will turn down a move to Liverpool this summer to join them on a free transfer, according to The Telegraph. The England U21 international, who has also been strongly linked with a move to join former Manchester United manager David Moyes at Real Sociedad, is out of contract in the summer, although the Lancashire side would apparently receive around £5m in compensation and development fees for him. Louis van Gaal will hope the lure of Champions League football will be enough to tempt the 23-year-old, who has scored nine Premier League goals for Burnley this season.

Paper Round's view - One thing is almost certain, Danny Ings will leave Burnley this summer whether they stay in the Premier League or not. The striker has been the stand-out player for the Clarets, showing a level of ability that will tempt many of the leading clubs in the Premier League. The problem he would face at both Liverpool and Manchester United is obvious, a potential lack of playing time. With Manchester United seemingly settling on a 4-3-3 formation he would have to oust Wayne Rooney from the striker's role while Daniel Sturridge, when fully fit, is a certain starter for Liverpool. If he's happy to start as a backup option than a move to either of these sides makes sense, but United's almost-certain offer of Champions League football should swing the pendulum in their favour.

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea linked with Real Madrid, again - This time the rumour has moved on a stage, however, with The Mirror reporting the claims of journalist Josep Pedrerol who says the goalkeeper has agreed a move to the Spanish capital. The 24-year-old joined Manchester United from Real's city rivals Atletico and, with just over a year remaining on his contract, many believe a move back to Spain is inevitable. Pedrerol, speaking on Spanish television channel La Sexta, went on to say "David De Gea is clear... he wants to be the Real Madrid goalkeeper... Only an agreement between the clubs is lacking."

Paper Round's view - This threatens to be one of the summer's longest-running transfer sagas, with de Gea about to enter the final year of his contract but Manchester United remain reluctant to sell. It's still possible he will agree a contract extension at Old Trafford but it's also easy to understand why a move to Real Madrid would be very appealing for him. Iker Casillas is not the dominant figure in goal he once was and Real Madrid will see de Gea as an outstanding long-term replacement. The question then is "how much?", and that's when things threaten to get messy. This move will happen if de Gea wants it to - and Pedrerol believes that to be the case.

Liverpool preparing a loan offer for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech - The Sun have claimed that Liverpool will try to sign Petr Cech on a one-year loan from Chelsea in a deal that will cost £7.5m in total. The Reds would pay a £1m fee for the loan and all of the Czech international's £125,000-a-week wages, too. Arsenal are also said to be interested in Cech, who has been replaced by Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper.

Paper Round's view - Hmm... this doesn't make a lot of sense. Why would Chelsea accept a £1m loan deal this summer when they know Cech could leave on a free the following year? While it seems certain that Cech will leave Stamford Bridge in the summer, with Jose Mourinho even hinting that the goalkeeper can choose his next club, it's hard to believe it would be on a loan. Suggestions are that the 32-year-old is keen to stay in London, perhaps making a move to Arsenal, but if Liverpool are interested in a permanent transfer then they shouldn't be ruled out.

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Southampton and Newcastle will go head-to-head to sign QPR striker Charlie Austin - Charlie Austin could have a choice between the North East and the South Coast in the summer, according to The Mirror. The QPR forward, who has scored 17 Premier League goals this season, will almost certainly leave Loftus Road if the club are relegated back to The Championship. The 25-year-old is rated at around £10 million, with both Southampton and Newcastle looking for extra firepower in attack next season.

Paper Round's view - There is a sense of hedging your bets here, with most Premier League clubs outside the top four likely to be interested in Austin. He may move even if QPR stay up and both Newcastle and Southampton match the calibre of clubs he would be expected to join. Many would see him as an upgrade on either Graziano Pelle or Papiss Cisse, so either move is possible. In the end, like so often in life, it will probably come down to money.