Paper Round: United prepare bid for Seamus Coleman

Coleman a part of United’s new defensive plans: Manchester United are to begin rebuilding their fragile defence with an audacious move for Everton right-back Seamus Coleman, according to the Daily Star. United’s recent injury woes have meant that Antonio Valencia has been filling in as a wing back as Rafael gets back to full fitness but the paper reports that "Louis van Gaal considers Coleman to be perfect for either of his formations and a more reliable defender than Rafael.”

Paper Round’s view: United’s defensive frailties have been well documented since the beginning of the season but the priority should surely be for a decent centre back or two. Even so, with Everton keen to sign Adnan Januzaj on loan, there is logic to this deal going through to bolster the back line.

Liverpool join race for Berahino: Paper Round reported yesterday that Tottenham Hotspur are poised to make a January move for wantaway West Brom striker Saido Berahino. Now METRO reports that Liverpool have joined the race for the striker and are "close to signing West Brom striker Saido Berahino in a deal worth £23.5million.”

Paper Round’s view: Liverpool’s need for a goalscoring forward has been obvious with the misfiring Mario Balotelli spectacularly failing to fill the void left by the injured Daniel Sturridge. Spurs have plenty of options up front and Liverpool would seem more in need if they can agree on a price although Berahino himself is enduring a barren run of late.

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Arsenal target Reid bargain: The Daily Mail reports that Arsene Wenger wants to sign West Ham defender Winston Reid and are confident of brokering a cut-price £4 million deal because the Hammers could risk losing him for nothing in the summer. "West Ham are trying to get the 26-year-old to sign a new deal but Reid wants more than £60,000 per week, in addition to a £1million signing-on fee,” reports the paper.

Paper Round’s view: An interesting one, especially as Reid had a solid game against Arsenal on Sunday (despite conceding a penalty). With little cover for Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the centre of defence, Wenger’s notorious eye for a bargain could push this one through.

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Gunners to go back in for Carvalho: Staying with Arsenal, the Independent suggests that the Gunners are preparing a £20 million bid for Sporting Lisbon’s defensive midfielder William Carvalho. He has consistently been linked to moves to a string of Premier League clubs in the past, including Manchester United, and Arsenal failed in an attempt to get him to the Emirates last summer. Now the paper reports that "Arsene Wenger has renewed hope of landing the 22-year-old Portugal international due to Sporting Lisbon's elimination from the Champions League at the group stage.”

Paper Round’s view: Arsenal’s injury woes in the midfield means that this would obviously be an attractive proposition. Aaron Ramsey is expected back imminently but Mesut Ozil and injury-prone Jack Wilshere face extended spells on the treatment table. Carvalho won’t come cheap but the lure of teaming up with quality players in the Premier League may just tip it.