Paper Round: Real Madrid plot £240m move for Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid are plotting a world-record £240m bid to land Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, the Daily Mail reports following a front cover from France Football which featured the Frenchman next to Real boss Zinedine Zidane. A summer overhaul is on the cards at Real with Zidane back at the helm, and he has reportedly made Mbappe his top target after being promised a budget of £430m to spend.

Paper Round’s view: Good luck getting PSG to sell. After another failed tilt at Champions League glory, the Ligue 1 club will not be willing to weaken their hand and strengthen an opponent's going into the next campaign. There are far more realistic targets for Real to chase, but who knows, money talks, after all.

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Barcelona would be willing to sell Samuel Umtiti to Manchester United in order to free up space and funds for Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, the Daily Mail reports. Barca have already landed promising Dutch youngster Frenkie de Jong from Ajax, and the Eredivisie club will ask for another 85 million euros should the La Liga leaders want to sign De Jong’s international team-mate, and Golden Boy, De Light. Sources claim United watched Umtiti in action for France on Monday night, with the defender scoring the opener in their 4-0 win over France.

Paper Round’s view: De Ligt is some prospect, and rightfully seen as a long-term successor to Gerard Pique, but this would still be some coup for United. De Ligt’s agent is none other than Mino Raiola, who also represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, so it would be no surprise to see United involved in a merry-go-round of defenders.

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Ander Herrera could join Arsenal in the summer, the Daily Mail reports, with the Manchester United midfielder’s contract set to expire at the end of the season. The Spaniard confirmed he was uncertain where his future lies beyond the summer, and should he leave Old Trafford, both Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have emerged as clubs who will look to bring him in on a free.

Paper Round’s view: Herrera is evidently holding out for a deal that United look unwilling to offer at the moment, and unless the standoff is resolved, his departure is inevitable. Whether Arsenal or PSG can meet his demands remain to be seen, but it is equally as difficult to see whether he would be a regular fixture in either side.

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Arsenal are on alert after one-time target Yannick Carrasco admitted he would “love a return to Europe”, the Mirror reports. The 25-year-old swapped Atletico Madrid for Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang last year, but is said to be keen on coming back to Europe after losing his spot in the Belgium set-up.

Paper Round’s view: A forgotten name, unless you are following the Chinese Super League, that is. Carrasco’s potential was evident while in Spain, and he will be interesting to see where he ends up should he return to Europe. Arsenal would be a good fit, should they make their move.