Paper Round: Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola wants Manchester United move

Pep Guardiola sees Manchester United as his preferred next destination after Bayern Munich, according to a report from the Sunday Telegraph’s Sam Wallace. Bayern Munich want to resolve his future as soon as possible, but the 44-year-old has ambitions to manage United, according to Wallace. “The club that the German champions believe Guardiola has ambitions to manage above all are United, where Van Gaal is contracted for one more season after this,” he writes. Van Gaal is expected to be in charge for one more season after this campaign, so United will have a big decision to make if Guardiola is angling for a move to Old Trafford.

Paper Round’s view: It’s an intriguing situation at Bayern Munich currently with bosses seemingly desperate to tie down Guardiola, but with real uncertainty surrounding his position at the club. Van Gaal’s future at Old Trafford has to be in some doubt with former players constantly criticising the club’s style of play under the Dutchman and appointing Guardiola would be a very popular move. With Manchester City also potentially interested in snapping up the former Barcelona boss, it looks set to be a fascinating summer with the hottest speculation surprisingly surrounding a manager rather than a player.

Leicester City will be willing to let prolific forward Jamie Vardy leave in the January transfer window, but only if Chelsea or United pay over £30 million for him, according to a report in the Independent. Vardy, who scored in a record 11th successive Premier League match against United on Saturday, could leave the King Power Stadium if a top club is willing to pay in excess of £30m, something which they may not be willing to do until the summer. However, both United and Chelsea are very interested in moving for Vardy, according to the paper, and the chance to sign such an in-form goalscorer could be sufficiently tempting for either to force through a move.

Paper Round’s view: The 28-year-old’s form so far this season has been nothing short of incredible. £30m sounds like a lot for a player who has made such a late rise to prominence, but he would be well worth the money if he could transform the fortunes of Chelsea or make United the fluent and effective team in the final third that their fans and former players so desire them to be. The Independent reports: “[Leicester] will demand in excess of £30m given his worth in meeting the Premier League home-grown quota” and that reasoning is actually pretty sound.

Arsenal are now the latest Premier League club to enter the race to sign Everton defender John Stones, according to the Sunday Mirror. Chelsea remain the frontrunners to bring in Stones, according to the paper, but Arsene Wenger “is not afraid to spend money on the player he feels will be right for the club” and the 21-year-old would represent a purchase for the long term. Wenger regards Stones as one of the most promising defenders in the country and is keen to see if Arsenal can usurp Chelsea come the summer.

Paper Round’s view: It really does seem likely that Stones will move this summer with Everton having already turned down bids from Chelsea for the defender. It makes complete sense for Wenger to be keen to bring in the England player to freshen up his defensive ranks and Chelsea may wish that they had managed to have a bid accepted while they were seemingly the only big Premier League club in the running for Stones’s signature. Everton must feel as though they can play Arsenal, Chelsea and others off each other and really ramp up the fee for Stones, which would vindicate their decision to hang on to him for as long as they have done already.

The Daily Star claims a ‘Sunday exclusive’ with the report that Tottenham are ready to offer England winger Andros Townsend plus cash in a £25m package for West Brom striker Saido Berahino. The paper reports that Tony Pulis is very keen on the 24-year-old Townsend’s direct style of play and that he could be the player that enables a deal for Berahino to finally happen. Tottenham apparently value the winger at £12m and hope that the inclusion of the England player in the deal will see West Brom finally accept an approach.

Paper Round’s view: Spurs will seemingly not give up on landing Berahino and it makes complete sense for the club to offer Townsend, who has not managed to keep his place in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line up and could presumably do with a new challenge away from White Hart Lane. If West Brom manage to acquire another talented England player while receiving plenty of money from Spurs then it could see the club finally allow Berahino to leave – something which would surely represent a positive development for all parties.