Paper Round: Lionel Messi 'told Barcelona to bid for Angel di Maria'

Messi behind Barcelona's attempt to sign Di Maria - Lionel Messi wants Angel Di Maria at the Camp Nou. The Sun say that the superstar is the man who told the club to make the move which was widely reported on Wednesday, hoping to rescue the career of his Argentina team-mate after a rough first season at Old Trafford. Di Maria will not come cheap, with United wanting at least the £59.7 million they paid for him a year ago. There is another wrinkle as well: the club's deal with Real Madrid last year stipulates that the Red Devils must pay Real £10m if Di Maria is sold to Barca.

Over in the Daily Star, however, there's a very different picture: "Back off Barca, Di Maria is going nowhere" is their headline. The quotes come not from some anonymous Old Trafford source, but from the player himself, who apparently said. "Do I want to leave? No, because I’m not thinking like that. In Madrid there were times when I was whistled around the stadium but faced it and then it turned around. I like to deal with things."

Paper Round's view - It's natural that Messi would want Di Maria at Barcelona. He's an outstanding player and a friend. But he doesn't really fit the team and with United needing to pay £10m for selling him to Barca, the Red Devils would probably demand upwards of £70m for Di Maria. The Catalans would no doubt want to accommodate Messi as far as possible, but let's face it: not to the tune of £70m for a player they don't really need. As for those quotes in the Star? Well, he might have "turned it around" at Madrid, but that didn't stop him from leaving...

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United submit opening bid for Ramos - Manchester United have officially begun their pursuit of Sergio Ramos. The Mail understand that the Red Devils have submitted a £35m offer for the defender and Ramos has asked Real Madrid to consider it. Ramos met with Real Madrid officials on Wednesday and told the club that he wants to leave, helping United's attempts to sign the defender.

Paper Round's view - After reports that United would try to get Ramos in a swap for David de Gea, it's interesting to see them go in for Ramos all alone. To be fair, that was always the more likely way to get the deal done. Ramos is clearly unhappy with Real Madrid and while that relationship can be repaired, United's heavy interest will have him with a foot out the door all summer.

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Liverpool near deal for Clyne - Liverpool are close to signing Nathaniel Clyne in a £12.5m transfer, according to The Sun. The Reds already bid £10m for Clyne, only to have Southampton reject it, but now they're offering £10.5m in a deal that could rise by an additional £2m - and the Saints are expected to accept it.

Paper Round's view - Clyne looked destined to leave Southampton this summer, but it was to United, not Liverpool. Considering the Red Devils' need for a right-back and Clyne coming in at just £12.5m, it's bizarre that they couldn't get it done. But Liverpool have nabbed themselves a good player and Southampton already bought Cedric Soares to replace Clyne so both teams made out well.

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Schneiderlin wants Southampton exit within five days - Morgan Schneiderlin is pushing Southampton to sell him in the next five days, according to The Sun. Southampton offered the midfielder £60,000-per-week, but he's set on leaving for a bigger club. Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham are all interested in the player, but he prefers the Gunners and the Saints will sell if they get a £24m bid.

Paper Round's view - It has long looked like Schneiderlin would leave Southampton. He wanted out a year ago and the Saints got an extra season out of him so that was good on them, but he was going to jump to a bigger club this summer. Now he'll do it and the Saints will get their £24m, or at least close to it. He should even get to pick his landing spot, so bet on Arsenal. 

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Koscielny could be going to Real Madrid - Arsenal could lose Laurent Koscielny. The Mirror believe that Real Madrid are going to bid £21m for the defender as they begin lining up replacements for Sergio Ramos. With Ramos potentially on his way to Man United, the Merengues need centre-backs and Koscielny could be the answer. Arsenal do not want the sell the 29-year-old, though, so expect them to put up a fight.

Paper Round's view - Koscielny isn't as good as Ramos, but he would be considerably cheaper than what Real Madrid would sell Ramos for and there aren't a ton of great centre-back options out there. Arsenal won't want to sell the Frenchman, but if they can get closer to £25m, it wouldn't be bad business. That's a hefty chunk of change for a 29-year-old and if Real Madrid don't want to pay up, they can always keep him, just like they want to.

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Liverpool set sights on Bacca - Liverpool aren't content with just getting Roberto Firmino. They want to add another forward and The Mirror claim that they will go after Carlos Bacca. The Colombian has a £21.5m release clause in his Sevilla contract and Liverpool don't want this to be a drawn-out negotiation so chief executive Ian Ayre flew to Chile where he will pay the release clause to wrap up the transfer.

Paper Round's view - Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini are all set to leave Anfield this summer so Liverpool needed more than just Firmino up top. Daniel Sturridge's injury problems make it even more imperative that they add multiple forwards. Bacca is a bit older and £21.5m is a lot, but good, proven strikers don't come cheap and if Liverpool want someone who can step in right away then they've found one in Bacca.