Paper Round: United consider Pogba-Neymar swap
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Updated 08/04/2018 at 07:33 GMT
Manchester United could swap Paul Pogba for Neymar, City will give Pep Guardiola a new deal, Leicester will replace Riyad Mahrez, and Newcastle are up for sale.
Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)
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United to swap Pogba for Neymar?
Manchester United duo Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba are being linked with a return to France, to join the country's biggest club, Paris Saint-Germain. The two have been unsettled at Old Trafford and could therefore make the move to the Parc des Princes. In turn, this move could open up an exchange with Paris Saint-Germain for Neymar, though it would take an additional £50m from United to meet the French club's valuation of their 26-year-old Brazilian.
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Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
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Paper Round's view: Martial is just 22, and Pogba is 25, and both have the potential to be two of the best players in their positions in the world. Pogba just showed against Manchester City how much potential he has, and why he has been brought back into the side. Given Jose Mourinho has previously said that he has no plans to change United's attack, and given midfield and defence both need strengthening, this seems like mere speculation.
Guardiola to sign new £20m deal
Pep Guardiola has one year left on his current deal, but is due to sign another year's extension after recently meeting with the club's owners. Not only will he extend his deal, but he will raise his salary to £20m a year. Guardiola oversaw defeat to Liverpool and Manchester United in two consecutive fixtures, conceding three goals in both match, but that will not hold up the deal which has already been agreed, with only his signature needed.
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Jose Mourinho (L) shakes hands Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
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Paper Round's view: It is no surprise that City want to tie their man down to a new deal. They have been mocked for their Tinder sponsorship and they cannot regularly sell out their ground despite hundreds of millions of pounds spent. In addition to that, Guardiola has swerved questions about the owners' behaviour over human rights despite at the same time protesting for them back in Catalonia. Such a loyal employee has to be rewarded as he is one of the few figures at the club that gives them credibility beyond their cash.
Leicester ready to replace Mahrez
Leicester City anticipate selling Riyad Mahrez in the summer transfer window, with the 27-year-old Algeria international possibly still on Manchester City's transfer window. However, they already have a replacement lined up, having scouted Norwich City's 21-year-old winger James Maddison. Tottenham Hotspur and others are interested, too, but with a windfall from Mahrez's sale anticipated, Leicester are confident of putting in the highest bid in for the £17m-rated player.
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Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City holds off Eden Hazard of Chelsea during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Leicester City and Chelsea at The King Power Stadium on March 18, 2018 in Leicester, England.
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Paper Round's view: Mahrez has recommitted to Leicester City well enough despite his obvious disappointment at missing out on a January transfer to Manchester City. Given the fallout from that, it seems inevitable that he will finally get his move to a big club, and perhaps Arsenal will be interested too. After Norwich's disappointing season, £20m or so would be a handy way of raising funds to rebuild for another attempt at Premier League promotion.
Newcastle takeover is back on
Newcastle United's ownership could finally change hands. The PCP group led by Amanda Staveley has been back in talks with Mike Ashley as it appears increasingly likely that Newcastle will avoid relegation for another season. That had been a bone of contention before, as PCP wanted a £100m clause inserted that covered them in the event of going down to the Championship, but they are now willing to get closer to Ashley's £350m asking price.
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Owner of Sports Direct and Newcastle United, Mike Ashley
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Paper Round's view: Any club in the Premier League with the ability to fill its ground and stay in the league is an attractive investment, with the prospect of rising sponsorship and television deals. Rafael Benitez would presumably be happier with committed owners, too. But questions remain - PCP are generally a front for other people's money rather than their own, and questions need to be asked and answered over who exactly will end up owning the club.
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