Rashford 'weighs up Barcelona move'

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford could be another player to leave the club in the summer. The 21-year-old England international has been linked with a move to Barcelona, and the Mail reports that he is stalling on signing a new deal. United have a 12-month extension option on a deal that runs out at the end of net season, but Rashford is in no hurry to agree a deal when he is wanted by the best team in the world. He wants more than £200,000 a week and to play through the middle.

Paper Round's view: As a local player who came through the youth team, he should be the kind of player who United keep at the club for the next decade. However, United are no longer the club with the pull and attraction the were in the days of Alex Ferguson, and they either have to stump up for their best - and other - top talent, or accept that they will no longer challenge for the top four. It seems Ed Woodward has already chosen the latter so far in his time at the club.

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has explained that he could soon leave Stammford Bridge. The player has a few weeks remaining on his current deal, assuming that the club do not activate a 12-month extension. Giroud wants assurances he'll be given a more important role, according to the Mirror, and said: "I’m not satisfied with being second choice. The important thing for me is to have more minutes. I’m a competitor, so obviously I want to play more. I don’t know what will happen. I have to meet the club. I’m happy to be here. I just want to enjoy it. I don’t want to retire. They must talk to me before the end of the season. With what I’ve achieved here, there is no reason they won’t give me one more year. But I need to be happy.”

Paper Round's view: Giroud is an excellent centre forward for a team that has plenty of creativity and pace behind and around him, but that is currently not the Chelsea side put out by Maurizio Sarri. If Sarri says and there is a huge upheaval in the side following Hazard's departure, then allowing Callum Hudson-Odoi the chance to develop alongside him could make the most of the Frenchman for one last season.

The Star reports that Matthijs De Ligt will not be the subject of a bid from Tottenahm Hotspur this summer. The club have been tracking the young defender, with the 19-year-old Dutch international rated at £69 million. Despite Spurs reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, they now believe that De Ligt will sign for Barcelona, will Bayern Munich and Juventus also more glamorous rivals for his signature.

Paper Round's view: The chase for talent across Europe appears to have accelarated over the last couple of seasons, with teams aiming their sights ever younger. Borussia Dortmund have shown the benefits, and in terms of economics it is cheaper, just, to buy brilliant young talent rather than spend a fortune for those already at the top of their game.

Following defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, and with a top-four finish stil in doubt, Manchester United are planning to add up to six players in the summer, according a report in the Express. Kalidou Koulibaly and Raphael Varane are the central defensive targets, and Aaron Wan-Biassaka is wanted at right-back. Saul Niguez and Declane rice are mentioned as midfield options, and Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho remains their top target.

Paper Round's view: If United will not even spend the required wages for David de Gea then it is difficult to see how they will manage to sign even half the players listed above. If they were to bring in an able director of football then they could operate with a clear, long-term plan, and try not to waste so much money, but it does not seem they are in a rush to make that change.