Premier League - Papers: United to sign Gaitan

Sun, 18 Dec 04:25:00 2011

Manchester United are on the brink of tying up a deal to sign Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan for a fee of £29.3 million, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan - 0

Not a paper to be as flippant with its rumours as some of the tabloids, the Telegraph says that the deal will only be completed in the summer despite United's injury problems in midfield.

The 23-year-old Argentina international has been targeted by both Internazionale and Paris St. Germain which has prompted United to act fast and strike an "informal agreement" with Benfica.

Benfica initially wanted £38 million for the player, who can play as an attacking midfielder or left-sided forward, but United insisted they would not go that high. However they have agreed to the Portuguese side's demand to keep Gaitan until the end of the season.

Gaitan's former club Boca Juniors will receive 20 per cent of any transfer fee.

The Telegraph also claims that United are monitoring another Benfica midfielder in the shape of the more defensively-minded Javi Garcia.

Elsewhere, as is always the case on a Sunday, there are plenty of juicy, unsubstantiated rumours doing the rounds in the tabloids.

Liverpool fans will be drooling at the prospect of Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil and Newcastle's Cheick Tiote moving to Anfield.

The People says the Reds are monitoring Ozil’s situation at Real Madrid after Jose Mourinho gave the German midfielder a stark ultimatum that his form must improve or he will be sold.

The Sunday Mirror claims Liverpool have joined the chase for Newcastle’s £25m-rated midfielder Tiote and had scouts at the Swansea game on Saturday; but the paper also notes that Chelsea remain favourites to sign the Ivory Coast international.

Tiote is not the only Chelsea link in the Mirror. Andre Villas-Boas has put Brazil wonderkid Neymar at the top of his Christmas wish list according the paper, which also links Aly Cissokho, Lyon’s 24-year-old left-back, and the highly-rated Montpellier centre-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa with moves to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea and Liverpool, along with Arsenal and Tottenham, are said to be monitoring the progress of Derby's 16-year-old midfielder Will Hughes. (Sunday Mirror)

Kyle Walker has no interest in leaving Tottenham - despite speculation linking him with a host of Europe’s top clubs. The young England defender has attracted the attention of Real Madrid and several Italian clubs, including AC Milan and Juventus. (Sunday Mirror)

Spurs are also looking to secure a £150m sponsorship deal to help fund a proposed new stadium. Qatar Airways are the likeliest contender. (Sunday Telegraph)

David Beckham is refusing to rule out a new deal at LA Galaxy despite strong links with a move to Paris St-Germain (The People). He has also received a letter asking if he wants to be considered for the British Olympic team (Mail on Sunday).

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is in torment over becoming the next England boss, because friends and family are worried it would do too much damage to his health. (Sunday Mirror)

Manchester City have yet to open talks with manager Roberto Mancini over a new contract. Mancini’s deal with City expires at the end of next season and he is in the dark about the club’s plans. (Sunday Mirror)

Fulham are watching developments with Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner under new boss Martin O’Neill as they look at recruitment options in the January window. (Sunday Mirror)

Blackburn owners Venky’s will have a crisis meeting this week - with Steve Kean the main topic on the agenda. Venky’s have a list of potential emergency replacements for Kean, including Avram Grant and former boss Graeme Souness along with Dave Jones. (The People)

Manchester City will listen to offers for Wayne Bridge and Nedum Onuoha – but will not let them go out on loan. (Sunday Mirror)

Liverpool old boy Sotirios Kyrgiakos wants to come back to the Premier League after a brief stay in Germany with Wolfsburg - Stoke are reportedly interested. (The People)

Everton boss David Moyes is chasing Manchester United's misfit striker Mame Biram Diouf and may ask for the Senegal striker if United decide to bid for Jack Rodwell. (The People)

Carlo Ancelotti is set to turn his back on the Premier League and make an eye-raising return to management with wealthy PSG - and wants to take Didier Drogba to the French capital. (The People)

Chelsea's bid to land striker Gonzalo Higuain is set to be dashed – on the orders of Jose Mourinho. Real Madrid boss Mourinho "no longer respects his former sidekick" Andre Villas-Boas, according to the Daily Star on Sunday.

And finally, Arsenal are hot on the trail of top-rated striker Ederzito at Academica in Portugal, who is also a target for Porto when his contract expires at the end of the season. (The People)

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  1. UTD tapping up players AGAIN, about time something was­ done to stop this flagrant breech of the rules.

    From Stephen, on Mon 19 Dec 13:09

  2. They have money to burn.

    From ALI, on Mon 19 Dec 6:37

  3. it seem's united is not allowed to buy players­ other wise there buying the league but when you look at­ uniteds team half of them are around 29-35 and on the­ verge of retirement and the other half are injury­ prone.
    the thing is out of the top 4 at the end of the­ season lets see who buy's the most i would bet my­ house on it united are not first.

    From Andrew Jones, on Mon 19 Dec 5:08
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    MAN UNITED, BUYING THE LEAGUE (or trying to)

    From rwh.10197, on Mon 19 Dec 4:35

  5. Comment 83 read comment 97. Did u change positions(­ kinky like your nan)

    From redrum7346, on Mon 19 Dec 3:53

  6. Comment 87. Me is so so sorry if I did offend u with­ the inbred English term. But me thinks u missed the­ whole point of what I was saying. Read it properly (­ get your parents to help u), understand it then write a­ response to it

    From redrum7346, on Mon 19 Dec 3:34

  7. KFC forever - "Isn't it amazing how many­ Liverfool's seem to claim intellectual superiority­ yet make so many mistakes with their comments.­ "Fans" doesn't have an apostrophe,­ I'm not sure what the double full stop is for,­ there should be a comma before the word­ "but", and "at least" should be­ before the word "thought".
    19 times !! ­ To55er

    From liverfoolrcrap, on Mon 19 Dec 2:41

  8. Dr Graham you n'ob, you couldn't beat Barcelona­ when it counted, you forgot that - two of the most one­ sided finals I've ever witnessed - quiet­ embarrassing actually - That is all!

    From TeamFour, on Mon 19 Dec 1:51

  9. The Glazers will not spend any money on United, they­ really, really need a quarterback in Tampa.

    From RGJ, on Mon 19 Dec 1:15

  10. I will believe it when I see it happen, for now its­ just media speculation, and very often ant transfer­ news involving man utd turns out to be bull sheet

    From Paranoid conspiracy theorist QUEEN KENNY, on Mon 19 Dec 1:08
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i watched man utd today and truly believe that rooney­ wants to score all the goals for man u. this is selfish­ big time if he has the brains to realise that his goals­ come from team play then he shouldnot sulk when­ others try to score as well.we could have scored four­ or five goals today.good he came off today .mind you i­ have been watching man utd since 1975 now they seem­ to misunderstand what frontline is.- pass the ball to­ the player who is best placed. - reference barcelona

    From LL Boston, on Mon 19 Dec 1:03

  12. David,

    Yet another stupid comment. Guess it took you­ all day to think that one up.

    From Dr Graham J Smith DD, on Mon 19 Dec 0:53

  13. Sneijder was never an option last season a good­ player but over priced and as for his wage demands­ totally unrealistic. Only City would be stupid­ enough to agree those sort of terms.

    It is best to­ ignore the papers whatever they say. When it comes­ directly from Man United then it will happen.

    All­ sorts of players are being touted at this time of year­ and associated with all sorts of clubs. Best to­ believe it when it happens and avoid disappointment

    From Dr Graham J Smith DD, on Mon 19 Dec 0:51
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    the glazers must be selling man united if they are­ going to spend 23 million on one player.

    From David, on Mon 19 Dec 0:43
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Stu, "I hope Gaitan does­ come to United in the­ summer"? It's not that long ago you were­ saying exactly the same about Sneijder! Make your mind­ up.

    From LYNN, on Mon 19 Dec 0:11

  16. Yes Alan,

    United are in decline because we got knocked­ out of the champions league. You talk as if it­ hasn't happened before,well it has and United went­ on a run of 3 consecutive league titles and 4­ appearences in the Champions league final winning once.­ Not bad for a team who you would have said way­ back then are in decline

    You make yourself make so­ very stupid. Remember City are also out and­ according to some of their supporters are as good as­ Barcelona. In your dreams. We have a te least this­ year beaten Barcelona your club is so small I doubt­ they would consider playing you unless of course drawn­ in a cup competition. Hate to think what the result­ would be they would crucify you

    From Dr Graham J Smith DD, on Sun 18 Dec 23:53

  17. kidneypond look for your own players newcastle­ aren't your nursery club BACK OFF

    From MICHAEL Y, on Sun 18 Dec 23:36
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Isn't it amazing how many United fan's­ can't actually spell on here..Dear me I knew United­ fan's were deluded ignorant fools but I thought­ they were educated at least. 5 TIMES ! Losers.

    From lfc.forever, on Sun 18 Dec 23:32

  19. united will come good again you just watch dropping out­ of the champions leauge may not be as bad as you think­ it may be i think man utd and man city will benifit ­ hugely from playing the lesser teams in europe because­ it will give them great practice for next seasons­ champions leauge

    From Ryan, on Sun 18 Dec 23:14

  20. redrum etc., if you understood anything of history you­ would realise theEnglish are anything but inbred,­ it's just a term you like to use because it may be­ considered offensive, try to find a critical term that­ has at least a grain of truth in it, until then, you­ are just another ill educated racist bore.

    From JAMES, on Sun 18 Dec 23:08
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