Manchester United close to Pedro deal and linked with Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ed Woodward flew out to Barcelona last night to negotiate for Pedro. Barcelona want 30 million euros up front, and Manchester United are pointlessly dithering. He's one of the few able, available forwards in the world who want to join United is haggling over a few quid. It's utterly pathetic, and one almost hopes that Pedro and Barcelona tell Woodward to sling it, just so they get what they deserve for this nonsense. You can read about the move in the Mirror.

Chelsea have had a £30 million bid for Everton's John Stones rejected, but a deal looks imminent. With United lurking, you have to again wonder what they are playing at. This transfer window started well enough, but looks to end up with the usual United farce of dithering and inaction. That story is in the Mail.

There's a story in the Telegraph, from the Mail, that United might be forced into a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, simply because there are no other targets left. For what it's worth, he'd be well worth a transfer for many entertaining reasons, and he's still got the talent to outperform Wayne Rooney, and the ego to adapt to Old Trafford. Get it done.

It's not a transfer blog as such, more an extended round-up of the situation at United, but Andy Mitten is excellent, so you should read his latest on ESPNFC.