Manchester United target Carlos Soler for January transfer

According to this story in The Daily Mail, Barcelona have agreed a deal in principle for Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann. Griezmann has disappointed this season, but is still wanted by the top teams as one of the few superstars who isn’t yet claimed by one of them yet. Manchester United have not been ruled out of the race yet, at least, but there is a growing strain between Jose Mourinho and the board. If he has to sell in order to raise funds this transfer window, then getting another £100m together seems unlikely.

One option, also in Spain, is Carlos Soler - Valencia’s 20-year-old midfielder. A fee of £40m, perhaps with Andreas Pereira in part-exchange, is suggested in this piece in The Independent.

Manchester United have been buying land around Old Trafford, and this story suggests what they might have in mind for the future. Given the success of Hotel Football, United could launch their own competition for it, or they could buy and then expand it. They could also be planning to extend the ground and increase the capacity, in order to bring in more fans and tourists, raising ticket revenue. Isn’t it all impossibly thrilling?

The Telegraph wonder who should partner Harry Kane for international duty. On the one hand there is Jamie Vardy, an irritant and a pain for defenders, with his own eye for goal. On the other, there is Marcus Rashford, technically much better and capable of invention and wit on the pitch. Rashford is the better, more promising player, but there is no reason not to combine the three players over the course of a tournament.

And last of all, on ESPNFC, there’s a discussion on just how much United still miss Paul Pogba. When he comes back we’re going to be expecting a lot of him.