Man City and Man Utd to lock horns over summer transfer targets – Paper Round

Manchester City and Manchester United will battle it out for two centre-half targets this summer, with both clubs interested in Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar, according to the Independent. Koulibaly is said to be City’s top target, although there have been reports Sergio Aguero could be used in a swap deal for Skriniar. United, meanwhile, are said to be keen on a new centre-back as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ponders what areas need strengthening in light of their rejuvenated attacking displays.

Paper Round’s view: The outcome of City’s appeal for their two-year European ban will have a big bearing on their exploits in the transfer window. Should it be overturned then City would be favourites to land their top targets, but if they are not in the Champions League next season then United could swoop in. A decision is expected soon, and it will have big ramifications either way.

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Premier League clubs are keen for FA Cup third and fourth round matches to take place in midweek next season, the Daily Mail reports. The top-tier clubs also want to see replays scrapped as English football gets set to work out how a season will squeeze into a shorter time frame due to the coronavirus pandemic extending the current campaign.

Paper Round’s view: There are some difficult decisions to make, while sponsors and broadcasters will both wanting consulting too no doubt. It would not be a surprise if the League Cup takes a hit, perhaps with sides playing in Europe not playing in that competition, while scrapping FA Cup replays would see lower-league sides miss out on another potential pay day. That being said, behind closed doors would mean no gate receipts, but there would still be the broadcasting money to help clubs struggling amid the pandemic.

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Bournemouth will look to sell Nathan Ake and Josh King in the summer even if the club stay in the Premier League, the Daily Mail reports. The Cherries are involved in a mighty relegation scrap, but regardless of the outcome they will sell some of their star players as part of a cost-cutting drive. The report states even manager Eddie Howe could leave as the club struggles amid the financial crisis.

Paper Round’s view: The struggles of even some Premier League clubs are laid bare amid the pandemic. Even if Bournemouth stay up, this is almost a resignation to relegation the following season. After all their hard work coming up and becoming mainstays, it could all become undone, and that would be a sad outcome for a club who defied the odds to begin with.

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Arsenal are among the clubs interested in signing Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin, the Daily Star reports. PSG and Napoli are also said to be keen on the 23-year-old, but any move will only take place if Newcastle’s proposed takeover falls through – that’s because the players are set for bumper new contracts if the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium do take charge.

Paper Round’s view: They could be waiting a while. This talk of a Newcastle takeover has gone on for months, and not for the first time. Regardless, Newcastle will want to hold onto their key players after an impressive run of form which sees them closer to the fight for Europe than relegation.