David Alaba: Man City and Man Utd make formal offers for Bayern Munich defender – Paper Round

Manchester United have contacted David Alaba’s agent in the hope of signing the Bayern Munich defender in the summer when his contract expires, the Express reports. Manchester City are also hopeful of bringing the Austria international to the Etihad, but the 28-year-old has plenty of suitors with Chelsea and Real Madrid also linked with the player, who looks certain to leave Bayern after contract extension talks broke down.

Paper Round’s view: At 28, Alaba will have no shortage of offers. It is not often one of the best defenders in the game becomes available for free at such an age, and so expect every European heavyweight to make their play in a bid to make the current Champions League winners weaker. (Cue Dayot Upamecano moving to Bayern in the summer)

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Everton will look to offer Lucas Digne a tempting new contract amid interest from Manchester City, the Times reports. Pep Guardiola has sounded out the full-back as a possible January addition, and though he is currently out with an injury, Everton are reluctant to lose a player who has been central to their bright start this season under Carlo Ancelotti.

Paper Round’s view: Digne would be a great addition for City, and so that makes it all the more important for Everton to try and convince the ex-Barcelona defender it is worth staying at Goodison Park. A tough decision, potentially, for both player and club if City come in with a decent offer.

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With Chelsea benefitting from Edouard Mendy’s arrival in the summer, a former Blues target is now being eyed by Paris Saint-Germain, with the Daily Mail reporting Jan Oblak could leave Atletico Madrid in search of a new challenge and more trophies. Chelsea were priced out of a move for Oblak as Atleti refused to budge on the £109m buy-out clause in the previous window, but the Spanish club – currently top of La Liga – could be willing to listen to offers in January or next summer.

Paper Round’s view: Odd timing with Atleti top, but PSG can see the long-term potential in 27-year-old Oblak, and given current No 1 Keylor Navas is 34 the French champions could be willing to match whatever price the Madrid club want with a view to making Oblak their first-choice goalkeeper for a good while.

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Atalanta winger Amad Diallo is due to arrive in England in early January to finalise his move to Manchester United, the Guardian reports. United agreed a deal of €25m (£27.3m) plus add-ons in the summer, and after the 18-year-old Ivorian received an Italian passport this week – which enabled him to get a work permit – he is free to finalise the transfer and become a United player.

Paper Round’s view: Just five appearances this season, but United clearly see Diallo as one for the future. It will be intriguing to see if he plays a role for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season, or joins up with the U23 team first.