Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd quoted £70m for Jadon Sancho, Arsenal find Ozil replacement

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is here to bring you the latest rumours and gossip

Friday, February 15

• Arsenal have identified a replacement for Mesut Ozil

• Milan Skriniar is the most likely defensive arrival for Manchester United

• Inter Milan are demanding a world-record fee for a defender

• Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has agreed to extend his contract

Jadon Sancho to Manchester United

Manchester United made contact with Borussia Dortmund to discuss the signing of Jadon Sancho.

That’s according to The Sun, who claim Dortmund quoted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side a whopping £70million for the England international.

Sancho's story has been well publicised this year following the decision to turn his back on Manchester City in August 2017 in order to get more game time - one that has seen him burst into the limelight.

He’s since scored eight goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions.

However, should Ed Woodward and the United board agree to pay Dortmund’s £70m valuation - City will be entitled to 15 per cent because of a sell-on clause inserted in their original deal with Dortmund.

Matthijs De Ligt interest

Juventus have made signing Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt their top priority.

And they’ve hatched a plan to secure the 19-year-old’s signature.

Italian publication Tuttosport claim Juventus will offer Ajax Italy Under-21 international Moise Kean plus cash in exchange.

The report says Juventus will allow Ajax to sign Kean for £17.5million providing a buy-back clause is inserted in the deal.

de Ligt is valued at £75million, but with Kean heading in the opposite direction - Juventus will have to part with less cash.

Adrien Rabiot to Barcelona

PSG outcast Adrien Rabiot remains convinced he’s joining Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.

That’s according to French newspaper Le Parisien, who claim Rabiot has told friends and family that a Nou Camp switch is happening.

Rabiot has been frozen out by manager Thomas Tuchel after refusing to sign a new contract.

The midfielder talent hasn’t played a single minute for PSG since December 15 and doesn’t expect to play again this season.

Tottenham had been due to snare Rabiot in a £20million deal last month before the transfer collapsed.

And Express Sport understand Daniel Levy and co. are worried Liverpool might swoop in to beat them to the punch in the summer.

Marco Veratti to Old Trafford

Manchester United should sign PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, says Dimitar Berbatov.

Verratti, 26, pulled the strings for the French side during Tuesday’s Champions League win at Old Trafford.

And Betfair Ambassador Berbatov thinks United should make an approach.

“Marco Veratti was very impressive in the centre of the park for PSG,” Berbatov told Betfair. “What I like about him is that his first thought is always to go forwards, but if that's not on, he's happy just to keep the ball, controlling the tempo and almost putting the other team to sleep.

“The Italian is an unbelievable talent; he reminds me of Xavi and Iniesta in many ways. He'd be great at United next to Nemanja Matic in midfield, allowing the Serbian to do the dirty work while he controlled the game. Can't see PSG selling though!”

No Neymar return

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has ruled out a return for Barcelona.

Neymar joined Paris St-Germain for a world-record £200million in 2017 but is continually linked with a return to the Nou Camp.

"I've spoken with Neymar, we've seen each other a few times, but his people have never told me he wants to come back,” Bartomeu told Spanish radio station Radio Kanal Barcelona.

No one's called us about it. Neymar has a contract with PSG. It's his second season there and it's very difficult (to imagine) they want to sell. We didn't want to.

"We have the disadvantage of the (release) clause here. European clubs (can) take advantage of that. That's not the case (in France) so it's not possible for him to return.

"The club's taken another path, with (Ousmane) Dembele, (Philippe) Coutinho. We have to move on with them. They're the two biggest investments in the club's history and we back them 100 per cent."

Real Madrid Icardi twist

Real Madrid could have received a boost in their efforts to sign Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan.

Icardi is not happy at the San Siro and will miss Inter’s weekend clash with Sampdoria due to injury.

Gazzetta dello Sport report he had a 15-minute showdown talk with Inter manager Luciano Spalletti.

Icardi has already lost the Inter captaincy and did not train with the team on Friday.

Done Deals at Wolves

Wolves club captain Conor Coady and fellow defender Matt Doherty have signed new long-term contracts with the Premier League club.

Coady, 25, and Doherty, 27, have both agreed new four-and-a-half-year deals, Wolves announced on their official website.

"Conor Coady and Matt Doherty have committed their long-term futures to Wolves by agreeing new deals until 2023," read a statement.

Wanted: Matthijs de Ligt

Barcelona are interested in signing Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

But the transfer hinges on the fitness of centre-back Samuel Umtiti.

Umtiti, 25, has returned to light training having spent three months on the sidelines nursing a serious knee injury.

It was reported that his return would spell the end of Barca’s search for defensive reinforcements.

However, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona will look to bring £75m-rated de Ligt to the Nou Camp if Umtiti’s injury issues persist.

Mesut Ozil replacement

Arsenal have identified a replacement for Mesut Ozil, reports claim.

Ozil’s days at the Emirates look numbered having been repeatedly frozen out by Unai Emery.

The Daily Telegraph recently claimed that Arsenal are actively looking to find teams that could afford to sign the German, with his £350,000-a-week wages said to be the biggest obstacle.

And a significantly cheaper successor has been found.

Italian website Calciomercato claim the Gunners are preparing a summer swoop for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz.

The report claims Arsenal scouts have been monitoring the 19-year-old, who has notched up 11 goals and provided six assists in 28 appearances in all competitions.

Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan

Inter Milan are looking at alternatives to striker Mauro Icardi.

That’s according to Tuttomercato, who claim the Serie A side are looking at Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku to replace the Argentine.

Inter Milan announced on Wednesday that Icardi had been stripped of the captaincy with goalkeeper Samir Handanovic handed the honour.

The rift has led to speculation the 25-year-old could leave the San Siro this summer with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea expected to challenge for his signature.

And Tuttomercato suggest Lukaku, who is playing second-fiddle to Marcus Rashford, has been identified as a potential successor.

Wanted: Milan Skriniar

Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar is the most likely defensive arrival for Manchester United this summer.

That’s according to the Independent, who claim interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had input over potential arrivals.

The Red Devils were tracking Skriniar during Jose Mourinho’s reign and remain interested in the Slovakia international, 24.

Inter are demanding a world-record fee for a defender, which could see Ed Woodward dwarf the £75million Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk.

Sampdoria's Joachim Andersen and Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly are also on the shortlist.

Eden Hazard future

Thibaut Courtois has revealed he is unsure if the Spanish giants want to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea.

“This is his decision and I cannot say much about it,” Courtois told VTM Nieuws. “But of course, I want to play with him at club level again, partly because he is a great player but also because he is my friend.

“If he came here (to Madrid) it would be good, but the decision is his.”

Done Deal: Valverde signs

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has agreed to extend his contract with the club until 2020 with the option of an additional year.

The 55-year-old former Barca player took charge at the club in the summer of 2017, succeeding Luis Enrique, and guided them to a LaLiga and Copa del Rey double last season.

Valverde's men are currently six points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who they drew 1-1 with in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final last week.

A statement on Barcelona's official website said: "FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde, the first team coach, have reached an agreement to extend the contract between the two parties for another season (2019/20) with the option for one more (2020/21).”

Eric Bailly sale?

Manchester United could opt to sell Eric Bailly if the club bag a mega-money centre-back this summer.

Kalidou Koulibaly, Milan Skriniar and Joachim Andersen have all been identified as potential arrivals.

And should a deal come to fruition - the 24-year-old could be axed after three seasons at Old Trafford.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones recently signed new contracts with the club - leaving Bailly under threat, according to the Independent.

Joao Felix raid

Manchester United are plotting a £100million raid for Benfica midfielder Joao Felix this summer, according to The Sun.

Old Trafford scouts have watched the 19-year-old on several occasions this season and have been impressed by what they have seen.

Benfica are willing to sell Felix but will demand a mammoth £100m for their young star.

An Old Trafford source said: “The club went to see Felix in action and it was all positive. He is seen as a real talent. There looks like there is going to be moves for him.”

Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal?

Marc Overmars reckons Manchester United flop Alexis Sanchez could make a shock move back to Arsenal.

Sanchez, the highest earner in the Premier League at around £400,000-a-week, has scored just one goal in 14 Premier League appearances this season.

“I have great respect for Alexis, because he did extremely well in Arsenal,” Overmars told Chilean radio station ADN Deportes.

“I do not know if it was a good decision to leave. After Alexis, Arsenal tried to sign another player like that, but he was not given, so he could go back to Arsenal.”