HERE ARE THE good, the bad and unlikely football moves being talked about today.
TWO YEARS AFTER selling him for a reported fee of €33 million, Chelsea are being linked with an €80 million move to sign Romelu Lukaku back from Everton, after Real Madrid said they would not be parting with Alvaro Morata.
Man United look finally set to confirm their €120m deal for Paul Pogba, with the move expected to be confirmed later today.
There has been much talk of Jose Mourinho needing to sell some players in order to accommodate others, and Paddy McNair, Will Keane and Adnan Januzaj are the latest individuals linked with an Old Trafford exit. Sunderland boss David Moyes is reportedly keen on the latter two players, while Burnley and Celtic both want McNair.
And with several youngsters expected to depart, Jose Mourinho reportedly missed out on signing one. The Man United boss was hopeful of landing 19-year-old Swiss attacker Breel Embolo, who joined Schalke from Basel instead, according to the German club’s sporting director.
Saido Berahino is poised to finally leave West Brom, with the Baggies set to sign €17 million-rated Diafra Sakho as the striker’s replacement.
Ronald Koeman is planning to raid his old club as he attempts to seal a deal for one of Portugal’s Euro 2016 heroes. Everton want 32-year-old Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte, whose valuation is understood to be set at around €10m.
€35 million-rated Brazil international Oscar could be on the verge of leaving Chelsea, with Inter interested in signing the 24-year-old.
Retro deal of the day: William Prunier to Man United
Having enjoyed an excellent career in French football, making over 200 appearances for Auxerre in addition to stints at Marseille and Bordeaux, the one-time France international joined Man United on loan in the 1995-96 season.
Having initially joined on a trial basis, Alex Ferguson was forced to throw him in at centre-back alongside Gary Neville, following injuries to first-choice defenders Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister and David May.
After an encouraging debut against QPR, Prunier endured an evening to forget in the 1996 New Year’s Day match against Tottenham, as United were well beaten 4-1 by Spurs.
Perhaps surprisingly, even after the Spurs defeat, Ferguson offered the defender an extended trial, though Prunier declined the offer and left the club after two appearances.
He played mainly in France following the brief stint with the Red Devils, making over 100 appearances for Toulouse and having a season with Montpellier, in addition to short stays at Napoli, Hearts, Belgian side KV Kortrijk and Al-Siliya in the United Arab Emirates.
Since retiring in 2004, Prunier has taken up a career in coaching, managing French amateur side Colomiers.
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