Manchester United join Liverpool and Real Madrid in £110m Bellingham battle, Barcelona chase Joao Cancelo – Paper Round

Man Utd enter Bellingham battle

Manchester United are ready to enter the race to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund this summer. The 19-year-old is valued at a minimum of £110 million by the German club and a number of top European clubs are willing to meet this asking price. Manchester United have made a striker their priority, but hope to stretch their transfer budget to sign Bellingham. Local rivals Manchester City are prepared to sell Bernardo Silva to fund their pursuit of the England international.

“[Manchester] City are strongly in the running for Bellingham – along with Liverpool and Real Madrid – with [Manchester] United now having registered their interest. Chelsea have not ruled out making an offer but accept they are not among the favourites for Bellingham’s signature.

“There has been a feeling within football that Bellingham may favour a move to Anfield but other clubs do not accept this and discussions are ongoing.

“Borussia Dortmund insist they still want to keep Bellingham, at least for one more season, and that it is not a given that he will leave at the end of this campaign.”

Barca hope for cut-price Cancelo deal

Barcelona discovered during a meeting with super agent Jorge Mendes that they have been outpriced in their pursuit of Joao Cancelo. The Catalan club have made the Manchester City right-back their top target for the upcoming summer transfer window, but are hoping that the Premier League club lower their current demands. Barca could realistically explore a loan move, but only if the price of the package is significantly lowered.

“Loaning Cancelo would cost Barca more than 20 million euros and the blaugrana club is not willing to pay this for a player that they would not own.

“Mendes has the challenge of convincing City to loan him out without a loan fee and Cancelo would also have to lower his wages to play for Barca.”

Vieira on the brink

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is “seriously considering” sacking Patrick Vieira, according to the Guardian. The south London club have not won a match since the turn of the year, despite playing 12 games, and have slipped down to 12th in the Premier League table. Palace are just three points above the relegation zone, which has pushed Parish to considering Vieira’s future.

“Vieira is believed to have been frustrated by the lack of investment in the summer and January transfer windows and would point his side having faced a run of fixtures against clubs in the top half.”

Dele nightmare continues

Besiktas have decided against taking up the £8-million option to sign Dele Alli on a permanent transfer from Everton this summer. The 26-year-old has spent the season on loan in Istanbul but has failed to rediscover his previous levels of form and is expected to return to Merseyside at the end of the campaign.

“Dele is currently out of favour with head coach Senol Gunes. Besiktas say he may still be able to force his way back into their plans.”