Transfer Talk: Zlatan Ibrahimovic chooses Man United, Lionel Messi also a target

 

Manchester United are in the process of finalizing terms on a one-year contract for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the Sweden international could seal his move to Old Trafford before Euro 2016 kicks off on June 10.

Sky Sports reports Ibrahimovic is the only frontman on Jose Mourinho's wanted list this summer amid hopes Marcus Rashford can continue to develop next season. The former Chelsea boss is so confident in his 18-year-old charge that he reportedly passed up the opportunity to move for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy this week.
Former Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, has rejected offers from China and Italy to move to the Premier League.

Man United sound out Messi
United has reportedly made two approaches for Lionel Messi in the past three weeks in an effort to find out whether the Barcelona superstar would entertain a move to Old Trafford in the future.
The Mail claims United are realistic enough to admit they would not be able to prise Messi away from Barca this summer and will wait until they are able to offer Champions League football, hopefully ahead of the 2017-18 season, by which time the Argentina international could be in the final year of his contract.
United, would be required to break the world record transfer fee that Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Bale in 2013 if they were to secure Messi's services.

Southampton face another exodus
Southampton are facing a fight to hold on to a number of their star names, according to the Sun, with Victor Wanyama, Shane Long, Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane among those being targeted by rival clubs.
Mane, valued at £40m by the South Coast side, is wanted by Liverpool and Manchester United, and Wanyama and Long are being pursued by former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham. It is also reported that should manager Ronald Koeman quit Southampton to take over at Everton there are fears goalkeeper Fraser Forster could follow him to Goodison Park.

Benteke Chelsea's backup plan
Chelsea are considering a move for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke should they fail in their pursuit of his Belgium international teammate Romelu Lukaku, the Mail reports.
The Blues sold Lukaku to Everton for £28m in 2014 but failed to put a buy-back clause in the 23-year-old's contract and are now bulking at the Toffees' £65m price tag. Benteke cost Liverpool £32.5m last summer, but the Reds could be tempted to accept an offer of less if it means getting the 25-year-old off their books and freeing up funds for Jurgen Klopp to bring in new faces.

Other news
- Liverpool, AC Milan and Lyon are among the clubs interested in signing Jordan Amavi from Aston Villa this summer, and L'Equipe claims the Reds have already alerted the player's agent to their pursuit. The 22-year-old left-back tore his knee ligaments while on international duty with France Under-21s in November, meaning he missed a large part of a Premier League campaign in which Villa were relegated.

- Rafa Benitez's first signing for Newcastle this summer could be Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa, according to the Mail. Benitez signed Arbeloa, now 33, in 2007 when he was Liverpool manager and could be in the market for a right-back with Daryl Janmaat expected to depart St. James' Park.

- Lyon are not keen to part with midfielder Corentin Tolisso, despite Napoli tabling a bid of €16m, L'Equipe reports. Arsenal have also been linked to the versatile France Under-21 international, who can play at right-back.

- Stoke have beaten West Ham and Crystal Palace to the signing of £10m-rated Norwich winger Nathan Redmond, the Mirror claims. Redmond, 22, has one year left on his contract at Carrow Road and has rejected a new deal, opening the door for Stoke to make their move for the player who starred as England Under-21s won the Toulon Tournament.
Source: ESPN Soccernet