On the same day Ed Woodward, suited and booted up in the plush posh seats at Old Trafford, proclaimed Manchester United as the world’s biggest sports team, he then watched his side lose to Derby County and their dumped vice-captain, Paul Pogba, supposedly upset manager José Mourinho by informing him he wishes to join Barcelona. However, the Catalan side will have to cough up in excess of £200m to land the French midfielder, according to the Mirror.
Real Madrid are hopeful the former United No 7, Cristiano Ronaldo, will return to the La Liga club after his stint in Serie A with Juventus. “He is one of those that one day will come back,” muttered the Real president, Florentino Pérez. “I think that he is one of those players who will be in the hearts of the Madrid fans and will be remembered from generation to generation.”
On the lookout for firmer tittle-tattle? Well, the Sun report Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday are thinking long and hard about breaking their respective banks once more with an audacious move for Gary Cahill, the 32-year-old Chelsea defender. Cahill himself is determined to play Premier League football, though, while if under-fire manager Steve Bruce remains in charge, he may try and lure John Terry back.
Elsewhere, West Bromwich Albion are set to sign former Crystal Palace winger Bakary Sako on a free transfer while defender Steven Caulker – without a club after leaving Dundee in August – is training with Wigan Athletic, with a view to earning a contract. And, the former Newcastle United vice-president has revealed Kevin Keegan turned down the chance to sign Daniel Sturridge and Karim Benzema during his tenure on Tyneside.
