Gossip: Manchester United turn to Godin

Gossip: Manchester United turn to Godin

MAN UNITED IN FOR GODIN
Manchester United want another central defender. You might have heard some people mention it, definitely not leaked the info by Jose Mourinho.

The Sun report that Mourinho will be given the green light to bid £28million for Diego Godin in January. They will hand the 30-year-old a huge rise on his £70,000 a week wages.

Mourinho has identified that he needs a leader at the heart of his back four and he will ship out at least eight of his squad in the next two windows to make way for the Atletico Madrid defender and several other new recruits.

Godin, who has over 100 caps for Uruguay, has a £28million release clause in his contract and Mourinho is keen to trigger that with Eric Bailly injured.

Godin, who signed for Atletico from Villarreal in 2010, will be difficult to lure away from the Vicente Calderon though after building up a tight bond with Diego Simeone in the five years the pair have been together.

LIVERPOOL AND ARSENAL IN FOR LOPEZ
Here’s a name that may be unfamiliar to plenty of readers, and to the writer of this very gossip column too.

According to Le Parisien in France, Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in young Marseille midfielder Maxime Lopez. Lopez has been dubbed the ‘new Samir Nasri’, but we’re assuring Arsenal fans that it’s intended as a compliment.

Now we don’t want to pour cold water over this one, but the report does also mention Crystal Palace in passing, and says that some La Liga sides are interested in the 18-year-old. That might be more realistic.

Lopez has only started two Ligue Un games in his career, and has been playing for the Marseille reserve team in the CFA league for some of this season. He has some admirers in high places, though.

AND THE REST
Jurgen Klopp will enter the transfer market in January after Danny Ings’ season-ending injury dramatically altered his plans… Manchester United forward Anthony Martial was ‘surprised and disappointed’ to lose his No 9 shirt to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, his agent has revealed… Memphis Depay is open to a loan move to Fenerbahce in January… MLS side LA Galaxy are considering making a move for 35-year-old Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic when his contract runs out at the end of the season… Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin, 21, has said he is flattered by interest from Manchester City and Barcelona but is happy with the Gunners.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was reportedly eyed as a potential candidate for the Real Madrid post last season… Liverpool and Tottenham are both tracking 25-year-old striker Moussa Marega – who is on loan at Vitoria Guimaraes from Porto and has a release clause of £35.5m… Marseille have already taken up the option to sign on-loan 23-year-old winger Florian Thauvin from Newcastle… Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is considering switching international allegiance from England to Ivory Coast.