English Football
Ronaldo considering £211m Saudi Arabia move, Kante rejects new Chelsea deal
Cristiano Ronaldo turned down £211m-a-year in wages to play for an unnamed club in Saudi Arabia, but Manchester United’s 37-year-old Portugal striker is now reconsidering the offer. (Athletic via Mirror – subscription required)
Harry Kane, 29, is tempted by the idea of playing for Bayern Munich, with contact made by the German champions to gauge the England and Tottenham striker’s interest. (Express)
N’Golo Kante has refused a new two-year deal from Chelsea – the 31-year-old French midfielder’s current contract runs out in 2023. (Athletic – subscription required)
England pair, forward Marcus Rashford, 24, and left-back Luke Shaw, 27, plus Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, 31, Portugal full-back Diogo Dalot, 23, and Brazilian midfielder Fred, 29, could all leave Manchester United as free agents next June when their contracts end. But the club can trigger a clause extending all their deals by one year. (Manchester Evening News)
Manchester City’s new Switzerland centre-back Manuel Akanji, 27, who joined in September from Borussia Dortmund for £15m, has admitted he supported Manchester United as a child. (Blick)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to send Brazilian winger Marquinhos, 19, out on loan to gain more regular game time and is keen to bring in a short-term replacement in the next transfer window. (FourFourTwo)
RB Leipzig turned down a bid from Chelsea for Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, 20, as they are convinced other clubs will join the race to sign him next summer, including Manchester City. (Fabrizio Romano)
Spain midfielder Gavi could sign a new contract with Barcelona this week which would include a 1bn euro release clause – the 18-year-old had been linked with a move to Liverpool. (Diario Sport – in Spanish)
Manchester United believe their chances of signing the Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 25, were hit by their own “indecisiveness” as they pondered whether to meet Barcelona’s £73m asking price. (Mirror)
Benfica president Rui Costa believes the £64m Liverpool paid up front for Darwin Nunez justified their decision to let the 23-year-old Uruguay striker leave the Portuguese club. (Mail)
Belgium striker Divock Origi, 27, who joined AC Milan as a free agent from Liverpool in July, has been branded Serie A’s worst signing of the summer. (Mail)
Thierry Henry has praised Folarin Balogun, 21, for his decision to join Reims on loan from Arsenal – the American-born striker has scored five goals in seven appearances for the Ligue 1 side. (Evening Standard)
Manchester United technical director Darren Fletcher was keen for manager Erik ten Hag to sign Ireland defender Nathan Collins from Burnley this summer, but the United boss decided instead on Lisandro Martinez and the 21-year-old subsequently signed for Wolves. (Mirror)
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says the situation is “not ideal” for Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour after the 21-year-old moved to the Amex from Chelsea on deadline day, just a week before manager Graham Potter moved the other way. (Sun)
