WOLVES LAND €45M NUNEZ
MANCHESTER United and Tottenham are ready to scrap it out for Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Meslier established himself as Leeds’ No.1 two years ago when he was still a teenager and is seen as one of the most promising goalkeepers in the Premier League.
The French Under-21 star two Premier League games, confidence is low among United’s players and Ten Hag cannot afford for any more negative influences to further undermine his squad.
Ronaldo’s representatives made it known the forward wanted out of United in June, while the five-time Ballon d’Or winner missed the club’s preseason tour for personal reasons. Despite returning to the fold
he has attracted the interest of United, who see him as competition for David De Gea.
Replace
Tottenham are also keen and they want him eventually to replace his compatriot Hugo Lloris, who is 35. only came on as a substitute in the opening-day defeat to Brighton.
Despite starting United’s humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford last Saturday, Ronaldo has maintained his desire to leave the club.
Contrary
Ten Hag, chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough must now decide if it is in the best interests of United to let Ronaldo go, despite their bullish public stance to the contrary.
Leeds are loathe to sell Meslier, having lost Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips this summer and will fight hard to keep him.
Meslier (21) has four years on the five-year deal he signed last summer and
Leeds could price him out of a move, like they did with Jack Harrison and Newcastle.
ON THE MOVE: Matheus Nunes
SUPER-AGENT Jorge Mendes has finally convinced Sporting Lisbon midfielder Matheus Nunes to move to Wolves in a €45m move.
Wolves have trailed Nunes since June but the player has also generated interest from other Premier League clubs like West Ham.
Portugal international Nunes, 23, who Pep Guardiola described as one of the world’s best players this year, wanted to consider his options.
Lobbied
He has finally opted to move to Molineux after Mendes lobbied him to join the club, where he has close ties to Chinese owners Fosun.
Wolves have agreed to pay €45m with €4.75m in add-ons which will make Nunes Wolves’ record signing.
Nunes will add a muchneeded creative midfield spark to Wolves, who were held 0-0 by promoted Fulham at the weekend.
Nunes’ arrival will further increase speculation that star midfielder Ruben Neves, who is out of contract in 2024, could be sold.
But Wolves remain insistent that homegrown starlet Morgan Gibbs-White will not be offloaded to Nottingham Forest.
Forest have made multiple bids for the player who is interested in working with his old England under-17 boss Steve Cooper again.
But Gibbs-White, 22, has started both their Premier League games so far and Wolves want to keep him.
Gibbs-White said: “It’s just finishing those chances but we’re working week in, week out in training. We’re scoring them in training, so we just need to score them in games now.”
Bruno Lage’s side hope to complete a deal in time for Nunes to be involved in Saturday’s game at Spurs.