Dani Alves snubs Man Utd as Premier League's stock falls

With no English clubs left in the Champions League following Manchester City's exit at the hands of Barcelona on Wednesday, is it any wonder players appear to be turning their noses up at the Premier League? Dani Alves is the latest allegedly having second thoughts about England.

•Ten million or take a hike: that's the message from Benfica to the admirers of Joao Cancelo, who hope that their asking price of £10.8m will deter a quartet of Premier League clubs from making a bid. According to the Daily Star Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool are all trailing the 20-year-old, who is currently on loan with Spanish outfit Valencia. The Portuguese full-back has been scouted by United in recent weeks and Louis van Gaal remains the favourite to sign Cancelo in the summer, though the Star says it might come down to a bidding war.

• Manchester United look like they've come a cropper in their pursuit of Barcelona right-back Dani Alves. In recent weeks speculation has been growing that the veteran defender was poised to move to Old Trafford in June but Metro claims he'll "be offered a new contract at Barcelona". Arsenal and Liverpool were also mentioned as interested parties but reports from Spain indicate that the 31-year-old Alves will be offered a contract extension after all, and unless it's derisory the Brazilian is expected to extend his stint at the Camp Nou.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

• Arsenal may also lose out in their bid to sign Yacine Brahimi, according to the Daily Express. The Porto player is now thought to be more interested in heading to AC Milan rather than north London. Click here for more Arsenal transfer news.

• According to the Daily Mirror Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is "back on Wolfsburg's transfer wish-list" with the German club ready to offer £33 million for the Belgium international. The 21-year-old is seen by Wolfsburg as the man to spearhead their attack next season when, if their league form continues, they are likely to be in the Champions League.