Man Utd transfer news: Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, David de Gea, Antonio Valencia

Third time lucky for Ramsey?

Manchester United are ready to make what will be their third move for Arsenal and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, according to reports.

The Daily Mirror says that the Red Devils first made enquiries about the Welsh playmaker a decade ago, when he was still a youngster with Cardiff City. Alex Ferguson was unable to get his man, as was Jose Mourinho last summer in what the newspaper describes as a “failed approach”.

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

But United are hoping it will be “third time lucky”, following Ramsey’s breakdown in contract negotiations with Arsenal last month.

The failure to agree an extension to Ramsey’s contract, which expires in June, is believed to be down to Gunners head coach Unai Emery. He is said to have baulked at the prospect of forking out weekly wages of £185,000 to Ramsey, especially now that Arsenal’s “wage bill is running at record levels”.

The Spanish gaffer also wants to restyle the club in his own image - and that means casting aside some of the more established figures in the squad.

Bale blanks United

United’s latest bid for Ramsey may have been triggered by the news that Gareth Bale is “set to resist all attempts from Real Madrid to force him into a summer move to Manchester United”.

The Daily Express says that Real are “losing patience with the Wales superstar” and that president Florentino Perez is coming round to the idea of sending him on his way.

Former Real head coach Zinedine Zidane allegedly “wanted to sell Bale” last season but was overruled by Perez.

But with Zidane now history, that decision could be reversed, although the Welshman won’t accede to any request from the club’s board to jump ship.

The Express claims that “Bale is happy living in the Spanish capital and has no plans to return to the Premier League any time soon”.

De Gea ready to sign

United goalkeeper David de Gea is “close to signing a new £350,000-a-week deal”, reports the Daily Star.

The 27-year-old has been linked repeatedly with a move away from Old Trafford in the seven years since he arrived from Atletico Madrid, but De Gea’s agent is “optimistic” that he will sign on for another stint.

Currently in the final year of his contract, De Gea is aware that Real Madrid are “circling for his signature” but he will ignore their overtures and instead pledge his loyalty to United by penning a long-term deal.

However, the Daily Mirror says that French giants Paris Saint-Germain are “keeping tabs” on the negotiations and will “swoop” if they see an opening to lure the Spanish stopper from Old Trafford.

Valencia vacillating

The Sun has bad news for United fans, reporting that Antonio Valencia could leave on a free transfer in June because of a clause in his contract.

The veteran Ecuadorian defender, who is in the final year of his United deal, is reportedly weighing up his options following “a couple of issues” with boss Jose Mourinho.

The pair haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye of late, so Valencia may look favourably at interest from overseas clubs.

The Sun says that United have an option to extend his nine-year stay by another 12 months but a decision must be made by 1 March.

If no decision is forthcoming, Valencia is free to negotiate with a new team and “there is interest from German and Turkish clubs”, the newspaper adds.