JURGEN KLOPP vetoed centre-backs DAVINSON SANCHEZ and KALIDOU KOULIBALY as he focused on an ultimately doomed bid to take on VIRGIL VAN DIJK over the summer, says The Sun reporting claims in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
Sanchez, Tottenham’s £42 million Colombian international, was the first to be snubbed, while Napoli’s Koulibaly, who plays for Senegal, was offered to the Kop for £57m – less than the German manager wanted to pay for Van Dijk.
Southampton rejected a deal for their £65million-rated centre-back.
Manchester United are primed to snap up the Gunners’ attacking midfielder MESUT OZIL when his contract is up at the end of the season, The Independent reports.
Jose Mourinho is said to be highly confident he will be able to woo him by playing on their previous working relationship at Real Madrid.
The newspaper says talks to keep the German international, 28, with the Gunners are at an impasse and he has shown no real willingness to remain at the club.
Mesut Ozil.
Former Manchester United manager LOUIS VAN GAAL is tipped to return to Bayern Munich to replace CARLO ANCELOTTI, the Daily Mirror reports.
The Dutchman, who was dropped by United days after they won the 2015-16 FA Cup, could take over at the Bundesliga club until the end of the season when Hoffenheim coach JULIAN NAGELSMANN would take over.
Van Gaal managed Bayern between 2009 and 2011 before a stint as Holland boss.
CRISTIANO RONALDO has explained why he left Manchester United for Real Madrid.
In an interview with former team mate Rio Ferdinand for Nike, the Portuguese star said: “I just thought in my mind ‘I want to go there to show my level, to show that I’m a different player’ and this is what I did.”
Now 32, Ronaldo was 18 years old when he joined the Red Devils in 2003. He transferred to Real in 2009 for £80 million, a world record fee at the time.
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