Man United transfer for 18-goal midfielder after Mason Mount was turned down; Man City offer a world record

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Man Utd made inquiries over the availability of three midfielders fearing a deal for Mason Mount could collapse, while Man City made a world record bid for a defender and Fulham made a loan offer to Leeds United – all in gossip on Monday.

MAN UTD EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES Mt

The Red Devils refuse to budge on Mason Mount’s transfer cap, and a report has revealed investigations into three sharply contrasted replacements.

There is an agreement between Man United and Mount on personal terms, although how much it should cost a player who has only one year left on his contract is a sticking point.

Indeed, it saw Man United reject three separate offers from Chelsea. The final issue was for £50m plus £5m in extras. Chelsea made a corresponding bid of £58m plus £7m in add-ons.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Mount still has any intention of signing an extension at Stamford Bridge. United’s bid totaling £55m remains valid, although fears have grown that they will part ways with them if Chelsea do not lower their demands.

Indeed, The Times claimed that United could “withdraw” if their third bid was rejected. The newspaper later reported that Brighton’s Moises Caicedo was a replacement they would consider pursuing instead.

Now, according to ESPN, Caicedo is one of three players Man United have made inquiries about signing if Mount cannot be snatched from Chelsea. The others are Taylor Booth from Utrecht and killer Ajax striker Mohamed Kudos.

Kodos prepares to leave Ajax. £40m is enough

Of the trio, Kudus is arguably the player whose game is similar to Mount’s. Caicedo is a holding midfielder on the outside, while US international Booth, 22, is a midfielder who can also cover up on the right wing.

Meanwhile, Kudos is an attack-minded option who scored 18 goals in all competitions for former Ajax club Erik ten Hag last season.

The 22-year-old Ghana international can play up front and on the right wing as well. However, since he is being seen as a replacement for Mount, it would make sense for him to use Ten Hag Kudus in an attacking midfield role.

ESPN added that United are working on an “strict budget” this summer, and thus their unwillingness to spend the extra £10m Chelsea demand on Mount.

Factoring in their thinking is the need to sign a new goalkeeper if David De Gea leaves, a new centre-back and a new striker.

None of those moves will come cheap, and Kudos – who David Ornstein confirmed is “willing to leave” Ajax this summer – would represent a cheaper option for Mount.

Indeed, Ornstein has claimed around £40m should be enough to seal a deal for Kudus this summer.

Man City go to Guardiol

On the back of reaching an agreement on personal terms, Man City made a record bid for RB Leipzig’s Josko Guardiol, according to a report.

Despite emerging from a treble-winning season, Pep Guardiola is determined to make his Man City side even more aggressive next season.

In fact, Marca has claimed that a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi has begun. The Moroccan right-back will be considered as a replacement for Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker. The latter is in advanced talks about joining Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester City have reached an agreement on personal terms with Croatian centre-back, Jusko Guardiol.

Despite being only 21 years old, Guardiol is already among the best centre-halves in the world and as a left-footed player he will be seen as an upgrade for Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte.

Gvardiol’s current contract with Leipzig contains a release clause worth a mammoth €110m (around £94.3m).

The clause does not take effect until the summer of 2024, although that wouldn’t stop Leipzig from demanding a similar fee before Gvardiol was allowed to leave a year early. Indeed, Romano confirmed that Leipzig would not sell for less than €100m.

Now, according to Sky Germany, Man City have bid for a slightly lower – though no less impressive – €90m.

Leipzig has not yet responded to the offer, although the report indicates that the offer would make Gvardiol the most expensive defender ever.

At the current exchange rate, €90m would equate to £77.1m which is less than Harry Maguire’s £78.3m cost when joining Manchester United back in 2019.

However, in terms of euros, Maguire’s deal at the exchange rate four years ago cost €87m. In any case, add-ons in City’s €90m bid for Gvardiol would take the final figure beyond Maguire’s amount in pounds terms anyway.

Guardiola is described as Guardiola’s “dream player” in midfield. As such, even if Citi’s formidable offer is rejected, logic would dictate the possibility of an improved offer on the horizon.

Fulham Leeds UTD loan offer

Fulham have made an offer to sign Leeds United striker Brendan Aaronson on loan and a key clause would make the deal straightforward, per a report.

Aronson was a £24.7m signing from RB Salzburg last summer, although he wasn’t alone in struggling at Elland Road last season.

According to the Daily Mail, a clause in Aronson’s contract says the American can leave via the loan route if Leeds suffer relegation. The Whites finished 19th to seal their three-year return to the first division.

Fulham have now emerged as a candidate to sign Aronson, with the Mail reporting that an approach has been made about loaning Aronson out.

Picks boss Marco Silva reportedly plans to tap Aronson as No. 10 if he signs, though there is a hitch.

Indeed, Fulham’s postal note has so far “failed to meet the full terms of the loan”.

Details beyond this vague statement were scarce. Although not stated, a potential sticking point could come in the form of what percentage of Aronson’s wages Fulham are prepared to absorb.

In any case, the fact that Leeds can’t prevent a loan exit given their relegation means Aronson’s departure is very likely this summer. Whether Fulham will complete a deal should become clearer in the days and weeks ahead.

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