Man Utd to ‘go for’ Sterling as Chelsea turn to Timo Werner?

Man Utd are about to put the cat among the pigeons…

STERLING AMONG MAN UTD ‘PRIORITIES’
We’ve all used the time on lockdown in different ways. Some of us have chosen to dabble with alcoholism, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has put his time to far better use…

The Independent reckons the Manchester United boss has spent recent weeks ‘thinking about what his side might look like in future’ and indulging in more analysis that he might usually in the pre-pandemic world. It wasn’t time wasted because, apparently, Solskjaer has sussed that Raheem Sterling can play a bit.

United need a right winger and Miguel Delaney’s dispatch deals with Jadon Sancho, as well as Jack Grealish and Joe Rodon. But Sterling is ‘suddenly high up in priority’ as United ponder whether the Manchester City winger might be tempted to do a reverse-Tevez.

‘If he becomes available, United will go for him,’ says the report, which all seems highly unlikely, regardless of City’s European ban. Consider how City have dug their heels in over Leroy Sane, who has only a year left to go on his contract, then consider how they might react to the prospect of Sterling agitating to join United when he still has three years remaining on his current deal.

READ: Most expensive Under-21 transfer from FIFA’s top 25 countries

CHELSEA TARGET WERNER AS PLAN B
There is more prospect of Timo Werner joining Chelsea. And that seems unlikely. But ESPN suggests the Blues will push on if Werner indicates that he might be willing to move to Stamford Bridge.

Pre-Covid, the RB Leipzig striker seemed destined for Liverpool or Bayern Munich though his options seem likely to be rather more limited now. Which is where Chelsea could step in.

The Blues have identified Moussa Dembele as their preferred target this summer but the prospect of dealing with Lyon chief Jean Michel Aulas, apparently, makes the Stamford Bridge hierarchy wary of putting all their eggs in the Frenchman’s basket.

At least Chelsea know what they would have to pay for Werner (who scored again on Monday night) but stumping up £50million wouldn’t be their biggest obstacle. Tempting the Germany striker to west London is the challenge but the prospect of living in the capital and the promise of a regular game could go some way to achieving that.

Beyond Dembele and Werner, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is said to be an option and the 31-year-old would probably be cheaper owing to his contract status at Arsenal. But the Gunners haven’t given up hope of convincing Aubameyang to commit to another deal.

AND THE REST
Real Madrid have turned down the opportunity to sign Willian on a free transfer…Philippe Coutinho wants to return to the Premier League, according to his agent…Arsenal will offer David Luiz a new deal on reduced terms…The Gunners are also in the race to sign Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik…Juventus are…