Football Paper Round: Manchester United's first official bid for Paul Pogba rejected by Juventus

Juventus reject initial Pogba bid
According to multiple reports in the UK and Italy, Manchester United have made an initial bid for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, but it has already been rejected by the Serie A club.
The Guardian suggested that United CEO Ed Woodward tabled an offer of £100 million in a meeting
with Juve director Beppe Marotta. That offer, the paper said, included an £87 million fee and an additional £13 million in performance-related add-ons. Marotta and the Old Lady, however, rejected that offer and are holding out for a fee of £100 million plus £8 million in add-ons, the Guardian later reported. That would make Pogba the most expensive purchase in the history of the game.
Multiple reports in Italy, meanwhile, say Pogba has told Juve he wants to leave to return to Old Trafford.

Toon want Lucas to sweeten Wijnaldum deal
Newcastle will ask for Lucas Leiva in return if Liverpool want to conclude a deal for Georginio Wijnaldum, the Express said.
The Reds have grown frustrated with the Magpies' extortionate £27 million valuation for the Dutch maestro, but a deal could be closer if they are prepared to throw the Brazilian destroyer into the mix.
Rafael Benitez is very familiar with what Lucas can bring after his time at Anfield, and the Toon would be in a stronger position to secure promotion to the Premier League with the 29-year-old on their side.

Roma close in on Diawara
Despite Juventus' looking as formidable as ever, Roma are doing a nice job of rebuilding under Luciano Spalletti, with the Giallorossi assembling a cast of hungry, talented, young players.
They might have lost Miralem Pjanic to the Old Lady, but the Lupi seem close to adding one of Serie A's brightest prospects in Amadou Diawara, Italian outlet Repubblica said.
The Bologna powerhouse failed to show for preseason, and now Roma are ready to pounce with a loan deal worth £4.2 million. An obligation to buy is in place for next summer too, with Roma able to permanently capture the Guinean starlet for £8.4 million.

Other news
- A notable absence in the list of players who have returned to Barcelona to begin preseason training is Croatian Alen Halilovic. Marca reported that the club gave him permission to not return as he tries to finalise a move to Hamburg.

- Aston Villa are eager to part ways with goalkeeper Brad Guzan and have made the U.S. international available on a free transfer in order to expedite a move to Middlesbrough. That's from the Telegraph. If the deal pans out, Guzan is expected to compete with another incoming keeper, Victor Valdes.

- Arsenal fans are growing restless again, and the £2 million signing of Bolton's Rob Holding is unlikely to appease them.
The Mirror reported the Gunners will bring the England Under-21 defender to the Emirates as Arsene Wenger looks to the future.

- Youth was always up against it once Mourinho was announced as the new United boss, and James Wilson has been quickly ushered out the door, it seems.
Fulham will be the striker's next destination, according to the Sun, with the former Brighton loanee expected to tackle the Championship once again as he continues his development.