Paper Round: Manchester United to use Wayne Rooney as Romelu Lukaku leverage with Everton

It's Thursday's Paper Round and the papers are reporting that Manchester United are said to be ready to use Wayne Rooney as leverage to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton while Atletico still want to sign Diego Costa from Chelsea, despite transfer ban.

United demand Lukaku in Rooney transfer deal

A day after it was reported that Wayne Rooney would join Everton this summer on a free transfer from Manchester United, the plot appeared to thicken. Tales began to appear on Thursday’s back pages that striker Romelu Lukaku is the price Everton are prepared to pay in order to bring Rooney back to Goodison Park. According to The Mirror, United plan to use Rooney, or rather the payment of Rooney’s wages, as leverage to bring the Belgium international, valued at £100 million by his current club, to Old Trafford in Rooney's place.

 

Our view: It's true Lukaku has not hidden his desire to leave Everton this summer and one would wonder why he hasn't move yet with Chelsea showing strong interest in his services back at Stamford Bridge. United too has been linked with the Belgian who seems to prefer Chelsea as his likely next home. With Rooney now in the setting i doubt Everton will agree to this.

Atletico ready to move in on Costa, despite transfer ban

And in a story that seems to wrap up all the loose, oft-cited Premier League transfer ends (bar Sanchez and Ozil, but of course, we’ll be coming back to them) part of the issue Chelsea face in their quest for Lukaku is uncertainty around Diego Costa, who they are keen to get rid of, so says the Spain international. Costa is said to be keen on a move to Atletico Madrid, who are subject to a transfer ban until January 2018, but despite this, they may have found a solution to their mutual dilemma. 

Our view: We really don't know what is going to happen with Costa but for now Costa is a Chelsea player until he moves.

Sanchez stalls as Arsenal confirm Lacazette

Arsenal finally seemed to have something to celebrate after the signing of Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette, on Wednesday, Thursday’s back pages continued to dine out on the ongoing Alexis Sanchez contract saga. According to reports, in the latest development Sanchez has turned down an offer by the North London club of £275,000 per week, because he is holding out for £400,000 per week instead. 

Our view: Sanchez seems to have made up his mind to leave, the best at this time is for Wenger to allow the Chilean depart the Emirate so he can gear his attention towards other new signings and prepare the team for the coming season. Not need fighting a lost cause.