Sunday Mirror

KOUP

-

WILFRIED BOBBOBOBON­Y could be ononon hiswaytoCh­inai his way to ChChinahin­hinhihiina­n after aafter Swansea Swanseases­eseseeae told the strikerk he can leave.ee. TThTheTheT­he 30-year-old IIvory Coast internatio­naliternio­nal hhass startedard justjstsst­st one gamegme so f fafafafafa­rr thi this season aftera ft rrej rejoiningj­g i i g tthe S Swans ans f fromm om MMancheste­rnchhester­sterterer h t Ctit CityCitCit­CiCiCiCtyy f for £12 £il12millio­n12millio1­2monononon­onn illi in Septemberr 22017. the red card on the referee’s refusal to halt the game – and later gave his player his total backing when Koulibaly threatened to walk off the pitch if there was any repeat of the problem.

Napoli’s outspoken chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has as called on match officials to halt games if players are subjected to racist abuse from supporters.

But right-wing politician n Matteo Salvini, the Interior Minister of Italy, caused further outrage during the week when he urged Napoli not to walk off the pitch.

The issue has left Koulibaly devastated – and a move away from Italy now appears to be the most likely outcome.

De Laurentiis has ruled out the player’s departure during the January transfer market.

He has claimed to have rejected a £95million bid from United in the summer – a declaratio­n d denied at Old Trafford.

But, whi le United s sources insist their interest i in Koulibaly never went be beyond making an enquiry about a valuation, they have made signing the France-born defender a priority.

Napoli are already resigned to losing a player who cost them £6m when he arrived from Belgian club Genk almost five years ago. But De Laurentiis is renowned for being one of the toughest negotiator­s.

And reports from Spain that Real Madrid also want Koulibaly could open the kind of bidding war the Napoli chief will relish.

United scouts have been scouring Europe and drawing up wish lists of players in every position.

They have been regular visitors to Portugal to watch Porto’s Brazilian star Eder Militao ( left).

Old Trafford scouts were in attendance when Porto beat Nacional 3-1 last Monday.

Militao, 20, is five months into a five-year contract that includes a £45million buy-out clause.

Rivals Manchester City have also been monitoring him.

 ??  ?? RED MIST Koulibaly, watched by boss Ancelottio­ffat (above) is sentNapoli Inter, but many fans (right) showed messages of support for him with bannersaga­inst racism ANTONIO VALENCIA is set to bring the curtain down on his 10-year Manchester United career at the end of the season.The 33-year-old United captain (above) is out of contract in the summer and Old Trafford chiefs are thought unlikely to offer him any extension on his deal.Although United have until March to make the Ecuador internatio­nal an offer, his advisers are known to be in talks with Inter Milan about a possible switch.Inter would like to land the versatile Valencia in the current transfer window.But United do not want to weaken Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad without a plan in place to recruit a replacemen­t.Valencia, a£16million signing from Wigan in the summer of 2009, has reinvented himself as a right-back in recent years after starting his career as a winger.He was made captain by Jose Mourinho before falling out of favour with the former United manager.Solskjaer has brought him back into the first-team frame.United have triggered contract extensions for David de Gea and Anthony Martial, but no offer has been made to Valencia or defender Phil Jones, with Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Ashley Young all six months from being free agents.
RED MIST Koulibaly, watched by boss Ancelottio­ffat (above) is sentNapoli Inter, but many fans (right) showed messages of support for him with bannersaga­inst racism ANTONIO VALENCIA is set to bring the curtain down on his 10-year Manchester United career at the end of the season.The 33-year-old United captain (above) is out of contract in the summer and Old Trafford chiefs are thought unlikely to offer him any extension on his deal.Although United have until March to make the Ecuador internatio­nal an offer, his advisers are known to be in talks with Inter Milan about a possible switch.Inter would like to land the versatile Valencia in the current transfer window.But United do not want to weaken Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad without a plan in place to recruit a replacemen­t.Valencia, a£16million signing from Wigan in the summer of 2009, has reinvented himself as a right-back in recent years after starting his career as a winger.He was made captain by Jose Mourinho before falling out of favour with the former United manager.Solskjaer has brought him back into the first-team frame.United have triggered contract extensions for David de Gea and Anthony Martial, but no offer has been made to Valencia or defender Phil Jones, with Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Ashley Young all six months from being free agents.
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom