New Man Utd boss eyes stunning £170m triple transfer swoop as Arsenal 'demand' Real Madrid signing

Ruben Amorim is reportedly keen to launch his managerial reign at Manchester United by completing a triple swoop on current club Sporting CP.

The former Portugal international was named as permanent successor to Erik ten Hag last week after the Red Devils agreed to pay a release clause placed within his contract. Speculation over how the new man in charge could boost his squad has begun even before confirmation over his deal arrived - and more recent speculation has suggested he could boost the coffers of his old club with a further £175m by persuading three of their players to follow him to Manchester.

Predictably, in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres is named as the main target and the Sweden international, who has already plundered his way to 20 goals in 16 games in all competitions this season, is believed to have a release clause valued at £84m in his current deal. The Sun also reports centre-back Ousmane Diomande and midfielder Martin Hjulmand could follow their outgoing manager to Old Trafford.

The 3AM Verdict: “It’s only natural that a manager will want to draw upon trusted players when he moves into new surroundings. So there should be little surprise in seeing these links floated as Amorim prepares to take charge of Manchester United. All three players have proven themselves at Sporting and have drawn links with some of the biggest clubs in world football. Given they all ply their trade in areas where the Red Devils need to improve, it would be no shock to see any or all of those possible moves come to fruition.”

Gunners boss wants move for Magpies star

Arsenal are reportedly ready to break their record transfer to secure a deal for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.

As per Football365, reports in Spain have suggested Arteta has ‘demanded the galactic signing’ of the Sweden striker as he looks to finally get the Gunners over the line in their third consecutive bid for the Premier League title. After being pipped by Manchester City over the last two seasons, Arteta is believed to be keen to strengthen his attacking options and that has led him to try and convince the Gunners hierarchy to pay whatever it takes to land the man that condemned his side to a narrow deal at St. James’ Park on Saturday.

The 3AM Verdict: “Isak has firmly established himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League after joining the Magpies in August 2022. The former Real Sociedad man is a firm favourite of the St James Park faithful and Newcastle are believed to be keen to hand Isak an improved contract - despite the fact he still has three years remaining on his deal. It would take an astronomical fee to persuade the Magpies to part company with a player they still see as integral to their future plans.”

Liverpool eye raid for Barcelona wonderkid

Barcelona have already enjoyed a remarkable season as they look to reclaim the La Liga title and make a big impact in the Champions League.

Following a 3-1 home win against Catalan rivals Espanyol on Sunday, Hansi Flick’s men are sat nine points clear at the top of the table and have taken maximum points in 11 of their 12 league games so far this season. Barca also recovered from a somewhat surprise defeat in their Champions League opener at Monaco by putting nine goals past Young Boys and Bayern Munich. Although established stars such as Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have been prominent in their form, one of the pleasant surprises of the season has been academy product Marc Casado.

The 21-year-old defensive midfielder has produced a string of impressive performances and is now said to be attracting attention from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United - according to Spanish outlet Fichajes. The report claims the Premier League trio are closely following the youngster - but stresses Barca will not entertain any offers for Casado and want him to be part of the Barca setup for years to come.

The 3AM Verdict: “Despite Barcelona’s widely reported financial issues, it seems highly unlikely they would even consider offers for a player that looks set for a lengthy career with the La Liga giants. Such talk could well be agent-driven, with a new contract surely in the offing. One thing is for sure, it would be a shock to see Casado in the Premier League anytime soon.”