PSV hook and reel Man Utd over World Cup star as Arsenal ‘chase’ Argentina star

The World Cup is now offer, and we can turn attention to report after report of Premier League clubs chasing World Cup players instead.

That’s where we start today’s round-up. Manchester United are on the look out for fresh blood, and there’s one player they have been tracking since the summer window. PSV star Cody Gakpo, who was excellent for the Netherlands in the summer, and by his own admission, he held talks with United ahead of the last window slamming shut.

PSV have admitted they may lose Gakpo in the winter window, but while they are powerless to stop their star man leaving for bigger and better things, fools they are not. Transfer rule 101, when United are involved, realise that you may be selling to one of the world’s richest clubs. Rule 102, get them interested, and when they bite, reel them in and extort them along the way.

The Red Devils are known for paying whatever it costs to get a transfer done once they are fixed on a target, and PSV are not going to miss out on their extra cash. According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, PSV are now asking for £50million for Gakpo, £8million than they were asking for previously. It’s said to be £5million more than United value Gakpo, but let’s not pretend we don’t know how this ends.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have proved they are one of the wiser heads of the transfer table in recent times, but they too are getting caught up in the World Cup love-in. According to AS, the Gunners are interested in signing World Cup finalist Alexis Mac Allister, who was superb for Argentina across the tournament, in Qatar.

Mac Allister has been good for Brighton over the last year or so, too, but isn’t it funny how you don’t get noticed until a World Cup? It’s a risk to sign a player based on that evidence, but in Arsenal and Mac Allister’s defence, the winger has showed what he can do with the right tools around him in that Argentina side, and at 23, he has a big upside.

Atletico Madrid are also said to be interested, hoping to add a winger and lose another in the January transfer window. Well, at least a part-time winger. Atleti star Matheus Cunha, who can play wide and centrally, has been offered to every Premier League club - and their dog - but the Brazilian seems to have found a new home.

Despite being linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and others, Cunha apears to be heading to the Premier League’s bottom club Wolves. Mundo Deportivo have reported that Cunha set off to England on Wednesday ahead of taking part in a medical. The window doesn’t open for another week are so yet, but it seems Atletico and Wolves have already agreed terms.

The report claims Wolves will sign Cunha on a loan deal with an obligation to buy, pending certain appearance-related conditions are met. Cunha has been with Atletico since 2021, but he has often plays a substitute role under Diego Simeone.