Guardiola intervened to help Sterling stay at City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola played a crucial role in securing Raheem Sterling‘s new contract, the Mirror reports.
It says City had been reluctant to make England international Sterling one of their top earners on £300,000 a week until Guardiola stepped in.
City “were refusing to pay up” — but that changed when he “urged them to make the deal happen because the 23-year-old was a player he could not afford to lose.”
Although the club often leave negotiations to sporting director Txiki Begiristain, Sterling “committed himself until 2023 after the manager made a personal intervention.”
The Mirror says Guardiola believes the former Liverpool attacker “has been the victim of unfair criticism since he quit Anfield in a £49 million deal three years ago.”
United poised to boost Jones deal
Manchester United will extend defender Phil Jones‘s contract by a year, says the Sun, which adds that they do not want him to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer when it runs out.
Manager Jose Mourinho has been searching for a new central defender, but the Sun says Jones remains part of his plans despite recent injury setbacks.
North London rivals Arsenal and Spurs have both been reported to be monitoring the former Blackburn player, but United “will invoke his contract clause to give them time to consider their options next summer.”
Meanwhile, United have “made a hurried check on Exequiel Palacios,” with the River Plate midfielder reportedly close to joining Real Madrid.
The Sun says they “sent a top spy to watch the No. 10 against Argentinian rivals Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores final.”
Bournemouth eye replacements as Ake talk grows
Speculation about the future of Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake has increased in recent weeks, and now the Sun reports that the south coast side “are set to spark a £40 million scramble.”
Reports last month suggested Netherlands international Ake had caught the eyes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Bournemouth would have to inform his former club Chelsea of any offers, because the Blues hold first refusal to re-sign him.
The Sun suggests that manager Eddie Howe is resigned to losing the centre-back and is “keen to line up a replacement in a hurry.”
It says scouts are looking at potential targets throughout Europe but could make a move closer to home, with Brentford defender Chris Mepham — a target in the summer — still on their radar.
Tap-ins
— Burnley remain interested in bringing striker Jay Rodriguez back to Turf Moor from West Bromwich Albion, according to the Birmingham Mail.
Rodriguez would be likely to cost his old club around £18 million and has been in fine form this season with eight goals in 17 matches.
— Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez believes Salomon Rondon showed why he was keen to sign him by striking twice to seal victory over Bournemouth, the Chronicle reports.
Benitez brought in Rondon on loan for the season from West Bromwich Albion, with Dwight Gayle moving to The Hawthorns on a temporary basis in exchange.