Man Utd are reportedly set to miss out on Atletico Madrid stalwart Diego Godin as he’s closing in on joining Inter on a free transfer this summer.

As noted by the Manchester Evening News previously, it had been suggested that United were leading the race to sign the 33-year-old in the January transfer window.

SEE MORE: BREAKING: Man Utd transfer target has £25m clause ACTIVATED, tipped to LEAVE rivals

Given his experience, pedigree at the highest level and consistency to establish himself as one of the best centre-halves in Europe, he could have been an ideal solution to help tighten up Man Utd’s leaky defence, which has conceded 32 goals in just 21 Premier League games so far this season.

However, barring a late bid and dramatic turn of events, it appears as though the Red Devils have missed out on the Uruguayan international with Calciomercato noting that Inter have swooped in and are on the verge of reaching an agreement to sign him on a free this summer.

Details of the contract offer are even put forward, with Godin potentially set to pen a two-year deal with an option for a third.

At this stage of his career, the length of the deal is arguably the crucial factor and so time will tell if Inter are now given a free path to wrap up an agreement or if they face late competition.

While it would be a huge blow for United to miss out on such an accomplished and quality signing for no fee, it would represent great business from Inter’s perspective and so should they confirm a deal, they’ll undoubtedly deserve plenty of praise for snapping up Godin.

As for United, perhaps their recruitment push for major additions will wait until a long-term appointment is made to replace Jose Mourinho, with interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expected to only remain in charge until the end of the season.

AC Milan will reportedly have to splash out €38m in total on Tiemoue Bakayoko if they wish to sign him on a permanent basis from Chelsea this summer.

After overcoming a tricky start, the 24-year-old has established himself as a fundamental figure in the Milan midfield over the past few months, emerging as an ever-present in Gennaro Gattuso’s starting line-up.

SEE MORE: AC Milan transfer news: Boost as top summer target’s valuation drops to €80m

With that in mind coupled with the fact that the Italian giants could secure qualification for the Champions League this season, it may lead them to opting to sign Bakayoko outright from Chelsea.

However, Calciomercato report, via the paper edition of Tuttosport, that it will cost them €38m in total to sign the Frenchman, with the Blues not interested in offering any discounts.

As per Calciomercato last summer at the time of Bakayoko’s arrival, it was suggested that Milan had an option to sign him for €35.5m at the end of the season, and so that would suggest that the latest figure includes any possible loan fee.

In turn, it presents the Rossoneri with a difficult decision, as that’s a significant fee to splash out, but Bakayoko has proven to be a pivotal figure in their push to return to Europe’s top table.

As a result, it could be argued that they should spend the money, while Bakayoko could be open to a move given he was loaned out almost immediately after Maurizio Sarri’s arrival at Stamford Bridge as he doesn’t seem to fit with the Italian tactician’s preferred style of play.

Meanwhile, that isn’t the only touted move that Milan will make this summer, as Goal Italy report that Barcelona starlet Marc Cucurella is on their radar, and contact has been made with the Catalan giants and the player’s agent to discuss a potential move to the San Siro.

The 20-year-old is currently on loan at Eibar and has made 22 appearances so far this season to gain crucial experience at his age.

However, the report above suggests Milan will have to spend up to €11m to prise him away from the Nou Camp, while he would act as a replacement for Diego Laxalt as Ricardo Rodriguez’s back up option at left back.

Gonzalo Higuain should be having his medicals with Chelsea right about now if a recent tweet by Fabrizio Romano is anything to go by.

The trustworthy Italian journalist claims Higuain has now landed in London and a deal can soon be made official after he completes the final stage of the transfer process.

MORE: Chelsea take key step to ensure Higuain transfer goes through in time for him to play vs Tottenham

Additional information from Angelo Mangiante states that the Argentina international should have his first training session with the Blues this afternoon.

All in all, this looks an exciting signing for Chelsea, who have long looked in need of a big-name signing up front after the struggles of Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud.

Eden Hazard has ended up playing a lot of games up front this season, but the Belgian has not convinced in that position either, as he’s made a career for himself as a winger or attacking midfielder.

Higuain has been prolific in his time in Italy despite struggling on loan at AC Milan from Juventus this season, and if he can show the kind of form he showed under Maurizio Sarri in their time together at Napoli, he’ll surely be a big hit at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona are reportedly joining Real Madrid in showing some interest in a potential transfer swoop for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.

The England international is in superb form at the moment for the Red Devils, looking a player reborn after being moved from out wide to centre-forward since interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December.

MORE: Manchester United shoot up from 20th to 1st in the Premier League in this area since Solskjaer replaced Mourinho

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there has been talk of interest from Real Madrid in Rashford, referenced by the Telegraph as they state Man Utd are working to get him to sign a new contract.

However, MUFC may also have to fight off interest from Barcelona, who are linked as admirers by Spanish outlet Don Balon.

The 21-year-old could be a superb signing for the Catalan giants, who will soon surely need to think about replacing Luis Suarez up front.

Marcus Rashford is a rumoured transfer target for Barcelona

Manchester City are reportedly closing in on a transfer move for Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, which means Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen replacing him at the Bernabeu.

This worrying Tottenham transfer update comes from Spanish outlet Don Balon, who claim German midfielder Kroos already has ‘a foot and a half’ in at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the summer.

MORE: Real Madrid ready to accept demands to seal £98m Chelsea transfer raid

It seems from this report that Kroos is looking set to make the move to City and that this has set the wheels in motion for Madrid to move for Eriksen, who would cost £68.5million to prise away from Spurs.

The Denmark international has been a top performer for Mauricio Pochettino’s side down the years and will be a big loss, but it’s perhaps unrealistic to think they could have kept such a world class player for much longer.

Eriksen could get into almost any side in Europe on his day and will no doubt want to get his hands on some silverware soon after a lack of success at Tottenham.

Christian Eriksen to Real Madrid and Toni Kroos to Manchester City?

While the north London side have no doubt punched above their weight, their last trophy win came in 2008 and a footballer’s career isn’t really long enough to stick it out for too much longer.

Losing 3-1 to Manchester City is far from the worst thing in the world, but it’s the manner of this defeat that is maybe starting to send Arsenal fans crashing down to earth a bit as the Unai Emery honeymoon period comes to a close.

The Spanish tactician looked a shrewd appointment this summer when he became available after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, supposedly giving a hugely impressive interview that made him the unanimous choice over other candidates.

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Still, it’s one thing selling your vision in an interview situation, but it’s quite another to make it work in arguably the most competitive league in the world, and so far there’s little evidence of whatever Emery is trying to do working at all.

It will no doubt take a bit more time, something he is perhaps more likely to get at Arsenal than elsewhere, but the early signs are not really as encouraging as comparable projects at Liverpool and Tottenham.

Here’s five causes for concern from the Emery era so far…

The Spanish Mourinho?

Arsenal manager Unai Emery isn’t making the most convincing start

Maybe this is harsh, since even Jose Mourinho liked Mesut Ozil. But this odd preference for a rather old-fashioned, direct game with two strikers but no creators in the team (but three on the bench in the form of Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Denis Suarez yesterday against City) doesn’t seem a workable long-term plan.

The most successful managers in the modern game have essentially taken what initially made Arsene Wenger successful at Arsenal and intensified it, so for the Gunners themselves to pick a manager that moves them away from that style altogether is odd.

Mourinho has been found out in recent years for his football basically not being sophisticated enough in the final third any longer, and at the moment there looks to be far too much of that in Emery’s style as well.

While this might work reasonably well at a club like Sevilla trying to punch above their weight, it won’t wash with Arsenal fans, and most likely won’t be what gets them back to where they want to be.

On top of that, this bizarre desire to freeze Ozil out of the team is all to reminiscent of Mourinho mindlessly picking fights with the likes of Paul Pogba and Juan Mata in recent years. There seems little strategy or logic behind it, and the team is just weaker as a result.

Chelsea are reportedly offering around £74.5million to seal the transfer of Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco.

Don Balon claims Manchester City are also interested in the Spain international, who is having a difficult season at the Bernabeu.

MORE: Chelsea already close to agreeing deal for Maurizio Sarri replacement

Isco may not be going through his best run of form at the moment, but has previously shown himself to be one of the finest creative midfield players in Europe when he’s on his game.

Chelsea could certainly do with what the 26-year-old offers, with Don Balon noting Real Madrid could be keen on a swap deal involving Eden Hazard.

With the Belgium international heading into the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge, Isco could be a decent replacement in attack.

Isco to Chelsea to replace Eden Hazard?

Manchester United have reportedly agreed personal terms with Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane over a transfer to Old Trafford.

Speculation is hotting up that the France international could be on his way to Man Utd in the near future, with Don Balon also linking the player with a move to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side recently.

MORE: £86m Manchester United transfer target issues THREAT to current club

And now another Spanish source, Diario Gol, claims Varane has agreed on a proposed move to MUFC after becoming unhappy with life at Real, with an £86million bid now set to be tabled to conclude a deal.

If that were enough to persuade Madrid to cash in on Varane, the 25-year-old would become the most expensive defender of all time, overtaking the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk last season.

There’s no doubt United could do with strengthening in defence at the moment after poor seasons from the likes of Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, while Marcos Rojo has struggled to stay fit.

Raphael Varane continues to be strongly linked with Manchester United

Manchester United fans will be delighted with the news that Anthony Martial has agreed a new contract with the Red Devils, Martial is one of United’s key players.

According to United’s official website, Martial has signed a new five-and-a-half-year-deal with United until June 2024, the new contract will also give the Red Devils the option to extend the 23 year old’s contract by a further year.

According to Sky Sports News, the Frenchman’s new deal with United is worth a whopping £250,000 a week, United have certainly made a statement to their rivals – showing that they are prepared to do what it takes to keep their best players at Old Trafford.

Martial has scored 8 goals this season, the only player to score more goals than Martial is his compatriot – Paul Pogba.

Martial is one of United’s best players and the Red Devils have done well to tie the star down to a new contract:

Here’s some reaction to the news that United fans have been wanting to hear for some time now:

Before you go our friends at Stretty News have some more United content for you, this in-depth feature looks at how injuries spoiled the career of former United youth sensation Giuseppe Rossi.