Man Utd ‘monitor’ £13m CL defender & Old Trafford star offered £30m ‘escape route’

Manchester United face the unusual prospect of a 7pm kick-off on Sunday evening, with the Red Devils travelling to play Frank Lampard’s Everton side at Goodison Park.

United will be eager to atone for last weekend’s humbling 6-3 defeat to bitter rivals Manchester City, and know that a win on Merseyside will lift them to fifth in the table. For their part, the Toffees are looking to record a third consecutive victory in the top flight, and would leapfrog their visitors should they secure the three points.

But before we get to the game, there is still plenty of transfer speculation to discuss...

Beckham wants Cristiano

Out-of-favour United star Cristiano Ronaldo is being offered an ‘escape route’ from Old Trafford in the form of a potential move to Inter Miami, according to the Daily Star.

The MLS franchise, owned by David Beckham, are said to be willing to pay the five-time Ballon d’Or winner an annual salary of £30m to coax him to Florida next year. The interest comes as Inter’s top foreign star Gonzalo Higuain announced his retirement last week.

The Argentine’s depature would free up space on the club’s wage bill, and has raised hope that Ronaldo could be lured stateside. For Inter to be able to afford Ronaldo’s considerable wages, however, it is claimed that the transfer itself would have to be free.

As such, the Star suggest that his valuation could prove to be a stumbling block to any potential deal, with the Red Devils looking for around £10 million, should they decide to sell.

United scout Silva

United scouts were in attendance to watch Benfica defender Antonio Silva play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last week as they continue to monitor his progress’, according to the Mirror.

The 18-year-old has established himself as one of the most promising defensive talents in the European football in recent times, and has already made nine appearances for his club’s first team this season. The teenager is also a Portuguese youth international, making his bow for the U21s last month.

It is claimed that Erik ten Hag is ‘looking for a quality young defender next summer who still has plenty of room for development’, and that Silva fits the bill perfectly. The player’s current deal with Benfica runs until 2027, but is understood to contain a release clause of around £13 million.

For their part, however, the Portuguese giants are already trying to ‘negotiate up’, and at the very least will not consider a sale in January - although United will have a chance next summer.