Manchester United round-up: Roberto’s release clause to be paid; Perisic challenge; Shaw sale ruled out

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Manchester United could be prepared to pay the £36 million release clause of Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto, according to Spanish source Don Balon. They suggest that the Catalan club’s decision to sign another midfielder competitor in Paulinho has not gone down well with their homegrown youth product and he could consider his future.

United are one of many clubs interested in the Spaniard and may now launch a move which could free him from Barcelona. Roberto can play in central midfield or at right back and may add versatility to Jose Mourinho’s squad at Old Trafford at a price that could even be considered cheap in the current market.

However, there is less positive news in the club’s pursuit of Ivan Perisic. The Mirror now say that Chelsea have emerged as surprise rivals in the chase for the Inter Milan winger despite the Serie A club continuing to insist that they will not sell the Croatian international this summer.

Manchester United have been unable to agree a deal despite having been trying to sign their target all summer. It would be a huge blow to see a potential title rival come in and beat them to their man at such a late stage in the transfer window. United may now need to up their efforts to get their man.

One man who definitely won’t be going anywhere is Luke Shaw. The left-back is nearing a return from an ankle injury and his agent Jonathan Barnett has spoken out to rubbish rumours that he could be sold this summer, as he told the International Business Times UK:

“Manchester United love him and Luke Shaw loves Manchester United. Luke Shaw is going to be one of the best left-backs in the world.”

Shaw failed to earn a regular role in Mourinho’s first team last season and was restricted to a role on the fringes of the squad for almost the entirety of the second half of the campaign. Now fighting to be fit and overcome his latest injury, he will be hoping to do better this time around in 2017/18.