According to reports in The Mirror, Manchester United are edging closer to signing unsettled Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose this summer with Spurs already preparing for the England international’s exit.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Doncaster-born left-back is said to be keen on a move back up north and he is interesting United boss Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager is keen to bring in a new left-sided defender with Luke Shaw failing to impress and Matteo Darmian naturally a right-footed player, and he is said to be a huge fan of Rose.
Meanwhile, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is already sounding out replacements for the 26-year-old.
Didn’t Rose speak out last week?
He did indeed.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, the left-back said that some players ‘might fancy a change’ this summer and that Spurs could be viewed as a ‘nearly club’ following two successive seasons of narrowly missing out on the Premier League title.
Would he be a big loss for Spurs?
He certainly would be.
Rose has established himself as one of the best full-backs in the Premier League in recent years and he is also probably the first choice for England in that position too.
That said, Ben Davies has performed brilliantly in his absence with the 26-year-old being on the sidelines since January because of a knee injury, and the north London outfit may feel it is time to cash in on the Three Lions star.
Would they buy anyone else if he went?
Interestingly, The Times claim that Spurs are the frontrunners for exciting Fulham prospect Ryan Sessegnon, and he could easily be back-up to Davies next term if Rose was to move on.
How much could they get for him?
With Kyle Walker continuing to be linked with a £40m move to Manchester City, Tottenham may be hoping that they can demand a similar fee for Rose.
Whether United will be willing to spend that much on a left-back remains to be seen, but as it is a problem area for Mourinho they may be forced to pay the big bucks.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, Rose’s comments to the BBC hinted that all was not well at Spurs and despite wanting to show ambition, if the club can get a good price for him they would be mad not to sell him.
The only issue will be selling him to a key rival, but Ben Davies has already shown that he can do a more than adequate job.
