What the papers say

Raphael Varane is reportedly the latest big name attracting a wealth of interest from Saudi Arabia. The Daily Star says Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr are hoping to reunite the Manchester United defender with his former Real Madrid and Red Devils team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, with an offer believed to be in the region of £50million a year.

The Independent reports Kylian Mbappe‘s contract negotiations with Real Madrid have hit a stumbling block. According to the paper, the two parties are yet to come to terms on the 25-year-old striker’s wage package, with an agreement believed to be a way off. However, there is belief amongst all involved – including Mbappe’s current club Paris St Germain – that a deal to take the France captain to Spain will eventually be made.

And The Telegraph reports Aston Villa has reached a verbal agreement on a new long-term contract for Jamaica winger Leon Bailey.

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Hwang Ui-jo: The Nottingham Forest striker has agreed terms to spend the rest of the season on loan at Turkish side Alanyaspor, reports Turkish outlet Sports Digitale.

Sadio Mane has become the latest big name to quit European football for the Saudi Pro League as he joins Al-Nassr from Bayern Munich.

The 31-year-old Senegal forward spent just a single season in Germany having moved to Bayern from Liverpool last summer and now departs for a reported £34million.

Mane struggled for form and during a tough season he suffered an injury that ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup and was fined and suspended by Bayern after a training ground bust-up with team-mate Leroy Sane.

He has now completed a move to Saudi Arabia, where he will team up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic at Al-Nassr, having also been linked with Al-Ahli and a reunion with former Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino.

Having first moved to England with Southampton, Mane switched to Anfield in 2016 and went on to score 120 goals in 269 appearances, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and Club World Cup on Merseyside.

“We want to thank Sadio Mane for the past season,” Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen said after the Bundesliga champions announced his departure.

“It certainly wasn’t an easy year for him, getting injured just before the World Cup and being unable to take part in it with Senegal, who he’d previously led to a first triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualification.

“Because of his long lay-off, he also couldn’t have the impact at FC Bayern that we all and he himself had hoped for. That’s why we came to the joint decision that he’ll begin a new chapter in his career and make a new start at a different club. We wish him all the best and lots of success for the challenges ahead at Al-Nassr.”