The summer transfer window will be
opening before you know it, and rumours
around the world are picking up steam. As
always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the
pulse when it comes to the latest gossip.
See the latest deals here. TOP STORY: Zlatan 'to spearhead Mourinho
era' And so, to quote Louis van Gaal on the day
of his Manchester United team's FA Cup final
victory over Crystal Palace, "it's over." Or
was it Roy Orbison who sang that once? Whatever, one thing that isn't over -- in fact,
it has hardly begun -- is the whirl of
speculation over which players will arrive,
and which will leave, as the Jose Mourinho
era gets going. Step forward the Telegraph, which tells us one of the first stars in will be Zlatan Ibrahimovic, on his way from Paris Saint- Germain. The paper says Mourinho is all set to move
for Ibrahimovic, with confirmation of the ex-
Chelsea chief's appointment as United boss
likely to reach us within the next day or two. Ibrahimovic and Mourinho have a strong
relationship, the Telegraph stresses, dating
back to their successful spell working
together at Inter Milan. The 34-year-old has turned down offers to
move to the Chinese Super League and
MLS club LA Galaxy because he wants to
play in the Premier League before going
anywhere else, it reports. TELEGRAPH SPORT: Mourinho wants Zlatan
at United #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/AY51KlHU2E - Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) 22 May 2016 What's more, it adds that the United future
of David de Gea, thought to have been uncertain if Van Gaal remained as manager,
now seems far more clear-cut. It says the goalkeeper "is expected to stay
at Old Trafford now Van Gaal is going" and
can look forward to "another significant
summer of investment in the squad." So who else might be arriving? Well, the
Telegraph says Mourinho "will target a
centre-half, at least one central midfielder, a
fast, right-sided forward and a striker." Potential arrivals include Southampton's Sadio Mane, a player for whom United had an offer turned down last year, and Everton
defender John Stones -- a major target for Mourinho's Chelsea last summer. PSG defender Marquinhos is another on the list, and two others who have long been
linked, Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario and Real Madrid star James Rodriguez, remain possibilities. But could a farewell to LVG also mean a
farewell to one of United's greatest
stalwarts, Ryan Giggs? The Sun thinks so, reporting that Giggs "is ready to say goodbye to Manchester United
after 29 years." It reports that Mourinho will offer the
Welshman a coaching role, with the Old
Trafford powers that be "keen to keep
Giggs." "But it will be left to No. 2 Giggs to decide --
and Mourinho believes he will probably
reject the offer [in order] to become a
manager in his own right," it concludes. Now that really would be the end of an era. Palace want to strike it big Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, the team United
beat at Wembley, are looking ahead as they
seek to overcome the disappointment of
missing out on the first major trophy in their
history. Dancing manager Alan Pardew wants them
to spend big on a big name or two --
something along the lines of the Selhurst
Park coup he managed when bringing in Yohan Cabaye last summer. This time, his main target will be a new
striker, says the Mirror -- and he reckons only high-calibre players need be in
consideration. "We've shown we have got talent. We need
to refine it a little bit and we are going to try
to do that in the transfer market -- but we
are a force to be reckoned with," it quotes
Pardew as saying. "So if you're asking whether there is going
to be a big name, perhaps there will --
because they are going to need to be." Of more immediate concern to Pardew might
be what the Express describes as the "battle" he faces to keep Jason Puncheon after dropping the midfielder from his
starting lineup for the FA Cup final. The paper claims Pardew and Puncheon --
who came on as a substitute to give the
Eagles the lead -- had an "explosive" row
after the match, with the manager having
said Puncheon "might not forgive" him for
the decision not to start him. Gunners take it to the Maxi From South London to North now, and to
Arsenal -- where the Mirror reports that Arsene Wenger is poised to reanimate old
attempts to sign Maxi Romero from Velez Sarsfield. A move for the forward was abandoned
when he suffered a knee ligament injury
shortly before a switch was due to go
through last year. Although Wenger wants to push through a
deal for the 17-year-old, he will have to be
convinced of his fitness, the paper adds. Meanwhile -- and with more of an eye on the
here and now -- his top striking target
remains Juventus star Alvaro Morata. Tap-ins - Andre Ayew has told a French television channel that "clubs are interested in me"
and stressed that his ambition is to play in
the Champions League -- but added that he
is happy at Swansea City. Ayew told TF1: "Every player wants to compete for the Champions League. A time
will come when I'll aim for that. With what
I've accomplished this season, clubs are
interested in me. We will see." - Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has said he is happy at the club and brushed off
speculation that he could move to
Barcelona. Bellerin, who enjoyed an outstanding
season as the Gunners finished second in
the Premier League, has been linked with a
return to the Camp Nou, where he began
his career. But he told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo: "I'm very happy, so I don't see myself anywhere other than at Arsenal."