Manchester United watch Nicolas Gaitan; CSKA’s Dzagoev in high demand

Manchester United watch Nicolas Gaitan

Portuguese daily Record is reporting that Manchester United are keeping close tabs on Benfica forward Nicolas Gaitan.

The Argentine winger caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson during last year’s Champions League campaign, but his interest in the player seems to have cooled off this term.

However, as soon as Gaitan started slowly returning to the starting line-up, the Red Devils returned into the race for the talented forward.

According to Record, Sir Alex Ferguson’s emissaries watched the player in Sunday’s Primeira Liga match between Beira Mar and Benfica.

Gaitan only spent last half an hour on the pitch, after replacing Dutch winger Ola John.

The 25-year-old lost his place in the side at the start of the current season, but has slowly been making his way back to Jorge Jesus’ starting line-up.

Gaitan has a contract until June 2016 at Estadio da Luz and a release clause of €45 million, but it is believed the club officials are prepared to negotiate his sale in the summer transfer window.

CSKA’s Dzagoev in high demand

Russian newspaper Izvestia has suggested that a number of European sides are showing interest in CSKA Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev.

The 22-year-old has been playing at a very high level for over two years now and he is widely tipped to leave the Army Men in the summer.

According to Izvestia, Anzhi have made an official enquiry into the player’s availability, although CSKA chiefs are highly unlikely to sell their star player to thei league rivals.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan and Roma are stepping up their efforts to sign the highly rated midfielder and one of the two clubs could be making an official bid at the end of the current campaign.

Alan Dzagoev has a contract until June 2015 at CSKA and is currently valued at around €25 million.

He boasts an incredible amount of experience for his fragile age, having scored 29 goals in 115 league appearances, while netting 8 times in 27 matches for the Russia national team.

Hannover keen on Dortmund hotshot

Hannover are readying summer bid for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt, according to Bild.

Hannover striker Mame Biram Diouf is widely tipped to join BVB in the summer transfer window, and it looks as though one player could move in the opposite direction.

German daily Bild understands that the 96ers are showing interest in Dortmund starlet Leonardo Bittencourt.

The agent of the talented midfielder was spotted in Hannover’s club hotel yesterday, which added fuel to speculations linking the player with a move to AWD Arena.

Borussia Dortmund officials are unlikely to sell one of their most talented players, but they might be willing to negotiate a loan deal.

Bittencourt, 19, joined the Millionaires from Cottbus last summer, but has only made one Bundesliga appearance due to the fierce competition for places.

It is, therefore, believed that he would be interested in a loan move to Hannover, where he would get a much needed first team experience.

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