Today’s fluff is naming its price

Manchester United are stopping at nothing in their efforts to win the transfer gossip column inches Club World Cup. With the summer-long saga of Bryan Mbeumo’s future finally settled in their favour, they’ve set about linking themselves with a whole range of new targets. Among them, Nicolas Jackson. The Senegal forward has been nudged down Chelsea’s pecking order in recent months but United reckon he could be just the man to illuminate some mid-table scraps. According to the Metro, United have intensified their interest in Jackson but Chelsea will want a whopping £80m-plus to top up their profit and loss stats. Jackson has rebuffed Milan and Napoli but wants to stay in the English top flight.

Also in Ruben Amorim’s sights is Emiliano Martínez. With André Onana ruled out for the start of the season, United need some goalkeeping resource and Aston Villa’s Argentinian World Cup winner fits their needs. Villa, however, will want at least £40m.

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The 10-year contract is worth £1bn but it has also opened the door to increase the club’s global profile with other lucrative partnerships

Manchester City had a billion reasons to celebrate the new kit deal with Puma announced last week, yet beyond the bottom line the value of the contract may prove priceless.

The Guardian has learned that the 10-year deal, worth £1bn, contains clauses giving the German sportswear manufacturer options to extend the partnership way beyond that, but most significant to City may be what Puma’s endorsement and huge financial commitment say to independent brands and the Premier League about the club’s value.

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