Neymar to Manchester United; Crystal Palace eye Marseille's Michy Batshuayi; Harry Kane still on Old Trafford radar

TRANSFER TALK: A look at some of today's most intriguring tittle-tattle from across the printed media landscape

Lionel Messi (right) and Neymar (centre) wanted Luis Suarez (left) named on the Ballon d'Or shortlist (Getty Images)

Manchester United have yet again been linked with an astronomical bid for Barcelona superstar Neymar. While the odds of the Brazilian forward ever leaving Spain for Old Trafford remain remote, the British press seem adamant that it represents a very real possibility. Today’s reports, detailed in the Daily Telegraph, suggest the United hierarchy have set aside £144m to ensnare the 23-year-old next summer. Louis van Gaal’s side were dumped out of the Champions League last night with club legend Paul Scholes lamenting the lack of ‘killer instinct’ in the team.

Unsurprisingly the second biggest story of the day also involves the red side of Manchester. Van Gaal, a long-time admirer of Harry Kane’s talents, is ready to make his move for the Tottenham striker, according to the Daily Star. The Dutchman has reportedly been given the green light to make a £50m swoop for the England striker in June. Compiling a dossier on the 22-year-old, Van Gaal believes Kane could be the tonic to this woe at Old Trafford, a phenomenon which has attracted widespread criticism.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is another boss on the look-out for more firepower. The Eagles have this morning been linked with a £15m bid for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi. The Sun suggest Pardew has had the 22-year-old watched by his team of scouts this season as he looks to take the Selhurst Park outfit into Europe. The former Standard Liege hitman has scored 19 goals in 41 appearances for the Ligue 1 side since joining last year. Batshuayi has attracted the interest of north London foes Arsenal and Tottenham in recent months but Palace are thought to be confident of doing a deal.

Premier League side Bournemouth are monitoring Demarai Gray’s situation at Birmingham City, according to the Daily Mirror. The Blues hoped a promotion surge may persuade the 19-year-old to stay at St Andrew’s but three successive defeats have seen Gary Rowett’s men plummet out of the play-off spots. Leicester City have also shown an interest in the past. Gray is understood to have a £3.75m release clause in the three-year contract he signed last summer. The report suggests, however, that figure will fall to £3m next summer and includes a stipulation which would allow him to leave if Birmingham fail to secure promotion.