Manchester United in Battle to Prise Thiago From Barcelona: Nightly Soccer Report

Manchester United are in a tussle to try to sign Thiago Alcântara from Barcelona after the midfielder has been one of the stars of the u-21 European Championship tournament.

David Moyes is reportedly interested in triggering the £17million release clause to try to make Thiago his first major signing of the summer. However, Thiago is believed to be interested in staying with Barcelona if he can get more first time team action.

What do you think? Does Manchester United have any hope in trying to sign Thiago, or is it a lost cause? Share your opinion in the comments section below.

The Nightly Soccer Report (and Daily Soccer Report) returns after a brief break. I’ve been on vacation in the Bahamas since Monday, sailing the western Caribbean and, when I had a chance, watching the Confederations Cup and u-21 European Championship on the high seas. Normal service resumes with the Soccer Report from now on!

Here are tonight’s world soccer news headlines:

Premier League

• Manchester United in battle to prise Thiago from Barcelona — The Guardian
• Gareth Barry to see out contract at Man City despite being told he can leave the club immediately — Telegraph
• Swansea City closing in on Real Betis’s Alejandro Pozuelo — This Is South Wales
• Charles N’Zogbia suffers Achilles tendon injury while on holiday in Miami — The Mail
• Premier League seeks ISP site block in piracy swoop — BBC News
• Napoli owner claims Man City ‘do not have the money’ for Edinson Cavani — Dirty Tackle
• Sunderland tell Lee Cattermole he can leave the club as part of summer clear-out — The Mirror
• Shearer’s Bar at St James’ Park renamed by Newcastle United — BBC News
• David Luiz to undergo surgery on broken nose after Confederations Cup duty — Independent
• Luis Alberto ‘looking forward’ to Liverpool switch as midfielder arrives for medical — Independent
• Etihad Campus builders banned from wearing Manchester City and United shirts — The Guardian
• Newcastle fans urge Mike Ashley to fill the void left by Derek Llambias — The Independent
• Arsene Wenger eyes another Arsenal club record with £23m Fellaini — Evening Standard
• Future of Hatem Ben Arfa in doubt following arrival of Joe Kinnear at Newcastle — The Independent
• Swansea City face competition from Monaco for Bafetimbi Gomis — This Is South Wales
• Tottenham hire Franco Baldini as technical director — Premier League
• Manchester United and Chelsea may have to cancel pre-season trip to Thailand — The Mail
• Aston Villa confirm signing of Antonio Luna from Sevilla — The Guardian
• Arsenal FC confirm Vietnam tour after map upset — BBC Sport
• Manuel Pellegrini to start Manchester City reign in South Africa — Independent
• FIFA may ax 3D for ’14 World Cup, Citing ESPN dropping its channel — SBJ
• Sky wins battle with BT over refusal to carry BT Sport adverts — The Telegraph
• Stoke appoint Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki to backroom staff — The Mail
• Rooney move to Arsenal from Man United endorsed by shareholder Alisher Usmanov — Telegraph

International soccer

• Brazil’s protests raise fears for World Cup as a million take to the streets — The Guardian
• Fifa denies the Confederations Cup could be cancelled because of protests — BBC Sport
• Fifa’s gleaming edifice in danger of being engulfed by Brazil’s tidal protest — The Guardian

Championship

• Wolves striker Kevin Doyle has ruled out a summer move to Leeds — Sky Sports
• QPR begin summer clearout by releasing striker Jay Bothroyd — The Independent
• Royston Drenthe has agreed a two-year contract to join Championship side Reading — Sky Sports
• Blackburn Rovers set to axe ‘global adviser’ Shebby Singh as club finally gets serious — Independent

Ligue Un

• PSG set to name Laurent Blanc as manager — The Guardian
• Monaco ‘forced’ into big-money signings — ESPN FC

NASL

• Leyton Orient will host the New York Cosmos next month in the build up to the new campaign — Sky Sports

The Nightly Soccer Report is tomorrow’s news today. It’s often tomorrow morning’s worldwide newspaper headlines that are published the night before. We do all the work for you, combing the Internet and aggregating the news for you. Read The Nightly Soccer Report on World Soccer Talk every night before bed, so you can stay on top of all the news that matters.