Manchester United have hit a bit of a roadblock in regards to their interest in Sevilla star Jules Kounde as the effects of the global health crisis continue to be felt.
The talented centre-back is highly rated and highly sought after across Europe and it’s safe to say the Spanish giants know that.
Kounde is seen as the ideal candidate to partner Harry Maguire for the long-term as he’s already a quality player and can improve further.
Many United fans see him as an attainable player too but it seems that things aren’t as easy or direct as they seem.
Despite clubs around the world essentially being in financial ruin, many are still holding out on their best assets, including Sevilla.
#mufc will look for a centre-back in the summer. Jules Koundé is highly regarded but price is an issue. Sven Botman is also an option. [@podcastherewego, @FabrizioRomano]
Manchester United are convinced that Jules Koundé would be perfect, but Sevilla are asking for around €80m, which is a problem. #MUFC [@FabrizioRomano, @podcastherewego]
€80m is a sensational fee given the current market and one that the Red Devils are highly unlikely to match, especially since they need to address multiple positions this summer.
Perhaps Sevilla feel since those at Old Trafford forked out an estimated £80m on Maguire then they can do that again for Kounde.
Unfortunately it looks like Manchester United will have to turn their attentions elsewhere to a cheaper option unless they can somehow convince the La Liga club to part ways.
Manchester United have reportedly been keeping an eye on the Serie A for their next centre-back target and a surprising name has seemingly cropped up.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s need for a defender to play alongside Harry Maguire has been obvious and it’s no surprise it’s one of the key areas the club have been looking to invest in.
Names like Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane, RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Juventus’ Matthias De Ligt have all been floating about in regards to being United’s next centre-back signing.
Given how they spent a mighty £80m or thereabouts for Maguire, there are those who expected a similar expenditure on the next one too.
However, it seems as though the Red Devils are looking for a bit of a budget buy and have turned to Roma for some defensive reinforcement.
I am told that #MUFC enquired about Gianluca Mancini a few weeks ago
Gianluca Mancini has played plenty of times for the Italian giants this season, making 30 appearances across all competitions and even notching up five goals and two assists in the process.
He won his first cap for Italy two years ago and at the age of 24 has it in him to become an even better player.
It’s safe to say he’s not the marquee signing some may have expected and Transfermarkt value him at £27m so he shouldn’t be an expensive purchase should the enquiries turn into something greater.
Manchester United star Axel Tuanzebe could see himself suddenly out of the door according to respected journalist Andy Mitten.
The young defender often gets fans excited as they feel as though he is the perfect long-term solution to their defensive woes.
Tuanzebe is a modern defender, capable on the ball, solid in his tackling and he has bags of pace to help him cope with how fast football is nowadays.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also praised the talented Englishman for his ability to play in multiple positions so it seemed as though there was a good relationship on all sides.
However, Tuanzebe hasn’t played as often as he may like this season and that has partly been down to his own injuries and partly due to the legendary Norwegian’s preference to use Eric Bailly if Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof aren’t available.
@AndyMitten: "If #mufc thought Tuanzebe was going to come through, they wouldn't be scouting central defenders. If a club came in and offered good money for Axel Tuanzebe, #mufc will be tempted by that. [Talk of the Devils, @TheAthleticUK]
Mitten’s logic does make sense but Manchester United have needed a top centre-back either way and as much potential as Tuanzebe has, he’s not the finished product yet.
The academy graduate needs to enjoy a proper breakthrough before he can be a regular starting XI player and unfortunately that hasn’t happened yet.
With Phil Jones said to be on his way out and Bailly potentially leaving due to his injury record, Tuanzebe would be needed as a back-up either way.
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has reportedly made up his mind about his future at the club as the rumours continue to grow over where his next destination may be.
There had been whispers the superb midfielder would consider extending his stay at Old Trafford but that was long ago and there has been no progress that fans have heard of.
Pogba has seemingly always had a question mark hanging over his head since joining from Juventus and it’s a topic many supporters are sick of hearing about.
However, many fans recognise how weak United would be without the sensational Frenchman and don’t see the club adequately replacing him if he leaves.
It’s for those reasons that no one really wants Pogba to depart and instead want to surround him with better talent to get more out of him.
The above tweet translates to: “#DiMarzio:#Pogba does not want to extend, if he could choose he would go to the #Juventus because he has remained closely linked to it. He has a very high salary”
Unfortunately for Pogba, given his salary, Manchester United’s asking price and the global financial meltdown, it seems difficult to see him being sold.
It would be embarrassing for those at the club to have toyed with a new deal for so long only to lose him for a cut-price fee one year before his deal runs out.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has surprisingly named Luke Shaw as the club’s second-best finisher, as the player continues to enjoy a rise in his career of late.
The talented full-back has enjoyed the best season he’s had at Old Trafford and that has led him to be named back-to-back player of the month as well as being handed a recall to the England national team.
While away on international duty, Shaw impressed further, grabbing an assist vs Albania and putting himself in contention for a spot in the European Championship squad for the summer.
Solskjaer has continuously asked his forwards to work on their finishing, focussing on their technique and challenging them to net more efforts.
It seems Shaw has mistaken himself for a forward, earning himself the title of being the second-best finisher in the squad, only behind the clinical Mason Greenwood.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has previously told Luke Shaw that he's the best finisher at Man Utd pic.twitter.com/6yq4wTQvgd
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) March 30, 2021
Although Solskjaer meant it as a compliment for Shaw, it does look bad for Manchester United’s finishers such as Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in particular.
Perhaps they will rise to the challenge themselves and prove to the legendary Norwegian that they are better than he thinks in that regard.
Nonetheless, given how Solskjaer encourages Shaw to get forward plenty then it can only be a good thing that he can finish well.
Manchester United have been rumoured to be keen on Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero after reports emerged that he is set to leave on the expiration of his contract this summer.
Many fans and clubs appear to feel the experienced Argentine is not quite done yet at the top level and the latest noise is he has been approached.
As strange as it would be, even United are linked with Aguero, apparently making an approach for him given their striker crisis.
Edinson Cavani doesn’t seem any closer to a renewal and it seems as though he’s on his way out, potentially moving to Argentina this summer.
Anthony Martial‘s inconsistent form and fitness issues has seen the need for a striker grow, leaving some to fancy the idea of signing Aguero for free just to annoy the Red Devils noisy neighbours.
It is a fun idea to consider, but as of this moment, a source close to the player tells me that #MUFC have not enquired about the possibility of signing Agüero
Aguero does still have some life in him but it doesn’t seem like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the kind of manager to raid a rival club for their talents, especially given the player’s history.
It would take some warming up to get used to the idea but it’s unlikely there would be too many arguments over signing him given his ability.
However, concerns would certainly be raised in regards to signing a long-term player instead and how the perfect candidate already exists in Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland.
France manager Didier Deschamps has provided fitness updates on Manchester United pair Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba as the season run-in grows near.
The talented duo were called up to serve their country despite their questionable fitness but it seems they may return to Old Trafford in one piece after all.
Pogba’s absence has been felt at United and fans were hoping he wouldn’t have to risk his fitness by accepting a call-up for France.
However, the minutes he’s received on the pitch have appeared to do him more good than damage, though the same can’t be said about Martial.
The former AS Monaco man was substituted off the field in France’s last match as he seemed to suffer from a knock to his knee.
According to SportWitness, Deschamps said: “Anthony has a small issue on his knee. Nothing is decided yet. He won’t be taking part in the training session a bit later.
“We’ll see tomorrow. Anything serious has been dismissed. We’ve run some tests, but there’s still the pain, and having travelled as long as we have, that hasn’t helped.
“As for Pogba, he started the last game, so that should answer it. If I started him in the last game, it’s because I thought he could start.
“He needs time to find his rhythm, but he feels good. As games go by, it’ll allow him to improve.”
The bad news is that Martial doesn’t seem to be fit enough to play for his country but the good news is that the injury isn’t serious.
This could see him return to Manchester United and recover in time for the clash on Sunday vs Brighton & Hove Albion.
If Pogba can survive France’s next fixture without picking up a knock then United would be welcoming back a fitter player than the one that left, which can only be a positive.
Superagents Mino Raiola and Jonathan Barnett have been discussing their players’ futures in a fascinating Zoom group chat for The Athletic.
Raiola initially spoke openly about his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United and about his client, Paul Pogba, which we have reported in another article.
The two agents then went on to discuss the forthcoming transfer window and what it will mean for two of their best and brightest young talents, Eduardo Camavinga and Erling Haaland, both of whom have been linked with a move to United.
‘Camavinga can play next year in the Premier League. He is that good,’ Barnett said of the teenage sensation, who can play anywhere in central midfield.
‘Whether he will or not, I don’t know. His background has been tough if you know what he went through as a refugee and the burning of his home [in Rennes]. But his character is amazingly strong. He is not your average 18-year-old. Playing in front of 100,000 people is not going to scare him. He’s a lovely boy and I think he’s going to be a superstar.’
The admission that Barnett is looking to move Camavinga to the Premier League will be music to the ears of United fans. But there was more to come from Raiola when discussing Erling Haaland.
‘Everybody was wrong [about Haaland],’ Raiola said.
‘He did things much quicker than everybody imagined. Haaland is in front of his own development. He is ahead of his own schedule. Maybe I was too careful when I said, “Oh no, let’s move to Dortmund instead of I-don’t-know-where”.
‘This boy — I’m 100 per cent convinced and everybody’s convinced — can move to any club, wherever he wants, already on this level. And he could have done that last year. But maybe last year there were still teams [saying] “Oh, he was in Red Bull, can he do it in another club?”
‘He is quicker than his own prediction. So yeah, Haaland is the talk of the town.
‘This is a moment of waiting and seeing what is in the best interest of the player. Sometimes the best interest of the player is not to move when everybody says he has to move. And sometimes it is in the best interest of the player to move when everybody says he has to stay. So we will see what happens.’
‘Sometimes football is a train that passes by, and you can say, “Let’s take the next train”. But sometimes the next train doesn’t come.’
Whether the Haaland train pulls up at Warwick Road remains to be seen. But there is certainly likely to be some activity at Manchester airport involving one or both of these agents this summer.
Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola has been speaking about his unpopularity in the UK and in particular with Manchester United.
The agent has made a number of public comments about Pogba’s unhappiness at United that have created a rift between him and the club and that have elevated him to arch villain status among United fans.
In a Zoom chat with fellow agent Jonathan Barnett for The Athletic, Raiola addressed the situation with characteristic bullishness.
‘This image that we are bad people, it’s not true,’ Raiola said.
‘When I walk on the streets of Italy, in Holland and in France, I have the respect of all the people. I feel that there is much more respect and appreciation for what I do [outside England].
‘I don’t think in Italy they look at me as a criminal. In England, because some ex-players [whom The Athletic names as Gary Neville and Paul Scholes] get totally nervous when I talk about Pogba and Manchester United, I think they look at me like this. But I also think that deep inside, they will always be thinking, “F–k, I would have loved him as my agent when I was a player”.’
Raiola’s message throughout the interview is that if players keep turning to him, he must be doing something right, even if clubs such as United appear to have problems with him.
‘When [Sir Alex] Ferguson criticised me, that was my biggest compliment anybody could give me. Ferguson is used to people coming in and, ‘Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
‘All I have to say that when Ferguson left Manchester United the club’s owner [the Glazers], by buying back Paul Pogba, told me that I was right. Because I didn’t want to take Paul Pogba away. He [Sir Alex] didn’t believe in Paul Pogba.
‘So when Ferguson says, “I don’t like him”, it’s the biggest compliment that I could have. It’s like saying Sepp Blatter says, “I don’t like him”. Fantastic. I don’t care what Ferguson says.
‘With Mr Ferguson or Guardiola, I have this problem — and I think that it is changing now — that [they believe] we should submit to them because “otherwise, tomorrow, you don’t do a player with Manchester United”.
‘I don’t give a f–k if I never do another player with Manchester United. I’m not in their hands. I’m independent. We have only one party that we take care of: our players. And as long as our players like us, you do what you have to do.’
Raiola also discussed Pogba’s situation and made encouraging noises about his future with the club.
‘Today, if somebody asks me, “Can you find a club for Paul?” I could take my nephew of five and find a club for Paul at a high level.
‘Again, 50 per cent of people like you, 50 per cent hate you. But Paul has fantastic appeal worldwide.
‘Maybe the bother with the big transfer, the strange story of going away for free and then coming back for that money, was something that people were not used to. Maybe that haunted him for a little bit of time.
‘But I think that he should be appreciated overall. I heard from the club side that he is, at least, and from Solskjaer’s side. So that’s the only thing that matters.’
When Raiola has spoken in the past about the Frenchman’s unhappiness, it has always been in terms of feeling unappreciated at United. He also alluded in the interview to the rift between José Mourinho and Pogba that he claims left everyone, including the United board, baffled. The fact that the former pizza chef – who despite all his bluster, chooses his words carefully – describes manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as appreciative certainly seems to be an olive branch. It could be interpreted as a very positive sign that paves the way to the possibility of Pogba signing a new contract that could potentially keep him at Old Trafford for the rest of his career.
Manchester United star Diogo Dalot, currently on loan at AC Milan, is one of the stars of the European Under-21 Championships and is seen by the Portuguese as their ‘talisman’, having not yet been on the losing side in his Under-21 international career.
The Portuguese side, dubbed ‘the Diogos’ because of the number of players with that name, including Diogo Costa, Diogo Queirós, Diogo Leite and Dalot, are leading Group D of the competition with six points from two games, with England bottom of the group having failed to register a point.
Dalot has impressed despite being played out of position by coach Rui Jorge, who has switched him from the right to the left side. In 11 games for the Portuguese under-21s, Dalot has 10 wins and one draw. A point against Switzerland tomorrow will ensure that Dalot’s unbeaten record continues and that the young Portugal side will progress to the quarter-final stage of the competition.
There is little United representation in the tournament. Mason Greenwood was called up to the England squad for their previous match against Switzerland but pulled out injured. Having lost that game, the Three Lions cannot now qualify.
Dalot is therefore likely to be the only United player left as the competition reaches its climax – a disappointing statistic for a club that prides itself on youth development. Matej Kovar could still go through with the Czech Republic but is their backup keeper and is yet to play a game in the tournament.
The knockout stages will be held in Bosnia-Herzogovina and Hungary between May 31 and June 6, 2021.
Manchester United transfer news might be a bit thin on the ground at the moment, so The Daily Express has found a solution: imagining who might get the vacant manager’s position at Celtic and then imagining what United starts they might lure over to Parkhead.
Former United legend Roy Keane is in the running to become the next boss of the Glasgow side, although he is no longer seen as a shoe-in. Interim boss John Kennedy and former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe are the bookies’ favourites. Former Sheffield United man Chris Wilder and former Borussia Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre have also reportedly thrown their hats into the ring. But that has not deterred The Express from imagining ‘what if’.
The second level of speculation in The Express’s article is that should Keane land the job, he will take on former teammate Nicky Butt as his assistant. Butt resigned from his role as head of first team development at United last week amid reports that he would not work under new director of football John Murtough, but he may want to try his own hand as a manager rather than becoming an assistant at this stage.
As Butt was a key member of United’s academy staff, The Express then puts forward four players that he and Keane could take from United should they get that far into this predicted scenario: Hannibal Mejbri, Brandon Williams, Shola Shoretire and Isak Hansen-Aaroen – all hypothetically on loan from Old Trafford.
It all seems pretty unlikely. The first three players are arguably way too good for the Scottish Premier League and loans could easily be arranged with clubs from any of Europe’s top leagues or from the Championship. Hansen-Aaroen, on the other hand, is only 16 and not ready for the tough physicality of the SPL.
That is not to say that Keane and Butt might not get their hands on some United talent if they were to land the job, as Butt in particular does have plenty of inside knowledge. If we were to play along, we’d put forward names such as goalkeeper Joel Pereira – who has already played in the SPL for Hearts, midfielder Dylan Levitt, who has talent but struggled on loan at Charlton and winger Tahith Chong. Chong’s loan year has been disappointing, having failed to make the grade at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and moving over to Club Brugge in the Belgian League, where he has fared a little better but still not set the world alight.
Dean Henderson has been in fine form since taking charge of Manchester United’s number one spot in the absence of David de Gea but doubts over his future still remained.
The experienced Spaniard returned to his home country to be with his partner ahead of the birth of his child and so the young Englishman was given his first real shot in the first-team.
It’s safe to say Henderson made the most of his opportunity but many expect De Gea to be handed his spot back once the international break is over.
This has lead to growing rumours of the academy graduate setting an ultimatum to the club in regards to his career.
It’s believed Henderson wants to be guaranteed minutes by next season or he’ll leave in the summer and Tottenham Hotspur were said to be keen but that has now been ruled out.
#mufc's Dean Henderson will not be heading to Spurs any time soon given he signed a six-year deal last year and has a price tag exceeding Nick Pope's. He is seen as the long-term future of the goalkeeper position at Old Trafford. [@AlasdairGold]
There’s no doubt Henderson wants to play more often in general but it’s likely that he’ll have to be patient as his future truly is in the club’s hands.
The talented shot-stopper gave the club the advantage over his future by agreeing to a new long-term deal so it’s unlikely they would sell him just one year in.
Marcus Rashford has somewhat split Manchester United fans this season as there are some who feel he’s been a top player while others feel he should be doing even better.
The statistic below adds even more fire to the debate and gives supporters an insight into how the young Englishman tends to finish his chances.
Rashford is one of the few United players who has double figures in both goals and assists so it would be harsh to criticise him but there certainly are areas in his game he can still improve.
Given his age, it’s safe to assume he’s still got room to grow so there’s no doubt he’s far from the finished article.
Rashford has added a more playmaking type of ability to his arsenal but it seems like he should work on his finishing more, despite his 18 goals.
Marcus Rashford’s Finishing Profile.
A reaffirmation of what we know well: poor when it comes to aerials but excellent following take-ons. pic.twitter.com/yWC04JxQFq
30 goal contributions across 45 games makes him one of Europe’s better attacking players but as can be seen above, he can be even more dangerous.
Rashford isn’t skinny or short so even though no one truly expects him to win headers all the time, he definitely should be doing a bit better in that department.
The more worrying stat though is how he’s poor after being played through on goal, especially when one considers how often the club loves to use his pace to their advantage.
Roy Keane had plenty of praise for Manchester United star Luke Shaw after his impressive return to the England senior side.
The solid full-back has been in the form of his career this season and he quickly dismissed doubts over if he can carry his club form into the national team.
Shaw managed to assist Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane in the 2-0 win over Albania and laid down a marker that he is ready to be the undisputed first-choice for his country.
England have plenty of competition in the full-back spots so the former Southampton man will have to keep up his club form if he wants to be selected for the upcoming European Championship.
United fans voted Shaw as the club’s player of the month in back to back months as he’s taken his performances to a new level.
“Especially with his history with injuries over the last few years, under Mourinho, he’s been consistent this year.
“Going forward, but defensively I think he has the edge over the other full-backs in the England squad.
“I think he’s improved that and nobody has really got the better of him this season in one vs ones.”
Keane’s comments are true as Shaw has always been good at defending and fans had only called for him to rediscover the attacking side to his game that he showed in his youth.
Now that he’s doing that too, it’s hard to think of any weaknesses in his game as he’s a rather well-rounded defender.
The onus will be on him to keep up his good work and perhaps help lead his club and country to a trophy.
Manchester United are back in for FC Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, according to Spanish outlet Sport.
United tried to sign Dembele in October after their attempts to sell Jadon Sancho failed, but the deal fell through at the last minute.
Some reports claimed that the problem was that United wanted a loan-purchase deal whereas Barça wanted an outright sale, while other reports claimed the player himself refused to leave the Camp Neu and refused to sign a contract extension.
United’s reluctance in regard to an outright sale was in part due to the Frenchman’s injury record, but his relatively clean bill of health this season (one hamstring injury), together with his form, has stoked their interest again, especially as he is entering the final year of his contract.
‘With his improved performances, United have increased their interest. They have remained in touch with the player’s entourage and have communicated their plan to them,’ Sport says.
‘They’re prepared to offer Barça a fee this summer, keeping in mind certain circumstances, or they’re willing to wait until he’s available for free next year.
‘Barça coach Ronald Koeman is really happy with Dembele’s form and considers him an important part of his project. New president Joan Laporta hopes to advance talks over a new deal in the coming weeks.
‘The main hurdle to overcome to reach an agreement is financial, given Dembele has the ace up of his sleeve of being free next summer. His salary demands are high at a time when the club are trying to reduce the wage bill.’
A preview of what could be at United could be seen last night, as Anthony Martial provided an assist for Dembele to score for France against Kazakhstan.
Martial Dembele
Ousmane Dembele fires France in front against Kazakhstan
Anthony Martial had a mixed evening for France yesterday in Kazakhstan and is now a doubt for United’s next Premier League game against Brighton.
As reported here last night, the 25-year-old had a fantastic first half for les Bleus, providing a superb assist for Ousmane Dembele in the 20th minute to open the scoring for the away side.
Martial Dembele
Ousmane Dembele fires France in front against Kazakhstan
Martial was one of the best players on the park in that first half, with stats of 82% pass accuracy, 2 chances created, 2 ball recoveries, 2 dribbles and that assist.
However, the evening turned sour on the hour as Martial picked up what appeared to be a knee injury and had to be replaced.
Manchester United's Anthony Martial limps off for France after getting his studs caught in the turf pic.twitter.com/JJ7DmPQuzX
The United man did continue for a few minutes but was replaced by Kylian Mbappe, who went on to miss a penalty for the world champions.
Paul Pogba also played about an hour of the game before being subbed by Adrien Rabiot. France won the game 2-0.
Elsewhere, Luke Shaw got an assist on his return to England duty as the Three Lions overcame Albania, also by two goals to nil. Read our report here. Harry Maguire kept a clean sheet alongside him and Jesse Lingard played a few minutes at the end of the game. Dean Henderson was an unused substitute, as was David de Gea for Spain.
Victor Lindelof also kept a clean sheet as Sweden beat Kosovo 3-0 and Scott McTominay played 90 minutes as Scotland drew 1-1 with Israel.
Manchester United star Luke Shaw certainly took his chance to star for England with both hands as he put in a remarkable performance.
The talented full-back had a bit of pressure on his shoulders as he’s been out of the England squad for three years and faces plenty of competition for his spot.
However, Shaw gave Gareth Southgate a real headache as he managed to show everyone just what he’s been doing week in, week out for United.
The former Southampton man would have been forgiven for needing time to get used to the international stage again but he played fearlessly instead.
The Red Devils will be hoping they can welcome him back soon with the same fire in his belly and in a good condition to see out the season.
Luke Shaw’s game by numbers vs. :
100 total touches
100% long pass accuracy
92% pass accuracy
3/3 tackles won
1 assist
Shaw assisted Harry Kane’s goal in the win over Albania and it was the kind of cross Manchester United fans have seen him put in plenty of times this season.
In fact, it could even be argued that his teammates on club level haven’t taken advantage enough of the quality of crosses he’s put in and he’s even said it in an interview before, feeling they should have done better on certain occasions.
Manchester United star Anthony Martial enjoyed a positive impact for his country in their win over Kazakhstan and fans will be hoping that it signals a turn in form.
The talented Frenchman has largely had a disappointing season so far considering how he was the club’s top goalscorer last year.
He’s had small sparks of his ability but nothing consistent enough to suggest he’s ready to feature regularly in the starting XI once again.
Martial’s best match came in the recent win over Manchester City and given how he performed for France, the hope is he’s turned a corner.
The bad news is that he was substituted off the field after seemingly suffering an injury so fans will be hoping it was just a minor knock.
There have been suggestions Martial does not deal well with competition for his spot and it’s a theory that isn’t entirely impossible.
After all, the former AS Monaco man endured poor patches of form when he had to compete with Romelu Lukaku for the striker role and it now seems to be the case with Edinson Cavani too.
The only time he appeared to do well is when Jose Mourinho pitted him and Marcus Rashford against each other for the left-wing position but that competition didn’t last long either.
Ex-Arsenal midfield icon Paul Merson has spoken out regarding the future of Martin Odegaard, who is on-loan from Real Madrid, with words of caution to Mikel Arteta over playing the Norwegian with no guarantee of him staying beyond May.
Odegaard has impressed all associated with Arsenal and has ousted Emile Smith-Rowe from the number 10 role, but there is no guarantee of keeping the Norwegian playmaker and a report in the Sun claims that Real Madrid have no interest in selling.
“Martin Odegaard looks a really good player and I hope Arsenal have a chance of signing him permanently,” Merson was quoted as saying via the report.
“Because if they don’t have a chance of making his loan permanent next season, why is he playing?”
“If they know he doesn’t want to stay, he shouldn’t be playing because he’s taking opportunities away from people like Emile Smith Rowe.”
“So I hope Arsenal have done their homework and know what the situation is – I’d be disappointed if they haven’t already made a bid to be honest.”
Odegaard doesn’t appear to have any kind of agreement in-place with Arsenal at this stage so it appears to be out of the Gunners’ hands to bring him back next season. On top of that his impressive form has reportedly caught the eye of clubs across the continent and a bidding war is the last thing Arsenal would want.
A potential change in management at Real Madrid in the summer, should Zidane fail to deliver silverware, will further put Odegaard’s future in north London in doubt.
Manchester United fans were not too pleased to be reminded that today marks the two-year anniversary since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was made manager following an interim period.
The legendary Norwegian came under fire after getting knocked out of the FA Cup prior to the international break.
It’s left a sour taste in supporters’ mouths and they’ve been left to stew since then given the lack of club football.
Solskjaer’s contract ends next summer and news over a potential extension has seen fans debate whether he’s the right man or not moving forward.
The official Manchester United Twitter account tweeted the anniversary reminder and below are just some of the responses it received.
There were some positive responses but they did not hit anywhere close to the numbers the negative ones did.
It should also be stated that the feeling online is often not fully representative of the feeling amongst the fanbase, particularly match-going fans.
After all Jose Mourinho was receiving abuse online for a long period before he was eventually sacked, whereas match-going fans sang his name all the way to the end.
Solskjaer is a club legend and it’s likely they would feel even stronger about him, though the tweets above shows how the tide has turned, at least online.
Manchester United have asked to be kept informed in regard to Erling Haaland’s transfer status, according to a report from Norway.
Most of Europe’s elite are all believed to be keen to land Haaland this summer, one year before his reported €75 million (£65m) release clause kicks in at Borussia Dortmund.
VG, the outlet that led much of the reporting of Haaland’s previous transfer saga, have done a detailed analysis of all the clubs in the hunt for Haaland, where they stand and where he would fit into their team should he join them. The list includes Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona as well as United. They cite The Times’ Paul Hirst as their informant on the Manchester clubs.
‘Should Haaland want to leave Dortmund this summer, United want to be informed,’ VG claims.
‘They have not given up on keeping Edinson Cavani for another year, but Haaland is a much younger alternative.
‘The pandemic has affected United’s economy. They are not as well positioned as City to bid on Haaland.
‘What gives United an advantage is that Solskjær has worked with Haaland before, but it is safe to say that City is a much more appealing destination for a young player at the moment given their success on the field.’
It will certainly be a bitter pill for United and their fans to swallow should Haaland join City but if the player does move this summer, it seems more likely that it would be the blue of United’s neighbours or of Chelsea that he will be wearing in August. However, the fact that the Reds have asked Dortmund to keep them informed does at least signal their intention to do battle for the Norwegian’s signature.
Former Red Devil Chris Turner believes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s next team selection will be make-or-break for David de Gea.
Turner, who kept goal for United between 1985 and 1988, thinks that Solskjaer has to choose between De Gea and Academy graduate Dean Henderson at the end of the season, with neither likely to accept being the backup to the other next term.
‘Henderson looks like he could be United’s keeper for the next 10 years,’ Turner told The Mirror.
‘I’m not sure when the shift will come, but if Dean keeps his place against Brighton after the international break the writing will be on the wall for De Gea.
‘Let’s be clear, though, De Gea has done nothing wrong. He is still a world-class keeper and has proved himself time and again.
‘You can’t just dismiss what he has given United in the last ten years. But he’s not had any real competition in that time. When you know you’re going to be playing week in week out your standards can slip.
‘All of a sudden Dean has emerged as a genuine threat and is proving himself a capable keeper who will only get better with more experience.
‘There’s no way De Gea will want to play second fiddle to a younger keeper so maybe he’ll look to move back to Spain in the next 12 months.
‘I still think he’ll want to force his way back in, but this is where Solskjaer’s man management will be vital.
‘Years ago I remember Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence sharing the England shirt, but you can’t keep chopping and changing at club level.’
It is a difficult decision for Solskjaer. De Gea is capable of making saves that few, if any other goalkeepers in the world can make, but he is also error prone, quiet and rarely comes off his line. Henderson does not have that raw shot-stopping talent but is steady, vocal and commands his box in a way that is not in the Spaniard’s make-up.
If Turner is right, the next selection against Brighton could be crucial. If De Gea is selected, the competition is still on, but if Henderson is selected, it really could spell curtains for the Spaniard’s career at Manchester United.
Three Man United stars were in the thick of the international action yesterday as the World Cup qualifiers progress.
Bruno Fernandes played the whole 90 minutes for Portugal in their 2-2 draw with Serbia, a game full of controversy.
The United man played in a three-man midfield behind front trio Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo, who appeared to have scored a match-winning goal in the last five seconds of the game only for it to be adjudged to have not crossed the line.
Fernandes had a hand in Diogo Jota’s first-half goal but picked up a yellow card for a foul on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the second, which means he is suspended and out of Tuesday night’s match against Luxembourg, which is good news for United.
Meanwhile Dylan Levitt, who is currently on loan at Croatian side Istra, started for Wales in a friendly against Mexico but was subbed at half time.
Daniel James was not involved in the game but is expected to return for the Dragons when they play the Czech Republic on Tuesday evening.
Donny van de Beek was the only other United star to see action on Saturday, coming off the bench in the 79th minute as Holland eased past Latvia 2-0 in Amsterdam. Referee Stephanie Frappart became the first female ref to take charge of a men’s World Cup game and the match was attended by 5,000 fans who produced negative Covid-19 tests in an experiment that gives hope that domestic crowds could return before the end of the season.
There’s no doubt that Manchester United’s recruitment at men’s first team level has been questionable in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. However, at Academy level, particularly in the last few years, it’s been second to none.
The club has used its scouting and recruitment teams well to sign up some of the most promising youth talent around.
Results on the pitch have reflected the backroom work and, after some recent impressive wins, the under 18s find themselves 2 points clear of Manchester City at the top of the youth Premier League and with a tasty FA Youth Cup fourth round tie against Liverpool around the corner.
Here are three players to watch from the youth ranks: Charlie McNeill
United pulled off a bit off a coup in signing Charlie McNeill from City’s Elite Development Squad last year. McNeill had previously been on United’s books but switched to City’s ranks in 2014.
He’s a talented goal scorer and is great at sniffing out chances with movement. This season, he has 16 goals in 17 games. However, he also has good pace and control, can drop a shoulder and set up team mates.
If he continues his form and goalscoring stats into next season and Under 23 level, it won’t be long until he is considered for first team training. Will Fish
12 months ago, Fish signed his first pro contract with United after being part of the academy for years, and things are moving fast for him. At 17, he has already captained the Under 23 side putting in commanding center back performances along the way.
At nearly 6’2”, he can impose his height and strength on forwards and shut down attacks. He is an excellent tackler but can also pass the ball forward well.
He has all the attributes to become a top defender but as always, the competition is strong ahead of him with the likes of Teden Mengi on loan at Derby. Hannibal Mejbri
Mejbri is a fantastic footballer and is in the mix to make a first team debut this season. But he has a big price on his head, having signed for United’s academy as a 16 year old from Monaco in 2019, for a fee potentially rising to 10 million euros (£8.6m).
He recently signed a new long term contract and was moved into first team training but a shoulder injury has hampered progress into the match day squad.
His style is slightly languid but has great vision, technique and skill. He can play in several midfield positions but for now, it looks like his best position is a creative number 8. He also has a bit of aggression in his game.
United fought off strong competition for his signature. Still only 18 but a mainstay in the Under 23s, he has 4 goals and 7 assists in 19 appearances so far this season.
United legend Rio Ferdinand has been speaking out about United’s use of Donny van de Beek.
The Dutchman, whose transfer from Ajax to Real Madrid in 2019 fell through at the last minute, joined United a year later but has found first team opportunities limited at his new club.
There has been a great deal of speculation about the player’s happiness at Old Trafford and about whether manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes in him sufficiently to ease him into the starting line-up.
‘I think he would add value to this team, definitely,’ Ferdinand said on his Vibe with FIVE show (via <em>punditarena.com).
‘He’s someone who would create goals, he played a part in the goal [vs. Leicester]. When he gets in the box, he knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.
‘But to get in the box, he’s got to play in the position where Bruno Fernandes is playing and he’s not going to do that.
‘Can he do it from the No. 8 position or No. 6 when he’s holding? I think he can. He’s intelligent enough. Ajax players are brought up to be intelligent footballers, they are able to play multiple positions, he can do that.
‘It’s just obvious that United want a stiffer central midfield area behind Bruno. I get that, given that’s got to be protecting the centre-backs and that’s not going to be one of Van de Beek’s strong points. But then it begs the question: why buy him then?’
The latter point is an important one. Van de Beek played as a central midfielder more often than as an attacking one for Ajax – and even played as a holding midfielder quite regularly. But Solskjaer appears much keener to play him in the number 10 role, which is usually occupied by Bruno Fernandes.
Ajax
United
Defensive Mid
14
1
Central Mid
90
8
Attacking Mid
68
12
Ferdinand also believes that United misled the 23-year-old about how he would be used.
‘This isn’t what he was sold,’ he said.
‘I feel for him in that. Has he done enough when he’s been given an opportunity? I think it’s been difficult.
‘I don’t care who you are. If you’re playing the odd two minutes here and there, three minutes here and there, you cannot perform. I don’t care what level of player you are.
‘I don’t think he’s been helped in terms of team selection and opportunities so I don’t think it’s fair to say he’s underperforming because he’s not been put in a position to perform yet on a consistent basis.
‘I really do feel for him but it would be interesting to know what he was told and what he was sold on the way in because the lack of opportunities, I don’t think he’d have come here if he’d known that.’
If reports are to believed then Mikel Arteta is desperately trying to put his ideal XI into place ahead of the transfer window opening this summer, with alternatives to Martin Odegaard being lined-up, should the Norwegian not return next season.
La Liga club Real Betis’ fragile financial situation hasn’t been missed by officials at Arsenal and the player on their radar, for a potential cut-price deal, is Nabil Fekir.
A report via the Boot Room claims that Arsenal are eyeing up the 27-year-old, as Betis are feeling the strain financially and may need to raise funds in the summer, having joined the Spanish club from Lyon in 2019.
Liverpool were on the brink of signing the French international prior to his move to Spain, but he was said to have failed a medical at Anfield.
What will concern Gunners fans is that Fekir isn’t quite the player he was being tipped to be, but on his day he can deliver in a big way – but injuries and inconsistency could be a concern, especially if the Betis-man is being earmarked to be an integral part of the attacking line-up next season.
With more rumours of Edinson Cavani’s departure from Manchester United doing the rounds today, attention must turn to the search for a replacement and top of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s wish list is Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland.
Solskjaer is a close family friend of the Haalands and came close to landing his services in January 2020 but United’s refusal to agree to a €75 million release clause in his contract meant that the Norwegian striker joined Dortmund instead.
However, that buy-out figure has come back to bite Dortmund in das Hinterteil as they now need to sell him this summer to get anything like market value for him, or wait until June 2022 and inevitably lose him at that price.
The Bundesliga side have clearly decided to adopt a bullish approach to the problem – as they did when negotiating with United over Jadon Sancho last summer – and have slapped on a massive asking price for clubs wanting to take him off their hands now. ESPN claims that ‘Erling Haaland’s transfer fee this summer has been set by Borussia Dortmund, sources told ESPN, with interested clubs needing €180 [£155m] in order to land one of the most sought after players in world football.
‘Dortmund underlined their stance on their star names last summer when United attempted to negotiate a lower fee for England international Jadon Sancho.
‘The same hardline tactic is in place this summer for Haaland, sources told ESPN, in a move that is designed to warn Europe’s heavyweights off making a bid.’
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Chelsea are all competing with United in the chase for the 20-year-old’s signature, but it seems unlikely that any of them will pay £155 million now rather than wait one season and sign him for £65 million.
Whilst that £155m might be viewed as a starting position for negotiation, it does suggest that Dortmund would rather keep Haaland another year than let him go for, say, £20, £30 or even £40 million over the buyout fee.
On the other hand, BVB’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke recently admitted that the club’s financial position is not strong and that they would need to sell one of their crown jewels – Haaland or Sancho – this summer if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. That issue still hangs in the balance: Dortmund currently lie in fifth place in the Bundesliga, four points behind Eintracht Frankfurt with eight games left to play.
If they do fail to qualify, the Germans may finally have to stop posturing and come to the table with a more realistic asking price for either Sancho or Haaland, with United poised to swoop in both cases and therefore in a very strong negotiating position.
It is looking more and more as if Edinson Cavani will leave Manchester United this summer, with a close family friend admitting there is a good chance that he will join Argentinian side Boca Juniors.
Cavani’s father started chins wagging three weeks ago when he announced that Edi is unhappy at Manchester United and wants to return to South America at the end of the season, rating his odds of joining Boca Juniors at 60% (Tyc Sports via Infobae.com).
The rumours were fuelled by suggestions from other sources that the Red Devils are concerned over the Uruguayan’s fitness levels and the number of games that he misses due to injury.
It seems the story won’t go away and now, a close family friend, Alexander Medina, who is the technical director of Talleres in Cordoba, has been weighing in with his own ‘insight’.
‘I understand that he will be returning soon,’ Medina told Radio Continental (via Infobae.com).
‘I am close friends with Edinson’s brother. Cavani likes to be close to his city and his people. [But] setting a date would be hasty.’
If Cavani does leave in June, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preferred option to replace him is Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, but the price tag – and competition – for his signature will make that extremely difficult to pull off.
Football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Sergio Romero will leave Manchester United at the end of the season, with Boca Juniors keen to sign him in his home country of Argentina.
Romero has been in the wilderness since Dean Henderson was recalled from loan at the end of last season. A deal with Everton was lined up but United refused to sanction it, causing the rift between player and club to grow deeper.
There has been mounting speculation that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to choose between Henderson and David de Gea at the end of this term, with one leaving. That would have potentially left Romero back in a position to resume his backup keeper role, but Romano is certain that is not going to happen.
‘After Marcos Rojo, Boca Juniors are trying to convince also Sergio Romero to join the club as a free agent,’ Romano says.
‘The Argentinian goalkeeper has already received many proposals as he’s gonna leave Manchester United at the end of the season.’
After Marcos Rojo, Boca Juniors are trying to convince also Sergio Romero to join the club as a free agent. The Argentinian goalkeeper has already received many proposals as he’s gonna leave Manchester United at the end of the season. #MUFC@CLMerlo
Rumours in Argentina also will not die down that another United player, Edinson Cavani, is likely to make it a hat-trick of former United players at Boca. Juniors chief Juan Roman Riquelme is in direct contact with the striker, according to Infobae and Cavani’s father has recently said his son wants to return to South America.
If Cavani does opt to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, United will once again be in the hunt for a striker, with Erling Haaland the dream option and Odion Ighalo and Josh King representing the type of candidate most fans expect will actually arrive.
A transfer story has emerged out of the blue this week as Spanish outlet AS claims that Manchester United have made an incredible £70 million bid for Marcos Llorente.
The 26-year-old has been a key man in Atletico’s surge to the top of La Liga, where they still sit four points clear despite Barcelona’s recent upsurge.
The central midfielder has scored 10 goals and provided 9 assists for the Rojiblancos this season and has played in every Liga and Champions League match.
He has been employed higher up the midfield this term than in the past, when he specialised as a holding midfielder both for Atleti and for former club, Real Madrid.
That kind of midfield versatility makes him an extremely attractive proposition for the Red Devils, who desperately need a world class holding midfielder but who also could be looking to replace Paul Pogba if his contract situation is not resolved.
‘The English club has contacted Atlético de Madrid to make an offer for the international midfielder that reaches €80 million [£70m],’ AS claims.
‘It was not in Atlético’s plans to sell Llorente, but United’s succulent proposal has caused the rojiblancos’ leaders to study the offer, as with that amount they can offset the losses caused by the coronavirus crisis and by the elimination in the Champions League knockout stages.’
AS also believes that the player will take some persuading to leave the Spanish capital for rainy Manchester.
‘Marcos Llorente, however, does not contemplate a change of scene. He is very comfortable at Atlético and does not want to leave Madrid. He is building a new house in the capital of Spain.
‘It is true that due to his performance, he has earned a pay rise to be placed alongside Koke and Saúl, but in no case has he demanded an improvement at a time when Atlético and most clubs are going through a bad timing due to the economic crisis that has been caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic.’
Llorente’s market value was recently updated from £43 million to £60 million.
‘He has continued his excellent development from when he first burst on the scene in Atlético’s Champions League win against Liverpool last season,’ Area Manager Spain Tobias Blaseio reported on Transfermarkt .
‘Llorente is a flexible player and scores regularly; he could still develop physically and is very intelligent.
‘The Real Madrid academy player joined Atleti for €30 million in the summer of 2019 and has been a star ever since.’
Has Harry Maguire lost his place at the heart of England’s defence?
Maguire was not selected for the Three Lions’ tie against San Marino yesterday, with Manchester City’s John Stones and Wolves’ Conor Coady adopting the centre back positions one of which is usually reserved for the Manchester United man.
Head coach Gareth Southgate could have started all three, but in fact reverted to a back four for the first time in eight games.
It could be that Southgate thought Maguire needed a rest after a gruelling schedule for United which has seen him play 44 games so far this season, especially as the United skipper has been struggling with a niggle.
But John Stones’ renaissance at Manchester City this season has certainly earned him a recall which could see Maguire dropping down the pecking order despite the dearth of options that Southgate has available to him in that position.
Indeed, United legend Roy Keane, who has previously been critical of Stones, now believes that the City man is the better player.
‘Stones has matured,’ Keane said on ITV before yesterday’s 5-0 win. ‘He’s cut out mistakes, scored a couple of goals.
‘He could be a big asset for England. His form would suggest [he’s ahead of Maguire] the form he’s in.
‘If Gareth plays a back three, Stones would be one of the main guys for that as he’s comfortable in possession’ (via The Mirror).
Southgate’s team selection in general yesterday made for grim reading for United players. Burnley keeper Nick Pope was given the nod ahead of Dean Henderson and Ben Chilwell was retained at left back despite the brilliant recent form of Luke Shaw. With Marcus Rashford out injured and Aaron Wan-Bissaka not selected for the squad, the only United representative in the team was Jesse Lingard, currently on loan at West Ham.
Of course, Maguire could well be recalled for England’s next two games against Albania and Poland on Sunday and Wednesday, respectively. But yesterday was the first occasion when he was available to Southgate but not selected to play, which does seem significant.
LATEST POSTS 
#mufc will look for a centre-back in the summer. Jules Koundé is highly regarded but price is an issue. Sven Botman is also an option. [@podcastherewego, @FabrizioRomano]
Dembele 
vs 
live on Sky Sports Football now! 
:
(@GlazersOutSzn) 
(@utdmason_) 
(@utdfaulks) 
