Tag: Manchester United

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Erik ten Hag’s future is far from guaranteed after what has been a horrible season for the club. This is especially considering the club is heading into a rebuild under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and more often than not, a new owner opts for a manager of their choice.

The Dutch tactician has between now and the end of the season to save his job with something tangible enough to salvage such a terrible season.

The only way to perhaps achieve this is winning the F.A Cup and secure a Champions League spot.

As such, it is going to be a huge 8 weeks as he tries to convince new management to keep him.

The Dutchman however has one thing going for him on this front: he trusts the youth, a factor that reportedly sits very well with Ratcliffe.

As Graeme Bailey explains, the United boss’ willingness to play his talented youth prospects is something which puts him in good stead with the new part-owner.

“Ten Hag has got a real feather in his cap at the moment because these young players love playing for him, they love the way he works. So I think that’s a real plus for him, I know Ratcliffe really appreciates the way Ten Hag is using the young players,” verbatim.

Perhaps signing a manager from Ajax was always going to be fantastic for the club’s youth system on account of how much Ajax trust their youth and rightly so.

Erik ten Hag’s tenure has seen some meteoric rises from Carrington, most recently young Kobbie Mainoo who looks like a proper midfield general already at only 18.

The manager’s trust has extended way beyond Carrington as he continues to trust young players like new striker Höjlund who is only 21 to lead the attack.

As it is often the case with great United sides, ten Hag has made the youngsters pivotal members of his team to the point that we couldn’t imagine Mainoo or Garnacho not in the strongest line-up for the club.

His continued trust in the youth just could earn him a longer stay in the hottest seat in world football.

 

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Manchester United could be beneficiaries of the latest Premier League FFP sanction, this time on Premiership side Leicester City.

It was announced on Thursday evening that the club have been charged by the league for an alleged breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) and for failing to submit their financial accounts to the top flight.

The charge will now be heard by the independent commission, with a points deduction at the start of next season a possibility if they are promoted and found to have breached regulations.

Leicester released a strong statement saying that it’s ‘surprised’ by the actions and will ‘defend itself from any unlawful acts by the football authorities.’

It has been previously reported that Leicester City were close to reaching the limit for the period ending this season which means they could be forced to sell players especially if they get promoted.

This is where Man United and other Premier League clubs could benefit.

A report by 90min alleges that Man United are very interested in Leicester midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The club has even made an initial inquiry to the player’s camp.

The midfielder was the subject of interest from Brighton back in the January window, but Leicester are said to have rejected a £20 million bid out of hand, with the Foxes asking for a price of £45m.

The report adds that if they are promoted, then Leicester’s asking price in the summer will be £40 million, the same fee that Tottenham paid for James Maddison last summer.

However, if they remain in the Championship, then the asking price to drop as low as a guaranteed £25 million.

Dewsbury-Hall has played in all but one of Leicester’s 36 Championship games this season, scoring ten times and providing 12 assists. He will have three years remaining on his contract at the King Power Stadium when the summer comes around.

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Reports coming in from The Mirror, suggest Manchester United have identified and are targeting Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes as Casemiro’s replacement.

Casemiro was the glue that held this team together all through last season, but injuries have greatly hampered his form this campaign.

On top of that, it seems age is catching up with the Brazilian, as he has been a tad sloppy and complacent in possession in recent times.

As such, Manchester United are drawing up names to replace the 5-time Champions League winner and Wolves’ Gomes is one of the top names.

The 23-year-old has done exceptionally well at the Molineux especially considering how much pressure was on him the shoes he had to fill.

Midfield maestros and Wolves legends Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho all left the club in the last 18 months and the midfield department was left to young Gomes, who has shouldered the responsibility admirably and then some.

According to the report, Wolves value Gomes at around £40 million, a massive upgrade from the £12 million they paid to acquire him from Flamengo in January of last year.

This is a true testament to how much the midfielder has grown as a player in the best league in the world and how much potential he holds.

He has been an integral part of Gary O’Neil’s side and has been monikered ‘the Pitbull’ on account of his tenacity in the middle of the park.

It is this very quality that has convinced Manchester United that the Brazilian could be the perfect replacement for his compatriot Casemiro.

The report also claims that Wolves are well aware of the interest that Gomes is gathering, and they are consequently looking at potential replacements for him.

Gomes potentially replacing Casemiro is a perfect illustration of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision for the club.

This is in reference to his recent sentiments that he is of the inclination to sign players with the potential to grow into world-class players rather than spend a fortune on ready-made superstars.

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Italian top agent Roberto De Fanti earlier today stated that he thinks Manchester United will definitely make a move for Napoli marksman Victor Osimhen.

The pacy Nigerian has been linked with lots of big money moves since his breakthrough season last year that saw him lift the Scudetto while winning Serie A’s golden boot.

The interest as mentioned by De Fanti is birthed from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desire to sign a top centre forward to partner with young Höjlund and assist in his development.

It is expected that Höjlund will be the only recognized striker left at Old Trafford after the summer, as Anthony Martial is almost assuredly on his way out after his contract expires in June.

As such, it is absolutely paramount that United sign another striker and if De Fanti is right, Osimhen is not too shabby an option.

“The truth is that United, above all, are looking for a centre-forward,” he told Teamtalk.

“Höjlund is doing reasonably well, but their new classic ‘number nine’ could be Osimhen.” De Fanti concluded.

Rasmus Höjlund has greatly improved in recent months after a very rough start to life at Old Trafford which saw him goalless in the Premier League till late December.

He has since been on fire and even recently won Premier League player of the month as recently as February and as such, a high profile, very expensive signing like Osimhen would not make perfect sense.

The 25-year-old recently committed to a new contract, but Aurelio De Laurentiis, the president of Napoli, has made it clear that Osimhen will be leaving if a team fulfils his new buyout clause.

An estimated £110m release clause is what United or any other team who hope to sign one of Europe’s top marksman will have to part with to acquire Osimhen.

 

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Manchester United have reportedly made a decision on Mason Greenwood’s status for next season. Greenwood, who is currently on loan at Getafe has been subject to admiration from Spanish giants including Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

As The Sun reports, Manchester United have made a decision on whether to loan him out or sell him come the summer.

According to the report, United have decided against another loan and will be looking to offload him permanently.

“The Red Devils are only focused on selling the forward – if they are to let him go at all – and know there are other clubs interested in a permanent deal, ” the report clearly explains.

This comes as a huge blow to his current club Getafe as they were very keen on extending Greenwood’s loan for another season as he has been doing exceptionally well for them.

He has proper impressed Getafe and its hierarchy recording six goals and five assists in 24 appearances. A goal or assist every other match is enough to earn a stay.

His resurgence in Spain has captured even Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate’s attention, noting that the Spain move was really good for his career.

“Allowing him to get his career going again abroad appears to have been a good move. But I have to say I have not tracked it closely. At this moment in time it would be a big distraction for the team and let’s see where that leads next season,” Southgate noted subtly not ruling out calling him up in the future.

For now, Greenwood will continue trying to impress in Getafe colours and potentially attract more suitors before deciding where his future lies come the summer.

Manchester United are said to be aiming to attach a price tag of around £50 million to the forward for any willing buyers.

Getafe may not have the finances to complete such a signing, which is why United’s stance against another loan is a huge blow to the South Madrid club.

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Manchester United has been all about the youth this season, promoting youngsters, especially Kobbie Mainoo who has been an absolute revelation to United’s midfield.

Erik ten Hag has also pushed youngsters like Dan Gore and defender Willy Kambwala giving them all first team debuts.

Alejandro Garnacho’s rise to stardom can also be credited to the manager.

Manchester United have a history of trusting the youth and their academy.

The Red Devils boast of an incredible record of fielding at least one academy graduate in the match squad for an astonishing 86 years.

This trend seems to continue as two youngsters are set to be rewarded with new contracts.

First of these boys is Harry Amass.

The young defender signed his first professional contract two days ago, as he confirmed on his Instagram. He confirmed the news, calling it a proud moment for him and his family.

The left-back joined the club from Watford at the start of this season, after already making the bench for them at the age of just 15.

Having started with the U18s, Amass has shown rapid progression. He has already made his debut for the U21s and with United’s left-back situation uncertain at best, a senior debut in the near future is extremely realistic.

Young winger Shea Lacey is also expected to sign his first professional contract in the coming weeks.

Last year, Lacey signed a scholarship deal at the club, with an agreement in principle to sign professional terms when he turns 17 and his birthday is now just around the corner.

He is one of the most exciting prospects in United’s youth setup, and his play-style has been likened to English superstar Phil Foden.

He’s been limited to just eight appearances this season due to an injury, but it’s understood he’s set to return before the end of the campaign.

Lacey’s professional contract will be announced after he turns 17 on April 14, and the deal is the reward for his excellent and continued progression in the youth set-up.

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A recent report for Spanish Publication Fichajes stunningly reveals that Manchester United are crazy about Real Madrid marquee attacker Rodrygo Goes and are inquiring about his situaion.

According to the report, Manchester United are one of four clubs who are closely monitoring the Brazilian in the off chance he leaves The Bernabéu in the summer.

With the looming expectation of world superstar Kylian Mbappé joining Los Blancos once he leaves Paris, Rodrygo just may have one foot on the door on account of the threat of limited game time.

Although the report states that Madrid consider Rodrygo untouchable, this hasn’t stopped United from inquiring about his situation.

Rodrygo has been an important player for Real Madrid, scoring 13 goals and picking up eight assists in all competitions this season.

He is on contract with Real Madrid until 2028 and his release clause is an astonishing €1 billion. On that note, the only way the young Brazilian leaves Madrid is if the club sanctions selling him, which may be highly unlikely.

Don Carlo Ancelotti has already assembled a sparkling ensemble of talent in attack reading on names like Vini Jr, Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham.

Adding Kylian Mbappé to what is already a star-studded cast could be on some level spoiling the broth and as such, some of these attackers may be forced to leave to seek game time elsewhere.

Manchester United would do well with an attacking talent of his calibre especially on the right wing which has been lacking and then some.

The Brazilian is versatile enough to operate in the wide areas as well, and he could prove to be an asset for the Red Devils.

He has all the tools to develop into a world-class player with the right guidance and regular football in the Premier League could accelerate his development and help him fulfil his tremendous potential.

If a move were to be initiated, it is rumoured that Real Madrid value him at an astonishing €120 million.

 

 

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Ever since being thrust into the limelight, Alejandro Garnacho has endeared himself to United fans and has become a proper heartthrob for The Reds.

The wonderkid has been a bright spot in an otherwise bleak season for the Red Devils, bursting up and down the wings.

Many a fan have this hope that young Garnacho will be terrorizing full backs in red for the rest of his career, but this may not be an eventual reality.

Argentine reporter Gaston Edul earlier today reported that Garnacho’s dream is to one day don the pure white of Spanish giants Real Madrid.

“Alejandro Garnacho’s dream as a player is to play for Real Madrid. Not now, but he has it clear that he wants to play for Real Madrid at one point in his career,” the journalist said.

Garnacho himself was born in Madrid and grew up in the books of city rivals Atlético Madrid, but his heart lies with Los Blancos.

As cited by TyC Sports, Garnacho has it clear that he would one day like to play for Real Madrid, following a similar career trajectory as his idol Cristiano Ronaldo.

This is a huge heartbreak for all United fans who hoped the youngster would spend his entire career at Old Trafford.

The fact that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez is an admirer of the lad and is keen on signing him one day compounds the bad news.

A report from Real Madrid Exclusivo just last week revealed that the Madrid don was closely following Garnacho’s progress and was even hoping to have a chat with the young lad during Real Madrid’s visit to Manchester to face Manchester City in the Champion’s League semifinals next month.

All United fans can do is hope the time Garnacho decided to make the move comes later rather than sooner, as they have already fallen head over heels in love with him.

Garnacho is currently with the Argentina squad after being called up for friendlies over the international break in the United States against El Salvador and Costa Rica.

 

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Manchester United have had wretched luck with injuries this season, and there has been inquiries into the club’s medical department.

To my point, the club has had 51 individual cases of injuries or illness this season alone, which is an insane amount of injuries by March.

To put it into perspective, only 3 outfield players in Dalot, Garnacho and Bruno have avoided injury all season.

The situation worsened around December last year, so much so that the club launched an official inquiry into the medical team.

Head of sports medicine Gary O’Driscoll had to completely overhaul the medical staff to try and remedy the injuries plaguing the team, especially muscle injuries.

The idea was to add younger practitioners to the staff and make a concerted effort to have more diversity on the medical team. The general worry was that United’s approach was old-fashioned and Premier League rivals were slowly eclipsing them on that front.

This inquiry and overhaul do not seem to have bore fruit as expect considering how United have been caught in this vicious cycle where 2 players return from injury and 3 more get injured.

The latest episode of this cycle is the weekend’s euphoric F.A win against bitter rivals Liverpool.

Man United were delighted to have the trio of Maguire, Höjlund and Wan-Bissaka back but on the flip side, Casemiro dropped out with a muscle injury.

This fresh injury puts further strain on United’s medical team’s credibility, as it is the very same injury that recently kept him out of action for a couple of months.

As per Trivela, Casemiro felt something in his hamstring in training before the Liverpool game but even after several examinations by the club’s medical team, they insisted he was okay and could play against Merseyside rivals.

Case, who was in pain, decided to double-check with another doctor in Barcelona who has treated him before, and he confirmed a minor issue that would have been made worse if he played against Liverpool.

As a result, Casemiro has had to withdraw from Brazil’s squad for the upcoming friendlies, although he did travel to Brazil to meet with the squad and speak to the coaching staff.

All these injuries and such reports of misdiagnosis pile on the pressure on United’s medical department to find a permanent solution sooner rather than later.

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Manchester United have received a major boost in their bid to bolster their defence this coming summer with a huge update on the status of target Andreas Christensen.

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs has confirmed that the Dane just may leave Barcelona this summer ergo a move to Manchester cannot be ruled out.

While speaking to CaughtOffside on his Daily Briefing column, Jacobs categorically stated that Christensen’s future is not certain, and it will be interesting to see how that unfolds in the summer.

“Sources say it’s not impossible Andreas Christensen is sold even though the player is reluctant to depart – which seems to be common amongst potential outgoings,” Jacobs said.

An earlier report from Football Insider confirmed that the Danish defender was being targeted by both Manchester United and Newcastle.

With this latest report from Jacobs, the Red Devils just may be the lucky winners of the Champions League winner.

It is expected to be a summer of rebuilding in all departments at Manchester United, especially in defence, on account of all the uncertainties that have prevailed this season.

Manchester United’s best defender in Lisandro Martínez, has been injured three quarters of the season and the defensive instabilities have shaken up the club’s momentum all season.

Raphael Varane who is absolutely class just may be leaving at the end of his contract in June, so United are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements.

If Christensen becomes available, he could be an absolute steal for all interested parties.

This is especially considering he has already proven himself in the Premier League as he was a crucial part of Chelsea’s squad, even winning Europe’s premier club competition in 2021.

Another temping prospect is the fact that Barça are going to be desperate to make sales as they try to recover from a financial crisis. As such, less integral players of their squad could end up being sacrificed for some revenue, including Christensen.