Tag: Manchester United

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Two months following his departure from the managerial position at Birmingham City, a decision made by the ownership group led by Tom Brady, Wayne Rooney is embarking on an unexpected career path by joining BBC Sport as a football pundit. Rooney’s first assignment will be to provide analysis during the FA Cup fifth-round game featuring Manchester United against Nottingham Forest.

Expressing his enthusiasm about this new venture, Rooney remarked, “Watching the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup every year was always very special growing up. I’m so excited to be joining up with the team to cover what will undoubtedly be an action-packed tie in this historic competition. Having played and managed in the competition, it’s great to be on the other side of the camera this time and hopefully, I can bring some of that FA Cup experience to the coverage.”

Throughout his celebrated career, Rooney clinched the FA Cup title once, during the 2015-16 season with Manchester United. After hanging up his boots, he ventured into management, taking charge at Derby County and D.C. United, before his brief stint with Birmingham. Under the co-ownership of Tom Brady, Rooney’s tenure at Birmingham was short-lived, producing only two victories in 15 matches.

Despite his current pivot to punditry, Rooney’s passion for coaching remains undiminished. He has openly expressed his aspiration to return to coaching, citing a desire to learn from Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. Moreover, during an appearance on The Overlap, Rooney conveyed his ambition to resume a role in management or coaching, emphasizing it as his primary career focus moving forward.

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Simone Inzaghi, currently steering Inter Milan, has reportedly caught the attention of Premier League heavyweights Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool, all of whom are considering a bid for the coach after his impressive tenure at the helm of the Italian club. At 47, Inzaghi has already proven his mettle during his stint with Lazio, and it’s at Inter where his coaching prowess has truly shone through, transforming the team into a formidable force in European football.

Under Inzaghi’s guidance, Inter is on the cusp of clinching their 20th Scudetto and are poised to make a significant impact in the Champions League, aiming to address past shortcomings. Last month’s triumph in the Supercoppa Italiana, which now features four teams and brought over €8m to the club, underscores Inzaghi’s success.

A detailed report in Tuttosport reveals that Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all actively seeking information about Inzaghi, with eyes on potentially securing his services at the season’s end. Inzaghi, whose contract with Inter runs until June 2025 and includes a net salary of €5.5m annually plus bonuses, could be tempted by offers from the Premier League, which are speculated to be in the range of €8-9m per year, a figure Inter might find challenging to match. Barcelona has also expressed interest in Inzaghi, adding him to their list of potential successors to Xavi.

Despite the growing interest, Inzaghi is content at Inter but is reportedly seeking an extension of his contract until at least June 2027. Inter, for their part, is keen on continuing their journey with Inzaghi as coach, signaling a mutual interest in maintaining their successful partnership.

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Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United defender, has openly stated on his YouTube channel that he believes Mikel Arteta would not hesitate to switch Arsenal for Manchester United if the opportunity presented itself.

Since taking over at Arsenal in 2019, succeeding Unai Emery, Arteta has significantly improved the team’s performances, leading them to notably better finishes in the Premier League and even challenging for the title last season.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe assuming full sporting control at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag’s future as manager has become a topic of speculation. Ferdinand posits that should a vacancy arise at United, perhaps due to ten Hag leaving, Arteta would be at the top of United’s list. “Arteta would leave Arsenal to join Man United, 100 per cent,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

“No one is saying it’s happening but if Man United in a wild dream said, ‘do you know what, Erik ten Hag, thank you’ or Erik ten Hag has been poached by Bayern Munich, and he goes there, and then Man United say top of the list is Arteta, Arteta is going in and saying to the lads, ‘listen guys, it’s been emotional but I’ve got to move, I’ve got to go.’”

Meanwhile, Manchester United has been facing challenges, with the team losing their 10th league game of the season recently and finding themselves in sixth place, significantly trailing behind the leaders Liverpool and outside the top four spots.

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Manchester United is gearing up for the upcoming summer transfer window with ambitious plans to bolster their squad.

According to a Telegraph report, the club has its sights set on enhancing three key positions: a striker, a right-back, and a right-sided central defender. The urgency to acquire a new forward stems from the need to alleviate the scoring responsibilities from Rasmus Hojlund, who, despite his notable performances, requires additional support upfront.

The pursuit of a quality striker is paramount for the Red Devils, aiming to elevate their attacking capabilities. Moreover, the club is contemplating adding a skilled winger to their ranks to further solidify their offensive lineup.

The right-back position is also under scrutiny. With Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s future at the club uncertain amid transfer speculations, Manchester United is exploring options for his possible replacement.

Defensively, the focus is on recruiting a top-tier central defender to partner with Lisandro Martinez. This move is critical as the team looks to phase out current players like Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire and inject fresh talent into the backline.

Manchester United’s ambition is clear: to fortify their squad with quality additions that will enable them to challenge for major honors, putting them in contention with leading clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.

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INEOS is set to overhaul the squad in the 2024 summer, potentially offloading up to seven key players. The acquisition of the club by Sir Jim Ratcliffe has led many to anticipate major changes, particularly in light of the team’s underwhelming performance this season.

Despite having players on the payroll with weekly wages reaching 200K, the club’s struggle in European competitions has been glaring, signaling a need for a strategic pivot.

Reports from Marca outline the club’s plans to part ways with several high-profile names, with only team captain Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot seemingly assured of their places. Among those speculated to be heading for the exit are Raphael Varane and Casemiro, both of whom are north of 30 years of age and command salaries that now seem unsustainable for United’s financial strategy.

In addition to considering transfers for key players, Manchester United is also looking to offload several on-loan players. Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho, Hannibal Mejbri, and Mason Greenwood are all on the list of potential departures, although a caveat exists with Greenwood. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has hinted at the possibility of Greenwood’s return, contingent on fan reception to such a move.

This period signifies a crucial juncture for Manchester United and its manager, Erik ten Hag. With the impending squad overhaul, the expectation for tangible success and improvement is paramount. Failure to deliver could see ten Hag himself become a casualty of the club’s new direction under INEOS.

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Premier League powerhouses Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly vying for the signature of Fenerbahce’s Sebastian Szymanski, with Tottenham and AC Milan also keeping tabs on the midfielder, as per Fichajes.

Since his loan move to Fenerbahce from Feyenoord last season, the 24-year-old has been in stellar form, contributing to 26 goals in 39 games with 12 goals and 14 assists.

The interest from the English trio has led them to dispatch scouts to observe Szymanski’s performances, who has caught their eye with his potential.

Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is on the lookout for a versatile midfielder to offer backup to Martin Ødegaard, particularly someone who can operate in the central or right midfield positions.

Manchester United, under new ownership, is keen on investing in young talent with the promise for the future, and Szymanski fits this profile, potentially providing the attacking depth they seek.

Despite the desire to retain his services beyond the summer of 2024, as his contract extends to 2027, Fenerbahce might be persuaded with an offer around €35 million, despite his market value being pegged at €22.5 million.

Szymanski’s exceptional form has not only put him in the spotlight but has also led to speculation about his future, especially with Fenerbahce’s aspirations to keep him amidst their domestic and European commitments.

The unfolding scenario presents a significant intrigue regarding Szymanski’s next move, with the mentioned clubs poised for a potential transfer tussle.

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In a strategic move to rejuvenate their squad and enhance on-field performance, Manchester United is setting the stage for a significant overhaul this summer, as reported by ESPN.

This initiative is in alignment with the visions of the club’s new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The club is in a position to invest in new talents during the upcoming transfer window; however, concerns regarding compliance with profit and sustainability regulations are expected to influence the availability of funds for fresh acquisitions.

Discussions around recruitment strategies have seen Ratcliffe and INEOS’s Sir Dave Brailsford emphasising the importance of offloading certain players to augment the financial resources for new signings. This approach follows a period of lucrative player trades for United, marking their most profitable era since Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-setting departure in 2009. Nonetheless, to facilitate further investments, the club recognizes the need for additional player exits in the near term.

As per Rob Dawson’s report, there are question marks surrounding the future of up to 11 first-team players, including notable names like Christian Eriksen, Raphaël Varane, Casemiro, Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Victor Lindelöf. Anthony Martial, nearing the end of his contract, is anticipated to exit as a free agent. Moreover, Manchester United is open to entertaining offers for several players currently out on loan, such as Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek, Facundo Pellistri, and Brandon Williams.

The club’s recruitment focus is on bolstering the squad with a new striker and a defender, aiming to elevate the team’s overall performance level. Manager Erik ten Hag has expressed concerns over the noticeable decline in team performance during the absence of key players like Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw due to injuries. Additionally, there’s an acknowledgment of the excessive reliance on Rasmus Højlund, the 21-year-old forward who has already participated in 30 games this season, nearing his total game count from the previous year with Atalanta.

Despite Højlund’s promising performance, netting six goals in his last six appearances, there’s a concerted effort to manage his game time more effectively next season. The club seeks to mitigate his workload by acquiring another player, thereby reducing the necessity for Højlund to start in every match. This strategy is part of United’s broader objective to ensure sustainable player development and competitive readiness for the challenges ahead.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who recently became a 25% co-owner of Manchester United, has openly criticised Newcastle’s stance in the transfer debacle surrounding Dan Ashworth. With Ratcliffe’s investment receiving the green light from both the Premier League and the FA, Manchester United’s focus has shifted towards bolstering its management team, eyeing Dan Ashworth for the role of sporting director.

Ashworth expressed his desire over the weekend to leave Newcastle and join Manchester United, a move that led to Manchester United formally approaching Newcastle.

Newcastle placed Ashworth on gardening leave and are reportedly demanding an exorbitant £20 million in compensation for his services – a demand United finds excessive and is unwilling to meet.

Addressing the media for the first time since the investment was finalised, Sir Jim said, “I think Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world, I’ve no doubt. He’s a very capable person. He’s interested in the Manchester United job because it’s probably the biggest sporting director job in the world just now, with the biggest challenge.”

“It would be different if you were the sporting director at Manchester City because you would just be maintaining a level, at Manchester United you’ve got quite a significant building job. I think he would be a very good addition to Manchester United but he needs to decide whether he’s going to make that jump.”

“We’ve obviously had words with Newcastle. They would clearly be disappointed to lose Dan. Newcastle have been very, very successful, they’ve done really well since the new ownership, they play some good football and it’s transformed the club. I understand why they would be disappointed to lose Dan.”

“But then you can’t equally criticise Dan. It is a transient industry. It’s not like my world of chemicals, nobody ever goes from DOW to Ineos, you stay where you are. Football is transient. But you would understand why Dan is interested. It’s the ultimate challenge for a sporting director so we’ll have to see how it unfolds.”

Ratcliffe added, “It’s a bit silly, personally. I won’t get dragged into that. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one-and-a-half years. That’s completely stupid.”

Ratcliffe drew parallels to a similar situation with Omar Berrada’s move from Manchester City to Manchester United, where discussions were handled in a mature manner, leading to an amicable resolution. He praised the professional approach to such transitions in the football industry, contrasting it with Newcastle’s current stance on Ashworth’s situation.

Ratcliffe said about Berrada, “We had a very grown-up conversation with Manchester City about Omar. They were very, very disappointed in Omar’s decision but Omar again went for the same reasons. But we had a very grown-up conversation with them and when things calmed down we sorted it out very amicably, really.”

“At the end of the day, they could accept why Omar wanted to take on that challenge and they didn’t want to stand in his way. And you look at Pep with his footballers: if he has a footballer who doesn’t want to play for Manchester City, he says fine. He doesn’t tell him to sit in a garden for one-and-a-half years. He doesn’t do that.”

“It’s not the way the UK works, it’s not the way the law works in the UK. It supports a period of time that is sensible and fair but not silly periods of time.”

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On February 20, Sir Jim Ratcliffe officially became a partial owner of Manchester United, acquiring a 27.7% stake in the esteemed Premier League club through a £1.3 billion transaction. This investment marks the beginning of a new era for the club, with Ratcliffe committed to injecting an additional £237 million ($300 million) towards enhancing the club’s infrastructure.

The completion of this significant acquisition shifts focus to the future of Old Trafford, Manchester United’s iconic stadium. In 2022, preliminary discussions considered the options of either renovating the historic venue or constructing a new stadium, with the latter option estimated to cost between £1.2 billion and £1.6 billion. Despite the potential for reduced matchday revenue due to a temporary decrease in stadium capacity during renovations, the cost-effectiveness of upgrading Old Trafford appears to be a primary consideration for Ratcliffe.

The ambition behind Ratcliffe’s investment extends beyond mere structural enhancements; there is a vision to transform Old Trafford into a “Wembley of the North,” a stadium that could compete with the national stadium’s 90,000-seat capacity. Initial funding from Ratcliffe is expected to cover planning, consultation, and other preparatory expenses necessary for this grand project.

This infusion of funds has also sparked discussions among fans and analysts regarding the possibility of allocating a portion of the investment for squad improvements. Kieran Maguire, a football finance expert and University of Liverpool academic, noted that unless specific conditions restrict the use of the funds, the club has the discretion to allocate the investment as it sees fit, potentially including the acquisition of new players.

Maguire said: “Unless there’s a specific covenant in the financing or the funding provided by Sir Jim, then they can. Ultimately, the money is going into a pot and how that pot is used is determined by the executives of the club.”

However, Manchester United’s financial strategy must take into account existing obligations, as Maguire highlighted the club’s £364 million in pending payments for players acquired in past transfer windows. Such financial commitments underscore the challenges of balancing immediate team enhancement with long-term infrastructural investment.

INEOS officials have indicated a preference for prioritizing the redevelopment of Old Trafford over squad improvements, suggesting that the initial $300 million investment will primarily support the ambitious stadium project. This strategic focus underscores a commitment to strengthening the club’s foundations while navigating the financial complexities of modern football.

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Manchester United’s summer transfer ambitions are taking shape, with Ederson, the Atalanta midfielder, emerging as a key figure in their plans. The Brazilian has made headlines with his performance in Serie A, contributing six goals and an assist over 30 games. His prowess on the field has not only caught the eye of United but also Tottenham, amidst speculation around his future.

With the midfield seemingly an area for reinforcement, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Casemiro and the probable return of Sofyan Amrabat to Fiorentina, United’s strategy is in the spotlight. Frenkie de Jong, previously linked with a move to Old Trafford, remains a potential option. Nevertheless, his high transfer valuation by Barcelona, reportedly around €100m (£85.5m), coupled with a history of protracted negotiations, has led United, under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s guidance, to consider alternatives.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to financially back United manager Ten Hag in strengthening the squad across multiple positions, including defense, midfield, forward, and potentially a winger. This comes amid doubts over the future contributions of Jadon Sancho, Facundo Pellistri, and Antony.

AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders and Ederson have been identified as viable midfield options, with the latter reportedly available for a more palatable €40m to €45m (£34.2m to £38.5m). This valuation, as suggested, offers better value for United, especially when juxtaposed with de Jong’s steep asking price.

Now the 24-year-old player has responded to those rumours, admitting he is enjoying his football this season.

“I think this time, because it was perhaps one of the best moments of my career, and being at Atalanta today, it really boosted me,” Ederson told Globo Esporte.

“It’s something players talk about a lot, but it’s something I really learned, to leave it to my agents and then pass it on to me.

Otherwise, you are creating unnecessary expectations.”

Asked again about rumours linking him to the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham and Manchester United, Ederson continued: “I don’t know how true it was. I never actually asked. If it were something very, very concrete, then the club would pass it on to us, because we have a good relationship with them.

“What I said was that I wanted to focus on this moment, because it’s a very important moment for the club, it’s being very good for me too.”

United’s board, with Ratcliffe’s concurrence, perceives Ederson’s potential acquisition as a financially prudent alternative, reflecting a strategic shift in their transfer dealings. While PSG is prepared to engage Barcelona with an offer for de Jong, United’s focus seems to have pivoted towards securing talent that promises both performance and financial viability. Ederson’s acknowledgment of the transfer rumors, amidst enjoying his current form, adds an intriguing layer to United’s summer transfer saga.