Tag: Manchester United

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The race to sign Arouna Sangante, the 21-year-old central defender from Le Havre and a rising star in French football, is intensifying. Premier League powerhouses Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all keenly interested, that’s according to Football Insider.

Sangante, born in Senegal, has been causing a stir with his exceptional play, drawing attention not just from these English clubs but also from European behemoths like AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund.

His impact has been significant in Ligue 1, where he has played a key role in securing five clean sheets for Le Havre in 10 matches this season, including notable draws against teams like Monaco, Lens, and Lyon.

As the youngest captain in France’s top division, Sangante’s leadership and skill are evident.

Having committed to Le Havre until June 2026 with a contract extension signed last July, Sangante’s future is a hot topic. Despite his youth, he has already made 81 senior appearances.

His standout performances were crucial in Le Havre’s promotion to Ligue 1, with Sangante contributing three goals and two assists in 35 Ligue 2 matches last season.

His excellence was recognized with a place in the Ligue 2 team of the season for 2022-23.

Le Havre, and its owner Vincent Volpe, are preparing for a potential transfer, granting FIFA agent Willie McKay an exclusive mandate to facilitate Sangante’s sale in the upcoming January window.

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Benfica’s stance on the potential sale of Joao Neves to Manchester United is clear: they are not open to negotiations this January unless his €120million release clause is met.

This information comes from the transfer news guru Fabrizio Romano.

He notes that while Manchester United has shown interest in Neves, having scouted him multiple times, the high release clause could be a significant obstacle.

The situation mirrors that of Enzo Fernandez, another Benfica player, whose substantial release clause was eventually met by Chelsea last January, leading to his transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United, therefore, might find themselves in a position where triggering Neves’ release clause is the only way to secure his transfer.

Benfica have no intention to open talks for João Neves in January despite Man United sending their scouts many times to track talented midfielder.

There’s same clause as Enzo Fernández one year ago into his contract: €120m. pic.twitter.com/jHdSJlhq71

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 20, 2023

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Scouts from Manchester United were present to observe Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s performance during Georgia’s match against Spain, which ended in a 3-1 loss for Georgia, as reported by 90min.

The match, part of the final Euro 2024 qualifiers, also drew attention from Chelsea, Manchester City, and Newcastle United. These clubs were keenly watching several players, but sources confirm Kvaratskhelia was the main focus.

Kvaratskhelia, who plays for Napoli, marked his presence in the game by scoring the only goal for Georgia, equalizing in the first half following Robin Le Normand’s opener for Spain.

The 22-year-old winger has been impressive this season with Napoli, contributing three goals and four assists in 11 Serie A games, despite the team’s challenges that led to a managerial change from Rudi Garcia to Walter Mazzarri.

Currently, Kvaratskhelia is negotiating a contract extension with Napoli, which includes a 12-month extension and a significant salary increase. His existing contract is set to expire in 2027.

Despite his impressive form, Napoli, as per 90min, is not looking to let go of two key players in a single year. This situation makes it more probable for Victor Osimhen, another star player, to leave next summer rather than Kvaratskhelia.

Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has previously made it clear that Kvaratskhelia is not an easy target for European clubs looking to acquire him.

“Do you want to stop it? He already signed for five years last summer,” De Laurentiis stated earlier this year.

Despite this firm stance from Napoli, top clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and PSG, continue to monitor Kvaratskhelia, alongside the Premier League clubs already mentioned.

These teams are keeping up their assessments and interest in the Georgian winger, in spite of Napoli’s intentions to retain him.

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Manchester United’s pursuit of Jean-Clair Todibo, the 23-year-old centre-back from Nice, could receive a significant boost with the potential involvement of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as a minority owner.

The English defender had previously been on United’s radar as a potential replacement for Harry Maguire, but a transfer didn’t materialize due to Maguire’s decision not to join West Ham.

Erik Ten Hag’s team is reportedly still interested in Todibo, with plans to revisit the possibility of acquiring him. Interestingly, Ratcliffe, who is poised to become a minority owner at Manchester United, also owns Nice.

This connection could facilitate negotiations, given Todibo’s impressive form in a Nice side that has been performing exceptionally well in Ligue 1.

With a valuation of around £40 million, Todibo’s transfer would also benefit his former club, Barcelona, who are entitled to 20% of any future sale. Newcastle United, too, have shown an interest in the French defender, with Eddie Howe looking to bolster his central defensive options.

In related news, Newcastle United is reportedly considering a renewed bid for PSG’s Hugo Ekitike. The young French forward had previously turned down Newcastle before joining PSG in early 2022.

Ekitike, who made his move to PSG permanent following their Ligue 1 triumph, has found game time limited, especially with the recent signings of Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani.

Ekitike, having played just eight minutes of senior football, is seen as surplus to PSG’s current squad needs.

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Early glimpses of Manchester United’s home and away kits for the 2024/25 season have surfaced, according to reports from Footy Headlines.

Despite the Premier League’s 2024/25 season being months away, images showcasing United’s new home, away, and third kits have been revealed.

These kits will feature the Snapdragon logo, marking a new era in the club’s sponsorship.

Qualcomm Technologies, the parent company of Snapdragon, is set to replace TeamViewer as the shirt sponsor for Manchester United.

This change will be evident from the 2024/2025 season onwards. The agreement encompasses not just the men’s team but also the women’s team, along with the training gear for both.

The design of the Snapdragon logo on United’s shirts bears a resemblance to the club’s early 2000s kits sponsored by Vodafone.

This new sponsorship deal, reportedly worth over £60m, is a step up from the current TeamViewer sponsorship.

In comparison, Manchester City holds the record for the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal in the Premier League, with Etihad Airways at £67.5 million per season.

United’s new deal places them as the second-highest in the league in terms of shirt sponsorship value.

As for the kits themselves, the 2024/25 home kit is expected to feature a dual-tone red design. The away kit is anticipated to be predominantly deep navy blue with red highlights. Meanwhile, the third kit is rumored to be white and gold.

Following the leak of the images, it’s also been suggested the 24/25 away kit will have similar colours to United’s 18-19 third kit.

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In an overhaul at Manchester United, John Murtough is set to depart from his position as the club’s football director, in line with the significant changes expected following Ineos Group’s imminent investment.

According to information provided to Samuel Luckurst of the Manchester Evening News by a reliable source, Murtough’s exit is certain. The club is reportedly looking for new leadership within its football operations.

This month brought reports suggesting both Murtough and chief executive Richard Arnold were on shaky ground.

United has recently confirmed Arnold’s departure after a 16-year tenure, with indications that Jean Claude-Blanc, previously with Paris Saint-Germain, will be his successor.

In connection with these changes, Sir Dave Brailsford, Ineos’ sporting director, has been spotted making multiple visits to United’s Carrington training facility.

This is happening as an announcement looms concerning Ineos’ acquisition of a 25% stake in the club.

Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been involved in discussions with United co-chairman Joel Glazer, focusing on potential changes in personnel.

It is believed that the Ineos team is not satisfied with several strategies across different departments at United.

Murtough, who moved to United a decade ago from the Premier League, was appointed as the club’s first football director in March 2021.

His upcoming departure is part of a broader restructure within the club as it enters a new era under Ineos’ influence.

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The recent 10-point penalty imposed on Everton has plunged the team into the relegation battle of the Premier League, casting doubts over their future.

Despite their recent upswing in form, the club now faces a challenging scenario, especially as they begin the process of contesting the penalty for violating Financial Fair Play regulations.

At this juncture, Everton’s financial status remains a matter of speculation.

A report from the Sunday Express claims that, should the need arise to offload players in the upcoming January window, Manchester United is showing interest in two key Everton figures, Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana.

Manchester United, on the lookout for new talent in both the center-back and midfielder positions, evidently have their sights set on these prominent Everton players.

While Everton is not keen on the idea of letting go of any of their squad members during the midseason window, circumstances might force their hand.

The acquisition of either or both players could potentially bolster Erik ten Hag’s team at Manchester United.

Manchester United are waiting to see what transpires with Everton in January, where any fire sale could see them make their move for Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana.

(Source: Sunday Express) pic.twitter.com/gqRRamBfRR

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) November 19, 2023

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To strengthen their attacking line-up, Manchester United is reportedly eyeing Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.

The team’s current attack lacks vigor, with Sancho being underutilised, Antony and Rashford not at their best form, and Hojlund yet to score in the Premier League.

As per the Spanish publication El Nacional, Manchester United is poised to offer a significant wage increase to Griezmann to secure his transfer from Atletico Madrid. Griezmann, the 2018 World Cup winner, has a £22million release clause in his Atletico contract, which is valid until 2026. Representatives from Old Trafford have reportedly been dispatched to Madrid to finalise a deal for the French star.

Griezmann, who currently earns around 7 million euros annually, could see his salary increase to £354,000 per week or 21 million euros per year if he agrees to join Manchester United.

Griezmann, with 124 international caps, remains a top-tier player, displaying excellent form for Atletico this season. His contributions include four goals in the Champions League and nine in 12 league matches.

His versatility makes him a valuable asset in any attacking position, and his experience could significantly bolster Manchester United’s offense.

However, as Griezmann approaches his 33rd birthday next year, acquiring him might be seen as a temporary solution.

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In the aftermath of England’s recent 2-0 victory over Malta, there have been concerns over Marcus Rashford’s condition following his early exit from the match due to a collision.

The Manchester United winger, aged 26, appeared to be in discomfort as he was replaced by Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who made his senior international debut.

The game concluded with England securing a win, courtesy of an own goal by Enrico Pepe and a strike from Harry Kane. Despite the win, Manchester United supporters were anxious for an update on Rashford’s status.

England manager Gareth Southgate addressed these concerns in his post-match press conference. “I think he [Rashford] is probably okay,” Southgate stated, suggesting that the substitution was more of a precautionary measure.

“We just thought given the nature of the collision it was a chance to get Cole into the game. I haven’t assessed too much but I think he was okay when he came off,” he added.

This update is likely to be welcomed by Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag, especially during a period when the team wants to avoid any additions to their injury list.

With a game against Everton approaching next weekend, Rashford’s potential absence could lead to changes in the team’s formation.

Should Rashford be unavailable, Antony is likely to be the preferred choice to take up the position on the right wing.

Alejandro Garnacho is expected to play on the left, similar to his role in the win against Luton Town. Additionally, Facundo Pellistri might be considered for a starting position.

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In the recent World Cup qualifying match against Mauritius, Cameroon’s goalkeeper André Onana suffered an injury, prompting his early exit from the game. Cameroon, under the guidance of Rigobert Song, displayed a dominating performance, marked by goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Georges Nkoudou, and Frank Magri.

Onana, who is also a key player for Manchester United, was substituted by Fabrice Ondoa, who completed the match.

Reports from Actu Cameroun indicate that Onana has sustained an adductor injury. This development has caused concern among Cameroon fans, especially with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) just two months away.

Further medical tests are necessary to ascertain the specifics of Onana’s injury and the duration of his recovery period, as stated by Actu Cameroun.

The extent of an adductor injury varies, influencing the recovery time. A Grade 1 strain might require up to two weeks for recovery, with normal activities like walking resuming in a few days.

In contrast, a Grade 2 strain could result in three to six weeks of recovery time.

The most serious concern for United would be if Onana has incurred a Grade 4 strain, which could sideline him for approximately four months.

Onana’s injury adds him to United’s already extensive list of injured players, including Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Jonny Evans, and Amad Diallo.

The substitution of Onana in the 81st minute was notably the most significant downside of the match.