MAN UTD are stepping up their pursuit of Erling Haaland, with reports from Spain suggesting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer never stops calling his fellow Norwegian.
And Solskjaer himself could be in line for a longer stay at Man Utd amid reports that he is set to sign a £10m-a-year new deal.
Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
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MCTOMINAY HELPS SCOTS EARN POINT
Scott McTominay played the whole game as Scotland battled to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Austria.
The Manchester United midfielder lined up in Steve Clarke’s side as they needed two equalisers to deny Austria.
Scott McTominay celebrates John McGinn’s late equaliserCredit: PA Sasa Kalajdzic twice gave Austria the lead but Scotland would not be denied.
Grant Hanley’s header made it 1-1 and with just five minutes left a stunning overhead kick from John McGinn earned a point.
LINGARD ASSIST
It has been a lively display from Jesse Lingard and the Manchester United attacker has just set up England’s fourth goal.
Lingard’s pass set up a simple tap-in for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to make it 4-0 against San Marino.
Jesse Lingard set up England’s fourth goalCredit: Getty Lingard’s display has certainly justified Gareth Southgate’s decision to bring him back into the England squad.
LINGARD CHANCE
Jesse Lingard has just missed a big chance to get on the scoresheet for England.
The Manchester United attacker was rewarded with a start for England after his strong form on loan at West Ham.
Jesse Lingard spurned a big chance in the first halfCredit: Reuters But Lingard spurned the chance to score after missing his half volley from Ben Chilwell’s cross.
England are currently 3-0 up with goals from James Ward-Prowse, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Raheem Sterling.
NO CZECH OUT
West Ham coach Stuart Pearce has dismissed talk of Manchester United target Tomas Soucek going anywhere.
Soucek has been a revelation for the Hammers and enhanced his value with a hat-trick in the Czech Republic’s win in Estonia.
Tomas Soucek has been linked with Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters The midfielder has caught United’s eye but Pearce insists his future remains with West Ham.
Pearce told talkSPORT: “No, he’s happy here and he’s not going anywhere, that’s for sure.
“He’s been brilliant here, I’ve got to say. Dave (Moyes) brought him into the club in January of last season and since then he’s just been brilliant.
“He’s got a wonderful attitude to work, on his days off he comes in to work, he’s just really an absolute pleasure to work with.
RASHFORD MISSING
No real surprise but Marcus Rashford is not fit to play for England in their World Cup qualifier with San Marino.
The Manchester United striker is not involved due to his foot injury but may be available for their two matches next week.
Marcus Rashford is not in England’s squad tonightCredit: Getty But Jesse Lingard, who is on loan at West Ham, has been rewarded with his impressive form with a start.
The attacker will be hoping to make a big impact on his international return.
United players Dean Henderson, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are on the bench for Gareth Southgate’s side.
BALLON D’IALLO
Manchester United whizkid Amad Diallo has been tipped to challenge for the Ballon d’Or within five years – by the man who set him on the road to stardom.
Former AC Milan and Italy keeper Giovanni Galli believes the winger, 18, just needs to add strength to his unique skills.
Amad Diallo has been touted for a huge futureCredit: Getty Galli, who arranged the attacker’s trial with Atalanta, told Goal: “Amad is unique but he must make himself stronger.
“At the same time, he must make sure he does not lose his speed, which is a quality that distinguishes him from others.
“In short, I think he has all the qualities to be a candidate for the Ballon d’Or in the next five years.”
RASHFORD DOUBT
We’re a couple of hours away from England starting their World Cup qualification campaign at home to minnows San Marino.
Will Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford be involved?
Marcus Rashford could miss tonight’s gameCredit: PA The 23-year-old has not been training with the England squad due to a foot injury.
England boss Gareth Southgate said: “Marcus has been very keen to be with us. He obviously wasn’t with us so much in the autumn.”
But with two more games over the next week including a crucial clash with Poland it is unlikely England will take any risks over Rashford’s fitness.
TOUCH OF CLASS
Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood proved he is also a star off the pitch after sending an ill fan a heartwarming letter.
The England talent, 19, took notice of the teenager’s situation by former Man Utd youth player Nenad Smiljanic.
Smiljanic reached out to see if anything could be done to lift the spirits of the teenager in hospital.
And Greenwood took time out of his day to construct a handwritten letter wishing him a speedy recovery.
It read: “How are you? I believe you have not been well, but you are now recovering in hospital.
“I hope you are soon better and back home.
“It is great that you are a Man Utd fan and I hope we can win something for you this season.
“I’m enjoying playing for the first team and hope to score lots of goals for you over the next few seasons. Get well soon.”
The letter was posted on social media and supporters heaped praise on Greenwood for his letter.
One wrote: “Touch of class son.”
Another added: “Well done Mason, it would have made the kid’s day, month and year.”
TORRES INTEREST
Manchester United are reportedly ready to launch a bid for Pau Torres with the defender interested in a move to England.
The Spaniard is believed to be available for around £52million in the summer due to a buyout clause in his Villarreal contract.
Pau Torres is interesting Manchester UnitedCredit: EPA The 24-year-old is open to leaving La Liga having come through the ranks at Estadio Ceramica.
However, United may be made to wait on Torres if he is called up to Spain’s Euro 2020 squad.
He reportedly wants to focus on a strong end to the season with Villarreal and a strong tournament in the summer before deciding on his future.
ARE YOU FER REAL?
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand bizarrely told Newcastle fans to stump up £300million to buy out owner Mike Ashley if they hate him so much.
Just one win from 18 league games leaves the Magpies facing a third relegation from the Premier League under the despised Sports Direct tycoon.
Rio Ferdinand extraordinarily called on Newcastle fans to pool together £300m to oust Mike Ashley Ashley is desperate to sell and is currently suing the Premier League over the failed £300m Saudi Arabian-led bid.
And Ferdinand angered the Toon Army by claiming they can have few complaints unless they are willing to put their money where their mouth is.
The former England defender told his YouTube channel: “He doesn’t care what people think. It’s his club and he’s doing what he wants to do.
“Whether you like it or not, he’s the one that’s put the money up and he’s doing what he thinks is right for the club.
“Whether the Geordies don’t like it, a lot of them hate him and don’t like him but, round your money up and take over the club then.”
DEAL WITH IT
Manchester United are set to hand Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a new £10million-a-year contract, according to reports.
The Norwegian, first appointed by the Red Devils on a temporary basis in December 2018, is currently contracted until 2022.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to be handed a bumper new dealCredit: Getty And while he is yet to win a trophy, club chiefs are convinced that he is the right man for the long-term.
According to The Mirror, Solskjaer will be handed a new three-year deal, even if they fail to win the Europa League this season.
The 48-year-old is also set for a significant £2.5m rise on his current £7.5m-a-year salary.
MARC MY WORDS
Holland legend Marco van Basten wants to scrap the offside rule from football.
The iconic former midfielder wants to do away with the rule as it will make the sport ‘more interesting’.
Van Basten, 56, was Fifa’s technical director between 2016 and 2018 and rule improvements were part of his remit.
The Dutchman told Sky Sports: “I am still very curious about the offside rule because I am convinced that it is not a good rule.
“At least I would like to trial it to show that football is also possible without the offside rule. I am convinced that football would be better without it.
“Football is a fantastic game but I still think that we have to do much more to make it better, more spectacular, more interesting, more exciting. We have to work on that.”
NICK OF TIME
Nicky Butt reportedly left Manchester United after ‘friction’ with the club’s newly-appointed director of football John Murtough.
The official line from the former England midfielder, 46, who won six Premier League titles as a United player, was that he wanted ‘a new challenge’.
Nicky Butt announced he was quitting Old Trafford for a ‘new challenge’ this weekCredit: PA:Press Association SunSport has exclusively revealed that Derby boss Wayne Rooney is interested in adding Butt to his management team at the Championship outfit.
But according to The Athletic, Butt and Murtough had ‘differing footballing views’.
Murtough was essentially Butt’s line manager in the new coaching set up. The Athletic describes the pair as ‘like chalk and cheese’.
It is also alleged that Butt felt ‘overlooked’ for the technical director role that his former team-mate Darren Fletcher bagged.
Butt helped bring current first-teamers like Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, Axel Tuanzebe, Dean Henderson and Mason Greenwood through United’s famous academy.
RASH DECISION
Marcus Rashford joined up with the England camp to catch-up with his team-mates and rehab in a social environment but will not play in the World Cup qualifier.
The 23-year-old Manchester United forward is struggling with an ankle injury but The Athletic reports he was desperate to be in and around Gareth Southgate’s side.
Marcus Rashford was eager to see his England palsCredit: PA Rashford is said to have wanted to be in team meetings ahead of plans for the delayed Euro 2020 tournament this summer.
Rashford is still fully recovering from an ankle blow suffered in the Manchester derby and despite returning for 90 minutes against West Ham, he was hooked at half-time against AC Milan.
The report states he did not suffer ligament damage but bruising and bleeding on the bone initially ruled him out of the first leg in the Europa League.
BREAKING: LIONS IN WAIT
England’s World Cup qualifier with Albania is at risk at being axed over police security fears, according to reports.
The Three Lions were due to face their European opponents in the Albanian capital Tirana on Sunday.
But the Albanian Football Association (AFA) have released a statement claiming the safety of both teams cannot be confirmed because the State Police have not taken over its security.
The statement, posted on Albanian Daily News, read: “Today in the Albanian Football Federation a letter arrived from the Local Police Directorate of Tirana which states the structures of the Local Police Directorate Tirana cannot guarantee the taking of measures before, during and after the Albania-England match.
“Faced with the situation where the state authorities did not react after the request of the AFA for the release of spaces on the perimeter of the National Stadium, we request urgent response to these structures.
“The cancellation of the Albania-England match would have catastrophic consequences for the image of our country, the National Team and in general for Albanian Football.”
KEANE ON CELTIC
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has been made the odds-on favourite to become the next Celtic boss.
John Kennedy is steering the Hoops until the end of the season after Neil Lennon walked away from his second stint in charge.
Roy Keane is being linked with a return to the dugoutCredit: Getty And outspoken pundit Keane – who finished his career at Celtic Park – could be gearing up for a return to management after formerly taking the reins at Ipswich Town and Sunderland.
Bookmaker Coral’s John Hill said: “Roy Keane had a brief spell at Celtic as a player at the back end of his career and if the betting is anything to go by, he could be set for a return to Glasgow to take over as manager in the summer.
“John Kennedy has a contract until the end of the season, but it is Keane who is the odds-on favourite to take over ahead of the start of the 2021/22 SPL campaign.”
SOL MATES
Manchester United are reportedly ready to offer boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a bumper new deal.
The Norwegian gaffer penned a three-year deal when he was given the Old Trafford job full-time in March 2019.
ESPN reports the club have seen enough progress to offer the former super sub a new deal.
The 48-year-old is approaching his final year in the summer and United brass are wary of causing too much speculation if negotiations drag on.
The club are planning for the long-term under Solskjaer and have installed John Murtough as football director and Darren Fletcher as technical director with the pair’s relationship with the manager key in securing their roles.
SWEDE AND SOUR
Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof revealed the personal sacrifices he has to make to represent Sweden.
The Red Devils centre-back is missing his son’s second birthday to play for his country during the international break.
He wrote on Instagram: “Two years of being a father to this little man. I will always walk side by side with you through life. Happy birthday son.”
Sweden face Georgia in tonight’s World Cup qualifier before playing Kosovo on Sunday and Estonia in a friendly next Wednesday.
ACE FROM MASE
Manchester United ace Mason Greenwood has proved he is also a star off the pitch after sending an ill fan a heartwarming letter.
The England talent, 19, took notice of the teenager’s situation by former Man Utd youth player Nenad Smiljanic.
Smiljanic reached out to the Red Devils to see if anything could be done to raise the spirits of the teenager in hospital.
And to his delight, Greenwood took time out of his day to construct a handwritten letter wishing him a speedy recovery.
It read: “How are you? I believe you have not been well, but you are now recovering in hospital.
“I hope you are soon better and back home. It is great that you are a Man Utd fan and I hope we can win something for you this season.
“I’m enjoying playing for the first team and hope to score lots of goals for you over the next few seasons. Get well soon.”
SERG IN DEMAND
Manchester United should ‘break the bank’ for Erling Haaland or Harry Kane rather than sign Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, according to Ally McCoist.
The Scottish legend and former striker believes a move for Aguero would cause ‘uproar’.
On talkSPORT, he said: “It would cause an uproar, I don’t see it.
“They’ve already gone for the short-term fix of Cavani. I don’t think you’d go for another 32-year-old for a season.
“I think the time has come for Manchester United to go and get Harry Kane or break the bank for Haaland.”
DEVILISH
How Manchester United could line-up next season with Sergio Aguero crossing the city and Hugo Lloris and Pau Torres arriving.
JUST JU & ME
Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to hold crunch talks over his Juventus future at the end of the season.
The Old Lady are fighting to qualify for the Champions League having been knocked out of this year’s competition and the Serie A title race.
A 1-0 defeat to Benevento before the international break left the team ten points off leaders Inter Milan despite Ronaldo hitting 23 goals in 24 league matches this campaign.
But reports of a potential exit, including to old club Real Madrid, refuse to go away.
It had been suggested that financial problems at Allianz Stadium could lead to the Italians accepting a bid as low as £21.5million for the star.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, neither Juve nor Ronaldo are planning on a summer transfer at this time.
In May, the two parties plan to sit down and discuss the path ahead with the 36-year-old out of contract in 2022.
DON DEAL
Manchester United are still interested in Jadon Sancho but only in a cut-price deal.
The Telegraph reports the Red Devils will only be keen for a move for far less than the £108million Borussia Dortmund asked for last summer.
United are in for a right-winger and the Three Lions star, 20, has been on their radar for the best part of four years.
The report states it appears unlikely the Bundesliga side will sanction the sale of Sancho and Erling Haaland at the end of the season which could hinder a move with the Norwegian high in demand.
SCHOLE OF HARD KNOCKS
What a banger from Paul Scholes 21 years ago today.
KA-PAU
Manchester United could be ready to launch a bid for Pau Torres with the defender reportedly interested in a move to England.
The Spaniard is said to be available for around £52million in the summer due to a buyout clause in his Villarreal contract.
According to MEN, the 24-year-old is open to leaving LaLiga having come through the ranks at Estadio Ceramica.
However, United may be made to wait on Torres if he is called up to Spain’s Euro 2020 squad.
He reportedly wants to focus on a strong end to the season with Villarreal and a good tournament in the summer before deciding on his future.
The Yellow Submarine’s form could play a big role with the club sat seventh in its pursuit of European football.
It has previously been said that missing out on a Europa League spot could see Torres become available for less than his release clause.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
