Haaland decision imminent, Lingard Real Madrid interest, Kane transfer blow, United ‘obsessed’ with Pau Torres

PAUL OVER

Andrea Pirlo has warned Manchester United off Paulo Dybala by claiming the superstar WILL be at Juventus next season.

Dybala, 27, has been linked with a big-money move this summer as he approaches the final year of his Bianconeri deal.

Pirlo declared: “I’ve always said Dybala is an important player and unfortunately I haven’t had him at my disposal very much this season.

“Let’s look at the present, because that is more important than the future.

“He still has a year left on his contract, so we will have him here next season.

“Dybala is a player who makes the difference. I hope hope to be able to use Cristiano Ronaldo, Alvaro Morata and Dybala together at some point.

“With Dybala, it’s the club who are in charge of making the decisions. I’m fortunate to coach winners like him. The final decisions are made by the directors.”

OLED NEWS

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rant about Son Heung-min on Sunday bizarrely mirrored a statement he made in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

The Red Devils boss was left fuming when Son hit the floor following a hand in the face from Scott McTominay, which eventually led to Edinson Cavani’s goal being ruled out.

And while Man Utd went on to win the game 3-1, Solskjaer still proceeded to rage at Son in his post-match interview over what he felt was a dive.

In a strange rant, he said: “If my son stays down for three minutes and he needs his 10 mates to help him up, he won’t get any food.”

But this is not the first time Solskjaer has used this sort of analogy when reacting to what he feels is diving from Spurs players.

Back in October during Tottenham’s 6-1 win over United at Old Trafford, Solskjaer gave a similar response following an altercation between Erik Lamela and Anthony Martial.

Lamela appeared to thrust an elbow into Martial, before the Frenchman responded by slapping the Spurs forward, a spat which lead to the United man being sent off as Solskjaer’s men proceeded to suffer a heavy defeat.

After that incident, the Norwegian said: “If that was my son he would live on water and bread for two weeks, that’s not how I want my players to react.”

BOUBA TRAP

Leicester are reportedly ‘confident’ of beating Manchester United and Tottenham to the signature of Boubakary Soumare.

The Frenchman, 22, has been a key part of Lille’s title bid with the Ligue 1 leaders three points clear of Paris Saint-Germain.

Having made a name for himself at Stade Pierre-Mauroy after leaving PSG as a youngster, he has aroused the interest of several teams.

Newcastle failed with a £35million bid for Soumare in the January of last year.

And Premier League outfit Leicester are the latest to make their interest known with just over a year left on his contract.

According to the Star, the Foxes are hunting down a deal worth around £30m.

Bolstering the side for Champions League football will be a priority for Brendan Rodgers’ side, if they qualify for the competition.

NOT KEANE

Manchester United legend Roy Keane delivered a hilarious deadpan joke at Jamie Redknapp’s expense while analysing the disciplinary breach at Leicester City.

The Cork native and Redknapp have developed a bit of needle in their back and forths in the Sky studio over recent months.

And Keane took the opportunity presented by the more serious situation surrounding Foxes’ aces being dropped by Brendan Rodgers to get a great one-liner in out of the blue that was aimed at his colleague.

He said: “(Brendan’s) clearly disappointed with their behaviour.

“I’m led to believe they were caught in a hotel room watching A League of Their Own.”

HALF MEASURES

Manchester United’s prowess in the second-half has been revealed as they would not even be in the top ten in the Prem if games finished at half-time.

FUMBLE!

David De Gea was trolled for this warm-up video before he sat on the bench vs Tottenham.

JESS THE ONE I WANT

European giants PSG, Real Madrid and Inter Milan are all monitoring Jesse Lingard’s situation at Manchester United, according to ESPN.

The England forward has been a revelation for West Ham since arriving on loan in January, bagging eight goals in nine games.

The Hammers want to make the move permanent but face competition from big clubs on the continent with Lingard having one year left on his Old Trafford deal.

He wants to play Champions League football and could well help David Moyes’ side qualify for the tournament with the Irons sat in fourth spot.

ERLI CALL

Manchester United will reportedly make a quick decision on whether or not they’ll sign Erling Haaland in order to avoid a repeat of the Jadon Sancho saga of last summer.

The Red Devils still hold an interest in landing the prolific Borussia Dortmund hitman, despite being snubbed by the Norwegian and his agent – Mino Raiola – in December 2019.

But unlike their ill-fated pursuit of Sancho in 2020, the United brass will be ‘urged to assess whether Haaland is a viable option’ as soon as possible.

That’s according to The Athletic, who claim Old Trafford chiefs want to know if the 20-year-old will be out of their price range in order to identify alternative targets.

United were left scrambling to sign a winger last summer after Dortmund refused to budge on their £104million valuation of England international Sancho.

The Red Devils ended up signing 18-year-old Amad Diallo on transfer deadline day after it became apparent they wouldn’t be able to land Sancho.

Haaland is United’s top priority this summer, although they’re also thought to be interested in signing Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

MASE SOME NOISE

Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire shouted praise at Mason Greenwood for his role in Edinson Cavani’s crucial goal against Spurs.

The Red Devils came from behind to win 3-1 against Jose Mourinho’s men with Greenwood adding some gloss to the scoreline late on.

But it was the England youngster’s pinpoint cross for the Uruguayan striker’s diving header that was the real moment of quality.

Sky Sports cameras overheard centre-back Maguire saying: “Brilliant, Masey!”

DAN NOT THE MAN

Dan James missed out on the Manchester United squad against Spurs.

The Red Devils came from behind to beat former manager Jose Mourinho’s side 3-1.

But there was no room for Welsh speedster James who was carrying an injury from the Europa League game against Granada.

Pre-game, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “We’ll freshen it up but also keep doing the same things that we have done.

“Also, Dan had an injury from Thursday night, so he couldn’t be with us. Mason [Greenwood] has also had some niggles, so we gave him a rest from the start.”

SONBURN

Son Heung-min was close to tears after Spurs lost 3-1 to Manchester United despite the South Korean bagging the opening goal of the game.

SOL-LESS?

Jose Mourinho snapped back at Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Norwegian slammed Spurs’ Son Heung-min.

VAR gave a foul against Scott McTominay for a brush of the arm on Son who hit the deck hard and the incident caused an Edinson Cavani goal to be very harshly ruled out.

The Norwegian said: “If my son stayed down for three minutes and he needed ten mates to help him up, he wouldn’t get any food.”

Mourinho fumed in his press conference and replied: “I just want to say Sonny is very lucky that his father is a better person than Ole.

“Because I think a father — and I am a father — you have always to feed your kids no matter what they do. If you have to steal to feed your kids, you steal.”

FRED LETTER DAY

Roy Keane was less than impressed with Fred’s performance against Tottenham on Sunday, despite a rare goal for the Brazilian.

With Manchester United a goal down in North London, the midfielder popped up to poke home a rebound for the leveller for his first Prem strike in over two years.

The 49-year-old told Sky Sports: “Just as well Fred scored – I thought he was dreadful. I don’t know what people are talking about, saying he played well. I thought he was dreadful.

“But again good link-up play from United – what they’re good at. Quick play. One-two in and around the box. Poor defending from Tottenham and Fred on the spot.

“I thought he was even going to miss, but lovely movement from United. Lovely little play [from] Fernandes, this is what good players do – quick play, clever play, intelligent play.

“Keeper maybe could have done better, defenders with their hands up in the air. Slow.

“But just good movement from Cavani, lovely goal and United never looked back after this.”

KANE-D

Manchester United have been handed a mega blow in their pursuit of Harry Kane.

The Red Devils are already unwilling to do business at Tottenham’s asking price of £120m.

And The Athletic indicates that even if they were to stump up that kind of money, Daniel Levy would be unwilling to sell the striker to any English club.

PAU WOW WOW

Manchester United are obsessed with Villarreal’s Pau Torres, according to reports in Spain.

The Villarreal defender, who is available for £43m has become a ‘priority transfer’ for the Red Devils, AS claim.

United are said to be sold on the idea of the 24-year-old becoming Harry Maguire’s long-term defensive partner.

And this idea would have been reinforced by Victor Lindelof’s error against Tottenham yesterday.

However United will face some competition from Real Madrid, who AS claim are being more subtle in their interest.

NOT IN IT FOR THE LONG HAAL

Manchester United are set to make a quick decision on whether to sign Erling Haaland or not, according to reports.

The Athletic claim the Red Devils are desperate to avoid a protracted transfer saga like last year’s with Jadon Sancho.

United attempted for ten weeks to agree a fee with Haaland’s club Dortmund for Sancho but nothing came of it.

They are also aware that the package of a £150m transfer fee, Haaland’s wages and payments to agent Mino Raiola currently fall outside their wage structure.

David de Gea is the Red Devil’s highest paid player at the moment at £375,000-a-week.

Should United not sign Erling Haaland they could move on to other targets like Tottenham’s Harry Kane, or even keep Edinson Cavani.

‘THE GAME HAS GONE’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer declared himself furious with VAR’s decision to overturn Edinson Cavani’s goal at Tottenham.

He said: “The game has gone. Game has absolutely gone.

“If that’s a clear and obvious error, it’s an obvious error he had to look at it. It was a perfectly good goal.

“We shouldn’t be conned. I have to say, if my son stays down for three minutes and he needs his 10 mates to help him up, he won’t get any food.

“We weren’t conned, the referee was.”

GOOD MORNING MAN UTD FANS

Man Utd came from 1-0 down to beat Tottenham 3-1 at the new White Hart Lane yesterday.

Edinson Cavani had a first-half goal controversially ruled out after Scott McTominay’s hand brushed Son Heung-min’s face in the build up.

Ref Chris Kavanagh was told to check the screen by VAR before striking the goal off.

And just minutes later the South Korean had put Spurs 1-0 up.

United’s players looked on the brink of losing their heads but re-grouped at half-time and came out fighting after the break.

The Red Devils were as unstoppable as Tottenham were pathetic in the second-half and goals from Fred, Cavani and Mason Greenwood saw United walk away with all three points.

Despite the positive result for his team, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blasted VAR for the decision to disallow Cavani’s strike and hit out at ‘con artist’ Son.

Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “The game has gone, absolutely gone. If that’s a clear and obvious error, it’s one he [the ref] had to look at. It was a perfectly good goal, we shouldn’t be conned. I have to say, if my son stays down for three minutes and needs ten mates to help him, he won’t get any food because that’s embarrassing.

“We weren’t conned, the ref was. That kick-started us. [Before] we played like a team who had played in Europe on Thursday.

“Top reaction, we played great stuff second half. We felt the injustice and showed good character to come back. We can’t let those decisions ruin this good season for us. The goals we scored were excellent.

“Cavani showed why he’s a No9. Fred even scores, that shows just how good we were. It was an excellent [disallowed] goal. Unfortunately the ref decided we are not playing football or VAR decided. I’m absolutely shocked if that is a foul.”

Ex-United boss Jose Mourinho also lamented VAR – which made a convenient distraction from his team’s shambolic collapse.

The Portuguese tactician told Sky Sports after the final whistle: “My opinion it was a good game but we didn’t deserve this result at all. We were unlucky because maybe Pogba should get a red card for an elbow on Serge Aurier.

“I don’t know anything anymore [about VAR]. I watched Fulham vs Wolves, I don’t understand anything anymore. Sometimes you get, sometimes you don’t get, I don’t know how to comment. You don’t celebrate a goal because you are afraid.

“It is difficult for everybody. For us, the players, the referees. Lots of contradictions and decision you don’t understand very well. That’s not my problem, I cannot fix this.”

MOUR WAR

Jose Mourinho launched a scathing attack on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the pair clashed in the tunnel after the final whistle.

The Tottenham chief was furious after Solskjaer accused Son Heung-min of conning officials to get Edinson Cavani’s strike chalked off by going down too easily under a flailing arm from Scott McTominay.

Seething Solskjaer said: “If my son stayed down for three minutes and he needed ten mates to help him up, he wouldn’t get any food. The game has gone — absolutely gone.”

But former United boss Mourinho hit back as the row escalated when he told reporters: “I just want to say Sonny’s very lucky that his father is a better person than Ole.”

Cavani thought he had given United the lead when he slotted home in the 33rd minute. But referee Chris Kavanagh ruled it out after VAR advised him to check the pitchside monitor.

It looked a harsh decision and the Red Devils were further incensed when the South Korean fired Spurs ahead seven minutes later. Old Trafford manager Solskjaer — despite his side’s sterling second-half comeback — was still angry about the incident afterwards.

The Norwegian said in a television interview moments after the final whistle: “It was a perfectly good goal. We weren’t conned, the referee was.”

SUN BACK PAGE

Here is the back page of Monday’s Sun newspaper after a thrilling weekend of Premier League action at both ends of the table.

WE STAND WITH YOU

Tottenham have released a statement slamming ‘abhorrent’ racial abuse of Son Heung-Min following Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United.

The South Korean star came under attack from sick trolls online in the wake of the crunch clash in London. Son was involved in a controversial first-half VAR decision that saw a United goal questionably chalked off.

And the ace has since received vile racist messages on the internet from cowardly trolls. Spurs put out an official club statement on Sunday night taking aim at the people behind the messages.

And they proudly told Son: We stand with you. The statement read: “Another matchday and more abhorrent racial abuse suffered by one of our players.

“This has again been reported to the platforms and we shall now undertake a full review alongside the Premier League to determine the most effective action moving forward.

“We stand with you, Sonny.”

‘CON ARTIST’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has blasted Son Heung-Min for ‘conning’ the ref during Manchester United’s 3-1 win at Tottenham.

And the Red Devils boss believes ‘the game has gone’ after his side had a goal ruled out by VAR after an incident involving Spurs ace Son and Scott McTominay.

Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “The game has gone, absolutely gone. If that’s a clear and obvious error, it’s one he [the ref] had to look at. It was a perfectly good goal, we shouldn’t be conned. I have to say, if my son stays down for three minutes and needs ten mates to help him, he won’t get any food because that’s embarrassing.

“We weren’t conned, the ref was. That kick-started us. [Before] we played like a team who had played in Europe on Thursday.

“Top reaction, we played great stuff second half. We felt the injustice and showed good character to come back. We can’t let those decisions ruin this good season for us. The goals we scored were excellent.

“Cavani showed why he’s a No9. Fred even scores, that shows just how good we were. It was an excellent [disallowed] goal. Unfortunately the ref decided we are not playing football or VAR decided. I’m absolutely shocked if that is a foul.”

MOUR PAIN

Jose Mourinho lashed out at VAR after Tottenham’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Some feel Tottenham were also fortunate to get away with having a United goal in the first half disallowed by VAR. Scott McTominay was judged to have raised his hand into Son’s face in the build-up for an Edinson Cavani goal.

VAR controversially ruled the strike out moments before Son then put Spurs ahead. But despite appearing to benefit from the video system, Mourinho lashed out at it for, in his eyes, failing to spot an apparent elbow by Paul Pogba on Serge Aurier.

The Portuguese tactician told Sky Sports after the final whistle: “My opinion it was a good game but we didn’t deserve this result at all. We were unlucky because maybe Pogba should get a red card for an elbow on Serge Aurier.

“I don’t know anything anymore [about VAR]. I watched Fulham vs Wolves, I don’t understand anything anymore. Sometimes you get, sometimes you don’t get, I don’t know how to comment. You don’t celebrate a goal because you are afraid.

“It is difficult for everybody. For us, the players, the referees. Lots of contradictions and decision you don’t understand very well. That’s not my problem, I cannot fix this.”

Subs

MASON GREENWOOD (FOR RASHFORD 72) – 8

Nearly made an instant impact, cutting in from the left and firing in a shot just wide.

Then brilliantly set up the second for Cavani with a superb in-swinging cross from the right-hand side.

And finished off a great cameo with a third for United in added time.

NEMANJA MATIC (FOR FERNANDES 90) – N/A

Did not have enough time to make any sort of impact.

MARCUS RASHFORD – 6

No major contributions in the match but did make runs which drew defenders away from Cavani and Pogba.

Looked gun shy when he went through in the second half, failing to pull the trigger in front of goal.

EDINSON CAVANI – 8

Was given very, very little to feed off in the first half an hour as those behind him failed to link the play.

The first time he was given a sniff of goal he dispatched the chance with supreme class, only for it to be controversially ruled out.

Got booked for a challenge on Joe Rodon as tempers flared, but took his winner sensationally with a textbook diving header.