BORUSSIA DORTMUND have admitted that they are willing to sell star Jadon Sancho for the right price this summer.
However, the German club also stated that they had no intention of selling fellow Man Utd target Erling Haaland.
Meanwhile it has emerged that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to drop David De Gea in November, but the Spaniard was so infuriated that the Red Devils boss changed his mind.
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Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
ANT MAN
Anthony Elanga has been added to Manchester United’s squad for the Europa League first-leg against Granada.
BELE FLOP
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed that he would like Ousmane Dembele to STAY at the club, amid links with Man United.
Following the Frenchman’s late winner against Real Valladolid last night, Koeman said: “I would like Dembele to stay, he is an important player for us.
“He showed his quality with his game and the goal against Valladolid. The key is that he has physically improved and has been able to play a lot of games in a row.”
DUBLIN AND OUT
England looks set to be handed at least four more Euro 2020 games – with Uefa braced for Dublin to effectively pull out of hosting on Wednesday.
And that would hand Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions the prospect of an extra match on home soil this summer, although NOT at Wembley.
Uefa’s deadline for the 12 scheduled venues to confirm they are able to stage games with crowds is close of business on Wednesday.
The Irish capital is believed by senior Uefa figures to be the most likely city to be unable to give Euro chiefs the guarantees they have sought, leaving the Aviva set to be stripped of its games.
And if so, it is now expected that the four games due to be played in Ireland will be switched to England, as the FA is already in advanced planning for seven games at Wembley.
THE TEMP-BEST
Jesse Lingard is proving to be one of the signings of the season.
His loan switch to West Ham was a masterstroke from David Moyes, who is getting the very best out of the Manchester United midfielder.
The red-hot form got the 28-year-old a return to the England squad and could see him go to the Euros.
SunSport looks at some of the best loan signings in the Premier League era – an elite list Lingard is on course to join, particularly if he can fire West Ham into the Champions League HERE.
JESS WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
By SunSport’s Jordan Davies
Jesse Lingard is leading the Premier League charts since arriving at West Ham on loan.
Since his West Ham debut on February 3 after a January window switch, only Tottenham’s Harry Kane has been involved in the same number of goal involvements.
Lingard’s six goals and three assists in eight appearances sees him with nine goal involvements.
That’s THREE more than United star Bruno Fernandes, as well as bettering Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
Only Harry Kane has scored more with seven, but has one less assist than Lingard in that time.
In terms of assists, Lingard’s three assists is the same as City’s Phil Foden and Tottenham’s Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son.
Lingard is also proving to be efficient in front of goal, needing just 23 shots to reach nine goal involvements.
That is SEVENTEEN less than Kane, two less than Leeds’ Patrick Bamford and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and one less than Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Jesse Lingard has been outstanding for West HamCredit: PA GRASS IS GREENER
Mason Greenwood bagged a crucial goal for Man United on Sunday, to net the three points against Brighton at Old Trafford.
And the teenager has already been impressing for years, despite still being relatively new to the first-team set up.
Check this out, United fans!
WELL I NEV-ER
Gary Neville admitted he would have played for arch-rivals Arsenal if Manchester United decided to sell him.
He told Sky Sports’ Off the Script: “If you’d said to me, in a perfect world, in my years of playing, which clubs in the Premier League have the tradition, a proper club? Arsenal would be No 1.
“The tradition of Highbury, I felt they did things the right way. Also in the Premier League, I like Aston Villa and Newcastle.
“In Europe I admired Juventus and Bayern Munich. I respected them as football clubs. Bayern were meticulous in their preparation, so internationally, it would be them.”
Gary Neville would have been open to the idea of joining Arsenal if he was let go by Manchester United earlier in his career LIGT-BULB MOMENT
Matthijs de Ligt will be available for £130million next summer, according to reports.
The Juventus defender, 21, is thought to have a release clause in his contract.
But according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, it does not kick in until July 2022.
And that could have the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona on red alert to make a major swoop at the end of next season.
Matthijs de Ligt could be bought for £130million next summer when his release clause kicks in HOME DISCOMFORTS
Bruno Fernandes has issued a rallying cry to his Manchester United team-mates to ‘stop dropping as many points as we do at home’.
The Portuguese playmaker has been instrumental in helping United into second spot in the Premier League.
Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, the 26-year-old said: “It’s tough in England, because the games are so tight.
“Every team genuinely has a chance to win the match. It’s 50/50 before every game, and we see it with the results. But we’re doing better.
“We can’t drop as many points as we do at home, but we’ve been in second, and at the start of the season there weren’t many people who were saying United would be second.
“After a few games and a bad start, nobody was saying United could reach the top of the table, but we ignored what people were saying on the outside.
“We knew what we had said on the inside, we had confidence that things would improve, and they did.
“We still have to be the best United we can, but we have improved.”
Bruno Fernandes gave an honest interview with FourFourTwo magazine
POSITIVE MATA
Manchester United star Juan Mata opened up on his relationship with ‘positive’ manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Spaniard told the UTD Podcast: “Of course, I heard much about him as a player. About that goal, about the many goals. So we had a meeting between us, the team, and they said: ‘Listen, it’s probable that Ole’s going to come. He’s going to take care of the team until the end of the season. He’s coming from Molde in Norway.’
“As soon as he came in, you could see the positivity. You could see the Manchester United DNA. He knew everyone, he felt like a proper United fan, and he was happy and smiley and full of energy. Until today. So we stay with him, and I think that’s a good sign of things going okay.
“I feel young, honestly, in my body and in my mind, but obviously I’ve been playing in the club, and in English football and professionally for 12-13 years now, and so that gives me experience to – especially in difficult situations – behave in a certain way or give advice to the youngsters or something like that, and I think he values that also.
“Me, as a player, what I can give on the pitch, but also that I will try my best off the pitch for the new players that come.”
Mata opened up on his boss SolskjaerCredit: EPA MATA ON LVG
Juan Mata has revealed that former boss Louis van Gaal was ‘scary’.
He told the UTD Podcast: “He was scary! He was scary, I tell you! He was a very nice man, very genuine. Very sensible. You wouldn’t expect that, but he was very sensible. He could even get emotional and cry sometimes when he was speaking about important matters that he found with the right values, or the right football… he got emotional.
“But I remember the first meeting we all had with him. It was in LA. We were doing a pre-season tour. So the manager said: ‘I want to meet you one by one in this room after dinner’. I was like ‘okay’.
“Everyone went, whatever. My turn. So I arrive to the room and it was him, Ryan Giggs, a bottle of Rioja, red wine, and three glasses.
“He said: ‘Do you want to have the drink?’ And I said, ‘No, no, it’s fine’. He said, ‘Okay, I’ll have it’. So he had the drink, and he said, ‘Tell me who you are?’
“I mean, ‘My name is Juan, I’m 26, I play football’. ‘No, no, no. Tell me who you are as a man. Do you have family? What do you find important in life?’
“I remember he had like paper, where he had set up the tactics for the team and that year, and he was like ‘Where do you think you will fit best here?’ I was like ‘here’ and he said ‘No’. ‘Here?’ ‘No.’
“So we had trained that pre-season with five in the back, two [in midfield], one No10, and he put me in that No10 and he said ‘You’re going to play here’ and I was like ‘Great’. I didn’t want to put it myself!
“And from that moment, you realised: he can look scary in the face-to-face, because also he goes too close to you. But after that, he’s a very warm and genuine man. Ryan Giggs was there trying to hold his laugh!”
Mata enjoyed his time working under the eccentric figure of Louis van Gaal, who was keen to revolve the team around the Spanish playmaker COUT OUT
Former Manchester United target Philippe Coutinho’s Barcelona nightmare lives on after being ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Brazilian, 28, who was heavily linked with the Red Devils last summer, has gone a second operation after having a ‘meniscal cyst’ in his left knee.
Coutinho hasn’t featured since late December after picking up an injury to his knee following a 1-1 draw with Eibar.
He went into surgery in the New Year and was set to be sidelined for at least three months.
Boss Ronald Koeman was hoping to have the playmaker back for the crucial run-in but he has been hit with a serious setback.
Barcelona revealed how he has had to go back under the knife having failed to recover from the initial procedure.
Philippe Coutinho has undergone a second surgery on his knee MATA OF FACTS
Juan Mata has opened up on David Moyes’ Manchester United departure in 2014.
He told the UTD Podcast: “I always feel bad when a manager has to go, because it means that you are not doing right, or you are not getting results. So it’s not a nice feeling. So unfortunately he had to go. But of course, I’m very thankful to him.
“What I remember the most about that season was in the last game. Ryan Giggs was our caretaker manager at that time, and we always do the ‘lap of honour’. You say ‘thank you’, ‘goodbye’ and ‘see you next season’.”
David Moyes deserved to be sacked after a poor set of results in charge at Manchester United, Juan Mata said RON THE WAY OUT?
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed that he would like Ousmane Dembele to STAY at the club, amid links with Man United.
Following the Frenchman’s late winner against Real Valladolid last night, Koeman said: “I would like Dembele to stay, he is an important player for us.
“He showed his quality with his game and the goal against Valladolid. The key is that he has physically improved and has been able to play a lot of games in a row.”
Dembele bagged a crucial late winner last nightCredit: Reuters LUK AT THAT
Jesse Lingard wowed fans yet again with another stunning performance for West Ham last night.
The England international got on the scoresheet as the Hammers beat Wolves 3-2 to climb back into the top four.
And former team-mate Romelu Lukaku was among those impressed!
VAN THE MAN
What a lethal finisher Robin van Persie was.
Sit back and enjoy, Man United fans.
DAVE DEPARTS?
David de Gea is reportedly set for a summer axe – and has been offered to Europe’s elite.
The Manchester United goalkeeper, 30, continues to battle for his place in the team with Dean Henderson.
Henderson started his seventh game in a row against Brighton on Sunday.
And it is thought De Gea has had enough with the Spaniard ready to look elsewhere for a new club.
According to the Daily Mail, the goalkeeper’s representatives are in touch with some of the top clubs on the continent to sound out potential suitors.
David de Gea could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer ARE YOU MAG?
An injury to Manchester United star Harry Maguire would be a bigger blow to England than losing captain Harry Kane – according to Gary Neville.
He said on Sky Sports MNF: “”If you lose Harry Maguire that’s a big problem for Gareth Southgate. I think it’s his biggest problem.
“If you’re then left with John Stones as your other centre-back and you think you’ve got Stones and (Tyrone) Mings, Stones and (Conor) Coady, Stones and (Eric) Dier – I’m not having it.”
Asked by Carragher if a Maguire injury would be more devastating than one for Kane with his 34 international goals, Neville reckoned so.
He added: “Harry Kane’s the best player in the squad but in this particular squad if Gareth wants a back four in the squad and go for a 4-3-3 formation, the only chance of that is keeping Harry Maguire fit.
“You always have to think if one player gets injured where do I then go to. If Harry Kane gets injured you could go with Marcus Rashford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Raheem Sterling as a false forward or Phil Foden.
“There are options England can still win games. But with Maguire the ability to go to a back four is lost and that’s why he’s got a three in the back of his mind.”
Maguire is set to be a key man for Gareth Southgate in the summerCredit: Reuters LIN BUSINESS
West Ham boss David Moyes raved about Jesse Lingard’s performance, after the Man United loanee scored his latest goal against Wolves on Monday night.
Following the Hammers’ 3-2 win, which takes them back up to fourth, the Scot said: “I was telling him how well he has played.
“I’m probably a manager who doesn’t say that very often, but he deserved that after his performance.”
Lingard, 28, earned the praise of his manager David MoyesCredit: PA ZLAT’S THAT
Ex-Man United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to sign a new contract that will take him into his 40s.
The Swede, 39, has defied his age with his heroics for AC Milan this season.
Ibrahimovic turns 40 on October 3 but shows of slowing down just yet.
He has 15 goals in 16 league appearances, firing the Rossoneri to second in the Serie A table, behind rivals Inter.
And according to Sky in Italy, a one-year extension is on the table which he is expected to sign and stay beyond this summer.
The report adds Ibrahimovic should pen the deal within the next seven to ten days.
Zlatan currently earns around £5.94million per season – or £114,000 per week.
And those wages are on course to remain the same into the 2020-21 season.
Zlatan delighted fans during his stint at Old TraffordCredit: PA MORNING MAN UTD FANS
David De Gea’s future is in doubt due to growing tensions with Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.
The Norwegian decided to start Dean Henderson ahead of the Spaniard against Brighton.
De Gea would have expected a start after returning from paternity leave, and according to Manchester Evening News the pair’s relationship is becoming a problem.
The report suggests Solskjaer twice attempted to drop De Gea in favour of Henderson, firstly against West Brom in November and then against Chelsea in February.
On both occasions De Gea expressed his unhappiness with the decision and Solskjaer changed his mind.
A large number of Man Utd’s squad are said to think the England international should have replaced De Gea in December.
In transfers, Borussia Dortmund are determined to keep United target Erling Haaland this summer.
Club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told Goal: “We will discuss this with Erling, his father and his agent Mino Raiola.
“We also want him to be happy to stay with us, to score goals for BVB next year with conviction. There is no alternative plan.”
Elsewhere, Bruno Fernandes hailed Mason Greenwood for his winner against Brighton but warned the forward he cannot just care about goals.
The Portugal international also explained Greenwood may find things more difficult as his reputation increases. Despite that, Fernandes is confident Greenwood will improve his goalscoring form but emphasised that he must get his temperament right.
Fernandes told MUTV: “Everyone has to know that Mason is a young player and now everyone is starting to know how Mason is, it will become more and more difficult for him.
“It is normal. It is part of the development for him and he will learn from here so it doesn’t matter how many goals he scores; the most important thing for us is that he still helps the team and he is doing his best.
“It is important for us as a team, it doesn’t matter who scores. If Mason scores for us or not, it is important if he can do other jobs, recover balls, pressing, defend when we need it, make assists, create danger.
“So it is not important for him to score. He has to understand, he is such a young lad. Of course, every striker wants to score but, anyway, he will score more and more goals as the seasons pass.”
And finally Premier League Covid testers returned just one positive result over the past seven days – for the second week running.
The sole positive result came in the initial round of sampling between Monday and Thursday, from a total of 1,515 tests across the 20 clubs.
And fears of a potential spike when players returned from the international break appear to have abated after the second round of 1,149 tests between Friday and Sunday all came back clear.
COULD LEAVE LIN
West Ham have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Atletico Madrid outcast Vitolo as a possible alternative to Man Utd loanee Jesse Lingard.
The Hammers were linked with a move to sign the 31-year-old forward in the winter transfer window, but opted instead to bring in Lingard on loan from Manchester United.
But with Lingard shining at the London Stadium, it remains to be seen whether his temporary stay will be turned into a permanent deal.
SunSport understands that due to Lingard’s surprising resurgence in form, United have doubled his asking price to £40million.
And should the Hammers be priced out of a move for the England international, they could reignite their interest in Vitolo, according to Fichajes. The news outlet states that Atletico have offered David Moyes’ side the chance to sign the Spanish star in the summer.
It has been claimed that the player could be available for just £8.5m having fallen dramatically down the pecking order under Diego Simeone. And they add that a deal could potentially be reached before the end of the campaign should West Ham look to bring him to England.
ROOM WITH A VIEW
Manchester United shared alternative views of their comeback goals against Brighton.
Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood struck to deny relegation threatened Brighton a famous win after ex-Red Devil Danny Welbeck had given the Seagulls hope.
LIONEL JESSE
Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard scored ANOTHER goal for West Ham as the Hammers raced into a 2-0 lead at Wolves.
The England star picked up the ball near the half way line, ran the length of the half and fired it past Rui Patricio from just inside the penalty box.
Goal of the season?
CAV SOME OF THAT!
Mason Greenwood’s goal against Brighton reminded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Edinson Cavani’s against Southampton earlier in the season.
The youngster scored a header in the Red Devils’ 2-1 win and his manager said: “The world nowadays is so into stats, goals, assists and this and that, but the boy has played fantastic in the last two or three months.
“He’s really matured and come on. Today as well, taking the ball well, taking people on, he hits the post and one is just over the bar.
“If he keeps learning and improving he’ll score loads of goals. We know that. He’s a lethal finisher, but if he scores these type of goals that’ll add another dimension to his game.
“I’m very pleased for him to get the winner in the way he did, learning from Edinson, for example.
“He [Cavani] is one of those strikers and it reminded me of one of his goals he scored against Southampton.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
