Man Utd Haaland release clause warning, club tribute for Juan Mata’s mother, Sabitzer summer target – transfer LATEST

LUKE AT HIM NOW

Luke Shaw knows he is drinking in the last chance saloon with England — but promises he will never betray Gareth Southgate’s trust again.

The Manchester United left-back made his long-awaited return during Sunday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win in Albania.

And Shaw confessed: “I have some massive regrets about my England career and I couldn’t stop thinking about the mistakes I had made in the past.

“I have pulled out of a lot of squads and I was letting the boss down because maybe I wasn’t in the best condition around that time.

“The last time I played before Sunday was against Spain in 2018 and I’ve given it so much thought over the past two years.

“I tried to keep in touch with the manager just to let him know that things have changed, but I had a few discussions with my family and they thought that maybe I wouldn’t get back into it.

“But deep down I always believed that if I worked hard I could earn a recall and Gareth has given me another chance so now I need to prove to him that I want to be a part of this squad.

“I remember watching the last World Cup and seeing how well the squad was doing and it really made me want to get involved.

“Maybe at that time I wasn’t mentally right. I had injury problems but maybe they were ones that could have been dealt with.”

COMPUTER SAYS GO

Manchester United will qualify for the Champions League – but Newcastle are heading for the Championship next season, according to a supercomputer.

Thomas Tuchel is expected to get his Blues into the top four, joining champions Manchester City, second-place United and Leicester in third.

BELE TO BELLY

Manchester United are ‘in contact’ with Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele and ‘preparing a summer transfer bid’, according to reports.

The Frenchman is currently under contract at the Catalan club until 2022 and Barca boss Ronald Koeman is keen to keep the attacker.

But Sport have reported that Man Utd are ready to swoop in and claim Dembele by turning his head at the end of the season.

Barca are currently trying to lower their wage bill due to financial problems at the club.

Mundo Deportivo believe the club and player are in negotiations over a fresh deal to keep him at the Nou Camp.

MULL IT OVER

Former Manchester United target Thomas Muller has refused to rule out a move to the Premier League.

He told The Times: “I’m not fixed to this club.

“I have a special relationship, I love Bayern before I started playing for them, but when there is a situation where you have to decide maybe to play for a different club it would be no shame and no problem at all.

“Maybe like with Thiago [Alcantara, now at Liverpool].”

UNITED WE STAND

Manchester United have now paid their respects to Juan Mata following the loss of his mother.

SAN HERO

Former Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku is set for talks over a bumper new Inter Milan contract, according to reports.

The Belgian striker, 27, has been in red-hot form since making the switch to the San Siro in 2019.

That has led to speculation of transfer interest from the likes of ex-employers Chelsea as well as Barcelona.

But the Daily Mail state Inter are trying to tie their No9 down to an improved deal.

Talks are expected to begin later in the year to discuss a pay rise.

KNEE BOTHER

Manchester United have dealt a new injury blow with Anthony Martial a doubt for France’s game against Bosnia.

The striker, 25, bagged an assist in Sunday’s 2-0 win against Kazakhstan.

But Martial was forced off the pitch after picking up a knock to his knee.

And RMC Sport now claims the forward is set to miss France’s third World Cup qualifier against Bosnia on Wednesday.

It’s said Martial took damage to the fibula on his left knee.

And it now remains to be seen if the ace will be fit for United’s Premier League clash against Brighton on Sunday.

FANDEMONIUM

The Government has confirmed it will back allowing 20,000 fans to attend the FA Cup Final – in a bid to speed up the return to full houses by the end of the summer.

One of next month’s FA Cup semis is also in line to have be watched by a crowd as well – although that will be entirely made up of no more than 4,000 local residents.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston is working with the FA, Premier League and other sports bodies ahead of the scheduled May 17 date for turnstiles to be re-opened for crowds of up to 10,000.

Huddleston told LBC: “We’re finalising the details but the figure of 20,000 for the FA Cup Final is one I recognise and that seems to be the ambition.

“We would like as many as possible as we believe is safe because these are important tests and processes to get the systems in place in terms of hygiene and other things.

“On May 17 the goal is for major outdoor events to have capacities of 10,000 so the pilot would be pushing it beyond that, which is quite important.”

RED ALERT

Manchester United target Ibrahima Konate’s phone has been ‘ringing all over the place’ since strong Liverpool links emerged this morning.

Asked about the reports by L’Equipe, he responded: “I woke up, I saw my phone ringing all over the place.

“I just wanted to tell them, ‘Hey, I played yesterday, I’m tired, leave me alone.’

“Frankly, I don’t even watch this.

“We can’t focus on that, there are the Euros and then my return to the club.

“You have to focus on that and not on the external things.”

BALE OUT

Gareth Bale has called for a sporting boycott on social media to eradicate vile abuse online.

The Wales captain’s team-mates Rabbi Matondo and Ben Cabango were the latest footballers to receive racist abuse on Instagram after the 1-0 win over Mexico on Saturday.

Bale said: “If everyone came together and decided to boycott social media to make a statement, if we had a campaign, not just one or two people, where a lot of big influential people in sport and in other forms of life came off social media to make a statement, then yes, I definitely think it could help.

“If that is the case then I would obviously be all for that.”

SHAW THING

Luke Shaw has followed up his assist and clean sheet against Albania with his second successive player of the month gong for United.

The England left-back beat out compatriot Dean Henderson and fellow defender Victor Lindelof to scoop the award for March.

ROY-AL RUMBLES

Roy Keane is never one to back down in an argument.

The Irishman has gone from midfield hardman, to bearded boss, to TV executioner over the last few decades.

But during all this time, he has never allowed any foe to have the last laugh.

Keane, 49, is currently strongly linked with the vacant managerial post at Celtic.

And should he make a return to the dugout, Hoops fans must be ready for some explosive moments – just ask Alan Shearer or Jamie Redknapp.

So amid his links to Parkhead, let’s take a look at some of Keane’s most memorable bust-ups HERE.

JUAN’S PAIN

Juan Mata’s mother has passed away after a long battle with illness, according to reports.

Reports in Spain described Marta Garcia as a ‘very dear, good and loving person’.

Mata himself has not confirmed the news but close pals Bruno Fernandes, David De Gea and Ander Herrera took to Instagram on Monday afternoon to share pics with Mata showing their love and support.

Fernandes said: “Friend, a very strong hug for you and your family.”

Goalkeeper De Gea captioned his post with a love heart and ex-United midfielder Herrera wrote ‘siempre’ meaning ‘forever’.

Marta had two children – the Manchester United midfielder and his sister Paula.

CRIS CROSS

Cristiano Ronaldo let his emotions get the better of him when his winning ‘goal’ against Serbia did not stand.

The Portugal superstar, 36, appeared to have bagged an injury-time winner in the World Cup qualifier.

But neither the referee nor his assistant thought the ball had crossed the line before it was hooked clear.

And with that, Ronaldo threw his toys out of the pram – but it certainly was not the first time.

Click HERE for seven times the Manchester United legend lost his cool on the pitch.

LEFT BACK LEANING

Luke Shaw is winning the race to be England’s first choice left-back this summer, Ashley Cole reckons.

Ex-England defender Cole thinks the Man Utd man has edged ahead of Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell.

He told ITV: “Shaw’s just pipping Chilwell.

“At the moment, Shaw’s in the lead, but going into the last few games of the Premier League, it’s a question of keeping consistency.”

YOUNG LION

Manchester United’s newest first-team member Shola Shoretire helped England’s Under-18s beat Wales 2-0 today.

ONLY LING WHEN YOU’RE WINNING

Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard couldn’t believe he didn’t find the net against the world’s worst team San Marino last week.

Check out this behind the scenes footage.

READY FOR FANS

Just one positive coronavirus test has been recorded by the Premier League over the past week as football continues to edge towards the return of fans.

Football fans will be allowed back in for the final day of the Premier League season on May 23.

And the continual fall in the number of coronavirus cases within top flight clubs can only bode well for the road out of lockdown and towards the return of spectators.

The Premier League confirmed that there was one new positive coronavirus test between March 22 and March 28.

Between March 22 and March 25 there were 1,045 players and club staff tested, with zero positives.

Then the one positive came when 1,165 more players and club staff were tested between March 26 and March 28.

KIT FOR KIDS

Manchester United and adidas have been donating kit to school kids in need.

SURREND-ERLING

Manchester United target Erling Haaland has been criticised for “surrendering” on Norway after their heavy defeat to Turkey.

Haaland’s country were thrashed 3-0 in Malaga in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier following a brace by Ozan Tufan and a finish by Leicester star Caglar Soyuncu.

Norway received some heavy criticism from the press, who dubbed the game “a disaster”, and the Dortmund star took a heavy beating following a poor display for his country.

Liverpool and Norway legend John Arne Riise felt like the star striker lacked the same passion he shows at the Westfalenstadion.

Riise told VG: “”He has received so much praise for showing his emotion when things aren’t going well with Dortmund, but we don’t see any of that back here.”

Retired Norwegian striker Bernt Hulsker was especially critical after Haaland’s “disappointing” performance.

He said: “He doesn’t play with the same confidence that we’re used to from him. In Dortmund he hits himself in the face if he misses such a pass.

“Here it was just surrender. I’m not saying he’s disinterested, but he exudes it. “

SHORE THING

Manchester United youngster Shola Shoretire started for England Under-18s against Wales today.

The second-half is getting underway with the score 0-0.

GOOD LUKE

Luke Shaw dazzled on his return to the England fold against Albania.

The left-back had 100 touches, 100 per cent long pass accuracy, 92 per cent pass accuracy, won three out of three tackles and laid on one assist.

NUMBER WAN

Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be in the England squad ahead of Chelsea’s Reece James, according to Troy Deeney.

The Watford skipper is a big fan of the former Crystal Palace ace’s defensive abilities.

Deeney told talkSPORT: “It’s not personal, just an opinion; I don’t think Reece James goes over Wan-Bissaka. I don’t think he should have been in this squad over Wan-Bissaka.

“He doesn’t always start for Chelsea, that’s a main one. But I just think Wan-Bissaka is so good defensively.

“You can say what you want about him with the ball, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty you’re going to need someone who will clamp down on their winger, know his role, do his job, get the ball and give it to the better players – that’s what you need in those situations.

“I’d back him or Kyle Walker because he’s so fast. But I’d have Wan-Bissaka.”

DAN THE CLUBMAN

Manchester United winger Dan James shut down claims he grew up a fan of arch rivals Liverpool.

The Welsh speedster signed for the Red Devils for £15million in summer 2019.

And the 23-year-old recalled how a Sky Sports pundit claimed he was a Reds fan as a youngster.

But James actually grew up a Chelsea supporter and he said: “When I signed for United, I can’t remember who it was, one of the Sky Sports [pundits] said: ‘he supports Liverpool’.

“I was thinking I don’t support Liverpool, but I never wanted to come out and say I supported Chelsea as a youngster.

“When I started playing for Swansea it [Chelsea] was the team I followed, but you don’t end up supporting them really.”

SHAW THING

Former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has backed Luke Shaw to be Gareth Southgate’s England left-back at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

Cole – who bagged over 100 caps for the Three Lions – reckons Shaw is just ahead of Stamford Bridge ace Ben Chilwell.

Shaw started the 2-0 win over Albania on Sunday while Chilwell began the 5-0 win over San Marino in midweek.

On ITV, Cole said: “I think it’s a tight one between Shaw who I think is just pipping it at the minute.

“I think he is playing more consistently for Manchester United, whereas Chilwell – some days he plays [for Chelsea] and some days he doesn’t.

“I think at the moment Shaw is in the lead. But who knows?

“Going into the last games of the Premier League season, who can hold their nerve and keep that consistency up before the squad gets announced.”