AJAX star Antony is reportedly set on a move to Manchester United and ready to snub Newcastle.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils face a battle with Real Madrid for the signature of Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
United are also aiming to strengthen their back-line as they have now begun talks with Ajax full-back, Jurrien Timber according to reports.
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United’s transfer struggles
Former Man United star Teddy Sheringham reckons the Red Devils have fallen down the pecking order as a destination for big players.
Sheringham made the claims whilst discussing United’s interest in Harry Kane.
The former England striker told Genting Casino: “Manchester United are falling down the pecking order for big players, but having said that, they are still a massive club, they’re still a massive draw.
“If they do come calling, it’ll be hard to turn them down. Even if they’re not in any European competitions next season, it would still be a very tough thing to say no to Manchester United.”
Ajax star’s message to Ten Hag
Ajax star Antony has hinted that he’s willing to follow Erik ten Hag to Man United.
Antony said to Ten Hag in a video message: “I want to wish you all the best at your new club.
“I also want to thank you for everything you taught me. I am thankful all the opportunities and learning every day.
“Know that I will always stand with you if you need me.”
‘McClaren will be a good addition’
Steve McClaren will be a great help to Erik ten Hag at Man United.
McClaren’s being lined up for a return to United as a coach.
And Rio Ferdinand reckons McClaren will be able to steer Ten Hag in the right direction.
He said: “I think he’ll be a good addition. What’s good with ten Hag is that he’s already got a relationship from before.
“And he will be able to steer him in the right direction.”
Man City enter Phillips transfer race
Man City have reportedly entered the transfer race to sign Leeds star Kalvin Phillips – with the ace allegedly set to snub rivals Man United.
West Ham had a club record £50m bid for Leeds United’s Phillips rejected in the January window but are set to try again this summer.
And the 26-year-old could be available at a cut price if the Elland Road club drop to the Championship.
Manchester United and Aston Villa are also both interested in Phillips with Steven Gerrard having had his own bid for the Yorkshire Pirlo knocked back during the winter window.
Now the Daily Mirror state that City have emerged as contenders for the England international.
Barca track wonderkid
Barcelona are planning to make an offer for Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick.
That’s according to SPORT, who claim Barca hope to buy Endrick when he turns 16 in July and signs a professional contract with the Brazilian outfit.
He would then remain with Palmeiras until he’s 18, and then join Barca in 2024, the report adds.
It’s also claimed that Barca plan to table an offer with a fixed sum plus a variable component depending on the youngster’s progression.
The news will be a blow to Man United who have also been tracking Endrick.
Man United get transfer boost
Man United transfer target striker Sasa Kalajdzic is set to leave Stuttgart this summer.
Stuttgart’s chief Sven Mislintat said to Bild about the attacker: “As things stand, we have to generate another significant transfer surplus in this summer of transfers.
“So nothing other than the renewed objective of staying in the league is realistic for me. Especially if you take into account the quality of the already determined promoted teams.
“It would be outstanding if we can keep Sasa as a player and guy in our team. However, in my estimation, this is not very likely.”
Pogba transfer battle
PSG and Juventus are locked in a battle to sign Paul Pogba.
Pogba’s contract with United expires this summer.
And it had been reported he had agreed terms with Juve.
But now, the Daily Star claims Pogba’s weighing up offers from the Italian giants and PSG.
Gakpo speaks on future
PSV ace Cody Gakpo has revealed he’s open to a transfer if he’s guaranteed regular football amid interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Man United.
But with the World Cup looming, Gakpo declared he’s yet to make a decision on his future this summer.
Gakpo told De Telegraaf: “Anything can happen this summer. I will now calmly compare all the options and see what is best for me. Staying another year is also an option.
“It would be a shame if I went somewhere where I wouldn’t get a [game] at all and I could miss the World Cup. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Lingard praises United youngsters
Jesse Lingard was full of praise for Man United’s young stars who won the FA Youth Cup.
Lingard told United’s media: “It’s brilliant. I think it’s been a long time coming.
“With the team that they had, I’m sure they must have had confidence in the way they got through to the final and getting the job done.
We knew how hard it was when we were playing in the Youth Cup. We had a lot of tough games but we stuck together and played the Man United way.
“They did that, they stuck to their task and they won the Youth Cup, which is a huge honour.”
Ten Hag plans Botman swoop
Man United boss Erik ten Hag is plotting to hijack AC Milan’s deal to sign Sven Botman, reports suggest.
Milan are reportedly on the verge of sealing a £25 million transfer for the defender.
But it’s been reported that Ten Hag is planning a last-minute grab to pinch the 22-year-old, Football Insider claim.
The report states that Botman was one of the names mentioned when Ten Hag met with United director of football John Murtough last week.
Ten Hag’s strength’s discussed
Erik ten Hag’s strength lies in working with youngsters as opposed to older players.
And the Dutchman will thrive at Old Trafford if he sticks with the up and coming stars, Paul Parker thinks.
He told indiabetting.co.in: “That was his (Erik ten Hag’s) strength for Ajax.”
“United have always been that way under Sir Alex. That’s the way he was, he was always looking to bring young players in the dressing room and tell us all they are gonna take your place.”
“In my case, he was a hundred percent right with Gary Neville.”
Garnacho tipped for super stardom
Parker also reckons can become a global star at Man United like Eric Cantona and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
He added to indiabetting.co.in: “(Alejandro) Garnacho will mostly get an opportunity to be training regularly and be filtered in. Maybe that will affect some of the egos of the players that are already there, but the right players.
“It’s Manchester United, maybe taking a step back, in the sense of not go be going out and buying players commercially, actually trying to make them commercially viable, which is the way it was before.
“I always look at Ruud van Nistelrooy coming from PSV, no one really knew him. When he left Manchester United everyone in the world knew him. And that’s how Sir Alex Ferguson did it.
“Eric Cantona became a big name when he came to Manchester United. Yes, he was known at Leeds cause he helped them win the last league championship. But when he came to Manchester United, Manchester United and Sir Alex made him global.
“And there’s been many a player like that, Andy Cole to a point. Became global when he came to Manchester United. And that’s what Sir Alex did and that’s what the club is about now.”
Ten Hag’s manager credentials examined
Erik ten Hag isn’t the right man for the Man United job if he doesn’t give Alejandro Garnacho a shot at first-team football.
That’s according to Paul Parker who told indiabetting.co.in: “There is an opportunity for him (Alejandro Garnacho) because of the new manager coming in.”
“The manager coming in will integrate him and other young players because that’s what he does.”
“It’s an easy thing for him, that’s what he does and if he doesn’t do that, then Manchester United have got the wrong kind of manager.”
Salford City job shock
Man United under-23 coach Neil Wood is the shock choice for the Salford City job, ALAN NIXON WRITES.
The League Two outfit’s Class of 92 owners see Wood as the solution to their problem after failing to land Michael Appleton.
Wood has been working at United for the last three years after spending most of his playing career there as a squad understudy.
The former midfielder has cut his teeth with the youngsters at Old Trafford and will now move up to senior level.
The links between Salford owners Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes and their old club is strong and this could help sign players from United.
Ten Hag plans Ajax raid
Lisandro Martinez is the latest Ajax star tipped to make the move to Manchester United along with Erik ten Hag.
The Argentina centre-half has been added to incoming Red Devils boss Ten Hag’s wish list, according to The Telegraph.
The 24-year-old moved from Argentina club football to join the Dutch giants in 2019 and has helped win two Eredivisie titles.
The Telegraph article points out Martinez is adept at playing out from the back and suited to Ten Hag’s ‘one-v-one defensive tactic’.
The six-cap star has three seasons left on his Ajax deal and is valued at about £25million.
De Jong given career advice
Frenkie de Jong has been urged to snub Man United and remain with Barcelona by Steve McManaman.
The ex-Liverpool star told HorseRacing.net: “For him to go to Manchester United then I think they’d have to pay him more than he’s earning at Barcelona.
“Which I think will be a really hard thing to do considering that he went to Barcelona for a huge amount of money.
“You’d rather stay at Barcelona in the Champions League with Xavi trying to change things around.
“Players like [Andreas] Christensen and [Robert] Lewandowski potentially coming in makes that a more exciting challenge in my opinion.”
Betting suspended on Wood appointment
Manchester United’s U23 coach Neil Wood is set to take his first steps into senior management by being appointed boss of League Two Salford City.
The 39-year-old was a 9/2 shot for the job overnight, but firm Paddy Power have suspended betting this afternoon after a string of wagers were placed on the former Blackpool and Oldham player.
The position is vacant after Salford parted company with Gary Bowyer at the end of the season after the club failed to make the play-offs.
The Ammies are owned by United’s ‘Class of 92’ that include the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and David Beckham.
United in battle for Sergej
Manchester United are preparing for a three-way fight with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The Lazio star has been linked with Old Trafford for several months, but The Mail are reporting that the Red Devils are now ready to make a move for the midfielder.
However, United’s hopes of landing the Serbian have been hampered by the calibre of the other clubs in for him – especially considering Milinkovic-Savic’s main reason for wanting to leave the Stadio Olimpico is Lazo’s failure to reach the Champions League.
The 27-year-old capped another impressive season in the Italian capital with an injury time equaliser at Juventus on Monday.
Credit: @WhoScored Twitter Kante would improve United midfield
N’Golo Kante is guaranteed to improve the Manchester United midfield if the Red Devils are able to tempt the 31-year-old to Old Trafford this summer.
United have been heavily linked with the Frenchman over the past few days, and Paul Parker believes the deal would be a no-brainer should it present itself.
The former England international believes that Kante could fulfil the role that current United midfielders struggle with.
In conversation with indiabetting.co.in, Parker said of Kante: “He will improve Manchester United’s midfield a hundred per cent because he can go and get the ball off of players without always fouling them.
“He doesn’t go around looking to hurt people and when he does get the ball, he keeps the ball.”
Timber transfer will cost £30m
Manchester United will have to pay £30million to bring Jurrien Timber to Old Trafford this summer.
That’s the understanding of transfers journalist Ekrem Konur, who understands that Ajax have set an asking price of €35m – approximately £30m – for the 20-year-old.
Incoming United boss Erik ten Hag has hinted that he would love to bring Timber with him from Amsterdam, but admitted that many of Europe’s top club will be monitoring the Dutch international’s movements.
Timber mainly operates as a centre-back, but has also filled in admirably at right-back when required this season.
Mourinho wants another Matic reunion
Jose Mourinho wants to link up with Nemanja Matic for a third time by bringing the midfielder to Roma, according to reports in Italy.
Mourinho, who previously managed the Serbian at both Chelsea and Manchester United, has made no secret of his admiration for Matic.
The 33-year-old is out of contract at Old Trafford this summer, and looks nailed on for a move to the Italian capital on a free.
Henderson relishing loan move away
Dean Henderson is nearing an Old Trafford exit – but only temporarily, according to The Telegraph.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper had been expected to leave Manchester United the summer after failing to wrestle the number one spot from David de Gea.
Newcastle United have been heavily linked with the stopper, but even the oil-rich Magpies have baulked at the Red Devils’ £40million asking price.
Henderson has three years remaining on his £110,000-per-week deal at Old Trafford, but is not keen on spending another season on the substitutes’ bench.
United could do the Botman
Manchester United are considering a summer swoop for centre-back Sven Botman, according to the Football Insider.
The Lille defender has been heavily linked with a move to AC Milan, but reports now suggest that the Red Devils could beat the Italian giants to the 22-year-old.
Erik ten Hag has already begun discussing transfer targets with United officials, and has reportedly made a left-sided centre-half a priority.
Botman has earned many plaudits during his two seasons at Stade Pierre Mauroy, and was heavily linked with both Newcastle and Tottenham during the January transfer window.
The Dutch U21 international has three years remaining on his contract with the Ligue 1 outfit.
Good morning Man Utd fans
Erik ten Hag will “work remotely” this week after moving to Manchester on Monday.
The Dutchman is already in town just days after leading Ajax to title glory.
But Ten Hag will stay away from Carrington and Old Trafford until Ralf Rangnick has taken charge of United’s final game against Crystal Palace.
The Manchester Evening News adds Ten Hag does not want to “distract” players as they look to secure a Europa League finish.
Meanwhile, Dutch legend Marco van Basten has urged Erik ten Hag to sign Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech for Man United.
Ziyech and Ten Hag worked together at Ajax, with the Moroccan a key player in his XI.
And with the playmaker struggling for minutes at Chelsea, Van Basten believes a reunion should be on the cards.
He said: “What comes to my mind now is that I think Ziyech who already plays in England could be a very good footballer at Manchester United for Erik.”
Elsewhere, Juventus deny they held talks with Man Utd star Paul Pogba over a free transfer.
Chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene said: “Pogba is a United player, respect first of all goes to him and his team.
“His agents are the same as [Moise] Kean and [Luca] Pellegrini, it is normal to meet them. The subject today was not Pogba.
“If we wanted to talk to Pogba we must talk to United first, it’s a gentleman’s agreement between the clubs.”
Finally, Man United have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt.
United have been linked with a summer move for the Juventus defender.
But the centre-back has reportedly penned a new deal with the Serie A giants until 2026, according to Diario Sport.
Ronaldo joins Chesire gym
Cristiano Ronaldo has stunned local residents by reportedly joining a plush £255-a-week gym in Cheshire.
The Manchester United star has signed up for the exclusive Cpase health club in Knutsford.
He has been spotted there by surprised members a number of times over the last week alongside long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez, according to the Telegraph.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
