MANCHESTER UNITED have been labelled as frontrunners to sign Lazio sensation Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer.
The Serbian is heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford and his agent has now confirmed that United are one of the clubs that they are “dealing with”.
Meanwhile, SunSport has exclusively revealed Erik ten Hag wants James Ward-Prowse to boss Manchester United’s midfield next season.
But that could spark a £75million summer tug-of-war, as City chief Pep Guardiola is a big fan of the Southampton captain.
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Rangnick reacts to Brentford win
Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, who will undertake a consultancy role while juggling his duties as Austria manager, insists the club needs to strengthen in every position, except in goal.
Rangnick told Sky Sports: “Apart from goalkeeping where we have three excellent goalkeepers in Tom Heaton, Dean Henderson and David de Gea, in all other areas there will be players leaving the club. I wouldn’t put focus on special areas of the pitch it should go through the whole team.
“It’s obvious quite a few players will leave and there is a need for top-quality players. I strongly believe that if everyone works together we can bring Man Utd back to where we need to be.
“Other clubs only needed two or three transfer windows to challenge but from now on we need to bring in top-quality players who really help raise the level. If this happens then I don’t think it should take too long”
Milinkovic-Savic link reminder
Manchester United are leading the race for Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after his agent Mateja Kezman confirmed Old Trafford is his preferred destination.
United are long-term admirers of Milinkovic-Savic, who could be available this summer as he refuses to sign a new deal with the Biancocelesti.
And the Red Devils hold the advantage as the midfielder has his eyes set on competing in the Premier League.
Quoted by Foot01, Kezman said: “Sergej has no shortage of offers for the summer transfer window.
“At the moment we are dealing with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
“He is focused on the end of the season with Lazio, but Sergej wants to go to Manchester”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Chadwick gives Lingard opinion
Ex-Man United star Luke Chadwick has given his view on Jesse Lingard’s absence from the club’s Old Trafford lap of honour which led to the attacker’s brother slamming the Red Devils.
Chadwick said: “I think unfortunately that’s the way the game is at times. I’d assume his brother is quite close to Jesse so maybe that basically confirms he’ll be moving on at the end of the season.
“But I’m sure if he stays in the Premier League he’ll return to Old Trafford and get the kind of reception that a local boy who’s come up through the academy deserves.
“I don’t think it’s the be all or end all, he can be proud of what he achieved with United, whether he got a clap off the pitch at the end of it or not.”
Ronaldo denies claims
Cristiano Ronaldo has denied saying “I’m not finished yet” into the camera after Manchester United’s win over Brentford on Monday night.
But now he has insisted that was not what he said amid speculation over his future at Old Trafford.
In response to an Instagram post about his message into the camera, Ronaldo replied: “I didn’t say that.”
Sancho will miss season remainder
Jadon Sancho won’t play another game for Man United this season.
That’s according to United interim boss Ralf Rangnick who revealed that Sancho’s injury will rule him out of contention for the season’s remainder.
He said, via the BBC: “With Jadon [Sancho] it’s unlikely [he’ll play again this season]. He was in hospital until this afternoon.
“Harry Maguire might be available again.”
David De Gea defence
Paul Parker has launched a passionate defence in favour of Man United keeper David De Gea.
He told BonusCodebets: “We are seeing a lot of plastic journalists who are coming out saying that (Dean) Henderson is going to be the new goalkeeper, that Henderson should be the new goalkeeper.
“They are calling David de Gea part of the problem.
“He’s kept United in the game. The reason why United are still in the European spot is because of David de Gea.”
“So there are ten outfield players as far as I can see, surely you don’t want your goalkeeper being the best football player on the pitch, do you?”
What Man United need
Man United should’ve made Antonio Conte their new manager, according to Fabrizio Ravanelli.
But he reckons Ten Hag will do a good job if he can galvanise United’s youngsters and sort out the club’s defence that needs revamping.
Ravanelli told SunSport: “If Conte had had the possibility to work with the Manchester United players, certainly it would have been easier for him to achieve certain results.
“I don’t want to be nasty but honest. Without naming specific players, the whole defence should be changed completely. It needs radical change.
“I truly believe with Erik ten Hag, a new cycle is about to start. He did really well at Ajax and enjoyed remarkable results.
“He has always given great value to young players. If he starts working with the young players who understand what it means to play for United, they can make the difference and improve.”
Raphael Varane on Ten Hag
Raphael Varane is looking forward to working with Erik Ten Hag next season.
Ten Hag takes the reins at United this summer.
And Varane can’t wait for the Dutcham to arrive.
He said: “I’m very excited to work with him. I’m looking forward to working with him.
“I think he has good experience and he’s a good person to work in this club.”
Artist unveils stunning Rashford mural
A stunning mural for Marcus Rashford has brilliantly shown support for the Manchester United forward.
Artist Reuben Dangoor has produced a fine piece of artwork on a wall in the Shudehill area of Manchester – revealing online abuse and highlighting praise for Rashford.
The painting shows the Manchester-born ace in a Red Devils home shirt with his eyes closed and wearing a pair of Beats earbuds to block out the noise as part of the collaboration with the tech brand.
On the left, above the term “form is temporary” sits below a cluster of angry emoji-style faces interspersed with raging tweets hitting out at Rashford.
But the left, a lighter shade, has the opposite with happy, smiling, adoring and loving faces, coupled with love hearts and supportive tweets above the phrase “class is temporary”.
Rangnick speaks on Ronaldo’s future
Ralf Rangnick is adamant that Cristiano Ronalod will be at Man United next season.
He told Stadium Astro: “Why should he say goodbye?
He has another year of contract, as far as I know Cristiano will be here next season”
Man United face transfer challenge
Man United are reportedly facing competition in their pursuit of RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku.
The Red Devils have been tracking Nkunku in the hopes of recruiting him this summer.
But ESPN claim Bayern Munich plan to railroad United’s pursuit by tabling a bid of their own for the 24-year-old.
Roy Keane on Ronaldo
Roy Keane doesn’t understand why Man United would get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo.
He said: “There might be a conversation that needs to be had about the way you are going to play or that you are not going to be playing week in and week out.
“But why would you get rid of a player who scores that many goals? I don’t see the logic in it.”
Varane speaks on first goal
Rapahel Varane issued a rallying cry to Man United’s fans after scoring his first goal for the club.
Varane scored United’s last goal in their 3-0 win over Brentford on Monday night.
And Varane took to Instagram to share his joy.
The defender said: “Yesss. What a special feeling to score my first goal for this amazing club at Old Trafford!!”
Ronaldo ‘weak’ jibes revealed
Cristiano Ronaldo used to get teased about his lack of strength during his first spell at Man United.
The jibes made to Ronaldo were revealed by ex-United star Quinton Fortune.
He told Ladbrokes: “I was laughing at that moment last night before Cristiano [Ronaldo] won the penalty; he barged Rico Henry out of the way like he wasn’t there.
“But Ronaldo, when he arrived at United all those years ago, we used to tease him about that part of his game. We’d wind him up about his lack of strength, and he really took it personally.
“We’d tease him all the time in that first year, really getting under his skin.”
Cavani shares emotional fan moment
Edinson Cavani made a fan’s night after the club’s Brentford win.
The young United fan was in tears when she bumped into her idol Cavani.
And Cavani was in good spirits as he hugged the youngster and signed an autograph.
But it may be one of the last times the teenager gets to see Cavani in a United shirt with the striker set to leave Old Trafford this summer.
‘We need more strikers’
Ralf Rangnick wants Man United to have a wider spectrum of strikers going forward to rival Liverpool and Man City’s attacking depth.
He said to the club’s press: “If you look at, Liverpool and Manchester City, and look at their strikers, they have, in their squad, five or six top-class strikers.
“Gabriel Jesus, until four weeks ago, he hardly played. Now he’s playing again regularly, I mean you look at the number of players they have and if you ask me in his career is he playing central striker or a winger? Is [Jack] Grealish a winger or central striker?
“They’re all strikers and they can play in different positions. They can also switch, they can rotate.
“Those kinds of players, we don’t have that many.”
Get Rash in the bag
Marcus Rashford has been urged to swap Man United for Arsenal in order to relaunch his career.
That’s the view of football legend Kevin Phillips who said to Football Insider: “I can’t see him being valued at much – he just hasn’t done enough in the past year.
“I think the biggest thing he needs to do is leave Man United. He needs to reignite his career and his passion for the game.
“Arsenal can get him through the door with that £45million budget – that is far too much to spend on him, and I’d be negotiating that price down, for sure.”
Ronaldo’s best position
Ralf Rangnick has discussed Cristiano Ronaldo’s positioning.
Rangnick said: “Cristiano is not a central striker, he also does not want to play in that position.
“In order to not play central, you have to play with two strikers. But if you look at international football.
“There are not many top teams who play with two strikers.”
Ten Hag comparisions
Gary Neville reckons Erik ten Hag’s job at Man United will be similar to when Gerard Houllier or Rafa Benitez took over at Liverpool.
Not like Jurgen Klopp’s Reds’ transformation as claimed by Jamie Carragher.
Neville responded to Carragher’s suggestion by saying: “I don’t think so. Jurgen Klopp’s done the most outrageous job at Liverpool but there was no set winners when he came in.
“You’re coming now to Man United when these two and three managers [Pep, Klopp and Tuchel] are set in their jobs and their foundations are so deep.
“The job that ten Hag has is absolutely huge. It’s more of a Gerard Houlier and Rafa Benitez job because they were taking on great managers.”
Ten Hag tracks Hammers star
Erik ten Hag wants to sign West Ham star Jarrod Bowen, according to reports.
That’s according to Fichajes who claim the Dutchman has placed Bowen on the list of targets he’s compiled.
Bowen could be joined at Old Trafford by Hammers pal Declan Rice who is also high on Ten Hag’s list.
Rangnick on Ten Hag
Ralf Rangnick has revealed that he’s yet to speak with incoming Man United boss Erik ten Hag.
But he did admit that Ten Hag will make a number of changes when he does take over at Old Trafford.
He said: “So far we haven’t been able to speak. Erik’s focus is on winning the Dutch league [with Ajax Amsterdam], our focus was on our games.
“It’s obvious quite a few players will leave and there is a need for top quality players. I strongly believe that if everyone works together, we can bring Man United back to where we need to be.”
Man United’s size decline
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Man United shows they’re now a small club
That’s the opinion of Jamie Carragher who claims Liverpool would never try and re-sign Luis Suarez.
Carragher told Sky Sports: “What would you do if you were ten Hag when you’ve got the biggest name in the world?
“Would Liverpool bring back Luis Suarez? I don’t think they would. They should be bringing Haaland.
“Man City are bringing him in. It made me think of Man United as a small club.”
Ugly scenes at Old Trafford
Man United and Brentford fans clashed in ugly scenes outside Old Trafford on Monday night.
Riot police intervened as missiles were launched between the rival supporters.
Video footage shows a group of United fans chasing Bees followers as they entered the away end of the stadium.
Punches are thrown and flares ignite in the chaos.
However, things were prevented from spilling over even further as stewards and security staff teamed up with police.
They wore face masks and helmets to protect themselves from the smoke and objects thrown.
Lingard set for Serie A?
Jesse Lingard is set to leave Manchester United on a free and Juventus and AC Milan are favourites to sign him, according to reports.
ESPN report that the two Italian giants have both “registered their interest” in Lingard.
Juventus and table toppers AC Milan are “leading the chase” to land the England international.
It would end a 20-year career at the North West club with 232 senior appearances.
Lingard has barely featured under Rangnick after falling out of favour while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge.
Lingard’s brother slams Man United
Jesse Lingard’s brother has branded Manchester United as “classless” as he slammed the club for not giving the midfielder an Old Trafford send-off.
He said: “20 years of blood sweat and tears, four domestic trophies, three cup final goals, not even a farewell. No wonder it’s Conference League next year.
“Attacking players for celebrations when the clubs being sold to the super league OK.
“Class of 92, Busby Babes, you’re ran by people who don’t even know the offside trap. Classless and the fans need to realise. Goodnight, godbless!
“Been there since nine years of age and didn’t even get a send off!!! Well done bro your family are proud.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
