MANCHESTER UNITED accept they WILL lose Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, SunSport can exclusively reveal.
Red Devils chiefs have now recognised they cannot keep him against his will and want to avoid a long, drawn-out battle.
On the way in, United have made a £52million bid for Ajax winger Antony – but are still several million short of the Dutch club’s valuation.
And Frenkie de Jong’s transfer remains in the balance, with Manchester United and Barcelona unable to agree add-on payments.
- IN: Tyrell Malacia
- OUT: Paul Pogba (released), Juan Mata (released), Jesse Lingard (released), Nemanja Matic (Roma), Edinson Cavani (released), Lee Grant (released), D’Mani Mellor (released), Reece Devine (released), Paul McShane (released), Connor Stanley (released), Paul Woolston (released)
SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
Stay up to date with all the latest from Old Trafford…
Fulham close in on Pereira
Fulham are closing in on the signing of Andreas Pereira after Manchester United accepted a £10million offer.
After a loan stint with Flamengo, Pereira now looks set to return to England, with the one-cap international poised to link up with the Cottagers.
SunSport recently revealed how the West London outfit had made an approach to bring the attacking midfielder to Craven Cottage.
And now according to BBC Sport, the Red Devils have accepted a £10m proposal.
It is understood that Fulham will fork out an initial £8m, with a further £2m in add-ons.
A three-year deal is claimed to have been agreed, with an official announcement expected soon
Erik’s Ten marks
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had a one-on-one chat with youngster James Garner at Carrington, indicating that he is keen to invest on the club’s youth like he did at Ajax.
United posted a clip to their Twitter account of Ten Hag chatting to Garner, 21.
The Dutchman put his hand on the midfielder’s arm and spent some time talking to him directly while the rest of the squad walked past.
Garner impressed last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and played a major role in their promotion back to the Premier League
Erik ten Hag pulls James Garner aside for chat in Man Utd training as fans all say the same thingWalt a good idea
Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo became the player he is today courtesy of former assistant Walter Smith, according to Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher told beIN SPORTS: “For me it was Walter Smith. Walter Smith joined as assistant manager around Christmas time, New Year time.
“With Ronaldo, you could see the talent and the ability. The players were part of the reason he signed in that pre-season game against Sporting Lisbon when he tore us apart.
“We’d just arrived off an aeroplane, jet-lagged from America. That’s John O’Shea’s excuse!
“But you could see the talent. You could see this charismatic kid, you could see he had that drive to be the best player in the world – but he frustrated the life out of everybody.
“Eventually, Walter Smith came in and decided not to give fouls in training. I think the sole purpose was for Ronaldo. So when Ronaldo was doing his skills, not passing the ball and taking the mick, the lads were fouling him.
“For two weeks, Ronaldo was tearing his hair out – and he was going bananas! What happened after a few weeks? Ronaldo starts moving the ball because he’s sick of being kicked.
“Now he starts playing one or two-touch and running, now he starts getting more goals and it’s clicking in his head, he’s having more of an impact on games. That was the beginning of Ronaldo’s transition”
Star and stripes
Jesse Lingard could be on his way to the United States after Major League Soccer teams offered ‘ground-breaking’ deals to sign him.
Lingard left Manchester United after his contract with ran out last month.
The versatile midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a move to another Premier League team, with West Ham, Newcastle, and Everton the main candidates vying for his signature.
However, ESPN has revealed the England international could be tempted by a move to the MLS.
The report indicates the 29-year-old, who has been holidaying in America this summer, will hear pitches from two MLS franchises who have offered ‘ground-breaking’ deals for him
Serge Gnabry latest
Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry is set to hold crunch talks with the club as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
Gnabry has been linked with a move to Manchester United, Manchester City and former team Arsenal.
Bayern, though, are keen to hold on to the winger and are planning a meeting with him as well as his representatives, according to Bild.
The Bundesliga champions are keen for the Germany international to extend his contract in order to fight off interest from elsewhere.
Outside of the Premier League, Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest
Cris me quick
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag wants Cristiano Ronaldo’s future to be resolved quickly before it turns into a full-blown saga.
But United are determined not to let him leave for a Premier League rival, despite interest from Chelsea.
The Red Devils continue to insist their forward is not for sale and they expect him to see out the final 12 months of his contract.
But Ten Hag is concerned the noise surrounding the Portugal international will affect his preparations for the new season with all his other players now back
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Christian Eriksen latest
Manchester United face a race against time to complete Christian Eriksen’s move before departing on pre-season tour.
Eriksen is set to sign a three-year deal at Old Trafford after snubbing a stay at Brentford, where he spent the last six months.
The attacking midfielder has agreed to join United and is said to have wanted £200,000 a week.
The Denmark international is due to sign a contract, although the final figure is thought to be worth less than that.
The 30-year-old’s move to Old Trafford is subject to a medical, which the BBC claim has still not been arranged.
Now that means it is touch-and-go whether the Dane will join his new team-mates on the plane this Friday
Barc to Spain?
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent held talks with Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Monday.
At the presentation of new Barca signing Franck Kessie, Laporta openly admitted his meeting with Ronaldo’s representative Jorge Mendes.
He said: “I had dinner with Jorge Mendes on Monday and we talked about the market in general.
“Cristiano? I’m not going to talk about players we discussed at the meeting, but it’s always good to know how some names are on the market”
Scholes on Ronaldo saga
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes is ready for “the circus” to begin as Cristiano Ronaldo’s summer transfer saga hots up.
Ronaldo wants to leave Old Trafford to compete for big trophies during the twilight years of his career, but United are reluctant to let him go.
Figures within the club are unsure as to whether the star forward will jet out with the rest of the team on Friday for their tour of Thailand and Australia.
Commenting on the uncertainty, Scholes wrote on his Instagram: “Let the circus begin”
Work of Mart
Manchester United are set to complete the “final paperwork” for Ajax star and Arsenal target Lisandro Martinez.
It appears United have finally come out on top ahead of the Gunners in the race for Martinez, who is estimated to be valued at around £40million.
According to reporter Rudy Galetti, it is merely a “matter of time” until the deal is done.
Galetti also insists that the final paperwork still needs to be done but that the deal will be sealed “soon”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Tielemans transfer blow
Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Leicester star and Manchester United target Youri Tielemans and are ready to make a firm bid, according to SunSport’s Mark Irwin.
The Gunners are confident of sealing a £30million deal for Tielemans despite rival interest from United and Newcastle.
Manager Mikel Arteta has already been allowed to splash £83million this summer to beef up his squad and signed Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
Now Arteta is turning his attention to boosting his midfield and has been given the green light to make his next move in the market.
The Spanish head coach has turned to Tielemans after top target Ruben Neves was priced out by Wolves’ £75m valuation.
The North Londoners have also explored the possibility of a bid for Lazio star Sergej Malinkovic-Savic, but the Belgium international is preferred
Ronaldo still absent
Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t show up for a third time after announcing his desire to leave.
Ronaldo has been given extra time off by United chiefs because of family reasons.
The star forward was initially due back on Monday along with the rest of the players who were given additional time off following international duty.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is still nowhere to be seen for the third day in a row.
The Portugal captain has since been training at his country’s national training ground in Lisbon
Antony return possible
Manchester United could have to wait another month before attempting to sign Ajax star Antony again.
A deal may be difficult to complete because the winger is still recovering from an ankle injury he sustained in March.
According to AD, the Dutch champions are unwilling to sell the Brazil international so they are demanding at least £65million for his services.
United are said to be reluctant to pay that sum, but club chiefs are still considering a future bid
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Boehly wants Ronaldo
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly wants to sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.
But the Blues are having internal differences regarding a potential bid for Ronaldo.
According to SunSport’s Andy Dillon, Boehly is a major fan of the forward but must now convince manager Thomas Tuchel to go for him.
Tuchel and the new chairman are set to hold talks on whether to follow up with a firm bid for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner or invest elsewhere.
The German head coach insists Manchester City star Raheem Sterling and defenders are his priority, having lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in the summer.
But the American owner wants a marquee signing to launch his regime after taking over from previous owner Roman Abramovich last month in a £4.25billion deal
Lisandro Martinez latest
Ajax ace Lisandro Martinez has told the club that he wants to quit and move to the Premier League.
Martinez is wanted by both Manchester United and Arsenal to bolster their defence.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Lisandro Martínez, back in Holland today – he’s been very clear with Ajax telling the club that he only wants to leave to try his first Premier League experience.
“Manchester United are pushing as [Erik] ten Hag wants Lisandro as priority – Arsenal, still there fighting.”
And The Mirror also claims that Martinez “pleaded” with Ajax to “grant him his wish” to play in the Premier League
De Jong to stay
Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong is not for sale, according to club president Joan Laporta.
De Jong has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, but now the transfer seems dead in the water following Laporta’s latest comments.
Whilst unveiling new signing Franck Kessie, he said: “Frenkie is not for sale. He is a Barcelona player.
“We don’t want to transfer him”
Ronaldo offered to Chelsea
Chelsea have been offered the opportunity to sign Manchester United’s wantaway star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo who has been granted extra time off from pre-season, is frustrated over United’s lack of transfer activity this summer.
And the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is desperate to fight for trophies and play in the Champions League this coming season.
Chelsea’s new owner Todd Boehly is keen to sign the star forward in the summer transfer window
Credit: GETTY IMAGES MLS clubs want Jesse Lingard
Free agent Jesse Lingard could be on his way to the United States after Major League Soccer teams offered ‘ground-breaking’ deals to sign him, according to reports.
Lingard, 29, left Manchester United after his contract with The Red Devils ran out last month.
He has been repeatedly linked with a move to another Premier League team, with West Ham, Newcastle, and Everton the main candidates vying for his signature.
However, ESPN has revealed the attacking midfielder could be tempted by a move to the MLS.
The report indicates Lingard, who has been holidaying in America this summer, will hear pitches from two MLS franchises who have offered ‘ground-breaking’ deals for him.
Ronaldo’s exit will be a ‘circus’
Paul Scholes is anticipating a frenzy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s imminent Man United exit.
Ronaldo told the club he wants to leave this summer.
And Scholes thinks his exit will be shrouded in a media frenzy.
He wrote on Instagram regard Ronaldo’s exit: “Let the circus begin.”
Eriksen could miss tour
New Man United signing Christian Eriksen could miss the club’s pre-season tour.
The Red Devils are gearing up for a trip to Thailand ahead of the new Prem campaign.
But Eriksen may have to miss the trip as he still needs to undergo an extensive medical, according to the BBC.
And although the Denmark international has verbally agreed terms with United, there’s a few details that still need to be ironed out, the report adds.
This means he may not be unveiled as a United player until after the club jet off on Friday.
Maguire unlikes Ronaldo post
Harry Maguire’s Instagram account has unliked a post claiming Ronaldo was upset about a wage cut at Man United.
His profile – @harrymaguire93 – initially double tapped the post about Ronaldo’s 25 percent pay reduction along with thousands of others social media users.
But now the United captain’s account has swiftly removed the like.
It is unclear if the initial post approval was accidental or intentional.
Ten Hag’s management skills praised
Erik ten Hag has been quick to make his mark in Manchester United training.
The Dutchman has earned rave reviews after being spotted pulling James Garner aside for a one-on-one chat at Carrington.
United posted a clip to their Twitter account of Ten Hag chatting to Garner, 21, who also returned yesterday after being called up for England U21 duty last month.
Ten Hag put his hand on Garner’s arm and spent some time talking to him directly while the rest of the squad walked past.
United fans on social media have been left impressed by Ten Hag’s man management after seeing the clip.
De Jong set for Barca stay
Frenkie de Jong is not for sale, Barcelona chief Joan Laporta has revealed.
De Jong has been heavily linked with a move to Man United, but now the transfer seems to dead in the water following Laporta’s latest comments.
Whilst unveiling new signing Franck Kessie, Laporta said: “Frenkie is not for sale. He is a Barcelona player.
“We don’t want to transfer him.”
Di Maria to Juventus confirmed
Angel Di Maria is set to complete his free transfer to Juventus.
The former Manchester United winger has left Paris Saint-Germain after an epic seven-year stint in the French capital.
In their initial attempt, Juventus offered a two-year contract when Di Maria only wanted a one-year contract.
Now it seems that the veteran attacker has got his wish and is about to make his switch to the Serie A club official, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Maguire likes Ronaldo fury post
Harry Maguire has ‘LIKED’ a post on social media about Cristiano Ronaldo being “upset” with the 25 per cent wage cut at Manchester United.
Reports claim the salary slash, which came as a result of United failing to qualify for the Champions League, contributed to Ronaldo sensationally asking to leave the club.
The suggestions, according to Manchester Evening News, were posted on Instagram by SPORTbible this morning.
And Maguire’s official Instagram account ‘liked’ the post.
His profile – @harrymaguire93 – double tapped the post about Ronaldo along with thousands of others social media users.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
