MANCHESTER UNITED have announced that leading scouts Jim Lawler and Marcel Bout have decided to step down amid the clubs widespread of criticism in recent weeks.
Lawler has served the club since 2014 whilst Bout was brought in during the Louis Van Gaal era.
Meanwhile, Paul Scholes has delivered his harsh verdict following United’s thrashing at Anfield – labelling the team as ‘unrecognisable’.
And Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted leaving Carrington in the back of a Mercedes this afternoon.
Stay up to date with all the latest from Old Trafford in our live blog…
Phil the gap
Tottenham are set to compete with Man Utd to sign Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to the Telegraph.
Earlier this month, the Red Devils reportedly put the 26-year-old at the top of a Three Lions summer shortlist.
Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are also being monitored.
Credit: Getty Reds clash
Jamie Carragher trolled Gary Neville on Twitter with a hilarious video following Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Man Utd.
The clip began with with reference to a comment that Neville previously made about Thiago, where he said: “Bayern Munich never let anybody go who’s half decent.”
But, the Man Utd legend quickly responded by saying that he had “one good game against a pub team!”
Tor-n apart
Man Utd have reportedly reignited their interest in Pau Torres as part of a massive squad overhaul this summer.
The Red Devils wanted to sign the 25-year-old defender from Villarreal last summer but opted to recruit Raphael Varane instead.
According to Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils are willing to offload Eric Bailly and Phil Jones in order to facilitate Torres’ transfer.
However, Jones and Bailly are unlikely to be the only casualties at Old Trafford this summer as interim boss Ralf Rangnick revealed TEN players could exit the club when Erik ten Hag takes over.
Credit: Getty
Ferd up
Rio Ferdinand tore into Ralf Rangnick’s flops following the humbling 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday night.
The former defender raged at the current culture that has infiltrated the club in recent years.
Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: “There needs to be fear, man.
“There needs to be ‘Oof if I step out of line, if I go to a nightclub on the wrong day I’m gonna get butchered’ – not only by one of the senior players but also by one of the coaches, because they have got their ear to the ground and people will tell them.
“That’s how it needs to be run – you go out in town at the wrong time, you need to be checked.”
Ferdinand slams Man Utd
Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand has slammed his former club for their performance against Liverpool on Tuesday.
When speaking on FIVE, he said: “The whole team was a shambles.
“Defensively, every goal you can pick out and go ‘what was he doing’. Every single one of those players, you think oh my god where are you.
“No awareness, no awareness of runners or players.
“The two full-backs, [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka and [Diogo] Dalot, not following their men and [Harry] Maguire in no man’s land. Not tight to the striker, not covering the run and in the middle of nowhere. People will say you shouldn’t pick out.
“You can’t hide from the fact that it was an embarrassment yesterday.”
Credit: Getty Zach Attach
The 15-year-old son of Ryan Giggs is continuing his own climb to Manchester United’s first-team after recently starring on a trip to the USA.
He was part of the group that headed to Dallas, Texas earlier this month to take part in the Adidas Generation Cup.
The talented teen plays left-back, just behind the wing position his father achieved legendary status at during his playing days at Old Trafford.
And his performances have already been recognised on the international stage.
Last year he received his first call-up to Wales’ U15 squad and has now been capped at that level.
Credit: Getty Neville continues to slam Man Utd
Following Man Utd’s defeat to Liverpool yesterday, Gary Neville ranted on his podcast that Liverpool – especially pass-master Thiago – “took the p***” out of United as the match was so easy for them.
The former England full-back said: “Liverpool toyed with Manchester United.
“Thiago was laughing when he came off, he was laughing at Manchester United all game.
“I don’t normally swear on the podcast but he took the p*** out of Manchester United tonight.
“That was so simple for the Liverpool players tonight.”
Rangnick looks to Arsenal clash
Following yesterday’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool, Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick said that his team are now completely focussed on Saturday’s match against Arsenal.
He said: “We said that quite a few times in the past couple of weeks. We still have to be realistic.
“I don’t know how many players will be available. Hopefully we have a couple of them at least available but right now I don’t know.
“The game will take place in four days but for us it’s about the focus only on the next game.”
Credit: Getty “Exposed”
Man Utd’s fall from grace was “exposed” during their 4-0 thumping at Liverpool last night, claims Graeme Souness.
Appearing on Sky Sports, the 68-year-old said: “If you were to pick a (combined) strongest eleven I wouldn’t pick a Man United player in that eleven.
“You just cannot put a United player in that team and it shows how far off they are.
“Man United are a truly enormous club on the world stage, and how far they’ve dropped has been exposed again.”
Souness then put the bulk of responsibility onto the players’ shoulders.
He added: “No one holds up a mirror and asks if they’re part of the problem. Managers come and go these boys get the manager sacked for fun.
“Right now that group have taken United to where they are.
“Man United are a magnificent, one of the greatest football clubs in the world for what they’ve achieved, the disasters they’ve been through…
“They should not be struggling with a group of players like that it’s not acceptable.”
BREAKING: Ronaldo back at Carrington
Cristiano Ronaldo was back at Manchester United’s training ground today as he was spotted for the first time since the tragic death of his son.
The Portuguese legend, 37, was seen leaving Carrington in the back of a Mercedes at 1.20pm just days after revealing the awful news to the world.
Ronaldo and his 28-year-old partner Georgina Rodriguez announced on Monday night one of their twins had died.
Mo confusion
Mohamed Salah has denied disrespecting Man Utd after quotes from his post-match interview were taken out of context.
When speaking to Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 4-0 win over the Red Devils, he said: “I think they make our life easier in the midfield and in the back.
“They always try to give us the ball just in a situation like 1v1, so that makes our lives much easier.
“So, I think when we defend, we had a clean sheet here, a clean sheet there, so that makes our lives easier to score.
“We just go to the game and want to score one goal, then once we get the first, we want to get the second, then once we get the second, we go for third.
“I think it’s a top performance from us here and away also. We hope that we can just carry on like this.”
But, Salah has since had to clarify that he was talking about his Liverpool teammates.
He tweeted: “I meant our midfield, and our defence, make it easy for us. I was not talking about the Manchester United players whom I respect.”
Rud awakening
Antonio Rudiger is reportedly set to turn down a move to Man Utd.
According to Manchester Evening News, the defender is likely to reject an offer from the Red Devils because he wants to move to a club that is guaranteed Champions League football.
Rudiger is expected to leave Chelsea at the end of the season.
He has been linked to Juventus and Real Madrid.
Credit: Mark Pain / Premium Sport Ran away
Former Man Utd defender Gary Neville has suggested that Ralf Rangnick could leave the club BEFORE the end of the season.
After last night’s clash between the Red Devils and Liverpool, he said: “He’s ready to go, him.
“It’s only his class and his professionalism that’s stopping him telling us what he really thinks of these players. It could come.
“Arsenal away Saturday, Chelsea at home Thursday… I can’t think he’s going to keep on watching this.
“He’s alluded to it in a couple of interviews but it really is low because there was nothing in that first half.”
“Finish 8th…” – Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes has labelled Man Utd as “unrecognisable” following their latest embarrassment – and urged them to settle for EIGHTH.
United now sit sixth in the league, behind Arsenal and Tottenham – just two points above West Ham and Wolves, should the latter win their game in hand.
Ralf Rangnick’s side could feasibly slip to eighth in the Premier League – but Scholes HOPES that’s the case.
Scholes, was so incensed after his former club’s catastrophic implosion at Anfield he shared a rare Instagram post urging the board to avoid any European football and give incoming boss Erik ten Hag time.
Alongside a picture of the Dutch manager, Scholes wrote: “Finish 8th and give this man the time he needs…
“[I’m] saddened by what’s happening… unrecognisable football club.”
Five for Ten
Man Utd should only keep FIVE members of their current squad as they rebuild, claims former defender Mikael Silvestre.
When speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “And for the ones that need to stay for sure, I would say the backbone of the team.
“Bruno Fernandes signed a new contract, so he’s one that needs to stay.
“David de Gea, Raphael Varane who we haven’t seen much of this season, Harry Maguire needs to improve.
“I think he’s a good leader, he’s having a difficult time at the moment, but he needs to stick to United and work hard to go back to his best.
“And I would say Marcus Rashford would need to stay as well.
“Those guys I think have got United in their heart but for the rest I think there is questions marks for all of them.”
“Won’t shift the dial”
Man Utd legend Gary Neville has reacted to the departure of two club scouts… but he doesn’t seem pleased with the move.
He took to Twitter to share his thoughts.
BREAKING: Man Utd’s two leading scouts leave Old Trafford
Man Utd’s two most senior scouts have left Old Trafford as the club prepares for a transfer overhaul under Erik ten Hag.
Chief scout Jim Lawlor and head of global scouting Marcel Bout have both left the Theatre of Dreams as the Red Devils look to change their structure.
In a statement given to The Athletic, United said: “Jim Lawlor has decided to step down from his role as Chief Scout in the Summer after 16 years with the club.
“During that time, Jim played a key role in the development of multiple trophy-winning Manchester United teams and was an important source of guidance to Sir Alex Ferguson and each of the managers who have followed him.
“Jim leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future.
“Marcel Bout has departed from his role as Head of Global Scouting after eight years with the club.
“A respected figure within and outside of Manchester United, Marcel has played an important part as an assistant coach and in the strengthening of our scouting capabilities in recent years.
“Marcel leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future.”
Gary Neville “proud” of Hannibal Mejbri
Neville praised the young star for his attitude when he came off the bench during Man Utd’s defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday.
He said: “To be fair at least the kid’s showing something.
“Honestly, it takes a young kid to come on and show the rest of them how to sprint to the ball and put a challenge in. I’m actually proud of him.
“Maybe he doesn’t like the idea of Liverpool passing around him, I wish the others were the same.”
Credit: AP Pogba injury update
Paul Pogba was forced off just 10 minutes into yesterday’s game against Liverpool.
Ralf Rangnick has since confirmed that he had sustained a calf injury and is expected to be out for the next few weeks.
“He pulled his calf muscle and, as it seems right now, this will not be an injury like the one Fred has which will be gone in one week.
“I fear he will not be available for Arsenal or Chelsea.”
Credit: Getty “Nothing to lose”
Jesse Lingard has urged Man Utd players to regroup ahead of their game against Arsenal on Saturday.
He said: “There was nothing to lose. For us as players, we just had to press, stay up, stay high, press them and they’d make mistakes.
“We were doing that for the first 25, 30 minutes [of the second half] and putting Liverpool under pressure.
“We nearly created some chances from that so we’ve got to start off with the right mindset of pressing and being intense from the get-go.
“Otherwise, you’re going to fall back into shape and the other team is going to keep the ball so you’ve got to put pressure on the ball.
“Obviously Liverpool are a good team but I think in the second half we started a little bit brighter, we were on the front foot a bit more and it gave us that intensity.
“We’ve got a big game coming up. We’ve got to regroup fast this week, it’s a big three points on Saturday.
“It’s another free hit and we’ll go there with the mindset of winning, staying on the front foot, being intense, doing the basics and having that energy to go and win the game.
“We need to work hard first before you can start playing. Win your individual battles and then you’ll win the game hopefully.
“We’ll work hard throughout this week. However we train reflects how we play, so we can increase the energy and intensity in training to help that.”
“We apologise to the fans”
Bruno Fernandes has said that Man Utd fans deserve better following Tuesday’s defeat to Liverpool.
He said: “It’s a bad result once again. Not much that I can say. Obviously, [we] apologise to the fans. It will never be enough but obviously it is what we can do now.
“They [the fans] don’t deserve that we play in this way, they deserve much more from us.
“The way they support us until the end, the way they stay even after the whistle to applaud us, they deserve much more from us.
“We have to say the things, but that has to be kept in the dressing room.
“We know there is not much we can do now the game is over. We have to think already to the next one that will be a tough one again.
“We have to look in ourselves, we have to look inside, from the top until the bottom and understand what is going wrong.”
Fernandes holds crisis talks
Following Man Utd’s defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday evening, Bruno Fernandes held crisis talks in the Red Devils’ dressing room.
Ralf Rangnick said: “We had a conversation in the locker room right now where Bruno also said something towards the team and I said something.
“In the end, right now it doesn’t help. We have to hope for some injured players coming back for Saturday and then just take it game-by-game.
“I don’t think it helps to speculate about our chances of the top four after a performance like the one today.
“What I tell them in the locker room stays there, obviously. But in general, it is similar to what I say now.
“We were just not up to it in the first-half, we didn’t win a single second ball in most of the first-ball situations we were just spectators, onlookers.
“If you play like that against a team like Liverpool it’s difficult.”
Credit: Getty Rebuild
After yesterday’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool, Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick said that the club are expected to sign up to TEN players when the season ends.
He said: “There will be a rebuild here. Six, seven, maybe ten new players will come.”
Last week it was reported that the club are expected to get rid of seven players in the next transfer window.
The list includes; Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Lee Grant and Andreas Pereira.
Fer real
Rio Ferdinand was forced to switch his TV and phone notifications off after the 4-0 loss to rivals Liverpool.
The Red Devils were taught a lesson by Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple-chasing Reds.
It took just five minutes for Liverpool to take the lead through Luis Diaz, despite playing against a back five.
Sadio Mane went on to bag himself a brace and Mohamed Salah also got on the scoresheet, capping off an excellent display from Liverpool’s magnificent front three.
But the hammering at the hands of rivals Liverpool forced club legend Ferdinand to switch his TV off.
The former defender also had to switch his phone notifications off due to the sheer embarrassment.
Bold Claims
Piers Morgan has said that Manchester United’s performance against Liverpool was “absolutely abysmal”.
He also argued that the Red Devils would be in a relegation battle if they didn’t have Cristiano Ronaldo.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
