MANCHESTER UNITED are looking to keep their remote chances of Champions League football alive.
But work is already going on off the pitch to get the club ready for the arrival of Erik ten Hag.
Midfield targets are a particular focus with Paul Pogba set to leave the club this summer.
According to the Italian press, the Red Devils are in talks with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s representatives and seen as frontrunners to sign the Lazio man.
And Ruben Neves’ representatives are said to be “inviting” the club to make a bid for the Wolves star.
Kalvin Phillips of Leeds is another reported target, who could make a move across the Pennines for a fee of £50m.
Meanwhile Ralf Rangnick has confirmed he will continue working with Manchester United in a consultancy role this summer.
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Ex-right-back Johnson on Pogba
Former Chelsea and Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson has said that Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba doesn’t have “the character to suit either Liverpool or Chelsea.”
The Frenchman is out of contract this summer and can leave United for free.
On Pogba, Johnson told GGRecon: “I wouldn’t go for him.
“He’s a sensational individual and he’s won most of the things you can win in football but I don’t believe he has the character to suit either Liverpool or Chelsea.
“There’s no way Jurgen Klopp would sign him. No chance.”
‘I’m not dead’
Football super-agent Mino Raiola has been forced to deny claims he has DIED with an angry tweet.
Italian media wrongly claimed the world’s biggest football agent, 54, had passed away, which was then reported by the world’s press.
Real Madrid even paid their condolences after the fake reports emerged.
But the man himself has denied this from his hospital bed.
Raiola tweeted: “Current health status for the ones wondering: p***d off second time in 4 months they kill me.
“Seem also able to resuscitate.”
It is believed Raiola has been suffering with a lung condition, according to German outlet Bild.
The Italian looks after the likes of Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland and the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Could Raiola wreck United plans?
Manchester United managers have not enjoyed the most positive of relationships with Mino Raiola over the years, and Erik ten Hag could become the latest to have his plans thwarted by the super agent.
Ten Hag will arrive from Ajax in the summer and hopes to bring young midfielder Ryan Gravenberch with him as he begins his overhaul of the flailing Red Devils.
However, the 19-year-old Dutch international’s agent is none other than Raiola, who has been meeting with representatives of Bayern Munich over a move for his client to the Bundesliga.
While frustrating many managers, board members and fans, Raiola has built an impressive reputation for putting his players first, and doing all he can to get them the best deals possible.
United hit by UEFA fine
Manchester United have been handed a €10,000 fine following incidents that marred their Champions League home defeat to Atletico Madrid last month.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone was the target of several missiles thrown from the crowd at the end of a bad-tempered Last 16 tie at Old Trafford.
The UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body announced that the fine had been handed out for the ‘throwing of objects’ although didn’t reference the Argentine coach directly.
Welcome Manchester United fans
Manchester United are facing an injury crisis as they prepare to host Chelsea at Old Trafford this evening.
Ralf Rangnick revealed that he would be without EIGHT first team players for the Premier League fixture that United must surely win to keep their dwindling hopes of a top-four finish alive.
Behind-the-scenes, officials have begun working on a number of summer transfer targets – and they include Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
The England international has previously indicated that he would never join Manchester United, but the Red Devils are hoping to make the player an offer he can’t refuse.
And United could splash the cash again when it comes striker Victor Osimhen.
Rumours in Italy state that an £84million offer is being submitted to Napoli for the free-scoring Nigerian.
Meanwhile, Rangnick has rubbished reports that he compiled a dossier for the United board labelling his players ‘selfish’ and ‘unprofessional’.
The interim boss insists that would always protect his players, and his only current concern is helping incoming manager Erik ten Hag to build a squad capable of challenging for titles.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
