MANCHESTER UNITED have announced they have hired a new deputy director of football to work under John Murtough.
Andy O’Boyle has quit the Premier League, where he was head of elite performance, to work at rebuilding the Old Trafford squad.
Meanwhile, the club are very close to striking a deal to sign sought-after forward Darwin Nunez, according to reports from Portugal.
The Benfica talisman was in red hot form last season and United are said to be the front runners in luring the Uruguayan.
Meanwhile, the club are also interested in a deal for Leeds winger Raphinha, who is said to be more keen on a move to United than he is Barcelona.
And the Red Devils are said to be considering activating Arnaut Danjuma’s £38m release clause.
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More from Souness
Liverpool great Graeme Souness added he even went to bed after the meeting thinking he was going to be appointed Manchester United manager.
That was before Sir Alex Ferguson managed to win a trophy at Old Trafford.
Souness concluded: “I went to bed thinking I was going to be the next manager of Man United.
“That would have gone down well wouldn’t it!”
Graeme Sou close
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness claims he came close to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in the late 1980s before Fergie lifted a trophy.
Souness told Virgin Sport: “What happened [was] Michael Knighton appeared in Glasgow, he had an option for Martin Edwards.
“I think it was 75 per cent of Man United that Martin Edwards’ family had. He was getting out.
“There was a meeting with lawyers and it was agreed that David [Murray] would buy Man United and they shook hands on it and went to bed.
“And what was going to happen I was going to manage Man United, when Fergie was having a very difficult time”
Raphinha transfer reminder
Leeds star Raphinha wants to join arch-rivals Manchester United instead of Barcelona.
The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Elland Road after playing a major role in keeping the Whites up in the Premier League.
The winger chipped in with 11 goals and three assists from 35 Premier League games to help Leeds beat the drop on the final game of the campaign.
Should the Yorkshire outfit have been relegated, the Brazil international would have been available for £21million due to a clause in his contract.
But it is believed that the forward will now cost in excess of £40m.
The figure hasn’t put off Barca, with the Blaugrana still prepared to bring the player to the Nou Camp
‘Very close’ to Nunez
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag looks set to secure Benfica star Darwin Nunez as the first signing of his reign.
An agreement between United and the Portuguese giants is said to be “very close” for Nunez, according to O Jogo.
The report claims the striker is a “priority” target for Ten Hag as he tries to find a centre-forward to bolster the Red Devils in attack.
The Uruguay international scored 34 goals across all competitions this season for the Eagles as they came third in the Primeira Liga and progressed into the Champions League quarter-finals
Andy O’Boyle reminder
Manchester United appointed Andy O’Boyle as the new Deputy Director of Football.
O’Boyle has left his current role as Head of Elite Performance at the Premier League to work with United’s Football Director John Murtough.
He will help with the Red Devils’ strategy across the first team, academy and youth team.
O’Boyle is well acquainted with Carrington having worked in the academy 16 years ago helping to develop stars like Marcus Rashford
EXCLUSIVE – Erik ten Hag watching Mason Mount’s contract situation at Chelsea
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is watching Mason Mount’s contract situation at Chelsea as he considers a shock move for the England star.
Mount has seen contract talks at Stamford Bridge stall following the protracted takeover of the club by Todd Boehly.
And his long-term future in West London is no longer secure.
New United boss Ten Hag is well aware of the 23-year-old’s predicament and United’s interest has already been registered with the player’s camp.
Ten Hag first became aware of Mount’s abilities when he impressed as a teenager on loan with Vitesse Arnheim in Holland.
The Old Trafford chief has tracked his progress closely ever since, and given the chance, it is believed he would jump at the opportunity to try to tempt him to the North West.
Despite being named the London club’s player of the year for a second time, Mount is one of the lowest paid in the squad at Stamford Bridge.
He still has two years left on his £88,000-a-week existing deal.
But the need for the Blues to completely rebuild their defence this summer has seen his contract talks fall down the list of priorities.
David Kidd Comment: Rangnick exit ends one of the oddest chapters
…Judging by Rangnick’s highly entertaining public criticisms of everyone and everything at United, as well as his team’s disastrous performances, we can have a decent stab at imagining how the call went. Ten Hag: “Heh, Ralfie, how’s it hanging?”
Rangnick: “Erik! Yeah, so, basically the players are egotistical wasters and the board are incompetent muppets.”
Ten Hag: “OK, so what do you reckon I should do about it?
Rangnick: “F***ed if I know, mate.”
The Rangnick experiment was one of the oddest chapters in Premier League history.
A bookish German, who’d been ranked as a 12-1 shot alongside Alan Curbishley for every managerial vacancy in the previous decade, suddenly handed the keys to Old Trafford.
It is easy to forget United finished second in the Premier League last year, then signed the greatest goalscorer the world has ever seen, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Then finished with their lowest-ever Premier League points total.
David Kidd Comment: Rangnick exit ends one of the oddest chapters
While Liverpool and Real Madrid were parading trophies, days after Manchester City had done the same, Manchester United were announcing the severance of all ties with Ralf Rangnick.
And with barely so much as a ‘See you later, innovator’.
Manchester United, surely you remember them? They used to win titles. Even after that, they still topped the Deloitte Football Money League.
And they still ‘do great numbers’ on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
In the actual football, not so much. Under Rangnick, United finished with six successive away defeats, an overall goal difference of zero and conceded a 35-point deficit to champions City.
When Rangnick was appointed interim manager in November, United’s ‘football director’ John Murtough heralded him as “one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football”.
He also announced that Rangnick would take up a two-year consultancy after his caretaking was complete.
That consultancy role has now been scrapped, with Rangnick taking over Austria’s national job.
Instead, we’re told Rangnick held a two-hour ‘handover’ conversation on the phone with his successor, Erik ten Hag…
Pre-match kit leaked
Images of Manchester United’s reported pre-match kit for the 2022-23 season have leaked online, and fans are loving it.
The warm-up shirts for the new campaign incorporate a red, black and white “tyre-track” design.
Pictures released by Footy Headlines show off a 1990s-inspired design.
One simply replied to the post of the new design saying: “Wow.”
Another added: “Right up my alley this.”
While a third even said: “Better than the home and away which I’ve seen so far.”
Boost with Leeds star Raphinha
Raphinha wants to join Leeds’ arch-rivals Manchester United instead of Barcelona, reports claim.
The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Elland Road after playing a mjor role in keeping the Whites up.
Raphinha chipped in with 11 goals and three assists from 35 Premier League games to help Leeds beat the drop on the final game of the campaign.
Should the Yorkshire outfit have been relegated, the ex-Rennes ace would have been available for £21million due to a clause in his contract.
But it is believed that the forward will now cost in excess of £40m following their 2-1 win against Brentford.
The figure hasn’t put off Barcelona, with the Blaugrana still prepared to bring the player to the Nou Camp.
Glazers take total £18m out of club since going on NYSE
The Glazer family have taken out £18million in dividends from Manchester United each year since 2016, according to reports.
And a further £5m lines the pockets of other shareholders, writes Joshua Jones.
As reported by The Times, that £23m total was even paid out during the pandemic – despite the club making a financial loss.
The Red Devils owners drew out an £11m cash bonus in January.
United were placed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, enabling investors to buy and sell shares in the club, in an attempt to try and tackle mounting debt.
Since then, the share price has dropped by almost 10 per cent – or $1.39 (£1.10) from $14 (£11.10) to its current price of $12.61 (£10).
It hit its peak at the end of August 2018 when the price climbed to $26.20 (£20.77).
The Glazers put an extra 9.5m shares totalling £137m on the NYSE last October, months after co-chairman Avram Glazer got rid of £70m worth of shares.
De Jong prefers Gunners over Man Utd
Arsenal have advantage over Manchester United in the fight for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong because of his hero Marc Overmars.
The Dutchman spoke to Voetbal International back in 2019.
De Jong said: “I actually thought Arsenal was pretty beautiful in the past.
“In my mind, I have had the following list for a long time: Ajax-Arsenal-Barcelona, call it the Marc Overmars route.
“But yes, if you can go directly to Barcelona, then you are also right where you want to be. Faster than you ever dared to dream.”
Murtough on O’Boyle
United’s Football Director John Murtough has spoken about the appointment of Andy O’Boyle.
Murtough said: “We are delighted to welcome Andy back to Manchester United to take up this important role in the club’s leadership.
“Andy has experience across all technical areas of football, from fitness and sports science to scouting and recruitment.
“This will make him a valuable addition to my team at Carrington as we continue to strengthen leadership and strategic planning across all our football activities.”
O’Boyle excited by the prospect
New deputy director of football Andy O’Boyle – who previously spent five years as head of fitness and first team fitness coach at Liverpool – is “thrilled” to join United.
O’Boyle told Man Utd’s official site that it was an exciting time to join the club.
New Chief Executive Richard Arnold is making sweeping changes across the club including the appointment of new manager Erik Ten Hag.
And O’Boyle said : “I am thrilled to be rejoining Manchester United at such an exciting time for the club, as the first team prepares for a fresh start under Erik ten Hag, and the Academy and women’s teams go from strength to strength.
“I can’t wait to get started at United and play my part in creating the right environment for football success.”
United hire new deputy director of football
Manchester United’s revamp of their football department has continued with the appointment of a new Deputy Director of Football.
Andy O’Boyle has left his current role as Head of Elite Performance at the Premier League to work with United’s Football Director John Murtough.
He will help with the club’s strategy across the first team, academy and youth team.
O’Boyle is well acquainted with Carrington having worked in the academy 16 years ago helping to develop players like Marcus Rashford.
Henderson ‘good choice’ for Newcastle
Jose Enrique reckons Man Utd’s Dean Henderson is a “good choice” for Newcastle.
The Keeper could be available on loan this summer.
Enrique told Genting Casino: I would definitely sign Dean Henderson. I’ve said I like him a lot in the past. He’s a great goalkeeper.
“Dubravka is doing well but Henderson would be a good fit in the long run and Newcastle’s back-ups aren’t good enough at the moment.
“Henderson will be looking for a move too as with the form De Gea is in now, he’s not going to play.”
Jur in luck
Manchester United are reportedly in preliminary talks with Ajax to bring centre-back Jurrien Timber to Old Trafford, writes Jake Lambourne.
It was reported in April how new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag was looking to bring the 20-year-old to the Theatre of Dreams with him.
Timber’s representatives fuelled speculation that a transfer was on the horizon earlier this month when they posted a clip at an airport with the caption “deal closing time”.
Bayern Munich are also interested in the Holland international, but it is claimed that United are leading the race to secure his services.
The Guardian claims that negotiations with Ajax are at an initial stage and Ten Hag is keen to make Timber one of his first signings.
Utd’s new 2022-23 away kit leaked
Manchester United’s away kit for the 2022/23 season has reportedly been leaked with fans gushing over the white shirt and black shorts combination.
According to Footy Headlines, their away jersey will be white and accustomed by black shorts and white socks.
The white is a throwback to their away strip in 2015/16 and even their third kit from 2009/10 through until 2011/12.
Man Utd were champions in 2010/11 with a white shirt and black shorts as their third kit during the season.
Is Dan the man?
Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann has revealed Manchester United have made an approach for him.
Bachmann, 27, said he is honoured by the prospect of becoming David de Gea’s understudy at Old Trafford next season.
Former United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, who has now left to coach Austria’s national side, is thought to have been behind the move for the keeper so it may now rest in limbo.
Bachmann told Sky Sports Austria: “There has been contact with Manchester United. It hasn’t just fallen out of the sky. I don’t know whether the team boss [Rangnick] has a say in transfer matters.
“Several clubs have shown interest in me – but the most intensive contacts have come from Manchester. It is a massive honour for a club like that to be interested in you.
“I would be second choice behind David de Gea, who has been one of the Premier League’s best keepers for years.
“But anything can happen in football. The performance principle applies. As a result, even big stars can sit on the subs’ bench.”
United wage bill
Ten Hag will have Pogba, Cavani and Mata and others off the wage bill this summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still Man Utd’s highest earner.
Good morning Man Utd fans
Erik ten Hag looks set to secure the first signing of his reign at Manchester United with 22-year-old Darwin Nunez, according to reports.
An agreement between United and Benfica is said to be ‘very close’ for the striker according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo.
The report claims Nunez is a ‘priority’ target for Ten Hag as he tries to find a striker to bolster The Red Devils in attack.
Glen Johnson claims that Declan Rice should only leave West Ham for a team challenging for the Premier League title next season.
The former West Ham defender spoke to Bettingodds about the England international’s future.
Johnson said: “I don’t think that he will end up at Manchester United and no disrespect to Manchester United because it’s a fantastic club and I’m sure they’ll come back and fight for titles in the coming years but City and Liverpool are absolutely miles ahead of anyone at the moment and I’m sure they’d want Declan as well.
“Why would you go to a team that isn’t going to compete for the league next season?
“If he goes to Liverpool or City then he’s going to win something next season. I can’t believe that Manchester United would be his first pick.”
Man Utd have also confirmed Rangnick’s departure from the club.
A club statement read: “We would like to thank Ralf Rangnick for his efforts as interim manager over the past six months.
“By mutual agreement, Ralf will now focus solely on his new role as manager of the Austria national team and will not therefore be taking up a consultancy role at Old Trafford.
“We would like to wish Ralf the best of luck in this next chapter of his career.”
Aurelien Tchouameni has confessed his love for both Liverpool and Real Madrid – in a blow to Manchester United.
The highly sought-after Frenchman gave his take on both Champions League finalists before they faced off in France.
When asked about joining either Liverpool or Real Madrid ahead of the Champions League final, he told CNN: “I like both: I can watch Spanish games and English games.
“It’s different to play in Spain and it’s different to play in England, but at the end, for me, it’s just a matter of adaptation.”
Chelsea up Dembele chase
Chelsea are reportedly ready to offer summer transfer target Ousmane Dembele improved terms.
The winger is out of contract at Barcelona come the end of June and can join another club for free.
A number of Europe’s elite including Chelsea and Man Utd are keen on the Frenchman.
But according to Fichajes, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel has requested the club to complete the signing of Dembele.
Comment: Rangnick exit ends one of the oddest chapters
While Liverpool and Real Madrid were parading trophies, days after Manchester City had done the same, Manchester United were announcing the severance of all ties with Ralf Rangnick.
And with barely so much as a ‘See you later, innovator’.
Manchester United, surely you remember them? They used to win titles. Even after that, they still topped the Deloitte Football Money League.
And they still ‘do great numbers’ on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
In the actual football, not so much. Under Rangnick, United finished with six successive away defeats, an overall goal difference of zero and conceded a 35-point deficit to champions City.
When Rangnick was appointed interim manager in November, United’s ‘football director’ John Murtough heralded him as “one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football”.
He also announced that Rangnick would take up a two-year consultancy after his caretaking was complete.
That consultancy role has now been scrapped, with Rangnick taking over Austria’s national job.
Instead, we’re told Rangnick held a two-hour ‘handover’ conversation on the phone with his successor, Erik ten Hag.
Dybala fight
Jose Mourinho is reportedly looking to get one over Manchester United by beating his old club to Paulo Dybala.
TyC Sports claims The Special One has made contact with Juventus’ out-of-contract forward about a free transfer to Roma.
Dybala’s seven-year stint in Turin comes to an end next month.
And the Argentina international, 28, has been flooded with offers from the Premier League.
New Man United boss Erik ten Hag is thought to be a huge fan.
And Spurs boss Antonio Conte also rates Dybala after going up against him at Inter Milan.
Henderson ‘good choice’ for Newcastle
Jose Enrique reckons Man Utd’s Dean Henderson is a “good choice” for Newcastle.
The Keeper could be available on loan this summer.
Enrique told Genting Casino: I would definitely sign Dean Henderson. I’ve said I like him a lot in the past. He’s a great goalkeeper.
“Dubravka is doing well but Henderson would be a good fit in the long run and Newcastle’s back-ups aren’t good enough at the moment.
“Henderson will be looking for a move too as with the form De Gea is in now, he’s not going to play.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
