MANCHESTER UNITED’S top transfer target Jadon Sancho is dreaming of a Premier League move, according to the German press.
Elsewhere, United are reportedly willing to part company with star Paul Pogba if they receive a bid of around £55m.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to keep the Frenchman on board but his situation has become a concern with his contract set to expire in a year.
And the Red Devils have “stepped up” their interest in Atletico Madrid’s England full-back Kieran Trippier.
The 30-year-old is set to quit the La Liga challengers this summer
Get all the latest Man Utd news and transfer updates here…
ON THIS DAY
Perhaps Phil Jones’ most infamous moment in a Manchester United shirt.
On this day in 2015 Jones made THAT headed tackle on Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud.
How time flies.
‘I’VE BEEN BETTER’
Mason Greenwood believes he has been better this season despite not tallying as many goals
Greenwood told Sky Sports: “For most of last season I don’t think my link-up play was as good.
“But I was banging in the goals so people got it in their head that I was doing better last season than this. I don’t agree. I think I have been better this season.
“I have still got a few years to reach my full level of speed. I am still growing, still filling out. I am only 19.
“My hold-up play has improved. My all-round play, my defensive work. Just being a player, basically. That is coming through now.”
INJURY UPDATE
Solskjaer told Manchester United Live:” We had a couple of days off after the Liverpool match and we’ve welcomed Dan James back and Anthony Martial back so that’s big, big plusses for us.
“We didn’t lose any against Liverpool so we’re fit. We’re only missing Harry [Maguire] and Phil [Jones].
“They [Daniel and Anthony] have done all their rehab programmes and ticked all the boxes so a couple of days of training before the game with the team, but they’re not ready to start a game yet. Let’s see.
“Hopefully, we can get both of them on the pitch and give them some minutes.”
MISSING ROO
Throwback to this day in 2016 when Wayne Rooney scored his 100th Premier League goal at Old Trafford in a 3-1 romp of Bournemouth.
ALL FOR JUAN
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed that a decision has not been made over Juan Mata’s future yet.
He said: “I’ve kept the dialogue with Juan and we’re due to speak again very soon.
“Of course he’s not played as much as he would like and that’s a decision we will make with him.
“He’s in charge of his own future, he’s been such a good servant for the club. But it’s hard to leave good players and good people out of the team, and it’s about what does he want as his next step in his career.
“Is it to play his career out here or is it to go somewhere else? We haven’t made the final decision yet.”
FAN THE FLAMES
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is excited to see fans back for the last two games of the season.
RON OF THE GREATS
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he hopes to go down in footballing history as ‘one of the greats’ of the game.
Speaking at his unveiling as LiveScore’s Official Global Brand Ambassador, he said: “I hope that I will be remembered as one of the great players, someone that worked hard, that always did his best to help his team and will be part of the history of the game.”
Ronaldo was also asked which of the current crop of young stars he believes will become the best player in the world.
And he replied: “It is hard to choose just one player to say this one will be the best, but I think it is exciting to see this new generation of young players, like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who are coming through.
“Some players can have one or two great seasons, the really great players are the ones that keep doing it season after season, and that is not so easy to do.
“It takes a lot of hard work, and a lot of commitment.”
NOT GUNNAR HELP
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his players have been suffering due to fans protests.
Thousands laid siege to Old Trafford and the team hotel forcing their game with Liverpool to be postponed.
There were more protests against the club’s owners the Glazers before the game against Leicester last week too.
And Solskjaer said: “I think the mood in any club and the relationship between the team and the fans is vital to what happens on the pitch.”
Solskjaer believes the protests and subsequent fixture pile up was the reason for them losing their last two games at home to Leicester and Liverpool.
He said: “I just didn’t want to use it as an excuse because we lost two games but surely it’s a reason behind the performances.”
NOTHING RON
Cristiano Ronaldo was ‘happy to be subbed’ for the first time ever, according to Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo.
The Portuguese superstar was replaced by Alvaro Morata with 20 minutes left of Juve’s dramatic 3-2 win over Inter Milan on Saturday but apparently remained ‘happy and smiling’ in the dressing room.
Pirlo told Sky Italia: “I think it was the first time he was happy to be subbed off.
“We were one man down, and he’d have been chasing shadows. He was happy and smiling in the dressing room.”
HANNIBAL LECTER
Neil Wood has expressed his sympathy for Hannibal Mejbri following his red card in Manchester United U23s 3-1 defeat to Derby County.
He told MUTV: “You’ve seen throughout the season, there’ve been enough videos out there of him being kicked numerous times in games and his frustration does take over and get the better of him.
“We’ve tried to educate him throughout the season, not rising to it — [telling him] ‘you’re gonna be a target’ and to take inspiration from the best players who just get up and intimidate with the football again, keep getting on the ball.
“I’ve just had a 25-minute chat with him. He needs to learn. This is something he’s going to have for most of his career, if he goes on to have a successful career he’s going to get targeted and face a lot of these tackles.”
A-MAD FOR IT
Alternatively, Amad Diallo could be given another chance to impress following his exploits in the defeat at Leicester.
As a result, Mason Greenwood would be pushed up-top with Cavani rested.
RED RESHUFFLE
Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford on Tuesday night and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is without four big names.
Harry Magure, Anthony Martial, Phil Jones and Dan James are all out with the Norwegian set to hand Axel Tuanzebe a start at centre-back.
The Cottagers are already relegated and with United focused on the Europa League final it is being billed as something of a dead rubber.
Here’s how they could line-up…
HEAT-ING UP
Former Aston Villa hitman Kevin Phillips has admitted that Tom Heaton will find it very hard to turn down Manchester United.
He told Football Insider: “I worked with Lee Grant at Derby when he got the chance to go to Man United as a player.
“I was a bit surprised because I thought he could go somewhere and play week in week out.
“When you get the chance to go to Man United and sit on their bench, or work in any capacity it’s very hard to turn down.
“Especially when you are coming to the end of your career. I’d be very surprised if he was to turn that offer down.”
RETURN TRIP
Kieran Trippier is reportedly ready to quit Atletico Madrid and return to England.
SunSport understands there to be interest from Manchester United for the former Tottenham right-back.
They are desperate to bring in some competition for current first-choice Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
According to The Athletic, Tripper ‘is minded to return to England in the summer’.
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Gary Neville has joined the list of people calling for an independent regulator in football following the collapse of the European Super League.
KAN’T HATE HIM
Paul Pogba says N’Golo Kante is the most lovable man in football but joked that he actually ‘cheats a lot’.
Manchester United star Pogba plays alongside Chelsea ace Kante for France and says it is impossible to hate the ‘cunning’ former Leicester man.
The 28-year-old told BeIN Sports: “He cheats a lot. A lot.
“At card games, board games. Honestly, I’m telling the truth. He cheats. He says he doesn’t cheat, but he does.
“He uses cunning. He’s a smart kid, N’Golo. But it’s okay. You have to love him.
“He’s the most beloved player in the history of football. You’ve got to love him, you cannot hate him, it is not possible. He is humble, kind, professional. He will never complain, he will work.
“He’s got everything. He’s good technically, with a good passing quality, and he’s everywhere on the pitch.
“I even say he appears out of the ground. You don’t see him, and – poof – he’s out. He gets the ball, he has the finish. He’s everywhere. To have a player like that by your side, what more can you ask for?”
YOURI IN THE MONEY
Former Manchester United target Youri Tielemans is set for talks over a new Leicester contract which will make him one of the club’s highest earners, according to reports.
Belgian Tielemans blasted a rocket into the top corner at Wembley on Saturday as the Foxes lifted the FA Cup for the first time in history with a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
He still has two years left on his deal but the Midlands side are keen to agree fresh terms to secure his long term future, according to the Mail.
Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel are the club’s highest two earners on approximately £140-150k-per-week and Tielemans’ new deal would see him pocket around the same amount of cash.
And talks will also reportedly begin with fellow first-team star Harvy Barnes – another name linked with a switch to Old Trafford.
WINGING IT
Manchester United are set to rival Arsenal in the race to land Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby this summer.
Caught Offside claim the 21-year-old’s performances in the Bundesliga, have attracted interest from the Premier League.
Diaby has notched an impressive return of 10 goals and 13 assists this season and both United and Arsenal are looking to strengthen out wide.
Yet the report adds that Leverkusen won’t let him go on the cheap, with a fee of at least £45million required to convince them to sell.
But that could still prove a cheaper alternative than any potential transfer for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
‘FELT HELPLESS’
Fans never want to see their heroes vulnerable, frail, emotions revealed in the raw as life becomes a struggle.
So the film ‘Never Give In’ will tug at the heart strings of every Manchester United supporter, maybe every lover of football worldwide.
Never mind all the stuff about growing up in Govan, breaking the grip of the Old Firm, Mark Robins’ goal keeping him in a job at Old Trafford, and the Treble.
We know all that.
What we did not know was the details of how a brain haemorrhage on May 5, 2018 floored Sir Alex Ferguson and left him with a 20 per cent chance of survival.
How at the age of 76 he came round from an operation and felt the fear and despair that life may be nearing its end.
“I wondered how many sunny days I would see again. I found that difficult,” he said.
How the upset at his condition as he lay in hospital and lost his voice overwhelmed him.
“I was crying, felt helpless.
“I would have hated to lose my memory. I would have been a terrible burden on my family.”
GOOD MORNING UTD FANS
Harry Maguire is positive that he will make the Europa League final.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “When I spoke to him this morning he was positive.“Naturally the day after he was injured everyone was very down.
“But we decided we had to focus and be positive and think he is going to make it.
“He is making progress but we have consciously made the decision not to test him out too early.
“Hopefully we will have good news but I will give it as long as possible because we know his importance.
“We have known that for a long time but maybe people appreciate it more when he is not playing.
“I became a very good player when I was injured because people realised what I could do as a sub and what I was as a player.”
Meanwhile on the transfer front, United have reportedly vowed not to be held to ransom over Paul Pogba’s future.
The Mirror claim that the Frenchman’s massive wage demands are proving a major stumbling block to him staying at Old Trafford.
The report adds Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola wants in excess of £400,000-a-week for the World Cup winner to sign a new deal.
United are said to be conflicted on what course to take with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanting to keep Pogba at the club.
And finally, Sven Botman has admitted he would be “lying” if he claimed United’s interest doesn’t flatter him.
The Lille star told The Athletic: “It is a good compliment when you hear these clubs are interested.
“I’m lying if I say it’s not interesting me — it’s the first time such big clubs are linked to me — but it was early days because in January I was only at Lille for half a season.
“It was nice to hear but I was focusing on Lille and I’m still doing this. After the season I will enjoy a vacation and see what happens next.”
PAUL OVER NOW
Manchester United have reportedly vowed not to be held to ransom over Paul Pogba’s future.
The Mirror claim that the Frenchman’s massive wage demands are proving a major stumbling block to him staying at Old Trafford.
The report adds Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola wants in excess of £400,000-a-week for the World Cup winner to sign a new deal.
United are said to be conflicted on what course to take with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanting to keep Pogba at the club.
SERIAL WINNERS
Man Utd have made good progression under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and they’ve got the chance to add another Europa League to the trophy cabinet before the end of the season!
MAG-IC
Harry Maguire is positive that he will make the Europa League final.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “When I spoke to him this morning he was positive.
“Naturally the day after he was injured everyone was very down.
“But we decided we had to focus and be positive and think he is going to make it.
“He is making progress but we have consciously made the decision not to test him out too early.
“Hopefully we will have good news but I will give it as long as possible because we know his importance.
“We have known that for a long time but maybe people appreciate it more when he is not playing.
“I became a very good player when I was injured because people realised what I could do as a sub and what I was as a player.”
ED IN THE CLOUDS
Manchester United fans will hope this won’t be the last time Edinson Cavani scoops the club gong after he extended his stay at Old Trafford.
GREEN WITH ENVY
United were reportedly unhappy at the way Mason Greenwood was treated earlier in the season.
The Mirror claim the Red Devils were displeased by the treatment the England starlet recieved following his Covid incident in Iceland.
The report adds that said whole incident left an ‘after-taste’, with some club officials at United angry at how the situation played out.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
