Cristiano Ronaldo return LATEST, Sancho UPDATES, Man Utd £150m Harry Kane EXCLUSIVE, Solskjaer interested in Coman

LUKE-ING UP

To miss one final is unlucky. Two is heartbreaking. Three, you might start wondering if you are in the right trade.

But four… no make that FIVE if you want to chuck in a Super Cup… well.

Well that is Luke Shaw’s back catalogue at Manchester United as he finally looks forward to breaking his duck in the Europa League final against Villarreal in Gdansk.

He said: “There was disappointment with all of them, really.

“In big games at big times are big opportunities to show yourself and I feel like I missed out on them.”

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

United fans will be delighted that Harry Maguire, 28, has been included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 26-man travelling party for the Europa League final.

The Red Devils skipper has flown to Gdansk and is doing everything he can to be fit and available for his first final as captain.

But it’s likely that the match will come just too soon for the crocked ace.

EYES ON THE PRIZE

Manchester City romped to this season’s Premier League title, clinching glory with weeks to spare.

But while their success on the pitch increased this season, their prize money actually went DOWN.

According to The Times, City netted £163million for their efforts this campaign.

This figure is made up of their £123m ‘equal share’ payment – given to every club in this season’s Premier League – and then a further £40m for winning the title.

Runners-up Manchester United pocketed £38m, meaning their overall total was £161m.

WORLD IN MOTION

Manchester United star Harry Maguire says he still cannot watch England’s 2-1 defeat by Croatia at the 2018 World Cup.

He told the Overlap: “The Columbia game was massive for us. We should have really won it in normal time.

“And then to reach the quarter-final and we get Sweden and then all of a sudden we, we believe that we, we can, we can go and win this.

“I look back at Croatia and I still, I still feel a bit disappointed, should be a good memory to reach a World Cup semi-final but I can’t really watch it back because it makes me feel disappointed.

“I can remember the feeling at half-time and that’s probably where we went wrong, we probably felt like we were nearly there. We played really well in the first half, we probably should have been more than one goal ahead.

“In the second half, we just couldn’t keep the ball.

“We probably didn’t have that experience of playing in these big games, and these big tournaments to see out the semi-final, so I look back at it as disappointment just because I do feel that we could have done that little bit more.”

NOT IN A HARRY

Manchester United will win the Premier League if they DON’T sign Harry Kane this summer.

That’s according to former Red Devil Owen Hargreaves, who is backing his old club to go on a spending spree this summer.

He told the Mail: “It’s a big call: do you get a right winger, a centre-back and a central midfielder or do they go and get Harry Kane?

“I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. The one thing you would say is that they won’t want Kane to go elsewhere, they don’t want him to go to their competition.

“I am sure there is a lot going on behind the scenes right now.

“Recruitment is easy. You ask: what do we have and what do we need? Right now, United need a right winger, a central midfielder and a central defender. If Ole gets those three, he can win the league next season.

“He (Ole) needs to be backed. If he is backed and they bring in players, I don’t mean any players, I am talking difference-makers.

“Look at the impact Virgil van Dijk had at Liverpool, the impact Ruben Dias had at City. You need guys in the areas you need, if Ole gets that, they will be closer.

“It all comes down to money, this is not fantasy football. Everyone wants Neymar and Mbappe but that’s not realistic.

“I think Jadon Sancho would suit United perfectly, I also like Raphinha at Leeds. He would offer something different.

“Ole loves to use two midfielders in a double pivot because it gives the team balance.

“Maybe next season, he can find a way to get both Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba into the team with one defensive midfielder who can do that pivot job on his own, someone like Kante, to then free the likes of Marcus Rashford or Mason Greenwood, Cavani and Sancho.

“That is killer. United can go toe-to-toe with anyone with that.”

NOT KEANE ON IT

Harry Maguire says criticism from pundits annoys him.

The Red Devils star made the revelation in an interview with Sky pundit Gary Neville and it comes after Roy Keane laid into him last year.

He told the Overlap: “Yeah I think it does, I’m not going to sit here and lie. But I think you’ve got to come to an agreement that it’s opinions, everyone has an opinion.

“Of course everyone wants to hear people speak about them doing well and everything’s nice but that’s not life, that’s not football, you’ve got to accept that.

“I think it can change confidence in players, especially the ones that listen to it more than others.

“Because you’re a big part of the game now. You analyse things, every goal that we concede you analyse.

“I think it can affect confidence but what I would say is that when you do, you don’t just speak negative about players, you also speak positive so I think as a footballer you’ve got to expect that.”

STAT ATTACK

Coronavirus has impacted every walk of life over the past 14 months – and football is no exception.

The 2020-21 season kick-started a month later than usual on September 12 with the 38 rounds of matches crammed into a condensed schedule.

And with some help from Opta, here are a collection of the best stats from a truly unique Premier League campaign…

1. The 2020-21 Premier League campaign was the first season in any division in the top four tiers of English football league history to see more away wins (153) than home wins (144).
2. Manchester United became just the fourth side in English top-flight history to remain unbeaten away from home across an entire league campaign, after Preston in 1888-89, Arsenal in 2001-02 and Arsenal again in 2003-04.
3. Bruno Fernandes’ winner for Manchester United against Brighton – scored after the full-time whistle initially blew – was the latest goal scored at 99:45.

BAR CRAWL

Barcelona are ready to cut as many as ten first-team players this summer- including former Manchester United target Ousmane Dembele.

Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho are just two other star names who could be sold as the Spanish giants look to cure their ailing finances while also turning the team around.

According to Sport, the starting point will be securing Lionel Messi’s contract.

Another major extension will also prove vital to the summer with the Catalans reportedly wanting Dembele to commit his future by the end of July.

If the winger does not extend his current deal, which expires in 2022, he will be available for transfer.

SURPRISE PACKAGES

Aston Villa were this season’s biggest over-achievers, according to a Premier League supercomputer.

But Manchester United – who runner’s up to rivals City – were also among the biggest successes of the campaign.

DANE AND DUSTED

Manchester United target Harry Kane has wished Dane Scarlett ‘best wishes’ with a signed shirt.

And some Tottenham fans online think that the England captain’s gesture is hinting at an imminent move.

Kane, 27, starred in Spurs’ new kit launch this morning, sparking hopes in some that he could stay this summer.

But the nature of his message to Scarlett, 17, has others fretting that he is readying himself for an exit.

On the signed shirt, Kane included the message: “To Dane, Keep working hard mate! Best wishes.”

SO NEAR YET SO VAR

Exclusive by Martin Lipton: Manchester United would have finished BELOW Liverpool without VAR this season.

Yet a SunSport study of all the decisions overturned by Stockley Park show Arsenal were the biggest “sufferers” from the system.

If all on-field original decisions had stuck, Mikel Arteta’s men would have earned four more points and earned the final Champions League spot.

Liverpool, five points adrift of United in the actual table, would have swapped places with the Old Trafford side to take second, although still 13 points behind champions Manchester City.

ON THE BOX

Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane are among the top pundits who will provide the analysis for ITV’s Euro 2020 coverage.

A raft of big names have been hired by the broadcaster ahead of their two England group games.

The Three Lions will have former stars Ian Wright, Ashley Cole, Eni Aluko and Andros Townsend in the studio to chew over the action, along with Chelsea Women’s boss Emma Hayes.

ITV are scheduled to broadcast England’s huge clash with Scotland on June 18 with Graeme Souness joined by Scott Brown and John Collins on the panel.

Joe Ledley and Robert Earnshaw have been signed up to provide insight on Wales’ final group game versus Italy, live on the channel on June 20.

MATA OF TIME

Manchester United star Juan Mata wouldn’t be drawn in any discussions about his future and remains focused on Wednesday’s Europa League Final against Villarreal.

Mata told Sky Sports: “In three days we have an important game which is where my mind is. I still feel I can play good football.

“I know what I want. I’m still hungry to play football.

“I thought it was a good performance. We made a lot of changes with some young players who showed they could play at this level.

“We have a very important game on Wednesday. This is good preparation, both physically and mentally.

“He [Anthony Elanga] is a very good player. He has a good attitude and he works hard in training. I’m very happy for him”

RON TURN

Manchester United are ‘exploring’ a stunning return for Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been looking to add to his striking department for months to help close the gap on champions Man City.

They have been linked with big-money moves for Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland.

But Spurs are allegedly determined not to sell their star man to United as he looks set for a huge £150m switch to City instead.

Haaland is now also set to stay in the Bundesliga for another 12 months leaving Solskjaer to look elsewhere for new firepower as reports suggest Southampton’s Danny Ings has emerged as a target.

However, a fresh claim by The Athletic states that they could still look to bring their former hero Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.

KANE NOT ABLE

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has confirmed his interest in Manchester United transfer target Harry Kane – while Ollie Watkins has been tipped to replace the striker at Tottenham.

England star Kane has told the North London side he wants to leave this summer after another disappointing campaign.

That has prompted interest from the Blues, Manchester United and City.

HOME GARD

West Ham fear Manchester United will block any attempt to sign Jesse Lingard by opting to keep the star this summer.

Lingard played a key role in helping the Hammers secure a Europa League spot with nine goals in 16 appearances on loan in the capital.

Boss David Moyes is desperate to bring the 28-year-old to the London Stadium on a permanent basis.

But the popular Hammers gaffer admitted on Sunday he had no clue whether a deal was possible.

There are increasing concerns within the club that United have no interest in letting the England ace leave Old Trafford on the back of the impact he has made while on loan.

SunSport understands there has been no contact at all between the two clubs to discuss a permanent deal, despite the Hammers making it clear they would be willing buyers.

‘WE MUST IMPROVE’

Harry Maguire has urged his Manchester United team-mates to ‘improve again’ after an impressive Premier League campaign.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also confirmed the injured defender will still travel with the team to their Europa League final against Villareal in Gdansk on Wednesday.

Maguire is almost certain to miss the Europa showdown having injured his ankle ligaments against Aston Villa earlier this month.

But the Red Devils captain will still join his team-mates so he can provide support from the sidelines.

And despite his absence from the upcoming season finale and United’s last four Premier League games, Maguire is still trying to keep standards high.

After United won 2-1 at Wolves on Sunday as they comfortably finished second – five points above Liverpool in third – Maguire took to Instagram to urge his team-mates to get better next season.

The 28-year-old uploaded a picture of himself in a United shirt and wrote: “Great way to finish the @premierleague campaign.

“Well done lads. Another step forward this year but we don’t settle for this, next year we must improve again. Looking forward to Wednesday #MUFC.”

CHELSEA TO STEAL SANCHO?

Chelsea could look to steal Jadon Sancho from under the noses of Manchester United.

According to the Daily Mirror, however, the Blues are looking to test the waters with a bid in the region of £80million.

The star winger made a “gentlemen’s agreement” with Dortmund that he will be allowed to leave in the summer if an interested party meets certain demands.

NO PLACE FOR HATE

Rio Ferdinand has been racially abused for the second time in less than 24 hours.

The Manchester United legend was subjected to monkey chants from a Wolves fan at Molineux on Sunday.

The supporter was thrown out, arrested and Wolves promised to ban the fan for life if found guilty.

Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: “The last couple of weeks, it’s been unreal to see fans back.

“However to the Wolves fan who has just been thrown out for doing a monkey chant at me, you need to be dismissed from football and educated.

“Come meet me and I will help you understand what it feels like to be racially abused!”

But Ferdinand received further abuse online when Twitter user @AageBjerre told the former England defender and now BT Sport pundit to ‘Eat a banana’ followed by three emojis of the fruit.

GOAL MEDAL

Manchester United transfer target Harry Kane completed a unique double as this season’s top goalscorer and assist-maker – but was still some way off the Premier League’s all-time creation record.

Consistent top form and a largely injury-free season allowed the Tottenham star to produce a personal-best tally of 23 goals and 14 assists.

That meant a total of 37 goal involvements, comfortably clear of Bruno Fernandes (30), Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min (both 27).

Patrick Bamford, Jamie Vardy (both 24) and Marcus Rashford (20) also featured in the upper echelons following strong campaigns in front of goal.

But Tottenham hero Kane still has work to do if he is to best the Prem’s greatest-ever goal creators.

IMPRESSIVE DIALLO

Amad Diallo impressed for Manchester United during their 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday.

NANI’S DREAM TEAM

Former Man Utd star Nani has revealed his five-a-side dream team from those he has played with in his career.

Here are his selections:

TOP MAN

Manchester City are favourites to sign Harry Kane this summer after lifting the Premier League trophy.

Kane’s future is uncertain after he made it clear he’d like to move away from Tottenham.

And bookmakers Betfair make City favourites to land him, ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Kane is said to want to stay in the UK despite Daniel Levy’s preference to sell him abroad.

And the bookies believe Kane will get his way with the European contingent starting with PSG at 9/1, Real Madrid 20/1, Barcelona 25/1 and Juventus 33/1.

EUROPA BOOST

Manchester United go head-to-head against Spanish opponents Villarreal in the 2020-21 Europa League final on Wednesday.

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MAGIC NUMBER

Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s best route to signing Harry Kane is a players-plus-cash deal.

The 46-year-old told Sky Sports: “It’s difficult. City don’t tend to break their budget, do they? [Their record is] £65m-£70m – they’re not going to get him for that.

“So it’s whether they could get a player to Tottenham that would makeweight the deal.

“And I think that’s what United maybe have in Martial, James and Lingard.

“They’re types of players you could send [to Spurs] plus a chunk of money and it might make Daniel Levy happy.”