MANCHESTER UNITED are planning an embarrassing U-turn plan for David de Gea SunSport can exclusively reveal.
The club are worried that they will be short of keepers when Cameroon No.1 Andre Onana goes to the African Cup of Nations in the new year.
Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United face competition from Saudi Pro League clubs for highly-rated sporting director Paul Mitchell.
The former Tottenham and Southampton chief has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as part of a management shake-up if the British billionaire buys into the club and takes control of football operations.
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Players improving
Erik ten Hag has admitted that his Manchester United players are getting up to speed after a sluggish start to the season.
The manager felt that the team was much improved in their 1-0 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League last night.
He said: “Players are stepping up and getting their markers into the season.
“From there, they get the belief, as you have seen with Harry Maguire and Andre Onana.
“I think there are others with good performances. If we produce that and go from game to game, we can create something.”
Coming up
Here are Manchester United’s next four games in all competitions.
The Red Devils are first up in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag’s side will then face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup before fixtures against Fulham and Copenhagen.
United plot u-turn
Manchester United plan an embarrassing U-turn by pleading with dumped keeper David de Gea to return on a short-term deal.
The club are worried they will be short of keepers when Cameroon No 1 Andre Onana — De Gea’s replacement — goes to the Africa Cup of Nations in the new year.
Man Utd were caught off-guard after Onana performed a U-turn on his international retirement.
Afcon runs from January 13 to February 11, meaning the £43.8million summer signing could miss up to eight United matches.
So the club are ready to turn to De Gea — having booted him out in the summer.
The Spaniard, 32, spent 12 years at Old Trafford before he left when his contract ran out.
How things stand
Here is a look at how Manchester United’s Champions League group looks following the 1-0 win over Copenhagen.
Agbonlahor demands apology
Gabby Agbonlahor has demanded that Manchester United fans give Harry Maguire an apology after the defender netted a crucial winning goal in the Champions League.
He told talkSPORT: “First of all, I’d like to say that I fell that a lot of United fans owe Maguire an apology.
“I feel that what he’s been through, he’d had fans booing him, he’s been away on pre-season tours and you’ve got ‘sheep’ booing him, ‘sheep’ fans that don’t have a clue about football booing him.
“He’s got through it and said, ‘No, I’m not going to leave, I want to play for United.’ Easy for him to say, ‘OK, I’ll got to West Ham, let’s get the deal through.’
“‘No, I’m staying here, I’m going to fight for my position,’ and look what he’s doing now. He got ‘Man of the Match’ against Sheffield United, he got an assist against Brentford, last night he scores. That’s a captain’s performance last night.”
Fernandes on Instagram
What was the momentum like?
Here is a look at what the momentum looked like between Manchester United and Copenhagen during their Champions League clash.
Onana’s rallying cry
A buoyant Andre Onana demanded that Manchester United finish the job they started against Copenhagen and make it into the Champions League knockout stages.
He said after the game: “We are Manchester United, a very big club. We have to keep going, we have to win.
“I have no doubt we’ll make it to the next UCL stage. I am sure”.
United ‘keeping tabs’ on defender
Manchester United are reportedly “keeping tabs” on Sebastian Caceres.
The Club America defender, 24, has impressed in recent weeks and United are said to be keen, according to Football Insider.
The report claims that Tottenham, Fulham, West Ham and Newcastle are also interested in his signature.
United ‘want midfielder’
Manchester United are reportedly interested in a move for AC Milan star Tijjiani Reijnders.
The Dutch midfielder only joined the Serie A giants last summer as he put pen to paper on a five-year deal.
However there is already speculation over his future with Calciomercato claiming that the Red Devils are admirers of the star.
The report even claims that the club are considering making a move for Reijnders next summer.
Credit: Getty Scholes first-half criticism
Paul Scholes criticised Manchester United’s first-half showing during their 1-0 victory over Copenhagen last night.
United won the game on the night thanks to a 72nd-minute Harry Maguire header.
And Scholes had this to say to TNT Sports: “It felt like we were watching a Europa League match in the first half.
“Like a Thursday night. Poor. The second half was much better.”
Klopp pays Charlton tribute
Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton.
Ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League fixtures against Toulouse, the manager gave his condolences.
Charlton died on the weekend and it was announced ahead of the United win over Sheffield United.
He said: “I knew of Sir Bobby before I arrived in England, he is one of the biggest personalities in European and world football.
“I hope his family are doing OK.”
Credit: Rex United ‘should have progressed more’
Former Manchester United star Michael Owen has claimed that the club should have progressed further under Erik ten Hag.
He told DAZN Bet: “United are in a position at the moment where they are desperate to stick with a manager.
“There has been so much chop and changing since Sir Alex Ferguson, and not every manager they employ can be bad. In fact, all of them had the CV to suggest they could be great managers.
“So at some point you have to stop chopping and changing and stick with a manager, and I think United are at that point where they really want some continuity.
“But I did expect United to be further down the line than they currently are. If you look in black and white you can argue against that, they did win a cup, got to the final of another one and qualified for the Champions League.
“It’s a pretty decent season, not by United’s standards but over the past few years. So that was a huge step forward on paper but visually I was not impressed and I wondered whether this was a true reflection of their ability at the time, and this season has only confirmed that in my mind.”
Prem giants queue up for Nico
Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool have reportedly all recently asked Athletic Bilbao about winger Nico Williams – so will United follow suit?
The 10-cap Spaniard, 21, is out of contract next summer.
Williams is thought to have turned down Aston Villa in the last transfer window.
But 90min say Premier League clubs are keener than ever on the starlet.
Athletic are said to be optimistic Williams will extend his deal.
But his list of admirers is growing – especially after four assists in seven LaLiga games this season.
Credit: Alamy Maguire congratulated by stars
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice congratulated Harry Maguire for his rare goal for Manchester United in the Champions League.
On the defender’s Instagram post, Bellingham commented “Love to see it” and Rice said that he was “buzzing” for the Red Devils ace.
Credit: EPA
Onana dedicates win
Andre Onana dedicated Manchester United’s win over Copenhagen to Sir Bobby Charlton.
Taking to social media after the match, he wrote: “For all Mancunians, for us, for Sir Bobby Charlton ❤️ We are UNITED.”
Eriksen shows off award
Christian Eriksen has shown off his Man of the Match award that he earned against Copenhagen on Instagram.
Ten Hag hails Maguire
Erik ten Hag has heaped praise on Harry Maguire for his display against Copenhagen.
The Dutch manager claimed that the English defender is “dominating” in duels.
He is playing more proactive in possession.
Stepping in, passing vertical, defending on the front foot and also stepping in, passing vertical.
Defending on the front foot, he is also stepping in and playing forward. Very confident in the duels, I think he is dominating.
Also in the right moments, he is showing his aggression against the opponents. Then, you see he is also rewarded because of his heading.
I have to say it is a great pass from Christian [Eriksen], but it was a great finish.
Erik ten Hag
Players improving
Erik ten Hag has admitted that his Manchester United players are getting up to speed after a sluggish start to the season.
The manager felt that the team was much improved in their 1-0 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League last night.
Players are stepping up and getting their markers into the season.
From there, they get the belief, as you have seen with Harry Maguire and Andre Onana.
I think there are others with good performances. If we produce that and go from game to game, we can create something.
Erik ten Hag
Garnacho slammed for antics
Kim Kallstrom has slammed Alejandro Garnacho for scuffing up the penalty spot before FC Copenhagen’s spot-kick last night.
The former Arsenal loanee told Tipsbladet: “What an ugly type. It’s so childish. It’s a baby level.
“I understand that players want to win at all costs, but there has to be some kind of morality somewhere.
“Football players may not have the greatest morals of all, but they can still have morals.”
Maguire’s impressive outing
Here is a touch map of Harry Maguire’s match-winning performance against Copenhagen.
Coming up
Here are Manchester United’s next four games in all competitions.
The Red Devils are first up in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag’s side will then face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup before fixtures against Fulham and Copenhagen.
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Tyson Fury and Andre Onana’s unlikely bromance
Tyson Fury has sparked an unlikely bromance with United penalty hero Andre Onana.
Onana took to Instagram after last night’s game to write: “For all Mancunians, for us, for Sir Bobby Charlton. We are United.”
And Fury replied: “GETTTTUPPPPP.” – invoking the iconic moment he rose from being knocked down against Deyontay Wilder.
Onana then replied with a salute emoji.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
