Man Utd transfer news

AND so the long goodbye for Wayne Rooney has finally come to an end.His departure from Plymouth comes as no surprise. In fact, it’s been there screaming on the wall for a few weeks now.Wayne Rooney was axed by Plymouth on New Year’s EveCredit: REXRooney has been given the boot by Argyle after a mere seven monthsCredit: REXWazza was also given the boot by Birmingham City in JanuaryCredit: GettyAnd the question now, really, is: What next for the former Manchester United man?After all, Rooney really believed he was going to be a manager and that he was cut out for it.But at Derby County, he had a less than 30 per cent win ratio.And it’s been worse everywhere he’s been since then.READ MORE ON ROONEYHe had a miserable time with DC United and picked up just TWO wins in 15 games at Birmingham City.And he leaves Plymouth Argyle with the Devonshire club staring relegation back to League One full in the face.It’s tough. Rooney really cares, there’s no doubt about that.I spoke to him in the US 18 months ago and his enjoyment of the job was clear.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.He said: “I know I am not where I want to be as a finished article.”But these next few years are really important in terms of me getting to grips with the role.Wayne Rooney furious after Plymouth Argyle loss to Norwich “And getting the best out of myself and eventually out of the players.”He was really dedicated to making it work. But it doesn’t seem to work.Maybe it’s a little bit of the Glenn Hoddle syndrome with Wazza.When the former Spurs midfielder walked on to a training ground as a manager, he was the best player there.It’s the same, I suspect, with Rooney. Certainly lower down in the leagues, he’ll be much, much better than most players.That was the level of talent he possessed.And if you’re that good, how do you make limited players play when they can’t do things that come naturally to you?It is tough, no question. But I still think there’s a chance for Rooney. It isn’t the end for him.Wayne Rooney has the same problem Glenn Hoddle did at Spurs – that he’s still better than most of the players he coachesCredit: GETTYRooney will be licking his wounds right now but there is still hope for himCredit: REXIt seems almost inevitable that at some point, he will be handed the reins to his boyhood club Everton.But for now, that seems a long way away.This axing, however, will be brutal. It will be hard and it will hurt.There were a few jokers wondering whether he would actually be given the boot in time to see his wife Colleen out of the I’m a Celebrity jungle.Well, that didn’t happen. But it didn’t last too much longer, did it?READ MORE SUN STORIESLet’s just hope for Rooney that he doesn’t let his own inner demons – the ones he’s talked about in the past – descend on him now.And let’s hope he can cope with this adversity, come out firing and prove next time that he has what it takes to be a successful gaffer. More

MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly struggling to negotiate new deals with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. The pair are among the lowest earners at Old Trafford, despite Garnacho penning a fresh contract in the summer of 2023. Reports suggest United are struggling to secure Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo to new dealsCredit: GettyThe pair have broken through into the first team over the past 18 monthsCredit: GettyCo-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trimming budgets across the club as they look to fall within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.SunSport exclusively revealed on Friday that the cost-cutting exercise even extends to a charity helping out former players. According to the Daily Mail, United are “struggling to reach agreements” with both Mainoo and Garnacho. Mainoo, 19, has enjoyed a meteoric rise since making his debut for the Red Devils last year. READ MORE ON MAN UTDHe is now an England regular, with reports earlier this season suggesting he was set for a new contract as a “priority.”Mainoo’s current deal runs until 2027 with an option for an extra year and sees him pocket £20,000 a week.The Stockport native signed the contract in early 2023, before breaking through into the first team. Garnacho meanwhile was rewarded with a five-year deal last year, which saw his pay skyrocket to £50,000 per week.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSDespite his wage increase, the 20-year-old’s pay packet pales in comparison to top-earners Casemiro (£375k) and Bruno Fernandes (£325k). The Argentine has been sparingly used since the arrival of new boss Ruben Amorim. Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim says he has no disciplinary issues with Rashford and Garnacho After a breakthrough season in 2023, he has scored just three times in 17 games so far this term. The report also claims the Red Devils are in the market for a “new striker, midfielder and cover at goalkeeper.”United replaced Erik ten Hag with Amorim in early November, but the Portuguese boss has endured a dismal start to life in England. The 39-year-old has already ruled out a European finish.And he was even forced to fend off questions about relegation after a 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Boxing Day.Man Utd ratings vs WolvesBy Ken LawrenceWOLVES landed a shock Boxing Day knockout as Manchester United’s struggles continued.The 2-0 defeat means Ruben Amorim has won just two of the seven Premier League games he has taken charge of.United find themselves 14th in the table and today were not helped by Bruno Fernandes’ red card and Andre Onana letting one in direct from a corner.Here is how SunSport rated the performances…ANDRE ONANA: 4He needed to make an agile save from Jorgen Strand Larsen in the first half, but badly misjudged the flight of Cunha’s corner for the opening goal – his claim that he was obstructed by Matt Doherty was rejected.LENY YORO: 5Recalled but booked after only four minutes for a foul on Cunha, so he was walking on eggshells and was tested by Wolves throughout. Subbed just after the hour mark.HARRY MAGUIRE: 6The England defender did his best to keep United in the game when they were under pressure for long periods – at least he helped to stem the tide until the dying seconds and had a header on target in stoppage time.LISANDRO MARTINEZ: 6Teamed up well with Maguire to stop Wolves from winning this more easily, he stood his ground and produced some important challenges in the latter stages before Wolves caught him on the break with the last action of the game.NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI: 5Tenacious and determined, but was one of several players given a torrid time by the best player on the pitch – Cunha.MANUEL UGARTE: 5Dispossesed too easily at times, struggled against a lively Wolves attack and was eventually taken off as one of Amorim’s subs following Fernandes’ red card.KOBBIE MAINOO: 5Looked a threat early on, created some good openings, but he was booked after the break as United looked short on ideas. Faded and was subbed.DIOGO DALOT: 6Brought a tremendous save from Jose Sa in the first half in what was a rare bright spot for United – but he had no major influence on a poor team display.AMAD DIALLO: 5Lacked awareness of his team-mates sometimes and looked a shadow of the player who turned the Manchester derby around less than two weeks ago.BRUNO FERNANDES: 3Sent off early in the second half for a second yellow after a challenge on Nelson Semedo, but the captain had cut a frustrated figure before that.RASMUS HOJLUND: 5Became visibly annoyed at times at a lack of service from his team-mates, he had no joy up front and was subbed with 10 minutes left.SUBSCasemiro (for Mainoo, 63 mins): 6Christian Eriksen (for Ugate, 63 mins): 6Antony (for Yoro, 63 mins): 6Alejandro Garnacho (for Amad, 79 mins): 5Joshua Zirkzee (for Hojlund, 79 mins): 5Amorim said: “We just have to survive and to win sometimes, to work on the team.”We have tough games and it’s a long journey. Like I said on the first day, we have to continue and we have to fight the bad moments because this is part of football.READ MORE SUN STORIES”When you don’t have the results, it is even harder for them to believe.”Asked about European qualification, Amorim responded: “No, no, no, no.” More

MARCUS Rashford looked glum as he was pictured leaving Manchester United’s training ground after a bombshell interview revealed he wants to leave Old Trafford. The wantaway striker, 27, was caught on camera in the back seat of a chauffeur-driven Bentley as he left United’s Carrington training ground today. Marcus Rashford leaving training at Carrington todayCredit: ZenpixMarcus Rashford being driven from training yesterdayCredit: ZenpixThe star (seen yesterday) has been slapped with a driving banCredit: ZenpixHe was also spotted in the back seat as he headed home from Carrington yesterday.Rashford, currently serving a six-month driving ban, did his best to avoid the cameras as he sat in the back of the blacked-out vehicle with his hood up. The Man Utd striker got the new £200,000 Flying Spur Azure so he can be ferried to training in comfort.An onlooker said: “Marcus looked very glum and as though he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.” Read More SportEarlier this month Rashford said he was “ready for a new challenge” two days after being left out of new manager Ruben Amorim’s squad for the Derby day clash against Man City on December 15. The striker said: “Personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.” He has now been left out of the last four squads. United play Newcastle tomorrow.Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2016, having come through the United academy.Most read in FootballHe signed a £350,000-a-week contract after scoring 30 goals in the 2022-23 campaign. But he has struggled to replicate that form, scoring just four times so far this season.Rashford got the Flying Spur Azure so he can be ferried to training in comfortCredit: ZenpixRashford in action for Manchester UnitedCredit: PA More