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    Man Utd ‘could snap up £60m-rated England star in huge transfer… if Dan Ashworth arrives in time’

    MANCHESTER UNITED could snap up £60million rated Marc Guehi if Dan Ashworth is appointed as the club’s sporting director in time.The current sporting director of Newcastle United, Ashworth has asked to leave St James’ Park after an approach by new Man Utd chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
    Man Utd are eyeing up Crystal Palace star Marc GuehiCredit: Getty
    United are hoping to recruit Newcastle’s sporting director Dan Ashworth by the summerCredit: AFP
    New Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is already facing a battle to hold on to the club’s leading players this summer.
    Having succeeded Roy Hodgson, Glasner wants to lift Palace away from the relegation zone, with the club just five points above third-from-bottom Luton Town.
    But United plans to steal one of the Eagle’s key men in former Chelsea star Guehi.
    However, this is only likely to happen if Ashworth, whose current deal at Newcastle does not end until 2026, is appointed to the board at Old Trafford by the summer transfer window.
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    Ashworth was interested in signing Guehi for the Magpies and is known to be a fan of the player.
    Guehi joined Palace in 2021 for £18 million from Chelsea, who are not thought to have a straight buy-back agreement on the player.

    But the Blues are said to have a sell-on clause and a matching option they can use should they wish to enter the race to sign the star.
    The England international is contracted to Palace until 2026 and there is little hope the 23-year-old will sign a new deal.
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    This means his value will be the highest this summer and is expected to be around £60milion.
    While Liverpool are in line to also select a new sporting director as well as a new head coach to replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the term.
    Roy Hodgson taken ill during Crystal Palace training with press conference cancelled
    With the Reds already placing Guehi as a top priority on their transfer target list.
    But depending on who takes on the leading role in the summer this could all change. More

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    Barcelona CRISIS as they are forced into fire sale to slash wages by £57m while facing threat of European ban

    BARCELONA’S crisis situation looks set to go from bad to worse after the club were told by LaLiga they will need to slash their salary bill by £57MILLION.The Spanish giants have underwhelmed in the league this season, sitting in third place behind Girona and eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
    Barcelona saw their salary permit reduced by LaLigaCredit: Getty
    It means they will need to sell players to steer clear of a penaltyCredit: Getty
    The likes of Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski could all be sold as a resultCredit: Getty
    But that gap may stretch over the next few years after Barcelona’s financial situation got even worse amid a feared exodus of players.
    LaLiga announced the Blaugrana would be having their permitted salary limit cut down from £231m to 174m for the 2024/25 season.
    With the club’s real squad cost – the total of salaries and transfer amortisations – for this season officially budgeted at £421m, they are some way over budget and will need to make significant cuts.
    Add to this the fact Uefa are not accepting Barcelona’s plea to accept future media sale revenues in their FFP calculations, which could yet land the club a Champions League ban, and you have a far-from-ideal scenario.
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    It means Barcelona will need to sell a host of their most valuable players to stay in line with the rules or face a transfer ban.
    And all this will happen while having to also convince a new manager to come in and take the reigns after club legend Xavi Hernandez announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.
    Big names who have been linked with the exit door include but are not limited to Frenkie de Jong – who remains on a colossal wage – Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Raphinha, Ronald Araujo and Pedri.
    De Jong was linked with a summer departure to Manchester United two seasons ago before the move fell flat due to the Dutchman’s lack of stomach for a move.
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    However, recent reports suggest the 26-year-old has changed his tune and is now open to an Old Trafford switch.
    With his contract up in 2026, Barca still have £65m to amortise when considering the transfer fee they paid to Ajax and the remaining value on his contract.
    Iconic stadium looks unrecognisable as new footage reveals crane on pitch and every single seat removed
    So if Man Utd come calling again they will smell a chance to make some money back, though De Jong is also said to be settled in Spain.
    Robert Lewandowski seems to have finally hit the other side of the mountain in his remarkable football career.

    He has been average this season despite four goals in his last three league games, and according to The Athletic “multiple sources” at the club would accept an offer for the 35-year-old forward.
    The Pole is reported to be earning a cool £22m a year, wages Barca would love to shift for a star on the decline particularly if Saudi Arabia were to reignite their interest in him.
    However, like De Jong Lewandowski is said to be happy in Catalonia.
    The likes of Pedri and Gavi are among the club’s most valuable assets.
    Selling even one of them would likely go a long way in easing the crippling situation Barcelona find themselves in.
    Who will be Barcelona’s next managerWHEN even a club legend like Xavi Hernandez feels he has to get out of the Nou Camp kitchen because he cannot take the heat any more, you do have to wonder if Barca are now a basket case.
    Whoever comes in will have to deal with a cash crisis that could yet see the Catalan giants banned from the Champions League next season – Uefa are still refusing to allow Barca to count the sale of future media revenues in their FFP calculations.
    Mikel Arteta emphatically denied suggestions that he was ready to leave Arsenal for his homeland. But, in the words of a famous ex-model: He would do, wouldn’t he?
    Win the Prem – or the Champions League – with the Gunners and Arteta might feel he has accomplished all that is possible in N5.
    However, Barca will also be looking at Alonso and De Zerbi, as well as former Bayern and Germany coach Hansi Flick.
    And there is at least one, potentially two, Champions League-winning managers who might fancy the challenge…

    Gavi, 19, has already been linked with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after Kylian Mbappe confirmed once and for all that he was leaving this summer.
    His £855m release clause likely won’t be triggered and Barcelona do see him as “unsellable”, but when the chips are down in football, money talks.
    Former Premier League star Raphinha seems to be a no-brainer sale option for the club given his dwindling importance after the emergence of Lamine Yamal and the form of Ferran Torres.
    The ex-Leeds star has already been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd, who could come knocking once again if they find out he is available in the summer.
    Araujo can consider himself unfortunate to be arguably the club’s most lucrative defensive asset.
    It is not that he is not wanted at the Camp Nou, far from it, but it is that there are far too many options already in the position.
    And with a host of clubs including Bayern Munich sniffing around at the 24-year-old’s availability, it may end up coming down to a financial call from the club’s point of view.
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    Premier League clubs will no doubt be keeping tabs on the situation in case any other stars become available.
    Add to all of this that Real Madrid will be able to spend almost £450m more in wages next year, and you have a recipe for domination likely does not feature Barcelona being the top dog. More

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    Manchester United stars among most in-form Dream Team assets in EVERY position

    MANCHESTER UNITED were forced to weather a storm on Sunday but when all was said and done they beat Luton 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.Not even the most partisan Old Trafford season ticket holder would claim the Red Devils are suddenly the finished article but fans have been given every reason to be optimistic since the turn of the year.
    Erik ten Hag’s are undefeated in their last seven games in all competitions and victory over the Hatters made it four consecutive league wins.
    As a result of this upturn, Man United boast some of the most in-form Dream Team assets right now… in EVERY position.

    PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

    Dream Team’s top goalkeeperCredit: Reuters
    Andre Onana (£3.3m) averages six points-per-game across his last three outings – a rate only matched by Mark Flekken (£2m) among goalkeepers.
    The Cameroon international kept a clean sheet against West Ham before he produced EIGHT saves to frustrate Aston Villa in Gameweek 23.
    Despite some shaky performances throughout the first half of the season, the ex-Inter custodian is currently the best performer in his position with 140 points overall.
    Onana has been forced to make 116 saves already in 2023/24, the most among all keepers at this stage.
    Unsurprisingly, Arsenal defenders dominate the form table having kept clean sheets against West Ham and Burnley but Diogo Dalot (£3.4m) is rubbing shoulders with the likes of William Saliba (£3.3m) and Gabriel (£3.9m) at the top of the charts.
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    Bonus points and tackles aplentyCredit: AFP
    The Portuguese full-back has produced 21 points in his last three games via the aforementioned clean sheet against the Hammers and what proved to be a decisive assist at Villa Park.
    He has also a good habit of earning bonus points, as evidenced by the three he picked at Luton to come away with a respectable six-point return in total.
    Dalot is also one of the most prolific tacklers in his position – only five defenders have registered more this term.
    In midfield, it’s Alejandro Garnacho (£3.5m) who appears among the most in-form players at present.
    The teenage winger assisted one his side’s goals on Sunday but also registered two big chances created and two shots on target – arguably he should have scored to seal the points in the second half.
    Teenage sensationCredit: Getty
    The Argentina starlet was the match-winner at home to David Moyes’ mob at the start of the month.
    Garnacho’s brace in that fixture earned him 15 points, his best single-game haul return of the campaign.
    At the time of writing, he averages nine points-per-game across his last three outings – just six assets in his position have outperformed him in the same time frame and that list includes heavy hitters such as Kevin De Bruyne (£6.2m) and Bukayo Saka (£5.7m).
    Last but not least, only Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz (£2m) is preventing Rasmus Hojlund (£3.8m) from being heralded as Dream Team’s most in-form striker.
    The Denmark international has racked up a whopping 31 points in his last three games via four goals.
    More broadly, he’s scored eight goals in as many games in all competitions since Boxing Day!

    A man firmly in formCredit: Dream Team
    Dream Team managers would do well to consider Man United’s form men ahead of Gameweek 25.
    Ten Hag’s side host Fulham this Saturday before an FA Cup trip to Nottingham Forest in midweek – a relatively friendly double header on paper.
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    Hojlund and Dalot in particular have the potential to be smart selections for this coming Gameweek.
    It should be noted that United play Manchester City away as their lone fixture in Gameweek 26 but gaffers will have more transfers available by then so those who decide to back Hojlund and Dalot/Garnacho could feasibly switch it up again before that tricky match-up at the Etihad.

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    Three ‘physical’ former Man Utd stars tipped for careers in boxing by former world champion

    PAULIE MALIGNAGGI has backed Wayne Rooney for a move into boxing – along with two other ex-Manchester United stars. Rooney was offered the chance to make the switch to the ring by KSI’s Misfits Boxing promotion.
    Paulie Malignaggi has baked Wayne Rooney moving into boxing
    Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rooney are two Malignaggi wants to see in boxingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Romelu Lukaku, here clashing with Ibrahimovic, is another tipped for boxing potentialCredit: Getty
    And former world champion Malignaggi is all for it and wants to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well as Romelu Lukaku join him.
    He told Lord Ping: “I don’t think it’s a bad idea, Wayne was always a physical forward like a Christian Vieri type.
    “I think Rooney has the physicality and the skills, he was a very strong and a tremendous athlete.
    “He’s a big boxing fan, when I met him he knew who I was, which threw me off. I’m interested in him boxing.
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    “There are certain guys in football who might be able to do some fighting; Wayne Rooney, Romelu Lukaku,  Zlatan Ibrahimovic, I’m on board with it.”
    Rooney, 38, is an avid boxing fan and was infamously knocked out in his kitchen by fellow footballer Phil Bardsley in a boozy spar gone wrong.
    Ibrahimovic, 42, meanwhile is a black belt in taekwondo while Lukaku, 30, is known for his physicality on the field.
    Malignaggi, a former super-lightweight and welterweight champ, retired in 2017 and has since moved into punditry.
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    Similarly, Rooney is now out of action since hanging his boots up and taking on coaching.
    But he was recently sacked by Birmingham in January, which freed up Misfits – pioneers in celebrity-style bouts – to make him an offer.
    Phil Bardsley reveals all about moment he KO’d Wayne Rooney in his kitchen and says he’ll fight him again
    Rooney confirmed that a deal was proposed but spoke out to pledge his future to football.
    He said on The Overlap podcast: “They’ve been in touch and asked the question, but I think at the minute I want to focus on getting back into management – not boxing.” More

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    Man Utd set Mason Greenwood price tag as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid prepare for transfer battle

    MANCHESTER UNITED will demand around £34million for Mason Greenwood this summer, according to reports.The winger, 22, has spent this season on loan at Getafe.
    Mason Greenwood looks on during Getafe’s 1-1 draw at VillarrealCredit: Getty
    Greenwood has played 21 times in LaLiga, scoring five goals and laying on a further five assists.
    The Red Devils academy graduate has attracted interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
    He remains under contract at Old Trafford until 2025 but will not play for Man Utd again.
    According to German outlet Fussball News, the Red Devils are hoping to receive around £34m for Greenwood when they sell him this summer.
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    The one-cap England international has not played for Man Utd since January 2022.
    He joined Getafe on loan last summer, seven months after charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped.
    His loan club recently complained to Spanish authorities over an alleged slur aimed at Greenwood by Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham.
    They have accused Three Lions favourite Bellingham of calling their loan player a “rapist”.
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    LaLiga chiefs are said to have been “surprised” by Getafe’s unusual decision to take a matter that was not included in the referee’s notes further.
    Nonetheless, the matter was subsequently referred to the Spanish football federation, with a judge appointed to investigate the claim.
    Mason Greenwood reveals ‘best feeling so far’ in rare interview after Getafe aces ‘take Man Utd loanee under their wing’
    If found guilty, Bellingham, 20, could face a ban of between four and ten games.
    Greenwood last featured on Friday, playing the full 90 minutes as Getafe drew 1-1 at Villarreal.
    Greenwood and Jude Bellingham faced each other earlier this monthCredit: Getty More

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    Gary Neville accuses Man Utd of ‘playing Football Manager’ before Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrived as he slams three signings

    GARY NEVILLE has accused the Glazers of “playing Football Manager” with Manchester United.The mood at Old Trafford has changed since the announcement that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has purchased 25 per cent of the club and will run football operations.
    Gary Neville has taken aim at the Glazers for their mismanagement of the clubCredit: PA
    Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already begun his rebuild at Man UtdCredit: PA
    The Glazers are still majority owners at Old TraffordCredit: AFP
    Man Utd have won seven of their nine games since the news and off the pitch, the British billionaire has already appointed Omar Berrada as CEO from Manchester City.
    And Ratcliffe is also lining up a move for highly-rated Newcastle transfer chief Dan Ashworth.
    Asked about his possible arrival and the change already seen under Ineos, Neville said: “It was getting to the point where we were getting mocked for mentioning the Glazers every time Man Utd lost a football match.
    “People would say ‘Well the Glazers aren’t the ones playing football’.
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    “But for 10 years, every Manchester United manager operated without a CEO, without a sporting director, without a director of football.
    “That is madness, forget negligence, that’s just madness.
    “Obviously Sir Jim Ratcliffe is coming in and appointing a CEO that has actually been at a football club before and everyone is applauding him for it – that’s staggering.
    “I can’t believe it hasn’t happened already, it’d never be allowed to happen at another club in the country.”
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    Neville then slammed the Glazers, saying: “They have shown blind loyalty to people who have been really good to them over a long period of time.
    “Ed Woodward was at the club for 10-12 years, they have believed everything he said.
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    “It was a little bit like they were playing Football Manager.
    “We can literally go and look at the best players without having serious people operating the club.”
    He highlighted the signings of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as evidence the Glazers signed big name players with a lack of long-term vision.
    Di Maria arrived in 2014 for £60million, he stayed just one year and scored four goals before joining PSG for a reported £44m fee.
    Falcao came in on loan the same year and struggled to make an impact, finding the back of the net just four times.
    Ibrahimovic, however, was a success as he won the Europa League and Carabao Cup with Man Utd, scoring 29 goals across two seasons.
    Ratcliffe is determined to take the club down a different direction in the transfer market – rather than be drawn in by the biggest name players.
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    And he is set to ruthlessly rebuild the squad, with Neville convinced the current players are fighting to prove their worth to the new owner.
    The pundit said: “What Ratcliffe has come in and done is say to all of them ‘I’m looking at every single one of you lot – you’re all playing for your future.”
    Angel Di Maria left just a season after joining Man UtdCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    The signing of Radamel Falcao also did not work outCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Zlatan Ibrahimovic won two trophies with the clubCredit: Getty More

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    Man Utd ‘will have to fork out staggering £20m to hire Dan Ashworth as Newcastle place transfer guru on gardening leave’

    MANCHESTER UNITED face a £20million bill to lure transfer guru Dan Ashworth to Old Trafford.According to reports, the sporting director of Newcastle United asked to leave St James’ Park following his side’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.
    Newcastle United are reportedly demanding £20million plus in compensation for football director Dan AshworthCredit: Getty
    However, the Toon will demand a compensation fee should he move before the end of his contract.
    Ashworth’s current deal doesn’t end until 2026.
    And The Telegraph claim Newcastle will demand a package of at least £20million, if the Red Devils want him to start work before the stipulated length of his gardening leave.
    That sum to release a football director from their role is almost unheard of in the modern game.
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    Newcastle remained firm when Man Utd’s interest in the 52-year-old was revealed.
    They claimed they were “very well protected” should a rival attempt to poach Ashworth from them.
    According to The Athletic, the ex-Brighton technical director has already been placed on gardening leave.
    Football correspondent Daniel Ornstein wrote on X: “Dan Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle.
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    “Follows request to leave as sporting director + join Man Utd. #NUFC want £20m. 52yo on full pay. #MUFC ready to wait as don’t intend to pay what they deem unrealistic sum @TheAthleticFC.”
    The news comes after Eddie Howe revealed his fears Ashworth will steal Newcastle’s transfer secrets and take them to Manchester United.
    Ten Hag press conference, Niche Media
    Put to him that it doesn’t bode well if Ashworth is privy to sensitive information, Howe said: “Your concerns are relevant and I share the opinion.
    “He’s in a position of power, with a lot of intelligence and information.
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    “I want a quick resolution but I’m not in control of it.
    “There has to be a line drawn and things have to move forward.”
    SunSport exclusively revealed Ashworth is already considering who would be part of his Old Trafford, and wants to hire chief analyst Kyle Macaulay who currently works for Chelsea. More

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    Luton 1 Man Utd 2: Hojlund brace secures all three points but Red Devils lose heads in feisty clash

    ERIK TEN HAG has Rasmus Hojlund and ref David Coote to thank as Manchester United survived the fire and brimstone of Kenilworth Road to chalk up a fourth straight Premier League win. Hojlund secured his first Premier League brace in the opening seven minutes – taking his hot streak to seven goals in six appearances.
    Rasmus Hojlund became the youngest ever player to score in six consecutive league gamesCredit: Reuters
    Hojlund scored twice inside the first seven minutesCredit: Rex
    But Coote’s failure to send off Casemiro for a clear and obvious second yellow-card offence was key to keeping United’s ability to keep their heads above water as Luton whipped up a tempest at their tight home ground.  
    United are now unbeaten in seven games in 2024, winning six, and are just five points off the Champions League places. 
    But Ten Hag had to haul off Casemiro and Harry Maguire at half-time after the Hatters had dominated much of the first period, replying through a Carlton Morris header. 
    Rob Edwards’ Luton will fall into the relegation places if Everton avoid defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Monday, but there was plenty here to encourage the Luton boss that his side can survive in the top flight.
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    There was a proper culture clash in the directors’ box, as pop star Harry Styles shared peppermints with Luton legend Mick Harford, a man probably even harder than Nobby Stiles.
    It all started to go pear-shaped for the Hatters in the warm-up when leading scorer Elijah Adebayo suffered an injury and was replaced in the starting line-up by Cauley Woodrow. 
    Then they fell behind after just 37 seconds when a disastrous attempt at a square pass from Amari’i Bell gifted Hojlund a clear run at goal, with the in-form Dane rounding keeper Thomas Kaminski to score. 
    After failing to score on his first 14 Premier League appearances, Hojlund had now netted for the sixth game in a row.
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    United scented blood and were soon two-up, with another freakish Hojlund goal.
    This time a Luke Shaw corner was cleared as far as Alejandro Garnacho, whose wayward volley was met by United’s alert centre-forward, swivelling to chest it into the net.   
    Fans baffled as Harry Styles spotted in Sky Sports studio before Luton vs Man Utd clash
    But Luton have a habit of clawing back deficits here and on 14 minutes, they were back in the contest.
    Former United man Tahith Chong had a shot deflected off Maguire, the ball looping up to the far post where Morris reacted quicker than Shaw to nod past a flapping Andre Onana. 
    Suddenly, Luton were dominating possession and causing problems for Ten Hag’s side.
    Shaw was booked for cynically flooring Chiedozie Ogbene and then Maguire’s dozy free-kick on the edge of the United box went straight to Ross Barkley, who fed Woodrow for a shot which was deflected wide.
    United were now being subjected to the full-immersive Kenilworth Road experience, as the Hatters responded to the urgings of their fired-up supporters inside this tightest of top-flight arenas.
    Casemiro had just been booked for bringing down Bell when he had a wild lunge at Barkley.
    Coote instantly awarded a foul but bottled a second yellow, when it felt obvious he would have cautioned the Brazilian had he not already been in the book. 
    The home support was justifiably seething and were angrier still when Maguire executed a cynical body-check to floor Morris – who had recently driven one just wide.  
    On a rare United attack, Rashford had a decent penalty shout turned down but Alfie Doughty steered an effort just wide after some more eye-catching work from Chong.
    Shaw was forced off injured in first-half stoppage time, replaced by Victor Lindelof.
    It was testament to Luton’s relentless pressure that Ten Hag made his half-time double substitution, Casemiro hooked in favour of Scott McTominay and Maguire replaced by Jonny Evans. 
    The Dutchman clearly feared a second yellow card for either Casemiro or Maguire had they stayed on.
    Still, Luton continued to pour forward at the start of half, without testing Onana, and on a United counter-attack, Rashford was denied by a tumbling Kaminski. 
    The Hatters keeper was soon caught horribly ought of his ground, and was in the process of being rounded by Fernandes, when Albert Sambi Lokonga came to his rescue with an excellent saving tackle. 
    United were looking steadier now – Evans steadying the defence, Mainoo outstanding in midfield and Hojlund producing some excellent link play up front.
    Kaminski was saved by the Bell soon after when a brilliant Rashford pass released Garnacho, who dribbled past the keeper twice only to have his shot blocked by the Luton defender.
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    Coote continued his eccentric refereeing by booking Mainoo for winning a fine challenge to rob Jordan Clark.  
    Luton enjoyed plenty of late pressure without forcing a save from troubling Onana but Barkley headed against the bar from a corner deep in injury-time. More