Man Utd transfer news

BRITAIN’S richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a MAJOR move in an effort to land Manchester United. The Glazer family who currently own the club announced they had put them up for sale in November after 17 years of ownership.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stepped up his takeover for Man UtdCredit: PA
The Glazers are set to enter talks to sell the club for £4.5bCredit: Getty
Boyhood United fan and billionaire Ratcliffe was the first to announce his intention to buy the club by formally launching his takeover attempt in January.
A spokesperson for Ratcliffe at the time said: “We have formally put ourselves into the process.”
And now the owner of Ineos and French club Nice has hired a pair of Wall Street giants to help advise him on the takeover.
According to Bloomberg, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have both been recruited to help Ratcliffe with his bid.
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The unpopular Glazer family want to sell United for £6billion, but such a sum is unlikely to be reached.
Instead, a more realistic range of £4.1bn-£4.5bn is being estimated.

Speculation has been rampant on who the potential new owners could be, with a deadline of February 17 set for bids to be submitted.
Recent reports have suggested a remarkable bid has been launched from a Qatar-based group, with talks already underway for a £4.5bn takeover.
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Ratcliffe first registered his interest in buying an English club last year.
He was rejected in favour of the Todd Boehly led Clearlake consortium in Chelsea’s takeover, while the Glazers swatted away his declared interest in the Red Devils last summer. More

RONALD KOEMAN reckons Cody Gakpo signed for the WRONG club at the WRONG time – and the stats back him up.Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV for an initial £37million last month after they pipped Manchester United to his signing.
Cody Gakpo has endured a frustrating start as a Liverpool playerCredit: Rex

But the Dutch forward, 23, has failed to score a goal or deliver an assist in his six appearances so far for Klopp’s faltering side.
Of those matches, the Reds have won just ONE.
Before his arrival, Gakpo hit 13 goals in 24 games for PSV with 17 assists, along with three at the World Cup for Holland.
But at Liverpool he is averaging just four touches per game in the opposition box.

Ex-Everton boss Koeman, now back in charge of Holland, said: “You can see that he has ended up in a team that is not doing well. Then it becomes more difficult for him, as a new signing.
“You are tested right away and if you don’t score or you’re not important and you don’t win any matches, it’s very difficult, especially for a young player.

“If that was someone aged 28 with experience, it would be  different.
“Also, the level in England is higher than in the Netherlands but they are also young boys.”
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Koeman’s comments are bound to rile Jurgen Klopp, facing his first crisis in seven and a half years at Anfield.
Klopp was forced to fast-track Gakpo into the side because of injuries to fellow frontmen Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto  Firmino.
Yet the striker could have been working alongside Erik ten Hag, with his fellow countryman reigniting United as a force.
Gakpo is understood to have agreed personal terms months before Klopp ambushed the move.
And PSV boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has since blasted his former star for not waiting until summer for the Red Devils.
But Gakpo explained: “I had another style of playing back in Holland so in terms of putting pressure on and running back, I’m learning about that.
“I’m learning a lot and I’m eager to learn even more, so I’m really enjoying it.
“Everybody has a lot of quality here and we have a really great squad. I want to play with and against the best players as this is only good for my game, to improve as a player.
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Ronald Koeman reckons Gakpo has joined the wrong club at the wrong timeCredit: EPA
“It’s always different when you come into a team that was maybe first and winning every game but it’s now in a little bit of a difficult situation.
“So for me it is to come in and show what I can do. If we were in first I have to do that and now we are in another place, I have to do that also — I just try to show my best side.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED star Antony was on the edge while watching his team’s draw against Leeds from the stands at Old Trafford.The winger has been sidelined with a leg injury he suffered during Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Manchester United star Antony passionately celebrated against LeedsCredit: Instagram / @antony00
Antony watched Manchester United draw with Leeds from the standsCredit: Instagram / @antony00
Antony got injured during Manchester United’s win over Crystal PalaceCredit: Instagram / @antony00
Manchester United ace Antony watched from the edge of his seat at Old TraffordCredit: Instagram / @antony00
The Brazil international was bundled to the floor by Palace ace Jeffrey Schlupp and rolled off the side of the pitch, sparking wild scenes that saw Casemiro get sent off.
The crocked 22-year-old had to watch Wednesday’s game from the stands but joined his team-mates in spirit as he was constantly on the edge of his seat.
And he passionately celebrated United’s impressive comeback in the thrilling 2-2 draw.
Leeds opened the scoring with Wilfried Gnonto’s early opener and doubled their lead with Raphael Varane’s own goal.
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But Marcus Rashford put the Red Devils back in the game on 62 minutes.
That sparked wild scenes in the stands with Antony going crazy in celebration.
That was just eight minutes before Jadon Sancho equalised with his first goal after his return from fitness issues.
The Brazilian’s injury is not yet fully specified but United are confident he won’t be sidelined for long.
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Ten Hag said when he was asked about the severity of Antony’s issue: ”I don’t know.
”I don’t think it is a long time, but we have to see how it develops in the coming days.
”It is in his leg, but I can’t specify as we don’t understand that.” More

FURIOUS female Manchester United fans have said that Mason Greenwood should never play for the club again over the rape allegations made against him.The England international was facing charges of attempted rape, coercive control and assault until earlier this month.
Female Manchester United fans have called on the club to sack Mason GreenwoodCredit: Getty
The 21-year-old was accused of attempted rape, assault and coercive controlCredit: Getty
Natalie Burrell, the founder of Manchester United’s Women’s Supporters’ Club told The Athletic: “I don’t think he should play again for Manchester United.
“It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. They need to make a statement and letting him back would be the worst thing they could do.
“It would set our club back in terms of what we’re trying to do with our women’s team and campaigns like Her Game Too which are trying to encourage women to play and watch football.”
She added that it would be a “real statement” if the club wrote off Greenwood’s contract or sold him to another team in the summer.
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Natalie continued: “I just don’t want to see him training. I don’t want to see him in a [United] kit. I don’t want to see him ever coming out at Old Trafford again.
Another fan, named Gina, agreed and said that players should be held to “the highest standard”.
She and her husband are so close to the club that they even received a message from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson on their wedding day, but say that it would be wrong to let Greenwood back into the fold.
Gina explained: “While ‘charges dropped’ is not conclusive either way, if there is any doubt from United that he is guilty of these allegations then I do not feel he should play for United, or any other club, again.”
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A third fan, 33-year-old Kaydee, from Scotland, was even more definite.
She said: “It’s not difficult for me; I don’t think he should return to the club at all.
“They definitely shouldn’t have him back – not after how far the game has come to promote women. It’s just not acceptable and a club like United should know better.
“He’s a brilliant player – I was one of his biggest fans. But no, not at my club.”
It comes after a sports law expert said that the 21-year-old striker lost “millions” after being dropped by sponsors Nike over the accusations.
The young star is rumoured to be lining up a major transfer to China, which could see him take a large pay cut due to the Chinese Super League’s salary cap on foreign players.
Greenwood is currently suspended by Manchester United, pending an internal investigation.
He updated his Instagram profile to include both the club and Nike again but, as the Nike statement showed, that may not be an indication of the probe’s result.
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Charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control against the star were dropped earlier this month after several key witnesses withdrew.
Despite the case against him collapsing, sources have said that his clubmates are not all in favour of having him back.
All charges against him were dropped earlier this month after key witnesses withdrewCredit: PA
However, some United fans don’t think he should every play for the club againCredit: Getty More

LEEDS interim boss Michael Skubala’s match notes were leaked during his impressive debut against Manchester United.Skubala took over the Whites’ dugout on a temporary basis on Monday after Jesse Marsch’s dismissal as manager.
Leeds interim boss Michael Skubala’s notes leaked against Manchester UnitedCredit: AP
Skubala led his team to a 2-2 draw against Manchester UnitedCredit: Rex
The former Leeds Under-21 coach teamed up with assistants Chris Armas as well as Paco Gallardo and led the visitors to an impressive 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
And it looks like we have an idea as to how the 40-year-old tactician led the Premier League strugglers to last night’s strong performance.
A nosy camera caught sight of Skubala’s notepad on which he wrote four instructions for his players.
Although the English manager’s handwriting was a bit rough, it’s clear that two of them say, “believe” and “be calm”.
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The other two are less clear, but they appear to say, “Transitions” and “close middle”.
It seems Skubala’s coaching team focused on the players’ mentality by reminding them to believe in their ability and remain calm under pressure.

When it comes to the technical stuff, Skubala, wanted them to concentrate on midfield, keep the lines together and make all the necessary transitions they worked out during training.
The Leeds stars appeared to take the instructions on board, including January signing Weston McKennie who made his full debut.
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The visitors almost got the better of United as they led 2-0 at Old Trafford.
In-form Wilfried Gnonto opened the scoring just a few seconds after kick-off.
Leeds then doubled their lead three minutes into the second half with Raphael Varane’s own goal.
But United hit back with Marcus Rashford on 62 minutes and equalised just eight minutes later with Jadon Sancho’s first goal since his return to full fitness. More

ERIK TEN HAG claims “magnificent” match-saver Jadon Sancho has already made it “all the way back” for Manchester United.Marcus Rashford and then Sancho netted to rescue a 2-2 comeback draw at home to managerless Leeds in the Premier League.
Man Utd sub Jadon Sancho celebrates his equaliser on his return to Prem action and now hopes to start in the reverse clash with Leeds on SundayCredit: AP
Ten Hag was rewarded for bringing on Sancho as he looked for a ‘different dynamic’ in the 2-2 draw with Leeds at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
And the usually-dour Dutchman was so impressed with Sancho’s goal that he even afforded himself a smile.
The clash with Leeds was Sancho’s second game back from the bench as Ten Hag eases him in four months after injury and psychological issues took him out of the fold.
United boss Ten Hag brought on the England winger just before the hour, with the Red Devils trailing to  Wilfried Gnonto’s sharp first-minute strike and an own goal from Raphael Varane.
The Dutchman said: “I wanted a different dynamic. In that moment we weren’t in the game.
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“Luckily it succeeded because we scored two goals. Very happy. He’s all the way back. 
“We know he’s a magnificent player. I think consistently he can have a big impact. 
“But he has to work hard. It will motivate him to get more. I really enjoyed it, especially for him. It will strengthen him.
“He is in the right direction and if he keeps going with that process he can do even more to really help us to achieve our goals.”
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The draw leaves United third, two points behind neighbours City, and lifted Leeds one point above the drop zone.
The two sides now face what Ten Hag believes is a must-win reverse Prem fixture on Sunday at Elland Road.
He told BBC’s Match of the Day: “Of course it will encourage us for when we play the second game in a couple of days that if we play our game, we can beat them.
“We have to beat them. But you need composure all the time.
“In the last 20 minutes when it was 2-2 we created so many chances but the finishing was not always that good. We have to be more clinical.”
Old Trafford boss Ten Hag looked confident even when he brought on Sancho at 2-0 down against fierce rivals LeedsCredit: PA More