Man Utd transfer news

FORMER Manchester United star Lee Sharpe has named three players that he thinks could strengthen the side.The retired winger picked Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Aston Villa’s World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez and Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong as a trio that could reinvent the team.
Former Red Devils star Lee Sharpe has picked three players to improve the club’s squadCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Sharpe has said that Harry Kane should be top of Manchester United’s transfer listCredit: Getty
The former Red Devil also thinks that Emiliano Martinez would be a ‘good addition’ to the squadCredit: PA
With Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit from the club and reports suggesting the Red Devils want a replacement, Sharpe admitted that Kane would be his top pick.
He told NewCasinoUK: “I suppose Harry Kane would be top of the list – if he would ever leave Tottenham.
“But then, if he does come, [Anthony] Martial isn’t going to get a game which would mean you’d lose Martial, and you’d need someone else.
“So I’m not really sure who could come in because I don’t think they’re going to be the number one choice, as I think the manager likes Martial, so to replace Martial potentially lose Martial, it’s a difficult one.”
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Sharpe also spoke on Martinez, who has recently been criticised for his post-World Cup antics.
The former Red Devil defended the Argentine and believes that he would be a good signing with the current “question marks” over David De Gea.
He added: “You’ve got to remember that all goal-keepers are a bit different to most people – playing a different position, with different pressures.
“He’s played in one of the biggest games in the world and maybe overreacted a little bit, but I wouldn’t take away from what he’s done and what he’s achieved.
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“I think he’s saved more penalties at a world cup than anybody, had a really good World Cup and I think he’s a really good keeper, and I think he would be good for United.
“I know there are question marks over De Gea, so maybe he would be decent to come in, and we certainly know that he can cope under pressure.”
The last name Sharpe mentioned was the club’s long-term target De Jong.
The Barcelona midfielder was chased all summer long by the club, and there is hope they can still get a deal done for him which would see him move to Old Trafford.
And Sharpe believes that the Dutchman would be an excellent addition to the squad.
He said: “I think he’s an unbelievable player and is one of those that can get the ball on the edge of his own box, turn and beat someone and turn defence into attack in a matter of three seconds.
“There’s not many people in the Premier League or in football that can do that consistently and do it as well as he does. He is a phenomenal player in transition.
“I think you’d put him in the category with people like [Kevin] De Bruyne.
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“Casemiro is a top quality player, but the type of player to get the ball on the edge of the box, beat one or two and slide someone in for a chance on goal like De Jong is.
“I think he’d be an unreal addition to the team.”
Sharpe says that Frenkie de Jong would be ‘unreal’ for the Red DevilsCredit: Reuters
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PGMOL, the referee body, has allegedly admitted that Anthony Taylor made a blunder during Manchester United’s defeat to Aston Villa.The official was in charge for Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat at Villa Park back in November.
Manchester United players pointed out the error to referee Anthony TaylorCredit: Getty
The official had put the Red Devils’ wall further than 10 yards against Aston VillaCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Lucas Digne scored the free kickCredit: Getty
During the game he awarded a free-kick to Aston Villa in a dangerous position and it was at this point he made his mistake.
He ordered the Red Devils’ defensive wall move back to a position more than ten yards away – despite being told by Christian Eriksen that this was the case.
Lucas Digne then scored the resulting set-piece to put the Villans 2-0 up after only 11 minutes of the game.
MEN has reported that due to Taylor being miked up, the recordings from the match were accessible.
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It revealed that Eriksen had pointed out the error to Taylor, but the midfielder was “tersely ignored” despite being “polite” in his message to the referee.
After the game, United manager Erik ten Hag revealed that he also spotted the issue with the wall.
After the game ended 3-1 to Villa, he said: “I think the free-kick is stoppable because the wall is too far.
“Okay, a small detail but details make the difference in top football. It tells everything from us because we were not fresh.”
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The report states that United went to PGMOL select Group 1 Manager Jon Moss who in turn agreed with the club.
The former official assured the Old Trafford side that Taylor would be spoken to about his error.
The referee had not refereed a game in the Premier League since that match on November 6, but coincidently his first one back was United’s clash with Nottingham Forest last night.
United won the game against Forest 3-0, with goals coming from Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Fred.
The victory has helped them close the game to the Champions League places, as they are only one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand. More

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly moved on from Joao Felix after discovering how costly it would be to sign the Atletico Madrid star.The Portuguese ace is keen to move away from the LaLiga club, but a deal would likely cost United more than half a million pounds PER GAME.
The cost of a deal for Joao Felix has put off Manchester UnitedCredit: EPA
The Red Devils have also missed out on signing Cody GakpoCredit: Getty
Atletico are demanding a loan fee of at least £8million and along with Felix’s wages a deal would cost £16m.
In addition, there would be no option to make the loan permanent, according to The Times.
The Red Devils have 23 Premier League games left this season and even if they do well in the cups, it means Felix would cost in excess of £500,000-a-match, making him a very expensive short-term option.
The LaLiga side want to keep hold of their star player, who cost the club £110m when they signed him from Benfica in 2019.
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Atletico’s chief executive, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, recently said: “The reasonable thing is to think that he is leaving, although I would love him to continue.”
The Times report claims that Erik ten Hag’s side have decided to move on to other targets.
The club are in need of more firepower as they look to replace the recently axed Cristiano Ronaldo.
They recently missed out on the signing of PSV star Cody Gakpo.
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The Dutch forward was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, but Liverpool snuck in at the last moment and agreed on a deal to sign him.
United had agreed to sign him in the summer transfer window but instead opted to complete a deal for Brazilian winger Antony.
Ten Hag has admitted that he wants to bring in a forward, but it the player has to be the “right one”.
He said: “Yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one.
“The right one is a player that brings quality to the team, not just adding to the squad because that only gives you problems.
“And, you know the criteria is high here at Manchester United.” More

ERIK TEN HAG has challenged Marcus Rashford to plunder 20 league goals a season for Manchester United, saying he should be capable of that target.The United boss had better hope his prediction is spot on – and he might as well add a similar one for Anthony Martial, too, if his team is to clinch a top four finish in 2023.
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford both shone vs ForestCredit: Getty
Early signs were certainly promising as the pair were on the mark – with Rashford opening the scoring then setting up the second for his French team-mate inside the opening 22 minutes in a 3-0 win against Forest.
Because the bottom line is that Ten Hag looks doomed to be a loan ranger in next month’s transfer window, with the Red Devils boss apparently unable to make a permanent signing.
Getting rid of sulky superstar Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup break was a sound piece of business for Ten Hag but it left him under greater pressure to sign a striker in January.
But events of the last 24 hours appear to show that plan is on hold.
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Rising Dutch star Cody Gakpo announced on Boxing Day that he is joining Liverpool, for a bargain £37million that could rise to £50m.
That news came as a jolt to Ten Hag, who had wanted his countryman next month even if he does not immediately fill the gap left by finally shedding Ronaldo – with the young Flying Dutchman more of a wide player than a number nine.
It appears that the Glazers’ attempts to sell the club in the new year and a summer of big spending mean there will be no major funds available – with a loan signing apparently now Ten Hag’s only option.
Even Portuguese wonder kid Joao Felix, available at Atletico Madrid, is out of United’s price range because of the multi-millions the Spanish club want for a loan deal.
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Instead, United will be shopping in the bargain basement world of veteran strikers, free agents and loans-to-buy.
Fans still remember – and not always fondly – the likes of Edinson Cavani, Odion Ighalo, Radamel Falcao or, going back further, Henrik Larsson.
That’s the place Ten Hag is now looking although, at least, Rashford and Martial are heading in the right direction based on the victory over Forest – even if their current tallies of five and three goals in the Prem, respectively, are hardly in Erling Haaland territory.
Both have a career season best of 17 league goals – amazingly, both in the same 2019-20 campaign.
And, although it will be a tall order with just 23 games to go, Ten Hag could do with both of them hitting that kind of form over the remainder of this term.
Erik ten Hag has plenty of faith in Marcus RashfordCredit: AFP More

JESSE LINGARD’S first return to Old Trafford ended in disappointment as he was forced off early in the second half with a leg injury.The Notingham Forest ace was playing against his former club for the first time since his summer exit.
Jesse Lingard was withdrawn after 53 minutes through injuryCredit: Getty
Lingard looked gutted when he went downCredit: EPA
But the ex-United man was given a warm ovation from the home fansCredit: Getty
But Lingard lasted just 53 minutes before he came off with what appeared to be an injury to his leg.
Lingard’s withdrawal came with Nottingham Forest trailing 2-0 thanks to first half goals from pal Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
His first Old Trafford outing as an away player came just days after he slammed United for their treatment of him.
The 30-year-old claimed he was sold “false promises” by the Red Devils and said he was never told why he was frozen out.
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He said: “I don’t know why I wasn’t playing. I don’t know what the problem was, whether it was politics or whatever.
“I still haven’t got an answer to this day. I didn’t even ask. 
“I’d rather that someone out of respect for me being there that long told me ‘this is why you’re not playing’, but I never got that.
He played just 548 minutes across all comps last season and took to social media after he wasn’t given an Old Trafford farewell in their final home game against Brentford in May.
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But he finally got his send-off when he was replaced.
He received a warm ovation from all corners of the Theatre of Dreams when he was substituted.
It was a classy moment for someone who played more than 200 times for his boyhood club and won three major trophies, scoring in two of those finals. More

FANS were left baffled as the Premier League listed a Portuguese Third Division striker as a Manchester United player on their official website.The Red Devils are on the hunt for a forward in January, after axing Cristiano Ronaldo last month.
Betinho was bizarrely listed as a Man United player
The forward plies his trade in the Portuguese third tier
But Portuguese journeyman Betinho probably isn’t who most had in mind.
Eagle-eyed supporters noticed the 29-year-old’s bizarre inclusion on the Prem website earlier today.
A screenshot listing the former Sporting Lisbon youngster as United’s No11 quickly did the rounds on social media.
And even Betinho himself found the funny side, sharing a joke with his Man United compatriots on social media.
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He wrote to his 3,000 Instagram followers: “Thank you @manchesterunited see you soon.
“@brunofernandes8 @diogodalot It will be a pleasure to share a locker room with you.”
He followed his post with a laughter emoji.
Betinho then followed up by posting a picture of himself photoshopped into a Man United kit.
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Betinho saw the funny side of the gaffe
The 29-year-old wrote “see you soon” on Instagram
He captioned it “The joke is getting serious”, before adding two more laughter emojis.
Betinho began his career with Sporting, making three league outings for the Portuguese giants.
During his stint he joined Brentford on loan in the Championship in 2014, but only managed one first team appearance for the Bees.
After his 13-minute cameo during a 3-0 home defeat to Norwich he was left on the bench for the next six games – before failing to even make the matchday squad for the remainder of the season.
He subsequently signed for Belenenses, before joining third tier outfit Espinho in 2019, where he currently plays his football.
According to Athletic reporter Laurie Whitwell, United have alerted the Premier League about the gaffe – blaming a “technical issue” for Betinho’s appearance on their squad list.
Betinho signed for Brentford on loan in 2014Credit: TWITTER / @BrentfordFC More