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    Man Utd ‘open to selling Aaron Wan-Bissaka despite strong performances in Dalot’s absence with clubs keen on transfer’

    MANCHESTER UNITED could sell Aaron-Wan Bissaka this January, reports claim. That’s despite the 25-year-old performing well in the recent wins over Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka could reportedly leave Manchester United this monthCredit: Rex
    Wan-Bissaka has covered for the absent Diogo Dalot.
    Portuguese right-back Dalot is Erik ten Hag’s No1 choice but has been sidelined since picking up an injury at the World Cup.
    And Wan-Bissaka has helped United keep a clean sheet in all three of their recent games.
    But he could still be sold this month, according to The Athletic.
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    Wan-Bissaka has been linked with a move away after falling out of favour at Old Trafford.
    It’s claimed several clubs have expressed an interest in signing the defender before the end of the current transfer window.
    Signed for £50million from Crystal Palace in 2019, Wan-Bissaka had played just four minutes of action this season until Dalot’s injury.
    He has been linked with a return to the Eagles.
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    And Selhurst Park boss Patrick Vieira fuelled rumours of a swoop in December.
    He said on Wan-Bissaka: “Listen, he is a Man Utd player. We have to respect that and there’s nothing more to say about that.
    “He is a good player, there is no doubt about that. He’s related to this football club, and I think he’s been loved by the fans.
    “But again, he’s a United player.
    “I hope we’re going to be busy [in January]. We always work hard to try to improve the squad but we know how tough and difficult it is to find the players to improve the team.
    “We are quite short on numbers but it is important to find the right players.” More

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    Man Utd and Chelsea transfer blow as ‘Bournemouth contact Juventus over shock January swoop for Weston McKennie’

    CHELSEA and Manchester United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Weston McKennie after Juventus were reportedly contacted by Bournemouth.The Cherries, who face off against United tonight, are battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
    Juventus has been contacted by Bournemouth over the sale of Weston McKennieCredit: Getty
    And now with their new owners backing, including Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan, the club have launched an audacious bid to sign the American midfielder.
    According to Calciomercato, Juventus want to keep French World Cup star Adrien Rabiot at the club until the end of the season, and prefer to lose McKennie instead.
    The report suggests Bournemouth have made “the most concrete steps” regarding a transfer for the 24-year-old.
    Juventus want to sell McKennie for between £31m and £35million.
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    And following Bournemouth’s initial contact, they will reportedly follow it up with a bid in the next few days, but McKennie’s interest in the move is unknown.
    United tracked McKennie in the summer after negotiations to sign Rabiot collapsed.
    Last month it was reported McKennie was wanted by clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund.
    The Bundesliga outfit do reportedly remain keen, but they are second in the race to Bournemouth.
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    McKennie’s sale would allow them to fund a move for Real Valladolid right-back Iván Fresneda.
    Bournemouth’s takeover was completed last month and was worth £120m.
    The leader of the bid, Bill Foley, is said to be worth £1.2b. More

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    Man Utd transfer blow as Barcelona boss Xavi rules out letting key target Frenkie de Jong leave in January

    MANCHESTER UNITED have suffered a fresh blow in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong after Xavi revealed Barcelona’s January transfer plans. De Jong’s transfer to Old Trafford was one of the saga’s of the summer, but the move failed to materialise despite both clubs pushing hard for it.
    Frenkie de Jong is a long-term target of Manchester UnitedCredit: AFP
    But Xavi has revealed Barcelona have no plans to let anyone leave in JanuaryCredit: EPA
    After failing to land De Jong, United ended up signing Casemiro to bolster their midfield.
    But the Red Devils have retained their interest in the Dutchman.
    However, a January move appears to have been ruled out by Barca boss Xavi after he revealed he believed it would be a “quiet” window at the Nou Camp.
    Xavi told reporters in Spain: “I don’t want Memphis (Depay) or any other player to leave in January.
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    “I think it’s going be a quiet window for us.”
    It comes after a sensational report claimed De Jong was now keen on a Camp Nou exit.
    The Blaugrana’s situation has led them to use a number of financial “levers” to take out loans against the club’s future revenue in order to balance the books.
    However, a fresh report from Catalunya Radio has indicated the club cannot repeat the same trick they used last summer to bring in the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde.
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    The Spanish giants are also said to be around £176million over their wage budget, an issue not helped by the club’s Champions League group stage elimination.
    Regardless, Erik ten Hag and Co are having issues of their own at Old Trafford.
    Cristiano Ronaldo – who has now been unveiled by Al Nassr – departed the club after his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, and Anthony Martial continues to be plagued by fitness issues.
    Ten Hag has reiterated the need for the club to find a striker which matches their sporting and financial needs, but said they will not “burn money.”
    He said: “I think we have a good team when all the players are available.
    “But with many games coming up, I think there is a need (to sign a striker).
    “But you need one who can have an impact, otherwise you are just burning money and you don’t strengthen the squad and it doesn’t help you.”
    After missing out on Cody Gakpo, the likes of Joao Felix, Marcus Thuram, and Olivier Giroud are being considered by United. More

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    Leicester ‘want shock Martin Dubravka transfer in January’ after Newcastle goalkeeper’s Man Utd loan was terminated

    LEICESTER CITY are reportedly keen on signing Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka after his loan move at Manchester United was terminated.Dubravka, 33, made just two Carabao Cup appearances for the Red Devils after joining in the summer and failed to make an appearance in the Premier League.
    Leicester are keen on Dubravka, who had his loan at United terminatedCredit: Getty
    He appeared in cup wins over Aston Villa and Burnley, though was criticised by fans for his performance against the Clarets.
    The keeper twice produced errors that almost led to a Burnley goal, sparking fury amongst the fanbase.
    As a result, Toon decided to end his loan early, forcing United to bring forward their pursuit of Yann Sommer.
    But his return to St James’ Park might not last long, as according to the Guardian, Leicester are keen on the former Newcastle No1.
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    The Foxes have struggled this term with Danny Ward in goal after legend Kasper Schmeichel departed for Nice.
    Brendan Rodgers’ men have, however, managed to steer themselves three points clear of the drop zone after a poor start to the campaign.
    A move could materialise with the Slovakia shot-stopper unlikely to dislodge Nick Pope.
    The England international has played a key role in Newcastle holding their own inside the top four.
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    Toon are third after 17 games played, collecting 34 points.
    Eddie Howe’s side are back in action on Tuesday night against league leaders Arsenal.
    Three points will push Newcastle within six of the Gunners, and lift them above defending champions Manchester City. More

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    Man Utd bring forward Yann Sommer pursuit as they look to complete goalkeeper transfer this month after Dubravka recall

    MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly planning to move for Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer this month rather than wait.The Red Devils have been left short after Newcastle recalled Martin Dubravka from his loan at Old Trafford.
    Man Utd are making a move for Moenchengladbach’s keeper Yann SommerCredit: Getty
    The 33-year-old Slovakian failed to make a single Premier League appearance for United as he was unable to dislodge No1 David De Gea.
    The stopper was restricted to just two Carabao Cup outings following his arrival but is now back at the Toon.
    And TalkSPORT are now claiming that United are “ready to bring forward their move” for Sommer after being “short-handed” by Dubravka’s exit.
    The 34-year-old has just represented his country at the World Cup and becomes a free agent in June when his contract at Borussia Monchengladbach.
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    This report states that United “were already working on a deal” to sign him at the end of the campaign.
    Now they are “hoping to persuade” the Bundesliga club to do business now.
    Erik ten Hag’s side are looking to snap-up the veteran for a knockdown fee.
    And they will be hoping to get a potential transfer sorted as soon as possible in order to get cover in.
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    Sommer came through the ranks back in his homeland with Basel but left them for Gladbach in 2014.
    He made the Bundesliga team of the season in 2020 and has played over 300 matches for the club.
    He has also won 80 caps for Switzerland. More

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    Man Utd ‘consider shock Olivier Giroud transfer bid’ as they eye ex-Arsenal and Chelsea ace to replace Cristiano Ronaldo

    OLIVIER GIROUD is a shock transfer target for Manchester United, according to reports. Man Utd are on the look out for more firepower in the January transfer window, but have a specific criteria of player they are after in both a sporting and financial sense.
    Olivier Giroud has emerged as a shock transfer target for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    And with the club weighing up a deal for Joao Felix, Giroud has emerged as an alternative option for Erik ten Hag.
    According to The Times, the fitness struggles of Anthony Martial and the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo – who arrived in Saudi Arabia for his Al Nassr transfer last night – have led them to consider the ex-Chelsea and Arsenal ace.
    However, the 36-year-old is expecting to be offered a new deal at AC Milan when his current deal expires at the end of the season.
    On the club’s striker issues, Ten Hag said: “I think we have a good team when all the players are available.
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    “But with many games coming up, I think there is a need.
    “But you need one who can have an impact, otherwise you are just burning money and you don’t strengthen the squad and it doesn’t help you.”
    Utd have scored 24 league goals this season, a figure which sees them rank 10th in the Premier League for the metric.
    A rejuvenated Marcus Rashford has shouldered the majority of the burden this season with 11 goals in all competitions.
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    However, Martial, who plays through the middle, has started just four times in the league and six times overall.
    United are in desperate need of a more robust forward who fits the criteria the club are searching for.
    After missing out on a transfer for Cody Gakpo, Atletico Madrid’s Felix appears to be the main target, but the £18.5m cost of a loan deal is a stumbling block.
    This means Giroud, who scored four goals at the World Cup, could be in line for a surprise transfer.
    In addition, Ten Hag has revealed he has “reservations” about recalling in-form winger Amad Diallo from his loan at Sunderland.
    The 20-year-old has scored six goals in 20 games for the Black Cats, and despite his squad’s issues Ten Hag wants Diallo to continue his progress.
    He said: “We consider everything but I have a little bit of reservation about that because I don’t want to stop the process.
    “He has made really good progress there so I’m happy with that.
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    “But young players need experiences and when we decide for him to come back, he has to be a player who can compete for the starting XI or minimum to come on for a lot of games and make an impact.”
    Ten Hag has welcomed Jadon Sancho back to United ahead of the clash against Bournemouth tonight, but he remains some way off selection consideration. More

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    Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag admits he has ‘reservations’ over recalling Amad Diallo from his red-hot Sunderland loan spell

    MANCHESTER UNITED manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that he has “reservations” about recalling Amad Diallo from his loan spell with Sunderland.Diallo, 20, has scored six goals in 19 appearances for Sunderland so far this season.
    Diallo has impressed for Sunderland so far this seasonCredit: Reuters
    Ten Hag admitted he has ‘reservations’ about recalling DialloCredit: Getty
    His impressive form has also seen him become a fan-favourite at the club.
    But while the winger continues to shine at the Stadium of Light, Erik ten Hag is still not convinced that he is ready for a return to Old Trafford.
    When asked about the possibility of recalling Diallo during a press conference on Monday, the United boss said: “We consider everything but I have a little bit of reservation about that because I don’t want to stop the process.
    “He has made really good progress there so I’m happy with that.
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    “But young players need experiences and when we decide for him to come back, he has to be a player who can compete for the starting XI or minimum to come on for a lot of games and make an impact.”
    Diallo joined Man Utd in a £37million transfer from Atalanta two years ago, but he has made just nine senior appearances.
    The young star spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan with Rangers, where he scored three goals in 13 games.
    And in August 2022 he joined Sunderland on a season-long loan.
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    While he struggled to make an impact upon his arrival, he has since become one of the club’s top talents.
    When speaking about Diallo in November, Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray praised his “amazing talent”.
    He said: “Knowing his personality, it’s good that he’s under the Premier League radar – under the Manchester United world support radar.
    “But he’s still at Sunderland where there are 40,000 at home games demanding that he runs and fights and chases and wins headers, and he has scored a couple of goals in the last three games.
    “We can see on the training pitch that he has got amazing talent.
    “You can see why Manchester United might have paid an incredible amount of money for him, because the ball sticks to his foot and he’s fast and he knows where the net is – he’s got a wand of a left foot.
    “I think he just has to play football and enjoy football and grow, really. Whether he ever gets to the level [where he plays regularly for Manchester United] … I hope he does.” More

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    Erik ten Hag deals Harry Maguire Man Utd blow as he hints at first-choice defensive duo including ‘fabulous’ Luke Shaw

    HARRY MAGUIRE’S future at Manchester United has been plunged into further doubt by the dazzling displays of Luke Shaw.Manager Erik ten Hag picked Shaw to start at centre-back in the wins over Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
    Harry Maguire’s future at Man Utd is under increasing pressureCredit: Rex
    It comes after Luke Shaw put in two strong displays at centre-halfCredit: AP
    Erik ten Hag likes a left-footed player at left centre-backCredit: Getty
    Ten Hag said: “Shaw did fabulously.
    “We also know he’s good at left full-back but he’s an extra option at centre-back — and that’s always good for a team.”
    After a bout of illness, United skipper Maguire, 29, was only deemed fit enough for the bench as United kept clean sheets against Forest and then Wolves.
    And with Argentine World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez set to be back in the squad to host Bournemouth tonight, England defender Maguire faces yet another obstacle to get back in.
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    Former United and England defender Rio Ferdinand said he would look for another club if he was in the shoes of £85million Maguire.
    Ten Hag admitted the decision to move Shaw into the middle was forced on him.
    But the Dutchman added: “Of course you have ideas and a plan but sometimes it changes with the circumstances.
    “Casemiro has done well at centre-back, Shaw did too. And you look at the gameplan, the way we have to approach it.
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    “It was a good fit and, with a left-footer, we can get better angles.”
    Ten Hag also expects to have midfielder Scott McTominay and full-back Diogo Dalot back in contention for the visit of the Cherries. More