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    Man Utd defender Teden Mengi ‘closing in on Birmingham loan transfer’ after impressing at Wayne Rooney’s Derby

    MANCHESTER UNITED defender Teden Mengi is closing in on a loan transfer to Birmingham, according to reports. The 19-year-old centre-back impressed at Derby last year.
    Teden Mengi is set to join Birmingham on loan for the rest of the 2021-22 seasonCredit: EPA
    But his spell under Wayne Rooney was cut short due to injuries.
    He featured in United’s 1-1 draw with Young Boys in the Champions League last month – his second first-team appearance for the club.
    Now according to the Daily Mail, Mengi is on the brink of completing a temporary switch to St Andrew’s.
    Lee Bowyer saw loanee centre-back Dion Sanderson recalled by Wolves.
    The Blues boss, whose side sit 18th in the Championship, is therefore keen to bring in a replacement immediately.
    And Mengi is available, with his parent club keen for him to get more minutes under his belt.
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    Mengi joined United’s academy aged seven and progressed through the ranks to sign a pro contract in September 2019.
    He made his senior debut in August 2020 as a late substitute against LASK in the Europa League.
    And six months later, the Manchester-born ace signed for Rooney’s Deby until the end of the 2020-21 season.
    He made nine appearances before needing to head back to United for treatment and recovery in April.
    At the time, Rooney said: “He has been fantastic for us and we’ve seen him grow with each game.”
    Mengi, under contract at Old Trafford until 2024, is the Under-23s United captain, wearing the armband in the Premier League 2, Uefa Youth League and Papa John’s Trophy since returning from injury in September.
    But now the England youth international will look to build on his experience at Derby last season with another stint in the Championship.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
    Mengi’s fellow United youngsters Axel Tuanzebe and Ethan Laird are both switching their loan clubs mid-season.
    Tuanzebe has been at Aston Villa but, with game time limited, is set to join Napoli for the rest of the campaign.
    Laird, meanwhile, will head from Swansea to Bournemouth – and could stay with Scott Parker’s side again next term if the Cherries get promoted. More

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    Barcelona could offer Man Utd Ousmane Dembele for Anthony Martial in January swap transfer deal

    BARCELONA are reportedly looking to prise Anthony Martial from Manchester United by offering Ousmane Dembele in a swap deal.Catalan outlet Ara claims Nou Camp boss Xavi is desperate to sign a striker following Sergio Aguero’s retirement.
    Barcelona are eyeing a move for wantaway Man Utd striker Anthony MartialCredit: Getty
    Barca are ready to offer contract rebel Ousmane Dembele in a swap dealCredit: AFP
    And Martial has now emerged as a target after Ralf Rangnick warned Barca off Edinson Cavani.
    Martial has made it clear he wants to quit Old Trafford this month after attracting interest from Sevilla.
    But Barcelona could now jump the queue by launching a bid including contract rebel Dembele.
    The winger, a target for Newcastle, is set to become a free agent next summer after failing to agree a new deal.
    United have long been linked with Dembele, and could be tempted by a swap involving wantaway Martial.
    Barcelona have already splashed the cash since Xavi’s return, shelling out over £55million for Man City winger Ferran Torres.
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    But with Aguero retiring due to a heart condition, Barca have just one recognised striker in loanee Luuk de Jong.
    And Xavi was initially hoping to add United’s veteran hitman Cavani to his squad.
    However, Red Devils boss Rangnick revealed today that the Uruguayan would be staying put until the summer.
    Barcelona have also expressed an interest in former Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata.
    Juventus have told parent club Atletico Madrid they will not make his loan deal permanent.
    And Morata is reportedly eager to end his second Turin spell to link up with Xavi.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
    But Juve have warned Barcelona they will not terminate Morata’s loan unless a replacement can be found.
    Ironically, Juventus were also keen on Cavani.
    But with the veteran staying put, the Italians are now said to be looking at Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauro Icardi and Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak. More

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    Ralf Rangnick says he will BLOCK Edinson Cavani transfer exit after begging Man Utd striker to stay

    RALF RANGNICK insists veteran striker Edinson Cavani is going nowhere in the New Year transfer window.Cavani had grown frustrated at a lack of game time but came on for his first action since November 2, scoring in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle.
    Ralf Rangnick says he will not let Edinson Cavani leave Manchester United this monthCredit: Reuters
    Then the 34-year-old made only his third league start of the season, up front in the 3-1 win over Burnley on Thursday.
    And Rangnick said: “We’ve had quite a few conversations in the last couple of weeks, he is probably the player with whom I have spoken most.
    “I told him from the very first day that, for me, he is a highly important player.
    “He is probably the only one who can play as a striker back to goal and face to goal.
    “His professionalism, his work ethic is just amazing and I told him that I desperately want him to stay until the end of the season.
    “He knows that. He also knows how highly I rate him and how highly I respect him, and that was also the reason why I played him against Burnley from the beginning together with Cristiano.
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    “I will definitely not let him go.
    “For me, he is a highly important player for the rest of the season, still playing in three competitions, so we will definitely need Edi.
    “I would rather have another Edi on top of that but for me it’s clear that Edi has to stay.
    “With regard to the other players, yes, our squad is maybe a little bit too big with regards to numbers but we still have Covid, we have three competitions, as I said, and I think we could do with a bigger squad maybe in times without Covid.”
    Another player frustrated at his lack of action is Donny van de Beek who started just two Premier League games in the whole of 2021.
    Donny van de Beek has hardly featured for Manchester United under Ralf RangnickCredit: EPA
    The 24-year-old former Ajax star is now in danger of missing out on Holland’s World Cup squad if he cannot either force his way into the United team or get a move elsewhere.
    Rangnick, however, is giving the midfielder no guarantess.
    He said: “So far as I have got to know him he’s got a top mentality, he works hard in every training session.
    “He’s a team player through and through and there will be games where he will get his chance to play I’m sure.
    “I also had a longer conversation with him last week about that and, again, of course it’s difficult for him right now because he also wants to play for the Dutch national team.
    “He wants to qualify for himself and play in the World Cup in Qatar and in order to do that he needs to get game-time here.
    “But I still believe that we should keep him, that he should stay here, definitely until the end of this season and try to get as much game-time as he possibly can.”
    One player who may have played his last for United is Anthony Martial, however, after his agent made it clear that he wants to leave United.
    The French forward has been left out the last two squads despite having recovered from a knee injury.
    Anthony Martial has made it clear he wants to leave Manchester UnitedCredit: PA
    And Rangnick said: “He made it very clear that he wants to leave and, in a way, I can understand his wish to leave and to try to play more regularly somewhere else.
    “But, again, it’s a question not only of what he wants to do but it’s also a question of which kind of clubs are interested in him and do they meet the demands of the club, so we have to wait and see.
    “He is not injured currently, I decided to go for the group of players that were in the squad against Burnley, so it had nothing to do with injuries.”
    One striker who will definitely be part of the action against Wolves at Old Trafford tomorrow is Cristiano Ronaldo despite it being the 36-year-old’s third game in eight days.
    Rangnick said: “Physically he seems to be fit. He’s doing everything, he’s a top professional, he looks after himself and after his body, he eats the right things.
    “At the age of 36 right now, I’ve never seen a player at this age like this, maybe Ibrahimovic who is even a little bit older but he’s a different kind of player.
    “But I don’t see why he shouldn’t be able to play three games within eight days.
    “But if at one stage we need to rest him it’s no problem but then it’s even more important to have Edinson in the squad.” More

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    Jose Mourinho trying to spoil Man Utd’s plans to sign Kamara as Roma open talks with Marseille star over transfer

    MANCHESTER UNITED are facing competition from ex-boss Jose Mourinho for the signature of Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara, it’s claimed.Roma and manager Mourinho, 58, are said to have swooped in to open talks with Kamara and his agent.
    Boubacar Kamara is said to be heading to Manchester but Roma are also supposedly keenCredit: Getty
    La Repubblica have reported that Roma are hoping to reach a deal with Marseille for the defensive midfielder.
    The Marseille-born youngster has made 142 appearances for the club since making his first team debut as a 17-year-old.
    He entered the club’s academy when he was just FIVE years old and has supported the club ever since.
    Kamara has scored four goals and assisted five in total for the Ligue 1 club.
    United had been tipped as favourites to land the Frenchman and Kamara, 22, has attracted interest from all over Europe.
    Sources claim that Ralf Rangnick is ‘convinced’ that Kamara is the right signing for his new team.
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    He is an elite ball-winner, who is very competent when pressing which will allow him to fit nicely in Rangnick’s system at Man Utd.
    And negotiations between the Manchester cub and Marseille were said to be at an ‘advanced stage’.
    As reported, Kamara is more interested in the money on offer at Old Trafford than a move to Roma.
    Man Utd, who sit in sixth place in the Premier League, face eight-placed Wolves on Monday night.
    Kamara, 22, is a gifted ball-winning, deep-lying midfielderCredit: AP More

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    Napoli ‘reach verbal agreement with Man Utd for Axel Tuanzebe and will pay £420k for loan transfer until end of season’

    NAPOLI have reached an agreement to sign Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe on loan for the remainder of the season, it’s been claimed.The centre-back fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season and was sent out on loan to Aston Villa.
    Axel Tuanzebe fell down the Man Utd pecking order last yearCredit: Getty
    His lack of game time prompted a loan return to Aston Villa but he’s hardly played for the VillansCredit: Aston Villa FC
    But according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Tuanzebe has cut short his second stint at Villa Park in order to join Napoli.
    He tweeted: “Done deal and confirmed.
    “Napoli have reached a verbal agreement with Man United for Axel Tuanzebe: loan until June, €500k (£420k) loan fee.”
    Tuanzebe’s reported move to the Diego Maradona Stadium is said to not include an option to buy.
    The 24-year-old’s seemingly imminent departure from the Midlands appears to be down to a lack of game time.
    Villa boss Steven Gerrard recently said of Tuanzebe’s future: “It’s very much in Ax’s hands and Manchester United’s hands.
    “We want him here, we would be delighted to keep him.
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    “We don’t just see it as a loan until the end of the season.
    “It’s something we want to explore further than that.
    “We just hope we’ve got that opportunity.
    “He’s a player we like very much and we’d like him to stay until the end of the season at least.
    “Axel is his own man and will want to make his own decision.
    “In terms of what he has given on a daily basis, his leadership and training levels have been really strong and he is pushing to play.”
    He added: “Most loans, to give you a hint, normally have a recall option.
    “I don’t think it makes sense to loan any player out in this day and age, especially when you are going through a pandemic, to not have a recall option.
    “We will see how that one pans out in the short term. We want to keep him.”
    Aston Villa will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, traveling to west London to take on Brentford.
    Napoli, meanwhile, will travel to Turin on Thursday to take on Serie A giants Juventus.
    Steven Gerrard wants to retain Axel Tuanzebe’s servicesCredit: Getty More

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    Man Utd fans fear Edinson Cavani ‘waved goodbye’ in win over Burnley and will leave in January transfer

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans fear Edinson Cavani ‘waved goodbye’ to the club following yesterday’s win over Burnley.The striker, 34, started in the 3-1 win at Old Trafford on Thursday.
    Edinson Cavani waves as he leaves the Old Trafford pitch on ThursdayCredit: EPA
    Man Utd fans fear Edinson Cavani ‘waved goodbye’ after the 3-1 win over BurnleyCredit: Getty
    But supporters were taken aback by Cavani’s actions after the final whistle.
    Video footage shows the Uruguayan veteran applauding, waving and blowing kisses to home fans in the Theatre of Dreams.
    Cavani is out of contact next summer and has been tipped to leave after struggling to hold down a regular spot in the starting XI.
    Spanish giants Barcelona are reportedly plotting a January swoop following Sergio Aguero’s retirement.
    Meanwhile, fallen Italian giants Juventus and Brazilian Samba side Corinthians have also been linked.
    And some United fans reckon Cavani’s gestures after the Burnley game were goodbye messages.

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    One said: “Today was different. The matador gesture, the goodbye kisses, the lock sign (together always) and the teary face.
    “I hope he does stay but that felt like goodbye.”
    Another tweeted: “It’s most likely that he is leaving in January.”
    One noted: “We can’t let him leave right now, with Covid and injuries he’s the best 9 we have.”
    Another added: “I hope it’s not true, would be gutted if he left in January.”
    Cavani joined United on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and scored 17 goals last season.
    He has two goals this term in 10 games but has struggled for consistency with injuries.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Spanish newspaper jokes that Cristiano Ronaldo has ‘offered himself to Barcelona and contacted Xavi’

    A SPANISH NEWSPAPER has hilariously joked that Cristiano Ronaldo has offered himself to Barcelona as he is unhappy at Manchester United.The Portuguese superstar, they claimed, contacted Barca centre-back Gerard Pique and asked him to speak to Nou Camp boss Xavi about a move.
    Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly offered himself to Barcelona as he is unhappy at Man UtdCredit: Reuters
    But not is all as it seems.
    Spain celebrate their equivalent of April Fool’s Day on December 28 and Mundo Deportivo dreamed up the incredible story as a prank.
    The report suggested his agent Jorge Mendes was already negotiating terms with Barca president Joan Laporta.
    It said Ronnie was aware the cash-strapped Catalans are looking for a goalscorer.
    And so he contacted Xavi ‘a few days ago’ after an introduction by his former United team-mate Pique.
    Several high-profile Barca execs were said to have thought the transfer of the Real Madrid legend was a joke when they first heard.
    The story hilariously added that Pique even asked Lionel Messi if his arch-nemesis could rent his house from him if Ronaldo joined.
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    The joke was perfectly timed with Ronaldo cutting an unhappy figure at Manchester United.
    After his side only managed a 1-1 draw with Newcastle, he stormed straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the travelling fans.
    Red Devils legend Gary Neville was fuming with his old pal over the snub.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
    Ronaldo most recently played at the Nou Camp with Juventus last year.
    He scored two penalties taking his total number of career goals against Barcelona to a staggering 34.
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    Cristiano Ronaldo slammed for attitude towards three young Man Utd stars as Jamie Carragher questions Rangnick’s tactics

    CRISTIANO RONALDO has been slammed for his attitude towards three of Manchester United’s young stars. And Jamie Carragher believes Ralf Rangnick’s tactics are not getting the most out of the frustrated Portuguese forward.
    Cristiano Ronaldo moaned at his team-mates during the 1-1 draw at NewcastleCredit: EPA
    Edinson Cavani took the young forwards under his wing when he arrived at Old TraffordCredit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement
    Ronaldo, 36, constantly sulked throughout United’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle on Monday, appearing to moan at his team-mates.
    Gabby Agbonlahor hit out at the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and called on him to lead Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho by example, like Edinson Cavani.
    The ex-Aston Villa striker told talkSPORT: “If you’re Greenwood, Rashford, Sancho and you make a bad pass or a bad cross, you’re looking at Ronaldo.
    “He’s throwing his arms up. Why can’t he be a bit more, ‘Oh, unlucky, next time keep going,’ like Cavani was when he came on.
    “Cavani was clapping Rashford and saying ‘come on.’
    “I understand he’s one of the best players to play the game but if I’m the younger players coming through, I need the senior players to give me a hand when I’m not playing well my confidence is low.
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    “It’s all about Ronaldo, running off the pitch after the game because he hasn’t got his goal. I feel he needs to do more to be a team player.”
    Agbonlahor added to Football Insider: “‘It looks to me like Ronaldo just cares about his goals.
    “That performance from Ronaldo was somebody sulking all game. His attitude was off.
    “If I’m Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho I’m scared to have a shot. Every time they have a shot he’s got his arms up to say, ‘Why haven’t you passed to me?’
    “The harmony is not right in that changing room. The form of Rashford and Greenwood has dropped since Ronaldo has been there.
    “They can’t express themselves, it’s like they think, ‘I have to pass to Ronaldo, I have to create a chance for Ronaldo.’
    “Before Ronaldo came, Greenwood was taking players on and shots on and he’s not doing that anymore and getting dragged at half-time.
    “If I was Rashford, Greenwood or Sancho I’d be saying to myself, ‘Oh, why did we have to bring him here?'”
    RALF TO BLAME
    Ronaldo has scored 13 goals in 19 appearances since returning to Old Trafford – including seven in the Premier League.
    Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood have seven goals combined in the league this term.
    But Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher pointed the blame at new interim boss Rangnick and the way he is getting the team to play.
    The Liverpool legend told Monday Night Football: “The thing that would worry me as a Manchester United fan is the lack of chances they’re creating in games.
    “This is a depleted Newcastle team who have conceded 11 in the last three games.
    “You think of the role of Cristiano Ronaldo this season, the amount of times he’s saved Manchester United with big goals.
    “He got the penalty at Norwich but he hasn’t really had many chances.
    “If you’re not creating much for him… he’s a killer, deadly in the box, but if you’re not creating too much he’s not that involved in the game.”
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More