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    Charlie Savage, 17, signs first pro contract with Man Utd after admitting McTominay – not dad Robbie – is role model

    CHARLIE SAVAGE has been handed his first professional contract at Manchester United as a reward for his fine form this season.The 17-year-old midfielder – son of former Leicester and Derby ace Robbie – has chipped in with two goals and five assists in 17 U-18 Premier League matches.
    Robbie Savage’s son Charlie has penned his first professional contract at Manchester UnitedCredit: Twitter
    The Wales youth international was even called up to two Premier League 2 fixtures in March having impressed for Neil Ryan’s U18 side this term.
    And Savage took to Twitter to announce the news, as he published a photo of himself signing his deal.
    Captioning the post, he said: “Delighted to have signed my first professional contract at Manchester United.
    “I would like to thank all of my friends, family and everyone at New Era Global Sports for all their support.
    “The hard work continues.”
    Savage recently told SunSport that Red Devils star Scott McTominay is his role model, instead of his father who also came through the Manchester United academy.
    He stated: “The main inspiration for me is Scott — he’s the best with us. He comes over to talk to us. He had it difficult in the youth team.
    “He didn’t play many matches but he just kept going and he proved it’s not always the standout players who make the first team.
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    “Sometimes it’s the players who might have had a back seat but they keep pushing and pushing.
    “Scott, Marcus Rashford and also Brandon Williams all inspire us to improve and move forward.”
    Savage has now set his sights on making the Wales first-team, where he is looking to surpass the 39 caps his dad made for the Dragons.
    He added: “It’d be nice to replicate what he did and make it to the Wales first-team.
    “We are different. He was tenacious, whereas I’m more of a ball player.
    “I think I’m a better finisher than him too! He won’t like me saying that — but if I can have half the career he had, then I’ll be very happy.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
    Bruno Fernandes moans Man Utd are not good enough to win trophies More

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    Man Utd refuse to give up on Ibrahima Konate transfer and will fight Liverpool for RB Leipzig defender in summer

    MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly set to lock horns with Liverpool for RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate.Jurgen Klopp has had well-documented issues at centre-half, with first choices Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip out for the season.
    Ibrahima Konate is reportedly on Liverpool and Manchester United’s shortlistsCredit: Getty

    Joe Gomez is also on the sidelines, and this left the defending Premier League champions to rush deals through for Ozan Kabak and Preston’s Ben Davies.
    Klopp is believed to have targetted a summer move for Konate – but now their bitter rivals are in the race.
    According to Eurosport, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ‘an eye’ on Konate.
    Doubts persist over whether Victor Lindelof can be the long-term partner for captain Harry Maguire in the middle.
    Eric Bailly has just over a year left on his contract and has struggled with injury and fitness ever since he joined United in 2016.
    He is currently out of action after contracting coronavirus while on international duty with Ivory Coast.
    Konate would cost around £34million, ‘and will be allowed to leave if the right offer lands’.
    Now United must decide whether to make the move for the 21-year-old, or focus on other targets.
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    Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, Villareal’s Pau Torres and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane are all reportedly on the Old Trafford hit list.
    Another centre-half of interest is reportedly Juventus star Mathijs De Ligt.
    Spanish outlet Todofichajes claimed in March United have made signing the centre-half their ‘top priority’.
    But they would have to smash their own world-record fee paid for a defender after splashing out £85m on Harry Maguire in 2019.
    De Ligt is thought to have a release clause in his contract allowing him to leave Juventus for £130m.
    But according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, it does not kick in until July 2022.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
    Solskjaer confirms Man Utd will be without Eric Bailly in coming weeks after defender tested positive for coronavirus More

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    West Ham desperate for Jesse Lingard transfer and will do ‘whatever it takes’ to land Man Utd and England ace

    WEST HAM will do ‘whatever it takes’ to sign Jesse Lingard permanently from Manchester United, it has been claimed. Lingard left Old Trafford in January after being frozen out of the side and joined the Hammers until the end of the season.
    West Ham will do ‘whatever it takes’ to sign Jesse Lingard permanently from Manchester UnitedCredit: Rex
    It proved pivotal for the playmaker, who has re-found his form with six goals and four assists in eight matches for West Ham.
    The Hammers are desperate to keep Lingard, 28, but do not have a clause in the loan deal to make the move permanent.
    A West Ham source reportedly told Sky Sports: “We will do whatever it takes to sign him. He’s been outstanding for us.”
    Lingard even received a call up in England’s last round of World Cup qualifiers after two years in the wilderness.
    He started against San Marino and came off the bench against Albania and Poland, with England winning all three.
    He travelled to and scored in the 2018 World Cup and is now fighting for a place on the plane for this summer’s delayed European Championship.
    Lingard boosted his chances again in West Ham’s weekend win over Wolves with a magnificent 60-yard run, which resulted in a goal.
    After the Hammers 3-2 win, United legend Gary Neville said: “He does an incredible amount of running.
    Jesse Lingard has been on fire since joining West Ham
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    “It’s what he does. He’s good out of possession and good in possession.
    “At Manchester United. because there is that expectation of what you need to be, to be a wide player there, he’s always going to get a difficult press.
    “But if he was playing in a world-class team, if he was, say, Ji-Sung Park 10 years ago playing with Ronaldo and Rooney, doing that supplementary role, then people would be saying he’s perfect for this squad.
    “The problem is he was not playing in Manchester United teams as good as that, so he gets a bit of stick. He’s a really good player. He’s going to have a great career.

    “Manchester United have sent him out to West Ham to boost his career, maybe with the thought of boosting his price tag, but they might be thinking, ‘Actually, we might want him back, he could be a real help to us’.
    “If Jesse wants to play, and you can see he does want to play, then he needs to leave, because he’s not going to play every single week for a Manchester United team that’s competing for second or first place in the league.
    “But if he’s willing to go back there and compete and be the player that Dan James has been for the last few weeks, in and out, then there’s no doubt he can play for Manchester United.”
    Trevor Sinclair says Jesse Lingard should stay at West Ham More

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    Man Utd ‘have the funds’ for £150m Haaland, ‘everything but price’ agreed for Jadon Sancho transfer

    BORUSSIA DORTMUND have admitted that they are willing to sell Jadon Sancho for the right price this summer.And it has also been reported that Man Utd have the funds to sign Erling Haaland from the German side, if they are willing to deal with agent Mino Raiola.

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    Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
    THE PRICE IS WRONG
    Manchester United are closing in on Jadon Sancho, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
    However, the Red Devils have yet to agree a free with Borussia Dortmund.
    Romano told the Here We Go podcast: “Manchester United have everything set to sign Jadon Sancho this summer – they are just waiting for the final price.”

    FATHER TALK
    Charlie Savage hopes to go one better than his old man — and make the grade at Manchester United.
    But the 17-year-old midfielder says Scott McTominay, not his dad Robbie, is the main inspiration behind his goal to reach the Old Trafford first team.
    He told SunSport: “The main inspiration for me is Scott — he’s the best with us. He comes over to talk to us. He had it difficult in the youth team.
    “He didn’t play many matches but he just kept going and he proved it’s not always the standout players who make the first team.
    “Sometimes it’s the players who might have had a back seat but they keep pushing and pushing.
    “Scott, Marcus Rashford and also Brandon Williams all inspire us to improve and move forward.”
    HAAL OF FAME
    Manchester United are one of the clubs that can afford to sign Erling Haaland, according to reports.
    Dortmund are said to be looking for an offer of around £150m to part company with the Norwegian this summer – and The Athletic claim that fee would be in the Red Devils’ price range.
    However, whether the deal can be pushed over the line or not depends on how willing United are to go back into business with Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola.
    Raiola has exasperated senior figures at Old Trafford by claiming Paul Pogba wants to leave on numerous occasions.

    WILL I NEVER
    Southampton would like to revisit a loan move for Manchester United whizkid Brandon Williams.
    Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl wants more depth in the full-back areas and likes Williams’ ability to play both on the left and right.
    Hasenhuttl tried to borrow Williams, 20, from United in January but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to let him go.
    Southampton are hopeful Solskjaer will reconsider his stance for next season though, with Williams starting just three games this term.

    DAVID DE GOER
    David de Gea is reportedly set for a summer axe – and has been offered to Europe’s elite.
    The Manchester United goalkeeper, 30, continues to battle for his place in the team with Dean Henderson.
    Henderson started his seventh game in a row against Brighton on Sunday.
    And it is thought De Gea has had enough with the Spaniard ready to look elsewhere for a new club.
    According to the Daily Mail, the goalkeeper’s representatives are in touch with some of the top clubs on the continent to sound out potential suitors.
    CAPTAIN MARVEL
    Harry Maguire made it a century of games in a United shirt against Brighton.

    STICKER SOCCER GLORY
    A footie-mad dad has finally got his huge sticker album collection up to date — with a 1998 World Cup England badge.
    Simon Livermore, 45, paid £11.41 in an online bidding war for the elusive crest.
    He has now completed every World Cup and Euros album produced by Panini since 1974.
    And he is already busy filling in his Euro 2020 sticker album.
    Brighton and Hove Albion fan Simon said: “Half the fun is the hunt. I’ve needed two for France 98 for absolutely forever but the badges, the foils, are particularly hard to come across.
    “I was always led to believe there was equal numbers printed, But I swear it’s not the case.”

    GARD AGAINST
    West Ham will reportedly do whatever it takes to try and sign Jesse Lingard from Manchester United permanently this summer.
    The England star has rediscovered his top form on loan at the Hammers as he scored six goals in eight league games.
    A senior West Ham source told Sky Sports: “We will do whatever it takes to sign him.
    “He’s been outstanding for us.”
    DOR OPEN
    An update from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano on Manchester United target Jadon Sancho.
    Borussia Dortmund CEO Watzke to Dazn: “We will talk to Haaland. We want him to be happy to stay at BVB next year. There is no alternative plan.We’ll have to speak to Sancho too. If there’s an exceptional offer, we will discuss it with the player & agent as always”. 🟡 @BVBBuzz— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 5, 2021

    GARNER INTEREST
    Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton is refusing to speculate on the long-term future of Manchester United loanee James Garner.
    He told NottinghamshireLive: “At this moment, my thoughts are very much on what he’s giving us and how he’s helping us in the best way he can.
    “It’s also about us helping his development and us having the best relationship with Manchester United we can.
    “And then we’ll see what happens.
    “He’s not our player, so it’s very difficult to talk about him in any terms.
    “All I can say is the relationship with United has been very good and we’re delighted with what James is giving us.”

    BYE-BAI
    Manchester United are reportedly interested in defensive reinforcements this summer if Eric Bailly leaves the club.
    Eurosport claim Inter Milan are keeping tabs on the Ivorian’s contract situation, who has just over a year remaining on his deal.
    The report adds that Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Villarreal’s Pau Torres are United’s main targets should Bailly leave.
    DOR OPEN
    Manchester United will be hoping their good deed will be rewarded after letting Borussia Dortmund use their facilities ahead of a crunch Champions League encounter.
    Erling Haaland and Co have trained on United’s old The Cliff complex ahead of their tie with neighbours Man City this evening.
    Located in Salford, the United first-team haven’t trained at The Cliff since moving to Carrington in 2000.
    But the facilities are still used for some academy games while the women’s team also train there.

    LIN-CREDIBLE
    Jesse Lingard is leading the Premier League charts since arriving at West Ham on loan.
    After failing to find a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United, the 28-year-old has rediscovered his best form with the Hammers under David Moyes this season.

    DEVIL MAY CARE
    Former Manchester United star Terry Gibson has warned the Reds of the dangers of taking Granada lightly.
    He told the club’s website: “United can’t afford to take them lightly.
    “They’re going to play like an away team at home. They’ll look to play on the counter-attack, which they’re good at.
    “They’re a fluent team who change tactics a lot but they won’t be as naive as Real Sociedad were; they won’t open up and allow themselves to be hit on the counter-attack.
    “They’ll look to keep it nice and tight and hope to be in the tie for the second leg.
    “It’s a dream tie for Granada, it’s clearly the biggest game in the history of the club.
    “This is their second season back in La Liga. They were kind of like a Sheffield United last season in that they were a massive surprise.”
    ANT MAN
    Anthony Elanga has been added to Manchester United’s squad for the Europa League first-leg against Granada.

    BELE FLOP
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed that he would like Ousmane Dembele to STAY at the club, amid links with Man United.
    Following the Frenchman’s late winner against Real Valladolid last night, Koeman said: “I would like Dembele to stay, he is an important player for us.
    “He showed his quality with his game and the goal against Valladolid. The key is that he has physically improved and has been able to play a lot of games in a row.”
    DUBLIN AND OUT
    England looks set to be handed at least four more Euro 2020 games – with Uefa braced for Dublin to effectively pull out of hosting on Wednesday.
    And that would hand Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions the prospect of an extra match on home soil this summer, although NOT at Wembley.
    Uefa’s deadline for the 12 scheduled venues to confirm they are able to stage games with crowds is close of business on Wednesday.
    The Irish capital is believed by senior Uefa figures to be the most likely city to be unable to give Euro chiefs the guarantees they have sought, leaving the Aviva set to be stripped of its games.
    And if so, it is now expected that the four games due to be played in Ireland will be switched to England, as the FA is already in advanced planning for seven games at Wembley.
    THE TEMP-BEST
    Jesse Lingard is proving to be one of the signings of the season.
    His loan switch to West Ham was a masterstroke from David Moyes, who is getting the very best out of the Manchester United midfielder.
    The red-hot form got the 28-year-old a return to the England squad and could see him go to the Euros.
    SunSport looks at some of the best loan signings in the Premier League era – an elite list Lingard is on course to join, particularly if he can fire West Ham into the Champions League HERE.

    JESS WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
    By SunSport’s Jordan Davies
    Jesse Lingard is leading the Premier League charts since arriving at West Ham on loan.
    Since his West Ham debut on February 3 after a January window switch, only Tottenham’s Harry Kane has been involved in the same number of goal involvements.
    Lingard’s six goals and three assists in eight appearances sees him with nine goal involvements.
    That’s THREE more than United star Bruno Fernandes, as well as bettering Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
    Only Harry Kane has scored more with seven, but has one less assist than Lingard in that time.
    In terms of assists, Lingard’s three assists is the same as City’s Phil Foden and Tottenham’s Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son.
    Lingard is also proving to be efficient in front of goal, needing just 23 shots to reach nine goal involvements.
    That is SEVENTEEN less than Kane, two less than Leeds’ Patrick Bamford and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and one less than Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
    Jesse Lingard has been outstanding for West HamCredit: PA
    GRASS IS GREENER
    Mason Greenwood bagged a crucial goal for Man United on Sunday, to net the three points against Brighton at Old Trafford.
    And the teenager has already been impressing for years, despite still being relatively new to the first-team set up.
    Check this out, United fans!

    WELL I NEV-ER
    Gary Neville admitted he would have played for arch-rivals Arsenal if Manchester United decided to sell him.
    He told Sky Sports’ Off the Script: “If you’d said to me, in a perfect world, in my years of playing, which clubs in the Premier League have the tradition, a proper club? Arsenal would be No 1.
    “The tradition of Highbury, I felt they did things the right way. Also in the Premier League, I like Aston Villa and Newcastle.
    “In Europe I admired Juventus and Bayern Munich. I respected them as football clubs. Bayern were meticulous in their preparation, so internationally, it would be them.”
    Gary Neville would have been open to the idea of joining Arsenal if he was let go by Manchester United earlier in his career
    LIGT-BULB MOMENT
    Matthijs de Ligt will be available for £130million next summer, according to reports.
    The Juventus defender, 21, is thought to have a release clause in his contract.
    But according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, it does not kick in until July 2022.
    And that could have the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona on red alert to make a major swoop at the end of next season.
    Matthijs de Ligt could be bought for £130million next summer when his release clause kicks in
    HOME DISCOMFORTS
    Bruno Fernandes has issued a rallying cry to his Manchester United team-mates to ‘stop dropping as many points as we do at home’.
    The Portuguese playmaker has been instrumental in helping United into second spot in the Premier League.
    Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, the 26-year-old said: “It’s tough in England, because the games are so tight.
    “Every team genuinely has a chance to win the match. It’s 50/50 before every game, and we see it with the results. But we’re doing better.
    “We can’t drop as many points as we do at home, but we’ve been in second, and at the start of the season there weren’t many people who were saying United would be second.
    “After a few games and a bad start, nobody was saying United could reach the top of the table, but we ignored what people were saying on the outside.
    “We knew what we had said on the inside, we had confidence that things would improve, and they did.
    “We still have to be the best United we can, but we have improved.”
    Bruno Fernandes gave an honest interview with FourFourTwo magazine
    POSITIVE MATA
    Manchester United star Juan Mata opened up on his relationship with ‘positive’ manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
    The Spaniard told the UTD Podcast: “Of course, I heard much about him as a player. About that goal, about the many goals. So we had a meeting between us, the team, and they said: ‘Listen, it’s probable that Ole’s going to come. He’s going to take care of the team until the end of the season. He’s coming from Molde in Norway.’
    “As soon as he came in, you could see the positivity. You could see the Manchester United DNA. He knew everyone, he felt like a proper United fan, and he was happy and smiley and full of energy. Until today. So we stay with him, and I think that’s a good sign of things going okay.
    “I feel young, honestly, in my body and in my mind, but obviously I’ve been playing in the club, and in English football and professionally for 12-13 years now, and so that gives me experience to – especially in difficult situations – behave in a certain way or give advice to the youngsters or something like that, and I think he values that also.
    “Me, as a player, what I can give on the pitch, but also that I will try my best off the pitch for the new players that come.”
    Mata opened up on his boss SolskjaerCredit: EPA
    MATA ON LVG
    Juan Mata has revealed that former boss Louis van Gaal was ‘scary’.
    He told the UTD Podcast: “He was scary! He was scary, I tell you! He was a very nice man, very genuine. Very sensible. You wouldn’t expect that, but he was very sensible. He could even get emotional and cry sometimes when he was speaking about important matters that he found with the right values, or the right football… he got emotional.
    “But I remember the first meeting we all had with him. It was in LA. We were doing a pre-season tour. So the manager said: ‘I want to meet you one by one in this room after dinner’. I was like ‘okay’.
    “Everyone went, whatever. My turn. So I arrive to the room and it was him, Ryan Giggs, a bottle of Rioja, red wine, and three glasses.
    “He said: ‘Do you want to have the drink?’ And I said, ‘No, no, it’s fine’. He said, ‘Okay, I’ll have it’. So he had the drink, and he said, ‘Tell me who you are?’
    “I mean, ‘My name is Juan, I’m 26, I play football’. ‘No, no, no. Tell me who you are as a man. Do you have family? What do you find important in life?’
    “I remember he had like paper, where he had set up the tactics for the team and that year, and he was like ‘Where do you think you will fit best here?’ I was like ‘here’ and he said ‘No’. ‘Here?’ ‘No.’
    “So we had trained that pre-season with five in the back, two [in midfield], one No10, and he put me in that No10 and he said ‘You’re going to play here’ and I was like ‘Great’. I didn’t want to put it myself!
    “And from that moment, you realised: he can look scary in the face-to-face, because also he goes too close to you. But after that, he’s a very warm and genuine man. Ryan Giggs was there trying to hold his laugh!”
    Mata enjoyed his time working under the eccentric figure of Louis van Gaal, who was keen to revolve the team around the Spanish playmaker
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    Man Utd whizkid Brandon Williams eyed by Southampton in loan transfer after January snub

    SOUTHAMPTON would like to revisit a loan move for Manchester United whizkid Brandon Williams.Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl wants more depth in the full-back areas and likes Williams’ ability to play both on the left and right.
    Southampton would like to revisit a loan move for Brandon WilliamsCredit: Getty
    Hasenhuttl tried to borrow Williams, 20, from United in January but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to let him go.
    Southampton are hopeful Solskjaer will reconsider his stance for next season though, with Williams starting just three games this term.
    Brentford’s Rico Henry is another name Saints could consider this summer, particularly if the Bees fail to win promotion and Ryan Bertrand walks away on a free
    Meanwhile are keen to sign Theo Walcott permanently in the summer after being wowed by his performances and attitude this season.
    Saints are generally hunting younger reinforcements but will make an exception for loanee Walcott.
    The 47-cap England star, now 32, has impressed since arriving from Goodison Park in January and set up Nathan Redmond’s winner against Burnley on Sunday.
    Walcott will be a free agent when his Everton contract expires in June, but is confident his future will be determined soon.
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    He said: “To be quite frankly honest, I have just been looking forward to getting fit. Simple as that.
    “That thing will sort itself out, I am sure. I am just looking after myself and working hard playing for Southampton at this moment in time.
    “We will see what the future takes.”
    Southampton v Burnley as it happened More

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    Jadon Sancho summer transfer LATEST, Solskjaer tried to drop De Gea in November, Haaland blow – Man Utd transfer news

    BORUSSIA DORTMUND have admitted that they are willing to sell star Jadon Sancho for the right price this summer.However, the German club also stated that they had no intention of selling fellow Man Utd target Erling Haaland.
    Meanwhile it has emerged that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to drop David De Gea in November, but the Spaniard was so infuriated that the Red Devils boss changed his mind.

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    Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
    ANT MAN
    Anthony Elanga has been added to Manchester United’s squad for the Europa League first-leg against Granada.

    BELE FLOP
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed that he would like Ousmane Dembele to STAY at the club, amid links with Man United.
    Following the Frenchman’s late winner against Real Valladolid last night, Koeman said: “I would like Dembele to stay, he is an important player for us.
    “He showed his quality with his game and the goal against Valladolid. The key is that he has physically improved and has been able to play a lot of games in a row.”
    DUBLIN AND OUT
    England looks set to be handed at least four more Euro 2020 games – with Uefa braced for Dublin to effectively pull out of hosting on Wednesday.
    And that would hand Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions the prospect of an extra match on home soil this summer, although NOT at Wembley.
    Uefa’s deadline for the 12 scheduled venues to confirm they are able to stage games with crowds is close of business on Wednesday.
    The Irish capital is believed by senior Uefa figures to be the most likely city to be unable to give Euro chiefs the guarantees they have sought, leaving the Aviva set to be stripped of its games.
    And if so, it is now expected that the four games due to be played in Ireland will be switched to England, as the FA is already in advanced planning for seven games at Wembley.
    THE TEMP-BEST
    Jesse Lingard is proving to be one of the signings of the season.
    His loan switch to West Ham was a masterstroke from David Moyes, who is getting the very best out of the Manchester United midfielder.
    The red-hot form got the 28-year-old a return to the England squad and could see him go to the Euros.
    SunSport looks at some of the best loan signings in the Premier League era – an elite list Lingard is on course to join, particularly if he can fire West Ham into the Champions League HERE.

    JESS WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
    By SunSport’s Jordan Davies
    Jesse Lingard is leading the Premier League charts since arriving at West Ham on loan.
    Since his West Ham debut on February 3 after a January window switch, only Tottenham’s Harry Kane has been involved in the same number of goal involvements.
    Lingard’s six goals and three assists in eight appearances sees him with nine goal involvements.
    That’s THREE more than United star Bruno Fernandes, as well as bettering Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
    Only Harry Kane has scored more with seven, but has one less assist than Lingard in that time.
    In terms of assists, Lingard’s three assists is the same as City’s Phil Foden and Tottenham’s Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son.
    Lingard is also proving to be efficient in front of goal, needing just 23 shots to reach nine goal involvements.
    That is SEVENTEEN less than Kane, two less than Leeds’ Patrick Bamford and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and one less than Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
    Jesse Lingard has been outstanding for West HamCredit: PA
    GRASS IS GREENER
    Mason Greenwood bagged a crucial goal for Man United on Sunday, to net the three points against Brighton at Old Trafford.
    And the teenager has already been impressing for years, despite still being relatively new to the first-team set up.
    Check this out, United fans!

    WELL I NEV-ER
    Gary Neville admitted he would have played for arch-rivals Arsenal if Manchester United decided to sell him.
    He told Sky Sports’ Off the Script: “If you’d said to me, in a perfect world, in my years of playing, which clubs in the Premier League have the tradition, a proper club? Arsenal would be No 1.
    “The tradition of Highbury, I felt they did things the right way. Also in the Premier League, I like Aston Villa and Newcastle.
    “In Europe I admired Juventus and Bayern Munich. I respected them as football clubs. Bayern were meticulous in their preparation, so internationally, it would be them.”
    Gary Neville would have been open to the idea of joining Arsenal if he was let go by Manchester United earlier in his career
    LIGT-BULB MOMENT
    Matthijs de Ligt will be available for £130million next summer, according to reports.
    The Juventus defender, 21, is thought to have a release clause in his contract.
    But according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, it does not kick in until July 2022.
    And that could have the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona on red alert to make a major swoop at the end of next season.
    Matthijs de Ligt could be bought for £130million next summer when his release clause kicks in
    HOME DISCOMFORTS
    Bruno Fernandes has issued a rallying cry to his Manchester United team-mates to ‘stop dropping as many points as we do at home’.
    The Portuguese playmaker has been instrumental in helping United into second spot in the Premier League.
    Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, the 26-year-old said: “It’s tough in England, because the games are so tight.
    “Every team genuinely has a chance to win the match. It’s 50/50 before every game, and we see it with the results. But we’re doing better.
    “We can’t drop as many points as we do at home, but we’ve been in second, and at the start of the season there weren’t many people who were saying United would be second.
    “After a few games and a bad start, nobody was saying United could reach the top of the table, but we ignored what people were saying on the outside.
    “We knew what we had said on the inside, we had confidence that things would improve, and they did.
    “We still have to be the best United we can, but we have improved.”
    Bruno Fernandes gave an honest interview with FourFourTwo magazine
    POSITIVE MATA
    Manchester United star Juan Mata opened up on his relationship with ‘positive’ manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
    The Spaniard told the UTD Podcast: “Of course, I heard much about him as a player. About that goal, about the many goals. So we had a meeting between us, the team, and they said: ‘Listen, it’s probable that Ole’s going to come. He’s going to take care of the team until the end of the season. He’s coming from Molde in Norway.’
    “As soon as he came in, you could see the positivity. You could see the Manchester United DNA. He knew everyone, he felt like a proper United fan, and he was happy and smiley and full of energy. Until today. So we stay with him, and I think that’s a good sign of things going okay.
    “I feel young, honestly, in my body and in my mind, but obviously I’ve been playing in the club, and in English football and professionally for 12-13 years now, and so that gives me experience to – especially in difficult situations – behave in a certain way or give advice to the youngsters or something like that, and I think he values that also.
    “Me, as a player, what I can give on the pitch, but also that I will try my best off the pitch for the new players that come.”
    Mata opened up on his boss SolskjaerCredit: EPA
    MATA ON LVG
    Juan Mata has revealed that former boss Louis van Gaal was ‘scary’.
    He told the UTD Podcast: “He was scary! He was scary, I tell you! He was a very nice man, very genuine. Very sensible. You wouldn’t expect that, but he was very sensible. He could even get emotional and cry sometimes when he was speaking about important matters that he found with the right values, or the right football… he got emotional.
    “But I remember the first meeting we all had with him. It was in LA. We were doing a pre-season tour. So the manager said: ‘I want to meet you one by one in this room after dinner’. I was like ‘okay’.
    “Everyone went, whatever. My turn. So I arrive to the room and it was him, Ryan Giggs, a bottle of Rioja, red wine, and three glasses.
    “He said: ‘Do you want to have the drink?’ And I said, ‘No, no, it’s fine’. He said, ‘Okay, I’ll have it’. So he had the drink, and he said, ‘Tell me who you are?’
    “I mean, ‘My name is Juan, I’m 26, I play football’. ‘No, no, no. Tell me who you are as a man. Do you have family? What do you find important in life?’
    “I remember he had like paper, where he had set up the tactics for the team and that year, and he was like ‘Where do you think you will fit best here?’ I was like ‘here’ and he said ‘No’. ‘Here?’ ‘No.’
    “So we had trained that pre-season with five in the back, two [in midfield], one No10, and he put me in that No10 and he said ‘You’re going to play here’ and I was like ‘Great’. I didn’t want to put it myself!
    “And from that moment, you realised: he can look scary in the face-to-face, because also he goes too close to you. But after that, he’s a very warm and genuine man. Ryan Giggs was there trying to hold his laugh!”
    Mata enjoyed his time working under the eccentric figure of Louis van Gaal, who was keen to revolve the team around the Spanish playmaker
    COUT OUT
    Former Manchester United target Philippe Coutinho’s Barcelona nightmare lives on after being ruled out for the rest of the season.
    The Brazilian, 28, who was heavily linked with the Red Devils last summer, has gone a second operation after having a ‘meniscal cyst’ in his left knee.
    Coutinho hasn’t featured since late December after picking up an injury to his knee following a 1-1 draw with Eibar.
    He went into surgery in the New Year and was set to be sidelined for at least three months.
    Boss Ronald Koeman was hoping to have the playmaker back for the crucial run-in but he has been hit with a serious setback.
    Barcelona revealed how he has had to go back under the knife having failed to recover from the initial procedure.
    Philippe Coutinho has undergone a second surgery on his knee
    MATA OF FACTS
    Juan Mata has opened up on David Moyes’ Manchester United departure in 2014.
    He told the UTD Podcast: “I always feel bad when a manager has to go, because it means that you are not doing right, or you are not getting results. So it’s not a nice feeling. So unfortunately he had to go. But of course, I’m very thankful to him.
    “What I remember the most about that season was in the last game. Ryan Giggs was our caretaker manager at that time, and we always do the ‘lap of honour’. You say ‘thank you’, ‘goodbye’ and ‘see you next season’.”
    David Moyes deserved to be sacked after a poor set of results in charge at Manchester United, Juan Mata said
    RON THE WAY OUT?
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed that he would like Ousmane Dembele to STAY at the club, amid links with Man United.
    Following the Frenchman’s late winner against Real Valladolid last night, Koeman said: “I would like Dembele to stay, he is an important player for us.
    “He showed his quality with his game and the goal against Valladolid. The key is that he has physically improved and has been able to play a lot of games in a row.”
    Dembele bagged a crucial late winner last nightCredit: Reuters
    LUK AT THAT
    Jesse Lingard wowed fans yet again with another stunning performance for West Ham last night.
    The England international got on the scoresheet as the Hammers beat Wolves 3-2 to climb back into the top four.
    And former team-mate Romelu Lukaku was among those impressed!
    Damn jesse…— R.Lukaku Bolingoli9 (@RomeluLukaku9) April 5, 2021

    VAN THE MAN
    What a lethal finisher Robin van Persie was.
    Sit back and enjoy, Man United fans.

    DAVE DEPARTS?
    David de Gea is reportedly set for a summer axe – and has been offered to Europe’s elite.
    The Manchester United goalkeeper, 30, continues to battle for his place in the team with Dean Henderson.
    Henderson started his seventh game in a row against Brighton on Sunday.
    And it is thought De Gea has had enough with the Spaniard ready to look elsewhere for a new club.
    According to the Daily Mail, the goalkeeper’s representatives are in touch with some of the top clubs on the continent to sound out potential suitors.
    David de Gea could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer
    ARE YOU MAG?
    An injury to Manchester United star Harry Maguire would be a bigger blow to England than losing captain Harry Kane – according to Gary Neville.
    He said on Sky Sports MNF: “”If you lose Harry Maguire that’s a big problem for Gareth Southgate. I think it’s his biggest problem.
    “If you’re then left with John Stones as your other centre-back and you think you’ve got Stones and (Tyrone) Mings, Stones and (Conor) Coady, Stones and (Eric) Dier – I’m not having it.”
    Asked by Carragher if a Maguire injury would be more devastating than one for Kane with his 34 international goals, Neville reckoned so.
    He added: “Harry Kane’s the best player in the squad but in this particular squad if Gareth wants a back four in the squad and go for a 4-3-3 formation, the only chance of that is keeping Harry Maguire fit.
    “You always have to think if one player gets injured where do I then go to. If Harry Kane gets injured you could go with Marcus Rashford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Raheem Sterling as a false forward or Phil Foden.
    “There are options England can still win games. But with Maguire the ability to go to a back four is lost and that’s why he’s got a three in the back of his mind.”
    Maguire is set to be a key man for Gareth Southgate in the summerCredit: Reuters
    LIN BUSINESS
    West Ham boss David Moyes raved about Jesse Lingard’s performance, after the Man United loanee scored his latest goal against Wolves on Monday night.
    Following the Hammers’ 3-2 win, which takes them back up to fourth, the Scot said: “I was telling him how well he has played.
    “I’m probably a manager who doesn’t say that very often, but he deserved that after his performance.”
    Lingard, 28, earned the praise of his manager David MoyesCredit: PA
    ZLAT’S THAT
    Ex-Man United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to sign a new contract that will take him into his 40s.
    The Swede, 39, has defied his age with his heroics for AC Milan this season.
    Ibrahimovic turns 40 on October 3 but shows of slowing down just yet.
    He has 15 goals in 16 league appearances, firing the Rossoneri to second in the Serie A table, behind rivals Inter.
    And according to Sky in Italy, a one-year extension is on the table which he is expected to sign and stay beyond this summer.
    The report adds Ibrahimovic should pen the deal within the next seven to ten days.
    Zlatan currently earns around £5.94million per season – or £114,000 per week.
    And those wages are on course to remain the same into the 2020-21 season.
    Zlatan delighted fans during his stint at Old TraffordCredit: PA
    MORNING MAN UTD FANS
    David De Gea’s future is in doubt due to growing tensions with Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.
    The Norwegian decided to start Dean Henderson ahead of the Spaniard against Brighton.
    De Gea would have expected a start after returning from paternity leave, and according to Manchester Evening News the pair’s relationship is becoming a problem.
    The report suggests Solskjaer twice attempted to drop De Gea in favour of Henderson, firstly against West Brom in November and then against Chelsea in February.
    On both occasions De Gea expressed his unhappiness with the decision and Solskjaer changed his mind.
    A large number of Man Utd’s squad are said to think the England international should have replaced De Gea in December.
    In transfers, Borussia Dortmund are determined to keep United target Erling Haaland this summer.
    Club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told Goal: “We will discuss this with Erling, his father and his agent Mino Raiola.
    “We also want him to be happy to stay with us, to score goals for BVB next year with conviction. There is no alternative plan.”
    Elsewhere, Bruno Fernandes hailed Mason Greenwood for his winner against Brighton but warned the forward he cannot just care about goals.
    The Portugal international also explained Greenwood may find things more difficult as his reputation increases. Despite that, Fernandes is confident Greenwood will improve his goalscoring form but emphasised that he must get his temperament right.
    Fernandes told MUTV: “Everyone has to know that Mason is a young player and now everyone is starting to know how Mason is, it will become more and more difficult for him.
    “It is normal. It is part of the development for him and he will learn from here so it doesn’t matter how many goals he scores; the most important thing for us is that he still helps the team and he is doing his best.
    “It is important for us as a team, it doesn’t matter who scores. If Mason scores for us or not, it is important if he can do other jobs, recover balls, pressing, defend when we need it, make assists, create danger.
    “So it is not important for him to score. He has to understand, he is such a young lad. Of course, every striker wants to score but, anyway, he will score more and more goals as the seasons pass.”
    And finally Premier League Covid testers returned just one positive result over the past seven days – for the second week running.
    The sole positive result came in the initial round of sampling between Monday and Thursday, from a total of 1,515 tests across the 20 clubs.
    And fears of a potential spike when players returned from the international break appear to have abated after the second round of 1,149 tests between Friday and Sunday all came back clear.
    COULD LEAVE LIN
    West Ham have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Atletico Madrid outcast Vitolo as a possible alternative to Man Utd loanee Jesse Lingard.
    The Hammers were linked with a move to sign the 31-year-old forward in the winter transfer window, but opted instead to bring in Lingard on loan from Manchester United.
    But with Lingard shining at the London Stadium, it remains to be seen whether his temporary stay will be turned into a permanent deal.
    SunSport understands that due to Lingard’s surprising resurgence in form, United have doubled his asking price to £40million.
    And should the Hammers be priced out of a move for the England international, they could reignite their interest in Vitolo, according to Fichajes. The news outlet states that Atletico have offered David Moyes’ side the chance to sign the Spanish star in the summer.
    It has been claimed that the player could be available for just £8.5m having fallen dramatically down the pecking order under Diego Simeone. And they add that a deal could potentially be reached before the end of the campaign should West Ham look to bring him to England.

    ROOM WITH A VIEW
    Manchester United shared alternative views of their comeback goals against Brighton.
    Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood struck to deny relegation threatened Brighton a famous win after ex-Red Devil Danny Welbeck had given the Seagulls hope.

    LIONEL JESSE
    Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard scored ANOTHER goal for West Ham as the Hammers raced into a 2-0 lead at Wolves.
    The England star picked up the ball near the half way line, ran the length of the half and fired it past Rui Patricio from just inside the penalty box.
    Goal of the season?

    CAV SOME OF THAT!
    Mason Greenwood’s goal against Brighton reminded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Edinson Cavani’s against Southampton earlier in the season.
    The youngster scored a header in the Red Devils’ 2-1 win and his manager said: “The world nowadays is so into stats, goals, assists and this and that, but the boy has played fantastic in the last two or three months.
    “He’s really matured and come on. Today as well, taking the ball well, taking people on, he hits the post and one is just over the bar.
    “If he keeps learning and improving he’ll score loads of goals. We know that. He’s a lethal finisher, but if he scores these type of goals that’ll add another dimension to his game.
    “I’m very pleased for him to get the winner in the way he did, learning from Edinson, for example.
    “He [Cavani] is one of those strikers and it reminded me of one of his goals he scored against Southampton.”

    Load more entries… More

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    Jerome Boateng available on FREE transfer in summer as Bayern will not renew deal with ‘several English clubs’ keen

    PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have been alerted to Jerome Boateng’s availability after Bayern Munich decided to let the defender go.Out of contract in the summer, the defender will follow David Alaba in departing as a free agent.
    Jerome Boateng is set to become a free agent at the end of the seasonCredit: AP
    The 32-year-old has made over 350 appearances for Bayern, winning the treble twice, since a 2011 move ended a flop spell at Manchester City.
    But, according to German publication Kicker, Boateng’s exit has been rubber-stamped by Munich bosses.
    And his entourage have already been informed of the decision to move him on.
    A departure from Allianz Arena has been rumoured for some time and the interest of some clubs was piqued when Bayern secured the signing of Dayot Upamecano for next season.
    Bild report on ‘several’ English clubs monitoring his situation with a move to MLS not out of the question.
    The German has previously featured in links to Arsenal and Chelsea.
    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

    Mikel Arteta is in the midst of a huge squad rebuild at Emirates Stadium while a new centre-back is thought to be on Thomas Tuchel’s long list of targets in the next window.
    Boateng missed Saturday’s 1-0 win over RB Leipzig due to suspension but has otherwise remained a first-choice for the Bundesliga giants.
    Coach Hansi Flick recently defended his player after Bayern advisor Uli Hoeness criticised calls for his return to the German national team.
    The World Cup winner was one of the veteran players discarded by Joachim Low two years ago, a decision called into question after the recent defeat to North Macedonia.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
    Bayern Munich star Jerome Boateng shows off his purple hair as he has fun on the basketball court More

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    Jadon Sancho is available – Dortmund admit, Solskjaer tried to drop De Gea in November – Man Utd transfer news

    BORUSSIA DORTMUND have admitted that they are willing to sell Jadon Sancho for the right price this summer.However, the German club also stated that they had no intention of selling fellow Man Utd target Erling Haaland.
    Meanwhile it has emerged that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to drop David De Gea in November, but the Spaniard was so infuriated that the Red Devils boss changed his mind.

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    Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
    COULD LEAVE LIN
    West Ham have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Atletico Madrid outcast Vitolo as a possible alternative to Man Utd loanee Jesse Lingard.
    The Hammers were linked with a move to sign the 31-year-old forward in the winter transfer window, but opted instead to bring in Lingard on loan from Manchester United.
    But with Lingard shining at the London Stadium, it remains to be seen whether his temporary stay will be turned into a permanent deal.
    SunSport understands that due to Lingard’s surprising resurgence in form, United have doubled his asking price to £40million.
    And should the Hammers be priced out of a move for the England international, they could reignite their interest in Vitolo, according to Fichajes. The news outlet states that Atletico have offered David Moyes’ side the chance to sign the Spanish star in the summer.
    It has been claimed that the player could be available for just £8.5m having fallen dramatically down the pecking order under Diego Simeone. And they add that a deal could potentially be reached before the end of the campaign should West Ham look to bring him to England.

    ROOM WITH A VIEW
    Manchester United shared alternative views of their comeback goals against Brighton.
    Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood struck to deny relegation threatened Brighton a famous win after ex-Red Devil Danny Welbeck had given the Seagulls hope.

    LIONEL JESSE
    Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard scored ANOTHER goal for West Ham as the Hammers raced into a 2-0 lead at Wolves.
    The England star picked up the ball near the half way line, ran the length of the half and fired it past Rui Patricio from just inside the penalty box.
    Goal of the season?

    CAV SOME OF THAT!
    Mason Greenwood’s goal against Brighton reminded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Edinson Cavani’s against Southampton earlier in the season.
    The youngster scored a header in the Red Devils’ 2-1 win and his manager said: “The world nowadays is so into stats, goals, assists and this and that, but the boy has played fantastic in the last two or three months.
    “He’s really matured and come on. Today as well, taking the ball well, taking people on, he hits the post and one is just over the bar.
    “If he keeps learning and improving he’ll score loads of goals. We know that. He’s a lethal finisher, but if he scores these type of goals that’ll add another dimension to his game.
    “I’m very pleased for him to get the winner in the way he did, learning from Edinson, for example.
    “He [Cavani] is one of those strikers and it reminded me of one of his goals he scored against Southampton.”

    AC Milan
    AC Milan could offer De Gea a new home – especially if they lose keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the summer.
    The Italian has been linked with a free transfer as he enters the last few months of his contract with agent Mino Raiola demanding a bumper £9m-a-season new deal.
    Chelsea are said to be interested in the shot-stopper and received a boost with Milan’s negotiations reportedly hitting difficulties last week.
    De Gea would also team up with old pal Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the former United striker signed a one-year extension at the San Siro.
    Atletico Madrid
    De Gea starred for Atletico Madrid from 2003 until joining United in 2011 and could make a sensational return to the club.
    But if he is to play under Diego Simeone at the Wanda Metropolitano then highly rated No1 Jan Oblak is likely to have to make a huge move elsewhere.
    De Gea would welcome a move to his old side for family reasons with wife and new mum Edurne working as a TV reporter in Madrid.
    Barcelona
    Barcelona are another side mentioned with De Gea’s name and could come to the fore if he sets his sights on a move back to Spain.
    However, the Catalan giants are feeling the pinch amid the pandemic and may not have the funds required to pick up the keeper’s large wage bill.
    Blaugrana No1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen also penned a lengthy new deal until 2025 in October.
    PSG
    SunSport revealed last month that Mauricio Pochettino is keen on bringing De Gea to Paris Saint-Germain.
    PSG are one of the few clubs around who could pick up De Gea’s £375,000-a-week wages AND offer a fee to interest United.
    Former Spurs boss Pochettino is looking for a new No 1 to replace former Real Madrid stopper Keylor Navas.
    Poch has been linked with his old Spurs and France international keeper Hugo Lloris for some time but De Gea has been on PSG’s radar just as long.
    He has just been unavailable – until now.
    Real Madrid
    De Gea has regularly been linked with a move to Real Madrid over the years.
    If it wasn’t for a faulty fax machine a deal would have got over the line in 2015.
    Zinedine Zidane has made no secret of the fact he is not fully trusting of former Chelsea man Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal.
    And De Gea is likely to be keen on a return to his native Spain and the city where he was born.
    SAVE THE DAVE
    David De Gea is set to quit Manchester United after being benched in favour of Dean Henderson.
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer kept faith with the former Sheffield United loanee for the 2-1 comeback victory over Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday night.
    De Gea was back and available for selection after being given time off for the birth of his first child and spending the international break on duty with Spain.
    But the man who has been named United player of the year more times than anyone else looks to be in a dog-fight for the No1 jersey and could bring the curtain down on a decade at the Red Devils.
    SunSport takes a look at some of the clubs linked with a swoop for the 30-year-old keeper…

    ENERGETIC ERIC
    Eric Bailly has sent a message to Man Utd fans after he caught coronavirus on international duty with Ivory Coast.
    The defender is isolating but addressed United supporters in an upbeat message posted on the club’s Twitter.
    He said: “Hi guys. Thanks for all of your messages.
    “Just to say, I am good, I am fine, everything is good. It is just time to rest and come back stronger.”

    POSITIVE RESULTS
    Premier League Covid testers returned just one positive result over the past seven days – for the second week running.
    The sole positive result came in the initial round of sampling between Monday and Thursday, from a total of 1,515 tests across the 20 clubs.
    And fears of a potential spike when players returned from the international break appear to have abated after the second round of 1,149 tests between Friday and Sunday all came back clear.
    Prem chiefs have not been able to report a totally clear testing run since the final week of last season but with less than 20 positive tests in the past two months it is clear the enhanced protocols have worked successfully.
    The news comes after the FA announced fans will be allowed to attend both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals. The EFL have confirmed the 8,000 capacity for the League Cup final, played between Tottenham and Manchester City on April 25.
    The allocation will be made up of fans from both teams as well as local residents and NHS staff, who will be offered tickets as a way of saying thank you for their work during the pandemic.

    TRAFFORD TROUBLE
    David De Gea’s future is in doubt due to growing tensions with Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.
    The Norwegian decided to start Dean Henderson ahead of the Spaniard against Brighton.
    De Gea would have expected a start after returning from paternity leave, and according to Manchester Evening News the pair’s relationship is becoming a problem.
    The report suggests Solskjaer twice attempted to drop De Gea in favour of Henderson, firstly against West Brom in November and then against Chelsea in February.
    On both occasions De Gea expressed his unhappiness with the decision and Solskjaer changed his mind.
    A large number of Man Utd’s squad are said to think the England international should have replaced De Gea in December.

    PEP ON HAALAND
    After Man Utd target Erling Haaland arrived in Manchester with his Borussia Dortmund team-mates, Pep Guardiola said: “A player who can score this amount of goals at this age has not been easy to find in the past, honestly.
    “He’s 20, the numbers speak for themselves. When that happens it’s because he can score right, left, counter-attacks, penalty box, headers.
    “He’s a fantastic striker, everyone knows it. A blind guy can realise he’s a great striker, you don’t have to be a manager to realise it.
    “The only thing I can say is that he is an exceptional striker. With his age, he is an exceptional striker.”
    The Dortmund bus rolled into town as the Bundesliga boys checked in at The Lowry Hotel
    EYE FOR GOAL
    Pep Guardiola says even a blind man would be able to see the quality of Manchester United target Erling Haaland.
    The Manchester City boss distanced himself from reports linking the club with the Norwegian last week.
    But he will get a close-up look at the 20-year-old hotshot – who arrived in Manchester wearing a Sky Blue backpack – when the two teams go head-to-head at the Etihad on Tuesday night.
    Haaland has already scored ten goals in the competition this season and is rated in the £150million bracket by his German club.
    Guardiola insists City will not be paying that kind of money for anyone this summer – but knows all about his ability.
    And he knows his team will have to be at their best to keep him out during the two legs of the Champions League quarter-final…

    CAL ON ME
    Juventus are in pole position to sign AC Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu, according to reports.
    The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and negotiations with his current club are believed to have stalled.
    According to Sky Sport in Italy, Calhanoglu may remain at Milan beyond this summer as the two parties are still discussing a new deal.
    Journalist Manuele Baiocchini is suggesting the player is wanting €1million, or £850,000, more a year than the Rossoneri are currently offering.
    Should talks end without a signature, Juventus are believed to be in pole position to sign Calhanoglu.
    The Turkey international has previously been a target for Manchester United, with reports suggesting he was close to signing a pre-contract agreement in November.

    GET IN MA-SON!
    Bruno Fernandes hailed Mason Greenwood for his winner against Brighton but warned the forward he cannot just care about goals.
    The Portugal international also explained Greenwood may find things more difficult as his reputation increases. Despite that, Fernandes is confident Greenwood will improve his goalscoring form but emphasised that he must get his temperament right.
    Fernandes told MUTV: “Everyone has to know that Mason is a young player and now everyone is starting to know how Mason is, it will become more and more difficult for him.
    “It is normal. It is part of the development for him and he will learn from here so it doesn’t matter how many goals he scores; the most important thing for us is that he still helps the team and he is doing his best.
    “It is important for us as a team, it doesn’t matter who scores. If Mason scores for us or not, it is important if he can do other jobs, recover balls, pressing, defend when we need it, make assists, create danger.
    “So it is not important for him to score. He has to understand, he is such a young lad. Of course, every striker wants to score but, anyway, he will score more and more goals as the seasons pass.”

    LUK AND LEARN
    Romelu Lukaku surpassed Ronaldo’s Inter Milan goal record – with 13 games to spare.
    The former Manchester United striker, 27, swapped Old Trafford for the San Siro in 2019 for £73million. And since then he has been in red-hot form.
    In 86 appearances for Inter, Lukaku has a staggering 60 goals.
    He managed 34 in 51 last term and his winning goal at Bologna on Saturday took his tally this season to 26 in 35. And that means the Belgian hitman is more prolific than the Brazilian icon.
    The ‘original’ Ronaldo – nicknamed the Phenomenon – moved to Inter in 1997 after one staggering season with Barcelona where he scored 47 goals.
    R9 managed 59 goals for the Serie A giants – but did so in 99 matches across five injury-hit years. Lukaku also has more assists than Ronaldo for Inter, with 13 to 12.

    DOR CLOSED
    Borussia Dortmund are determined to keep Manchester United target Erling Haaland this summer.
    Club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told Goal: “We will discuss this with Erling, his father and his agent Mino Raiola.
    “We also want him to be happy to stay with us, to score goals for BVB next year with conviction. There is no alternative plan.”
    Dortmund insist they want to keep Haaland, 20
    A TELL-TALE
    Manchester United are ready to offer Alex Telles to Sporting Lisbon on loan in a player-plus-cash deal for Nuno Mendes, reports say.
    Telles was signed from Sporting’s rivals Porto this summer for £15.3million to provide competition for Luke Shaw.
    But Shaw’s form has been so impressive, Telles has only played seven times in the league, with his other 14 appearances coming in cup competition.
    It leaves his Old Trafford future up in the air, and according to Portuguese newspaper Record, United are willing to see the left-back leave.
    They are understood to be plotting a deal for Telles, 28, to be used as ‘a bargaining chip’ to sign fellow full-back Mendes.
    The offer could include a £33.9million fee for Sporting and a season-long loan of Telles.
    United would still need to cover at least part of the Portugal international’s wages.
    Man Utd are ready to offer Alex Telles on loan in a player-plus-cash deal for Nuno Mendes, reports say
    TEENAGE KICKS
    Mason Greenwood scored his 12th Premier League goal as a teen for Man United yesterday.
    And he’s not in bad company!
    The 19-year-old still has until his birthday in October to add to his already impressive tally.

    LUC WHO IT IS
    Manchester United and Chelsea are set to do battle for Lucas Vazquez, according to reports.
    The Spaniard is set to be out of contract in the summer, when his Real Madrid deal expires.
    ACB claim that the right-sided player turned down Madrid’s latest offer, putting Premier League sides on red alert.
    The 29-year-old has been playing as a wing-back of late, but made his name at Santiago Bernabeu as a winger.
    Lucas Vazquez started Real Madrid’s win over Eibar at the weekendCredit: AFP
    MASE RATES
    Mason Greenwood has been working on his heading… and it showed yesterday against Brighton!
    Here’s what he had to say to MUTV after bagging the crucial winner.

    WATZ THAT ALL ABOUT?
    Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has defiantly claimed that it will take an ‘exceptional offer’ for Man United target Jadon Sancho to leave the club this summer.
    He told DAZN: “I’m not getting involved in probabilities, it’s no good. Jadon Sancho has been with us much longer than Erling Haaland.
    “We’ll have to speak to Jadon too. If there is an exceptional offer, we will discuss it with the player and the agent, as always. Nonetheless, I am very sure that the transfer market will only run to a very limited extent this summer.
    “Especially at the very big clubs, you can see what kind of wounds coronavirus has inflicted – and they are not small ones that heal within two weeks.”
    Jadon Sancho is a long-term Man United targetCredit: AFP
    COMEBACK KINGS
    Last night’s come-from-behind victory over Brighton made it 25 POINTS taken from losing positions this season for Manchester United.
    You can never count Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men out.

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