Man Utd transfer news

MANCHESTER UNITED laboured to a dour point against Crystal Palace with a worrying display just days before their big derby clash.
Bruno Fernandes looked jaded all night and Edinson Cavani short of confidence on a poor night in London for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a 0-0 draw.

Bruno Fernandes looked like he needed a rest – but he won’t get one with Manchester City up nextCredit: Rex Features

They might reflect on a point gained after such a frustrating display.
Here, SunSport’s John Hutchinson rates how United players fared on their trip to Selhurst Park.
Dean Henderson – 6/10
With David De Gea missing for ‘personal reasons’ it was another chance for the England youngster to impress.
But he hardly had chance as Palace offered next to nothing up top – apart from a stunning save to deny Patrick van Aanholt at the death that earned thanks from his manager.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Was probably the first United player to try and dribble at an opponent – that came five minutes before half-time.
But surprisingly subdued showing against his former club.

Luke Shaw was United’s best player – and not for the first time this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Eric Bailly – 6
Preferred at the back to Victor Lindelof – probably what many United fans want to see.
Was a comfortable game to come in for with Benteke cumbersome as usual.

Harry Maguire – 6
Must have fancied playing further up field so poor were his team-mates ahead of him.
Would have been annoyed at not seeing some decent balls in at attacking set-pieces.

Luke Shaw – 8
Found himself in acres of space in the early stages but couldn’t quite pick out his man in the area.
Was United’s best attacking threat all game – that says a lot about the rest.
Fred – 5
Would imagine he prefers a different midfield partner than Matic – they often ran into the same spaces.
Buzzed around, but that’s about it. Subbed off.
Nemanja Matic – 6
McTominay was given a rest that saw experienced Serbian Matic come in.
Marshalled the midfield well enough and was denied a potential goal with a fine save from his 25 yarder.
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Cavani and his team-mates trudged off after a miserable first halfCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mason Greenwood – 5
Back in the first-team fold, but he will have to show a lot more than he did in the first 45 minutes as he barely looked interested in making the runs.
Finally showed some enthusiasm nine minutes from time when he cut in and fired a rasping drive just over.
Bruno Fernandes – 4
Anonymous in the first half, despite United enjoying decent spells of possession.
Didn’t get much better in the second 45, worrying ahead of going to the Etihad at the weekend.
Marcus Rashford – 5
Looked lively for about eight minutes of the first half but even Shaw was getting wider in an attacking sense than he was on the left.
Solskjaer will be praying he has his eye back on the ball for the visit to the Etihad.

Marcus Rashford will want to forget about his trip to Selhurst ParkCredit: Rex Features
Edinson Cavani – 5
Leading the line, Cavani showed some good movement in the first 45 – but his attacking team-mates were not on his wavelength.
Tired badly in the second half and cut a frustrating figure as he trudged off after being subbed.
Subs
Scott McTominay (replaced Fred, 74) – 6
Showed more attacking intent in 60 seconds than the man he replaced had in 74 minutes.
Dan James (replaced Cavani, 76) – 5
Should have done a lot better with a free header from eight yards out two minutes after coming on.
(Subs not used) Victor Lindelof, Lee Grant, Amad Diallo, Alex Telles, Brandon Williams, Axel Tuanzebe, Shola Shoretire
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Solskjaer was disappointed with what he was seeing in front of himCredit: Reuters

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MANCHESTER UNITED have scored a sensational 53 times in just 26 games this season to become one of the most-feared attacks in the Premier League.
Despite that, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to sign a new striker, with Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland one of FIVE big-name summer transfer targets.

How Man Utd could line up if they sign all of their top five summer targets

Man Utd have five European superstars on their summer transfer wishlist

As well as the Norway ace, United are believed to be hot on the trail of Jadon Sancho for the second summer in a row.
Defenders Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane and David Alaba are also on Solskjaer’s wishlist, with the back-four clearly a problem area, having conceded 32 times this term at over one goal per game.
But how would the Old Trafford chief squeeze all five stars into the team in the highly unlikely scenario they managed to land all of them?
First and foremost, Harry Maguire – still the most-expensive defender in history at £85million – would surely make way, with ex-United star Paul Parker calling from him to be replaced.

Varane and Kounde would form a superb mix of youth and experience in the heart of a back-four.
Solskjaer would be able to get the best out of Maguire by sticking him on the left of a back-three, where he thrived earlier in his career.
David Alaba would be the obvious choice at left-back, despite Luke Shaw’s stellar season.
The Bayern Munich star – out of contract this summer – is more than capable of playing at centre-back or further forward, in midfield.

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How Man Utd could line up if they fail to sign any of their summer targets

However, questions have been raised over Alaba’s ability to play in the middle of a back-four in the ultra-physical Premier League, with John Barnes one pundit to suggest he’d struggle.
In midfield, Solskjaer appears more than happy with his deep duo of Fred and Scott McTominay, with Nemanja Matic providing more than capable back-up.
With Bruno Fernandes roaming behind the striker and Marcus Rashford on the left, the United boss has no worries there either.
However, United have lacked some genuine width on the right flank, with natural centre-forward Mason Greenwood preferred to wide-man Daniel James.
Sancho would comfortably slip in on the right-flank forging an impressive front-four with current Dortmund team-mate Haaland replacing the struggling Anthony Martial up front.
United have been told they must shell out £150m to sign Haaland this year, despite him being available for just £63m in 2022 due to a clause in his contract.
Edinson Cavani has been United’s No1 striker in recent weeks, but his contract expires at the end of the season, with talks over an extension believed to be ongoing.

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