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      Man Utd signed Lindelof over Van Dijk in 2017, reveals Liverpool star’s former Southampton team-mate Charlie Austin

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      CHARLIE AUSTIN has revealed how Manchester United turned down Virgil van Dijk – to sign Victor Lindelof.
      While the Swede has been a decent acquisition for the Red Devils, there is no doubting the incredible impact Van Dijk has had at Anfield.

      Virgil van Dijk has enjoyed huge success since moving to LiverpoolCredit: Reuters

      Victor Lindelof was supposedly the man signed instead of the Dutch starCredit: Getty – Pool

      But it perhaps could have been different with former Southampton striker Austin revealing a chat he had with Van Dijk when the defender starred for the Saints.
      He told talkSPORT: “I remember at the back end of his Southampton career we were on the bench together at Chelsea away.
      “I asked him, ‘Come on Virg, what’s going on? Surely Man United must have been in for you?’.
      “He told me, ‘You know what, Chaz, in the summer it was between me and Lindelof, and they signed Lindelof’.

      “I was like, ‘You are joking?’.
      “I don’t know if anyone knows that. I couldn’t believe it, I was gobsmacked.
      “There was talk in the summer that he was going to go there, but they’ve gone and taken Lindelof instead.”
      Lindelof signed for United at an initial cost of £31million while Liverpool signed Van Dijk six months later for £75m.

      The Reds broke the world record fee for a defender in that deal, which was then pushed up by Harry Maguire’s £80m switch to Old Trafford in 2019.
      Speculation was rife around the Dutchman’s future for several months before he left St Mary’s.
      And Austin, who believes that Van Dijk always had his ‘heart set’ on Liverpool, detailed the confusion it caused at Southampton.
      The QPR striker continued: “At the time, the manager, Mauricio Pellegrino, got everybody on the pitch in pre-season, including Virg.
      “And he told everyone, ‘Look lads, Virgil wants to go, the club are not allowing him to go, so he’s not going to play. He’s not going to train with us’.
      “I remember Virg was gobsmacked because there was no heads up from the manager, nothing, he just said, ‘You’re going to train over there with the fitness coach and physio’.
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      Charlie Austin spent two years with Van Dijk at SouthamptonCredit: Getty – Contributor

      “Ultimately he didn’t move in the summer, two days later the transfer window had shut and Virg was started again on the Saturday.
      “He apologised to the lads but we were all like, ‘Virg, we understand, you’re linked with Man United and Liverpool and you wanted to go, that’s fine by us’.
      “We were just happy he was still there because of the quality he brought to the team.”
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      Virgil van Dijk made L’Equipe’s Team of the Year for 2020

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      Jesse Lingard set to join West Ham on loan after Man Utd boss Solskjaer gives green light to transfer

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      WEST HAM are set to complete the signing of Jesse Lingard after Manchester United agreed to loan out the midfielder.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer held talks with the 28-year-old last week amid another spell out the side.

      Jesse Lingard has been offered loan moves by a number of clubsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Lingard has only appeared three times this season, all in cup competitions, and has managed just one league goal in over two years.
      Therefore the chance to get much-needed gametime under old boss David Moyes is seen as appealing to the United academy product.
      West Ham are hoping to turn their good form of late into a serious push for European qualification.
      But attacking reinforcements are needed after the departures of Sebastian Haller and Robert Snodgrass.

      Bournemouth forward Joshua King is another player targeted by the London club.
      Solskjaer admitted on the weekend that he would have been ‘happy’ to keep Lingard in his squad ahead of a hectic second half of the season.

      Several success stories have come from January transfers
      But, with Sheffield United and West Brom also keen, a loan move has been green lit by the Red Devils.
      Last month, United triggered a one-year extension option on his contract, which now expires in the summer of 2022.

      Lingard was not involved in United’s weekend win over Liverpool and Solskjaer discussed his options after the game.
      The manager said: “Jesse trained this morning, he wasn’t in the squad.
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      “So, of course, he wants to play football, we will have to see and I will sit down with Jesse and make a decision on what we’re going to do.
      “So far, he’s been the ultimate professional, trained well with a small group this morning that were not in squad.
      “I will sit down and see if anything comes up. I’m very happy to have him around us as I know he could have played today and done well.”
      West Ham have a maximum two domestic loan signings in their first-team – Said Benrahma and Craig Dawson – with the Brentford winger nearing a £20million permanent move.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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      Bruno Fernandes says ‘if I was Van de Beek I would not be happy at all’ after keeping Man Utd new boy out of team

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      BRUNO FERNANDES admitted if he was Donny van de Beek he ‘would not be happy at all’.
      It comes after Dutchman Van de Beek was handed a rare start, lining up in Manchester United’s midfield in the FA Cup.

      Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek Credit: PA:Press Association

      Fernandes was rested from the off but came on in the second half, eventually scoring the winner as United won 3-2.
      The Portugal international praised Van de Beek for his role and highlighted the competition for places within the side.
      Fernandes told MUTV: “Donny had a great game.
      “Playing in the position I play, watching him he moves really good and played really well. It’s important for us.

      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford
      “If I was in the position of Donny I would not be happy at all but the most important is doing what he does today, coming in and helping the team.
      “We have a really good squad and we have options. If you look at the bench and the first XI today and the ones at home we have a really good squad.
      “It will not be a problem if we change the team or someone is tired because we have really good players.”

      Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford last sumer for £39million, joining from Ajax.
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      But his role in the team has been limited, due to the importance of Fernandes and resurgence from record signing Paul Pogba.
      Van de Beek, 23, has started in just ten of his 22 appearances this season, scoring just once, on his debut against Crystal Palace.
      United sit top of the Premier League, and progressed into the next round of the FA Cup, where they will play West Ham.
      Having been knocked out of the Champions League, they will instead challenge for the secondary Europa trophy.
      And Fernandes is hungry to win them all.
      He said: “They’re all important competitions for us.
      “We have to go in the same way whatever the competition. We play in them all to win.
      “Everyone knows winning the league is more special but for us players, it’s about winning trophies regardless and this is a trophy we want to win.”

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      Man Utd ‘to make Jesse Lingard transfer decision after Liverpool FA Cup clash with Newcastle and West Brom keen’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED will reportedly decide on Jesse Lingard’s future after the FA Cup clash against Liverpool.
      The midfielder has failed to make a single appearance in the Premier League for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season.

      Jesse Lingard could be leaving Manchester United on loanCredit: AFP or licensors

      He has kicked a ball in three games this season, two in the EFL Cup and the other in the 1-0 FA Cup win against Watford.
      Now, according to the Mail On Sunday, Solskjaer will decide on Lingard’s future after the Liverpool game.
      Newcastle, West Brom and Sheffield United are all keen on signing the 28-year-old on a loan deal.
      And London clubs Tottenham and West Ham could even make a move for the out-of-favour star.

      But Solskjaer is still weighing up whether he can afford to let Lingard leave as the fixtures build up.
      United are firmly in title contention, are in the Europa League and if they beat Liverpool will go on in the FA Cup.
      Solskjaer allowed Timothy Fosu-Mensah to join Bayer Leverkusen last week and suggested others could follow, with speculation continuing over the likes of Juan Mata as well as Lingard.
      Asked if the latter would still be at Old Trafford come the end of January, he said: “Well, I don’t want to go into individuals but we can probably allow maybe one or two more to go out.

      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will decide on Lingard’s future next weekCredit: PA:Press Association

      “But then one of the strengths we have is that we have had a fit and deep squad. Strength in depth.
      “So, we don’t want to give our advantage away by easing off on our players. I can’t give you a better answer than that.”
      Lingard has been capped 24 times for England but has not received a call-up since 2019.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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      Solskjaer set to steal Dayot Upamecano from under Jurgen Klopp’s nose as Man Utd near £55m transfer for Liverpool target

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are set to put one over on Liverpool by snapping up £55million centre-back Dayot Upamecano.
      Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp has targeted the RB Leipzig star, 22, to bolster his creaking backline in the long-term absence of Virgil van Dijk.

      Man Utd are set to beat rivals Liverpool to 22-year-old RB Leipzig defender Dayot UpamecanoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to pull off a transfer coupCredit: PA:Press Association

      Jurgen Klopp is set to lose out to rivals United despite the defensive injury crisis at AnfieldCredit: Reuters

      But with Klopp insisting he will NOT enter the market this month, United chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could add to the German’s woes by nipping in to sign him.
      Upamenco’s £38m release clause is only activated in the summer.
      And if United fail to land him then, they could turn their attention to Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane in the summer.
      Spanish reports claim the World Cup winner wants out of the Bernabeu, after winning 17 trophies since joining the club in 2011.

      The 27-year-old’s contract runs until the end of the 2021-22 season and Real would prefer to cash in on the defender rather than risk losing him for nothing.
      However, United have scouted Upamecano, 22, for over a year and were close to agreeing a deal last summer.
      But they stepped back when the player’s father started making extra demands – opening the door for Liverpool to join the race.
      Klopp was under fire for not strengthening his defence even before Van Dijk and Joe Gomez were crocked.

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      Upamecano did not impress against United in this season’s Champions League but is still set to joinCredit: The Mega Agency

      Yet Anfield sources claim he plans to go all guns blazing for the young defender in the summer.
      United have continued to keep tabs on Upamecano, despite cooling on the deal in the summer, and will go head to head with Liverpool – if they do not move sooner.
      SunSport revealed in October they initially tried to sign him as a 16-year-old, but missed out because they would not meet the £700,000 asking price by his then club Valenciennes.
      Upamecano even travelled to Old Trafford with his parents, but United chiefs wouldn’t go above £500,000, despite him already earning rave reviews in France’s youth teams.
      He subsequently joined Salzburg, and moved to Leipzig in 2017, where he is contracted for another two years.
      Upamecano, who is also on Bayern Munich’s radar, actually had a shocker when United beat Leipzig 5-0 in their Champions League group game.
      But he has been one of the stars of the season for a team currently second in the Bundesliga – and is now set to see him at the centre of a transfer shoot-out between England’s biggest two clubs.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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      Raphael Varane ‘wants to QUIT Real Madrid’ as contract runs down in 2022 putting Man Utd on transfer alert

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      RAPHAEL VARANE wants to quit Real Madrid with his contract expiring in 2022, reports say.
      The Frenchman has been at the club since 2011, joining aged 17, and has since won 18 trophies in the Spanish capital.

      Raphael Varane is reportedly considering his Real Madrid future Credit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

      But according to SPORT, Varane feels his time with Madrid is drawing to a close, leaving him considering a new challenge.
      His contract expires next summer, meaning he is allowed to talk to clubs over a free transfer in 12 months time.
      To avoid losing the 27-year-old for nothing, Madrid need either cash in and sell him or convince the defender to stay and extend his deal.
      But, it is understood Varane, who has been linked with Manchester United in the past, will not sign a new contract.

      That is despite having a strong relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane, both World Cup winners for France.
      Zidane also faces losing club captain and Varane’s defensive partner Sergio Ramos.
      Ramos’ contract runs out in just six months time and the player is yet to commit his future to the club.
      Contract talks with Bernabeu bosses have reportedly dragged on due to disputes over the length and financial terms.

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      Sergio Ramos pictured with defensive partner Raphael VaraneCredit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

      They have a policy of only offering one-year contracts to players over the age of 30 but Ramos, 34, wants a two-season guarantee.
      It leaves the LaLiga champions fearing he could make a similar exit as Cristiano Ronaldo, who made the shock move to Juventus in 2018.
      Zidane said this month: “Are we going to have a Cristiano case? I don’t know what will happen with Ramos.
      “He is here with us at the moment.”

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      Man Utd and Chelsea in blow with Moises Caicedo, 19, ‘set to fly to UK to seal Brighton transfer in £4.5m deal’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea look set to be beaten to the transfer of Ecuador wonderkid Moises Caicedo by Brighton.
      Caicedo plays for Independiente del Valle, where he has become a regular feature.

      Moises Caicedo is set to fly into the UK to seal his move to Brighton Credit: AFP – Getty

      The 19-year-old box-to-box midfielder has also featured for Ecuador’s national side making four appearances.
      Sky Sports reports that Caicedo is flying in to the UK to finalise a £4.5m move to the Seagulls.
      According to his club’s general manager Santiago Morales, a work permit has already been arranged.
      There is also a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the transfer.

      Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that there has never been a ‘done deal’ with Manchester United, as some outlets had reported.
      This is despite the teenager admitting he is a United supporter.
      In a recent television interview Caicedo said: “Manchester United are my favourite club.
      “I really like the game of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, I learn a lot from them every time I see them.

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      Graham Potter appears to have won the race for CaicedoCredit: PA:Press Association

      “I always try to do what they do, that’s why they are there.”
      As well as United and Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton were in the hunt for the exciting talent.
      And in-form West Ham were the latest Premier League side to register an interest.
      But Hammers boss David Moyes has recently stated that due to the club’s financial situation, the club would only look to do a deal if the price is right.
      Moyes said: “If we can and we think there is something available the owner would try and do it, but obviously like everybody else we’re in a difficult situation financially. We won’t be daft.”
      But it appears Brighton boss Graham Potter have won the transfer race.

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      Kalidou Koulibaly ‘wants Man Utd transfer’ with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer huge fan but £100m Napoli demands could be issue

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have been handed a huge transfer boost with Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly ‘wanting’ the move.
      The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the Napoli centre-half for a while, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly ‘a fan of the player’.

      Kalidou Koulibaly reportedly wants to join Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Now according to Marca, the move may be one step closer.
      It is reported that the 29-year-old Senegalese international is pushing for a move to Old Trafford.
      But one stumbling block could be Napoli’s £100million valuation of their star man.
      United’s Premier League rivals Liverpool have also being linked with Koulibaly.

      Of course Jurgen Klopp has big problems at the back, recently forced to playing centre-midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson paired centrally.
      But Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has warned both clubs they must offer at least £100m if they want to sign Koulibaly.
      Now well into another transfer window, Jim White spoke to Napoli owner De Laurentiis about the prospect of another series of maddeningly low bids from the Premier League.
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      Speaking on talkSPORT, White revealed: “There isn’t a window in the last two, three or four that we don’t see big mentions of the Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
      “This morning, I spoke to Aurelio De Laurentiis, the Napoli owner, and said what about your player, are there bids in for him?
      “He laughed it off saying he’s not for sale. It seems on this occasion Koulibaly is going nowhere. He stays and that was as recent as this morning.

      “Anyone going in with anything other than £100million for Koulibaly can forget it.
      “He’s absolutely not for sale unless one of the big clubs in England come up with £100million.”
      Koulibaly has played in 18 games in all competitions for Napoli this season, helping to keep seven clean sheets.
      He is under contract at the Serie A giants until the end of the 2022-23 season.
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