Transfer News

ERIK TEN HAG has reportedly blocked Hannibal Mejbri from leaving Manchester United this month.The Red Devils have been badly hit by injuries this season with Ten Hag often having to pick from a depleted squad.
Hannibal Mejbri has made nine appearances in all competitions this seasonCredit: Getty
Mejbri, 20, has made five Premier League appearances and Ten Hag is said to be a fan of his tenacity and work rate.
And although he is keen for the youngster to get more game time, he is not prepared to let him leave just yet, according to the Daily Mail.
That’s because Casemiro and Mason Mount are still unavailable due to injury.
Sofyan Amrabat has also missed the last two matches and Ten Hag is only willing to loan out Mejbri once the midfield injury issues are resolved.
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The United boss has had his hands tied in recent weeks despite the return from injury of Christian Eriksen.
Youngster Kobbie Mainoo was drafted into the first team against Everton in November and has since featured in all but two Premier League games.
United are exploring ways to improve the squad now Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a say in the running of football matters.
Crystal Palace star Michael Olise has impressed since returning from injury and the Red Devils are plotting a move, though might have to wait until the summer.
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United are willing to offload some players this month with Jadon Sancho expected to exit on loan amid interest from Borussia Dortmund.
Anthony Martial is coming to the end of his contract, while Brazilian Antony has received huge criticism following a nightmare 18 months at Old Trafford. More

MANCHESTER UNITED star Amad Diallo has confirmed he is not going to the Africa Cup of Nations.The tournament begins with host nation and the winger’s homeland Ivory Coast kicking things off against Guinea-Bassau on January 13.
Amad Diallo was not called up to the Ivory Coast squad for AFCONCredit: Getty
Diallo made his comeback from a serious knee injury in United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, playing 36 minutes.
It was his first appearance of the season and it fuelled speculation that the fit again ace may head off to AFCON.
However, manager Jean-Louis Gasset has already chosen his squad and Diallo did not make the cut.
Sky Sports incorrectly reported that the 21-year-old had been called up to Ivory Coast’s team.
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But before the social media post was deleted, fans were worried they were going to lose Diallo for several matches.
However, the former Rangers and Sunderland star calmed fears, tweeting: “Not true.”
Diallo will instead stay at Man Utd and fight for his place in the starting XI.
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag will be without Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat as both will feature at AFCON.
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The final of the tournament is on February 11.
Therefore, the duo could miss up to six games depending on when they join up with their national teams for training, how far they go in the tournament and if Man Utd progress in the FA Cup.
Diallo could miss out on silverware with Ivory Coast one of the favourites to win the AFCON.
Forest trio Willy Boly, Serge Aurier, Ibrahim Sangare and Brighton’s Simon Adingra are in their squad.
Ex-Premier League stars Sebastien Haller and Nicolas Pepe are also involved but Wilfried Zaha misses out. More

ERIK TEN HAG’S agent Kees Vos is becoming increasingly influential at Manchester United.The Dutchman played a key role in getting deals over the line for Rasmus Hojlund and Sofyan Amrabat in the summer.
Erik ten Hag’s agent has been vital in recent signingsCredit: AFP
Kees Vos has close ties to Man UtdCredit: Instagram / keesvosseg
Rasmus Hojlund is one of Vos’ clientsCredit: Instagram @keesvosseg
But SunSport exclusively revealed that his growing presence at the club is ruffling feathers.
Vos is the founder of agency Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), who boast over 600 clients.
Many represented by the super agent have links to Dutch football with Ten Hag among those with a close relationship to him.
The manager’s son Nigel is even employed by SEG in an analysis role.
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Man Utd first worked with them when they signed Robin van Persie in 2012 and then again three years later to snap up Memphis Depay.
But any business with the agency was rare in the seasons that followed – until Ten Hag showed up.
SEG are now back on the scene and they represent £72million man Rasmus Hojlund.
Vos is in photos as the striker signed his contract and is seen on the pitch talking to Ten Hag and director of football John Murtough.
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The super agent works with Robin van PersieCredit: Instagram @keesvosseg
He was again vital in the loan deal for Sofyan Amrabat, helping Man Utd in their negotiations with the player and Fiorentina.
Vos was back in Manchester last week as Van Persie was in the stands to watch the 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa.
After the game, he posted a snap with the 2013 Premier League champion alongside the caption: “We will always have your back Erik.”
It came a few months after Vos’ last visit to Old Trafford when he uploaded a photo of himself stood in the tunnel, saying: “My wife and I have a different meaning of the word home these days.”
Reports have described SEG as the Man Utd’s “go-to agency” when it comes to transfers.
A club having close ties to an agent is normal – but Vos’ growing power is causing some alarm.
SunSport understand that SEG have annoyed the agents in charge of some United academy players.
They have been trying to get the wonderkids to ditch their current representatives and sign for them.
Ex-United youngster Zidane Iqbal penned a deal with SEG and just two months later he left the club permanently to join Dutch outfit Utrecht.
Kees Vos was key to the signing of Van Persie in 2012Credit: Instagram @keesvosseg More

MANCHESTER UNITED could offload FIVE more players in the January transfer window.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his 25 per cent takeover of the club and is ready to be in charge of football operations.
Erik ten Hag is ready to axe five more players this JanuaryCredit: AFP
The British billionaire is keen to overhaul United’s transfer setup and get rid of expensive flops signed by the old regime.
Meanwhile, Donny van de Beek has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in a deal that could become permanent in the summer.
And Sergio Reguilon has had his contract terminated, returning to Tottenham after just four months at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag is set to continue shifting deadwood from the squad with more departures expected.
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Jadon Sancho
Sancho’s Man Utd nightmare will end this month with a move back to Borussia Dortmund reportedly on the cards.
The winger has not played since September following his public spat with Ten Hag.
Sancho said he was felt he was made a “scapegoat” by his boss and he has been banned from training after refusing to apologise.
Dortmund are now in talks to re-sign the England star on loan with the Red Devils set to help cover his £350,000-per-week wages.
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The 23-year-old is open to returning to Germany, where scored 50 goals in 137 games between 2017 and 2021.
Jadon Sancho looks set to return to Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty
Anthony Martial
With his contract expiring in the summer, Martial could also be part of the clear out.
Man Utd have the option to trigger a one-year extension but reports claim the club have no plans to keep him.
They could choose to cash in this month to avoid losing him for free.
Fenerbahce, Marseille and Inter Milan have all been linked with the forward.
United have no plans to extend Anthony Martial’s deal that ends in the summerCredit: AP
Casemiro
Ratcliffe is keen to stop United paying over the odds for players with their best days behind them.
After a good first year, Casemiro has struggled with injuries and form this term.
United are open to selling the midfielder should a big enough offer come in.
Reports state that Ratcliffe and Ten Hag accept they will not be able to recoup the £70million they paid for him 18 months ago.
But the club are hoping to receive a hefty fee from a Saudi Arabian side.
Director of football John Murtough has reportedly held talks with chiefs in the Middle East as United try to offload players.
Man Utd could cash in on Casemiro amid interest from Saudi ArabiaCredit: AP
Raphael Varane
Another supposedly mentioned by Murtough was Varane.
The centre-back could leave on a free at the end of the season after the Red Devils declined to trigger an extension in his contract.
He can talk to foreign clubs this month, fuelling rumours of an early departure.
Varane has fallen out of favour with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans moving ahead of him in the pecking order.
The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Lens and a Saudi Arabian side.
Raphael Varane is able to negotiate with foreign sides this month ahead of a summer exitCredit: Alamy
Sofyan Amrabat
Amrabat has failed to impress since arriving from Fiorentina on loan in the summer.
There have been claims that Ten Hag is already open to replacing him this month amid reports there is interest in Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana.
Amrabat’s deal at Old Trafford contains an option to make the move a permanent one at the end of the season.
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But SunSport exclusively revealed the club has no plans to trigger that clause due to feeling that the Moroccan does not suit the Premier League.
Similarly to Reguilon, there has been speculation Man Utd could even try to rip up his contract and see his loan spell cut short.
Sofyan Amrabat could be replaced this monthCredit: Alamy More

DONNY VAN DE BEEK has been put out of his misery at Manchester United by joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loan.Arriving from Ajax in a £40million deal in 2020 and on wages of £125,000 a week, Van de Beek is one of many recent disasters at Old Trafford.
Donny van de Beek has been put out of his misery at Manchester United by joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loanCredit: Getty
Manager Erik ten Hag has been rightly hammered for his terrible moves in the transfer market, most notably winger Antony (£85.5m) midfielder Casemiro (£70m) and keeper Andre Onana (47.2m).
England midfielder Mason Mount (£60m) has been hit with injuries and £72m forward Rasmus Hojlund is a raw talent.
Even so, former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must still take a huge amount of blame for his own poor signings — and United are still paying the price.
While there were other people in the background, including the recruitment department, United did not sign a single player without the nod from Ole.
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So on top of Van de Beek, the arrivals of Jadon Sancho, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the return of Cristiano Ronaldo were all signed off by the Norwegian.
Mind you, Solskjaer also bought some poor players at Cardiff.
Yesterday marked ten years since he took over in South Wales and club owner Vincent Tan made it clear his lucky number was eight.
Ole’s first signing was Magnus Wolff Eikrem from Heerenveen, a midfielder the coach had worked with at Molde.
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Maybe it was a handy coincidence that Eikrem’s birthdate was August 8.
However, back at United and you would still rate Ten Hag’s record in the transfer market — considering the sums spent — worse than Solskjaer’s.
There has also been alarm over his agent, Kees Vos, and his growing involvement in transfers at the club.
Vos’ Sports Entertainment Group represent Hojlund, who joined the agency a month before the United deal went through.
They also acted on behalf of United during negotiations to bring Sofyan Amrabat on loan from Fiorentina.
Equally, SunSport understands that SEG have ruffled the feathers of the agents of some of United’s younger players in the academy.
SEG, as does happen in football, have tried to get the players to leave their current agents and move over to them instead.
Erik ten Hag has been rightly hammered for his terrible moves in the transfer marketCredit: AFP
There has been alarm over Ten Hag’s agent Kees VosCredit: Instagram / keesvosseg More