Transfer News

MANCHESTER UNITED could reportedly target Joao Felix in January to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.SunSport exclusively revealed last night that boss Erik ten Hag wants Ronaldo gone after he refused to come off the bench against Tottenham.
Manchester United could target Joao Felix to replace Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Reuters
Ronaldo trained away from the first-tram today after refusing to come off the bench against TottenhamCredit: Getty
Meanwhile in Madrid, Felix is claimed to want to leave Atletico either in January or in the summer.
That could pave the way for United to make their move, according to Spanish outlet Deportes Cuatro.
Reports in Spain suggest a loan move in January is an option, with a view to a permanent deal next summer.
Felix is represented by Jorge Mendes, the same agent who deals with Cristiano Ronaldo.
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And Mendes could be a busy man come January, with the potential for him to negotiate deals for both of the Portuguese stars.
The Red Devils have already been linked with Felix in recent weeks.
Ronaldo’s strop, which has seen him banished from first-team training ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Chelsea, has only heightened speculation that he could quit the club.
Although United will reportedly face stiff competition if they do decide to swoop for Felix.
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Spanish outlet AS say both Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, plus an unnamed Premier League team are keen on his signature.
They say that club could be Manchester United.
But PSG are already thought to be in contact with Felix over a potential deal.
Atletico are hoping the 22-year-old stars for Portugal at the World Cup to give his market value a boost ahead of the January window. More

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly contacted Edwin van der Sar over a return to the club as director of football.The two-time Champions League-winning keeper, 51, is currently chief executive at Ajax.
Ajax chief Edwin van der Sar has been ‘contacted’ by Man Utd about being director of footballCredit: Getty
He could now reunite with Erik ten Hag at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
He worked alongside now United boss Erik ten Hag in Amsterdam and has received glowing reports for the job he has done with the Dutch giants.
When Ed Woodward left his role as executive vice-chairman at Old Trafford at the end of the year, Van der Sar was been linked with a return to Manchester.
There were discussions ‘a couple of years ago’ too about coming in as director of football.
Now as United continue to restructure their hierarchy, a fresh claim says they have been in talks with their former goalie about the role.
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Voetbal Primeur claims that United “contacted” Van der Sar last week.
They also report that it is not the first time that the Premier League side have “knocked on the door” for him.
Ajax also informed him of United’s interest two years ago, however, Van der Sar did not want to leave Ajax at the time.
Now the Eredivisie side are making plans to replace him should he opt to depart and link up with Ten Hag at his old employers.
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This report also states that Ajax are lining-up their legendary ex-defender Danny Blind, father of ex-United ace Daley Blind, to replace him.
The Red Devils began their major overhaul at the club by appointing John Murtough as their first football director last year.

And former player Darren Fletcher was also given a new role of technical director.
When quizzed on links with United previously, Van der Sar threw the door open to a switch by claiming the Red Devils and Ajax are the only two clubs that he could work for.
He said: “The pressure is different and I won’t work at a club where I don’t have a feeling.
“I could only do this for Ajax or United. I would not work for any other clubs.” More

CRISTIANO RONALDO has arrived at Manchester United training for showdown talks after storming down the tunnel during his side’s win over Tottenham.The Portuguese superstar, 37, left Old Trafford before the final whistle as he was left furious at being an unused substitute.
Ronaldo arriving at training on Thursday after his strop less than 24 hours earlierCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle on Wednesday nightCredit: Rex
Ten Hag has warned he will deal with the Ronaldo situation on ThursdayCredit: EPA
Ronaldo did still show up to training on Thursday, with Erik ten Hag expected to deal with the superstar this afternoon.
When asked about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s antics after the game, the Man Utd manager said: “We will deal with that on Thursday. I saw him leaving but I didn’t speak to him after.
“I don’t pay attention to that, we want to focus on this team, it was a magnificent performance from all 11 players.
“Tonight we celebrate the result and the rest we deal with on Thursday.”
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Ronaldo missed the dressing room celebrations with the rest of his team-mates on Wednesday night due to his premature exit from the stadium.
He went down the tunnel when Ten Hag still had two of his five permitted substitutions available.

Ronaldo has started just two of United’s 12 Premier League games so far this season, with Ten Hag preferring to go with Marcus Rashford up front.
And of the 12 appearances he has made in all competitions, he has hit the back of the net just twice.
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His antics in the final minutes of the Spurs clash are nothing new for Ten Hag to deal with when it comes to the former Real Madrid man.
Ronaldo was slammed for his reaction to being subbed early in Sunday’s goalless draw against Newcastle — and also threw a strop at Brentford in August.
After a pre-season clash with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, he even headed home early after being replaced at half-time.
The Red Devils boss was was also asked whether Ronaldo, 37, had permission to head to the dressing room early.
To which the Dutchman replied: “In answer to your question, we deal with that on Thursday and what we have seen tonight was 11 players who defend, 11 players who attack. There was a lot of dynamic in the attack as well.
“I have to mention, I said 11 players, I have to correct myself, it was a performance also from the subs who came on who had a good role.”
PUNDITS PILE IN
Ronaldo was widely criticised by pundits for his reaction to not getting on against Tottenham.
Ex-England defender Danny Mills said: “If he has done that, it’s an absolute disgrace.
“I think that’s disrespectful to the team, to the manager, to the fans.
“They’re winning 2-0. What complaint can he have? If they were losing 2-0, it still wouldn’t be right but I would sort of understand it.
“He clearly thinks he’s bigger than the club.”
And Gabriel Agbonlahor added: “He’s a spoilt brat. To walk down the tunnel like that is a disgrace. You can’t do that. It is so disrespectful to your team-mates.
“If I am in the changing room with Ronaldo, I want my manager to make a statement. I would leave Ronaldo out of the Chelsea game.”
But Ronaldo’s former team-mate Rio Ferdinand insists the current situation is unfair for all involved.
He said: “My only thought could be that Cristiano is being saved for the weekend against Chelsea. That’s the only way I see it, logically.
“He didn’t play today and I think Ronaldo will be absolutely fuming with that naturally and I wouldn’t expect anything different from him.
“I think the big problem Erik ten Hag’s got is that, coming up to this next window, I think he’s got to think very carefully about what he does.
“If he doesn’t see Cristiano Ronaldo as a starter in his team more often than not, I think he has to release him from the contract, has to let him go.
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“It’s not fair on anybody – the club, Cristiano, Erik ten Hag or the players – that after every game he doesn’t start is ‘why didn’t didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo start?’ and that’s the story.
“Man Utd have won 2-0 today and one of the leading stories will probably be about Ronaldo tomorrow and that can’t be right.”
Ronaldo watched on as his side won without him yet againCredit: REX More

CRISTIANO RONALDO reportedly left Old Trafford before the final whistle of Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday evening.The Portuguese superstar, 37, stormed down the tunnel with a handful of minutes remaining in the game.
Ronaldo watched on from the bench as Man Utd beat TottenhamCredit: Rex
Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel and out of Old Trafford before the final whistleCredit: Rex
Ten Hag insists he will deal with Ronaldo’s strop on ThursdayCredit: EPA
And The Athletic are now reporting he left the ground altogether before the match came to an end.
However, his absence did not spoil the dressing room celebrations as the players enjoyed a “vibrant” post-match party after their impressive win.
It’s claimed that Ronaldo’s absence “didn’t really register” with his team-mates.
United boss Erik ten Hag had used just three of his five permitted subs at the time Ronaldo left the substitutes bench and headed down the tunnel.
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Ten Hag said after the game: “We will deal with that on Thursday. I saw him leaving but I didn’t speak to him after.
“I don’t pay attention to that, we want to focus on this team, it was a magnificent performance from all 11 players.
“Tonight we celebrate the result and the rest we deal with on Thursday.”
Ronaldo’s incredible sulk took the shine off what Ten Hag felt was the best performance of his reign at Old Trafford.
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The United chief was also asked whether Ronaldo, 37, had permission to head for the dressing room early.
The Dutchman said: “In answer to your question, we deal with that on Thursday and what we have seen tonight was 11 players who defend, 11 players who attack. There was a lot of dynamic in the attack as well.
“I have to mention, I said 11 players, I have to correct myself, it was a performance also from the subs who came on who had a good role.”
Ronaldo was slammed for his reaction to being subbed early in Sunday’s goalless draw against Newcastle — and also threw a strop at Brentford in August.
After a pre-season clash with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, he even headed home early after being replaced at half-time.
Ex-England defender Danny Mills said: “If he has done that, it’s an absolute disgrace.
“I think that’s disrespectful to the team, to the manager, to the fans.
“They’re winning 2-0. What complaint can he have? If they were losing 2-0, it still wouldn’t be right but I would sort of understand it.
“He clearly thinks he’s bigger than the club.”
And Gabriel Agbonlahor added: “He’s a spoilt brat. To walk down the tunnel like that is a disgrace. You can’t do that. It is so disrespectful to your team-mates.
“If I am in the changing room with Ronaldo, I want my manager to make a statement. I would leave Ronaldo out of the Chelsea game.”
Second-half goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes gave United an impressive win — which would have been more convincing but for Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris.
Ten Hag said: “It was the best team performance so far this season, we are developing.”
Spurs were lucky not to be on the wrong end of a hiding, with boss Antonio Conte worried about how they match up to the top clubs.
He said: “I have to be honest and first of all this was not the first time for us, despite the table is good, but every time we played a high level game we struggle.
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“I hear people say that we are title contenders and I think we need time.
“It is right to analyse with the club why, when we play this type of game where the level is very high, we struggle.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand has slammed Erik ten Hag’s “unfair” decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for their 2-0 win over Tottenham.Ronaldo, 37, stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle at Old Trafford on Wednesday night as he was left unused for the entirety of the game.
Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel after being an unused sub against TottenhamCredit: Rex
Ferdinand feels it is unfair for everyone involved in the Ronaldo sagaCredit: Youtube – Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has started just two of Man Utd’s 12 Premier League games so far this season.
And Ferdinand, who played with Ronaldo during his first stint at the club, feels it is not fair on anyone for the situation to carry on like this.
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, he said: “My only thought could be that Cristiano is being saved for the weekend against Chelsea. That’s the only way I see it, logically.
“He didn’t play today and I think Ronaldo will be absolutely fuming with that naturally and I wouldn’t expect anything different from him.
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“I think the big problem Erik ten Hag’s got is that, coming up to this next window, I think he’s got to think very carefully about what he does.
“If he doesn’t see Cristiano Ronaldo as a starter in his team more often than not, I think he has to release him from the contract, has to let him go.
“It’s not fair on anybody – the club, Cristiano, Erik ten Hag or the players – that after every game he doesn’t start is ‘why didn’t didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo start?’ and that’s the story.
“Man Utd have won 2-0 today and one of the leading stories will probably be about Ronaldo tomorrow and that can’t be right.”
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He continued: “So you sit here and think ‘why did Man Utd not just let him go then?’ if Erik ten Hag kind of knew he wasn’t going to part of his main plans.
“That’s the baffling part for me because you think what someone’s done in their career, at his level, the manager surely would have known before the season started ‘am I going to really play Ronaldo a lot? Is he really what I want in my team? Is he the future of what I’m building around?’
“It looks to me right now as though he would have aired on the side of ‘no’. If that’s the case, I feel he probably should have let Cristiano go.
“It’s probably going to be something that hampers him [Ten Hag] going forward until the day Ronaldo leaves the football club because of how big he is, how much of an icon, how much of a superstar he is.”
Ferdinand wasn’t the only pundit who weighed in on the Ronaldo situation following the game.
Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie described the Portuguese superstar’s actions as “incredibly disrespectful”.
And Gareth Ainsworth, who was alongside Hendrie on Soccer Saturday, went one step further by insisting “his time is over at United”.
When quizzed on how he will handle Ronaldo’s storming down the tunnel, Ten Hag said: “We will deal with that on Thursday. I saw him leaving but I didn’t speak to him after.
“I don’t pay attention to that, we want to focus on this team, it was a magnificent performance from all 11 players.
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“Tonight we celebrate the result and the rest we deal with on Thursday.”
Ronaldo was trolled on social media after the game as heat maps were mocked up of him sitting on the bench and heading down the tunnel. More