Transfer News

MANCHESTER UNITED hope to steal a march in the chase for Jarrad  Branthwaite — as soon as Jason Wilcox arrives.United intend to make Wilcox their new transfer guru and are confident of brokering a compensation deal with Southampton, where he has been football director, within days.Jarrad Branthwaite has been linked with a move to Man UtdCredit: GettyAnd they believe his previous close working relationship with Branthwaite’s agent David Reeves will put them in pole position for Everton’s highly-rated centre-back.United want to make the 21-year-old one of their marquee signings in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s rebuild.A fee of more than £80million has been mentioned but United need to boost their backline.Branthwaite has been the shining light in a nightmare season for Everton and was named in England’s squad for last month’s Wembley friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.Read more Man Utd newsBranthwaite did not make his Three Lions debut after being left on the bench.But the centre-back is widely seen as the future of England’s defence.Recent reports also suggest United are now lining up a bid amid doubts over the futures of Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire.Both players are out of contract in 2025, with Varane a target for clubs in Saudi Arabia.Most read in FootballAs for Maguire, there is an option to extend his deal until 2026.But West Ham are ready to lure him to London with the offer of first-team football.Watch Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag storm out of press conference after Bournemouth drawAnd with new United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe ready to trim the fat, both players could be sold to make room for fresh faces.Branthwaite would certainly fit the bill, having already impressed on loan at Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe has appeared 28 times for the club in what has been a turbulent season.The centre half scored his first goal for the club with a dramatic late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Spurs.Tuchel showed why he could be the perfect man for Man Utd, says Andy DillonBy Andy Dillon
TOMMY TUCHEL could not have done it better had he submitted his CV to LinkedIn or Indeed.
Somehow mustering some gumption from the worst Bayern Munich team in more than a decade to stop a rampant Arsenal dead in their tracks is a spectacular job advert for a manager soon to be looking for work.
If Sir Jim Ratcliffe wasn’t watching from his Old Trafford office or from the cinema room in one of his tax havens, he should have been.
They may have even sat up and taken notice in Newcastle or in the owners’ Riyadh hub as Tuchel reminded everyone of his credentials as a top-level coach with devilish timing.
If change is coming then Tuchel is playing a trump card.
His side turned up and cowed the team that, as far as the current Premier League goes, is the best in England.
It may only add to the questions around Tuchel that after tossing away the only league easier to win than Scotland’s or Spain’s, Munich have sprung to life in Europe.
After 11 years unopposed as German champions, Chelsea’s former manager has chucked it in at home in a remarkable act of ineptitude. But freak years can happen.
Tuchel is an enigma. But that is part of the appeal as much as winning the Champions League with Chelsea just three months after taking the job.
With no new signings, he took a team that had lost five of the previous ten games and turned them into European Champions.
With Ratcliffe considering swingeing budget cuts at Old Trafford, a coach who can perform wonders on peanuts would be music to his ears.
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MANCHESTER UNITED forward Mason Greenwood could have several Premier League offers this summer, according to reports.The winger has been out on loan at Getafe this season, where he has played 26 times, scoring six goals and registering five assists.Several Premier League clubs are showing an interest in Mason GreenwoodCredit: GettyHis loan to Getafe last summer came after charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault were dropped against him in February last year.Despite massive pressure to cancel the forward’s contract, he remains a United player, and the Red Devils are likely to attempt to fetch a fee for him this summer according to The Daily Mail.They report that the club are currently working on the assumption that he will be sold this summer.Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have both been linked with a move for the forward with Greenwood reportedly feeling settled in Spain.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLCurrent loan club Getafe are also an option, but it is likely they would struggle to pay the forward’s wages on a permanent basis.The Mail outlined that several Premier League clubs have expressed an interest in his services.The Mail also report that there could still be a future for Greenwood at Old Trafford – with a contract extension among the things being discussed by the INEOS group.The club are also considering loaning Greenwood again, meaning he would remain a player employed by Manchester United.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSir Jim Ratcliffe previously promised a “fresh decision” on Greenwood’s future which has left the door open for Greenwood at United.Ratcliffe said in February: “We will make a decision.Mason Greenwood wants an investigation into whether Jude Bellingham called him a “rapist” dropped“I don’t know if he (Greenwood) could still have a future.“All I can do is talk about the principle of how we will approach decisions like that.“Is he the right type of footballer? Are we happy with that? Is he a good person or not?“He (Greenwood) is a Manchester United footballer and we are in charge of football. “So the answer is it’s quite clear we have to make a decision.” More

MASON GREENWOOD may end up staying at Manchester United due to the club’s “unrealistic” asking price for him.Greenwood, 22, has been on loan at Getafe from the Red Devils this season.Greenwood could be forced to stay at Man Utd due to the clubs ‘unrealistic’ transfer expectationsCredit: GettyThe move came after charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault were dropped against him in February last year.Whether he has a future at Old Trafford remains unclear, with widespread reports suggesting there is transfer interest in the player from overseas.This includes the likes of Juventus and Atletico Madrid.Barcelona have also been previously linked with club bosses meeting with former Man Utd director John Murtough in Barcelona last month, though their interest is said to have waned.READ MORE IN MAN UTDAccording to ESPN, Man Utd have slapped a £30million price tag on Greenwood.However, the report stipulates that financial pressures across Europe mean this demand is “unrealistic”. Interested clubs also feel Man Utd cannot legitimately expect a significant fee for Greenwood.Getafe have openly expressed their desire to sign Greenwood permanently, with him netting eight goals and grabbing five assists in 28 games in all competitions.Most read in FootballGreenwood has six goals in LaLiga this seasonBut the Spanish sides manager Jose Bordalas has admitted Man Utd will be the ones to decide on his future. New Man Utd shareholder and Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe left the door open on Greenwood’s future when asked about it in February.Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s amazing lifestyleRatcliffe said: “He’s a Manchester United footballer and we are in charge of football. “So the answer is ‘yeah, we have to make decisions.’ It’s quite clear we have to make a decision. There is no decision that’s been made. “The process will be: understand the facts not the hype, and then try and come to fair decision on the basis of values, which is basically ‘is he a good guy or not?’ “Could he play sincerely for Manchester United well, would we be comfortable with it and would the fans be comfortable with it?”ESPN add another option on the table is a new loan move, though a full transfer remains the preferred option.The Sun revealed last month how a controversial return for Greenwood was backed by team-mates in the dressing room, with their said to be a “footballing one, pure and simple”.However, this would alienate the women’s team who are opposed to his return to the club.Tuchel showed why he could be the perfect man for Man Utd, says Andy DillonBy Andy Dillon
TOMMY TUCHEL could not have done it better had he submitted his CV to LinkedIn or Indeed.
Somehow mustering some gumption from the worst Bayern Munich team in more than a decade to stop a rampant Arsenal dead in their tracks is a spectacular job advert for a manager soon to be looking for work.
If Sir Jim Ratcliffe wasn’t watching from his Old Trafford office or from the cinema room in one of his tax havens, he should have been.
They may have even sat up and taken notice in Newcastle or in the owners’ Riyadh hub as Tuchel reminded everyone of his credentials as a top-level coach with devilish timing.
If change is coming then Tuchel is playing a trump card.
His side turned up and cowed the team that, as far as the current Premier League goes, is the best in England.
It may only add to the questions around Tuchel that after tossing away the only league easier to win than Scotland’s or Spain’s, Munich have sprung to life in Europe.
After 11 years unopposed as German champions, Chelsea’s former manager has chucked it in at home in a remarkable act of ineptitude. But freak years can happen.
Tuchel is an enigma. But that is part of the appeal as much as winning the Champions League with Chelsea just three months after taking the job.
With no new signings, he took a team that had lost five of the previous ten games and turned them into European Champions.
With Ratcliffe considering swingeing budget cuts at Old Trafford, a coach who can perform wonders on peanuts would be music to his ears.
Click here to ready Andy’s column in full.
Or to read more from Andy Dillon, click here. More

RAPHAEL VARANE’S time as a Manchester United player will come to and end in June, according to reports.SunSport revealed last November how Varane was set to depart Old Trafford this coming summer. Raphael Varane is set to leave Man Utd this summerCredit: AlamyThe club will not offer him a deal at the same level of wages he is on at presentCredit: GettyVarane, 30, suffered another injury setback that will see him sidelined for several weeks after he was diagnosed with a muscle injury against Chelsea earlier this month.And Man Utd’s new directors now look set to pull the plug this summer. According to the Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler, the Frenchman is now “likely” to leave the Red Devils.Man Utd are not prepared to offer Varane an extension on his current colossal wage package worth £340,000 a week.READ MORE IN MAN UTDJettisoning, the former Real Madrid stars wages – the second highest at the club behind the £350,000 a week (£18.2m a year) earned by Casemiro – will see the Red Devils save £17,680,000 a year.Varane fell out of favour under Erik ten Hag earlier this season before playing his way back into the team. However, his time at Man Utd has been dogged by injury.The World Cup winning defender has been open about his condition and the physical and mental fatigue he has felt due to the incredible match loads put onto players in the modern day.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA recent interview with L’Equipe saw him reveal how he suffered “abnormal fatigue” following a match where he performed a number of headers. He said: “During a match, I performed a series of headers, and in the days that followed I felt abnormal fatigue as well as severe eye fatigue.Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world revealed with no Premier League players making the top five”I reported to the staff that I was not fit to play and they strongly recommended that I not play. “I took a test from a doctor, the results of which were passed on to the staff and I did not play the following match.”But if I hadn’t asked to take these tests, I probably would have been lined up a few days later and, to be honest, I felt bad that I didn’t play the next game because of a migraine.”Transfers to Juventus in Italy and Saudi Arabia have both been reported in the case of Varane’s exit.Willy Kambwala wants to become rock at the back for Man Utd… but Erik ten Hag probably won’t be around to see itBy Ken Lawrence
ERIK TEN HAG insists he is still the right man to take Manchester United forward.
The Dutchman believes he can recapture their former glories, despite escaping for the second time in a row what could have been humiliation by Liverpool at the weekend.
And teen Willy Kambwala revealed his “passion” is to become a rock at the heart of United’s defence after making just his second start of the season against their bitter rivals.
United trailed 1-0 at half-time on Sunday but fought back to take a 2-1 lead before Mo Salah’s 84th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot.
Ten Hag was pleased with the second-half performance, declaring it “another signal and message for the future,” before adding, “the team and squad have high potential.”
Yet the Old Trafford chief sounds more and more like he has his finger stuck in a leaky dyke and does not think it is going to hold.
Comeback or not, United still threw away a lead for the third time in eight days following their 4-3 defeat to Chelsea and 1-1 draw with Brentford — both deep into injury time.
And his body language suggests he expects to be crossing it to go back to Holland with his P45 this summer
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Replacements have already been talked about heavily in the market however, with the likes of Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo both said to be among targets.In the meantime, 19-year-old Willy Kambwala will add to the already extensive amount of minutes Man Utd teens have had this season due to himself and Harry Maguire being the club’s only fit centre-backs.Following their purchase of a 27.7 per cent stake in Man Utd, Ineos have been handed control of the sporting operations at the club.READ MORE SUN STORIESThis has started with an overhaul behind the scenes, with Omar Berrada coming in as CEO and moves for Dan Ashworth as sporting director and Jason Wilcox as technical director in the works.Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe has met with Newcastle director Amanda Staveley in a bid to push through Ashworth’s move, with the move currently on hold as the two clubs try to agree a compensation deal.Inside Ratcliffe’s Man Utd plansEverything you need to know as Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes charge at Manchester United… More