Man Utd news LIVE: Express Sport bring you all the updates from Stamford Bridge

Sunday 31 December

Real Madrid eye Sessegnon

17:45: Real Madrid want to sign Ryan Sessegnon before Manchester United get their hands on him.

AS claim Real are keen on landing the Fulham left-back in January.

Championship side Fulham are expected to receive a number of bids for their young star.

United are in the running and supposedly value Sessegnon at £25m.

Man City the problem

17:15: Manchester United’s own website has moved to mitigate the perceived failings of the team, by pointing at Manchester City.

Reflecting on United in 2017, ManUtd.com’s Mark Froggatt says City are the reason Jose Mourinho is not getting the praise he deserves.

“The red line on the graph that charts our post-Sir Alex Ferguson progress is at a five-year high, and all of the evidence under Mourinho suggests it will continue to rise,” he writes.

“The problem is Manchester City and their blue line, which is also rising with frustrating purpose. 

“Pep Guardiola's team are top of the table with a big lead and therein lies the problem: our overall progress is shrouded by the buzz around the Blues, prompting fans to glance enviably across town. Yet it’s also a common belief that if Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham were top, then most would be quietly content. 

“That unfortunately isn’t the case. It is City, those annoying cousins, who represent our greatest challenge in 2018. That is definitely not a bad thing, though, in terms of motivation or drive.

“Just ask yourself this question: other than Liverpool leading the title race by a similar margin, would any other scenario inspire such a chest-pumping, blood-boiling desire to improve, progress and win? Not for me.”

Jose Mourinho eyes £40million transfer

14:45: Jose Mourinho is reportedly lining up a £40million move for Joao Mario from Inter Milan with Henrikh Mkhitaryan expected to go in the opposite direction.

Having fallen out of favour under Mourinho, Mkhitaryan has since been linked with a move away from Old Trafford.

Inter are said to be keeping a close eye on the former Borussia Dortmund star’s situation.

And United want to raid the Serie A club for Mkhitaryan’s replacement.

That’s according to The Sun, who claim Mourinho wants Mario to bolster his midfield options.

The Portugal international joined Inter for £40m in 2016 after helping his country win Euro 2016.

Kane and Bale proposal

13:35: Manchester United look set to miss out on Harry Kane AND Gareth Bale.

The Daily Star Sunday claim Real Madrid are ready to offer Tottenham a swap deal over the pair.

Real want to sign Kane before United get their hands on him.

And they are said to be prepared to give Spurs £150m PLUS Bale to complete the transfer.

Bale has been on United’s wish list ever since he left Spurs for Real back in 2013.

Johnstone deal

12.30: West Brom have agreed a £4million fee with Manchester United for Aston Villa loanee Sam Johnstone, according to TeamTalk.  

The 24-year-old goalkeeper is on a season-long loan at Villa Park but Old Trafford chiefs have an option to terminate the arrangement next month.

They are set to activate the recall clause after striking a deal with the Baggies.

Johnstone has impressed between the sticks for Villa this term, keeping nine clean sheets in 24 Championship games. 

Real target Martial

10.10: Anthony Martial is reportedly a transfer target for Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

Don Balon claim Zinedine Zidane is keen to add the Frenchman to his ranks in place of Karim Benzema.

Martial is reportedly open to a move to Spain after struggling to hold down a place in the starting XI at Old Trafford.

Real are said to be considering an offer in the region of £88m for the former Monaco man.

Dybala deal hijack

09.45: Real Madrid are reportedly looking to muscle in on Manchester United’s negotiations for Juventus midfielder Paulo Dybala.

Spanish outlet Don Balon claim the La Liga champions are keen to sign Paulo Dybala and are willing to pay up to £105m for the 24-year-old.

Zinedine Zidane reportedly sees the Argentine as a suitable replacement for Gareth Bale who has long been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu.

Real have reportedly sent several representatives to Turin this week to discuss a deal with the Juventus board.

Sutton slams Mourinho

09.00: Pundit Chris Sutton took a pop at Jose Mourinho after Manchester United limped to a 0-0 draw against Southampton at Old Trafford.

Mourinho has recently been complaining about not having enough cash to spend at Old Trafford and Sutton was having none of it.

"Jose will need another 300 million to spend after failing to beat Southampton…" he joked.

"[A team] who they have a considerably larger budget than…"