Manchester United will face Leeds United in their second of six pre-season fixtures this afternoon.
The Red Devils kicked off their tour of Australia and Southeast Asia with a 2-0 victory over Perth Glory on Saturday and Leeds represent a significant step up in opposition ahead of further pre-season games against Tottenham, Inter Milan, Kristiansund and AC Milan.
Solskjaer confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that he has no major injury worries ahead of United’s meeting with Leeds, although he said Luke Shaw may not be risked due to a slight hamstring concern.
“All of them were training yesterday,” said Solskjaer.
“No one missed training, so 24 (outfield) players plus the keepers. (Lee) Granty is still not fit and maybe we won’t risk Luke, we’re not sure, but Rom (Lukaku), Vic (Lindelof) and Eric (Bailly) who missed the first game, they are fit.”
We’ll bring you all the action from the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Hodgson wishes Wan-Bissaka well
Roy Hodgson has admitted Crystal Palace had no choice but to sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka to United.
“The bottom line is, when Manchester United come calling and they’re prepared to pay what the club feel is the market value of the player, then all we can do is wish him well,” Hodgson said.
Leeds fans in good voice
The Leeds fans sounded lively a goal kick away from the stadium at a fan’s park and some colleagues have suggested it was livelier on their walk to the ground. You could tell by the chanting they were from Yorkshire rather than Perth, too.
The numbers might be as apocryphal as how many City took to Ewood in 2000, but there are suggestions that 8,000 Leeds fans have flown over for this game and that they have sold 20,000 tickets for the friendly. They’ve only come to see United, and it might not be the Leeds version.
New: Raiola provides Pogba update
Mino Raiola has cast doubt on a possible transfer for Paul Pogba this summer and suggested he could stay at Manchester United.
Raiola said earlier this month he was ‘in the process’ of working on a move for his client Pogba, who said in June it was ‘maybe time for a new challenge’.
United have not received any bids for Pogba, 26, amid interest from his former club Juventus and Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane has spoken publicly about the possibility of signing Pogba, having lobbied Real president Florentino Perez to try and sign Pogba in 2016.
Raiola was in Turin for the medical of his client Matthijs de Ligt and spoke about Pogba’s situation at United again.
Strong turnout from Leeds fans
The sun is shining as we arrive at the Optus Stadium, but it is set to be another chilly night out on the pitch.
It is expected to more heated in the crowd however, with both sides having brought a strong following to Western Australia.
Talking to a Leeds staff member last night they claimed as many as 8,000 would be travelling from the UK while they have sold roughly 20,000 tickets for the match altogether. Apparently there is also a healthy contingent from their Kuala Lumpur supporters branch, too.
Solskjaer makes promise about Greenwood to United fans
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has promised United fans Mason Greenwood will score goals for the club next season.
“He’s a natural finisher, a natural footballer,” Solskjaer told the BBC of Greenwood. “Right-footed, left-footed. I don’t think he knows if he’s more predominant on his right or his left. He takes penalties with both feet and free-kicks with both feet. He finds space naturally. He’ll always end up with chances. He’ll score goals this year, I am 100% sure of that.”
What happened the last time United played Leeds?
Meetings between United and Leeds have been irregular since their relegation from the Premier League in 2004.
The two sides haven’t met since 2011, when United ran out 3-0 winners in a League Cup tie at Elland Road courtesy of a Michael Owen brace and a goal from Ryan Giggs.
Gossip: United poised to make official bid for Fernandes
Manchester United are poised to make an official bid to sign Bruno Fernandes, according to reports.
The Independent say United are confident of luring Fernandes to Old Trafford but know they will likely have to bid in excess of £50million to land the central midfielder.
It is added that Fernandes himself is keen on making the move to Manchester.
Read more transfer rumours here.
Solskjaer confirms stance on Sanchez
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects to retain Alexis Sanchez at Manchester United but has warned the forward he will have to regain his place in the first-team.
Sanchez, 30, has performed pitifully for much of his 18-month United career and managed just two club goals last season as he completed 90 minutes only once for United.
United are open to selling highest-earner Sanchez but the Chilean’s £400,000 weekly wages are proving prohibitive and Sanchez is contracted to the club until 2022. United have not received a bid for Sanchez, either.
Sanchez claimed two goals for Chile at the Copa America in Brazil but his tournament ended with another hamstring injury. Sanchez could be available for United’s European friendlies against Kristiansund on July 30 and AC Milan on August 3 but Solskjaer says the onus is on the former Arsenal forward to show his quality.
Read what Solskjaer had to say here.
The kids are alright
A lot is expected of the quartet of promising United youngsters consisting of Angel Gomes, James Garner, Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood.
All four were given minutes by Solskjaer last season and look set to make the step up to the first-team squad on a permanent basis next term.
The 17-year-old striker Greenwood has the most hype around him and it will be interesting to see how much, and in which position, he features during pre-season.
He’s a striker by trade but played on the right wing against Perth Glory and that is a position United have been weak in for several years.
AC Milan consider Bailly swoop - report
AC Milan are reportedly considering making a bid for United defender Eric Bailly.
It’s claimed by Italian outlet Tuttosport, cited by Mail Online, that Milan have identified Bailly as an alternative target to Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren after deeming the Croatian’s €20million price tag too expensive.
Milan reportedly believe Bailly will be attainable for a cut-price fee because his contract at United expires next year.
Solskjaer responds to Pogba's 'new challenge' comment
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Paul Pogba he can give him the new career ‘challenge’ he is looking for.
During a commercial commitment in China last month, Pogba said ‘now could be a good time to find a new challenge’ amid the 26-year-old’s desire to leave United.
Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola has confirmed the France international’s intention to move elsewhere but United have not received a bid for Pogba and sources believe Real Madrid are trying to unsettle him.
Solskjaer arguably coaxed the best form out of Pogba in his career between December and February last season, when he embarked on a run of nine goals and seven assists in 14 matches. The Norwegian remains upbeat about Pogba’s situation at United.
Read what Solskjaer had to say here.
Savage's son earns United scholarship
Robbie himself was on the books at United as a youngster.
Rooney makes Klopp joke
Wayne Rooney has joked the only mistake Jurgen Klopp has made in his career is associating himself with Liverpool Football Club.
Klopp took over at Liverpool while Rooney was still United’s captain in October 2015 and the German lifted his first trophy as manager of the Anfield outfit last month.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager had developed a reputation for losing in major finals but he answered his critics with Liverpool’s victory in June’s Champions League showpiece in Madrid.
Liverpool also came within a whisker of ending their long wait for a Premier League title as they lost out to Manchester City in May, and Rooney is a big fan of their 52-year-old manager.
Read what Rooney had to say about Klopp here.
Rodgers confirms bids for Maguire
Some transfer news now and Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed the club has received two bids for United target Harry Maguire.
“It’s pretty simple really and we’re quite relaxed about it,” Rodgers said last night.
“Harry is a top-class player. Of course, he has attracted interest with two bids coming in but they nowhere near meet the valuation of the club.”
Solskjaer names two United youngsters who could replace Herrera
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects ‘a lot more’ from Manchester United midfielders Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira this season and believes the pair could replace Ander Herrera.
Herrera, 29, left United on a free transfer this summer to join Paris Saint-Germain amid a lack of alacrity from United to tie him down on a new contract.
McTominay, 22, and Pereira, 23, both signed new deals this year that run until 2023 and are among just five senior central midfielders in the United squad, along with Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Fred.
United have shown interest in Newcastle youngster Sean Longstaff and Bruno Fernandes of Sporting Lisbon to reinforce their midfield, having sold Marouane Fellaini to Shandong Luneng in January.
Solskjaer included central midfielder James Garner in his pre-season tour squad of Australasia and the 18-year-old scored in the Saturday night win over Perth Glory. Solskjaer expects Garner to develop into a ‘top player’ but insists the onus is on McTominay and Pereira to improve.
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to our live match blog.
Stick with us for all the build-up to the Reds’ pre-season meeting with Leeds United in Perth.
