Manchester United’s pursuits of their top transfer targets will continue today and the current squad has landed in China ahead of their next pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Manchester United have been after a new midfielder all summer following the departure of Ander Herrera, with Bruno Fernandes and Sean Longstaff at the top of their list.
In their pursuit of Fernandes, Sporting president Frederico Varandas has dropped a hint over what kind of fee United must pay to land him.
“I don’t know if there are many or if there are few (interested clubs),” Varandas told Portuguese news outlet RTP .
“What I know, a lot has been spoken of values, coming to the press, €55m, €62m… for that he doesn’t leave, for sure.
“If Bruno Fernandes leaves, players with quality will come. But (only) if Bruno leaves.”
Follow our live blog below for all the latest United transfer news, rumours and more.
Key Events
Lille president: Nicolas Pepe future almost decided
Nicolas Pepe’s future is almost decided, Lille’s president has confirmed.
It was reported by The Sunday Times over the weekend that United are pushing to sign the Ivory Coast international.
And Lille president Gerard Lopez has now confirmed he is close to leaving the club
“For Nico, it is almost done and he could have left last summer,” Lopez said.
“It is true that there are big offers and big clubs in for him, so I think [he will leave].”
How United's style of play is about to change
Manchester United intend to start playing out from the back as part of a more possession-based style under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Luke Shaw has revealed.
Solskjaer enjoyed a prolonged honeymoon period following his appointment as caretaker manager in December as United claimed the scalps of Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain away from home.
Although Solskjaer introduced a more aggressive approach, United were heavily reliant on the counter-attacking tactic and were unable to master a more controlled style.
United won two of their final 12 games of last term, a run which coincided with a number of unsuccessful experimental formation changes by Solskjaer. United have only added two new signings to their squad in Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka but the intensity of their pre-season performances has stood out and Shaw is encouraged.
Read what Shaw had to say here.
Ince hammers four United players
Former United midfielder Paul Ince has criticised four of the club’s attacking players for their performances last season.
“You’ve got Marcus Rashford who scored 11 goals last year and gets a new contract,” Ince told BBC Radio 5 live.
“Jesse Lingard was diabolical last year, he really, really was.
“There’s Alexis Sanchez. They got nothing out of Sanchez whatsoever.
“So as much as we’re talking about Chris Smalling and Harry Maguire, surely we’ve got to be looking at who’s going to be playing up top.
“We need to be looking at that because attacking-wise they’re not great.
“Martial? He’s a fizzy drink. He pops now and then. One moment he’s great, one moment he’s not.”
Matic's group selfie in Shanghai
That’s a big smile from Rom in the background!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Pr-FhndY-/?hl=en
Bruno Fernandes issues fresh update on future
Bruno Fernandes has reiterated his desire to play in the Premier League as Manchester United continue to monitor the Portugal international’s situation at Sporting CP.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a fan of the midfielder and United are considering a move for him as the Premier League’s summer transfer window approaches its final fortnight.
Fernandes scored 32 times for Sporting last season and is viewed by Solskjaer as a player capable of sharpening United’s attack.
The 24-year-old met with his agent Miguel Pinho earlier this month, shortly after returning to Lisbon for pre-season training.
Sporting’s squad flew to New York on Monday night ahead of a friendly against Liverpool on Wednesday, and shortly prior to boarding he was asked about his future by a reporter.
Rakitic speaks out on future
Ivan Rakitic was linked with United earlier on in the transfer window but he is reiterated his intention to remain at Barcelona.
“My idea is very clear, I want to stay at Barca,” Rakitic said.
“[Transfer talk] is a situation I’m used to. It happened to me last year.
“I’ve spoken with the club and the coach and we have the same idea, for me to stay at Barca.
“We’re open to everything, as always, but my intention is to stay. I have two more years on my contract and I want to keep enjoying myself at Barca.”
Shaw hails Greenwood
Luke Shaw has talked up Mason Greenwood after the 17-year-old’s winning goal against Inter Milan over the weekend.
“He’s amazing,” said Shaw. “I think Mason’s got so much talent and it’s so hard to think he’s still 17.
“It’s crazy. He’s got so much talent, it’s unbelievable. He’s both-footed, but that’s unbelievable for that age. He’s got the maturity level that’s so much above his age, but he’s confident and not cocky.
“So it’s the perfect way to be. We know he believes in himself and we all believe in him.”
Juve 'set asking price for Dybala'
Juventus are reportedly willing to sell Paulo Dybala this summer and will let the Argentine join United for between £70million and £90m.
Mail Online say Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player Juve deem indispensable, and that Dybala will be allowed to go if their valuation of the player is met.
It is added that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a huge fan of Dybala and will press for United to sign him if Romelu Lukaku or Paul Pogba leave.
United's stance on technical director
Manchester United still plan on installing a technical director despite promoting Nicky Butt to the head of first-team development.
Nick Cox has occupied the head of academy role Butt vacated as part of their restructuring but the club’s search for a technical director is still ongoing.
Senior United sources indicated in March they hoped to hire a technical director before the start of the season, but United’s Premier League opener against Chelsea is on August 11 and they have just 16 more days to complete signings in the transfer window.
United want a technical director who is a cultural fit that ‘shares their holistic view’. The MEN understands the inaugural technical director would chair a committee, likely made up of former players, who would recommend transfer targets and take decisions on current players’ futures.
Inter Milan 'offer Ivan Perisic' in deal for Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku
Manchester United could have the chance to sign Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan after they failed to land the Croatian two years ago.
That’s according to latest reports in Italy of the Romelu Lukaku transfer situation, which claim that Antonio Conte wants to put Perisic on the market in the belief he won’t be able to “adapt” to the manager’s preferred system.
Italian media outlet Calcio Mercato report that Arsenal are interested, but Perisic could be a makeweight as Inter try to meet United’s valuation (of around £75million) for Lukaku.
Inter have so far been unable to stump up the required cash that MEN Sport understands United have demanded for Lukaku. Mauro Icardi and Radja Nainggolan have also been mentioned as players to be included in an part exchange deal but the MEN understands United have no interest in a swap and would want a straight cash deal.
Harry Maguire latest amid continued Manchester United and Man City interest
Leicester City and England centre-back Harry Maguire trained today as normal with a move away from the club nowhere nearer, MEN sister site LeicestershireLive understands.
Both Man City and Manchester United want to sign Maguire this summer but as of yet neither clubs are close to meeting Leicester’s lofty valuation.
Pep Guardiola wants to add a new centre-back to his record breaking squad to fill the void left by departed captain Vincent Kompany this summer, as the City legend left the club after 11 years to become player/manager of hometown club Anderlecht.
It leaves City with just three senior centre-backs in their squad ahead of the new season.
United don’t have any issue on numbers and currently have six centre-backs to call upon but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants an commanding defender to improve and lead the back-line.
Transfer stance on Gareth Bale shows Manchester United are learning from mistakes
After years without coherent direction following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, a change of strategy had to come at Manchester United and the club’s stance on Gareth Bale shows that is finally happening.
Despite all that Bale has done for Real Madrid - win a Champions League near single handedly just over a year ago for starters - he is the club’s outcast and they’re desperate to see the back of him.
“We hope he leaves soon,” said Zinedine Zidane, his own manager, but at 30 years of age and astronomical wages he isn’t that easy to shift on. No doubt Los Blancos presumed they’d be able to dump him onto United now they’re finished with him, after all they have chased the Wales international multiple times before.
But when the door seems finally open for United to make their move they have no intention of doing so - and it couldn’t be a bigger indicator that United are finally heading in the right direction.
Good morning
Welcome to today’s United blog!
