Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for his Manchester United team to maintain their unbeaten pre-season against Premier League rivals Tottenham today.
After wins against Perth, Leeds and Inter Milan, Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs are the opponents in Shanghai, themselves on the back of an impressive win against Juventus.
United were handed a triple injury boost ahead of the clash as Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Tahith Chong all trained yesterday, but Lukaku won't feature against Spurs. Lindelof and Chong were both substituted as a precaution in the win over Inter, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed both could play against Tottenham later today.
In terms of transfer news, United are not interested in Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, and currently no approach has been made for Bruno Fernandes, with the club 'irritated' by reports in Portugal suggesting otherwise. Lukaku and Paul Pogba have both been linked with departures.
Stick around for all the latest United news and transfer gossip doing the rounds today.
Milinkovic-Savic 'close' - Italian media
Manchester United are ‘very close’ to sealing a £70million deal for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to reports in Italy.
Gazzetta dello Sport claim that United have ‘relaunched’ a bid to sign the Lazio and Serbia playmaker who is ‘really close to a farewell’. United are leading the race ahead of PSG to sign Milinkovic-Savic, but it’s claimed in the report that he will be a replacement for Paul Pogba if the Frenchman leaves for Real Madrid.
‘Sergej’ will reportedly be in for a salary of 6-7 million euros a year if he joins the Reds, although MEN Sport understands United have not indicated he’s on their radar and it’s just speculation at this stage.
Game time
Right, we’ll be back on this live blog after the United v Spurs game.
Follow that - and the latest transfer news - here.
This is the United side for the game:
Blades sound out Henderson alternative?
Sheffield United may be running out of patience when it comes to signing Dean Henderson on loan, if reports are to be believed.
According to the Daily Mail, the Blades have identified England international and former Man City star Joe Hart as a target in case they can’t get Henderson from United.
Hart is reportedly surplus to requirements at Burnley and likely to move on this summer.
Stage is set in Shanghai
United face Spurs from 12.30pm...
United working on Maguire breakthrough
Manchester United have still not reached a breakthrough in their discussions with Leicester over the possible transfer of Harry Maguire.
United have prioritised a deal for Maguire, 26, after having a £70million bid rejected earlier this month and are continuing talks but Leicester sources say the clubs are still ‘miles apart’ from reaching an agreement.
Maguire scored for Leicester in their 3-0 win at Cambridge on Tuesday night and Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers claimed they do not need to sell Maguire.
MEN chief United writer Samuel Luckhurst has the lowdown on the Maguire latest here
Pogba to Madrid...
We’ve heard plenty about Paul Pogba’s potential transfer to Real Madrid this summer, but it appears the Frenchman’s brother could be on the move too.
Spanish news outlet AS report that Mathias Pogba is looking for a new club and wants to move to Spain - preferably close to Madrid.
Elder brother Pogba who plays as a striker is reported considering an offer from CD Manchego Ciudad Realin Spain’s third division. Whether two of the Pogba brothers end up in Spain by the time the transfer window closes remains to be seen.
SMS rumours ramping up
All speculation at this stage linking United with a move for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic but...
Alderweireld release clause expires
It has been known for some time that Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has a £25million release clause in his contract, after Spurs triggered the option for an extra year on his deal.
Manchester United were interested 12 months ago - and fans have called for the experienced Belgian to be signed - but that release clause expires today. It looks like he’s staying put.
We’ll wait and see whether Alderweireld features for Spurs against United today.
Will these two feature today?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Qw5_3nhFa/
United v Spurs live coverage
Our live match blog covering United’s pre-season clash against Spurs in Shanghai is now up and running.
Lukaku latest
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Romelu Lukaku will miss Manchester United’s fixture against Tottenham on Thursday night.
The Belgian striker has not featured for United yet during pre-season and will miss his fourth match of the summer when his side face Spurs in Shanghai.
Lukaku continues to be linked with a move to Inter Milan in the transfer window, with the Italian side having seen a bid rejected for the 26-year-old last week.
MEN Sport reported earlier this week that United will set Inter Milan a deadline to sign to sign Lukaku - their valuation of around £75million has not yet been met by Inter.
All set in Shanghai
Dybala to Spurs?
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala has been linked with a Manchester United move at various points this summer, although United have never made their interest concrete despite the fact he’s seemingly available this summer.
And today’s pre-season opponents Tottenham are now touted for a sensational £80million transfer for Dybala.
That’s according to the Standard who claim Spurs have approached Juve over the 25-year-old and believe a move in the final two weeks of the transfer window could happen. What a move this would be.
Matchday
We’ll have all the coverage from United’s game against Tottenham from Shanghai later today.
It kicks off at 12.30pm, UK time.
Henderson loan warning
Manchester United have been told that Sheffield United will set a deadline to secure a loan move for Dean Henderson.
Chris Wilder wants to secure a deal, but nothing has yet been agreed between the two clubs. This is what Wilder told the Sheffield Star about Henderson:
“It’s fair to say the club has been in negotiation with Manchester United and Dean.
“We can progress that but we can’t wait forever. It’s above me at the moment. Dean wants to come to us and we want him to play for us, to compete with Simon (Moore) and Marcus (Dewhurst) in the Premier League. It’s out of my hands now.”
Klopp speaks on Fernandes rumours
Although MEN Sport understands United are ‘irritated’ by coverage in Portugal that has overhyped their interest in Bruno Fernandes, there is still a chance they could sign the Portuguese playmaker late in the transfer window.
Even Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been speaking about the potential of a transfer.
“If he [signs for Man Utd] then we will face him. He’s obviously a really good player.
“They have already a few really good players, so that will probably make them stronger. It’s not nice, but [Man Utd’s transfer dealings are] not our cup of tea, to be honest.”
Klopp
Bruce on Longstaff to United
Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff has been on Manchester United’s radar this summer, but the Magpies’ boss Steve Bruce is adamant his young midfielder is going nowhere.
This is what he told the Chronicle when asked if Longstaff could leave:
“We don’t want to sell our best young players, that’s for sure. So, that won’t happen.
“I’m very confident (he won’t go).”
How Manchester United should line up vs Tottenham Hotspur
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty of selection choices to make today.
Read how our writers think United should line up, and pick your own starting XI for the Spurs game at the bottom of the article.
United transfer stance on Nicolas Pepe and Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United have not held discussions with Lille about their forward Nicolas Pepe.
Pepe, 24, has been the subject of frenzied speculation surrounding a possible move to United but the MEN understands the club is not in for the Ivory Coast international.
United are also believed to be ‘irritated’ by coverage in the Portuguese media about their interest in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Although United admire the 24-year-old Portugal international, they have not made an approach and sources believe Sporting are using United to try and whip up an auction.
United give update on Romelu Lukaku ahead of Spurs fixture
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Romelu Lukaku will miss Manchester United’s fixture against Tottenham on Thursday night.
The Belgian striker has not featured for United yet during pre-season and will miss his fourth match of the summer when his side face Spurs in Shanghai.
Victor Lindelof is set to return having limped off during the weekend win against Inter with an injury, but Solskjaer confirmed Lukaku remains sidelined as speculation mounts over his future.
“Lindelof’s fine and Lukaku won’t be fit, no,” Solskjaer said.
Good morning!
It’s matchday as United take on Tottenham in Shanghai!
We’ll bring you all the build up followed by post-match reaction, plus transfer rumours throughout the day.
