Key Events
'Fiorentina want to sign Fred'
Manchester United midfielder Fred is the subject of reported interest from Fiorentina, according to reports.
Calciomercato claims the Serie A side want to take the Brazilian on a permanent deal..
Fred cost United £52million last summer and, given the the Reds lost Ander Herrera and weren’t able to sign a replacement, it is unlikely that they will sell. That’s despite Fred enduring a difficult debut campaign in Manchester last term.
The big Sanchez question
What should United do?
'Martial injury delays Sanchez move'
Manchester United are reportedly waiting on the results of Anthony Martial’s thigh scan before making a firm decision on Alexis Sanchez’s future.
United have been in discussions with Inter over a loan move for Sanchez, but the injury picked up by Martial in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace has put things on hold, report the Guardian.
Martial was hobbling at the end of the game but didn’t come off as United had used up all their subs.
Sanchez’ departure would leave Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side short of forward options - especially if Sanchez joins Romelu Lukaku in leaving.
United fans make Lingard and Fernandes comparison
Bruno Fernandes didn’t join Manchester United in the summer. He was briefly a target, but not to the extent that it was claimed in some circles, MEN Sport understands.
But that hasn’t stopped many United fans on social media pointing out that Fernandes notched up three assists on Sunday night as he helped Sporting CP ease Portimonense in the Portuguese league.
Many supporters had urged the club to make a move for the Portugal international during the summer transfer window, and they think the club only have themselves to blame for not pursuing a move in the 24-year-old, all the while Lingard is without a goal or an assist in 2019.
Here’s what fans are saying about Lingard and Fernandes
United players arrive for training
They’re going to be working hard this Bank Holiday.
Why Mata and Matic are still key
Despite slow starts to the season, the experience of Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic will prove valuable as the season progresses.
Matic has been an unused substitute for United’s opening three Premier League games, whilst Mata hasn’t fared much better, playing just 18 minutes off the bench in the fixtures.
However, the former Chelsea pair will play their part for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team this season, as football writer Liam Rice explains here.
Southampton up next
This will be a must-win for United.
Danny Murphy's top four predictions
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has predicted how he thinks the top four will pan out - with mixed results if you’re a Manchester United fan.
He thinks Liverpool will win the league but has backed United to finish in the top four under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
This is what he told the Mirror about his predictions:
“I think Liverpool will win the league this year.
“Only one club had done it three times on the trot and I think Man City will be so Champions League focused.
So I’m going Liverpool, City and then Tottenham, I think they’ll take third.
“I actually think fourth will go to Man United. I think Chelsea will do all right and Frank Lampard is a great appointment.
“But United have gone big in the market and the quality they have in the final third - I mean there is doom and gloom around them, but I think they’ll surprise a few.”
United request Facebook and Twitter meetings over racist abuse
Manchester United want to meet with social media giant Facebook to discuss racist comments on their platform after Marcus Rashford became the second United player to be subjected to racial abuse within a week.
Rashford and Paul Pogba both failed to convert spotkicks in United’s defeat to Crystal Palace and draw with Wolves last week and, within moments of their unsuccessful attempts, the pair were targeted by racist Twitter trolls.
Twitter has gained an unwanted reputation for failing to stringently moderate racist or abusive comments on its platform and, while United believe Facebook does not have as big a problem with trolls, the club contacted Facebook - as well as Twitter - on Tuesday as part of their response.
Pereira at Celtic yesterday
He was there to watch United loanee Joel Pereira, who was playing in goal for Hearts.
On this day
An utterly forgettable night for United four years ago today..
Lee Grant on Maguire
And Lee Grant has also spoken about Harry Maguire’s settling-in period at Old Trafford speaking to club’s official website:
“It’s been seamless.
“Harry has definitely slotted straight in, in terms of the social side and in terms of his mentality and attitude, which has been first class.
“The most important thing, though, is his quality and he was able to show that against Chelsea. We could all see he is quite at home in front of the Old Trafford crowd and quite at home as a Manchester United player.”
Matic's message on racism
Dalot on Maguire
“He’s so calm.
“He’s settled in perfectly. He’s a very nice guy, very humble, very quick to settle. We’ll keep helping him, but I think he’s already shown everyone on the pitch that he’s ready for this club.
“He’s a big guy. We already knew from the days he played at Leicester but it’s different when you see him in real life every day. We have a few young lads here, including myself, so to have that kind of experience in the dressing room is good. And of course, his natural leadership will be very good for the club.”
Ex Palace owner on United and Solskjaer
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan believes “nobody cares” about Old Trafford’s fear factor anymore and has cast doubts over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s credentials to take Manchester United back to the top.
He was speaking after Palace’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford and made these scathing claims on TalkSport:
“But looking at that performance; there is no fear factor, nobody cares about Old Trafford because that image is gone.
“And I don’t think it is going to come back under the stewardship of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because part of that image, as we know, was (the) best players winning games.
“But also, was this figure at the very head of Manchester United as a football operation which was Ferguson.
“Are you seriously saying to me that the serious times of Man United, with Liverpool and Man City disappearing into the horizon, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to operate at the level that is required? I don’t think so!”
Four United players who should come back into the mix
Manchester United fans have been left feeling frustrated after their side’s first defeat of the season, against Crystal Palace.
It’s a defeat that punctures the optimistic mood that surrounded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side following two promising performances against Chelsea and Wolves in the first two games.
Solskjaer has used just 15 players in the three Premier League encounters, but has options in his squad that must now be utilised as he looks for a response.
He might not make immediate changes for next week’s Southampton trip, but these four United players must surely come into the equation.
United 1-2 Palace: reaction
Leeds owner applauds Pogba
Andrea Radrizzani has applauded Paul Pogba for his anti-racism stance.
Pogba's anti-racism message
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has taken to social media to hit back at racism trolls with a powerful message.
Both Pogba and his teammate Marcus Rashford have been subject to foul racist abuse in recent days, with United quick to condemn the behaviour of a minority of fans.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he was “lost for words” when asked about the Pogba abuse and then said it was “crazy” when more vile comments appeared to target Rashford.
United fans responded to the abuse of Pogba by displaying a flag that read ‘United against racism’, while they chanted ‘there’s only one Paul Pogba’ before kick off and during the game, with the player responding by applauding the Stretford End at Old Trafford.
And posting on Instagram, Pogba has reiterated his powerful stance.
He wrote: “My ancestors and my parents suffered for my generation to be free today, to work, to take the bus, to play football. Racist insults are ignorance and can only make me stronger and motivate me to fight for the next generation.”
United fans' surprise verdict on Sanchez
The majority of Manchester United fans want Alexis Sanchez to stay at the club - despite his persistent struggles since moving to Old Trafford in January 2018.
The Chilean has scored just five times in 45 appearances for United and has not featured since the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield in the Reds’ penultimate league fixture of last season.
However, supporters are not keen for United give up on him just yet, according to the results of a poll run by MEN Sport in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat by Crystal Palace.
Sixty per cent of fans want Sanchez to stay with just 40 per cent believing he should be let go.
Should United keep Alexis Sanchez? #mufc
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) August 24, 2019
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