The Manchester United international players are slowly starting to head back to the club's Carrington training base ahead of this weekend's clash against Leicester in the Premier League.
Injured trio Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw were spotted arriving for training yesterday and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to have them fit for the game at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Harry Maguire played last night as England beat Kosovo 5-3 while Marcus Rashford came on as a substitute in the second half. Both will be expected back in training soon ahead of this weekend's game and Maguire will be looking to put the international break behind him after a couple of shaky performances.
The same could be said of United's other centre back Victor Lindelof who admitted his performance against Norway was 'horrible.'
Stick with us as we bring you all the latest Manchester United news and transfer rumours LIVE.
Key Events
Villa urged to re-sign Tuanzebe
Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton wants his former club to target Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe in January.
Tuanzebe won promotion alongside Hutton last season for Villa and the Scot thinks the youngster’s development would be best served away from Old Trafford.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said:
“He’s very, very professional. That’s definitely how I’d say he was. Everything was football, whether it be how he ate, how he trained, constantly in the gym before and after – he was 100% professionalism.
“I’m surprised he’s not really had a chance as yet at Man United but I’m pretty sure that will come. Of course everybody wants to play and maybe that’s the situation he will look at and say: ‘right I need to continue playing.’
“I know Villa were very interested in him but Man U wanted to keep him, which is fair enough, he’s their player, it’s understandable but I think he’s definitely going to have a big future ahead of him.
I think it would be a great signing personally.
“He’s only going to add quality, like I said he’s going to want to play games in the Premier League and get tested that way. I think that would be a good level for him.”
Fred's posted another motivational message on Instagram
Will he get his lucky chance this weekend?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2RPvcMn5vq/?hl=en
Inakki Williams claims United contacted him over a transfer this summer
The forward went to Bilbao but claims United were in touch over a potential deal.
Bryan Robson's warned United about Leicester's threat
Leicester have had a good start to the season and Robson has warned United it won’t be easy this weekend.
“Yeah, they’ve had a good start to the season and have good young players. That’s why it’s important we have a good result against them,” Robson told ManUtd.com.
“I think they will up there challenging for the top six and they will want to get back into Europe. It’s a tough game as they have some good players but that’s the challenge for us.
“If we want to be in the top four, we need to be beating teams like Leicester at home.”
Manchester United have a major decision to make with their attack
The change of scenery for certain Manchester United players had little effect during the internationals. Victor Lindelof admitted his performance against Norway on Sunday was ‘horrible’ and Nemanja Matic, dropped at club level, was dropped by his national side.
The scenery was all too familiar for Marcus Rashford at St Mary’s, where he was also benched in England’s madcap 5-3 win over Kosovo. Gareth Southgate was diplomatic about replacing Rashford with Jadon Sancho. “Freshen the team really. We were pleased with both of the full-backs and Marcus but we’ve got some good players to come in.”
Now the England enthusiasts are devoid of their Jose Mourinho stick to beat him with over Rashford, they have had an epiphany. There is arguably a superior alternative in Sancho, an out-and-out winger who does not upset the apple cart as Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling continue to thrive.
How ironic just as Rashford is deemed inessential for England he is essential for United, albeit by virtue of them discarding two established forwards and recruiting a Premier League novice. Only the novice was the club’s player of the month in August and, like Rashford, neutered whenever he plays on the right flank.
Gallery of the players arriving to training
Here’s all the pictures of the players arriving for training today.
Juan Mata's impressed by Daniel James
James’ performance for Wales hasn’t passed Mata by and he mentioned it in his weekly blog:
Now it is time to get back in Manchester and focus once again on the Premier League. We are all looking forward to training together on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s game against Leicester. Over the last few days we have seen how the English national team, with various of my teammates involved, have continued to move positively towards qualification, as have Spain.
Another player who continues to show his spectacular form is Daniel James, who scored in a friendly against Belarus after picking up a few goals at the start of the campaign. Hopefully on Saturday he will continue that run.
Four more players still to return to training
Rashford, Maguire, Rojo and Matic were the four players absent from training today as they all played last night.
Here’s a picture of Fred arriving today.
Manchester United considering midfield transfer in winter window
Manchester United could allow Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to move for a midfielder in the January transfer window.
United missed out on a midfield addition in the summer amid interest in Newcastle youngster Sean Longstaff but the MEN understands the United board could make funds available for a mid-season reinforcement.
Solskjaer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward met earlier this month to discuss prospective targets for next year, having also ended the summer devoid of a new forward to offset the departure of Romelu Lukaku.
United obtained £73million from Inter Milan for Lukaku on the eve of the Premier League transfer deadline and finished the European window with a net spend of £60.4m. The Lukaku fee could underpin any winter investment United choose to make.
Newcastle demanded £50m for Longstaff, 21, when Woodward approached The Magpies in early July. The MEN revealed United had ‘a few’ preferred targets ahead of Longstaff and they retain an interest in West Ham’s England international Declan Rice. A January move for Longstaff or Rice, contracted to West Ham until 2024, is highly unlikely.
Van Persie's happy to be back in Manchester
He’s playing in Kompany’s testimonial tonight.
Evra arrives at United's training ground
He’s completing his coaching badges.
Gareth Southgate explains decision to drop Manchester United's Marcus Rashford
Southgate explained why he dropped Rashford last night.
“Freshen the team really. We were pleased with both of the full-backs and Marcus but we’ve got some good players to come in,” he told ITV.
“It’s a chance in those wide areas, where there is a heavy load, to freshen the group and there’s some players we want to take a closer look at.”
Daniel James arriving for training
Fancy some pictures of the players arriving for training? Of course you do.
Here’s Daniel James.
UEFA rankings released withManchester United position revealed
UEFA club rankings 2019/20
1/ Real Madrid
2/ Atletico Madrid
3/ Barcelona
4/ Bayern Munich
5/ Juventus
6/ Man City
7/ PSG
8/ Liverpool
9/ Arsenal
10/ Man United
Mark Albrighton has a warning for his Leicester teammates
They won’t be overawed.
Manchester United stance on January transfer window revealed
Manchester United remain open to making signings in the January transfer window on the proviso the right players are available.
The MEN understands United have not changed their stance on the winter window in the wake of their failure to recruit a second forward and a midfielder in the summer window.
Senior United sources implied in March they would replace any outgoings yet six players left and the club only bought three new players.
United released Antonio Valencia, lost Ander Herrera to Paris Saint-Germain on a free, sold Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan and Matteo Darmian to Parma, while Chris Smalling and Alexis Sanchez joined Roma and Inter on loan until the end of the season.
Overall, United obtained £79.6million in transfer fees and spent £140m, rising to £148m, on Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire to end the summer with a net spend of £60.4m.
Dybala to United reports are back again
The Paulo Dybala to Manchester United reports are back again as Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) claim United are ready to ‘reopen’ negotiations for the forward in January.
United did look into signing him in the summer but the extortionate agent fees put pay to that..
The report claims that Sarri is open to letting him leave so a transfer could be on the cards. However, given it was agent fees that were the biggest sticking point last time it’s unlikely anything will have changed.
Nemanja Matic 'was forced to remain at United' this summer - according to report
Matic was forced to stay at United this summer according to a report in The Sun.
It’s not that he wanted to leave Manchester United, but his calculation was: ‘If Solskjaer doesn’t want to play me, I don’t want to be a bench player at Manchester United,” a report in The Sun states.
“’If these two important clubs in Italy are interested in signing me and giving me a long-term contract at age 31, then the rational decision for me would be to pursue that option and go and play football in Italy, ‘cos I’d rather be playing football in Italy on a long-term contract than be on the bench for a manager who would prefer to have someone else in the first team in England.’
“United didn’t take up those offers because they felt that financially they weren’t high enough for them to sell Matic.
“So he was forced to remain at the club. He didn’t push for a transfer in the sense of going public and going down the various steps you can go down when you want to move elsewhere. And now he sees himself stuck on the bench with a team that has won just one of four games this season under Solskjaer’s direction and is on a run of just three wins in 16 in all competitive matches.”
Another hat-trick for Ronaldo last night
What a player.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2PxisJA1SM/?hl=en
De Gea branded 'average' by former Chelsea goalkeeper
Former Chelsea and Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes De Gea has been ‘average’ for over six months.
They will have to come to a decision at some point on whether his value is the same as what he is asking for,’ he told Goal.
There’s speculation about him and then there’s the fact that he may still choose to leave.
‘Ultimately there comes the point where your history and your past performances only get you so far. It is about now. If you look at his last six months, his average performances haven’t been anywhere near what they have been in the past.
‘If you break it down, a lot of goals have come from direct mistakes from De Gea. Probably more than in the entire six or seven-year period before. There is always a balancing act as a player. What’s your current value? Your recent performances come into that.’
What Jadon Sancho has said about a move to the Premier League
United are interested in the former Manchester City man and Bourssia Dortmund confirmed they held talks over Sancho earlier this year.
And earlier this month the England international was asked about a possible move to the Premier League.
“I can’t tell the future but I wouldn’t mind. La Liga I wouldn’t mind also, but we don’t know yet,” he said.
Gary Neville could be in for a tough test tonight
He’s playing in Kompany’s testimonial.
Manchester United player Marcos Rojo sends message to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo made his first appearance since April in Argentina’s 4-0 drubbing of Mexico in Texas.
Rojo, 28, started at centre half in an experimental Argentina team that was devoid of Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi, among others for their friendly victory.
United have kept just one clean sheet so far this season and pressure is mounting on Victor Lindelof following his errors in the draw with Crystal Palace and defeat to Southampton. Lindelof admitted his performance for Sweden against Norway on Sunday was ‘horrible’.
Rojo returned to the United matchday squad as a substitute against Southampton last month but has started just five times for the club in the last 18 months.
Fellow United centre-back Harry Maguire conceded a penalty in the second-half of England’s event-laden triumph over Kosovo at Southampton.
England were 5-1 up at half-time and eventually prevailed 5-3 at St Mary’s, where Marcus Rashford, dropped in favour of two-goal winger Jadon Sancho, emerged late on.
A big night for O'Hara
The young United keeper made his full international debut last night.
Patrice Evra is back at United
The former United defender is back to complete his coaching badges.
Reds on international duty
Marcos Rojo started for Argentina but Nemanja Matic and Marcus Rashford had to settle for minutes off the bench.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrives for training
Bright and early as usual for Solskjaer.
Manchester United are about to receive a Harry Maguire reminder
Leicester City fans have a new chant for their favourite new player, Caglar Soyuncu.
Unsurprisingly, it’s directed at Manchester United star Harry Maguire and includes the lyrics “we don’t need you, we’ve got Soyuncu.”
You cannot blame the Leciester supporters for singing it with gusto, however, since their side are currently third in the Premier League: three points ahead of Maguire and United, with Soyuncu — the in-house replacement asked to step into an £80million man’s shoes — one of the stars of the team.
They have not, as yet, felt the effects of losing Maguire, who was a talisman in their back line last season, as Ben Chilwell admitted.
“They were massive boots to fill with Harry leaving but (Soyuncu) has done brilliantly and was arguably one of our best players for the first four games of the season,” he said.
Maguire, meanwhile, has not had a bad start to his United career by any stretch of the imagination, but has been involved in three poor results for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side so far this season. There’s so far little sign that United have improved him as a player.
Roy Carroll on David de Gea
The former Manchester United goalkeeper has backed De Gea to reach his peak form again after struggling at the end of last season.
“It’s always important to have a good keeper. He was one of the best keepers a year and a half ago, everybody saying he was one of the best in the world,” he told The Sportsman.
“Keepers go through a bad time. You need people to be behind you and David De Gea will come back stronger again.
“I know that keepers need confidence and he’s got bad confidence at the moment. Even playing for Spain as well, the confidence goes and it’s very hard to get back.
“You need a manager who believes in you and I think that Ole will give that backing to him.”
Borussia Dortmund chief confirms talks were held this summer with Manchester United over Jadon Sancho transfer
Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc has confirmed that the club did hold talks with Manchester United this summer over a potential transfer of former Manchester City attacker Jadon Sancho.
The England international has been on United’s radar for a while and Jose Mourinho wanted to sign him before he decided to make the move to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund’s steep valuation of Jadon Sancho was always going to discourage United but the England international did not want to give up Champions League football. Sancho, 19, could be more affordable next year when he has two years left on his contract and has told former colleagues at City he would like to return to Manchester.
Here’s what Zorc has had to say about this summer’s negotiations.
“A hot topic right now is Sancho and Manchester United,” he said on an Amazon Prime documentary which was filmed in March.
“Both his discussions with the club and mine with the consultants. A meeting did take place. Manchester United invited the consultant.
“But according to what I know, the consultant told the club that no matter how much money they offer, we won’t let him go this summer. “But the player also has no intention of taking that step this summer.”
