Manchester United will continue their preparations today for their next Premier League outing against Norwich City on Saturday.
Ralf Rangnick suffered an embarrassing defeat to one relegation candidate in Everton last weekend and a loss to the rock-bottom Canaries would be yet another nadir for the interim boss. United were once again given a reprieve after Arsenal failed to take advantage and lost to Brighton, but that has given Tottenham the ascendency in the top-four race.
Spurs are three points clear of their North London rivals, though the Gunners have a game in hand, and hold a six-point advantage over United.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Barcelona are interested in signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.
Neves, 25, has been recurringly linked with United in the last four years but the club is yet to register their interest with the Portugal international’s representatives.
Neves is contracted to Wolves until 2024 and coach Bruno Lage suggested he was worth £100million but Wolves could cash in on Neves if he is unwilling to sign a new contract.
OPINION: More United careers are over but some are about to start
Eric Bailly was visible in Manchester United training last week and then invisible at Goodison Park. Ralf Rangnick did not list Eric Bailly in his injury bulletin on Friday yet there were two goalkeepers on the United bench against Everton.
Bailly signed a new contract last April and has not played since the win against Burnley in December, his seventh club appearance of the campaign. He has appeared more times for Côte d’Ivoire.
Whether or not Bailly returned from international duty with an injury or illness (that would be the seventh time in under six years at United), he cannot be at the club next season. It was bad enough United rewarded Bailly with a renewal, an unconvincing three-year deal for a 27-year-old who has played fewer games than Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes joined United three years and seven months later than Bailly did.
Erik ten Hag told why there is ‘no better time’ to become United manager
Former Barcelona and Netherlands winger Ibrahim Afellay believes there is “no better time” for Erik ten Hag to take charge at Manchester United than this forthcoming summer.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News last week, Ten Hag is expected to leave Ajax this summer and take charge at Old Trafford. The Dutchman has been sounded out as United’s preferred candidate and was interviewed for the position last month.
However, there are still several hurdles for United to jump to ensure that they get their man. That is because Ten Hag is believed to want assurances over recruitment and the way that the club is run on a day-to-day basis, amongst other things.
United have held Nkunku ‘talks’
Manchester United have held ‘internal’ talks about the possibility of signing Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig this summer.
The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks following an outstanding campaign in the Bundesliga. He has scored 28 goals and claimed 18 assists in all competitions, meaning it is easy to understand why United would be keen.
According to Sky Sport in Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, as cited by the Express, United have held discussions about the prospect of signing the versatile attacker.
James Garner set Nottingham Forest challenge
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has challenged James Garner to continue his progress ahead of what could be a big summer for him at Manchester United.
The on-loan midfielder has made a big impression during his second spell at the City Ground under Cooper. Since the turn of the year, the 21-year-old has emerged as one of Forest’s top performers and underlined his growing reputation with another assist in the 2-0 win over Birmingham on Saturday.
United have faced calls from supporters for Garner to be included in their plans for next season. With a new manager set to be appointed this summer, it remains to be seen what will be in store for him.
Van Gaal confirms cancer treatment has been a success
Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed that the treatment he has undergone for an aggressive form of prostate cancer has been successful.
Last week, Van Gaal, who is currently in his third spell as the Netherlands manager, revealed on Dutch TV that he was battling the disease. He made the surprise announcement during an appearance on ‘Humberto’, on which he was appearing to talk about his new film – ‘LOUIS’ – in which his cancer is addressed.
He admitted that the form of cancer was an aggressive one, that he’d had it for a prolonged period and had already undergone treatment on 25 occasions. Now, though, he has admitted that the 25 bouts of treatment have been a success.
OPINION: United have a contender to replace Maguire as captain
When the going has got tough for Manchester United this season, David de Gea has not been afraid to mince his words.
The Spaniard, who is likely to scoop the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for a fifth time since joining the club in 2011 at the end of the season, has often acted as chief-spokesman in the midst of United storms this season. He was the first to take to social media after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Wolves in January and found himself in the same boat after the 4-1 drubbing to Manchester City last month.
On Saturday, after United’s 1-0 defeat to Everton, however, he did not require the power of social media to express his frustrations. Instead, he used his post-match interview with BT Sport to make his feelings known on another calamitous performance.
United continue to ‘push’ for Tielemans
United continue to ‘push’ for Youri Tielemans, according to CBS.
The fresh news claims United and Arsenal are both trying to pursue Leicester’s Youri Tielemans, who is about to enter the final year of his contract and who could be available for £25m.
It’s also claimed there is no truth in repeated Liverpool links to the player.
OPINION: Ten Hag has sent reminder of the Glazers’ biggest mistakes
Erik ten Hag interviewed for the Manchester United job last month and those talks were positive and productive.
Ajax now expect Ten Hag to become United’s next manager but the deal is far from complete. There are details that still need to be discussed and agreed upon between both parties. Ten Hag has made his demands to the club and discussions are ongoing.
The reports that emerged this week suggesting RB Leipzig are interested in Ten Hag weren’t surprising. They could be freely interpreted as intended pressure on United to meet certain demands and it remains to be seen whether that will work. Although Ten Hag would be an exciting appointment, it shows how far United’s standards have fallen that he holds the aces in talks.
United’s next five fixtures
United play Norwich this weekend.
- Norwich City (H) – April 16
- Liverpool (A) – April 19
- Arsenal (A) – April 23
- Brentford (H) – May 2
- Brighton (A) – May 7
Wolves preparing for Neves departure
Wolves are close to finding a replacement for midfielder Ruben Neves, according to The Sun.
It has been suggested United could look to sign Neves this summer if Erik ten Hag is appointed manager. but Arsenal and Barcelona are also understood to be interested in the midfielder.
Neves, 25, has stalled on agreeing to a contract extension as he eyes playing European football next season and the article claims Wolves are preparing for the worst-case scenario, which is his exit.
United fans plan new anti-Glazers protest
Manchester United fans are planning another protest against owners the Glazers ahead of the weekend Premier League game against Norwich City.
Saturday saw United defeated at relegation-threatened Everton, a third loss in five games, to leave their top-four hopes all but extinguished. With managerial target Erik ten Hag yet to commit to the Old Trafford job, fans are again looking to make their feelings known.
Named ‘The 1958’, the United fan group have called for the “head of the snake” to be removed, expressing concerns that the Glazers are not sticking to commitments made following the fallout from the European Super League fiasco. As such, supporters have been called upon to protest before and during the match against Norwich City on Saturday.
Pogba ‘closing in’ on PSG move
Reports in France suggest Paul Pogba is closing in on a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
The midfielder looks set to leave Old Trafford for a second time, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. According to FootMercato, Pogba has met with PSG sporting director Leonardoa nd has indicated he and his family would be happy to move to Paris. Pogba has also been linked with a return to Juventus, although the report claims the Italian club are not interested in bringing the player back to Serie A.
Ruben Neves wanted by Arsenal and Barcelona amid Manchester United transfer links
Arsenal and Barcelona are interested in signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.
Neves, 25, has been recurringly linked with Manchester United in the last four years but the club is yet to register their interest with the Portugal international’s representatives.
Neves is contracted to Wolves until 2024 and coach Bruno Lage suggested he was worth £100million but Wolves could cash in on Neves if he is unwilling to sign a new contract.
United have agonising Cristiano Ronaldo transfer decision to make
It’s safe to say Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United hasn’t exactly gone to plan.
When he arrived back in Manchester 12 years after his departure to conquer the world, he had a very clear aim in mind — to continue growing his massive medal collection. “I think it’s the best decision that I have made,” he told United’s official site upon signing for the club from Juventus.
“It’s right on point in my opinion. I moved from Juve now to Manchester, it’s a new chapter, I’m so happy and glad, and I want to carry on again, to make history, to try to help Manchester achieve great results, to win trophies and number one of them, to win great things.”
David de Gea comments have exposed Manchester United dressing room issues Erik ten Hag must fix
It says a lot about the state of the modern Manchester United that a manager who has Ajax at the top of his CV is dictating the conditions he needs to accept the vacancy at Old Trafford, but you can hardly blame Erik ten Hag for wanting assurances over what he’s getting himself into.
The biggest club in the world or the most chaotic soap opera in football? United won’t stop trumpeting their cause to be the former, but record numbers of Tik-Tok engagements and noodle partners aren’t going to make a new banner in the Stretford End.
On the pitch, this club has become a laughing stock. Standards are as low as they’ve been in decades and any United fans brave enough to tune in to events at the Etihad yesterday would have barely recognised the sport being played by Manchester City and Liverpool.
