Look back over the day’s Manchester United news.
We’re another day closer to the return of Premier League football and potentially a day closer to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United being confirmed.
The INEOS owner’s investment is expected to be completed during the international break, and with United back in action on Sunday against Everton the clock is ticking.
Away from the takeover saga, United’s rotten luck with injuries continues. The Reds have struggled for form so far this season and they’ve not been helped by a whole host of their first-team stars being sidelined. Marcus Rashford was taken off while representing England against Malta last week but he trained on Sunday morning so his issue isn’t thought to be serious.
Andre Onana has also picked up a knock while away on international duty. The Cameroonian Football Federation has confirmed that he will miss Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Libya and Erik ten Hag will be sweating over his first-choice shot-stopper’s fitness with the trip to Goodison Park on the horizon.
Look back over how the day’s United news unfolded below.
A round up of today’s news
Marcus Rashford came on as a late substitute in England’s 1-1 Euro 2024 qualfiying draw with North Macedonia tonight.
The United attacker had been taken off in Friday’s win over Malta after a collisiion, sparking fears over his fitness ahead of the return of club football next weekend.
However, Rashford came on six minutes from time and seemed to be moving freely.
Tuesday afternoon last week at Carrington. On one of the smaller pitches at Manchester United’s training ground, coach Neil Harris is putting Matthew Olosunde, Oli Kilner and Eric Hanbury through their paces.
On the side of the pitch, Tom Thorpe and Callum Gribbin are in conversation. Joe Thompson floats between groups, the glue holding it all together.
These footballers all have one thing in common; they came through the academy system at United. In fact, they have two things in common, they were all released by United as well, but then that is why they are here.
Football Insider claims United are hoping to reap a fee for Jadon Sancho in January. It is expected, though, that the winger will leave on loan in the new year with clubs tighter for cash during the mid-season window.
However, a Sancho sale would help United gain breathing space to operate in January with a permanent exit somewhat alleviating Financial Fair Play concerns.
Sancho is still exiled from first-team activities and has been linked with Juventus and clubs in Saudi Arabia. He arrived at United from Borussia Dortmund in August 2021 for £73m.
Manchester United are reportedly mulling over whether to pursue Monaco pair Vanderson and Youssof Fofana.
Erik ten Hag is looking to strengthen in four key areas next summer, including at full-back and in midfield.
Right-back Vanderson has two caps for Brazil and is emerging as a promising South American talent, who has caught the eye from those in France and beyond.
David Beckham wants to sign former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea at MLS franchise Inter Miami – according to reports – after the Spaniard reportedly turned down a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
De Gea remains without a club after leaving United this summer. United released the Spaniard and signed Andre Onana for £47million.
The long-serving goalkeeper spent 12 years with United and made 545 appearances for the Premier League giants in all competitions.
Alexander Buttner has admitted he was in a local chip shop with a group of friends when he discovered Manchester United wanted to sign him, confessing that he thought it was a prank.
Following a series of impressive performances for Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, the defender started to attract interest from several English clubs, such as QPR and Southampton. However, against all odds, he sealed a move to Old Trafford in August 2012, putting pen to paper on a five-year contract.
The now 34-year-old, who plays for De Graafschap, thought the whole situation was a prank, so much so that he almost put the phone down on his agent, who was informing him of United’s interest in getting a deal over the line. They signed him for £5million and he made a total 28 appearances for the club, chipping in with two goals and three assists, before leaving in 2014.
OGC Nice manager Francesco Farioli has lifted the lid on what life is like to work under Sir Jim Ratcliffe amid his impending investment in Manchester United.
The British billionaire, who is a boyhood United supporter, is on the brink of finalising INEOS’ bid to secure a 25 per cent stake in the club. There are increasing reports suggesting that a deal could be concluded as soon as this week.
Richard Arnold’s exit from Old Trafford last week provided the biggest indication yet that huge changes are in the offing at the club. INEOS are reportedly set to be granted control of United’s football operations, meaning much-needed changes to the hierarchy are expected.
Casemiro’s injury has left Manchester United in a midfield lurch ahead of their busy winter period – and the club could search for a long-term replacement.
Casemiro joined United last summer on a five-year-contract in a £60million deal from Real Madrid and was one of the side’s shining lights last season with seven goals in 51 games from defensive midfield while adding plenty of defensive steel. A player that won five Champions League titles with Real, his arrival was widely heralded, but the Brazilian is 32 next birthday.
An injury which will rule him out until Christmas leaves Scott McTominay and Sofyan Amrabat as the more defensive-minded players who can fit into the role. But with Amrabat only on loan and McTominay better as a box-to-box midfielder, there may need to be a younger alternative brought in with forward planning – and the Manchester Evening News takes a look at who those players could be here.
Bruno Fernandes received a message from former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer via Iceland manager Age Hareide following Portugal’s latest international win.
Fernandes scored his 18th goal for his country in their 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying triumph over Iceland on Sunday. The United captain scored six goals and tallied seven assists as Portugal won all 10 of their group matches to book their place in Germany next summer.
Iceland were unable to qualify directly but are likely to have a possible route through to the tournament via the play-offs. Manager Hareide made sure to approach Fernandes after the final whistle to deliver a message from Solskjaer.
If Mason Mount is planning on watching England take on North Macedonia this evening, he, just like the rest of us, will be hoping for a more fun-filled evening than Friday’s offering.
Expected to produce an evening’s worth of goals, glitz and glamour, England, instead, limped past Malta, recording a 2-0 win in their penultimate 2024 European Championship qualifier. Victory made it six wins from seven qualifiers for Gareth Southgate’s side, but it was hardly a performance that inspired confidence ahead of next summer’s finals in Germany.
After reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the final of Euro 2020 and then the last eight of last year’s World Cup, there is a level of expectancy on England’s shoulders ahead of next year’s tournament. Many insist it should be Southgate’s last chance to deliver a trophy.
According to King Casino Bonus’ supercomputer, United fans can expect their side to miss out on the top four this seen.
Having calculated the data, it is believed the Reds are on track to finish 7th on 64 points, 11 behind fourth placed Newcastle and a whopping 34 behind eventual winners City.
Should the Reds finish 7th they would likely be competing in the Europa Conference League next year.
The Cameroonian shot stopper was taken off injured on Friday during his side’s World Cup qualifier victory.
It has since been announced that Onana will not feature on Tuesday against Libya leaving him a big doubt for the trip to Goodison.
According to ESPN, Onana is hopeful of recovering in time for the trip to Merseyside which suggests his issue is not too serious.
United have been warned that continuing failure in the Champions League and Premier League could ultimately see them lose their place as a giant global brand.
Dr Christina Philippou, a Principal Lecturer in Accounting, Economics and Finance at the Faculty of Business and Law told Saxo:
United have been a commercial giant for a long time and that’s why they have such a global brand. A global brand sells, but so do trophies! The long-term question will be whether or not sponsors and broadcasters will want to show their games if they continue to slip down the table. We’ve seen powerhouses in the past now languish in the lower tiers of English football. United’s declining success will be okay in the medium term, but they may run into problems in the long haul.
Change is on the horizon at United and while Ratcliffe’s investment might not be the fully-fledged overhaul most wanted, there is cautious cause for optimism for what the investment could bring.
It has been 10 years since United got their hands on the Premier League trophy and, while Ten Hag improved matters on the pitch last season, there is one thing still holding them back in the boardroom. The much-maligned Glazer family are here to stay, for the time being, yet there could be a shift when it comes to their main business.
Nice manager Francesco Farioli has spoken highly of INEOS and how Ratcliffe runs the Ligue 1 club.
Ratcliffe owns 100 per cent of the French team and while he is only acquiring a quarter of United, the British billionaire is expected to have free reign of the football project.
Having faced United prior to the international break, Luton winger Andros Townsend believes Ten Hag’s team are a difficult opponent to face.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live:
Extremely difficult. They are difficult [to face]. We were able to defend against them well but similar to Liverpool they just find a way.
MEN Sport reported today following Arnold’s exit as CEO last week, Murtough is the next boardroom appointment set to leave Old Trafford.
The director of football looks likely to be replaced sooner rather than later by Ratcliffe as the INEOS founder rings the changes.
While the Glazers are set to remain once Ratcliffe acquires a 25 per cent stake, the end is on the horizon.
With Onana now a big doubt for the trip to Everton this weekend, all eyes are on his replacement Bayindir.
Having arrived in the summer to replace Henderson, Bayindir has yet to feature for the Reds but will make his debut if Onana is not fit to play.
However, the Reds have already missed their chance to prepare for this scenario.
Cameroon have confirmed United ‘keeper Onana will not feature during their World Cup qualifier vs Libya on Tuesday.
Onana sparked concern at United Friday night when he was replaced late on.
The shot stopper is now a big doubt for the Reds’ clash at Everton this weekend.
According to a report by 90min, United had ‘representatives in attendance’ at Spain’s 3-1 win over Georgia last night to watch Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Georgian winger, who plays for Napoli, is one of the finest talents in Italian football, going from strength-to-strength since joining the club from Dinamo Batumi in July 2022. He has scored 17 goals and registered 22 assists in 58 games for the Serie A club so far.
On target for Georgia last night, Kvaratskhelia was also reportedly watched by scouts from Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Santos forward Marcos Leonardo, who has been closely linked with a move to United in recent months, ‘wants’ to secure a move to Europe to continue his development.
That is according to his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, who believes the opportunity to make that switch will happen this winter.
She told Calciomercato:
“Already in the previous transfer window, he had the possibility of being sold. But Santos’ sporting situation was very particular. He accepted to stay because he wanted to help out until the end of the season. He didn’t want to leave because it wasn’t the right thing to do. But (now), the time has come for the transfer. He wants to have a European experience, and his time will come this winter.”
“Christian Eriksen’s knee injury, which is expected to keep him out for about a month, opens a window of opportunity for Mason Mount to reclaim his place. He was drafted in from Chelsea, essentially, as an upgrade on the aforementioned Dane, tasked with operating between both boxes and being United’s new conductor in a deep-lying midfield position. Though the injury he suffered in late August disrupted his early-season hopes of settling into life at Old Trafford, he has struggled to wrestle his place back in recent weeks, often finding himself on the bench. He has not started a Premier League game since the 2-1 triumph over Brentford on October 7.”
According to a report by TEAMtalk, United are one of five clubs ‘in the race’ to sign Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson.
The Republic of Ireland international is considered as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League and most of the division’s big hitters are being linked with his signature. The report claims that Arsenal and Chelsea are the latest clubs to ‘join the race’, which already features United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Ferguson, 19, has scored five goals in 11 Premier League games this season.
With Christian Eriksen and Casemiro both currently sidelined through injury, United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo must be licking his lips.
Yet to feature for the first-team so far this season, the academy graduate must be hopeful of securing his first appearance of the campaign when United face Everton on Sunday. He suffered an ankle injury in pre-season, ruling him out for several months.
However, he has been on the comeback trail in recent weeks, featuring for both United’s youngsters and more recently England’s Under-19s. Manager Erik ten Hag promised him that he would get his chance to impress, meaning this weekend’s trip to Goodison Park could be that opportunity.
United defender Victor Lindelof surrendered the Sweden captaincy for last night’s 2-0 win over Estonia in their final European Championship qualifier.
The centre-back made the decision to award the captain’s armband, instead, to teammate Albin Ekdal, who was earning his 70th and final cap for his country before international retirement. Though he was not donning the armband, reports in Sweden claimed he performed as though he was still captaining the team, producing a solid performance to help the Swedes record a routine win.
“John Murtough saw off budding external candidates and infighting with Nicky Butt to assume the football director role in March 2021. There was a shouting match where Butt, who left a fortnight after Murtough’s appointment, is believed to have questioned Murtough’s allegiance. Such private squabbles were unlikely to deter Murtough. He has established a structure that comprises a deputy football director, a head of recruitment, a head of football operations, a head of data science and a director of football negotiations on his watch. For some, Murtough’s legacy will be ignoring the dressing room clamour for Mauricio Pochettino by settling on Erik ten Hag as the United manager, a bold decision that has restored key tenets to United’s identity despite recent backward steps.”
Former United scout Marcel Bout believes he could have been an ‘ideal guide’ for manager Erik ten Hag, hitting out at the Glazers’ running of the club.
The Glazers have grown under increasing pressure over the past few years, not least because of the club’s failure in the transfer market. Their decision to add non-football minds to the club’s hierarchy has resulted in a catalogue of errors.
However, INEOS’ impending arrival at the club is set to change all that, with the likes of Jean-Claude Blanc and Paul Mitchell, both of whom have impressive backgrounds in football, being linked with Old Trafford jobs.
United are planning to replace John Murtough as football director.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is leading INEOS’ bid to secure a 25 per cent stake in the club, is set to oversee sweeping changes to the off-field department at Old Trafford. Richard Arnold left his post as chief executive last week, marking the beginning of a potentially major structural reform.
A well-placed source has said Murtough is “definitely going” amid a preference for a new figurehead for the football department. Jean-Claude Blanc and Paul Mitchell have been linked with the prospect of joining the club.
United duo Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford will be hoping to store more minutes under their belts when England face North Macedonia in their final 2024 European Championship qualifier tonight.
The duo started Friday night’s forgettable 2-0 win over minnows Malta, though Rashford was forced off in the second half after colliding with teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Three Lions have already secured qualification and top spot in Group C, but will want to sign off with a bang.
Gareth Southgate will, however, be hoping to see a much-improved showing after the nature of Friday’s showing.
United manager Erik ten Hag is having to deal with a series of different injury concerns in the build-up to Sunday’s trip to Everton.
The United squad has been hammered by injury woes so far this season, so much so that Ten Hag has only been able to name his preferred back-four twice. Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro remain long-term absentees, while uncertainty surrounds how long it may be before both Luke Shaw and Amad are back in contention.
“If Andre Onana is unavailable, it has to be presumed that fellow summer arrival Altay Bayindir will finally get the chance to make his debut for the club. Erik ten Hag has gone with Onana in cup games so far this season so the team can grow accustomed to his style of play, which has meant Bayindir is still to make his first appearance for the club. If he’s called into action at Goodison Park it will be a big test of his ability and of United’s approach to the goalkeeper position. United allowed Dean Henderson, a proven Premier League quality goalkeeper, leave the club upon signing Bayindir. Henderson wanted to leave and United recouped a decent fee but Bayindir will still have to prove it was the right decision by showing he can match the now Crystal Palace goalkeeper’s quality.”
United Women were beaten 3-1 by rivals City in yesterday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Just north of 43,000 people packed into M16 to watch City recover from a goal down to scoop all three points and the local bragging rights. After Katie Zelem had given United the lead from the spot, City fought back throgh goals from Jill Roord, Lauren Hemp and Bunny Shaw, who pounced on a Mary Earps error, to seal all three points.
United will resume their Premier League campaign against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds signed off for the international break with a 1-0 win over Luton Town just over a week ago, making it four wins in their last five Premier League matches. It means they will be hoping to pick up from where they left off at the restart.
The trip to Merseyside will mark the beginning of a pulsating run for the Reds as the run of Christmas and the festive period begins. With that said, here are their next six assignments…
United’s hopes of having Marcus Rashford available for Sunday’s trip to Everton were eased yesterday after he trained with the rest of his England teammates in preparation for tonight’s clash with North Macedonia.
Rashford was forced off during the second half of Friday night’s 2-0 win over Malta after colliding with teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold. He appeared to be in a fair amount of discomfort, prompting the England medical staff to withdraw him.
However, any fears about his concern being serious were eased yesterday morning after he was spotted training ahead of tonight’s final 2024 European Championship qualifier.
United captain Bruno Fernandes scored a faboulous goal to help Portugal beat Iceland 2-0 in their final 2024 European Championship qualifier last night.
Goals either side of the half-time break from Fernandes and Ricardo Horta sealed a comfortable win for Roberto Martinez’s side, who completed their qualifying campaign with a record of 10 wins from 10 games. As well as amassing maxiumum points, they also scored 36 goals in total, conceding just two.
Fernandes finished the qualifying campaign with six goals and seven assists.
According to a report by the Express, United could aim to capitalise on Everton’s recent 10-point deduction by ‘pursuing several of their most valuable stars’.
The Toffees were hit by the biggest points deduction in Premier League history on Friday, meaning they are now campsed inside the relegation zone. Unsurprisingly, the situation, automatically, has linked some of their most exciting figures with exits from the club.
The Reds have been heavily linked with signing Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in recent months, meaning the current situation could tempt them into making an offer.
United will ‘prioritise’ the signing of a centre-back in the January transfer window, a report has claimed.
The Reds are understood to have made the addition of a central defender one of their leading objectives for 2024, and it is now claimed they could try and complete that mission as soon as January. Nice ace Jean-Clair Todibo has been identified as a leading candidate to fill that void.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s impending arrival could boost their chances of landing the Frenchman, with the British billionaire, of course, the current owner of Nice.
According to a report by Turkish outlet Askam, Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey is ‘seriously interested’ in a move to the Premier League.
The French defender has been closely linked with a move to United in the last few weeks and other clubs are now reportedly joining the hunt for his signature. According to the report, both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion are in pursuit of his services.
Boey is out-of-contract in June 2025, meaning next year could represent Galatasaray’s last chance to sell him for a meaningful fee. It has been claimed that €20million may be enough for any interested party to secure his signature.
Ex-Nice boss Adrian Ursea has offered an insight into Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership of a football club.
Ratcliffe is close to finalising his deal to secure a 25 per cent stake in United. Talks have been ongoing for several months and an announcement could arrive within the coming days.
Andre Onana will miss Cameroon’s clash with Libya through injury.
The United goalkeeper was forced off in the latter stages of Friday’s win over Mauritius. He came off after 81 minutes with an unspecified injury. Erik ten Hag will be hoping he’s back in time to face Everton on Sunday.