Manchester United set sights on Benfica jewel

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September 16, 2019

Football, World Cup 2018, Day 10, Preview, Portugal — © Bildbyrån

United are already preparing a list of their January targets.

Manchester United have sent scouts out to Portugal to keep tabs on Benfica defender Ruben Dias.

Dias was previously linked with a move to Wolverhampton during the summer transfer window, but the English side side were eventually priced out of a move and instead opted to snap up Jesus Vallejo from Real Madrid on a season-long loan deal.

International Champions Cup chief Charlie Stillitano also revealed that AC Milan have been keeping tabs on the Benfica defender, who helped them win the International Champions Cup. Eventually, he stayed in Portugal.

According to a report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Manchester United have not given up on their interest in Dias and scouts from the club were present to keep an eye on the 22-year-old during Benfica’s recent matches.

Dias would be available if Manchester United or another club would be willing to meet his €80 million contract release clause, although they have already strengthened their back four with the €80 million addition of Leicester City defender Harry Maguire in the summer.

Additionally, Benfica have Dias tied down long term, until 2024. Alongside his gigantic release clause, that puts Benfica in a strong position.

Ruben Dias already displays a lot of strengths on the pitch and has the potential to add more to his game. The defender has established himself as a permanent fixture in the heart of the club’s defence. Dias was impressing at Benfica and the U-23s, which earned him a call up to the international first team.

He has played at every level of the Portuguese international squad and looks to be a future international star. Another attractive trait is that he rarely picks up injuries and maintains good overall fitness across a season.

A Bola also claims that United have set their eyes on Dias’ teammate Florentino Luís, a 20-year-old winger who has earned a reputation as one of the brightest young talents in Portuguese football.

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Manchester United Legend Ready To ‘Run A Mile’ If Offered Management Position

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Bishwaraj Bhattacharyya

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September 16, 2019

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Manchester United Legend Ready To 'Run A Mile' If Offered Management Position

Gary Neville did not hold back when he was asked if he will ever take the managerial position at Manchester United.

The Red Devils legend expressed his intentions to never take up the coaching post at Old Trafford as he replied, “That call isn’t coming and if it did, I would run a mile.”

Neville spent a short stint at Valencia as their head coach and that was probably one point of his career in football which he would like to forget. The Englishman was widely unsuccessful in his four months with the La Liga outfit and drew in a lot of the criticisms he now dishes out after each game week.

Neville almost has a cult following through his punditry because of his inclination to provide frank answers. The former United defender still has nightmares about his time in Valencia and is clearly not interested in returning to management.

With United fortunes turning upside down after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, Neville has chosen to keep faith in Ole Solskjaer’s methods. The Red Devils have managed to climb their way up the table after a close 1-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday.

In his short quips on Twitter, Neville also expressed his admiration for Liverpool forward, Roberto Firmino and how he thinks Manchester City’s defensive problems could affect their title hopes.

Serie A giants want Nemanja Matic

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Atharva Gosavi

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September 16, 2019

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Fotboll, Premier League, Manchester United - Leicester — Image: BildByran

According to reports, Italian giants Juventus are plotting a raid on Manchester United for Nemanja Matic. The Serbian has been reduced to a bit-part role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Man United this season.

The 32-year-old made his first appearance of the campaign in United’s 1-0 win over Leicester City at home, but was withdrawn at the 70th minute. He has already expressed his frustration at not being picked up regularly.

“In the first two or three games he (Solskjaer) determined the team without me,” he said.

“I work as hard as I can, we respect the decision, it is mine to show him that he was wrong and to bring me back to where I belong.”

Matic’s game time will be reduced yet again after Paul Pogba returns from injury while the Serbian is also behind Scott McTominay for the defensive midfielder position.

However, reports from The Sun are stating that Matic could leave Old Trafford sooner than later, with Juventus keen on his signature. The Bianconeri already have a wealth of talent in the midfield and are still trying to accommodate Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot in the middle.

Manchester United will face Astana in the Europa League next, before travelling to West Ham for their next Premier League game.

Spanish striker confirms contact with Manchester United

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Martina Alcheva

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September 15, 2019

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Fotboll, La Liga, Atletico Madrid - Bilbao — © Bildbyrån

Williams currently holds the record for most consecutive outfield La Liga appearances this century.

Manchester United were linked with a number strikers in the last transfer window, but one Spanish forward has now confirmed he had contact with the Red Devils.

Williams has long been the subject of transfer rumors with links to several elite clubs. With the forward’s revelation, it appears those rumors were true after all, although he would not reveal who specifically from Manchester United reached out to him last year.

Having lost the services of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to Inter Milan last month, United were left a little thin strikers department. On deadline day for the Premier League sides, reports in Spain claimed that the Red Devils were looking at Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams.

However, Inaki recently put pen-to-paper on a nine-year extension with Bilbao, which includes an emphatic €135million release clause.

“I had contact from Manchester United but I cannot tell you who it was,” he told Cadena Ser. “My number one option has always been to stay at Athletic Bilbao and to retire here.

“Joining Real Sociedad? No, I could never go there, 100%.”

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Manchester United must buy new players in January, says Macari

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Atharva Gosavi

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September 15, 2019

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Fotboll, Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers - Manchester United — Image: BildByran

Former Manchester United player and legend Lou Macari believes the Red Devils need to invest in players in January if they want to improve the results.

Manchester United grabbed their second win of the season, albeit an unconvincing one with a 1-0 scoreline against Leicester City. Solskjaer’s men took the kead in the seventh minute through a Marcus Rashford penalty and held on to the score till the kast minute.

Macari believes that such results won’t help in the long term and buying players in winter was the only way to improve.

“I thought in the last window, I thought there were players needed then,” he said.

“We didn’t bring the number in that I thought we should have brought in.”

“When you have an injury or two and you look at your squad and the bench, it then hits you that you are so short of numbers.”

“As the season goes on you will get people suspended, you’ll get more people injured.”

“There’s no doubt that when the next window opens, and we’re looking a bit far ahead now, that one or two players need to come in.”

“I’m happy we won but I wasn’t all that convinced about the performance,” he added.

“I thought that Leicester, with all the possession they had, didn’t really convince that they were going to open the door and get a goal.”

“If they had got a little break at some stage in the game then they may have got that goal, it may have been 1-1 and we’d be sat here thinking a lot different.”

“We have won the game, got three points and it pushes you up the table.”

Ole Solskjaer Calls On Manchester United Youngsters To Answer Injury Crisis

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Bishwaraj Bhattacharyya

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September 15, 2019

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Ole Solskjaer Calls On Manchester United Youngsters To Answer Injury Crisis

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has encouraged Manchester United youngster’s to seize the opportunity to break into the senior squad.

The Red Devils have been hit with a string of injuries as Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw missed the 1-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday.

United already had a pretty thinly lined squad going into the 2019/20 campaign and the recent injury crisis has forced Solskjaer to consider some of the club’s Academy prospects.

Mason Greenwood has been called on to serve as a backup to Martial and Marcus Rashford while Tahith Chong, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe are carrying over from their previous debut starts.

“We have a squad of 24, 25 players and we expect them to play their part at certain times and different times in the season,” Solskjaer said. “This weekend might be one of those times.”

“It’s a good test, it’s a great test and a great challenge for our players who want to push on. A few players are out, so the others can step up. Here’s your chance. That’s the thing here. The young kids do get chances and when they take them, it can be life-changing.”

Chong and Tuanzebe got to feature in the game last night as substitutes as Angel Gomes and Greenwood was also named in the 18-man squad.

Solskjaer is open to giving these youngsters more opportunities, ones which will hopefully present itself in the Europa League and Cup games.

Manchester United to hand new deals to two key players

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Martina Alcheva

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September 14, 2019

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Fotboll, Inför Champions League, Manchester United, Träning & Presskonferens — © Bildbyrån

The duo is about to stay put.

Manchester United are working on new deals for both Jesse Lingard and Victor Lindelof, according to reports.

Lingard is a product of Manchester United’s youth setup and has made 171 appearances for the senior team, scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists. This season, the 27-year-old has featured in all of the Red Devils’ matches.

While, Lindelof has made 73 appearances for United since joining the club from Benfica in the summer of 2017, scoring a goal against Burnley and assisting once in a match against Crystal Palace.

Given how frequently the two players have started under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, tying them down to new contracts will certainly help the club.

The Englishman is a senior player in the side and having him around can certainly help the younger players, particularly the ones who have graduated from Manchester United’s academy.

The Swede, meanwhile, is a pretty decent centre-back and having him for the longer run will help the Red Devils. He has formed part of a partnership with Harry Maguire, but both have failed to keep clean-sheets against the likes of Southampton, Wolves and Crystal Palace.

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira, Solskjaer has indicated that he wants to keep each of Lindelof and Lingard at Old Trafford. While the pair have deals in place until 2021, it is claimed that they will get contracts in place until the end of the 2023/2024 campaign.

Tying a player until 2024 is a big show of faith from the coach who has wasted no time in offloading players he feels have no future at Old Trafford, so that length of time proves the pair will play a key part in his plans.

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Solskjaer responds to Matic comments

By

Atharva Gosavi

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September 14, 2019

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Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has responded to Nemanja Matic’s comments on him last week.

Matic said that Solskjaer will be to blame if United don’t win silverware this season, something that sent rumours surfacing over the Serbian’s transfer out of the club. The 32-year-old hasn’t played a full game for United this season but is set to feature against Leicester City today, following a long list of injuries the Red Devils face at the moment.

Replying to Matic’s comments, Solskjaer was not at all confrontational.

“There’s always pressure when you’re here,” he said.

“But, of course, I’m confident in what we’re doing, we’ve got a plan, and the performances haven’t told me that we need to change direction.”

“Results, that’s a different matter, but when you concede three goals from four chances, there’s not a lot we can control. We can control how we play, how we practice and how we prepare. Well, I’m saying three in four chances, I can say four in six chances against us in the last three games, so they’re games we should have won.”

“We know that, but that’s another matter – we need to score the goals. We want to get the results we feel we deserve, now is the time. We are coming into a busy period now, and we don’t want to be behind Tottenham and Chelsea or Arsenal for that position. Leicester, Everton, there are loads of team who want to get in there.”

“We need to make sure we get on a winning streak and get the results. It’s a good test [against Leicester] and a great test, a challenge for our players who want to push closer to City and Liverpool.”

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-news-leicester-lineup-16913706

Solskjaer urges Martial and Rashford to improve goalscoring rate

By

Atharva Gosavi

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September 14, 2019

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Fotboll, Träningsmatch, Manchester United - Milan — Image: BildByran

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged attacker duo Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford to improve their goalscoring rate this season.

The Red Devils started on a bright note with a 4-0 win over Chelsea but gradually declined in form as they picked up just 2 points from the last three games.

“You have 38 [league] games, so if you can have 19 goals [each] as a partnership, with those two, so around 40 goals, that’s OK, but it’s not top, top class,” said the manager.

“At the moment, Dan [James] has got three, Marcus and Anthony have got two each, and that’s in our four games, and Anthony only played three of them, so he’s improving.”

“[To become better] it’s anticipation, knowing which position you’re in, because the quality is there, definitely, and we’re learning where to run when to run, how to run, and the last finish, they’ve go to do, of course.”

“They’re practising all the time and hopefully we can see Dan and Marcus getting goals this week, and Anthony can come next week.”

Manchester United are currently gearing up to face Leicester City and returning to winning ways.

Edwin Van Der Sar warns David de Gea

By

Samahith Bhat

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September 14, 2019

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Edwin Van Der Sar warns David de Gea — Photo: Bildbyran

Many things are going in the wrong direction for Manchester United. And they have another problem to deal with; David de Gea. The Spaniard still hasn’t signed an extension and former goalkeeper Van Der Sar has warned David.

Reports of terms being agreed between De Gea and United on a reported £350,000-a-week contract has come up, but the star keeper is yet to put pen to paper.

David de Gea’s contract expires next summer and he has been linked with a free transfer to PSG or Juventus. Former United Goalkeeper, Edwin Van Der Sar has given his take on the matter. He wants an answer soon and has warned the Spaniard that he is replaceable. “The decision needs to come at a certain point. It takes a long time now, so it’s a case of “yes” or “no”, but I’m not a director of United.”

He reminds us that he joined United as a 34-year-old and there are other good goalkeepers available. “Other goalkeepers can also fill the gap. There are a few Premier League goalkeepers playing at the club who can also take the step up. I was 34 when I went to United. So there are lots of opportunities there.”

Van Der Sar is being considered for the post of Director of Football at Old Trafford. And he has been a Manchester United player in the past, so, his output here is somewhat significant.

Manchester United Latest News.com

Manchester United set sights on Benfica jewel

United are already preparing a list of their January targets.

Manchester United Legend Ready To ‘Run A Mile’ If Offered Management Position

Gary Neville did not hold back when he was asked if he will ever take the managerial position at Manchester United.

Serie A giants want Nemanja Matic

Spanish striker confirms contact with Manchester United

Williams currently holds the record for most consecutive outfield La Liga appearances this century.

Manchester United must buy new players in January, says Macari

Ole Solskjaer Calls On Manchester United Youngsters To Answer Injury Crisis

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has encouraged Manchester United youngster’s to seize the opportunity to break into the senior squad.

Manchester United to hand new deals to two key players

The duo is about to stay put.

Solskjaer responds to Matic comments

Solskjaer urges Martial and Rashford to improve goalscoring rate

Edwin Van Der Sar warns David de Gea

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