And the club have offered Dean Henderson £60,000 a week to fend off transfer interest from Chelsea, according to reports. That would see the goalkeeper increase his current wages by FIVE times at Old Trafford.
Follow all the latest transfer updates and gossip from Old Trafford below…
RICE ON TIME
Exclusive by Duncan Wright: Declan Rice may have to be sold by West Ham if they want to bring in several new faces to strengthen their squad.
Chelsea lead the race for England midfielder Rice, with boss Frank Lampard looking to convert him back into a defender to help solve the problem area in his side.
But United are also interested in the 21-year-old.
The Hammers insist they have no desire to sell their player of the year but it would be hard to turn down any offers that get close to their £70million valuation.
Manager David Moyes wants to freshen up a squad he led to Premier League survival.
But with money short because of the lack of revenue from empty stadiums, cashing in on their main man might be the only step open to them.
The club have a strong interest in QPR’s £20m-rated attacker Eberechi Eze and Brentford forward Said Benrahma.
PAUL TOGETHER
Paul Scholes has revealed that Inter Milan could prove the biggest challenge to United’s Europa League dreams.
He told BT Sport: “Inter are the only other team who could cause United problems.
“No I don’t (think Wolves have a chance). They are a good team Wolves. They have a good manager and good players, I just think United would beat Wolves nine times out of ten. They are capable but I just don’t think they I quite good enough to win the competition.
“I think United are too good for all of them. Inter are the main danger.”
KOUL STORY
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains an admirer of Kalidou Koulibaly but are likely to be priced out of a move.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has insisted the Senegal defender will only be sold if a club matches his £90million valuation.
The Evening Standard claim that Koulibaly’s mega price tag could see Manchester United focus solely on signing top target Jadon Sancho.
AL BE OFF
Manchester United wonderkid Aliou Traore was dubbed the next Paul Pogba but could sensationally quit Old Trafford.
The 19-year-old midfielder has put in some outstanding performances at youth level for the Red Devils but could be set to move on.
Traore bagged four goals in 14 appearances for the Under-23s to help them to promotion from Premier League 2 Division Two but fancies a shot at a higher, senior level.
The French starlet told RMC Sport: “I would like to start a professional career.
“As I have said, I think I have the background to do so. I hope that happens in Manchester, if not then why not go and get playing time elsewhere.
“I have one year left on my contract so yes, I am not closing the door.
“But if I leave, it is for a first team. I do not want to leave Manchester to be in the same situation elsewhere.
“I need a change in my development and that is going to happen in a first team.”
DEVIL MAY CARE
Werder Bremen are attempting to land Manchester United youngster Tahith Chong on a season-long loan deal.
The club’s sports director Frank Baumann said: “That we are in exchange is the case.
“We are in good talks. Several parties are involved. Some things still have to be clarified and we have to agree. As of now, this is not the case.”
SAN STORM
Alexis Sanchez has shared his delight following his free transfer from Manchester United to Inter Milan.
He said: “I’m really happy to be staying here with you, Inter fans. I’ve found a family here and the staff are great.
“It’s a group where there’s a real desire to win something big.
“People here want to fight together as a team to give the club the success it deserves.”
GIFT OF THE GAB
Lille have left Gabriel Magalhaes out of their squad for their friendly game against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar following links concerning a move to Manchester United.
The 22-year-old has impressed in France this season and been heavily linked with a number of top European sides, including the Red Devils.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Napoli have all been rumoured to be interested in a move for the Brazilian defender.
POG BACK
Manchester United completed the signing of Paul Pogba from Juventus on this day in 2016.
The France midfielder, 23 at the time penned a five-year contract with the option of a sixth season after agreeing a then-world-record £89million move.
The transfer fee surpassed the £85m Real Madrid had paid to prize Gareth Bale away from Tottenham in 2013.
TRAIN WRECK
Manchester United will reportedly have to use a German fourth division club’s facilities to train if they beat FC Copenhagen.
The Red Devils will train for the Europa League game at Cologne’s RheinEnergie Stadium.
However, after that, the Daily Mail claim the facilities will be used to prepare for the new Bundesliga season.
And United were stunned to find out that Uefa had allocated them to tiny Fortuna Koln’s stadium to train instead.
DIM VIEW
Dimitar Berbatov wants Manchester United to avoid Sevilla in the Europa League.
He told Betfair: “For some reason United find it difficult to play against Spanish teams.
“They play very technical football, and pass the ball around a lot. You can’t let them set the tempo of the game if you want to succeed against them.
“Sevilla are a tough side and they have history, I remember two years ago when they knocked out United in the Champions League.
“Ultimately, it’s good to play tough teams to test yourself and see where you are in your development as a team.
“At the end of the day, this is Manchester United, you respect every team but fear no one, other teams should fear United.”
TOP GEA
4️⃣0️⃣4️⃣ United games between the sticks, but which 5️⃣ does the man himself rate the most? ?#MUFC @D_DeGea pic.twitter.com/IbIfY3AOXq
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 8, 2020
WHATSAPPENING
Jadon Sancho has reportedly joined a Manchester United WhatsApp group – but is still waiting for his transfer paperwork to be delivered.
Speaking on The Transfer Window Podcast, transfer expert Ian McGarry said: “Manchester United are comfortable at this moment in time that they’re not in any competition for the signature of Jadon Sancho.
“Manchester United are comfortable at this moment in time that they’re not in any competition for the signature of Jadon Sancho.
“They don’t believe they’re going to be gazumped by no other club because no other club has expressed the same level of interest.
“They’re also very confident the player wants to come to Old Trafford.
“He has been in constant touch with England international colleagues who currently play for Manchester United and indeed in daily contact with them.
“It’s even believed he’s on a WhatsApp group with some of the Manchester United players as well.
“Therefore United are very comfortable with their position, they believe that Dortmund will come round to the structure that they’ve suggested.”
EUR IN THE MIX
Man Utd’s stars turned up for training as they geared up for Monday’s Europa League last eight tie in Germany.
Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot were spotted in their cars as they get close to returning from injury.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men take on Copenhagen for a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
They brushed past Austrian side Lask in midweek.
The competition now takes the format of a mini-tournament with the winners getting a spot in next season’s Champions League.
AKE AND PAIN
Manchester United could have beaten Man City to the signature of Nathan Ake… if they weren’t pursuing Jadon Sancho.
Sky Sports reports that the bulk of the Red Devils’ budget will be going towards signing the Dortmund winger this summer and therefore extra player sales would have been needed to sign the Dutchman.
Marcos Rojo was one player the Red Devils had hoped to sell, but efforts to get the Argentine off the wage bill have so far proved fruitless.
Solskjaer was known to be keen on Ake and many fans even believe they heard him tell Ake “we need a left-sided centre-back” after United’s 5-2 win over Bournemouth.
DENIED BAIL
Eric Bailly has been offered to AC Milan but the Serie A side aren’t interested, according to reports.
The Ivory Coast centre-back has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford having endured another injury-plagued season.
Gazzetta dello Sport claim the United outcast was offered to the San Siro, with the Italian giants eyeing a new centre-back in the coming transfer window.
However, the player reportedly “isn’t of interest” to Milan manager Stefano Pioli and the club’s bigwigs.
DEBUT DELIGHT
FRED ALERT
Brazilian midfielder Fred has spoken of how the fast-paced Premier League schedule will benefit Man Utd in the Europa League mini-tournament.
He said: “We’ve got used to these games coming one after an another during the intense fixture calendar in June and July.
“So we’re kind of used to it and I think it could be an advantage when playing games that are a few days apart, like they will be in Germany.
“I think it will be an advantage for us in the Europa League tournament format – I’m certain we’ll be ready.”
DOR AJAR
Jadon Sancho will cash in regardless of whether his Manchester United transfer goes through – with Borussia Dortmund ready to soften the blow with a mega-money new deal.
The Germans are ready to hand him a new £173,000-a-week contract if United do not complete their pursuit of him by Monday.
That was the deadline Dortmund gave Old Trafford chiefs.
They want the cash to make further signings ahead of their 2020/21 Bundesliga campaign.
United are ready to hand Sancho a five-year £350,000-a-week deal.
They have reportedly agreed to pay Dortmund £60m up front, with a further £48m in add-ons for the 20-year-old England international.
FRED DEVIL
Man Utd midfielder has revealed his team-mates must remain concentrated if they want to lift the Europa League this season.
He said: “I like playing all types of football, whether it’s a tournament or a points-based championship like the Premier League, but I think in tournaments you need to concentrate more.
“There are two important games, and a single match in the final. You have to make sure you’re highly prepared, you can’t make mistakes.
“In league football you still have the chance to recover, you make a mistake and lose the game you can still recover later in the competition.
“In tournaments if you lose a game by a certain margin of goals it’s difficult to come back. So you need to concentrate even more. I think that is what’s most important for us. That will be the biggest test.”
WOLF HUNTER
Man Utd are favourite to sign Wolves striker Raul Jimenez, with bookmakers Coral placing the Mexican striker as 3-1 to make the move to Old Trafford.
Juventus meanwhile are 4-1 to sign him, with Real Madrid placed at 16-1 to secure his services.
Coral’s John Hill said: “Raul Jimenez has had a great season for Wolves and we think the Midlands club could have a job keeping hold of the Mexican this summer.
“Manchester United top the betting to sign the striker, while Juventus are also prominent in the betting.”
BIRTHDAY BOY
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 8, 2020
RVP UP TO THE JOB
Robin van Persie has joined Advocaat’s Feyenoord coaching staff after admitting: “I can’t say no to Dick.”
The Manchester United and Arsenal legend has got his pecker up after the coronavirus lockdown with his first coaching job.
Van Persie, 37, retired as a player with Feyenoord last summer after winning 102 Holland caps, having also spent 11 years in the Premier League.
And RVP says it was too hard to turn down working under ex-Rangers, Sunderland and Dutch national boss Dick Advocaat.
He told Feyenoord’s website: “Dick called me and asked if I wanted to come. And I couldn’t turn Dick down.
“It is not an official position. So it’s hard for me to give it a title. I don’t see myself as a strikers’ coach, for example.
“I think it’s a win-win. I’ll find out here whether I like doing this and I’ll help the staff a bit.”
BIG MIL
Alexis Sanchez took a dig at Manchester United after completing his move to Inter Milan.
The 31-year-old striker, said to have got a £9m pay-off to get his £505,000-a-week wages off the books, suggested his new club had more desire to win something big.
The Chilean striker, who spent this season on loan at the Serie A club, took to social media to aim a parting shot at United.
He said: “I’m really happy to be staying here with you, Inter fans. I’ve found a family here and the staff are great.
“It’s a group where there’s a real desire to win something big.
“People here want to fight together as a team to give the club the success it deserves.”
HIGH FIVE FOR DEANO
Dean Henderson is set to improve his pay packed FIVE fold after being offered a £60,000-a-week deal at Manchester United.
According to the Transfer Window Podcast, the 23-year-old has had improved terms put under his nose in a bid to fend off interest from elsewhere.
Chelsea are among the clubs who have shown interest in the Englishman, who wants to get a regular run in the first team and secure a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2020, after the tournament was postponed by a year.
Henderson has been in superb form, especially last season at Sheffield United.
And while the Blades are keen to take him on loan for another season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could decide to send him elsewhere to improve his experience and put off a difficult decision over David De Gea by another season.
GOOD MORNING, UNITED FANS,
Borussia Dortmund are looking at the drama surrounding Jadon Sancho’s move to Old Trafford as a “win-win” situation.
The England star, 20, has reportedly agreed to personal terms with United after being offered a five-year deal worth £350,000 a week.
The German side are hoping to command a £108million fee, with United unwilling to splash that sum in one transaction.
Old Trafford chiefs are said to have offered closer to £60m – with the remaining £48m to be spread across a number of instalments.
But Dortmund – who have set a deadline of August 10 for a deal to be concluded – are standing firm, and German publication Bild say Dortmund view the whole prolonged saga as a “win-win”.
The way they see it, Man Utd either splurge £108m NOW or Sancho stays at the club for another season as they challenge for the Bundesliga title. In both scenarios, Dortmund leave happy.
They either rake in £108m to help combat the financial repercussions of the coronavirus lockdown and sign an elite replacement OR they keep their best player and look to break their near-decade-long title drought in 2020-21.
Elsewhere, Man Utd are reportedly ready to listen to offers for Jesse Lingard.
The attacking midfielder, 27, has suffered inconsistent form over the last two years, which he admits stemmed from personal troubles at home.
According to the Guardian, United are open selling the playmaker as they look to boost funds in their pursuit to sign 20-year-old Sancho.
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