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…
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.
FOUR GOODNESS SAKE
Manchester United will have to use a German fourth division club’s facilities if to train if they beat FC Copenhagen, reports the Daily Mail.
The Red Devils will train for that game at Cologne’s RheinEnergie Stadium.
However, after that, those 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.
DEVIL MAY CARE
Jadon Sancho is already part of a WhatsApp group with a number of Manchester United players.
Transfer expert Ian McGarry said on the transfer window podcast: “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.”
GALATIC-GO
Comment by Neil Custis: It was a signing both sides regretted before the ink was dry on the paper.
Now Alexis Sanchez has left Manchester United joining Inter Milan permanently and the club’s transfer strategy has totally changed.
Perhaps that is the only positive to come out of his highly expensive, unproductive stay.
United no longer want to go Galactico for the big-name established signing.
Yes, Jadon Sancho will cost a Premier League record at £110million.
But he is 20 years old, with a bright future and ready to grow with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new squad.
That is what the boss wants — young hungry players who will make their names with the club.
No more Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Bastian Schweinsteiger and definitely no more Sanchez.
Chilean ace Sanchez, 31, has been the undoubted top of the flops. The worst example of the modern-day player who turns off so many fans.
Overpaid and underperforming.
The club will not be lured into such a transfer again.
For Sanchez, it was all about the pay packet.
PAUL FACTOR
Paul Pogba will start new contract talks with Manchester United “very soon”, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
He told the Beautiful Game podcast: “He wants to focus on Manchester United and I think soon he will start to speak with Mino Raiola to consider extending his contract with Manchester United.
“For sure, Manchester United want to extend the contract with Pogba, but they have to speak.
“It’s never easy when there is Raiola in some deals because he wants important contracts for his players but for sure, they will speak on the next [few] weeks.”
A new deal would represent a spectacular turnaround for Pogba, who publicly expressed his desire for a new challenge last summer.
FER-GET IT
Rio Ferdinand has urged Gareth Bale to leave Real Madrid, so that fans can witness his “generational talent” again.
The BT Sport pundit said: “If you look at it in terms of trophies, he’s won a phenomenal amount of trophies and will go down as as one of the most successful imports they’ve had.
“But there’s no doubt one thing that’s happening, we’re being denied a generational talent here. We want him out on the pitch to perform and play.
“We’ve seen what he can do in finals, and in big moments he’s scored great goals. Defining moments in big games, but we’re not being allowed to see him play, and that’s the frustrating thing.
“You almost want him to come out and say it. You’re begging for him or the club to come out and make a big statement.
“He’s got to just come out and make his point.
“I think its time now, really. Either cut your ties with Real Madrid or at least go on loan.
“Make a deal happen somewhere to get out on the pitch and play football.”
MAN DOWN
Manchester United wanted Nathan Ake but failed to flop Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling to find a transfer.
That is according to Sky Sports, who say the Bournemouth defender could have gone to Old Trafford.
Instead, the defender ended up across town at Man City after Pep Guardiola sealed a £41million move for the centre-back.
Most of United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s budget is reserved for the £100million pursuit of Jadon Sancho.
And if he wanted additional funds for Ake then he would have had to offload Rojo and Smalling.
DEVIL TO PAY
Manchester United have been dealt a blow after reports that talks intensified between Tottenham and Inter Milan over a deal for Milan Skrinar.
The 25-year-old has been linked to several clubs this summer after falling out of favour with Antonio Conte.
Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, claim Skrinar ‘could be sacrificed’ if Inter got a player in return amid interest in Tanguy Ndombele.
CRIST ALMIGHTY
Inter Milan are reportedly studying Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at Juventus as they line up their sensational move for Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juve in the summer of 2018 for £88million.
And while his form on the pitch has been unsurprisingly brilliant, the publicity and economic boost the move brought has also provided a massive boost to the club.
Now, according to Italian newspaper Gazetta, Inter’s Chinese owners Suning Holdings are weighing up the financial benefits of making a move for Messi.
And they are using Ronaldo’s time at Juventus as the blueprint for any move.
And with reports that Messi’s dad and agent has recently bought a property in Milan, it will only raise hops among Inter fans that they could pull off the most sensational of transfers.
DEVIL MAY CARE
Jadon Sancho is aalready part of a WhatsApp group with Manchester United players.
Transfer expert Ian McGarry said on the transfer window podcast: “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.”
POKER FACE
Sky Sports have described the situation surrounding Jadon Sancho as a ‘game of poker’.
The report claims that Manchester United will not be bullied by Borussia Dortmund’s valuation of the England International and will not be held to ransom.
Yet the Bundesliga side remain steadfast during negotiations and are expecting at least £100million upfront.
PLAYING FOR KEEPS
Manchester United are keeping tabs on Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret in case David De Gea or Dean Henderson quit the club.
Old Trafford chiefs are looking to replace blunder-prone De Gea this summer.
With their goalkeepers’ futures up in the air, Man Utd have target Napoli stopper Meret, 23, as their potential new No1, according to ESPN.
The report claims De Gea is set to remain as United’s first-choice goalkeeper, in an ideal scenario for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
That would see Henderson shipped out on yet another loan deal – which could anger the Englishman.
Sergio Romero will continue his long spell as United’s cup goalkeeper.
YOUTH BEAUTY
Manchester United’s U23 side will be playing top-flight football next season.
The young Red Devils have won promotion to Premier League 2 Division One after the season was decided on points-per-game ratio.
West Ham won the league to go up along with United. Wolves have been relegated from Division One.
FAN’S VIEW
So much attention is being placed on Jadon Sancho’s potential arrival, but who could be heading through the Old Trafford exit door?
United End editor Tom McDermott gives his thoughts on who might and might not leave.
David De Gea – Keep
The Spaniard isn’t what he once was, but is probably still likely to make less mistakes over the course of a season than number two Sergio Romero.
Dean Henderson is also in the mix, but the youngster needs at least one more season on loan at Sheffield United before being considered as the next United number one.
Read More HERE.
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