On the transfer front, the Red Devils have been linked with a shock move for PSG’s former Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
And we have the latest on the the Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish sagas.
Get all the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford here…
WE’VE MOVED
SunSport has started up a shiny new blog for all the latest Red Devils news ahead of this weekend’s massive match.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE LATEST MAN UTD TRANSFER NEWS, INJURY UPDATES AND BULLETINS
SCHMEICHEL ON HENDERSON
The Dane said: “I genuinely hope for someone like Dean Henderson, who’s had an amazing season, that he can be allowed to develop.
“I hope for him, he gets another season, maybe two at Sheffield United and play the way he’s done and then he’ll be ready.
“But for now, David de Gea is still a world-class goalkeeper. It’s a lonely position and those are the margins you play in as a goalkeeper – you simply cannot make mistakes because you will be punished.”
UNDESERVED STICK
Kasper Schmeichel has leapt to the defence of David De Gea after the Spaniard’s string of high-profile errors for Manchester United.
The Leicester stopper said: “You hear comments like, ‘going with the wrong hand’, or other throw away things that they’ll say which will make the consumer or viewer think, ‘oh yeah, that’s right, I see he’s done it again’.
“That’s sometimes quite a dangerous narrative because all of a sudden it starts building momentum and for someone like David, I really feel for him because he has been unbelievable for so many years and every goalkeeper goes through periods [of poor form].
“There is a lot of pressure also in the sense that you now have an England goalkeeper coming through and, like it or not, in this country when you have an English goalkeeper, that means so much and they really do tend to build them up.”
BELL RANG JAD
Jude Bellingham has revealed he talked to Manchester United target Jadon Sancho before moving to Borussia Dortmund.
The 17-year-old might not be team-mates with the England winger for long.
Sancho is a top Old Trafford target.
The former Birmingham midfielder said: “Weighing all that up and the people we met there, the stadium and fanbase, it made me fall in love with that club as well.
“I’ve met Sancho and we have spoken.
“He is a great example of what you can achieve if you do the right things.”
GREEN SHOOTS OF PROGRESS
Jesse Lingard is very impressed with his new young team-mate Mason Greenwood.
Jesse Lingard how been wowed by Mason Greenwood’s progression at Manchester United pic.twitter.com/pbWtppaNv8
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) July 24, 2020
SEPTEMBER 12 RE-START
Prem clubs have agreed to start next season in September, reports MARTIN LIPTON.
The 20 current shareholder clubs held their last video meeting of the season and confirmed plans to begin the 2020-21 season on the weekend of September 12.
It is understood the Community Shield will be confirmed at Wembley for August 30, with the majority of Prem players then heading around Europe and the world for the first international break since November.
But clubs and fans are set to discover the fixture schedule less than a month before the big kick-off.
SunSport understands the clubs agreed that the fixture list should be agreed and published by August 21, barely three weeks before the new term begins.
But Prem chiefs have to wait until the outcome of the Championship play-off Final before they can work properly on what will be a congested schedule with only a maximum 32 weekend dates rather than the normal 34.
ROM-ANCE OVER?
Sergio Romero could move on this summer, according to reports.
The Argentina international is acutely aware that there could be a battle between David De Gea and Dean Henderson next season and is seeking assurances from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Widely perceived as the best back-up keeper in the world, Romero is also a target for Everton and Leeds United, although he would not be guaranteed a starting berth at either club.
Romero, 33, was left out for the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea, which was a disaster for United as De Gea’s blunder-ridden performance gifted the Blues an easy victory.
RASH WAS IN RUNNING
Marcus Rashford finished third in the Football Writers’ Association player of the year award.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson has won the gong, while Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne was second.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) July 24, 2020
LET’S OUT-FOX THEM
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says United are going to Leicester to try and WIN to ensure top four qualification.
He told the media: “We’re looking forward to the game, we’ve given ourselves a good chance of being in the Champions League next year but we can’t go into a game thinking about what the outcome can be.
“We’ve just got to go and perform and perform at a high enough level and standard so we can get a result.
“We want to go there and dominate the game. We wanted to get this position to be able to go to Leicester and having to beat them and we’re not going to change our approach.
“We want to go there and try and win the game.”
FULLY FIT SQUAD
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not give any new injury news ahead of the Leicester clash.
So he should have a fully-fit squad to choose from at the King Power, with Luke Shaw given the outside chance of a comeback.
OLE ON TRANSFERS
He adds: “There’s no point discussing what we need for next season. I don’t have time for that.
“Our main focus is that we need to focus on the game against Leicester which is the main challenge and focus for this squad.”
TIME AWAY AFTER LEICESTER
Solskjaer says: “We’ll give them some time, they need some mental and physical time away from the place.
“Re-charge the batteries for a few days then go again.
“We’ve got LASK, we’ve got 5-0 and we don’t have to go chasing that game, we just need a good performance.”
OLE ON FANS
He says: “I think the players have just gotten used to that this is the situation now and we’ve just got to get on with it.
“The fans would have made a big difference, of course they would.
“Football without fans is just not the same, it’s just part of football because we are together, it should be with the fans, that enthusiasm, that passion.
“Maybe we needed to go that extra mile against West Ham, or defend better against Southampton
“I think it would have made the difference because our fans are the best, the Stretford End has sucked a few goals in.
“We’ve given our fans something to look forward to and many are looking forward to seeing this team live.”
OLE ON TIREDNESS
The United boss says: “Confidence levels have to be high going into the last game of the season.
“You’d expect any player to have some aches, bruises, tiredness.
“We’ve got enough energy for 90min plus, there’ll be injury time as well.
“Having been so far behind when lockdown restarted, we had to go for it, go for goals and points.
“It’s great to be in this position with one game to go.”
OLE ON FORM
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is talking to the media.
He says: “We’ve reacted well to some games, some games, the last three at home
“And we’ve got results in all of them, which is positive.
“We didn’t enjoy losing against Chelsea, but we’re in third and it’s fantastic to see we’re growing as a team.”
McLOVIN’
Manchester United are reportedly confident of poaching 600-goal academy striker from rivals Man City.
The England youth ace is set to leave the Etihad, having rejected a professional deal.
As reported by the The Daily Mail, McNeill does not turn 17 until September, therefore the two rivals will have to hash out a fee or risk the financials being decided at a tribunal.
The Manchester outfits have reached a stalemate in their talks and it is understood that the whizkid will cost a hefty seven-figure sum given his scintillating strike ability.
Old Trafford are boosted by the fact McNeill is a boyhood United fan and spent his early junior years there before jumping ship to City in 2014.
His mouth-watering goal tally has been clocked up from his stints at both clubs.
ANS IN HIS PANTS?
Barcelona are keen to hold talks with wonderkid Ansu Fati as Manchester United intensity their transfer interest, according to reports.
The 17-year-old’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has informed Barca chiefs that the Red Devils are interested in landing the rapid winger.
Mendes’ tactics appear to be spreading panic among the Catalan side that they could lose their star in the future.
Reports had mounted in Spain that Man Utd had tabled a bid around £90million for Fati which was rejected by Barcelona.
And now the club are keen to hold talks with the player to ensure he commits his future at the Nou Camp alongside a whopping £274m release clause.
Fati only signed his last contract last summer until 2022 with the option of two extra years.
WILL POWER
Arsenal are “confident” of signing Willian from Chelsea, according to ESPN.
The Brazilian would become the latest to make the switch from West to North London, following in the footsteps of Petr Cech and David Luiz in recent years.
The winger is happy to stay at Stamford Bridge, but as he has proven under Frank Lampard, he could act as the perfect right-wing-back in Mikel Arteta’s 3-4-3 system.
According to ESPN Brazil, Manchester United are also monitoring the situation, while Tottenham have also reportedly been interested.
Willian has been offered a two-year deal at Chelsea but the 31-year-old wants a longer-term contract.
ED HUNTING
Manchester United are reportedly set to reignite their pursuit for a director of football.
The club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward first looked at the position two years ago to help the Red Devils on the transfer front.
It was previously reported that club chiefs had a renewed confidence in how potential targets are being identified following the success of January signing Bruno Fernandes.
According to the Telegraph, Woodward has put the role back on his agenda but is yet to start the process of shortlisting the right candidates.
However, the report adds that Henrique is still highly rated, as is Juventus’ Fabio Paratici.
Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta is also among the sporting directors who may be tempted by a switch to United.
BECKHAM VS TRENT STATS
If you want a like-for-like comparison of David Beckham vs Trent Alexander-Arnold, this is the latter’s fourth season in first-team football.
Here are the stats from both players’ fourth seasons in all competitions.
Beckham – 1996/97
Games 49
Goals 12
Assists 10
Yellow cards 7
Minutes 4,146
Alexander-Arnold 2019/20
Games 48
Goals 4
Assists 15
Yellow cards 7
Minutes 3986
GOLDEN BALLS-UP
A Twitter debate has broken out about David Beckham being “overrated”.
The Manchester United legend is being dissed after journalists started comparing him to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
— Cameron (@CL9268) July 24, 2020
— Mandeep Aujla (@Mandeepaujla97) July 24, 2020
Beck’s sooooo clear Trent should be compared with Brooklyn Beckham.
— Ijezie Emeka (@ijezie_emeka) July 24, 2020
— Dylan Baker (@DylanBaker1986) July 24, 2020
NUTS FOR JADON
Jesse Lingard has followed Marcus Rashford by calling for Jadon Sancho to join for Manchester United this summer.
Speaking in his role as ambassador for American Pistachio Growers, the midfielder said: “Jadon is a brilliant player. It is obviously up to him.
“I’ve seen him with England, I’ve seen his qualities and I feel like he’d be a great addition to any team.”
That follows on from Rashford, who said in April: “It would be good. Sancho’s a great player and he’s like a new generation player.
“It’s definitely exciting to watch him become the player he’s becoming.
“Hopefully we can all play together, that would be good.”
NEVILLE – UTD NEED DEPTH
The former Old Trafford full-back said: “When I say that Manchester United need a centre-forward, that’s not me saying they should sell Anthony Martial.
“They need a centre-forward because Manchester United should have two or three great centre-forwards.
“They should have two or three great wingers.
“Not just one in each position.”
NEV’S RED WARNING
Gary Neville reckons Manchester United will struggle to make a title charge next season.
He told Sky Sports: “I don’t think this Manchester United team at this moment can challenge for the title this season.
“It needs more additions and more of the right additions.
“To be fair to Ole, in the time he has been at the club, I think the players he has brought in have improved his team enormously.
“I think that he needs three or four more of those as a minimum before he can even think about getting up into third or second place.
“My concern isn’t really for the front three or the midfield three, it’s the depth and the drop that you have beneath that talent.”
SANCHO LATEST
Man Utd need to secure qualification to the Champions League on Sunday’s final day in order to land Jadon Sancho this summer.
That is according to The Independent, who claim Sancho’s camp are insistent that playing in Europe’s elite competition is close to a deal-breaker.
They say it is also one reason why the deal hasn’t been done yet.
Sources in Germany say Borussia Dortmund are ready to sell the player for the highest price possible this summer.
The Bundesliga club have already brought in youngster Jude Bellingham from Birmingham City and are working on a deal for Werder Bremen’s Milot Rashica.
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