7am Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Harvey Barnes targeted EXCLUSIVE, Woodward backs Solskjaer, Haaland pursuit LATEST
MANCHESTER UNITED should be looking to do some transfer business in January – and Ed Woodward has publicly backed boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
We've the very latest on Erling Haaland, plus an exclusive on United's interest in Harvey Barnes.
Get all the latest news, updates and gossip from Old Trafford here…
- Etienne Fermie
GOOD MORNING RED DEVILS
SunSport can reveal that Manchester United are keeping tabs on Leicester winger Harvey Barnes as a possible transfer alternative to Jadon Sancho.
The 22-year-old attacker has had an impressive season so far and made his debut for England in a 3-0 win over Wales in October.
The Red Devils scouting department have been impressed with the Foxes ace, and have been watching him closely.
SunSport understands Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also a fan of Barnes, and has been keeping a close watch on his progress.
And United could be tempted into making a move, with Borussia Dortmund still refusing to lower their £100m-plus asking price for Sancho.
But one current Red Devil has been told to LEAVE Old Trafford.
Sam Johnstone has told former team-mate Dean Henderson he must quit Old Trafford for the sake of his career.
The West Brom ace said: “I couldn’t think of anything worse than being there and not playing. You want to be playing as a keeper.
“All Dean wants to do is keep playing. It’s stalled even though he is at a massive club.”
Elsewhere, target Eduardo Camavinga has changed agent and is now represented by Gareth Bale’s right-hand man – Jonathan Barnett.
And Ed Woodward has backed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to deliver as United boss.
In the virtual meeting, Woodward admitted United needed to work harder to get back to winning trophies.
But he added he would commit to spending money in summer transfer windows in a bid to help Solskjaer achieve that goal, saying he 'believes' in the current boss.
The Red Devils face West Ham at London Stadium this evening.
- Marc Mayo
LONDON CALLING
Manchester United are back in action at 5.30pm on Saturday – away to West Ham.
Join us tomorrow for all the build-up, action and reaction to the meeting of two in-form teams!
- Marc Mayo
RYAN ON SIDELINES
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has had his ‘special leave’ extended to cover the 2022 World Cup draw on Monday.
The Wales boss missed three internationals last month following his November 1 arrest on suspicion of actual bodily harm and assault after an alleged bust-up with his on-off girlfriend.
Giggs has been re-bailed ‘pending further enquiries’ by Greater Manchester Police until February 1. The 47-year-old denies the allegations.
But the FA of Wales announced that caretaker boss Rob Page will represent the Dragons in Zoom media duties following the virtual draw in Zurich.
The FAW are due to conduct their own investigation into the matter.
- Marc Mayo
WHITE FLAG
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has thrown his weight behind Arsene Wenger’s planned reform of the offside laws.
SunSport revealed earlier this year how former Arsenal manager Wenger, now head of Fifa’s global development department, wants a radical change to stop 'marginal offsides'.
Infantino said: “The offside rule has evolved over the last 100 years. Arsene and our head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, are debating if they can make it better and foster offensive football.
“The question is whether we should give more advantage to the attacking player, which is always how the rule has evolved.
“That would mean no more 'marginal offsides', as we are seeing with VAR, because the player would really have to be in front of the defender.
“I know that attackers and midfielders are very favourable to this, while goalkeepers and defenders have more worries. Ifab will be dealing with this later this month.”
- Marc Mayo
FAC OF THE NET
Facundo Pellistri netted his first goal in a Manchester United shirt last night.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken of the young winger's extra involvement in training of late and he struck this fine finish for the Under-23s.
It helped United to a 3-1 win over Southampton.
- Marc Mayo
DILLY DALOT
Diogo Dalot has praised AC Milan for reigniting his ‘desire’ to play football.
The full-back is enjoying a loan spell in Serie A and said ahead of last night’s win over Celtic that his move has been ‘fantastic’.
He told reporters: “It’s been a great few months in terms of adaptation. Italy is similar to Portugal. The club is amazing, I’m happy to be here.
“I come every day with desire to train and play. The team-mates help me with the language and adapting to the city. I’ve been trying to adapt quickly, I’m learning Italian. The players, staff and everyone else at the club have been very helpful to me.
“It’s fantastic to learn the tactics of the game here in Italy. Having a coach close to the player always trying to teach and explain is great. Our relationship is not just manager-players. This helps me to improve.”
- Marc Mayo
ALL OVER IN LEIGH
Manchester United are off to a winning start this weekend – with the Under-23s beating Southampton.
A fine finish from outside the box by Anthony Elaga got the hosts off to a great start before Facundo Pellistri scored.
Michael Obafemi gave Saints hope before an injury-tiem Arnau Puigmal goal made it 3-1 to United.
- Marc Mayo
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Manchester United are out for a ninth-straight away league win at West Ham tomorrow.
Can they extend their club record?
Kick-off is at 5.30pm and SunSport will be keeping you abreast of all the action.
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- Marc Mayo
ANT MAN
Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri have opened the scoring in Manchester United Under-23s' game with Southampton.
A free-kick from the 18-year-old Swede hit the wall before he buried the rebound on the volley.
Pellistri then doubled the advantage after the break before Michael Obafemi struck back for Saints.
Still over half an hour to see out for the young Devils…
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
- Marc Mayo
FER REAL
Bruno Fernandes is on the Premier League’s Player of the Month shortlist for November.
Four goals and two assists have earned the Portuguese star a place among the nominees for the fan vote.
He is up against Ben Chilwell, Jack Grealish, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Angelo Ogbonna and James Ward-Prowse.
- Marc Mayo
MAN OF THE MOMENT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard will duel for the November Premier League Manager of the Month award.
Manchester United have won three and lost one in the month, with Chelsea claiming two wins and a draw.
They take on Jose Mourinho with Tottenham going top of the league thanks to 10 points from a possible 12.
Only David Moyes of the four-man shortlist has a 100 per cent record – winning three in three last month.
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- Marc Mayo
YOU’RE JO-KING
Jose Mourinho cannot believe Manchester United still have a game in hand.
League leaders Tottenham are one of many to face a mountain of matches this season and the coach reckons it will be difficult to find time for the Red Devils to finally play the delayed season-opener versus Burnley.
He said: “It is very difficult to accept that four clubs have one match less than the others and I don’t even know when they’re going to play these matches which in every country would be impossible.
"They have to be played until at least the end of the first round of games. Before matchday 19, they should be playing these matches.
“I don’t even know when Burnley, City, Aston Villa, United – and now Newcastle and Aston Villa – are going to play. It can affect the competition. I was trying to find an answer this week and no one can give me that answer.
“We played four matches in one week and nobody was crying or supporting us."
Credit: AFP or licensors - Marc Mayo
AM GETTING THERE
Amad Diallo will join Manchester United in just a few weeks when his deal from Atalanta goes through.
The 18-year-old Ivorian has only appeared twice for the Serie A side, spending much of the season on the bench.
And he may have to remain in Italy if United cannot sort a work permit in time – a factor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not worried about.
The boss said: “Amad has come on a few times for Atalanta and is a very exciting talent.
“Hopefully we’ll get the work permit and he’ll be with us in January.
“He’s a very, very exciting boy as well.’
- Marc Mayo
RIV-ETING
Brazil legend Rivaldo has had his say on Fred’s sending off against PSG.
After the midfielder was handed two bookings in the Champions League defeat, his countryman believes he needs a better grip on his temper.
Rivaldo told Betfair: "Fred's sending off arguably cost Manchester United the match against Paris Saint-Germain as the Red Devils looked capable of mounting a comeback and even going on to win.
"The Brazilian needs to learn to control his temper, especially in such a big match, and be patient.
"When you are chasing a game you might commit mistakes that will harm the team even more – as Fred did – so it's crucial to take a second, breathe in and breathe out, before going into risky challenges."
- Marc Mayo
OUT OF TUCH
Thomas Tuchel could become a big contender for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job in the summer.
Bild reckon the German will leave Paris Saint-Germain in the summer with a Premier League move on his mind.
It is said that Manchester United have been keen on Tuchel in the past.
And reports suggest they may rekindle their interest should Solskjaer fail to deliver between now and the end of the campaign.
Credit: Reuters
- Marc Mayo
TIME WILL PELL
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be about to hand Facundo Pellistri his debut.
The Uruguayan joined Manchester United on deadline day and is now ‘more used’ to his new surroundings – opening the door for a runout.
The boss said: “Facundo has come in trained with the first-team, he’s done well.
“We felt now is time for him to get game time.
“He played a couple of games in reserves, gradually settled in nicely and is more used to us.”
- Marc Mayo
GAZ YER LOT
Jurgen Klopp has hit back at Man Utd favourite Gary Neville and claimed his fixture rants are because he cares about ALL players – not just his Liverpool side.
The German boss, 53, has publicly raged about the Premier League's fixture pile-up amid an ongoing injury crisis at Anfield.
Neville responded to Klopp's outburst by suggesting he only aims to improve his players' rest and get the most favourable kick-off times for his squad.
And Klopp has now retorted: "I heard now Gary Neville said – I understood it but I can't remember what he exactly said – but it's not about Liverpool.
"Whatever he thinks maybe is evidence of what he would do, how he would deal with a situation like that but he cannot think or should not think that I'm like him because I'm not like him, I speak about all the players and not only the Liverpool players.
"He said three subs helps them. It is only because we haven't voted yesterday it doesn't make the problem go away.
"It's not about Liverpool, I don't really have five players at the moment I can bring, I can bring kids and stuff like this and that's all ok and it's our problem nothing to do with the general problem but it's about all the players, and it's about load management and nothing else."
- Joe Miles
MOUR TO GO ON
Jose Mourinho believes that he can manage at the top for another 10-15 years.
The Portuguese, 57, has been coaching for the last 20 years, having previously worked as Sir Bobby Robson's translator at Barcelona in the 1990s.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss said: “I’m a 57-year-old, very young in relation to my job, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I have 10-15 years ahead of me.
"I just try to enjoy my life and to enjoy my life is also to have the privilege of a job which is a passion, a hobby if you want, a full-time hobby.
"It’s my world, the world where I was born, it’s the world that I belong.
“Everybody saying my career is long, which is true, but I don’t see the end."
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Joe Miles
TAKING THE MICH
Manchester United have been handed a huge boost of their game against West Ham.
David Moyes has confirmed Michail Antonio will NOT be available for the game.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, he said: "Micky is out for tomorrow, we don't know how long hewill be out for.
"He is still having a bit of a problem with his hamstring.
"It's not the same injury, we think it is slightly different. In the main, we have a fully fit squad.
- Joe Miles
SHAWLY NOT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Luke Shaw remains out of action.
The defender will not be fit to face West Ham this weeken dafter missing training.
Solskjaer said: "Luke's not ready yet.
"Apart from that we had a big squad training again."
- Joe Miles
GUNNAR MAKE IT?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided an injury update on Marcus Rashford.
The Red Devils boss is hopeful that the striker will travel to West Ham tomorrow.
Speaking at today's press conference, he said: "Marcus has been training this morning, not fully but he joined in with the group.
"His shoulder stopped him finishing the game so he's been getting treatment and hopefully he'll be part of the squad that travels, we'll see after training."
Credit: Reuters
- Joe Miles
CAM & GET HIM
Eduardo Camavinga has signed with Gareth Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, opening the door for a Premier League move.
Last week, the Rennes wonderkid, 18, sacked his agent, Moussa Sissoko, with a host of European giants chasing his signature.
Real Madrid have long shown an interest in the midfielder and likely would have tried to sign him in the summer, but for being hit hard financially by the coronavirus pandemic.
More-recently though, Manchester United have emerged as one of the front-runners to sign Camavinga.
- Joe Miles
EXCLUSIVE by Daniel Cutts
Manchester United are keeping tabs on Leicester winger Harvey Barnes as a possible transfer alternative to Jadon Sancho.
The 22-year-old attacker has had an impressive season so far and made his debut for England in a 3-0 win over Wales in October.
The Red Devils scouting department have been impressed with the Foxes ace, and have been watching him closely.
SunSport understands Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also a fan of Barnes, and has been keeping a close watch on his progress.
And United could be tempted into making a move, with Borussia Dortmund still refusing to lower their £100m-plus asking price for Sancho.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Joe Miles
RASH DECISION
Manchester United travel to West Ham on Saturday with injury concerns over David De Gea and Marcus Rashford.
Rashford is an injury concern after hurting his shoulder during the 3-1 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
De Gea is still feeling the pain after injuring himself during the nervy 3-2 win over Southampton last weekend.
Here's how SunSport's Dave Fraser predicts United will start…
- Joe Miles
BOLD TRAFFORD
United chief Ed Woodward revealed the club would focus on doing big business in summer transfer windows moving forward.
At the recent Manchester United fans' forum meeting, Woodward revealed the club would target a 'long-term approach to recruitment, focused on the summer windows.'
United signed Donny van de Beek, Edinson Cavani, Alex Telles, Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo in the summer of 2021 – spending around £100million.
And Woodward's most-recent claim suggest the big-money buys are set to continue moving forward.
With that in mind, click HERE to find out the FIVE players that United could sign next summer.
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