1.30pm Man Utd news LIVE: Spurs ‘first fixture back’, £70m Saul Niguez, Jadon Sancho LATEST, Jude Bellingham updates – The Sun
MANCHESTER UNITED are set for a busy summer in the transfer market.
As Premier League clubs hope to restart the campaign when safe to do so, the Red Devils are reportedly eyeing up a move for Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Follow all the latest updates and transfer news below…
'DINHO WHAT HAPPENED
Paul Scholes has shed light on Ronaldinho’s last-second decision to sign for Barcelona over United in 2003.
He said: “He was away on pre-season and we were as a close as announcing him and giving him a number, but I think he ended up changing his mind at the last minute and signing for Barcelona.
“It's strange really because we played Barcelona on that pre-season tour.
“We were all excited – Ronaldinho, what a player! I think he was coming from PSG at the time and we were all going to get to play with him and he's going to bring something special.
“Almost like what Eric Cantona brought to the team then three days later, we're playing against him and all trying to kick him because he didn't sign for us.
“It was disappointing but I was lucky enough to play with some great players and he'd have just been another unbelievable player I'd had played with but it just never happened.”
BRAN'S THE MAN
United academy chief Nick Cox has told Angel Gomes: bide your time and stay at the club.
The former Watford and Sheffield United coach pointed at Brandon Williams as an example of a late bloomer.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “There is one you didn't expect to get there who does.
“And quite often, superstars will get there, but for every superstar there's a Steady Eddie that no one was expecting, that showed resilience, that showed courage, that hung in there, that found a way, that found some extra resolve that no one else could find.
“And at the right time they arrive into the spotlight, take their opportunity and achieve some things no one anticipated.
“I would suggest Brandon Williams was that type of player. He's taken that course.”
'UDE BE JUST FINE
United are prepared to offer Jude Bellingham first-team football if they land the Birmingham City sensation this summer, according to reports.
SunSport revealed how the Red Devils are preparing to part with £50million to land the 16-year-old midfielder.
And the Standard write that despite his age, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to let him compete with the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes in United's midfield.
Bellingham has already featured 32 times in the Championship this season.
They hope the lure of playing regularly and offering him the opportunity to develop at the Theatre of Dreams will help fend off their rivals.
JOSE'S BOSS BLAST
Jose Mourinho urged his fellow managers to “stay home and watch Bundesliga” if they do not want the Premier League to resume.
The Tottenham boss made it clear he is itching to return to the dugout during the League Managers' Association meeting.
According to The Mirror, Mourinho took a cheeky swipe at the managers that do not want football to return yet.
He allegedly told them: “If you don't want to play, stay home and watch Bundesliga!”
NOT ENOUGH GRAFT
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona would never be able to play together, according to Diego Simeone.
The famously defensively-minded Atletico Madrid boss, 50, has revealed he would never start arguably the three best players of all-time together – because no-one would track back.
Speaking about how Messi and Maradona compare, Simone revealed: “They are different…
“One is a goal-scoring machine. I have suffered daily in recent years [at the hands of Messi].
“The other [Maradona] was Argentine football represented in a person.
“Today it would seem that Messi, more mature, is beginning to externalise. They could play together.”
ON THIS DAY
In 1994, United won the double, thanks to Eric Cantona's two goals from the penalty spot in a 4-0 drubbing of Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Denis Irwin got air miles for the tackle Eddie Newton put in on him, winning the first penalty.
And Peter Schmeichel had a quiet day as United romped past the West London club under the twin towers.
It would be the first of three doubles won by Sir Alex Ferguson, although the third was capped off by a certain triumph in Barcelona five years later.
INTO THE RED
United stars dominate the Sunday Times Young Sport Rich List, with Paul Pogba, David De Gea, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Odion Ighalo all featuring.
Incredibly, five of the wealthiest sports stars aged 30 or under on the planet all play football at Old Trafford.
According to the Times, Pogba is worth a staggering £50million thanks to his £290,000 per week pay-packet at United.
But Pogba doesn't even come close to the most-wealthy young sports star and top footballer – Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, worth an incredible £114m.
De Gea sits level fourth alongside Manchester rival Kevin De Bruyne on £34m.
United forward Martial comes in 11th on £20m, while Shaw (£19m) and Ighalo (£18m) come in at 14th and 15th respectively.
IT'S A KEEPSAKE
United fans have shared an old picture of John “Sonny” Feehan, who signed for the club in 1948.
The Irishman played just 14 times for Sir Matt Busby, but this picture highlights how far the club, its kits and Old Trafford have come in 72 years.
EMPTY HANDED
Premier League clubs are preparing to play the ENTIRETY of next season behind closed doors and face huge financial losses.
Sporting authorities have been warned that all football in England's top-four leagues could be played in front of empty stadiums until a vaccine is created.
According to the Mirror, immunisation could take at least a year to be developed and then distributed which would be disastrous for many teams.
The report adds that there are fears across the 91 Football League clubs that the total loss in income would exceed £1billion.
Many sides in both the Prem and the EFL rely heavily on ticket sales and matchday revenue; Manchester United alone rake in £111million per season.
Despite that, top-flight clubs are likely to survive, as they make a huge proportion of their money from TV rights.
JOOR KIDDING
Carlos Tevez’s agent has hammered Gary Neville for claiming the striker “downed tools” at Manchester United.
Kia Joorabchian disputed Old Trafford legend Nev's verdict that Tevez quickly went from being part of the Premier League's best ever front three to “messing about” at training.
Joorabchian told Sky Sports: “He scored 15 goals with seven assists, his record was superb. Every time, he was available for every game bar the three he missed through injury.
“I think the person's professionalism to be questioned is Gary Neville because he didn't do his homework on Carlos' career.
“By saying things like that, he is putting a mark on the back of a player who has won double or triple the trophies he has ever won.
“And now, at the age of 34 [Tevez is 36], he's just won the league and scored the winning goal with Boca Juniors again.”
SLIDE 'N TACKLE
United goalkeeper Sergio Romero has been ordered to tear down a £20,000 adventure playground on his front garden — after neighbours likened it to a “theme park”.
The Argentinian goalkeeper, 33, and wife Eliana installed the gigantic playhouse for their two young daughters without planning permission.
It boasts a clubhouse, 12ft-high castle, a 10ft slide and a 14ft-high penthouse den.
The family’s £2.8million mansion is a few doors down from former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s home.
After Romero retrospectively applied for planning permission, one neighbour in Wilmslow, Cheshire, complained: “This enormous installation is more suited to a commercial theme park than a quiet residential road.”
Another said: “Usually such a structure would be expected to be positioned in the back garden.”
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
The return of the Premier League is set to kick-off with Friday Night Football live on TV – with Tottenham vs Manchester United favourite for the prime spot.
Top-flight football in England is pencilled in to restart on Friday June 12 following the coronavirus lockdown.
And that night's game will be shown live on TV along with ALL nine other matches that weekend – on Saturday, Sunday and Monday evening.
The Daily Mail claim TV companies have been warned of a bumper restart by football bosses.
The suggestion is that there will be one live match apiece on Friday and Monday evenings.
And the final eight matches will be split equally across Saturday and Sunday, with kick-off times staggered so EVERY match can be watched live on the television.
While the schedule is yet to be chosen, it is expected Man Utd's trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will get the nod, deemed the biggest game of the weekend.
MORNING, RED DEVILS FANS
Michael Ballack has urged Kai Havertz to snub Man Utd this summer.
He said: “Players with Havertz’s quality are in demand everywhere, but he’s in good hands at Bayer Leverkusen.
“The conditions there are perfect for young top players and their development.
“Bayer play attractive football and their training facilities are very good.
“Leverkusen also offer a cautious environment and as a player you can make mistake without being the focus of criticism.
“Of course a player like Havertz has to play in the Champions League so it would be important for Leverkusen to qualify for it.”
Meanwhile, Gary Neville has given his say on Carlos Tevez’s controversial Man Utd exit in 2009 for rivals City.
Neville told Sky Sports: “You can talk about Mane, Salah and Firmino, plus Sterling, Aguero and Sane.
“But you look at that front three of Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo at their peak – it was out of this world.
“What annoyed me about Tevez was that he downed tools in his second season, starting sitting on the treatment bench, coming out late for training.
“He started messing around, he was playing the club and I couldn’t stand that. I understood he had circumstances but his people were in his ear all the time.
“He was so led by his people and it was always going to come to an end like it did. I felt disappointed by that. As a pro, he didn’t act the right way.”
Finally, Paul Scholes has revealed he NEVER wanted to leave United, but if he had it’d have been for Barcelona or AC Milan.
The midfielder said: “I never had any intention or any ambition to play for anyone else.
“The clubs I like abroad; Barcelona in Spain and I always liked AC Milan as well in Italy.
“I think it was more the kit than anything, the red and black stripes and the white shorts!
“And the players. We used to watch Italian football growing up, and you think of Baresi, Maldini, Donadoni and Ancelotti, van Basten… Ruud Gullit as well, an unbelievable team.
“So if I had to, never wanted to, Barcelona or AC Milan.”
BAY ANOTHER DAY
Michael Ballack has urged Kai Havertz to snub Chelsea and Man Utd this summer.
He said: “Players with Havertz’s quality are in demand everywhere, but he’s in good hands at Bayer Leverkusen.
“The conditions there are perfect for young top players and their development.
“Bayer play attractive football and their training facilities are very good.
“Leverkusen also offer a cautious environment and asa player you can make mistake without being the focus of criticism.
“Of course a player like Havertz has to play in the Champions League so it would be important for Leverkusen to qualify for it.”
KNEW HE WAS A SPECIAL RON
Cristiano Ronaldo's breathtaking Man Utd audition for Sporting Lisbon has been broken down by the academy kid he tormented.
Mark Lynch told the Manchester Evening News: “He was a couple of levels above everyone else
“Why that was I don't know, but possibly because we had just been away in America and had to go to Portugal when literally everyone wanted to go home.
“On the night he wanted to make an impact and and show United what he can do. He produced a sizzling display on a really bad pitch. You could hardly control the ball, but he did.
“I was sat on the bench thinking 'this kid's got a bit of something here', but you keep thinking will it continue if he does get tackled hard?
“I remember I caught him in the second-half, went right down his shin and funnily enough I didn't even get booked for it. He's bounced up, put a cross in and they scored from it.
“He just dealt with it and didn't shy away from the physical aspect, he was amazing during that game and it was a steal getting him at the price.
“It is probably no surprise he has become the player he has.”
NOU WAY BACK
Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd have been given a boost with Barcelona reportedly ready to loan out Ousmane Dembele.
AS claims the winger has no future at the Nou Camp.
And Spanish chiefs will green light a loan move this summer.
They are also ready to listen to swap deals or bids of over £53million.
BITTER RUM
Timo Werner has irked Bayern Munich after the Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal target insisted he is not keen on a Bavarian switch.
Werner originally said: “Bayern are a huge club. But if a move were to become an issue at some point, I would be more tempted by a move abroad.”
Stunned Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge responded in Bild: “I’m actually no longer astonished at anything.
“But I have never seen a player make such a statement in response to rumours in public.”
CITY SLACKERS
Man Utd are lagging behind neighbours City in creating an impact off the pitch as well as on it, according to Gary Neville.
He told Sky Sports: “When I think of Manchester United and the land Manchester United own, there should be a Man United World around there.
“They should be influencing education and community, there should be entertainment for the public, it should be a real experience of Manchester United around that stadium.
“Old Trafford has been allowed to tire, the team has been tiring, the stadium is starting to look old and it needs investment.
“Around the area, there is a huge opportunity to create a Man United experience, something that can influence not just Manchester – their reach is global.
“Old Trafford is a special place, it could be so much more special. If you tap into what City have done over there with a far lesser name and a far more difficult hand to play.
“The opportunities for United are big, but they have to have a strategy and an ambition to deliver what it can be.
“The City owners have a vision of what they want for their football club and their football product to be while United seems more insular at this point in time.”
RASH MOVE
Man Utd twice missed the chance to sign Moussa Dembele.
Now United face shelling out £60million to beat Chelsea for the Lyon striker.
Sources in France confirm that four years ago the Old Trafford club were very keen on Dembele, then at Fulham, but chose to put their faith in the emerging Marcus Rashford instead.
United chiefs told the striker’s agent to try to find him a club close by so that they could keep an eye on his development.
Dembele went to Celtic but when the time came for him to move on again, Lyon snapped him up for £20m in 2018.
To be fair to United, Rashford has justified the confidence they showed in him.
But bringing in Dembele to play alongside him will cost the club a huge sum and give Celtic a bonus of £3m thanks to a sell-on clause.
IN FOR THE KELL
Celtic starlet Daniel Kelly is reportedly at the centre of a five-way transfer battle as Premier League teams look to lure him south of the border.
According to the Glasgow Times, Kelly has starred for the Hoops in the U-15 side all the way to the U-18s.
And they claim that Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all interested in the youngster as they look to lure him to snare him away from Scotland.
They also add that both Leicester and Tottenham are keeping tabs on the highly-rated box-to-box midfielder.
Celtic are said to be desperate to keep hold of the player as they look to avoid losing him on a nominal fee.
CARL ME MAYBE
Gary Neville has given his say on Carlos Tevez’s controversial Man Utd exit in 2009 for rivals City.
Neville told Sky Sports: “You can talk about Mane, Salah and Firmino, plus Sterling, Aguero and Sane.
“But you look at that front three of Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo at their peak – it was out of this world.
“What annoyed me about Tevez was that he downed tools in his second season, starting sitting on the treatment bench, coming out late for training.
“He started messing around, he was playing the club and I couldn’t stand that. I understood he had circumstances but his people were in his ear all the time.
“He was so led by his people and it was always going to come to an end like it did. I felt disappointed by that. As a pro, he didn’t act the right way.”
BECKS APPEAL
Man Utd legend David Beckham quizzed Spurs boss and former Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho on how to look after his Inter Miami stars after paying a visit to Tottenham's North London stadium before the coronavirus lockdown.
He told AIA: “As an I owner I want to help my team be the best they possibly can.
“To get insight from a manager as experienced and successful as Jose was a real privilege.
“There’s a lot of science and new thinking in the game since I was a player but it’s clear that simple things like a solid routine and great sleep are still really important.”
AC POWER
Paul Scholes has revealed he NEVER wanted to leave United, but if he had it’d have been for Barcelona or AC Milan.
The midfielder said: “I never had any intention or any ambition to play for anyone else.
“The clubs I like abroad; Barcelona in Spain and I always liked AC Milan as well in Italy.
“I think it was more the kit than anything, the red and black stripes and the white shorts!
“And the players. We used to watch Italian football growing up, and you think of Baresi, Maldini, Donadoni and Ancelotti, van Basten… Ruud Gullit as well, an unbelievable team.
“So if I had to, never wanted to, Barcelona or AC Milan.”
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
More proof Harry Maguire has been having a very good season indeed.
DOG DAYS ARE OVER
Phil Jones was spotted training alone at a field in Cheshire – 24 hours after his team-mates linked up for a similar session.
The Manchester United defender, 28, only had a dog to contend with as he tried to get back up to speed after the lengthy lay-off.
The defender was snapped by the pup-arazzi as he did some sprinting drills on Wednesday morning.
Jones appeared to timing himself on his Smart watch as he worked up a sweat ahead of his return to Carrington.
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