12pm Man Utd news LIVE: Grealish preferred to Havertz, Pogba expects to STAY, Sancho haircut fine, fixtures CONFIRMED – The Sun
MAN UTD are continuing preparations for the return of the Premier League and a Friday night clash with Jose Mourinho's Tottenham.
And Paul Pogba now expects to stay at the club, while the signing of Jadon Sancho may have moved a step closer and Jack Grealish remains the Red Devils priority in midfield over Kai Havertz.
Follow all the very latest news from Old Trafford below…
HAV SOME OF JACK
Manchester United are monitoring the progress of Kai Havertz at Bayer Leverkusen but he is not a top target, according to reports.
Havertz, who takes on Bayern Munich this afternoon, has been regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford.
However, Goal insist that if the Red Devils are to sign a midfielder this summer it will most likely be Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.
REDS BID
Manchester United look set to beat Arsenal in the race to nab young Argentina hot shot Thiago Almada.
The Velez Sarfield playmaker, dubbed the new Lionel Messi, has been attracting the attention of Europe’s football giants including United’s rivals Man City.
The teenager, who City have also been eyeing as a possible replacement for David Silva, is reported to be a top summer transfer target for the Arsenal.
Almada, 19, is believed to have a £19 million release clause in his contract which the Red Devils may have to stump up should they wish to beat their rivals to his signature.
RETURN OF THE REDS
Man Utd's first Premier League games back after Project Restart.
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New cameras in the tunnel (without audio) will help supporters see the build-up to the match and the coin-toss will also be filmed.
There will also be a celebration camera and no doubt players will be working out how to use that if they have to socially distance!
And, a lovely touch, all players shirts will feature the NHS on the front of their playing kits.
So we are in good shape. We are ready. We are raring to go.
ZONING IN – KARREN BRADY EXCLUSIVE
As the games will be behind closed doors, the PL have done a fantastic job working with the broadcasters to enhance the match-day experience for viewers.
The PL clubs approved a new rule that will see the lower-tier seats at all 20 stadiums covered.
This will help with acoustics and feature clubs’ insignia and fan representation and will be centrally sourced by the PL and installed by them into our 20 stadiums.
Supporters watching from home will get a 360-degree replay of the action, crowd noise (if they want that) and fan walls…
RED-Y TO GO
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident Manchester United can continue their pre-lockdown unbeaten run when they face Tottenham in two weeks' time.
The Red Devils are back in action on June 19 for the first time since a 5-0 Europa League win over Austrian side LASK, which extended their unbeaten streak to ten games before the season was suspended.
Speaking to the club's official website, he said: “The first game is two weeks from today so we need to step up the training and get an edge to our game again.
“Everyone knows that we will have to be at our best, have to be focused. We know it’s a big game for everyone.
“We had Chelsea when we started the league this season so I’m confident that our players can go into the Tottenham game with that mentality of going there to play a very good game of football.”
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Other innovations include Sky Sports Fanzone where you can have a game-long video chat with six pals – so you can “virtually” watch the game together as if you were sitting together in the pub or in your living room.
And there is quick game recap at any point in a match.
It is hoped Sky Sports Recap will help hardcore footy fans under pressure not to watch every game from their other halves – and help their family prise them away from the telly.
All 92 remaining matches will be televised live, the vast majority on Sky Sports and BT Sport, although Amazon Prime and the BBC have been granted a handful of games.
It will be the first time all games over several game weeks have all been shown on TV.
CHANTS TO CHEER – EXCLUSIVE
Premier League fans will be able to virtually cheer on their team when crowdless games return – by voting against rival supporters to hear their team’s best chants.
It could see Liverpool supporters still going head to head with those from Everton in the potential title-winning game, as part of a raft of innovations from Sky Sports.
At various points in the game, fans can vote on their favourite chants under Sky Sports Crowds – and they will be part of the audio mix.
Realistic crowd sounds and chants are being taken from the FIFA football computer game…
COMINGS AND DIOGO-INGS
Man Utd posted a happy anniversary post to Diogo Dalot this morning to mark two years since the Portuguese wing-back joined the club.
WE ARE ALL HUMAN
Odion Ighalo has vowed to walk off the pitch if he is racially abused again.
The Manchester United star, 30, revealed he was called “all sorts of names” by an opponent in China.
He told Sky Sports News: “If it happens to me I would report it to the referee and see what they do.
“But if they don't take action about it then I'm going to walk off because it should not be done to any player or anyone in the world.
“In one game in China I got called all sorts of names and after the game, I didn't shake his hand. I walked straight into the dressing room, I was angry, I reported it to the FA.
“I didn't press forward with it, I just let it go because I'm just this kind of guy. I don't like to drag issues out. But I don't think it should be condoned in any country.”
MORNING MAN UTD FANS
Jude Bellingham will reportedly see out the season as a Birmingham scholar before a potential summer switch to Manchester United.
The Red Devils are competing with Borussia Dortmund to sign the teen sensation after his breakout season at St Andrews.
Long tipped to leave Blues at the end of the season, Bellingham is set to remain on his £145 weekly wage for the rest of the extended campaign.
According to the Mail, the 16-year-old and his family maintain a strong relationship with the club.
Meanwhile, United's reluctance to go all-in for Timo Werner is down to their determination to get Jadon Sancho, according to reports.
Sam Pileger tweeted that the club's “growing confidence” in signing Dortmund superstar Sancho, 20, is a symptom of their refusal to go all-in for Werner.
In other news, United are in a race with AC Milan for the signing of Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis, according to reports.
His agent, Bruno Carvalho Santos, had a meeting with United in January.
He told ESPN: “Florentino is one of the highest rated young defensive midfielders in Europe, so there is a lot of interest in him at the moment.
“There has been a lot of talk about Milan, but I can tell you that there is a lot of competition for his services, with clubs in England, Germany and Spain also following him closely.”
And finally, United are set to ‘bring forward’ their chase for Thiago Almada to this summer, because his value is set to soar.
The 19-year-old, who plays for Velez Sarsfield, has scored five times in 25 games for the Argentinian club this season.
SunSport reported two days ago that the youngster has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including the Red Devils.
REAL TALK
Gareth Bale's agent says the Real Madrid star does NOT want a Premier League return this summer to deal Man Utd a major blow.
Jonathan Barnett told BBC Radio 4: “I have no idea what his value is. His salary is quite high and also where he wants to go is very important in his life. I can’t put a figure on it.
“It’s for the clubs to decide what they want to pay for him.
“As I’ve always said, he’s quite happy at Madrid. He has a very nice lifestyle, I don’t see why he wouldn’t see his career out in Madrid probably.
“It’s his life that he wants to lead. Financially he will want enough for the rest of his life and all his children and grandchildren. He’s won nearly everything in the world except the World Cup.
“To come back and play [in England] would be a big thing but I don’t think he wants to do that at the moment as he’s quite happy to play at Real Madrid.”
IRN BRU
MILIK-ING IT
Man Utd could secure a cut-price transfer for Arkadiusz Milik after Napoli reportedly dropped their £45million asking price for anyone but Juventus.
The Polish striker has found the net 12 times in 22 appearances for Gennaro Gattuso's side this term.
Naples chief Aurelio De Laurentiis is prepared to cash-in on the Pole for an offer below their original £45m asking price.
Juventus are believed to be interested in acquiring Milik's services but De Laurentiis is unwilling to sell to a Serie A arch rival.
According to La Repubblica, it is Arsenal that are in pole position to land the 26-year-old this summer, but face a fight from a number of Premier League clubs.
SPECIAL JUAN
KEANO-KO
Rio Ferdinand has revealed the BRUTAL way Sir Alex Ferguson axed Roy Keane.
The pair had an infamous falling out at Old Trafford following the Irishman's rant about young players not performing in 2005.
During a never-aired MUTV interview, Keane is alleged to have laid into several players individually.
It put him on the warpath with Ferguson though, who had a heated exchange with Keane, whose contract was running down anyway.
The midfield commander was then told he had to leave United and Ferguson was left to inform the players of his departure.
Ferdinand recalled: “The club didn't want [it] to go out, the manager thought it was disrespectful to the team.
“The next day, he told the players that Roy Keane will never come back to Man Utd again.”
SAN STORM
Man Utd target Jadon Sancho has hit back after being slapped with a fine for breaking lockdown rules to get a haircut.
The German Football League (DFL) released a statement on Friday confirming the punishment for the winger and Borussia Dortmund team-mate Manuel Akanji.
But Sancho quickly slammed the fine, tweeting: “Absolute Joke DFL!”
According to the DFL, the Borussia stars failed to abide by “hygiene standards” when having their barnets trimmed while under lockdown.
https://twitter.com/Sanchooo10/status/1268937366254825473
PASS THE POPCORN
BT Sport viewers will be given the option to listen to artificial crowd noise when the Premier League returns later this month.
With games being played behind closed doors, ways to increase the atmosphere have been among the many plans to liven up broadcasts in Project Restart.
Bundesliga broadcasts on the channel have not made up for the lack of supporters, leading to some viewers finding the resumed matches eerie and lacklustre.
Meanwhile the synthetic atmosphere laid on top of Australia's rugby league broadcasts have been well received.
BT will give viewers the choice to stick to the empty stadiums or listen to the artificial crowd noise via the red button.
Another feature being introduced for the Premier League's restart is a “watch together” split screen mode.
Viewers watching on the BT Sport app can link up with a friend or family member also watching on their phone or computer – providing they have a BT subscription.
MINI-DERBY
Aston Villa are set to host rivals West Brom in a behind-closed-doors friendly this Saturday as the restart of the Premier League and Championship looms closer.
According to the Daily Mail, the Baggies plan to take two teams to Villa Park and the possibility of two one-hour matches is on the cards, with a staff member set to referee the mini derby.
Villa are 19th in the table and two points from safety, but could be heading for the drop if they continue their disappointing run of form when the top-flight resumes on June 17.
They may even swap places with Slaven Bilic's men who sit second from top in the Championship.
The clash is reportedly being set up to boost competitive fitness levels while the Villans may look to test the fitness of their midfield maestro John McGinn.
JADON RAP
Man Utd target has been slapped with a fine after breaking lockdown rules to get a haircut.
Along with fellow Borussia Dortmund star Manuel Akanji, the winger has managed to avoid a ban from playing in the Bundesliga.
The German Football League (DFL) released a statement on Friday confirming the punishment.
It read: “The DFL has fined Manuel Akanji and Jadon Sancho.
“The Borussia Dortmund players had reportedly violated general hygiene and infection protection standards during home hairdressing appointments. This can be seen in photos published in the media and on social media.
“There is no question that professional footballers do have to have their hair cut. However, this currently has to be done in accordance with the medical guidelines.
“In specific cases, the club had also provided its players with a corresponding opportunity. The DFL does not provide any information about the amount of a penalty in contractual penalty proceedings.
“Players have the right to lodge a complaint within five days. The penalties are expressly not directed against the club, for which there is no 'organizational fault'.”
OLE TRAFFORD
IT'S JUAN SPECIAL CLUB
Juan Mata admits he finds it “surreal” to play for Manchester United and is still excited at the prospect of winning trophies at the club.
The 32-year-old signed for United in 2014 and has won the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup while making over 200 appearances.
He has played under David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer so is part of the furniture at Old Trafford, but still has to pinch himself every day.
The Spaniard said in Amazon Prime's exclusive docuseries Living Abroad: “That feeling of being a Manchester United player is really special and almost unique in football.
“At times it feels surreal that in the morning I put on that shirt to train that I play in the stadium where players like Eric Cantona, George Best, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have played.
“Players I watched as a kid from far away and especially that generation of Beckham, Scholes, Giggs and now I'm playing in their team and I am proud of that.”
UNDER PAR
Ray Parlour is stunned Manchester United have not pushed harder for Timo Werner.
He said on talkSPORT: “I’m amazed that Man United are not in for Werner.
“They’ve got money and probably do need another striker; [Marcus] Rashford can play wide if you need him to off the flank.
“I’m sure Manchester United might make a last-minute pop for Werner as well.
“I think the agent is trying to work the market now; that is how they work, putting it out there that the deal is nearly done and alerting other clubs so they have to pull their finger out.
“If we really want this player then we’ve got to up the money and up the wages’, and suddenly it could be a different factor for Chelsea.”
LET'S 'GO
United are set to ‘bring forward’ their chase for Thiago Almada to this summer, because his value is set to soar.
The 19-year-old, who plays for Velez Sarsfield, has scored five times in 25 games for the Argentinian club this season.
SunSport reported 48 hours ago that the youngster has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including the Red Devils.
With his eye for a pass and ability to play on the turn in tight spaces, Almada has been likened to David Silva and no wonder City have also been having a look at him.
Almada has already trained with the senior Argentina squad and shared a picture playing alongside Lionel Messi two years ago in training.
OCTO-GOING, OCTO-GONE?
United are in a race with AC Milan for the signing of Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis, according to reports.
His agent, Bruno Carvalho Santos, had a meeting with United in January and he turns 21 in August.
Florentino is nicknamed ‘The Octopus’ because of his ability to cover ground and get his long limbs stick in to win balls back in midfield.
Bayer Leverkusen, Real Betis and Leeds are also reportedly interested.
His agent told ESPN: “Florentino is one of the highest rated young defensive midfielders in Europe, so there is a lot of interest in him at the moment.
“There has been a lot of talk about Milan, but I can tell you that there is a lot of competition for his services, with clubs in England, Germany and Spain also following him closely.”
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