2pm Man Utd news LIVE: Werner could replace Ighalo, Pogba should leave – Ferdinand, Saul Niguez available for £65m – The Sun
MANCHESTER UNITED are gearing up for a return to training but Paul Pogba has surprisingly been encouraged to leave the Red Devils by Rio Ferdinand.
Meanwhile a deal for Jadon Sancho is moving closer and Timo Werner is being lined up as another option up front.
Follow all the latest Old Trafford news and transfer gossip below…
RED HOT MEALS
Manchester United are delivering and sending meals to NHS staff and vulnerable people from Old Trafford.
United have kept their stadium chefs in work making and delivering 60,000 meals around the area.
NHS staff based at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, who would normally have to provide their own meals while on-duty, will benefit from the service.
WILL HE OR WERN'T HE?
Manchester United are set to enter the race for Timo Werner as part of a new data-driven strategy.
The MEN reports that United are now using third party analytics on a larger scale than ever to decide transfer policy and have already decided upon Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish as their top targets in other positions.
And it is said that this approach has led them in the direction of RB Leipzig forward Werner.
However, the report also claims that they have not entirely ruled out turning Odion Ighalo's loan into a permanent deal.
BETTER HAUL SAUL
Atletico Madrid may have to cut a deal with Manchester United for Saul Niguez to escape a financial “crisis” brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
While clubs worldwide stand to lose considerable funds during the pandemic, the Spanish side particularly risk having their budget slashed if LaLiga is cancelled early.
Currently sat in sixth place with 11 games to play, Atletico will likely miss out on Champions League qualification and the riches that it brings if the 2019/20 campaign ends here.
Indeed, even a restart holds no guarantees that Los Rojiblancos can clamber into the top-four when up against Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Getafe and Valencia.
According to AS, via Sport Witness, a financial timebomb is set in Atletico's accounts could most easily be quashed with player sales.
Chief among their most in-demand assets is Saul.
LETHAL IN THE BOX
Huge boxing fan Wayne Rooney has shared this throwback picture of himself with Mike Tyson.
The former United star is a keen boxing fan, but as fans will remember, he isn't too hot when getting sparked himself.
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⚽️? #tbt
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JUNE 8 RETURN
Gary Neville has revealed that the second week of June is being looked at for the Premier League return.
But he says “no-one wants to put their name against this one.”
TOUGH TO SWALLOW
Here is how much Premier League teams will lose if the season is scrapped.
SIX OF THE BEST
Rio Ferdinand has revealed his excitement at Manchester United's “mouthwatering” potential front-six for next season.
With another summer window ahead, Ferdinand is licking his lips at the prospect of another big-name star arriving in Jadon Sancho.
An excitable Ferdinand told FIVE's YouTube channel: “If I was looking at the team now and you have McTominay with Bruno [Fernandes] on one side of the three and Pogba on the other…
“Rashford up front, Martial on the left, James or Sancho if they buy him on the right.
“You can’t tell me other midfielders aren’t going to be thinking, 'if these lot are on fire today we’re going to have to be on a game, it’s going to be a hard day work for us'.
“There’s ability there, it’s ridiculous.
“If they can find that cohesion, the team set-up for them to flourish, it’s mouthwatering what could happen.”
WELCOME TO THE PARTEY
Arsenal have been joined by European giants Bayern Munich and Paris-Saint Germain in the race to land Thomas Partey.
Spanish outlet Eldesmarque claim that the Gunners are the team that have shown the most interest for the Atletico Madrid star but Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan also remain options.
The outlet adds that PSG are considering activating the midfielder’s £44million release clause while Atleti are yet to give up on the Ghanaian signing a renewal.
Bundesliga champions Bayern have also listed Partey as one of the names to replace veteran Javi Martinez, 31, whose contract expires next year.
It was previously reported that Arsenal’s hopes of landing the holding midfielder this summer rest on their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
BREAKING
The Premier League is planning to return on June 8, with clubs sent a proposed new timetable to finish the season despite the despite coronavirus pandemic.
As revealed by SunSport, the top-flight is aiming to return in just six weeks.
But now league chiefs have sent a games schedule around to all 20 clubs ahead of a crunch meeting on Friday.
'LET'S GOO'
Jesse Lingard has shared his brutal circuits session with friends over Zoom.
The United midfielder's brutal regime lists as follows:
– High knees – 30sec
– Up downs – 30sec
– Walk through – 30sec
– Static squat hold, calf raise – 30sec
– Sit ups x10
– Sit up touch side of foot x10
– Sit up TUT x10
– Touch heels x10
– Leg raisers x10
– Press ups x8, army x8, diamond x8, arms out x8
– Press up to plank x10
– Plank leg raise x10 each leg
– Side planks leg raises x10 right/left
– Squat x20
– Lunges x20
– Jump squats x20
– Alternate jump lunge x20
– Wide press-ups every 5sec 1min, 45sec, 30sec
– Last set one leg
– Core abs/breathing
– Sit up arms out x5
– 20x Russian twist
– 10x knees to chest
– Superman hold 20sec
COLE’S KIDNEY HELL
Cole added: “I’m still here, that’s the most important thing.
“But people don’t understand what you go through with this illness.
“They look at a transplant patient and say: ‘You’re OK. You look really well.’
“Externally that can be true. But, internally, many things are going on.
“You’re dealing with the medication and your moods. I’ve been very fortunate I’m never angry about it.
“Your mental wellbeing is paramount because it’s so tough to deal with a disease that one day you feel unbelievably well and the next day you feel like a bag of s***.”
COLEY'S STRUGGLES
Andy Cole revealed he has considered “giving up” as he lifted the lid on his battle against kidney failure.
The Manchester United legend fell ill in 2015 after contracting a virus while on tour in Vietnam as a club ambassador.
After suffering kidney failure, Cole underwent a transplant in 2017 after his nephew stepped forward as a donor.
During an interview with The Guardian, the 48-year-old said: “There are many, many times when I want to give up, period, not just on life but give up on everything.
“It becomes so difficult. I was struggling last Wednesday.
“It totally came out of the blue and I had to stay in bed.”
FRENCH PRES: CANCEL PREM
Following the decision to cancel French football until September, Emmanuel Macron is reportedly pushing for the UK, Spain, Germany and Italy to follow suit.
Earlier this week, Ligue 1 and 2 joined the Dutch Eredivisie in cancelling the 2019/20 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Football bosses in the country were planning a return to training in May before completing the season the following month, much like the agenda still in place across the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A.
However French president Macron is said by Le Parisien to be pushing for a Europe-wide cancellation of sport to help deal with the pandemic.
Sport minister Roxana Maracineanu reportedly contacted his counterparts in Italy and Germany after Tuesday’s announcement and is also set for talks with Spanish ministers.
KEEP CALM CARRINGTON
Manchester United stars could be going back to basics and washing their own kit when returning to training on May 18.
Having not played since the Manchester derby on March 8, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team last trained together over six weeks ago.
And after clubs including Tottenham and Arsenal recently reopened their facilities for individuals to work under social distancing guidelines, measures are being put in place for United’s return.
According to Daily Mail, players must arrive alone and drive back in their dirty training gear, which they must wash at home.
Laundry facilities and showers are among the amenities off limits to the squad for the foreseeable future.
Workouts will also be carried out in small groups, possibly on a rota basis to ensure social distancing is adhered to.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLNEL TOM
Captain Tom Moore, who walked laps of his garden to raise money for the NHS, turns 100 today and has been made a Colnel.
The inspirational World War II veteran has raised £29million for the efforts to fight Covid-19.
Rio Ferdinand has paid tribute to the super centurion, from Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, who is also being made an honorary England cricketer.
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Good Morning Everyone! Special Happy 100th Birthday To Colonel Tom ?? #Legend
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BIG SPENDERS
Newcastle are set to be one of just FIVE Premier League clubs to spend big this summer.
And plenty of cash will be available to bolster the squad.
Due to the lockdown, most top-flight clubs will have little if any cash spare — even if the season is completed.
Agents have been made aware that Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and United will be in a position to bring in star signings, although transfers fees are expected to tumble.
And though the Toon will have money to invest, they are not expected to repeat last summer’s crazy £40m capture of Joelinton.
Everton could become the sixth club to spend but will only be in a position to buy big again if Financial Fair Play rules are relaxed.
SAUL OR NOTHING
Atletico Madrid could be set to halve their asking price to £65m for Man Utd target Saul Niguez.
According to AS, Atleti will be forced into a firesale if the La Liga season is not completed.
That is because Uefa have requested that European places be awarded on “sporting merit” and Diego Simeone's men currently sit sixth in La Liga, meaning they will be forced to play Europa League football next season.
The report adds that Atletico Madrid are already facing financial hard times regardless of what happens with coronavirus.
THE RIO DEAL
Paul Pogba has received backing for a move away from Old Trafford from a surprising source.
Rio Ferdinand said: “If I’m him and I’ve been treated the way he has with the media etc I’d be saying 'You know what I don’t need this in my life.
“There’s more to life than coming here and getting criticised when he’s not even playing.
“Why be a part of that?’ If I was him, honestly…. United fans won’t thank me for it but I’d be thinking that.
“I think it’s unfair some of the criticism he gets and some of that is based on social media presence which I think is ridiculous.”
GOOD MORNING MAN UTD FANS
Yesterday was a busy day as United were given approval for safe standing at Old Trafford for 1,500 fans with view of full Premier League rollout.
SunSport also exclusively revealed Newcastle are set to join the Red Devils and Chelsea as one of just five big-spending clubs if their takeover completed.
Gary Neville said: “How many people have to die playing football before it becomes unpalatable?” in a stark warning over any Premier League restart.
The new Adidas Predator boots were leaked online with Paul Pogba’s initials plastered all over them.
And Sir Alex Ferguson's wife admitted she 'has had to nail his feet down' as the legendary boss, 78, pumps iron and works out in lockdown.
In transfers, Man Utd could miss out on Ajax’s £44million man Donny van de Beek as Newcastle enter the transfer battle.
And the Reds may recall Dean Henderson from Sheffield United loan on July 1 and make him No2 for the rest of the season.
United also look set to miss out on the Miralem Pjanic transfer after the Juventus star reportedly 'agreed to join Barcelona' in a swap deal with Arthur Melo.
But in more positive news, Jadon Sancho is said to 'have an agreement with Dortmund to leave if the Red Devils launch a record bid'.
Rio Ferdinand urged his old club to sign Atletico pair Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey as well as Leicester ace Wilfred Ndidi this summer.
And United face a transfer battle with Chelsea in the fight for Federico Chiesa but Fiorentina have offered the striker a huge new deal to try and keep him.
It also emerged United have the 'next Kylian Mbappe’ in their academy with Hannibal Mejbri ‘taking the p***' out of team-mates during training’.
And ex-Red Devil Cristiano Ronaldo is set for two weeks of quarantine when he returns to Juventus after lockdown.
Finally, it emerged footballers are worried about infecting their families with coronavirus if they are rushed back in to action.
And a Uefa league supremo slammed Fifa’s medical chief for insisting the season should be cancelled.
STEADY ON
Football's top stars fear a premature resumption could see them infect their families with Covid-19, according to the world players’ union.
Prem bosses are still pushing to return to action in June, although Italian clubs have been told to consider following France’s lead, in cancelling the season.
It comes as the head of the organisation representing Europe’s major leagues, including the Premier League, suggested it would be better to sacrifice this term to ensure next season can be run in full.
But most critical was FIFPro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann’s claim that players across Europe are SCARED of the consequences of playing too soon.
EXCLUSIVE
Newcastle are set to be one of just FIVE Premier League clubs to spend big this summer.
Due to the lockdown, most top-flight clubs will have little if any cash spare — even if the season is completed.
But agents have been made aware that Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and United will be in a position to bring in star signings, although transfers fees are expected to tumble.
…
Belgian D’Hooghe warned an early return could lead to a second spike of coronavirus deaths. He stressed: “It’s a matter of life or death. Football is not ready for a competitive return.”
But ex-Uefa chief executive Olsson — now president of the Association of European Leagues — added: “He must understand his words are perceived not as the opinion of a private person, but as a representative of Fifa.
“In Europe most want to finish the season if it’s possible.
“There are leagues where they are about to end the season and there are opportunities where clubs can enter competitions according to sporting principle not by a decision taken in someone’s office.”
EUR WRONG
European leagues boss Lars-Christer Olsson slammed Michel D’Hooghe for insisting the season must be cancelled.
Fifa medical chief D’Hooghe said football should not return before September — even behind closed doors.
But Swede Olsson told him to shut up, while Uefa’s own medical professor believes it is “definitely possible” to restart the season.
Olsson said: “The head of the Fifa medical committee needs to keep his advice to himself.
“He has no idea what’s happening in each country — he does not have the complete data…
MOUR HELP
Jose Mourinho helped Tottenham deliver freshly-grown food to needy families during the coronavirus crisis.
Spurs uploaded images on Instagram showing their manager, wearing PPE, carrying boxes of spinach and rhubarb away from their training ground Hotspur Way, where the first-team's food is produced.
DOUBLE WHAMMY
Manchester United could land Douglas Costa and Miralem Pjanic in a swap deal for Paul Pogba.
Italian transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio told Sky Sports: “Real Madrid are going forward for him. Zinedine Zidane wanted him last summer.
“Juventus would like to have him back, but they will only do swap deals.
“So it depends on whether United need or wants some Juventus players that they can put in the deal, like Miralem Pjanic and Douglas Costa.
“I know Juventus and Manchester United have had contact even in the last days because Juventus would like to do this type of deal.”
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