4pm Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Rashford injury UPDATE, Raphael Varane targeted, Sergio Ramos LATEST – The Sun
MANCHESTER UNITED welcome West Brom this weekend as they return to Premier League action – but they have some injury worries.
On the transfer front, the Red Devils are reportedly weighing up a shock move for Sergio Ramos while we've the very latest on the link with Raphael Varane.
Follow ALL the latest Man Utd transfer news below…
- William Pugh
WEMBLEY WAY TO GO
It was part of the fabric of Wembley.
Before the Arch, everybody knew the Twin Towers.
But just as much a part of the experience was the walk along Wembley Way from the Tube station, surrounded by fans and colours.
And, in the distance, rising up, the walkway, officially ‘the Olympic Steps’. Built in 1974, to avoid fans having to plot their way through a long-disused coach park.
Now, just like those towers, the walkway is part of history too, being demolished to create a new approach to the new home of the English game.
But if concrete could talk, what tales it would tell.
- William Pugh
GUNNAR BE BACK SOON
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also updated fans on the fitness of six other absent stars.
He added: “Eric [Bailly] and Marcos [Rojo] are back training with us.
“Jesse [Lingard], Phil [Jones] and Luke are not on the grass yet.”
Victor Lindelof will need to be assessed for his ongoing back problem and Mason Greenwood has been out due to illness.
And Solskjaer said: “Mason is fitter. He had eight or nine days away from us which is long time.
“He's been training hard this week in the gym and on the grass. He'll be back soon.”
- William Pugh
TIME WILL TELLES
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping to have Alex Telles available for Saturday's game against West Brom despite confusion over his coronavirus results during the international break.
The Norwegian said: “Of course, we have the test results coming back after the normal tests we have to do before the Premier League games.
“All the tests from the internationals were negative, which is good.
“Alex Telles travelled [to South America] and wanted to play but then I think there was a mix-up with the tests – positive/negative and there was loads of talk about if he was going or not, first of all to the first game and then to second game.
“He's come back and has been training for a few days and is looking good.”
- William Pugh
MARC MY WORDS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Marcus Rashford could be fit to face West Brom on Saturday night despite missing England duty with a shoulder injury.
Speaking ahead of the Baggies' trip to Old Trafford, the Norwegian said: “He's worked in the gym and has got treatment.
“He joined in the session today and I hope he'll hold his hand up and say he's ready.
“That will be up to him. I think he feels okay.”
- William Pugh
…
“And I would like him to say which are the coaches that he calls and speaks on the phone with them. He has the right, the power to call the players he wants.
“He wants to win matches, especially after a defeat the next match, even being a dead rubber, is an important match. I sympathise totally with that.
“But of course we all know that Sterling is going to play for City against us. When Eric Dier left the national team injured in the past month, he didn’t play two matches for Tottenham.
“He didn’t play the Premier League match and the Europa League match. He needed a couple of weeks to recover. And Raheem is going to play.
“These are the little details that I think Gareth should explain to us all.”
- William Pugh
MOAN-RINHO
Jose Mourinho has called on Gareth Southgate to name and shame the Prem managers who try to stop their stars from playing for England.
The Spurs boss is unhappy Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling will face the North Londoners tonight after withdrawing from Southgate’s Three Lions squad through 'injury'.
Mourinho said: “Gareth Southgate, I read, supposedly told that some club managers put pressure on the players not to play for the national team.
“And because of that he feels sometimes the need to call club managers to cool down the emotions and control a difficult situation for him.
“I would like him to say who. I would like him to say which are the coaches who put pressure on the players not to play…
- William Pugh
NO HOME COMFORTS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer INSISTS Manchester United’s home form is suffering because of an empty stadium.
They have not won any of their last six Premier League games at Old Trafford, losing three and drawing one this season as they prepare for the visit of West Brom.
And United boss Solskajer said: “We’ve had four home games in the league. The first one we didn’t have any preparation and Palace deserved it.
“Then Anthony Martial did not deserve to be sent off against Tottenham but after he was they deserved the win.
“Then both the Chelsea and Arsenal games were very tight and if we had our fans might they might have sparked that little extra X Factor we needed. It's a different sensation playing in front of the Stretford End without fans, they usually score a goal for us.
“It's something we want to correct and hopefully we’ll get our first win against West Brom.”
- William Pugh
JUL IN THE CROWN
Former Manchester United target Julian Draxler is wanted by Hertha Berlin and Sevilla in January after falling out of favour under his manager Thomas Tuchel.
The attacker was once a highly-rated and linked to several Premier League clubs, but now is struggling to find a way into Paris Saint Germain’s star-studded team.
Italian outlet Calciomercato report that he is attracting interests from sides across Europe.
Sevilla and Hertha Berlin are both believed to be monitoring the 27-year-old, who has started half of PSG’s 10 league games this season.
It is not clear if they will try and pounce in January or wait until the summer, when he will be a free agent.
Draxler has to compete with the talent of Angel Di Maria, Moise Kean, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for a starting spot.
- William Pugh
LEAD THE WAY LIAM – BREAKING
Former Fulham and Brighton defender Liam Rosenior will help choose the next FA chairman.
Rosenior has been appointed to the six-person panel to find the successor to disgraced Greg Clarke. But Wembley chief executive Mark Bullingham has revealed he believes it is unlikely that the next head of the FA will be a former player.
Paul Elliott, Les Ferdinand and even Gary Lineker have been suggested as potential candidates to become the public face of the FA.But Bullingham said: “There are two main areas of the role.
“One is to be an absolutely brilliant ambassador and represent us on both the international and domestic stage. I think players can absolutely do that. But there’s a second requirement to run the board of the FA.
“We have a complex stakeholder board and it’s hard to see that someone who has never run a board would be able to step in and run a complex stakeholder board of a £450million organisation with 760 employees.
“We are doing a board review and I would love to have player representation on the board. But if you are asking me if that has to be the chair role, my personal answer would be no.”
- William Pugh
JACK IN THE BOX
Manchester United could finally solve their defensive woes with the addition of Raphael Varane next summer.
The Real Madrid star’s contract is up in 2022, leading to reports of several clubs chasing his signature.Reportedly available for just under £100million, Varane recently changed agent to a company that shares a strong relationship with the club.
The Frenchman is a World Cup winner with four Champions League medals in the bag, but has occasionally been criticised for his form this season.
Should the Red Devils capture their long-term target, it could set up a mega summer of transfer business.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer landed hardly any of his personally shortlisted signings last time out.
But that could all change if Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho also become available at the end of the campaign.
- William Pugh
PAY UP
Prem boss Richard Masters has again been asked by MPs to explain why the £50million lower division bail out has not been agreed.
Masters and EFL chairman Rick Parry were both grilled by the DCMS all-party select committee last week over the continued stand-off.
Committee head and Tory MP Julian Knight said he would send out public letters to both men on a weekly basis until the situation was resolved.
And now Knight has published the first batch of correspondence, telling both the Prem and EFL MPs are “disappointed that you have not yet come to an agreement that will ensure the survival of football clubs through the current pandemic.”
Knight added: “There is enough money in the game to save football clubs but we are beginning to doubt whether there is enough leadership to make that happen.
“We urge you to stop squabbling and come to an agreement. Fans have been waiting too long. We expect, and the fans deserve, better.”
- William Pugh
DE CLUB FOR ME
David De Gea does not seem fazed by Dean Henderson's presence at the club and says he is looking forward to being at Old Trafford for years to come.
The Spaniard said: “I'm looking forward to the future.
“Being at a big club like this and at this level for so many years is not easy so I'm proud of that.
“Bring on some more!”
- William Pugh
NOT VAR OFF
Manchester United are reportedly set to reignite their interest in long-term target Raphael Varane.
The 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid before his contract expires in 2022. Manchester Evening News claim United plan to battle it out for the defender’s signature.
The report states that ‘lots of clubs’ are interested in signing the LaLiga veteran. United first tried to sign Varane way in 2011 when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.
But Zinedine Zidane – then working behind the scenes at the Bernabeu – intervened. Varane went on to join Madrid from Lens and United signed Phil Jones from Blackburn.
United tried their luck again after Varane won the World Cup with France in 2018. But Jose Mourinho did not think he could get him so called off the pursuit.
The Red Devils could reportedly sign him for less than £100million in the next transfer window.
- William Pugh
MAN DOWN
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has something of an injury crisis on his hands ahead of Manchester United’s clash with West Brom.
Having not played since the 3-1 win at Everton due to the international break, the Red Devils boss would have hoped to have come out of the blocks firing.
But Solskjaer could be without his ENTIRE group of strikers, while also missing key men in defence.
In attack, Man Utd will definitely be without Anthony Martial, who suffered a back injury on France duty.
And there are doubts too surrounding Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
- William Pugh
KHED BANGER
West Ham have reportedly joined the race for Juventus outcast Sami Khedira.
The experienced midfielder could be available on a free transfer amid his exile from Andrea Pirlo’s squad.
Juventus did not name Khedira, 33, in their Champions League squad and he is yet to play this season.
Talks are reportedly underway over terminating his contract, with no agreement reached yet. Manchester United and Tottenham have been linked with a move for Khedira.
According to Sportmediaset, via TeamTalk, West Ham are also tracking the German.
Khedira has played only once in 2020 while suffering from knee and hamstring issues.
- William Pugh
…
Winger Dan James has vowed to fight for his spot at United after impressing for Wales.
The 23-year-old has had less than three hours of league action this season and said: “Man United is my club and I love it there — whether I’m playing or not.
“There were times I played a lot last season and I may not have played as much this time.
“But I’m sticking in there and I’ll always be in and around it. I’ll never think differently to that.”
United legend Wayne Rooney joked he would hand himself a new three-year deal as his first move as Derby co-caretaker boss.
Rooney, 35, admitted he wants the job full-time – and said if he didn’t he wouldn’t be ‘an ambitious person’.
- William Pugh
MORNING, RED DEVILS!
Manchester United could replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.
Tuttosport reports the Italy boss is on a Red Devils shortlist that will come into play IF Ole is axed from behind the wheel.
The Norwegian may be able to call on Brazilian Alex Telles for West Brom’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday despite his recent Covid scare.
He was spotted at Carrington with fellow Portuguese-speaker Bruno Fernandes.
United were on red alert as target Sami Khedira revealed he has always dreamed of playing in the Premier League.
The Juventus midfielder told Sky Germany: “I am really happy and satisfied with my career until now but one thing is still missing because I always had this dream and it has never come true… to be a part of the Premier League.”
- William Pugh
EDS UP
Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly set to battle it out for Eduardo Camavinga.
The 18-year-old has attracted a wide range of interest following his incredible spell of form for French club Rennes. United, Madrid and Paris are the three teams ‘likely’ to sign the talented teenager, report Marca.
But they will allegedly have to fork out ‘at least £62 million’ to secure Camavinga’s signature. Juventus have also been linked to the midfielder, who is under contract with Rennes until June 2022.
Despite the interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, Camavinga has hinted he could extend his Rennes deal.
The in-demand 18-year-old said: “I see, I hear things. It is nice to hear everything that is said but those things are not going distract me.
“I know how to differentiate different things. I’m at Rennes and the other clubs is not a topic for now. We will see later.”
- Josh Graham
WAY TO GO
Wayne Rooney has confirmed he wants to become Derby’s next boss.
The England and Manchester United legend, 35, claims he would lack ambition if he did not want to take over the rock-bottom Championship club.
We revealed on October 15 that Rooney was in line to replace Phillip Cocu, who was axed on Saturday.
Rooney, one of four interim Rams bosses, said: “I wouldn’t be an ambitious person if I didn’t want the job.
“My ambition is to go into management, especially when you see the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Scott Parker all getting good jobs and doing really well.”
- Josh Graham
WAYNE'S WORLD
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney remained impressively poker-faced as he outlined his first priority as co-caretaker manager of Derby.
“While I’m in this position I’ll be giving myself a new three-year-deal,” revealed the tracksuit-clad player-boss, before breaking into that familiar Rooney grin.
Yet even if he was serious about slipping on a set of golden-handcuffs tying him down to Derby for the foreseeable future, the 35-year-old made it clear . . . he would have to run it by his own Rams’ management committee first!
Right now, Rooney only forms 25 per cent of Derby’s interim management team — the remaining 75 per cent consists of first-team coach Liam Rosenior, goalkeeper coach Shay Given and first-team development coach Justin Walker.
- Josh Graham
DAN THE MAN
Daniel James has vowed to fight for his Manchester United place after less than three hours of league action this season.
The winger produced a top display for Wales in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Finland, recording a superb goal and an assist.
But despite falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford and being linked to a move to Leeds, James will not give up on his United dream.
The 23-year-old said: “Man United is my club and I love it there — whether I’m playing or not.
“There were times I played a lot last season and I may not have played as much this time.
“But I’m sticking in there and I’ll always be in and around it. I’ll never think differently to that.”
- Josh Graham
ZLANTA CLAUS
Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is already in the Christmas spirit after gifting his AC Milan team-mates a Playstation 5.
Three members of the Rossoneri squad took to their Instagram story to thank the 39-year-old after getting their hands on the in-demand console.
The PS5 only hit the shelves today, with customers desperately trying to purchase the Sony console.
And the likes of Mateo Musacchio, Samu Castillejo and Rafael Leao were all grateful that they didn't have to endure the stress of trying to secure the PS5.
Spanish winger Castillejo thanked the Swedish maverick on social media, as he took a picture of the console on top of his Lamborghini supercar.
- Josh Graham
DIM VIEW
Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has had his say on who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should play up front.
The Bulgarian is in favour of a front three with Edinson Cavani through the middle and Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford out wide.
Berbatov told Betfair: “I want the big Uruguayan to score more for United, after getting his first against Everton a couple of weeks ago, but to do that he needs to play more minutes.
“I want to see Cavani play down the middle, with Anthony Martial on the left and Marcus Rashford to the right. When he has come on, Cavani has looked sharp so far for United and made some excellent runs.
“At 33, he’s in great shape and, with young guys around him, he could be lethal for United.
“Saturday’s home match against struggling West Brom would be a perfect opportunity for Solskjaer to play Cavani in the centre of the United attack.”
- Josh Graham
ERLI WRITE-OFF
Manchester United's hopes of landing prolific Norwegian striker Erling Haaland have been dealt a huge blow.
The Borussia Dortmund forward's father has reiterated his 20-year-old son has no intention to leave BVB.
United missed out on signing Haaland from RB Salzburg and he moved to Dortmund for £17million instead in January 2020.
Haaland's dad Alf-Inge, a former Leeds and Manchester City player himself, told Sport 1: “When you play well, it’s only logical that big clubs knock on the door. But we’re talking about speculation here.
“At the moment it is not in Erling’s or in my head that another club will be vying for him.”
- Josh Graham
HARRY UP
Manchester United's training group were without Edinson Cavani and skipper Harry Maguire on Thursday.
The Manchester Evening News reports the pair were absent as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad gathered at Carrington after the international break.
Maguire suffered a bruised foot in England's 4-0 win over Iceland at Wembley on Wednesday and is believed to be a doubt for West Brom on Saturday.
Uruguayan Cavani was sent-off for a late studs-up challenge on Everton's Richarlison in Brazil's 2-0 win on Tuesday night.
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