6.45pm Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Alaba and Milenkovic approaches, Pogba latest, Moises Caicedo wanted

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly made approaches to the agents of David Alaba and Nikola Milenkovic as they look to kick on with some January business.

Meanwhile the Paul Pogba saga rumbles on with Juventus believed to be leading the queue.

Follow all the latest from Old Trafford with our blog below…

  • Etienne Fermie

    MILEN TUSSLE

    Manchester United and Tottenham are reportedly locked in a battle to sign Nikola Milenkovic.

    The Fiorentina defender is being targeted and could be heading for a move to the Premier League.

    According to La Nazione, Milenkovic is attracting significant interest after his consistent performances for Fiorentina.

    The Serbian defender is valued at around £23million and both Spurs and United have taken a shine to him.

    Credit: AP:Associated Press
  • Etienne Fermie

    LIKE OLE TIMES

    Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is 'desperate' to get his hands on some silverware

    He said: "We want to improve and we're expected to win trophies.

    "To improve on last year is to get to the final – and when you get there, there's only one thing that matters: to lift the trophy.

    "It's really important we try to get our hands on silverware. We haven't won in the last two or three years now and it's important.

    "We are desperate to get our hands on a trophy; these players are desperate to learn how to win."

    Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
  • Etienne Fermie

    MARC MY WORDS

    Newcastle and Sheffield United are readying loan bids for Man United defender Marcos Rojo, according to reports.

    The Argentine has been frozen out at Old Trafford, having spent the second half of last season at Estudiantes.

    According The Athletic, Steve Bruce and Chris Wilder believe that the 30-year-old could strengthen their respective backlines.

    Credit: Getty – Contributor
  • Etienne Fermie

    TEAM TO BEAT

    Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has offered a fitness update ahead of his team's League Cup clash with Everton.

    He said: "Mason is fit enough to play, he was on the bench.

    "Luke [Shaw] came off with an injury, that had to be done, Edinson [Cavani] has been out for a while, I needed to get him going and Bruno [Fernandes] is one that I also have to protect.

    "It just wasn’t to be for Mason to come on. He will be in the squad unless something happens in the next couple of days, yeah.”

    Credit: PA:Press Association
  • Etienne Fermie

    FOOD FOR THOUGHT

    Harry Maguire returned to his hometown to hand out food packages to elderly residents on Monday.

    The Manchester United defender will also be sponsoring his boyhood club, Brunsmeet Athletic FC, in 2021.

    Maguire has been on a mission to spread some festive cheer to the pensioners in Mosborough, Sheffield.

    The 27-year-old recruited the help of brother Joe, sister Daisy and his mother Zoe.

    He paid for the food parcels – which included bread and milk – and personally delivered them to the residents.

    Credit: BBC / Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Credit: BBC / Local Democracy Reporting Service
  • Craig Mahood

    SIR ALEX NEARLY XI

    Following Robert Lewandowski's comments earlier that he was "ready" to join Manchester United in the past, SunSport looks at the best 'nearly' XI of signings for United under Sir Alex Ferguson.

    Would this squad have won much? ?

  • Craig Mahood

    THE BEST FOUR

    Ex-Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has named the four best Premier League strikers he faced – that includes Peter Crouch.

    The Serbian powerhouse, 37, spent eight years at Old Trafford after arriving from Spartak Moscow in 2006.

    And despite being overrun several times by Fernando Torres, Peter Crouch was the first Liverpool striker Vidic bemoaned facing.

    He told The Athletic: “My first experience was Peter Crouch.

    “I’d never seen a two-metres tall player before. He played for Liverpool and we played them in a cup game at Anfield.

    "I was thinking ‘Wow, what can I do today with this guy?’

    "Then I saw Bellamy next to him, not a great player on the ball but very, very fast. He would run into space, Crouch would jump into the air. I’d never seen football played like this.

    "I’d never had a No9 and a sharp, fast, player next to him. I knew how to deal with them individually but not both of them at the same time.

    "I played alongside Wes Brown, it was a tough game, a long game. We lost 1-0.”

    SEE WHO ELSE MAKES NEMANJA'S TOP FOUR HERE

     

  • Craig Mahood

    ALA-BA BYE

    Bad news from Spain for Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea as Real Madrid ‘way ahead’ of other clubs in pursuit of David Alaba.

    The Bayern defender is set to leave the Germans on a free transfer having failed to agree new terms in Munich.

    Spanish outlet Marca say Alaba has a desire to play for Madrid while his versatility, experience and lack of transfer fee appeals to Real.

    They report a deal could be close which is a blow to the Premier League sides who had hoped to lure him to England.

  • Craig Mahood

    TOP OF THE FLOPS

    Manchester United are climbing back up the Premier League thanks to a mix of solid signings and homegrown talent.

    Scott McTominay has been a near-ever-present under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Bruno Fernandes has proved worth every penny of the £50million spent in January.

    And while United have a history of making some incredible signings, they also have a knack for spending big on flops.

    SEE OUR REASONING HERE

  • Craig Mahood

    WELCOME BACK, JESSE

    The forgotten man of Manchester United will make a rare appearance in the squad for the trip to Goodison Park.

    On the bench, most likely, but all the same it is a step forward for a player who used to be one of the first names on the team sheet.

    Injury, personal issues, and now Covid isolations have brought Jesse Lingard’s career to a standstill.

    Still a rare appearance is promised when United take on Everton in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.

    Manager Solskjaer said: “Jesse will be in the squad, yeah. He's been working hard in training. He's been unfortunate with having to isolate a few times, been in contact, or close contact with Covid, not even having it himself.

    “He's been very unlucky being away from the training ground a few times. He works really hard and he'll be involved in the squad, definitely.”

    READ MORE HERE

  • Craig Mahood

    KABAK ON THE RADAR

    Liverpool could offer Divock Origi as a swap for Schalke 04 defender Ozan Kabak, reports say.

    AC Milan were said to be in the driving seat for the centre-back’s signature, but Liverpool could yet win the race.

    TalkSPORT say the Turkish international would prefer a move to the Premier League or elsewhere within the Bundesliga.

    Manchester United and RB Leipzig are also reported to be interested in the 20-year-old.

  • Craig Mahood

    'DESPERATE TO LEARN'

    Ole Gunnar Solksjaer said the United team are ‘desperate to learn how to win’’ and end the club’s trophy drought.

    The Reds go into tomorrow’s quarter-final with Everton at Goodison in good spirits after the weekend’s thumping of Leeds.

    And Solskjaer believes his side are heading in the right direction but knows winning silverware is the only way of validating that claim.

    He said: "Of course it's something we're aiming for.

    "We want to improve every season and to improve on last year is to get to the final and, of course, when you get to the final there's only one thing that matters and that's to lift the trophy.

    "I remember myself winning my first trophy. Even towards the end of my career, I think it was Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic's first trophy in the Carling Cup, 2006 was it?

    "I think that was their first trophy and it does give something to a team.

    "We are desperate to get our hands on a trophy, these players are desperate to learn how to win."

  • Craig Mahood

    CRACKER JACK

    Aston Villa ‘are expecting approaches’ from Manchester City and Manchester United in January for Jack Grealish, according to reports.

    The Villa skipper has cemented himself in Gareth Southgate’s England plans after a stellar start to this season.

    And despite only recently signing a new deal at Villa Park, both Manchester clubs are expected to ‘test the water’ in January after vying for his signature in the summer.

    The Mirror also claim he could cost in the region of £100million and it is ‘highly unlikely’ a deal will be struck in January.

  • Craig Mahood

    TESTING, TIMES TWO

    Premier League clubs in Tier 4 areas of England will revert back to being Covid tested twice a week.

    A new variant of the virus has swept the South East of the country and this new testing regime is described as ‘an extra precaution’.

    Newcastle United duo Jamal Lascelles and Allan Saint-Maximin were revealed to be suffering from ‘long-term Covid’ that was hampering their ability to return to action.

    Outbreaks in the EFL at Millwall and Ipswich have also raised concerns that further outbreaks are likely.

    This return to twice-weekly testing is likely to be introduced across the whole country after Christmas, as society tries to deal with the new wave of Covid.

  • Craig Mahood

    'EVERY YEAR!'

    Jamies Carragher's reaction to Gary Neville saying Paul Pogba is 'one to watch' in 2021.

    Something the United legend refuted and said someone was at the wind-up ?

  • Craig Mahood

    AUF WIEDERSEHEN, BRANDON?

    Manchester United have received an approached from Bayer Leverkusen for Brandon Williams, according to reports.

    The left-back is thought to also be a target of Southampton in January.

    But Sky Germany say the German side have opened talks with United about a deal for the youngster.

    With the introduction of Alex Telles and the back-up spot taken by Luke Shaw, Williams has found game time hard to come by.

  • Craig Mahood

    RAMS RAID

    Wayne Rooney wants to bring Manchester United outcast Phil Jones to Derby on loan in the January transfer window, according to reports.

    The Red Devils are set to allow the outcast defender, 28, to leave on loan this winter.

    Premier League clubs Burnley and West Brom are both interested in the £120,000-a-week star.

    But Jones could be tempted to link up with former United team-mate Rooney at Derby, according to the Star.

    Jones was left out of Man Utd's 25-man Premier League squad earlier this season.

    And boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to loan him to keep himself match fit.

    READ MORE HERE

  • Craig Mahood

    RAISING THE BA

    MANCHESTER UNITED will reportedly make a formal offer for David Alaba after joining the race for his signature.

    The Bayern Munich defender is leaving the German giants and a host of clubs are chasing him.

    According to AS, United are the latest club to declare an interest in the 28-year-old Austrian.

    Alaba is out of contract next summer at the Champions League winners and Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted the defender is leaving the club.

    United are in the market for a defender and Alaba would be a strong addition to their squad if they can secure him on a free transfer.

    But the Red Devils face major competition from some of the biggest clubs in Europe if they are to sign him.

    Rivals Manchester City and Barcelona have shown significant interest in Alaba while Frank Lampard's Chelsea are also keen on the defender.

    Alaba and Bayern have been locked in contract talks since the summer.

     

  • Craig Mahood

    LUNCHTIME ROUND-UP

    A recap of what has happened this morning.

    • United 'joined by Spurs ' in Milenkovic race
    • Maguire: "silverware important"
    • Target Haaland 'ready to leave Dortmund'
    • Lewandowski was "ready" to join United
    • Lingard targeted by Premier League club ahead of loan
    • Snaps from training ahead of quarter-final tomorrow ?

    ALL SMILES

    SNAPPY HAPPY

    .Some snaps from training ahead of that Carabao Cup tie tomorrow

    • Craig Mahood

      NEXT UP

      Ole Gunnar Solksjaer will speak to the press later today ahead of tomorrow's quarter-final with Everton.

      We'll bring you what the gaffer says here!

    • Craig Mahood

      LINGARD LOAN?

      Sheffield United want to sign Jesse Lingard on loan in January, according to reports.

      Yorkshire Live claim Blades boss Chris Wilder has been in contact with Manchester United.

      Wilder wants to sign Lingard on a season-long loan deal to help save his team from relegation.

      His side are slumped at the bottom of the pile with just two points from 14 games.

      A permanent deal is not an option for Sheffield United due to Lingard's wage demands.

      Lingard, 28, is believed to rake in a whopping £100,000-per-week at Old Trafford.

      But the England international has fallen out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

      READ MORE HERE

       

    • Craig Mahood

      SILVERWARE IMPORTANT

      Skipper Harry Maguire said a trophy is 'important' for Manchester United this season.

      The Reds travel to Goodison Park tomorrow to take on Everton in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.

      And Maguire said the positive result they got in Merseyside in the league will give great confidence to continue their run.

      He said: “It’s really important this season that we try and get our hands on silverware and win a trophy. 

      “At this club we’re expected to win trophies and we go into this game full of confidence from the result [last weekend]. We’ve got to start winning trophies, we haven’t won in the last two or three years now and it’s important.

      "It’s an important competition for ourselves to build momentum and confidence. It’s an important game and we’re going into it to try and win the game.

      “We know how tough it is to go to Goodison and get the victory. We played well that day even though we fell behind like we have done in a lot of our away games.

      "We take confidence from that result and we know if we play to our ability we can go there and win the game.”

    • Craig Mahood

      JANUARY WINDOW DATES

      The January transfer window opens at midnight on January 4 in the Premier League.

      With January 1 being a Bank Holiday, and the 2nd and 3rd being a weekend, the decision was made to open it from January 4th.

      Clubs with have until Monday, February 1, with a full schedule of Premier League games that midweek.

      Both La Liga and Serie A have the same dates as the Premier League for their winter window.

      However, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 will open from January 2 with the same February date for closing.

      WINDOW OPENS AND SHUTS

      • Premier League – January 4 – February 1
      • La Liga – January 4 – February 1
      • Serie A – January 4 – February 1
      • Bundesliga – January 2 – February 1
      • Ligue 1 – January 2 – February 1

      Source: Read Full Article