2pm Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Tommy Docherty tributes, Brandon Williams loan, Grealish deal, Sancho bid expected
MANCHESTER UNITED are preparing for the visit of Aston Villa in mourning after the death of former manager Tommy Docherty aged 92.
Edinson Cavani will miss the New Year's Day clash after being banned for his Instagram post which contained a racist word and the Uruguayan has apologised for his hair-brained interaction.
Meanwhile there is plenty of interest on the transfer front too, with Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish still top targets for the Red Devils.
Follow all the latest with our blog below…
- Kostas Lianos
ISCO RIVALRY
Manchester United and Arsenal could find themselves in a bidding war over Real Madrid star Isco.
Reports suggest the Gunners are among many teams targeting the attacking midfielder amid the January transfer window.
But AS, claim that United are also keeping tabs and could make a bid for Real’s forgotten man.
But the same Spanish outlet insists that Sevilla remain favourites to sign the Spain international as he is keen on a reunion with former coach Julen Lopetegui
- Kostas Lianos
UNITED INJURY UPDATE
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had some good news ahead of tonight's clash with Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer announced that there are no fresh injury concerns following Tuesday's win over Wolves.
The Norwegian boss said: "Yep, nothing extraordinary.
"I think everyone who was involved in that game will be fit and available."
- Kostas Lianos
GREALISH MESSAGE
Aaron Wan-Bissaka looks set to be the man covering Jack Grealish tonight when Manchester United take on Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Grealish has been in top form this season and continues to be linked with a move to United following a failed bid last summer.
Wan-Bissaka recognised the attackign midfielder's threat but insist he is not the only dangerous player he will be facing tonight.
He told the United Review: "He is a great player, he’s unpredictable and can go inside or outside with the ball.
"I played against him last season and just have to be ready to take it as it comes. It is another challenge I am more than ready to take on.
"But he’s not the only player we need to be paying attention to – they have lots of other good players like John McGinn, Ross Barkley, Trezeguet and others. We know it will be a tough game."
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
- Kostas Lianos
SANCHO KEEN
Jadon Sancho's representatives would be keen to listen to any offers for the Borussia Dortmund star.
Sancho came close to joining Manchester United in the summer but the Premier League giants withdrew their bid after refusing to match his £108million asking price due to the financial impact of the coronavirus.
According to 90Min, United are still monitoring the situation just like Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.
There is currently no proof suggesting that Real Madrid and Barcelona will join the race
- Kostas Lianos
SANCHO BELIEF
Manchester United believe they can still sign Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho for less than £100million.
According to 90Min, United haven't been put off by Sancho's rocky start in the season in which he has yet to score a Bundesliga goal.
On the contrary, the Red Devils believe that his recent form could help lowering his staggering asking price.
The Manchester giants tried to bring the star winger over to Old Trafford in the summer but refused to match his £108m release clause due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic
- Kostas Lianos
DE BEST IN THE PREM
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has received high praise from former England striker Dean Ashton.
Fernandes, who has been on fire ever since joining United from Sporting Lisbon last year in January, has been dubbed as an even better player than Manchester City rival Kevin De Bruyne.
Ashton told talkSPORT: "I think Fernandes has already overtaken De Bruyne. You can see the difference when [Sergio] Aguero doesn't play for Man City.
"You can see the difference in De Bruyne, in terms of he looks like a frustrated figure in a lot of the games. He's still class, of course, as he’s got seven assists this season and the same as Bruno.
"It's that goal tally I think that Fernandes brings you. That goal threat that’s the difference between him and Kevin De Bruyne and that's why I'd pick him and why I think he's gone ahead of him as, for me, the best player in the Premier League."
- Kostas Lianos
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Bruno Fernandes has been voted Manchester United's Player of the Month for December.
Fernandes won the award for the sixth time since joining United last January from Sporting Lisbon.
The attacking midfielder has been on fire ever since his move at Old Trafford having amassed a total of 26 goals and 17 assists in 45 matches across all competitions.
The Portugal international hasn't slowed down this season as he counts 10 goals and seven assists in 15 Premier League games.
- Kostas Lianos
MAX-ED OUT
Norwich ace Max Aarons appears to be among Manchester United's top targets ahead of the January transfer window.
However, The Guardian report that Aarons is not likely to leave Carrow Road this month.
The right-back has started in all of the Canaries' 22 matches in the Championship and manager Daniel Farke is not keen on letting one of his most important players leaving mid-season.
United tried to sign the 20-year-old in the summer but a move never materialised
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY - Kostas Lianos
SOL TRANSFER MOVE
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn't appear set to make too many moves in the January transfer window.
According to the Daily Mirror, however, Solskjaer may still try and fine tune his squad ahead of the second half of the season.
And it seems like the Norwegian manager may try to sign a right-back that would offer competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Various names have been mooted as potential targets, such as Atletico Madrid star Kieran Trippier, Real Madrid ace Lucas Vazquez and of course Norwich defender Max Aarons
- Kostas Lianos
WOODWARD TRANSFER MESSAGE
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has hinted that the club may be set for a "difficult winter" following the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
This comes after Woodward's previous statements at the start of December when he insisted that the board still support manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but most of the transfer activity looks set to take place in the summer.
He said: "While this remains a difficult winter in the short-term, we can all feel more optimistic about the medium and longer-term as vaccines arrive to fight the virus.
"One of the many benefits from this should be the gradual return of fans to football stadiums and we can’t wait for ours to be allowed back inside Old Trafford.
“The team has coped well in challenging circumstances while playing behind closed doors.
"Indeed, at the time of writing, we have won more points-per-game since Project Restart last June than any other Premier League club.
"We also have four more wins and nine more goals than at the same time last season.
“There are many positive statistics like these showing the progress made under Ole in the past year. But they tell only part of the story.
“Just as important is the work we see being done behind the scenes to build a winning culture consistent with the club’s traditions of attacking football played by youthful, hard-working teams fusing homegrown talent with top-class recruits.”
- Kostas Lianos
DIALLO SHIRT NUMBER
As mentioned below, Amad Diallo will soon be joining Manchester United from Atalanta.
Diallo has been granted a passport ahead of his pending £37.2m transfer and is expected to make his way to Old Trafford by the end of the month.
There is yet no word about which shirt number he will be wearing at United but there are already a few famous options available.
Those are No15 (once belonged to Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville), No19 (previously donned by Marcus Rashford and Dwight Yorke), No20 (used to belong to Robin van Persie and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) and No32 (formerly Carlos Tevez's number)
- Kostas Lianos
UNITED CLEAROUT
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be set for a clearout ahead of the January transfer window.
According to Sky Sports, United would be interested in hearing offers for Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Sergio Romero.
Rojo has yet to make a single senior appearance this season as he is nursing a calf injury.
The same goes for Jones, who has fallen down the pecking order in Solskjaer's defence, whereas Romero has become the third-choice goalkeeper behind David de Gea and Dean Henderson
- Kostas Lianos
GREALISH INTEREST
Manchester United are still interested in signing Jack Grealish in the January transfer window.
United kept tabs on Grealish throughout the summer but pulled out after refusing to meet Aston Villa's £65million asking price.
According to the Daily Mail, however, the Red Devils are still keen on the attacking midfielder and may come back with a new bid this month.
But the transfer fee may have gone up following the England international's impressive performances in the Premier League this season with reports suggesting Villa may demand a £100m fee
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY - Kostas Lianos
TOP BRAND
Manchester United youngster Brandon Williams has been linked with a loan move away from Old Trafford.
Williams appears to have attracted interest from Southampton, who tried to sign him in the summer in a bid to boost their defence.
The left-back has fallen behind Luke Shaw and Alex Telles in the pecking order at United and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be keen on letting him go out on loan in order to get games.
Reports suggest Newcastle are also keeping tabs ahead of the January transfer window
- Kostas Lianos
CHELSEA RIVALRY
Chelsea have joined the transfer race for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
According to CBS Soccer podcast Que Golazo, there are two possible destinations for Sancho.
The Blues are now keeping a close eye on his situation in Germany and could dash United’s hopes of landing the star winger.
However, both clubs will have to wait until the end of the season as Dortmund are in no way keen on letting the England international go mid-season in the January transfer window
- Kostas Lianos
DIALLO CLOSE
Amad Diallo is closer than ever to officially joining Manchester United.
According to Sky Sports, Diallo has been granted a passport ahead of his pending £37.2m transfer and is expected to make his way by next month.
The winger joined Atalanta's youth ranks in 2015 and was called up in the senior squad four years later.
The 18-year-old Ivorian has since made a total of five appearances across all competitions for the Serie A outfit
- Kostas Lianos
LINGARD SIGNS
Jesse Lingard has put pen to paper on a contract extension as Manchester United had the one-year option on his deal triggered.
Lingard hasn't featured in the Premier League or Champions League this season even though he is included in the squads.
However, United wanted to make sure they will not lose him in the summer for free.
The winger's representatives held talks with English and European clubs in the summer but a move never materialised.
The 28-year-old's reps also tried to get a loan transfer sorted ahead of the January market with Real Sociedad being one of the clubs that showed interest
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY - Dave Fraser
HAPPY NEW YEAR, UNITED FANS!
And a very happy new year to Jesse Lingard!
The Manchester United academy product has had his contract extended with a one-year option triggered by the club.
Despite the midfielder being out-of-favour this season, the club have moved swiftly so as not to lose him on a free in the summer.
With that in mind, Bruno Fernandes has vowed to go all-out to win the title this season.
He told the United website: “We have to achieve trophies. It’s all about trophies – the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, in the Europa League and the league.
“We have to go for all of them. We have the team to do that and the qualities to do that.
“You have to believe until it is not more possible, that you can fight for all of them. If we win trophies, it is the most important thing."
And Sami Khedira could be making his way to join the Red Devils in their bid.
Juventus are ready to let the German go with United, Everton and Tottenham all linked with a contract offer.
The midfielder told The Athletic: “The Premier League is still missing in my collection, to play there would be the icing on the cake.
"I’ve done extra sessions with fitness coaches to get myself ready for the pace and intensity."
Elsewhere, sadly, former United manager Tommy Docherty has passed away at the age of 92.
The Scot lost a long battle with illness and will be fondly remembered at Old Trafford for leading the team to the 1977 FA Cup.
Finally, Edinson Cavan has been given a three-game ban and fined £100,000 for a ‘racist’ Instagram post in which he used the word ‘negrito’.
- Marc Mayo
MAKE A WISH
What will Manchester United fans be dreaming off as the clock strikes midnight tonight?
A top-four finish? Paul Pogba to stay?
A league title?
That’s what dreams are for…
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Marc Mayo
MORE OF THE SAME
Marcus Rashford had the honour of capping 2020 for Manchester United with this late winner.
Red Devils fans would certainly take it as a good omen for the 12 months ahead…
- Marc Mayo
HE’S OUR CAI
Moses Caicedo could be a name Manchester United fans want to become familiar with.
The Red Devils are reportedly keen to do a deal for the Ecuadorian teenager next month.
Current club Independiente del Valle would seek around £5m for the full international, according to ESPN.
- Marc Mayo
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
Here are all the details you need to know for Manchester United’s next game…
Aston Villa come to Old Trafford on Friday, aka New Year’s Day, for a 8pm kick-off.
You can catch the match on Sky Sports.
Victory, unless it’s by a ridiculous margin, will not send United top.
- Marc Mayo
OBITUARY
Tommy Docherty was the king of the one-liners.
He could have done stand-up comedy standing on his head.
And on his head, that sunny day at Wembley on May 21, 1977, sat the lid of the FA Cup trophy as he gambolled around the pitch at the scene of his greatest triumph.
For Manchester United had just beaten all-conquering Liverpool.
That meant the great rivals from Anfield could not go on to win a historic treble of the title, European Cup and the world’s oldest knockout competition.
Read Ken Lawrence’s full tribute to the Scot, who passed away today aged 92, HERE.
Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd - Marc Mayo
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Manchester rivals City and United both face NINE matches next month – as Prem chiefs attempt to get the season back on track.
League bosses ordered the two clubs to play their “catch-up” opening week games from September in what were due to be the two teams’ only free midweeks of the month.
United will now travel to Burnley on January 12, while City’s outstanding match at home to Aston Villa will be played on January 20.
It means both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola’s side will have to play six Prem matches in the month, starting with United’s game against Villa on Friday evening.
In addition, the two sides meet in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
And with two FA Cup rounds scheduled before the end of the month, it means a serious mid-season pile-up for both clubs.
Prem bosses are determined to push ahead with getting as many of the overdue games as possible played.
- Marc Mayo
BRAND NEW
Brandon Williams could leave Manchester United this winter.
ESPN report on a ‘number’ of loan bids already being made for the full-back.
But the Red Devils are yet to decide whether to keep the academy product or allow him to accrue game time elsewhere.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
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