9.15pm Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Haaland-Van de Beek swap interest, Pedro Neto for £50m EXCLUSIVE
MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly open to using Donny van de Beek as a makeweight to sign Erling Haaland.
Meanwhile SunSport can exclusively reveal that the Red Devils are interested in bringing Pedro Neto to Old Trafford in a £50m summer transfer.
Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
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- Jack Figg
DOR OPENING
Donny van De Beek could be offered as a 'makeweight' in potential dealings with Borrusia Dortmund, reports say.
The Dutchman has struggled for minutes this season, causing his future to remain in doubt.
According to 90Min, United are willing to use Van de Beek in player plus cash deals with Dortmund in the summer.
They have been linked with both Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland in the past, two targets believed to still be wanted by United.
Credit: Reuters - Jack Figg
DOGFIGHT
Ryan Giggs and his former partner are at loggerheads over their pet dog after their split.
The Man Utd great and PR worker Kate Greville both want ownership of six-month-old puppy Mac.
The pair, who split after police were called to his home and arrested him on suspicion of assault, had even bought another dog, Atlas, which they hoped would be company for Mac.
A source said: “Ryan and Kate got lots of joy from Mac and got another dog so he had a play companion.
“But do they keep the dogs together or do they split them up and both take one?
“They both want the dogs and neither side wants to give in.”
- Jack Figg
CUT PRICE KOULI
Everton have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Napoli are reportedly prepared to cut the hefty £89million price tag for Koulibaly.
According to Football Insider, Everton have set their sights on the Napoli defender and are ready to make an offer for him.
But the Toffees will face plenty of competition for the powerful centre-back if they are to sign him.
Manchester United are keen on Koulibaly and it appears Napoli are prepared to lower their asking price.
The Italians rejected a £95m offer from the Red Devils in 2018 but reportedly could consider a bid of around £39m this summer.
The pandemic has crippled the financial position of clubs across Europe and Napoli are set to accept a significantly lower offer for Koulibaly.
- Jack Figg
'NO EXCUSE'
Harry Maguire has admitted United 'must do better' as they were dumped out of the FA Cup.
Leicester beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men 3-1, and skipper Maguire addressed the defeat on Instagram.
He wrote: "A tough one to take – It’s been a relentless run of games and today shown, still no excuse we know we must do better.
"Still lots to play for and we must bounce back."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Harry Maguire (@harrymaguire93)
- Jack Figg
ODE TO ERLING
Arsenal fans want 'agent' Martin Odegaard to convince United transfer target Erling Haaland to join the club.
Norway team-mates Odegaard and Haaland were spotted chatting in training and Gunners fans are eyeing a cheeky move.
Odegaard has been a revelation since joining Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid.
But now optimistic Gunners fans have encouraged Odegaard to have a word with Borussia Dortmund star Haaland about moving to London.
Fans described their midfielder as 'Agent Odegaard' on social media as they joked about the prospect of landing Haaland.
Richard Cozens tweeted: "When you pray he's telling him to come to Arsenal but they'll both end up at City."
- Jack Figg
A look back out how manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reflected on United's FA Cup exit against Leicester.
- Jack Figg
SHEAR FORCE
Alan Shearer slammed Fred's 'poor mistake' in Manchester United's quarter-final defeat to Leicester.
The Brazilian gave the ball away which resulted in Leicester's opener, in a game they ended up winning 3-1.
Shearer said: "This was playing right into Leicester’s hands, it’s what they wanted them to do. They’re setting the trap and they fell into it.
"That is a high risk pass, particularly when you’re going to take a touch as he did, Fred. And they punished him.
"They closed him down, they were happy for United to play that ball and bang, they were straight onto him.
"It’s a poor mistake from Fred but Iheanacho puts it away really well."
Credit: AFP - Jack Figg
WELL DONE
Salford sacked Richie Wellens after showdown talks with co-owner Gary Neville.
The League Two side fell to another defeat at the weekend that leaves them six points off the play-off places.
Neville, who leads Fergie’s Class of ’92 hierarchy is understood to have called Wellens, 40, into a meeting at 10.30am on Monday morning.
An hour later Wellens, who took Swindon into League One last season but quit to return to his home town of Manchester, became the second Ammies boss to be dumped this season.
A statement on the club's official website read: "Salford City Football Club has parted company with Richie Wellens by mutual consent.
"We would like to thank Richie for his time and efforts at the Club and wish him well for the future.
"An announcement about a new manager will be made in due course.
"There will be no further comment."
SunSport exclusively revealed that co-owner Neville had held a huge inquest into Salford’s shaky promotion campaign.
Credit: PA - Jack Figg
WELL I NEV-ER
Manchester United legend Gary Neville laid into his former club after their FA Cup exit.
United were beaten 3-1 in the quarter-finals by Leicester.
And Neville told Sky Sports: "Yes, of course finishing second would be the priority at the start of the season, but winning a trophy with that would be a real priority and now they only have the Europa League left.
"Leicester have a decent record, but I was in the car listening to it on the radio and they go behind and you think 'here we go' and you are not surprised with United.
"But they got back in the game and then you see the second and third ones and you think that could be a massive missed opportunity.
"I am demoralised a little bit as a Manchester United fan as I thought that was a really good one to go for this season."
- Jack Figg
WINGING IT
Man Utd transfer target Jadon Sancho has reportedly flown to Dubai ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League clash with Manchester City to speed up his recovery from a muscle injury.
The Athletic claims Sancho, 20, is desperate to face his old side in the European quarters next month.
But the England winger has been sidelined since March 2 with a muscle problem.
And Sancho has been ruled as just 50/50 to make the first-leg trip to Manchester on April 6.
However, the ace is determined to feature for his side against Pep Guardiola’s quadruple chasers.
And Sancho has now jetted off to the United Arab Emirates to see a specialist after receiving permission from Dortmund.
NINTCHDBPICT000638682537-1Credit: AFP - Jack Figg
THAT'S RICH
Chelsea will be 'scary' next season if they sign Erling Haaland, believes Micah Richards.
The Blues are among a number of top European sides, including Manchester United, chasing the Norwegian's signature at the end of the campaign.
Club chiefs are reportedly willing to give the move the green light, IF boss Thomas Tuchel can guide them into next season's Champions League.
And pundit Richards, 32, believes that they will have it made if they can sign the Borussia Dortmund hotshot.
Following Chelsea's 2-0 win over Sheffield United, he told the BBC: "I think they've got absolutely everything. They've sorted their defensive problems.
"The only thing to add that little bit of icing to the cake would be a striker. They've put Werner in there, they've put Havertz in there.
"It seems like they've not really cracked that offensive aspect of the game.
"I'm not going to speculate. If you put Haaland in this team, they'll be scary next season."
Credit: EPA - Jack Figg
JESSE THE ONE
A spot in this summer's Euros squad seemed far-fetched eight weeks ago but it is now a real possibility for Jesse Lingard.
And Lingard, on loan at West Ham, hinted it's something he has been thinking about for a while.
He said: "It's there in my mind.
"I have my own targets that I have wrote down before I came to West Ham and as long as I can hit them, we'll see which doors open for me.
"For now I'm concentrating on winning games for West Ham and playing regular football and getting back smiling and back to the old Jesse again."
Credit: PA:Press Association - Jack Figg
BLEAK FOR BEEK
Mark Hughes believes Manchester United are set to force £40million transfer flop Donny van de Beek out of the club.
The 23-year-old has managed just one goal and one assist in his 27 games for the Red Devils so far this season.
Speaking to Stadium Astro, Hughes said: "Clearly it's difficult, he hasn't had enough game time and you can see that in his play.
"He's wandering and not really getting on the ball, doesn't know how to affect the game, can't demand the ball of his team-mates because they're not quite sure whether or not they have enough confidence in him.
"He looks like a guy who's wandering around lost on the field. Okay, some of that responsibility he has to take on himself, he has to be more demonstrative, he has to be a key player.
"He's a big-money signing he's come from a big club in Ajax so he's used to being a top player of influence.
"But clearly, since he's come to United he hasn't shown anything like what the level he needs to be at to remain a Man United player.
"He can only have so many opportunities, at some point he's going to have to take them or United will move him on.
"I think they're edging towards that decision if he's not careful."
- Jack Figg
FER REAL
Bruno Fernandes is seemingly involved in everything positive at Manchester United.
The Portuguese playmaker has contributed to 46.4 per cent of the Old Trafford side's goals.
Fernandes has scored 16 goals and added ten assists – playing a role in 26 of United's 56 goals in 2020-21.
But according to research from TheseAreTheOdds.com, no other Premier League team has been as dependent on one player as Tottenham are on Harry Kane.
Kane, 27, has been involved in a staggering 61.2 per cent of all of Tottenham's goals this season.
Harry Kane provides nearly two-thirds of all Tottenham's goals - Joe Brophy
WHAT A COU
Manchester United have been beaten to highly-rated teenage defender Soumaila Coulibaly by Borussia Dortmund.
The Bundesliga side will acquire the 17-year-old in the summer when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires.
Speaking to The Mail about his move, Coulibaly was thrilled to be joining the German side.
“It was nice to have so much interest from so many clubs, but I cannot wait to get started with Dortmund,” he said.
“They are a great club with a proven track record of developing some of the best young talents in the world and I aim to do my best for the club and fans.
“I am thankful to my agents [Epic Sports] for helping me in making this move to Dortmund and also to Paris Saint-Germain where I have learnt so much already in my career.”
- Joe Brophy
DEJA BLUE
Manchester United’s new away kit for the 2021-22 has seemingly been leaked online.
Renowned kit-leak website Footy Headlines have shared what they believe to be United’s away strip for next season.
The top will see new sponsor TeamViewer across the front for the first time from January 2022.
- Joe Brophy
NEV-ER SAY NEVER
Jamie Carragher quickly trolled Gary Neville after his club Salford sacked Richie Wellens.
- Joe Brophy
VAR FETCHED
Prem club chiefs will help agree how to improve VAR next term when they meet virtually on Thursday.
The latest meeting of the 20 ‘shareholder’ clubs is due to discuss the feedback from the survey commissioned by League bosses.
Clubs have been given an extra 48 hours, until Wednesday to return their thoughts on a series of incidents that have taken place this season.
Fans and players alike have voiced their frustrations over some crunch calls especially over defensive handballs and penalty decisions.
It is hoped that the responses of players and managers will enable refs’ chief Mike Riley and his officials to agree on a consistent approach for the new campaign from August.
League bosses and clubs accept that subjective refereeing calls mean there can never be 100 per cent consistency.
But the aim is to give all officials clearer starting points for their decisions, either on the pitch or in the VAR booth at Stockley Park.
- Joe Brophy
SEEYA SERGE
Manchester United outcast Sergio Romero has all but confirmed his Old Trafford exit by putting his luxury mansion up for sale.
The sprawling Cheshire pad is up for an eye-watering £3.5million or can be rented for £22,000-a-month.
The house sits at the end of a secure gated drive in an area popular with footballers from both Man Utd and their bitter rivals City.
Romero is currently back in Argentina spending more time with his family ahead of an expected summer departure.
- Joe Brophy
MAN ALIVE
On March 18, 2003, Lee Roche was thrown in at the deep end – handed his Champions League debut against Deportivo La Coruna in a 2-0 defeat.
Some five years later, he was left on the football scrapheap and now works on building sites installing cavity wall insulation, and is a trained plumber.
Now 40, Roche was given a free transfer two months after his bow in Europe's premier club competition.
And when a football career petered out – after spells at Wrexham, Burnley and Droylsden, the youngster had to come up with a different plan in life with the help of the PFA.
Read more HERE.
- Joe Brophy
WELL DONE
Salford have sacked Richie Wellens after showdown talks with co-owner Gary Neville.
The League Two side fell to another defeat at the weekend that leaves them six points off the play-off places.
SunSport exclusively revealed that co-owner Gary Neville had held a huge inquest into Salford’s shaky promotion campaign.
- Joe Brophy
THE PAT RACE
Manchester United and Arsenal are locked in a transfer battle for RB Leipzig striker Patson Daka.
The 22-year-old Zambian international has scored 20 goals in just 18 Austrian Bundesliga games so far this season.
And, according to Salzburger Nachrichten, his performances have caught the eye of numerous Premier League clubs including Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.
- Joe Brophy
KANE YOU BELIEVE IT
Gary Neville caused uproar online after describing Harry Kane's method of winning a penalty at Aston Villa 'cute'.
Fans were quick to point to occasions where the Manchester United legend had criticised Mo Salah for similar incidents and suggest he was being a hypocrite.
- Joe Brophy
SHEAR MISERY
Manchester United were labelled ‘flat’ and ‘poor’ by England legend Alan Shearer after their dismal 3-1 defeat to Leicester on Sunday.
The 50-year-old told the BBC: “They looked very, very tired.
“They couldn’t cope with the pace that Leicester showed this evening, even with the changes that came on didn’t make them any better.
“It was a really flat, poor performance from them.”
- Joe Brophy
GAME FACE ON
Brighton boss Graham Potter has already warned his side about the visit to Old Trafford after the international break.
He said: "With the greatest respect we can't worry about Newcastle we have to worry about ourselves, we haven't done anything here.
"We know we haven't got enough points ourselves and we have to carry on.
"We can't get carried away, we've had a good night but you soon forget that as you go into the week and we have Manchester United at Old Trafford to bring us back down to earth."
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