Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo return LATEST, Pogba wanted by PSG, Zakaria targeted, Haidara eyed
PAUL POGBA'S future with Manchester United is still up in the air and reports in France suggest that PSG are interested in his signature.
United are also said to be monitoring the likes of Denis Zakaria and Amadou Haidara.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils are said to be keen on Brighton's £40m right-back Tariq Lamptey.
And we've got the very latest on Cristiano Ronaldo's future, as the Red Devils star makes his return to the squad.
Get all the latest Man Utd transfer news, updates and gossip on our live blog…
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- Ian Tuckey
Cris back in training
Manchester Uniterd have been handed a huge injury boost with Cristiano Ronaldo training ahead of Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa.
The Portugal legend, 36, missed Monday’s win over Villa in the FA Cup with a hip injury.
But Ronnie looks set to lead the line in this weekend’s Premier League battle after making a recovery.
Ronaldo looked to be in good spirits on a cold day at Carrington.
But despite the freezing conditions, the Portuguese opted to go without gloves and a hat on the training field.
In comparison, the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and even boss Ralf Rangnick were warmly wrapped up.
Other players including Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Fred were all smiles as they took part in various training drills in a sign that the gloom that has surrounded the club was lifting.
But fans will be hoping United can rediscover some red-hot form after a lukewarm performance this week in the Cup.
- Ian Tuckey
Ron's a hit for six more years
Cristiano Ronaldo is planning to play until he is FORTY TWO, writes KOSTAS LIANOS.
Ronaldo has been criticised for United's turbulent campaign, but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is still going strong despite his advanced age of 36.
The star forward has registered 14 goals and three assists in 22 appearances across all competitions so far this season and is not planning to slow down any time soon.
The Portugal captain is confident that his body can keep going until his forties but insist that the 'real battle is mental'.
Ronaldo, who was among the fittest players at his new club according to tests after he rejoined United, told ESPN Brasil: "I feel happy to be a player who has shown who, in my case, longevity has been a crucial factor for me to keep playing at a high level, putting in good performances.
"Genetically I feel like I'm 30 years old. I take great care of my body and my mind. Something I've learned recently is that after 33, I believe the body can deliver if you need it, but the real battle is mental.
"Going through many things with the focus on the end goal of staying at a high level is the hardest thing, and that's what I've been doing for the last few years.
"I've been working and focusing more on working on my mind. I know my body will handle me because I have a lot of respect for it and I listen to it a lot."
- Ian Tuckey
Dybala tipped for summer move
Paulo Dybala is expected to leave Juventus this summer – having attracted strong interest from Manchester United and Tottenham in recent years.
The 31-cap Argentina striker, 28, joined the Italian giants from Palermo in 2015.
Credit: Getty
- Ian Tuckey
Ron tops the rest for generosity
Ben Foster reckons Cristiano Ronaldo has spent tens of thousands of pounds on club shirts for fans and rival players over his legendary career.
Ex-Old Trafford keeper Foster believes the Old Trafford striker, 36, is one of football's most generous players.
The Watford keeper told his own YouTube channel: "What you don't know is us footballers actually have to pay for every single shirt we give away.
"Now don't get me wrong, this is not going to touch the sides of Cristiano's bank balance.
"However, let's go through the maths of how many shirts this guy has given away.
"So, he's played 1,100 games in his career and you get two shirts per game.
"I'm not saying he gives every shirt away every single game but, in those 1,100 games, you would like to think he's given one away every single game, pretty much, give or take one or two.
"If you look at the price of what these shirts cost nowadays, the current home Man Utd shirt costs £100.
"Don't get me wrong, back in the day, they were a little bit cheaper, £50 or £60. So, let's work on they cost on average £70."
- Ian Tuckey
Toon in for VDB
Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund are both interested in signing Donny Van de Beek on loan from Manchester United.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the 24-year-old is being offered to the Magpies while he remains out of favour with the Red Devils.
The Dutch international came close to a move to Everton in the summer but remained at United as he was expected to play more.
However, he has only made 13 appearances so far – and most of them have seen him step off the substitutes bench.
Borussia Dortmund are also in contention for his signature.
- Ian Tuckey
Cristiano in shock Brazil link
Cristiano Ronaldo has not ruled out a sensational move to Brazilian outfit Flamengo.
Rumours started to swirl when Flamengo vice president, Marcelo Braz, met up with Ronaldo’s mum Dolores Aveiro earlier this month.
Speaking to ESPN Brazil, Ronaldo admitted Portuguese speaking Brazil was a ‘brother country’ to him, with his sister also living in South America.
He said: “In football everything is possible, I don’t know.
“Playing in Brazil? I don’t know. It’s far from my thoughts. But in football anything is possible, I don’t know.”
- Justin Lawrence
Henderson stormed out of United
Dean Henderson reportedly stormed out of United's training complex after he was told he wasn't playing against in the Red Devils' FA Cup clash against Aston Villa.
Henderson was allegedly promised he would start the game by Rangnick, and the keeper blew his top when he found out that he wasn't going to get his chance in between the sticks, according to the Webby and O'Neill Man United fan channel.
This led to Henderson storming out of Carrington in a furious strop, Webby and O'Neil claim.
- Justin Lawrence
Rooney doubts January Diallo deal
Wayne Rooney doubts that Derby will sign United ace Amad Diallo in this month’s transfer window.
Rooney has been tracking the youngster who’s also attracted interest from several European sides for quite some time.
But he’s now given up on bringing Diallo to the Rams – for now atleast.
Rooney said of Diallo to Derbyshire Live: “He is a Manchester United player and obviously he is a player of interest from a few clubs, I know that.
“Obviously I keep close tabs on some of the young emerging talent, not just from Manchester United but from other clubs and there are various players we are looking at in terms of what players can we bring in to improve the squad, what players can we bring in to play and give us the best chance of staying up.
“He is a player who of course I like him. If you are asking me is he going to be with us at some point in January, then that is very unlikely.”
- Justin Lawrence
Telles gets Brazil call-up
Alex Telles' recent United performances have earned him a recall to the Brazil squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Prior to his call-up for Brazil's fixtures against Ecuador later this month and in early February when they face Paraguay, the last time Telles played for his country was in 2020.
The left-back is also joined by United team-mate Fred in the Brazil squad.
And the Red Devils will hope the pair come back in one piece ahead of the club's Fa Cup tie against Middlesbrough a few days later.
- Justin Lawrence
Georgina Rodriguez happy in Manchester
Georgina Rpdriguez says she's very happy in Manchester following reports Cristiano Ronaldo fears his dream return to Old Trafford is in danger of ending in disaster.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus striker is said to be frustrated and unhappy with the Manchester United board following “their erratic sporting decisions” and insisted in a Sky Sports interview only a top-three Premier League finish would do.
But speaking after it was reported earlier this week Ronaldo had held crisis talks with his agent Jorge Mendes about his future at the club, the footballer’s partner said they were “very grateful” for their new life in Manchester and had “no complaints.”
The 27-year-old Spaniard, who plays mum to all four of his children although only four-year-old Alana Martina is hers, said last month she loved living in England after announcing her unborn twins would be a boy and girl.
The pretty brunette, who worked in Bristol as an au pair before meeting and falling in love with Cristiano, described her return to the UK in a magazine interview as a “great opportunity.”
And in a new interview published following speculation Cristiano could try to leave Old Trafford before his two-year contract expires, Georgina said she continued to feel very much at home in Manchester.
- Justin Lawrence
'Ronaldo's not a top pro'
Cristiano Ronaldo is not a top pro – despite what footage of him celebrating shirtless would suggest.
That’s the stunning claim made by Manchester United legend Paul Parker, who reckons his old club need to axe the ageing star.
Ronaldo is 36 and still banging in the goals after making a sensational return to Old Trafford last summer.
But Parker says CR7’s arrival back in the famous red shirt has put too much pressure on his team-mates to perform.
Parker told indiabetting: “I wouldn't say he's a top pro.
"Straight away they couldn't help talking about how he's changed the diet and the players because of this, he's eating this and he's eating that.
“So what, everyone's different, everyone's metabolisms are different, your mindset is different, how you approach everything, your training to games, all different.
"So I think Ronaldo turning up put everyone under pressure, sold a load of jerseys, PR-wise it was brilliant for the club.
“I think it affected the mindset of a lot of other players as well. It's about being a top player, and being a top pro, and Ronaldo is a top player, he's proved that."
"But all of a sudden, look what he's doing, look what he's got. It’s great what he's got, fantastic.
“But I’m different, I like to think I’m different, and I’m going to do it, started doing it my way, and so that puts pressure on a lot of players.
“So it hasn't worked out on the field with him on the pitch."
- Justin Lawrence
De Beek ‘offered to Newcastle and Dortmund
Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund are both interested in signing Donny Van de Beek on loan from Manchester United.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the 24-year-old is being offered to the Magpies while he remains out of favour with the Red Devils.
The Dutch international came close to a move to Everton in the summer but remained at United as he was expected to play more.
However, he has only made 13 appearances so far – and most of them have seen him step off the substitutes bench.
Borussia Dortmund are also in contention for his signature.
- Justin Lawrence
'Ronaldo's in the way'
Ronaldo's presence at United is a burden on the club's youngsters who can hardly get a look in, according to John Barnes.
Barnes told BonusCodeBets: "The amount of minutes Cristiano Ronaldo has played this season has surprised me but that shows that they need him because they haven’t been performing consistently.
"That has worked against Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood because it means that they’re not playing regularly.
“With Bruno Fernandes as well, it means they won’t all play but it’s swings and roundabouts.
"If they spend £80 million on Jadon Sancho, he should be playing every week. Rashford and Greenwood have been there long enough to decide whether they want to be big-time players. That’s also a decision for Manchester United to make.
“But Ronaldo’s signing has worked against the younger players.”
- Justin Lawrence
Man jailed for FA Cup police attack
A man who physically attacked two police officers and verbally abused staff at United's FA Cup clash against Aston Villa has reportedly been jailed.
Aaron Saunders, 21, of Higher Furlong Road in Exeter was sentenced yesterday at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court to 22 weeks imprisonment, Planet Radio reported.
On top of that, he was also given a six year Football Banning Order.
Following his arrest on Monday during the cup tie, Saunders was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of racial and religious aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress.
He also pled guilty to two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
After Saunders' sentencing, Police Constable Matt Ford, of Greater Mancehster Police's Specialist Operations, said: "Attending a football game should be an enjoyable experience and people who behave like Saunders did on Monday night take away from that – discouraging law abiding fans from attending, especially young families.
"I hope this swift action reassures football fans and those who work in the industry that Greater Manchester Police and the justice system take this issue seriously and take steps to prevent it."
- Justin Lawrence
Ron refuses to rule out Brazil move
Ronaldo has not ruled out a sensational move to Brazilian outfit Flamengo.
Rumours started to swirl when Flamengo vice president, Marcelo Braz, met up with Ronaldo’s mum Dolores Aveiro earlier this month.
Speaking to ESPN Brazil, Ronaldo admitted Portuguese speaking Brazil was a ‘brother country’ to him, with his sister also living in South America.
He said: “In football everything is possible, I don’t know.
“Playing in Brazil? I don’t know. It’s far from my thoughts. But in football anything is possible, I don’t know.”
- Justin Lawrence
'United are playing catch-up'
Winterburn reckons United and Arsenal are both playing catch up as their rivals have evolved.
And since Sir Alex Ferguson left United as manager, and Arsene Wenger quit as Arsenal boss, both sides haven't been the same, Winterburn reckons.
He told Paddy Power: “We saw it with Mesut Özil at Arsenal, and we could see the same with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well. You cannot change a squad around in one season.
"Depending on how many players Manchester United want to change, they’re probably looking at three years and six transfer windows if we’re talking about the clear out that they need.
“United are like Arsenal. They’re both now seeing how difficult it is to get back to where they were under Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. It’s hard because other teams have evolved, and those two teams are playing catch up.”
- Justin Lawrence
'United have to build around Ronaldo'
United have to play to Ronaldo's strengths in order to keep him happy, according to Nigel Winterburn.
Winterburn told Paddy Power: "The situation with Cristiano Ronaldo playing ahead of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford is very intriguing because you have a superstar coming back to your club, potentially coming towards the end of his career but expects to play every game.
“Ronaldo is 36 but we can see in his body and in his desire that he doesn’t look like someone approaching the end of his career.
"The number of high-energy bursts he can make will decline slightly and then if we consider Greenwood’s form prior to Ronaldo joining, it’s not Ronaldo’s fault that he’s dropped off.
“If they’re putting Ronaldo in the team, they must have a style of play that is geared towards getting the best out of him.
"Even though he’s a superstar, he’s played a lot more than I expected him to but that’s just because of the type of guy he is – he never looks happy when he’s sat on the bench."
- Justin Lawrence
Real Madrid 'favourites' to sign Ronaldo
Real Madrid are favourites to re-sign Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
That's according to bookmakers Betfair, who've installed the Spanish heavyweights at 4/1 to clinch his signature this month.
A move Stateside could also be on the cards with Ronaldo priced at 4/1 to join any MLS side.
Manchester City and Barcelona are locked together at 10s with former club Juventus a 15/1 chance to lure him back to Turin.
- Justin Lawrence
Dortmund and Derby chase Diallo
Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a loan move for Manchester United youngster Amad Diallo.
The Red Devils have agreed to let the Ivory Coast teenager leave Old Trafford this month.
Former United favourite Wayne Rooney is keen to take him to Derby – but could now face competition from Germany.
- Justin Lawrence
Fernandes voted best January transfer ever
Bruno Fernandes has been voted as the best-ever January signing following his move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.
The 27-year-old playmaker has been a revelation at Old Trafford – chipping in with an incredible 45 goals and 34 assists in 105 games in all competitions.
Due to his instant impact at the Theatre of Dreams, BBC Sport ran a poll where they asked fans to vote the greatest ever January signing.
And soon after they confirmed the Portugal international came out on top, with the midfielder picking up a staggering 31 per cent of the vote.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk slotted in second place, ahead of United legend Nemanja Vidic and former Reds striker Luis Suarez.
- Justin Lawrence
Ronaldo hits out at United's youngsters
Ronaldo has told Manchester United’s young stars ‘if you don’t want my advice, sort things out yourself’.
Ronaldo said: “I remember when I was 18 some older players spoke with me and I took that as having to improve, they know more than me as they have more bad moments.
“This new generation in general don’t accept that if you criticise them. I have kids I know. They do the opposite.
"I don't say our players but in the general…
“If you don’t want my help and my advice, do your job look at yourself. Do your best to help the team.
"The individual most important thing, we are here to help when they need my help."
- Justin Lawrence
Rangnick 'prefers' Ten Hag
Rangnick reportedly favours Ajax boss Erik ten Hag over Pochettino to replace him in the United dugout.
Rangnick's been impressed with how Ajax have been performing in the Champions League this season under Ten Hag – with the Ditch side winning all of their games in the competition thus far this season.
While PSG, under Pochettino have struggled in Europe with Pochettino at the helm, even with Messi, Neymar and Mbappe at his disposal.
And according to Les Parisiens, reported by the Mirror, this is one of the reasons why Rangnick thinks Ten Hag will do a better job than Pochettino at United.
- Justin Lawrence
Rangnick 'unsure' of Pochettino
Ragnick's reportedly unsure if PSG boss Pochettino is the right man to fill his boots at Old Trafford – although the Argentine's been in covert talks with United.
Pochettino is expected to take the reins off of Rangnick at the end of the season.
But now, it's been claimed by the Mirror that Rangnick – who will have a say on the next United boss will be when he takes a consultancy role at United – isn't convinced by Pochettino's abilities to lead the Red Devils going forward.
- Justin Lawrence
Ferdinand praises Dembele's performance
Rio Ferdinand has backed Man United target Ousmane Dembele to recapture the form that saw him thrive at previous clubs under new boss Xavi at Barcelona.
Ferdinand was blown away by Dembele's performance in Barca's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Super Copa semi-final, and reckons the French ace can play at that level consistently if he's given enough game time.
Ferdinand told BT Sports: "We all know the talent, that's no doubt, the talent we saw at France then Dortmund, he's never been able to replicate that form here on a consistent basis, he needs games, he needs a level of games to sustain that.
"But, Xavi is showing faith, that's the important part, giving him confidence. When he's confident, as we saw today, he's almost unplayable at times the way he can dribble, go both ways, he's exciting to watch.
"He's got that bit of flair that not many wingers in the world have got on a consistent basis but the keyword right there is consistent, he has to bring that into his game."
- Justin Lawrence
Ronaldo throws support behind Rangnick
Ronaldo has thrown his support behind Rangnick in a new interview.
Ronaldo told Sky Sports: "Since he arrived five weeks ago he changed many things. But he needs time to put his ideas across to the players.
“It takes time but I believe that he is going to do a good job. We know we aren’t playing the best football but we have many games to improve.
“Since he arrived I think in some points we are better, but he needs time. It’s not that easy to change the mentality of players and the way they play, the culture, the system like that. I believe that he is going to do a good job.
“We have to stay together. We are in the same boat. We have to believe that it’s all possible, and we have a long way to change (sic). But we are going to have a good season.”
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