MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly leading rivals Man City in the race to sign Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres next summer.
But star man Bruno Fernandes is refusing to sign a new contract, as exclusively revealed in SunSport.
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Follow our LIVE blog below to get the latest from Old Trafford…
- Richard Forrester
ED STRONG
Edinson Cavani has insisted he is 'proud to wear the Manchester United shirt' despite his father's claim he is unhappy at the club.
Luis Cavani opened up to Argentine media to reveal his famous son will almost certainly quit Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.
Boca Juniors lead the transfer fight for the 34-year-old Uruguayan striker, and local media suggests he is happy to take a huge pay cut to sign.
But Cavani has re-iterated his commitment to United, in the short term at least, with an intriguing Instagram post on Tuesday night.
He wrote: "Orgulloso de vestir esta camiseta ? @manchesterunited", which translates as: "Proud to wear this shirt ? @manchesterunited".
It appeared along with a photo of him celebrating his goal against Everton at Old Trafford in February.
- Richard Forrester
WHAT A KOU
Bayern Munich have cleared the way for Manchester United to sign Kalidou Koulibaly by reportedly pulling out of the transfer race.
The Napoli star has long been linked with the two teams, as well as Manchester City and other top clubs.
In previous years, the Serie A outfit have demanded a fee in the region of £90million, successfully deterring a sale of the star player.
However, earlier this month reports in Italy suggested a deal could be cut at around £39m.
Interest could be sparked by Napoli's apparent desire to cash in and cut their wage bill, with Bayern once again linked initially.
Yet, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Bundesliga giants are not working on a deal.
- Joshua Jones
MORNING MAN UTD FANS
Man Utd have been rocked by the news that Edinson Cavani wants to leave the club in the summer to sign for Boca Juniors.
His dad Luis told TyC Sports: “My son does not feel comfortable in England and wants to be close to the family again.
“Edinson had many conversations with Riquelme and he would like to play for Boca.
“He was always seduced by the idea of playing in Boca. If he returns to South America he is leaning towards Boca.”
In other news, the Red Devils are stepping up their pursuit of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
United have taken a look at Oblak – as well as AC Milan ace Gianluigi Donnarumma and Lille’s Mike Maignan according to Sky Sports.
However, it’s looking increasingly likely United will not be able to afford Oblak’s sensational £103million release clause.
Meanwhile, United and neighbours Man City are set to scrap it out for Villarreal defender Pau Torres, according to reports.
Solskjaer has made a new centre-back his top transfer priority in the summer.
His No1 option remains long-term target Raphael Varane – with Real Madrid reportedly ready to flog the Frenchman for £44million.
And finally, United are claimed to have registered their interest in Leeds United winger Raphinha.
The 24-year-old has shone at Elland Road since his £17million arrival from Rennes in October.
According to UOL Esporte, his former Chelsea star agent Deco is planning to meet with Leeds to discuss a possible move away this summer.
- Jake Lambourne
DIO-STAY OR DIO-GO?
Diogo Dalot is yet to hold talks over a permanent move away from Manchester United as he prepares to go up against his old club in the Europa League, according to his agent.
And despite being a regular fixture in Stefano Pioli's squad, Dalot is yet to hold talks regarding his future, according to his agent, Carlos Goncalves.
His agent Goncalves told Calciomercato: "When he came to Milan, he knew he was arriving at a great club for history and tradition, one of the best in the world.
"For this, he chose the Rossoneri. And when you play for a team like this, it's normal to compete for the Scudetto.
"There's an excellent relationship with [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and the other team-mates, he's happy in Milan. Thursday will be a very special match for him.
"Right now he's a Milan player, on loan from Manchester United, but he wants to do well for his current club.
"If he was playing against another team, it wouldn't have been different."
- Jake Lambourne
DIDI NOW?
Didier Deschamps has claimed Paul Pogba’s form improved after a spell with the French national team.
The injured midfielder and Antoine Griezmann were described by the France boss as benefitting from the confidence placed in them at Les Bleus.
He told BeIN Sports: “In November, Paul was going through an even more difficult period with Manchester United.
“Being with us gave him a boost and he had a great game against Portugal. Antoine’s case is the same, it’s a matter of trust.
“They know that in the France team they are in a different environment. All the players can go through a bad period at their club, but I maintain the confidence I have in them.
“The players must bear in mind that there is competition. If at some point I think that a young man has less experience but can bring something more to the team, I will not hesitate to count on him.”
- Jake Lambourne
'LAK THE MONEY
Man Utd are stepping up their pursuit of Atletico Madrid superstar Jan Oblak but look unlikely to be able to afford his staggering release clause, according to reports.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in the market for a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window.
United have taken a look at Oblak – as well as AC Milan ace Gianluigi Donnarumma and Lille's Mike Maignan – in a bid to fix their dilemma, according to Sky Sports.
The Red Devils have been tracking the Slovenian star, 28, for over a year, dating back to De Gea's long-running contract saga.
However, it's looking increasingly likely United will not be able to afford Oblak's sensational £103million release clause.
The Atletico stopper – who is keen on the 'attractive' Premier League – still has over two years to run on his current contract, with the LaLiga leaders unlikely to allow him to leave for less.
- Jake Lambourne
OH MAN
Man Utd have sacked the American firm who mistakenly published financial results early during a test, reports say.
US-based Toppan Merrill dropped the ball in November as they published the United's quarterly financial results a day early.
It did not go down well at Old Trafford, with the error put down to a test run, but according to the Daily Mail, the Stateside firm are no longer working with the club after being axed.
The pandemic has shut Old Trafford for 12 months, costing United around £6million in revenue every matchday.
But qualifying for this season’s Champions League helped plug the money gap, even though United exited at the group stage to go into the Europa League.
They banked £108.7million in broadcast cash for the first three months of the season, up £34m from the same period in 2019.
That more than made up for gate revenue falling off a cliff, with United taking just £1.5m, compared to £33.1m 12 months earlier.
- Jake Lambourne
SHAW THING
Gary Neville has hailed Luke Shaw as the 'best left-back in country' after his performance against Manchester City.
He told Sky Sports: "He's been outstanding this season for United.
"A Luke Shaw [that is] fit, a Luke Shaw [that is] physically good, a Luke Shaw [that is] confident is the best left-back in the country, in my opinion.
"But all those three things being combined at once has probably only happened at certain points in his career. And that's been a problem for him. But certainly this is the best period he has had.
"We've seen him in the last week or two go down in a couple of games like he's just on the edge a little bit.
"And that would worry me if I was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I just think how they handle him in the next few weeks is important."
- Jake Lambourne
EUROPEAN TOR
Man Utd and neighbours Man City are set to scrap it out for defender Pau Torres, according to reports.
The Villarreal centre-back, 24, is earning admirers following a number of classy performances in LaLiga this season.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made a new centre-back his top transfer priority in the summer.
The Norwegian wants a new partner alongside captain Harry Maguire having lost faith in Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly.
His No1 option remains long-term target Raphael Varane – with Real Madrid reportedly ready to flog the Frenchman for £44million.
But they face fierce competition from Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus for his signature.
Pau Torres is on the radar of both Manchester United and Man City
- Jake Lambourne
OLE TRAFFORD
- Jake Lambourne
ON THE PUL
Man Utd and Liverpool are on red alert with Christian Pulisic growing increasingly frustrated at Chelsea, according to reports.
The American star, 22, spent nine months convincing Frank Lampard he was worthy of a starting spot at Stamford Bridge.
And after finally nailing down a spot, Pulisic has been thrown back on the Chelsea bench under new boss Thomas Tuchel.
The winger is yet to start under Tuchel and has played just 134 of a possible 810 minutes under the German – who gave him his big break at Borussia Dortmund.
Now, the Mail claim Pulisic could look to move on after starting on the bench during the 2-0 win over Everton.
Man Utd and Liverpool were BOTH keen on the forward before agreeing to join Chelsea in January 2019.
- Jake Lambourne
MAKE THE RON MOVE
Cristiano Ronaldo may have to plot his next move with Juventus threatening to offload him to trim their wage bill.
The Portugal superstar could be one of the names on the chopping block with the club’s finances crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Juventus posted losses of £97.5million earlier this season.
And with the 36-year-old pocketing a staggering £540,000-a-week until 2022, Juventus may be forced to let Ronaldo leave a year early to help balance the books.
The five-time Ballon d’Or is unlikely to be short of options as SunSport picks five clubs he could join next.
Click HERE for more.
- Jake Lambourne
EDIN OFF
BREAKING – Edinson Cavani is unhappy at Manchester United and will return to South America this summer, according to the player's father.
Luis told TyC Sports: "My son does not feel comfortable in England and wants to be close to the family again.
"Edinson is going to end up playing in South America. I want Edinson to play in a team that fights for something important.
"Edinson had many conversations with Riquelme and he would like to play for Boca.
"He was always seduced by the idea of playing in Boca. If he returns to South America he is leaning towards Boca."
He continued: "By the middle of the year it would be the return to South America. My son's idea is not to continue there, he wants to return."
- Jake Lambourne
SIMPLY MAR-VELOUS
Man Utd star Marcus Rashford was so desperate to help struggling kids and the homeless he even handed out cash from his car.
The England forward, 23, has quite rightly been highly-acclaimed for his work over the past 12 months in raising awareness of child food poverty in the UK.
In a revealing interview with WSJ Magazine, his brother Dwaine Maynard has revealed just how kind the hotshot really is.
Their report states that Rashford regularly used to roll down his car window to hand cash to kids or homeless people around Manchester.
That was until Dwaine, now one of Rashford's agents, advised him he had to stop as there were more constructive ways to help.
He told Rashford: “It’s actually not very safe for you to stop your car and do that.”
The WSJ has revealed the Man Utd star used to regular hand out money to those less fortunate from his car window - Jake Lambourne
TAKING THE MIK
Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand has urged Mikel Arteta to treat his Arsenal players like a cheating girlfriend…because he can’t trust any of them.
He fears that the players are simply not listening to their frustrated manager as they prepare for Thursday night’s crucial Europa League game away to Olympiacos.
Ferdinand said: "Arteta must look at that squad like a promiscuous girlfriend. He must lack so much faith in them.
“He can’t trust them at all because he doesn’t know what’s going to happen.
“He could give the best team talk of his life but they’re still going to go out there and do their own thing and it just doesn’t seem to be coming together at the moment.”
- Marc Mayo
LIGT EM UP
Manchester United are reportedly set to make a summer move for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt.
The Red Devils were keen on signing the centre-back before his £67.5million move from Ajax in July 2019.
And according to reports, they're set to renew their interest in the 21-year-old in the summer.
Spanish outlet Todofichajes claim the Old Trafford club have made signing the centre-half their 'top priority'.
It's said the United brass have opted to pursue De Ligt's signature after deciding against moves for Real Madrid duo Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.
- Marc Mayo
ON THE MARC
Bruno Fernandes is earning praise for his playmaking efforts.
But Marcus Rashford has also popped up with a fair few assists this year – registering 18 for the year in all competitions.
- Marc Mayo
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES C'MON
Luke Shaw has revealed teasing Daniel James over his goal celebration.
Speaking to Adidas before scoring himself in the win over Manchester City, the left-back joked that his team-mate just ‘runs about’.
He remarked: “I said to Jamo yesterday, 'We need to get you a new celebration because what you're doing isn’t good enough!’.
“He's like a little kid isn't he? He just doesn't know what to do, he just runs about.”
- Marc Mayo
BACKROOM BOSSES
Harry Maguire has praised the work of Manchester United’s backroom staff for the successful approach in the derby.
The club captain told the United website: “We have brilliant coaches and a brilliant manager and brilliant analysts as well.
“Credit to them because they are the ones who sent us out in that formation and those tweaks when they have the ball.
“We knew they were going to keep the ball at times and the positions that they find themselves in, they have a lot of possession.”
- Marc Mayo
CLASSIC GOAL
“And here’s Giggs…”
You know the rest.
- Marc Mayo
NEXT STEP
Rio Ferdinand is looking for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to evolve Manchester United into a team that can dismantle lesser sides.
Praising the Red Devils for their approach to big games, the ex-defender now wants to see an improvement against teams set up to defend.
On his YouTube channel, Ferdinand stated: “Tactically, I think Ole has us set up perfectly to win the big games against the teams that are going to have more possession.
"For against teams that are going to have the ball more than us, we are primed, we have the perfect personnel to play like that, on the counter-attack, our front threes are as good as anyone.
"That’s been proven over the last couple of years, but I also think that the game against Man City at the weekend was such a massive point in the right direction to how we can then evolve.
"If we can convert that against the lesser teams, sometimes those teams come to Old Trafford, we go to their ground, and we get forced to sit back.
"Brighton did it to us, they have the possession, but we have the players now – if they’re set up right and coached right to press high – then that’s a hard team to play against.”
- Marc Mayo
BOCA BALK
Edinson Cavani is increasingly unlikely to move to Boca Juniors in the summer, according to reports.
It had been claimed that the striker was eyeing a three-year deal with the Argentine giants.
But TyCSports state that living in the country is not high on Cavani’s agenda.
SunSport revealed last night that the veteran attacker is hoping to remain at Manchester United but is growing impatient in waiting for a new contract offer.
Credit: Reuters - Marc Mayo
KA-PAU
Pau Torres has emerged as a target for Manchester United.
The Spanish defender, currently starring for Villarreal, is reportedly catching the eye of the Red Devils and Manchester City.
MEN detail United's interest in Torres as a left-footed centre-back partner for Harry Maguire.
That position is thought to be key to the club's summer transfer strategy, with Raphael Varane also linked.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are named as two other potential destinations for the player.
- Marc Mayo
IN THE NIK
Nikola Milenkovic is still being linked with Manchester United, who have reportedly contacted the defender’s camp over a transfer.
CalcioMercato detail the club attempting to ‘find information’ to gauge the finances of the deal.
AC Milan, Inter, Tottenham and Liverpool are also named in the report as interested parties.
Milenkovic, 23, has been a star of Serie A side Fiorentina but could be available for around £26m in the summer.
- Marc Mayo
SECOND THE BEST
Roy Keane is content to see Manchester United claim second spot in the league this season.
Despite beating runaway leaders Manchester City on the weekend, the Red Devils are not seen as contenders for the crown this year.
He told Sky Sports: “The league? No. Very, very difficult but they’ve got such an important end to the season with cup games coming up, it was vital they kept that momentum up.
“We said earlier in the season, could they be the best of the rest? And I think they’ve proven today that they can be. Excellent.
“Ole simplified everything, back to passing it forward quickly, counter-attack, space… everything panned out the way he hoped.
“They had a bit of swagger about them. They weren’t cocky. I know they had a bit of a helping hand but you still have to take advantage of that and they showed a bit of character.”
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