Sir Alex Ferguson pushing Man Utd bosses to appoint his own preference as new head of recruitment
Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly pushing strongly for Manchester United to appoint Dougie Freedman as the club’s new head of recruitment.
United are said to have made an approach to Crystal Palace’s current sporting director to become their recruitment chief working under a new regime headed by Dan Ashworth, who has an agreement in principle to be the new sporting director.
Ashworth is currently on gardening leave after quitting Newcastle United and looks set to briefed with being in charge of the club’s overall transfer activity.
He has already agreed terms to switch Premier League clubs but both United and the Magpies remain in talks to sort a compensation fee.
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As for Freedman, who used to be a neighbour of Ferguson, he has made a big impression with the work he has done at Selhurst Park since taking over as their sporting director in 2017.
Indeed, the 49-year-old was responsible for bringing n the likes of Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi, all of whom could fetch massive fees going forward for Palace.
Sweeping Old Trafford changes afoot
Football Insider reports that the Red Devils are currently in the process of making backroom changes at Old Trafford under new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while Omar Berrada has been recruited from Manchester City as the club’s new chief executive.
This summer will certainly represent one of massive change at the club, with a major overhaul of the first-team squad also expected to take place.
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Whether Erik ten Hag remains in charge of those changes remains to be seen though, with the United boss once again coming under fire this weekend despite his side recording their eighth win in 11 games in 2024 after beating Everton 2-0 on Saturday.
United are back in action again next Sunday when they host Liverpool in a huge FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.
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Man Utd Could Offload Casemiro and Raphael Varane in Summer
- Manchester United could offload Casemiro and Raphael Varane this summer with interest from Saudi Arabia.
- A Saudi offer for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool is almost guaranteed to happen.
- Kevin De Bruyne's future at Manchester City is also uncertain amid Saudi Pro League interest.
The threat of Saudi Arabia money is about to loom large again as they throw more money around, while other top stars have their personal ambitions to think about.
Here, we break down some of the ongoing transfer dilemmas that are going to unfold at the end of the season.
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool refused to entertain the idea of their poster boy moving to Al-Ittihad for £150million last year, but they can expect another knock at the door from the Saudis soon.
Salah is seen as the ultimate purchase in the Saudi Pro League, a 31-year-old Egyptian superstar who would match Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of wages but also match him in terms of status.Related video: Manchester United club update, latest on sporting director, Erik ten Hag and more (Dailymotion)
Mohamed Salah's statistics in the Premier League compared to Cristiano Ronaldo
Mohamed Salah
Cristiano Ronaldo
Statistics correct as of 08/03/2024
The lure of Salah is huge to this market and inside info suggests there is no way there will not be an offer for him coming after this Premier League campaign.
It will give Liverpool a big decision to make because if they cash in on a player they purchased in 2017 for £43million, they will be making a huge profit while also opening up their own wage bill options.
At a time when the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold need improved deals, that could be handy, while the manager that succeeds Jurgen Klopp might also welcome the chance to add a star name of his own.
Losing Salah is not ideal. Liverpool definitely do not want this to happen, but it will be their last opportunity to land mega-money for him as his contract expires in 2025.
Kevin De Bruyne
The Manchester City star is being linked with a move to Major League Soccer as well as the Saudi Pro League, and it is a very strange exit to ponder.
De Bruyne is still the best at what he does, pulling the strings for Manchester City and producing passes and goals that are out of this world.
But, at 32, we are approaching a moment when the reigning Premier League champions might contemplate his future, especially as his contract expires in 2025.
There is definitely a chance that De Bruyne extends his stay at the club, but we should expect bids to land for him in the summer.
He turned down the chance to move to Al Hilal last year but has always seemed more open-minded about the prospect of playing in the United States. This will be one to watch.
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Raheem Sterling
The Saudi sharks will be circling Stamford Bridge at the end of this season to see if Sterling can be snapped up.
Rumours around this move surfaced recently and were quickly knocked down, with sources around the player claiming there was no truth involved.
Yet there is genuine intent to try to sign Sterling and the intriguing factor will be two-sided: can they turn Sterling’s head? Are Chelsea willing to sell?
Sources currently suggest the summer could be a moment when the Blues will listen to offers for the forward, but there are also suggestions that Sterling is not interested in a Saudi pay day - even if he does leave Chelsea.
Bruno Guimaraes
Paris Saint-Germain are keeping a close eye on his situation and know he has a release clause of £100million.
Newcastle United find themselves in a situation where they may have to consider player sales in the summer and, while they absolutely do not want to lose Guimaraes, he is the player that could bring in the most money.
From a personal point of view, he is loving life with the Toon and would love to be the man that leads them to silverware. But if Newcastle can not match his ambitions, perhaps the lure of PSG becomes more tempting.
Kieran Trippier
Surprise stories surrounded him in January as he was pursued by Bayern Munich. There was a brief moment when it really did look like a move from Newcastle could happen, and sources believe we have not seen the last of Trippier rumours.
A switch to Bayern may not necessarily be on the cards, but other clubs also admire him and the 33-year-old right-back could be up for grabs this time.
Richarlison
The Tottenham Hotspur striker has started to live up to his big transfer from Everton this year, but doubts still remain about him staying.
Richarlison cost £60million in 2022 and, if Spurs can get their money back on that deal, they would probably go for it.
At the moment, the only chance of that happening would be if a Saudi Arabian side wants to sign him, and there are whispers that he is on their radar.
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Casemiro
Casemiro's performance levels have dipped this season, but he has also played an important role in helping Kobbie Mainoo settle into a first-team role.
The writing is on the wall for the £350,000-a-week Brazilian at Manchester United though, and a Saudi move seems imminent.
They love his profile and playing style, and believe he would be a great addition to the stable of Brazilians they have already built within the Saudi Pro League.
Raphael Varane
His experience currently seems key to helping Manchester United through difficult times, and he is managing to put together a good run of games as a starter in the side.
But there is real consideration towards selling him and that will be weighed up further in the summer. The Red Devils are looking to add to their defensive ranks as part of five big signings for next season, and getting £340,000-a-week Varane off the wage bill could aid that.
He has interest from Saudi Arabia, but the possibility of him returning to French side Lens has also been mooted.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and Capology
‘Deluded’ Ten Hag branded ‘desperate’ after more excuses with Man Utd ‘going in no direction’
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been ripped into by Richard Keys and Andy Gray, who believe his excuses are coming across as “desperate”.
The Red Devils were poor against Everton on Saturday afternoon but got over the line thanks to Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford penalties, both of which were won by Alejandro Garnacho.
‘Deluded’ Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag slammed
It has been a poor season for Ten Hag’s side, who are currently eight points off the Champions League places having played a game more than fourth-placed Aston Villa, who host fifth-place Tottenham on Sunday.
United’s poor form comes down to a lot of things and if Ten Hag was to have his way, we would all believe it is because of factors out of his control, such as injuries and luck.
Insisting that he could easily have won 14 more games as Manchester United manager, the Dutchman has come across as “deluded” and “desperate” to infamous duo Keys and Gray, who were speaking on beIN SPORTS.
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“In the interest of ballots, he’s won 61 of 100 games, which is a better record than any previous incumbent of the chair at Manchester United…I think he’s deluded,” Keys said.Related video: Erik ten Hag shares thoughts on Manchester United’s defensive display against Everton (The Independent)Gray added: “He certainly gives me the impression of a manager who’s searching for stats and facts that tell his fans, Manchester United fans, that it’s not as bad as we’re seeing.”
The pair then dived a little bit deeper into the stats, with Gray adding: “That’s a more interesting record, for me [31 wins and 22 defeats in 60 games]. Just above 50 per cent victories.
“But when you look at the things, goals scored [90] and goals conceded [84] are almost level. Come on… you’re Manchester United, that should not be a stat.
“In 14 games, they’ve scored three-plus, but in 13 games, they’ve conceded three-plus. Those are stats that are just damning. It can’t be anything else.”
Gray then heavily criticised Ten Hag after United put in ‘one of their worst-ever performances’ against Manchester City last week, noting that their form does not come down to injuries as the Cityzens and Liverpool have coped just fine without key players.
“I don’t look at facts and figures,” Gray continued. “I know what I’ve seen. I know what I saw last week. I saw one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen from Man United. Maybe the worst I’ve seen in a derby.
“And he’s putting that up because of injuries? No, they’ve got injuries, no more than Man City have had. They’ve lost Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, their best players, arguably, for long spells this season.
“They coped with it. Liverpool have played kids in a cup final. Coped with it and won it. So you can’t offer that as an excuse.
“Manchester United can’t be offering up the fact they’ve had a few injuries as a reason why they are where they are. They are where they are because I don’t think there’s a direction they’re going.
“If you ask me what style of play United play and what they are… are they a counter-pressing team?
“Are they a team that sits back and then breaks? Are they a team that plays on the front foot? I don’t know because you never see it.”
Keys concluded: “Desperate men say desperate things, and that was desperate.”
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Barcelona ‘reject offer’ for potential Mbappe replacement as Romano comments on PSG ‘demand’
According to reports, Spanish giants FC Barcelona have ‘rejected’ a huge ‘offer’ from Ligue Un outfit Paris Saint-Germain for Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona are enduring a difficult season as they are five points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid having played a game more and head coach Xavi has already confirmed that he will leave in the summer.
Yamal has been a major positive for Barcelona…
The emergence of 16-year-old Yamal has been a huge positive for Barcelona this season. He has six goals and seven assists in his 37 appearances this term across all competitions.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Yamal’s form has caught the attention of French giants PSG, who have had a €200m ‘offer rejected’ by Barcelona.
PSG are said to be ‘willing to go all out’ in their attempt to sign Yamal, who is reportedly viewed as an ideal long-term replacement for Kylian Mbappe.
The World Cup winner is out of contract at the end of this season and it is being widely reported that he will join Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer.
In recent weeks, Mbappe has been subbed off early in Ligue Un games as head coach Luis Enrique attempts to plan for life without the France international. Addressing whether PSG have ‘demanded’ the forward ‘to be benched’, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano explained.Related video: Messi's Barcelona contract napkin, promised to be auctioned for a record-breaking amount. (Sports AlDente)
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“Many of you are asking me recently why Luis Enrique decided to sub Kylian Mbappé, and whether it had anything to do with Real Madrid.” Romano told Caught Offside.
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“The answer is that, from what I’m told, the president of the club didn’t tell Luis Enrique to sub the player or that ‘we don’t want him to play.’ That is not the message coming directly from the club.
“Luis Enrique himself, as he’s also confirmed in public, wants to try other things. Something new and different, especially in Ligue Un.”
“There’s a 99% chance…”
La Liga president Javier Tebas recently suggested that Real Madrid have “a 99% chance” of signing Mbappe this summer.
“Knowing that he’s leaving PSG, there’s a 99% chance that Mbappe signs for Real Madrid,” Tebas told L’Equipe.
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“But I don’t know if he’s already signed. It’s great news for Real Madrid and for Spanish football. [Mbappe] is one of the best players in the world.
“In my view, [Jude] Bellingham, [Erling] Haaland and Mbappe are the three most dominant players on the planet, and two of them are at Real Madrid.”
The La Liga chief added: “At the moment, their financial results are very good and they can spend a lot more than they do. Madrid have been very prudent financially, they’ve prepared for the signing of Mbappe… They don’t have to sell anyone to allow themselves to sign Mbappe.”
Manchester United star agrees triple-your-money new deal
Manchester United are set to hand Kobbie Mainoo a new triple-your-money deal to stay at Old Trafford.
The midfielder’s current deal doesn’t expire until 2026.
However, Mainoo has broken through to the first team this season and United want his salary to reflect his new status within the team.
The midfielder has been a revelation since his Premier League debut in November.
Mainoo has an outside chance of making England’s European Championships squad, despite the fact he’s yet to earn his first call-up.
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United’s new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and his INEOS team, have been impressed with Mainoo and feel he reflects precisely the type of player that the club should be about.
And the Sun say Mainoo has agreed personal terms over a new long-term deal that will see him triple his current £20,000-a-week deal.
United are also keen to improve Alejandro Garnacho’s deal.
The Argentine only signed a new contract in 2023 but he’s started the club’s last 28 matches in all competitions.
Garnacho is now viewed as a first-team player, whereas he was a squad rotational player when he signed his previous deal.
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