ANTHONY MARTIAL has told Manchester United he wants OUT of the club after seven years at Old Trafford.
But Ralf Rangnick has told him nobody is interested and that he may have to stay till the end of the season to help out in the squad.
And the German has revealed he has also held talks with Martial’s France team-mate Paul Pogba over his uncertain future at the club.
Elsewhere, United are pursuing Bayer Leverkusen starlet Florian Wirtz, SunSport can exclusively reveal.
Rangnick is using his knowledge of the Bundesliga to unearth some future stars and the German has told his new colleagues the midfielder, 18, will be his country’s next big player.
Antonio Rudiger would be a “perfect signing” for Manchester United, according to a former Old Trafford star.
The Chelsea defender is out of contract in the summer and former Red Devil Paul Parker says the club should move for the Germany international.
Parker said: “If you had him next to [Raphael] Varane, what a difference you’re talking about.
“Good pace and you’re talking about someone who’s won a World Cup, Champions League and then you’ve got a centre-half, who in the old-school way of talking is actually a leader.”
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembele looks set to stay at Barcelona with reports suggested he is on the cusp of signing a new contract.
Elsewhere, United are keeping close tabs on Erling Haaland, with the club looking to pounce on a move for the striker should he become available.
Boss Ralf Rangnick is said to have spoken to Haaland’s dad as United look to snap up the Dortmund star, who previously stated Cristiano Ronaldo is the reason he started playing football.
And we’ve the very latest on Edinson Cavani, who is being eyed by Juventus.
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Get all the latest Man Utd transfer news, gossip and updates here.
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Premier League top scorers
Mo Salah still leads the way in the Premier League top scorer charts with 15 goals so far this season.
His teammate Diogo Jota is next up with 10, followed by Jamie Vardy, Raphinha and Emile Smith Rowe.
No Manchester United players make it into the list, although Cristiano Ronaldo has netted seven Prem goals.
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Sporting gesture from Ronaldo’s mum
Cristiano Ronaldo’s mum has been applauded by Sporting Lisbon fans after appearing to make sure a gift bought from their club shop took pride of place under his Christmas tree.
Doting Dolores Aveiro, 67 on New Year’s Day, has made no secret of the fact she would like her son to make an emotional return to boyhood club Sporting – who he left for his first spell at Manchester United.
She regularly posts pictures of her watching her favourite Portuguese club with family and friends on social media and confessed on a recent podcast: “I’ve already told him, ‘Son, before I die I want to see you return to Sporting’.”
On Christmas Day, Dolores was congratulated by Sporting fans who assumed it was her who planted the present under the tree.
The green bag with the initials SCP – short for Sporting CP – was top of the pile of presents Cristiano and his family received.
It was on display as they wished his 381 million fans ‘Merry Christmas’ in matching red pyjamas in an Instagram snap.
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Grealish the £100million man
Will Jack Grealish’s Premier League transfer record be broken in the January window?
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Rangnick on busy Christmas period
He said: “I’ve watched Premier League football for the last 40 years so when it was also the First Division and I know what kind of tradition it is to play football over Christmas and on Boxing Day, the 27th, the 30th and even New Year’s Day or the 2nd January.
“So if somebody came across the idea to abolish then we might as well speak about abolishing the five o’clock tea or the Queen or whatever – this is all part of the tradition of this country and I’m very much looking forward to being part of this for the first time in my career.
“As I said earlier, there might be one or two issues we could think about or seriously discuss. In the future does it still make sense to have two cup competitions?
“All other big European leagues have only one so this might be an issue worth talking about again and of course we are also discussing that it makes sense to have five subs instead of three now we have COVID times again.
“The reason the five substitutes were implemented was for COVID, now we have a COVID situation again and we still have 18 players on the team-sheet and for me it makes sense to be able to substitute not just three, but five players.”
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More Premier League fixtures
And here are the Premier League games up until New Year’s Day.
As yet none have been postponed between December 29 and January 1, although that is subject to change.
Wednesday, December 29
- Chelsea vs Brighton – 7.30pm – Amazon Prime
- Brentford vs Man City – 8.15pm – Amazon Prime
Thursday, December 30
- Everton vs Newcastle – 7.30pm – Amazon Prime
- Manchester United vs Burnley – 8.15pm – Amazon Prime
Saturday, January 1
- Arsenal vs Manchester City – 12.30pm – BT Sport
- Leicester vs Norwich – 3pm
- Watford vs Tottenham – 3pm
- Crystal Palace vs West Ham – 5.30pm – Sky Sports
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Update on today and tomorrow’s games
Monday, December 27
- Newcastle vs Man Utd – 8pm – Sky Sports
Tuesday, December 28
- Leeds vs Aston Villa – postponed
- Arsenal vs Wolves – postponed
- Crystal Palace vs Norwich – 3pm – Amazon Prime
- Southampton vs Tottenham – 3pm – Amazon Prime
- Watford vs West Ham – 3pm – Amazon Prime
- Leicester vs Liverpool – 8pm – Amazon Prime
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Martinez set for Old Trafford
Emiliano Martinez is reportedly on Manchester United’s list of potential goalkeeping targets.
The Argentina international, 29, has shone for Aston Villa ever since joining them from Arsenal in September 2020. And his consistent displays have caught the eye of the Red Devils.
The Daily Star claims United have ‘watched him closely’ several times and believe that he could be a future No1 at Old Trafford.
David de Gea currently holds that position after appearing to win his own personal battle with Dean Henderson.
After a shaky few years, the 31-year-old Spaniard is back to top form.
His current contract expires in 2023 and today’s report states that should he depart before then United would be on the look-out for a replacement.
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Rangnick on January transfer window
Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has spoken about the possibility of doing business in the January transfer window.
He said: “Right now my full focus is on the current players and getting to know them.
“We’ve been together now for more than three weeks so I think I have a much better overview on all the players we have currently.
“For me it’s about developing those players but if a player wants to leave because he feels he will not get enough game-time here with us then we can speak about that, but it’s not only about what the player wants, it’s also about the situation of the club.
“Two things need to come together if a player wants to leave – one thing is if he wants to leave, but on the other hand the needs of the club need to be satisfied.”
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Man Utd’s impressive trophy cabinet
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Pogba set to stay put?
Manchester United are NOT currently negotiating a January Paul Pogba sale, according to reports.
The midfielder’s future has been the subject of much speculation, with his contract set to expire in the summer.
Pogba, 28, is yet to make a decision on his future.
According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United are yet to receive a single proposal for Pogba ahead of next month’s transfer window.
The Red Devils offered their latest contract proposal in July and it remains on the table.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are both believed to be interested in the 2018 World Cup winner.
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No offer yet for Martial
Anthony Martial has told Ralf Rangnick he wants to leave the club.
But the German coach has revealed that no offer has yet come in for the French forward.
Rangnick said: “I told him listen, as long as there is no club showing interest in him, and it should not only be in the interest of the player it should also be in the interest of the club.
“So far, as far as I know, there has been no offer from any other club and as long as this is the case he will stay.”
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Alternative Man Utd line-up
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Possible Man Utd XI vs Newcastle
Manchester United have all-but-one of their players available for their trip to Newcastle after their recent Covid outbreak – with just Paul Pogba missing through injury.
But Ralf Rangnick will have to decide what to do with Anthony Martial who wants to leave.
The Reds kick-off at 8pm at St James’ Park looking to leapfrog West Ham and Tottenham into fifth.
And Rangnick has 25 players to pick from.
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Ferguson on Messi-Ronaldo debate
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Duo Cavani and Varane return
Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst has reported that Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani are back and available for selection against Newcastle.
Varane, in particular, will be a big boost for Ralf Rangnick – who has been forced to play Victor Lindelof alongside captain Harry Maguire in recent weeks.
It remains to be seen whether either Varane or Cavani will start the match this evening.
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Man Utd’s most expensive transfers
Man Utd’s biggest transfers ever, both in and out, including Ronaldo -
Evra recalls Sir Alex story
Patrice Evra has recounted a story about former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Evra said: “We were tired after a game and did not sign autographs and got on the bus.
“We saw him [Sir Alex] signing autographs to the fans for 45 minutes.
“He yelled at us ‘Who do you think you are? These people pay your salary. Now go f*cking sign them’.”
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Haidara key to Rangnick press?
A valuable addition to Man Utd’s team? Should they go and get the RB Leipzig midfielder in the January window?
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Rangnick eyes Wolves midfielder Neves
Manchester United will reportedly have to compete with Chelsea for midfield reinforcements in January.
New boss Ralf Rangnick is said to be eyeing Wolves star Ruben Neves as he looks to strengthen in the middle of the park.
But Spanish outlet Fichajes reports Chelsea are also tracking the 24-year-old, who moved to Molineux in July 2017.
Neves is under contract until 2024 and bids will start at something in the region of £35million.
Any transfer battle between the Premier League giants would likely push that fee higher.
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Newcastle’s improving record vs Man Utd
Ominous for the Red Devils ahead of their trip to St James’ Park this evening?
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Cristiano Ronaldo becomes an uncle
Cristiano Ronaldo’s pregnant partner is celebrating a new addition to her family.
Georgina Rodriguez’s elder sister Ivana revealed on Sunday she has given birth to a little girl called Deva, prompting the influencer to congratulate her with an emotional message saying: “My precious baby, I love her.”
The name Ivana and her Portuguese sculptor partner Carlos Garcia have chosen is of Hindi origin and means Divinity.
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Ralf Rangnick to make history?
Manchester United have won both of their two Premier League matches so far under Rangnick 1-0.
No manager in the club’s Prem history has kept a clean sheet in each of their first three league matches in charge of the Red Devils.
Will that change this evening when they face Newcastle at St James’ Park?
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Rangnick to avoid unvaccinated signings
Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick has revealed he is going to try and avoid signing unvaccinated players in the January transfer window.
When asked about the matter, he said: “Is an issue clubs seriously need to think about.
If you sign player knowing from 1st day hasn’t been vaccinated, you have to be aware, he might not be available, not only for 10 days but regularly cos of COVID trials”
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More from Rangnick on availability
Ralf Rangnick is confident all his players impacted by Covid should be available for the game against Newcastle tonight.
He said: “Well as far as I could see in training today [Thursday], they are all in good shape.
“They did their homework, they all have their schedules to train at home and they stuck to that schedule and programme.
“From what I saw, I can say most of them, if not all of them, might be available, and of course I would have to take some difficult decisions as to who will be in the squad, who will be in the starting XI.”
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Man Utd’s five-man transfer shortlist
The January transfer window will soon be open. And by that time, Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick should have a better idea about his squad and the type of player he’d like to bring in.
The central defensive midfield position feels like it’s been a problem for United since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013.
And it’s reportedly Rangnick’s main area of concern as he tries to lead United in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the second half of the season.
So, if Rangnick is granted funds in January, who are some of the names in the frame to help boost his squad? United fan Tom McDermott took a look and came up with this shortlist.
- Amadou Haidara
- Jude Bellingham
- Frenkie de Jong
- Kieran Trippier
- Tyler Adams