MANCHESTER UNITED could be meeting with Erling Haaland's representatives soon after they visited Barcelona and Real Madrid on Thursday.
Meanwhile, we have all the latest on Jesse Lingard's potential England call-up and Anthony Martial's injury.
Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
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- William Pugh
REAL TALK
Erling Haaland only wants a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona, Spanish reports say.
It would come as a massive transfer blow to Chelsea, Manchester United and City, who are all linked with the Borussia Dortmund striker.
Haaland's agent, Mino Raiola, and dad, Alfie, were in Spain on Thursday to speak with rivals Barca and Real Madrid.
And according to Catalunya Radio, Raiola told Nou Camp president Joan Laporta, the Dortmund forward is only interested in a move to LaLiga.
But, it is claimed Laporta also explained they prefer to sign the 20-year-old next season due to his release clause.
Haaland is available for just £65million in the summer of 2022 per the stipulation. But any side looking to sign the Norwegian in the next window can be expected to pay close to £150m.
- William Pugh
TEDDY HAPPY RETURNS!
Manchester United wished their former striker Teddy Sheringham a happy birthday as he turns 55.
The ex-West Ham and Tottenham striker played for United for four years between 1997 and 2001.
- Jack Figg
GOOD MORNING UTD FANS,
France boss Didier Deschamps has handed Manchester United a boost over Anthony Martial’s injury.
The forward missed the 1-0 win over Bosnia last night after picking up a knock on his knee in the previous outing. Martial, 25, started in the 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan but limped off in the 59th minute.
Deschamps revealed how he was hoping to have Martial back in his squad to face Bosnia but he failed a late fitness test. He will now be a doubt for United’s clash against Brighton on Sunday.
But the French boss is adamant his injury isn’t serious putting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fears at ease. He said: “Anthony has a small issue on his knee. Nothing is decided yet.
“He won’t be taking part in the training session a bit later. Anything serious has been dismissed. We’ve run some tests, but there’s still the pain, and having travelled as long as we have, that hasn’t helped.”
Meanwhile, Alex Telles says competition for the left-back spot at United can only be a good thing.
He said: “When you’ve got a situation like that, then the team can only benefit from it.
“And it’s Man Utd that wins from that [situation].
“In terms of the two of us, we both motivate each other and push each other further forward and we help each other.
“That’s really, really important throughout the team, independent of the positions we play.”
And finally, Jesse Lingard is emerging as a wildcard selection for Gareth Southgate’s 23-man Euros squad.
The midfielder, a stalwart of England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, has come from nowhere to be a serious contender again.
His outstanding form on loan at West Ham had earned the Manchester United outcast a shock call-up to Southgate’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers — and Lingard played in all three.
When naming that party, Southgate admitted Lingard, 28, had been ‘lucky’ to be included, because of injuries to Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
But it is believed that Southgate has been so impressed by Lingard’s form, as well as his huge popularity within the squad, that he is trying to figure out who to omit to find room for him.
That could mean the axe for Sancho or Grealish — both would be huge calls.
- Joe Brophy
LIN BUSINESS
Exclusive by Dave Kidd: Jesse Lingard is emerging as a wildcard selection for Gareth Southgate’s 23-man Euros squad.
The midfielder, a stalwart of England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, has come from nowhere to be a serious contender again.
His outstanding form on loan at West Ham had earned the Manchester United outcast a shock call-up to Southgate’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers — and Lingard played in all three.
When naming that party, Southgate admitted Lingard, 28, had been ‘lucky’ to be included, because of injuries to Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
But it is believed that Southgate has been so impressed by Lingard’s form, as well as his huge popularity within the squad, that he is trying to figure out who to omit to find room for him.
That could mean the axe for Sancho or Grealish — both would be huge calls.
- Joe Brophy
LUC AT IT
Manchester United and Chelsea could be involved in a transfer fight for Lucas Vazquez after he told Real Madrid he will not sign a new deal, according to reports.
The Spanish wideman, 29, is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season.
According to ABC in Spain, Vazquez has rejected ‘several’ extensions from Los Blancos – the latest of which was a three-year deal but included a ten per cent pay cut due to the pandemic.
The report states he has made it clear he will refuse to put pen to paper and that could open the floodgates for a battle for his signature.
Premier League giants United and Chelsea are among the frontrunners to bring the nine-cap international in on a free transfer.
- Joe Brophy
MARK IRWIN
- Joe Brophy
CHARLIE WYETT
MARTIN LIPTON
- Joe Brophy
FREE LIONS
Gareth Southgate has some big decisions ahead as he picks his 23-man squad for the European Championships that start in June.
And the decisions won’t get any easier as the 50-year-old then has to pick a starting XI and favoured formation for the tournament opener against Croatia on June 13.
Here, four of SunSport’s esteemed reporters give their squads and starting XI for the Euros.
DAVE KIDD
- Joe Brophy
MISS ROO
Bruno Fernandes has named Wayne Rooney as one of the former Manchester United players he'd loved to have played with.
- Joe Brophy
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Serbian firefighters have posed with Cristiano Ronaldo’s discarded captain’s armband, which is being auctioned off for charity.
The Portuguese legend furiously tossed the armband to the ground in disgust, after being denied a last minute winner against Serbia in Belgrade last weekend.
It is now being auctioned to the highest bidder, in order to help fund a £2.1million treatment for six-month old youngster Gavril Djurdjevic, who suffers with spinal muscular atrophy.
- Joe Brophy
FER REAL
Bruno Fernandes has hailed Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta as the man who inspired his game.
- Joe Brophy
NEW LANDS
Erling Haaland would by far be the Premier League's top earner should he get his £600,000-a-week wage demands.
The Norwegian superstar is being targeted by plenty of European powerhouses for a summer transfer.
- Joe Brophy
WARN WITH PRIDE
Neil Warnock has lifted the lid on his friendship with former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
The EFL veteran told Sky Sports: “I had two wonderful photographs sent to me and my wife Sharon and me and Jose – She loved Jose.
“On the letter it said ‘Dear Sharon, please find enclosed two photographs of your two favourite handsome men’. It was me and Jose.
“I thought she might have just crossed me out with a pen because he’s a good looking lad isn’t he?”
- Joe Brophy
KING ERIC
Manchester United fans are going wild for this resurfaced picture of Eric Cantona.
- Joe Brophy
KON AND GET ME
Manchester United target Ibrahima Konate is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with life at RB Leipzig.
The centre-back is tipped to make the move to rivals Liverpool this summer, via a £34million release clause in his contract.
A number of teams are said to still be in the running for his signature with no transfer announced yet.
But Leipzig’s chances of keeping Konate appear to be dwindling amid the latest reports from the Bundesliga club.
According to Sky Germany, he is growing increasingly dissatisfied with being stuck on the bench.
Not since December has the Frenchman started a game for Leipzig and he watched both defeats to Liverpool in their recent Champions League encounter as a substitute.
- Joe Brophy
WHO’S NEXT?
Erling Haaland’s dad Alf Inge and agent Mino Raiola have now reportedly flown to Madrid for transfer talks with Real.
On Thursday morning the pair were seen at Barcelona’s El-Prat Airport to meet with representatives from the Catalans.
Now it is Real Madrid’s turn – and there will be another THREE clubs visited, according to Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano.
He posted on Twitter that Raiola and Haaland Sr are speaking ‘with five top clubs interested, their projects, proposals and then decide for the future’.
The two Manchester clubs and Chelsea are believed to be the other three clubs sniffing around the lethal Borussia Dortmund striker.
- Joe Brophy
FRENCH CONNECTION
Real Madrid have reportedly set their asking price for Manchester United target Raphael Varane.
Spanish newspaper ABC claim the Spanish side are chasing between £51million and £59m for the French international this summer.
- Joe Brophy
VAZ CHASE
Manchester United and Chelsea could be involved in a transfer fight for Lucas Vazquez after he told Real Madrid he will not sign a new deal, according to reports.
The Spanish wideman, 29, is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season.
According to ABC in Spain, Vazquez has rejected ‘several’ extensions from Los Blancos – the latest of which was a three-year deal but included a ten per cent pay cut due to the pandemic.
The report states he has made it clear he will refuse to put pen to paper and that could open the floodgates for a battle for his signature.
Premier League giants United and Chelsea are among the frontrunners to bring the nine-cap international in on a free transfer.
- Joe Brophy
REAL DEAL
Erling Haaland's representative are now reportedly holding talks with Real Madrid after a meeting with rivals Real Madrid this afternoon.
- Joe Brophy
DOR OPEN
Erling Haaland’s representative reportedly held positive talks with Barcelona this afternoon.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed that the striker’s agent Mino Raiola has already discussed a price with Borussia Dortmund while Bayern Munich are not in the race!
- Joe Brophy
TELL TALES
Alex Telles says competition for the left-back spot at Manchester United can only be a good thing.
He said: “When you’ve got a situation like that, then the team can only benefit from it.
“And it’s Man Utd that wins from that [situation].
“In terms of the two of us, we both motivate each other and push each other further forward and we help each other.
“That’s really, really important throughout the team, independent of the positions we play.”
- Joe Brophy
TELL TALES
Alex Telles says competition for the left-back spot at Manchester United can only be a good thing.
He said: “When you’ve got a situation like that, then the team can only benefit from it.
“And it’s Man Utd that wins from that [situation].
“In terms of the two of us, we both motivate each other and push each other further forward and we help each other.
“That’s really, really important throughout the team, independent of the positions we play.”
- Joe Brophy
NOU ADVENTURE
Barcelona are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund star and Manchester United target Erling Haaland.
- William Pugh
FER REAL
Rio Ferdinand revealed he can’t hate Sergio Aguero despite the departing Manchester City star crushing Manchester United’s title dreams in 2012 with that legendary goal.
City announced Aguero will leave the club after a decade when his contract expires at the end of the season and Ferdinand took to Instagram to share his thoughts.
The BT Sport pundit revealed he is still haunted by the goal that gave noisy neighbours City their first ever Prem title – with United thinking they had done enough after winning their last game.
Ferdinand wrote: “Agueroooooooooooo. This name, this goal, this moment still hits me at times when I least expect it like a bolt out the blue! Our closest rivals just across the city, snatching the PL title from out of our hands – bearing in mind our game had just finished and we had won our game…
“What was the score in City’s game…they need a goal with seconds to go….surely we have won…I think we have done it…..then….Agueroooooooooo. Absolutely floored, distraught, devastated….a whole season demolished in the final seconds of the last game.
“What I will say is that as much as I hated the outcome I never hated (or disliked) Sergio for his moment – like I thought I would.”
Credit: Getty - William Pugh
RED HOT FORM
Bruno Fernandes has felt the wrath of David De Gea as the Manchester United goalkeeper gained Twitter revenge on his team-mate.
The Portuguese midfielder took to social media this morning to share a snap of him wearing a blue and white striped shirt and jeans while enjoying a coffee.
Pictured with a huge smile on his face, Fernandes captioned it with: “Ok, morning coffee is over… Q&A time… Who’s got a question? #AskBruno.”
That led to a cheeky response from United goalkeeper De Gea, who could not resist asking: “Are you a model?”
His good-natured shot comes in response to Fernandes taking aim at the stopper over the international break.
Credit: Instagram @brunofernandes.10
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