Live Blog
- 17 Apr 2020, 19:32
- Updated: 17 Apr 2020, 19:32
MANCHESTER UNITED are eagerly preparing for the return of club football when the coronavirus begins to subside.
And Harry Kane is said to be keen on a move, while La Liga have given the Red Devils a welcome boost in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez.
Get all the latest news and gossip from Old Trafford here…
Joshua Jones5 minutes ago17th April 2020
TAKING A DIM VIEW
Former Manchester United team-mate Dimitar Berbatov has defended Paul Pogba following his public war of words with pundit Graeme Souness.
The £89million midfielder finally responded to Souness’ persistent criticism last week.
Speaking to the United Podcast, Pogba, 27, said: “I didn’t know who he was really, I heard he was a great player and stuff like that.
“It’s their job to speak. They’ve been talking. I’m really used to it, It doesn’t bother me. It’s just talk and selling stuff.”
And Berbatov, who played with Pogba at Old Trafford in the 2011-12 season, believes that the war of words has gotten “personal” now… and would understand if it were to “affect” the Frenchman.
Joshua Jones35 minutes ago17th April 2020
WEEK AT THE FEES
Captain Harry Maguire has revealed that he is in weekly contact with club officials over potential measures such as pay cuts or deferrals.
The Red Devils last week confirmed every member of staff, numbering around 900 people, would continue to be paid in full.
But with regards to the playing squad, the situation is constantly being looked at.
Maguire, 27, told Sky Sports: “First and foremost every club will be different.
“I’m having weekly discussions with the club about how we want to go forward and how we want to monitor it and that’s as much as we can say on behalf of our club.
“We keep monitoring the situation weekly, and every week we will evaluate and see where we’re at and see if we need to do anything regarding pay cuts or deferrals.
“Every club will be different and I’m sure every club captain will be speaking to their club’s with regard to that.”
Southampton recently became the first Premier League club to announce that their players would be deferring their wages, while Arsenal chiefs have been trying to convince their first-team stars to take a 12-month pay cut.
Joshua Jones1 hour ago17th April 2020
SHOW US YOUR EST
Watford youngster Pervis Estupinan has caught the eye of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, according to reports in his native Ecuador.
Osasuna signed the 22-year-old on a two-season loan last summer and he quickly made the left-back spot his own as the LaLiga side steered clear of relegation trouble.
Such consistent form has earned the attention of United, Atletico and several Italian clubs, report Expreso.
The admirers are said to have scouted Estupinan, whose future is entirely in the hands of Watford despite his spell in Spain.
In 11th place at the break, newly promoted Osasuna have eased into mid-table with their loanee playing every minute of their league campaign bar a single match he was suspended for.
Estupinan impressed Watford when breaking out at Ecuadorian side LDU Quito and has also been sent to Granada, Almeria and Mallorca for first-team experience.
Therefore, despite signing in 2016, he is yet to play a game for the Hornets at any level.
Joshua Jones2 hours ago17th April 2020
NO WAY JOSE
Ex-Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho reportedly agreed to take over Liverpool before Chelsea swooped in with a massive offer in 2004, an explosive book has claimed.
The Special One had an agreement to join the Reds from Porto in 2004 to replace Gerard Houllier, only for the Blues and Roman Abramovich to hijack the deal.
The new book, ‘Mourinho: Behind the Special One, from the origin to the glory,’ written by French journalist Nicolas Vilas, details just how close the 57-year-old came to joining the Merseysiders.
The Reds attempted to poach Mourinho away from Primera Liga prior to Porto’s Champions League quarter-final crunch clash with Lyon in April 2004.
Mourinho’s adviser at the time, Jorge Baidek recalled: “Mourinho should have gone to Liverpool. Rick Parry [then chief executive] was in charge of transfers and we had an agreement. They asked us to wait for 15 days as Houllier was still the Reds’ manager.”
Houllier enjoyed a trophy-laden start to his six-year reign at Liverpool but fell out of favour at the end of his time in charge.
French agent Bruno Satin had been involved in negotiations to hash out a deal which would see the Special One move to Anfield, but Jorge Mendes alerted Chelsea to the possibility of scuppering the Reds’ plans and helped devise a more appealing offer.
Mourinho met new Chelsea owner Abramovich for the first time on the eve of Porto’s Champions League semi-final tie with Deportivo La Coruna at the beginning of May.
The pair then met again on the Russian billionaire’s plush yacht in Monaco the day after Porto incredibly won the Champions League over Monaco.
In the build-up to the final there was talk that either he or Monaco’s Didier Deschamps would take over at newly rich Chelsea. It was literally winner takes all.
Joshua Jones2 hours ago17th April 2020
MAN DOWN
Fiorentina are open to selling Manchester United target Federico Chiesa – but insist the young winger wants to stay at the club.
The Italian forward, 22, has been linked with a move away from the Serie A giants all year in a difficult season for the Viola.
Chiesa has scored seven goals, adding five assists in 26 games, but his side still sit a disappointing 13th in the Serie A standings.
Despite the team’s troubles, president Rocco Commisso has revealed Chiesa is happy in Florence – but will sell the youngster if that’s what he really wants.
The Viola chief said: “I want players who are happy to stay.
“As far as Chiesa is concerned, I promised him that if the right offer arrives and he wants to leave, we can satisfy him.
“In recent months we haven’t talked about it, but the situation in Florence has also changed in his eyes.
“The goal is to make a stronger team for the next year – and doing better in the league.”
Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sent scouts to keep tabs on the winger, most recently in February – shortly before the lockdown.
And United officials were buoyed by the news Chiesa had already started learning English.
3pm Man Utd news LIVE: Kane wants United transfer, Levy prefers Real Madrid sale, Saul Niguez boost - The Sun
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