Manchester United news, transfer rumours, fixtures, injury news and more. Follow the 2023 season as the Red Devils attempt to win a first Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013.
Erik ten Hag made no mention of Cristiano Ronaldo in the programme notes for his side’s 2-0 win over Burnley at MetLife Stadium. But was there a message behind his silence?
Transfers
The transfer window is always packed with drama and 2023-24 has been no different. Manchester United have had their fair share of transfer rumours this summer as they look to close the gap between them and champions Manchester City.
The Old Trafford club have already signed goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Mason Mount, but it is at centre back where the Red Devils need to strengthen most. The club have Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof as their center-back options, but there is a desire to add another player to that mix.
Manchester united news have scoured the market for potential options, including West Ham’s Declan Rice. But their budget could prohibit them from paying the 25-year-old’s asking price of around PS100 million.
They have also been linked with a move for Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund. The Denmark international only joined the Serie A side last year after leaving FC Copenhagen but has impressed in his first season. He is an energetic presence in the middle of the park, combining well with fellow attacking players.
United are also interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s France international Randal Kolo Muani, who is a strong ball winner with good vision. However, the Bundesliga giants would want a high fee for the 24-year-old.
Meanwhile, United are in discussions with Napoli over their young South Korea center-back Kim Min-jae. The Neapolitans are reluctant to sell the 23-year-old despite his scudetto-winning campaign, but it may be difficult to convince them to accept a bid of over $50 million from their rivals.
They are also keeping tabs on Borussia Dortmund’s Jaap Stam and Paris Saint-Germain’s Wout Weghorst. Both are highly rated and have the talent to excel in the Premier League. However, it is unlikely that either will join the club this summer.
Fixtures
It’s a fixture list that will test Manchester United in the very best way as they battle to get back into a top-four spot. They begin with a trip to Burnley on Sunday, followed by a midweek trip to Anderlecht in the Europa League and then the Premier League clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 5.
Then comes a tough period as they host Tottenham and West Ham, while a trip to Wolves rounds off the month. That’s before the final international break of the season that includes a trip to Luton Town in the Capital One Cup.
And that’s not even mentioning the three matches against a very good Chelsea side, a home game with Manchester City and the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Celta Vigo. It’s a tough schedule for any club, but especially one that is missing two of its best defenders.
United could also be forced to reschedule their league fixture against Brighton on February 4 if they make the UEFA Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo. That’s because they only have two available dates to rearrange their UEFA group games if they win their UEFA Europa Conference League groups.
It’s a very difficult pile-up of fixtures and the Glazer family may well decide that they need to sell a stake in the club to ensure it can compete financially with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool. They are in the market for a partner and the likes of Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS have shown interest. They want to find the right deal that allows them to keep control of the club and maintain its history. But the club’s owners are in no rush to sell and it’s not even clear whether they would accept a full sale of their stake. It would need a huge investment from somebody to buy the club.
Gossip
The 2023 summer transfer window is in full swing and there are a number of Manchester United players who have been linked with moves away from Old Trafford. But it’s not all transfers – the Red Devils are still working hard to find an attacking striker to help them close the gap on rivals Manchester City, too.
The club has been forced to spend big on the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen but is now looking for reinforcements up front. And according to a report in The Times, they are interested in Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund.
However, the Red Devils may have to dig deep into their pockets to secure a deal for the Sweden international. The Reds are unwilling to pay more than £60 million for the player, mainly because they have been working under a tight budget as they battle financial fair play regulations.
Despite this, the club has been in discussions over a transfer with the Serie A side for several weeks. Apparently, United want to add Hojlund to their squad as they look to improve on their top-10 finish from last season.
Meanwhile, a separate report in L’Equipe suggests that United are keen on bringing in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Having failed to sign the Frenchman last year, the Red Devils are reportedly ready to make another move for him this summer. The 24-year-old is a good all-rounder, boasting decent advanced metrics in ball progression and aerials.
Finally, United boss Erik ten Hag has insisted that they are doing everything they can to bring in an additional attacking player before the Premier League kicks off next weekend. However, he also made it clear that Mason Greenwood is likely to have to wait his turn if he wants to get more playing time this season. The Dutchman has offered his ideas and opinions on the forward’s future but ultimately it will be down to the board to decide what to do with the youngster.
Injury News
Manchester United are currently in the middle of a hectic schedule, and they need their best players available to compete for top four finishes in all competitions. However, injuries and suspensions have hampered their efforts in recent weeks, and the Red Devils are facing several injury concerns heading into this game against Aston Villa.
Fortunately, it seems like the team’s key players will be fit and available to play. The club will likely field the same lineup that drew with Tottenham Hotspur last week, which would be good news for them as they need their top players to perform well in the remaining games of the season.
The club’s Brazilian defender Casemiro is expected to return from a calf injury soon. He has missed the club’s last four domestic matches, including their 2-2 draw with Southampton and FA Cup quarter-final win over Newcastle. He should be ready for the trip to Aston Villa, which will be his first match since suffering the injury.
Meanwhile, young winger Amad Diallo is expected to return from an ankle injury soon. The 19-year-old limped off in United’s preseason friendly against Arsenal, and he was seen on crutches after the match. He will have to wait until the end of the season before he can start playing for the first team again.
Another injury concern is defender Luke Shaw, who was forced to withdraw from England’s squad for their World Cup qualifier against Scotland due to an unspecified injury. United boss Erik ten Hag hopes the former Everton man will be back in action in time for the visit of Aston Villa on Sunday.
The club is also dealing with a knee injury to left-back Diogo Dalot, who has not been pictured training with the main group during the club’s tour of America. The defender was hoping to get a spot in the team’s starting line-up, but it is unclear how serious his injury is at the moment.
Forward Jadon Sancho could be in contention for a place in the lineup as well. The young Englishman impressed in his lone start against Tottenham last week, and he might earn the nod ahead of Anthony Martial and Ander Herrera.
Conclusion
As of my last update in September 2021, Manchester United’s news remains ever-evolving, encompassing team performance, player transfers, and managerial decisions. For the latest and most accurate information, it is advised to refer to reputable sports news sources and official club announcements to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and happenings at Manchester United.
FAQs:
- What is Manchester United’s current squad situation? As of my last update in September 2021, the squad composition might have changed significantly due to transfers, retirements, or new signings. To find the most up-to-date squad information, please refer to Manchester United’s official website or reputable sports news outlets.
- How has Manchester United performed in recent matches? As my information is not current, I recommend checking the latest match results and performance analysis on sports news platforms or the official Manchester United website for the most recent data on the team’s performance.
