• Testing identifies several possible positive cases in camp
• ‘Maintaining Covid security is a priority for us,’ say club

Manchester United have cancelled their pre-season friendly with Preston on Saturday after a number of suspected coronavirus cases in their camp.

United were due to travel to Deepdale at the weekend to continue their preparations for the new season, but routine lateral flow testing on Thursday saw some possible positive cases returned. Those people are now isolating, pending further PCR tests.

Related: Ole Gunnar Solskjær excited by Manchester United’s summer signings

The Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær says the club has showed its ambition by agreeing deals to sign Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane. Sancho has completed his move from Borussia Dortmund, while Varane should soon follow from Real Madrid subject to a medical. 

'The club has showed its ambition with one of the most exciting forwards in world football and one of the most respected centre-backs in the world,' said Solskjær.

With a fortnight to go before the season kicks off, we’ve suggested a new signing for all 20 clubs in the league

By Josh Wright for WhoScored

Signing another midfielder should be at the top of Arsenal’s list of priorities. With Granit Xhaka expected to leave, Dani Ceballos and Martin Ødegaard both back at Real Madrid, and Matteo Guendouzi out on loan, Arsenal are short even after the arrival of teenager Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht. Manuel Locatelli looks set to stay in Italy, so Arsenal should be considering alternatives. Manchester City are keen to sell Bernardo Silva to fund their own transfers but offers from abroad are unlikely given the financial climate. Mikel Arteta should take advantage of his City connection and convince the versatile Silva to move south.

Related: Patrick Vieira relishing ‘new chapter’ as Crystal Palace manager

Related: Manchester United agree £42m fee for Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane

• Manager hails ‘proven winner’ Varane and £73m winger Sancho
• Solskjær: ‘As a manager you can’t ask for more backing’

Ole Gunnar Solskjær believes Raphaël Varane and Jadon Sancho will make a “huge difference” for Manchester United. Having finished runners-up in last season’s Premier League and Europa League, the Old Trafford giants have made waves in the transfer market in an attempt to bring silverware back to the club.

Sancho last week completed his £73m switch from Borussia Dortmund and United announced on Tuesday that a deal had been struck with Real Madrid for Varane, a longstanding target. The World Cup-winning French defender has agreed personal terms on a four-year deal with the option of another season, with the contract to be signed after he completes his medical following quarantine.

Related: Manchester United confirm £42.7m deal with Real Madrid for Raphaël Varane

Related: Solskjær now has his own Manchester United team but trophies must follow | Louise Taylor

• French defender set for medical next week
• Varane to sign four-year United contract

Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid to sign the centre-back Raphaël Varane.

Having completed the signing of Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho in a £73m deal last week, the 28-year-old is set to be the next arrival.

Related: The Fiver | Ignore the Van de Beek mystery … things are looking up for United

• Defender has won four Champions Leagues at Bernabéu
• Varane expected to become United’s third summer signing

Manchester United are edging closer to signing the Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane with the two clubs discussing the finer details of a deal that could cost the Premier League club €50m (£42.7m).

Related: Solskjær now has his own Manchester United team but trophies must follow | Louise Taylor

Related: Man United Women sign defender Aoife Mannion from Man City

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You can imagine The Fiver’s reaction on Saturday when a blurry man in The Quaff and Barf said there was some important breaking news from Old Trafford. “Garçon, another refill!” we bellowed immediately. And that’s the last thing we remember.

Related: Ole Gunnar Solskjær signs new Manchester United contract until 2024

The Norwegian must now deliver silverware to an expectant Old Trafford after earning himself a contract extension

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has little patience for those who complain about the frequent presence of rain clouds in the skies above north-west England. “We have a saying in Norway that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,” says Manchester United’s manager.

When Solskjær took caretaker charge of United in December 2018, Sir Alex Ferguson’s one-time super-sub striker swiftly decided the squad was dressed inadequately and inappropriately for the task in hand.

Related: Ole Gunnar Solskjær signs new Manchester United contract until 2024

Manchester United suffered a heavy friendly defeat at QPR on Saturday, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side beaten 4-2. Nemanja Matic captained a largely second-string team featuring Tom Heaton, Mason Greenwood and Dan James at Loftus Road.

Related: Jadon Sancho, the 'generational' player who could be a bargain for Manchester United | Jamie Jackson

• The Norwegian’s new deal offers an option of an extra year
• United finished second in the Premier League last season

Ole Gunnar Solskær has signed a new three-year contract to extend his stay as Manchester United manager until at least 2024.

The new deal contains the further option of an extra year for the Norwegian, 48, who led United to second in last season’s Premier League and a losing appearance in the Europa League final.

Related: Jadon Sancho, the 'generational' player who could be a bargain for Manchester United | Jamie Jackson

Forward should enhance the team and the glamour factor but more signings are needed to make United champions again

Jadon Sancho is a £73m signing who may go down as a steal as his Manchester United career unfolds. Even before the former Borussia Dortmund forward pulls on the United shirt, his price appears akin to a Black Friday buy.

For £8m more than a centre‑back, Rúben Dias, cost Manchester City, Ole Gunnar Solskjær acquires a 21-year-old who joins Mason Greenwood as a “generational” footballer who can light up the attack for a decade. If Sancho is integral to a 21st title for United, it will cast the fee as more apt with a decimal point between its digits.

Related: Jadon Sancho seals £73m Manchester United move from Dortmund

Jadon Sancho has completed his transfer to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for an initial £73m. The 21-year-old winger has signed a five-year contract with an option of a further year.

Sancho said the move is "a dream come true" and that it is an honour to play for such an iconic club.

• Jadon Sancho seals £73m Manchester United move from Dortmund

• Winger joins on contract to 2026 with option for further year
• Sancho describes the move as ‘a dream come true’

Jadon Sancho has completed his transfer to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for an initial £73m. The 21-year-old winger has signed a five-year contract with an option of a further year.

The former Manchester City player has sealed the move less than a fortnight after he was among three England players to miss a penalty in the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy. Sancho underwent his medical once the tournament had been completed, the framework of the deal having been agreed at the end of May and confirmed by the clubs at the start of June.

Related: ‘Pictures left me feeling overwhelmed’: Rashford speaks of support as new mural unveiled

• Manchester United left-back played on at Euros with injury
• Shaw optimistic he will be fit to face Leeds on 14 August

Luke Shaw is hopeful of recovering from broken ribs in time for Manchester United’s opening Premier League match against Leeds.

The left-back suffered the injury during England’s Euro 2020 campaign but played on as Gareth Southgate’s side reached the final against Italy, in which Shaw scored the opening goal before Robert Mancini’s side won a penalty shootout. Shaw also made three assists at Euro 2020 in an overall display that made him one of its standout performers.

Related: Manchester United ready to make bid for Real Madrid’s Raphaël Varane

• Defender open to starting a new chapter in Premier League
• United confident that personal terms would not be a problem

Manchester United are preparing to make a bid to Real Madrid for the centre-back Raphaël Varane. The France international has one year left on his contract and would like to play in the Premier League.

Madrid have offered the 28-year-old world champion a contract extension but he has yet to accept it and is considering his options after 10 years at the club, having won three La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues in that time.

Related: Men’s transfer window summer 2021 – all deals from Europe’s top five leagues

• Manchester United player had been expected to have operation
• Solskjær: ‘We’re still addressing this with the experts’

Marcus Rashford is taking time to “reflect” on whether he requires surgery on his troublesome shoulder, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær stating any decision taken has to be best for the forward and Manchester United.

Rashford has been carrying the problem since last November and admitted during England’s Euro 2020 finals campaign that he was not 100% fit. The 23-year-old is on holiday following the tournament and while he had been expected to have an operation on his shoulder the manager indicated a decision had not yet been made.

Related: ‘Huge ambitions and courage’: the unstoppable rise of Jadon Sancho

Related: Manchester United step up pursuit of Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga

• England forward requires operation on shoulder injury
• Jadon Sancho completes medical ahead of Old Trafford move

Manchester United have been dealt a significant blow with Marcus Rashford deciding he needs surgery on a shoulder injury. The striker, who has endured racist abuse after his missed penalty in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy on Sunday, may not be available for United until the end of October.

Rashford, 23, was hampered by the shoulder muscle tear last season and was picked in the European Championship squad despite not being 100% fit. He underwent a scan on Tuesday and a decision was taken that surgery was the only option. However, it is understood the operation will not take place for a couple of weeks. It is likely he will be out of action for 12 weeks following the procedure, but has an outside chance of returning for United’s Premier League match against Liverpool at Old Trafford on 23 October.

Related: Marcus Rashford sorry for penalty but says ‘I will never apologise for who I am’

• Rennes open to selling for about €30m (£25.7m)
• France international’s contract due to expire next June

Manchester United are making progress in attempts to sign the midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes. The 18-year-old is a France international with three caps but went to the Under-21 European Championship rather than Euro 2020.

Rennes are open to selling Camavinga for about €30m (£25.7m) because they could otherwise lose him for nothing next summer, when his contract is due to expire. He has been a long-term target for United and other clubs, notably Paris Saint-Germain, are also interested.

Related: Luke Shaw answers José Mourinho’s barbs with dazzling England display | Jacob Steinberg

Attacked by his former manager, the left-back showed his recovery is complete by dominating Ukraine in Rome

José Mourinho arrived to a hero’s welcome in Rome on Friday afternoon, hundreds of Roma supporters gathering at Ciampino airport to hail him. Yet the Italian capital did not belong to Roma’s new manager at 9pm on Saturday night. England were in town, ready for their Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine, and a face from Mourinho’s past was about to run riot at the Stadio Olimpico.

Step forward Luke Shaw, who must have relished producing one of the finest performances of his international career on Mourinho’s new patch. Shaw was impeccable on and off the ball as England set up a semi-final against Denmark with a devastatingly assured 4-0 victory against Ukraine and it was particularly sweet for the left-back to come up with assists for Harry Kane and Harry Maguire after the recent criticism regarding his set-piece delivery from a man apparently struggling to put old differences to one side.

Related: Revitalised Harry Kane turns England into powerful attacking machine | Barney Ronay

Related: Ukraine 0-4 England: player ratings from the Euro 2020 quarter-final

• Deal with Real Madrid would need to reflect financial climate
• Mata signs one-year contract to extent stay that began in 2014

Manchester United are monitoring Raphaël Varane with a view to a potential move for the Real Madrid centre-back and have given Juan Mata a new one-year deal.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær wants to strengthen his central defensive options but after agreement was reached to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho for £73m, United will only do deals that reflect the economic climate.

Related: ‘Huge ambitions and courage’: the unstoppable rise of Jadon Sancho

As winger prepares to complete his move to Manchester United we hear what makes him tick and what set him on the road to stardom

Even now Jadon Sancho is recognised as one of the most exciting players in the world, those who have known him a long time say much the same thing. “He’s mad humble,” says David Sesay, a former teammate of Sancho’s at Watford’s academy who played for Crawley last season.

“Jadon’s always been like that. We still sometimes play on the PlayStation and talk like normal old friends. He’s never been cocky at all. His dad always told him to stay humble and remember where he came from.”

Related: Jadon Sancho set to join Manchester United after £73m deal agreed