What the papers say
Tottenham's Christian Eriksen favours move to Spain over Manchester United
- Playmaker has his sights set on switch to Real Madrid
- United have explored a deal for Spurs’ Denmark international
Manchester United have discussed a deal for Christian Eriksen but the Tottenham playmaker is understood to favour a move to Spain. United explored a deal for Eriksen, whose contract with the north London club only has one season to run.
The 20-times league champions have been long-time admirers of the 27-year-old, who indicated earlier in the summer that he was ready to “try something new”, but the Denmark international is believed to have set his sights on a switch to Real Madrid, with Atlético Madrid and Juventus also interested in a player valued at around £45m.
Related: Tottenham prepare £64.4m bid for Juventus's Paulo Dybala
Continue reading...Virgil van Dijk warns Harry Maguire that record price means pressure
• Manchester United’s new man world’s most expensive defender
• Liverpool’s Van Dijk was previous holder after move in 2018
Virgil van Dijk has warned Harry Maguire that his new status as the world’s most expensive defender will increase the weight on his shoulders but urged Manchester United’s new signing to do his talking on the pitch.
Van Dijk’s £75m move from Southampton last January set a benchmark for defensive players until Maguire’s £80m switch to Old Trafford was confirmed five days before the start of the new Premier League season. The 26-year-old is expected to feature in Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s squad for the trip to Chelsea on Sunday and Van Dijk – who was voted as PFA Player of the Year last season as he helped Jürgen Klopp’s side to win the Champions League – insists he bears no grudges after being overtaken by the England defender.
Related: Liverpool sign Adrián to replace Mignolet as Alisson's understudy
Continue reading...Harry Maguire exudes control and authority – exactly what Manchester United need | Jonathan Wilson
The defender looks to be the right fit for Old Trafford, but the deal should have been pushed through earlier in the summer
In May, Ed Woodward asked Leicester City how much they wanted for Harry Maguire and was told £80m. On Monday, the master of negotiation completed the deal, paying £80m finally to secure the centre-back six days before Manchester United’s first game of the season.
Perhaps such mockery is a little unfair, given interest from Manchester City did threaten briefly to push up the price – but only a little. United have got their man but they would have been far better off getting him earlier so he could have a full pre-season, sweating his way through Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s taxing new fitness regimen and learning what it is to play alongside Chris Smalling. Beyond that, though, this seems like a move that makes a lot of sense.
Related: Harry Maguire joins Manchester United as world's most expensive defender
Related: Premier League 2019‑20 preview No 12: Manchester United
Continue reading...Harry Maguire promises to 'give everything I can' after record move to Manchester United – video
Harry Maguire has joined Manchester United from Leicester City for a reported fee of £80 million, making him the world’s most expensive defender.
‘It’s a really proud moment for myself to join such a big club,’ said the England international in an official video released by MUTV.
The fee paid for the 26-year old beats the price of Virgil van Dijk, who was bought by Liverpool from Southampton for £75 million in December 2017.
Continue reading...Premier League 2019‑20 preview No 12: Manchester United
United need another elite signing before the transfer window shuts while Solskjær has to keep Pogba onside
Guardian writers’ predicted position: 5th (NB: this is not necessarily Jamie Jackson’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 6th
Related: Harry Maguire joins Manchester United as world's most expensive defender
No 1: Arsenal
No 2: Aston Villa
No 3: Bournemouth
No 4: Brighton & Hove Albion
No 5: Burnley
No 6: Chelsea
No 7: Crystal Palace
No 8: Everton
No 9: Leicester City
No 10: Liverpool
No 11: Manchester City
No 12: Manchester United
No 13: Newcastle United
No 14: Norwich City
No 15: Sheffield United
No 16: Southampton
No 17: Tottenham Hotspur
No 18: Watford
No 19: West Ham United
No 20: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Harry Maguire joins Manchester United as world's most expensive defender
- England international joins on six-year contract
- ‘It is an incredible opportunity,’ says Maguire
Harry Maguire has become the most expensive defender in world football after Manchester United confirmed his £80m transfer from Leicester. The England international has signed a six-year contract with an option for a further 12 months at Old Trafford after passing a medical.
“I am delighted to have signed for this great club,” he said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leicester and would like to thank everyone at the club and the fans for their fantastic support over the past two seasons. However, when Manchester United come knocking on your door, it is an incredible opportunity.
Related: Pep Guardiola: Manchester United would be contenders with Harry Maguire
Continue reading...Manchester United ready to end pursuit of Juventus's Paulo Dybala
• Old Trafford club unable to agree terms with forward
• Romelu Lukaku now unlikely to move the other way
Manchester United are growing frustrated with their pursuit of Paulo Dybala, having failed to agree a deal with the Juventus forward regarding his salary, his image rights and any commission to his agent, Jorge Antun.
With only four days to go before the Premier League transfer window closes, United feel they have made a very competitive offer but now expect to miss out on signing the 25-year-old Argentinian.
Related: Pep Guardiola: Manchester United would be contenders with Harry Maguire
Continue reading...Premier League 2019-20 fans’ previews, part 2: Man City to Wolves
Fans have their say on key players, weak links and summer spending – and make their predictions for the season ahead
• Part 1: Arsenal to Liverpool
As long as Pep is manager I’ll stay wildly optimistic. I’m confident we can win the league for the third season in a row and cement this team’s reputation as the best of the Premier League era.
Related: Transfer window 2019 – every summer deal from Europe's top five leagues
Related: Joelinton and Saint-Maximin provide optimism for Steve Bruce’s Newcastle
Related: Southampton continue to invest in youth after Gao Jisheng’s reshuffle
Related: Signing Sébastien Haller is good business for West Ham – even at £45m
Continue reading...Manchester United tell Romelu Lukaku to delete controversial tweet
• Striker, linked with Juventus and Inter, has since removed post
Manchester United have told Romelu Lukaku to delete a controversial social media post revealing confidential details of a training sprint session. The striker, thought to be on the verge of a move to Serie A, took to Twitter on Friday to respond to criticisms that he lacks pace by posting statistics from a running test on the Perth leg of United’s July pre-season tour.
Related: Inter unlikely to increase bid for Romelu Lukaku after ‘strong offer’ rejected
Continue reading...Manchester United agree £80m deal to buy Harry Maguire from Leicester
• Transfer is subject to England player passing medical
Manchester United have agreed an £80m deal to buy Harry Maguire from Leicester City, making the England international the world’s most expensive defender.
Leicester wanted more for Maguire than the £75m Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk and the transfer will go through subject to a medical.
Related: Premier League 2019‑20 preview No 9: Leicester City
Continue reading...Dybala wants Sarri talks before deciding on Manchester United offer
• United offering Lukaku in exchange for Argentina international
Paulo Dybala intends to hold talks with Maurizio Sarri after he returns to training at Juventus on Thursday before deciding whether to join Manchester United.
The Argentina international is wanted by United, who are offering Romelu Lukaku in a swap deal. Lukaku would be happy to join Juventus but it is not certain Dybala will accept a move to England.
Related: Football transfer rumours: Samuel Umtiti to Manchester United?
Continue reading...Manchester United in Dybala talks that may lead to Lukaku swap with Juventus
• Juventus would like Dybala to be part of Lukaku deal
Manchester United are holding talks that could lead to Paulo Dybala signing from Juventus as part of a swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku.
Dybala’s agent is in England for discussions with United and the player will then decide whether he wants to join the Premier League club. His preference since last season ended has been to stay at Juventus but an attractive offer could change his mind and he knows his employers would like him to go if it clears the way for them to get Lukaku.
Related: Ronaldo’s 90 minutes on the bench in Seoul was another own goal in Asia | John Duerden
Continue reading...Football transfer rumours: Shkodran Mustafi to Monaco for £27m?
Today’s rumours ask no questions and tell no lies
Would you like to be the world’s most expensive defender? Course you would! So would Harry Maguire, and he’s getting quite the hump with Leicester City for standing in his way if this morning’s stories are to be believed. Manchester United are ready to top the £75m fee paid by Liverpool for Virgil van Dijk – which seems a touch strong to the Mill but then who are we to stand in the way of market forces – but Leicester are holding out for at least £85m and Maguire thinks it’s time they honoured a gentleman’s agreement to let him go for the right price. If they eventually do, James Tarkowski and Lewis Dunk, neither of whom looks like considerable downgrades and would be far cheaper, are among those in the fashion parade for his replacement.
Related: Premier League 2019‑20 preview No 3: Bournemouth
Continue reading...Inter unlikely to increase bid for Romelu Lukaku after ‘strong offer’ rejected
• Manchester United striker will miss Kristiansund friendly
• Inter chief executive says club need to stay within parameters
Internazionale’s chief executive, Beppe Marotta, has suggested the club will not be increasing their offer for the Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku has been left out of United’s travelling squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Kristiansund in Norway, having missed all four matches on their pre-season tour of Australia, Singapore and China due to knocks.
Related: Arsenal prepare to confirm Nicolas Pépé signing in record £72m deal
Continue reading...Pochettino apologises to Manchester United for 'late' Spurs tackles - video
Mauricio Pochettino apologised on Thursday to Manchester United for some overzealous Tottenham challenges during a friendly in Shanghai. Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko were guilty of particularly poor challenges in the first half, as was the United midfielder Andreas Pereira
• Mauricio Pochettino sorry for Spurs tackles in Manchester United friendly
Continue reading...Mauricio Pochettino sorry for Spurs tackles in Manchester United friendly
• Head coach ‘not happy’ with challenges by some of his players
• Eric Bailly sustains knee injury and leaves pitch on a stretcher
Mauricio Pochettino apologised on Thursday to Manchester United for some overzealous Tottenham challenges during the Shanghai friendly that at times was anything but.
Related: Football transfer rumours: Eriksen to replace Pogba at Manchester United?
Related: Harry Kane says winner from halfway line against Juventus 'one of my best'
Continue reading...Ole Gunnar Solskjær has no concerns over fans’ reaction to Paul Pogba
• Pogba keen to leave Manchester United before new season
Ole Gunnar Solskjær believes only a “small minority” of Manchester United fans are unhappy with Paul Pogba due to his wish to leave the club.
The Frenchman wants a new challenge three years after returning to Old Trafford yet he currently appears unlikely to depart. This means Pogba should again be central to Solskjær plans this coming season.
Related: Manchester United relaxed about lack of technical director one year on
Continue reading...