Manchester United transfer news LIVE: Hakan Calhanoglu, Jadon Sancho and latest updates
Follow the latest updates from Old Trafford as United press on with their 2020/21 transfer plans
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Follow the latest updates live as Manchester United continue to look for January transfer targets, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer weighing up mid-season reinforcements to help boost their Premier League and European campaigns.
The Old Trafford club are monitoring AC Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, according to reports in Italy, and could be ready to move for the 26-year-old Turkish international as he is out of contract at the end of the season.
That would of course provide United with a stop-gap option in their pursuit of Jadon Sancho, although it is no guarantee that the Borussia Dortmund forward will choose United when he eventually leaves Germany as Liverpool and Real Madrid has re-entered the picture in the race to sign the England international. We’ll also have the latest updates fro, United’s preparations for their Premier League clash with Arsenal this weekend as Solskjaer speaks to the media. Follow the live updates below.
Why Manchester United’s new diamond set-up worked against RB Leipzig
Solskjaer switched formations and produced one of the finest European wins in United’s recent history
DALOT IMPRESSES FOR MILAN
Manchester United loanee Diogo Dalot seems to be coming into his own in Italy after a man of the match performance for AC Milan against Sparta Prague in Thursday night’s Europa League clash.
Dalot was sent to Milan to play regular first-team football and further his development, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believed opportunities at Old Trafford would be limited for him this season.
The 21-year-old has yet to feature in the Serie A but he has impressed on each of his three appearances for Milan.
Thursday night’s performance saw him complete the game with an 89% passing accuracy, an assist, a goal and a clean sheet.
VAN DE BEEK NOT WORRIED ABOUT GAME TIME
Donny van de Beek was one of three summer signings for Manchester United and there have been calls for him to get more game time at the club.
Van de Beek had played only 63 minutes of Premier League and Champions League football before his first start in the latter against RB Leipzig on Wednesday night where he put on an impressive display.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says that congested schedule means that the 23-year-old will play more and his words were echoed by the player himself who said:
“Players always want to play games. Training is also nice, but the games... this is why you’re playing football.
“I think a lot of games [means] we can improve always and I am sure that we will win more if we stay in the focus.
"Arsenal have showed that they have really good players, and I mean we need to be focused. We won yesterday and everybody’s happy and it’s good for the confidence and everything, but now we must go on to that game.
“A lot of big games are coming up now. A lot of games. We need to stay in the focus and then I’m sure that we make more nice wins.”
TELLES OUT OF ARSENAL GAME
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that new left-back signing Alex Telles will not feature against Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.
Telles made his debut in United’s impressive win over PSG in the first week of the Champions League but has not featured for the club since.
It is believed the Brazil international is carrying a knock as he did not travel with the matchday squad for United's clash with Leipzig earlier in the week.
Solskjaer confirmed the news that he would not play against Arsenal saying:
“Alex [Telles] won’t be ready, no, so apart from that I would think everyone else looks like they could be involved.”
SOLSKJAER GIVES UPDATE ON JONES AND ROMERO
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given an update into the futures of Sergio Romero and Phil Jones but in typical Solskjaer fashion he’s given little away.
According to the Manchester United manager both players are trying to recover their match fitness which is why they haven’t been involved this term. He said:
"Well, Sergio [Romero] has just come back into training this week, so he’s started his pre-season work and is working to get to his peak fitness with the goalkeepers.
“Phil [Jones] has been injured and had an operation and working really hard to be back, hopefully he’ll get fit in December, when you’re injured you can’t get into the squad, he’s working really diligently and he’ll be coming back soon.”
Romero and Jones have been linked with moves away from Old Trafford as they are now seen as surplus to requirements with United looking to lower their wage bill.
GALBRAITH SIGNS NEW DEAL
Ethan Galbraith has signed a new contract with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2023.
The Red Devils also have the option to extend the deal of the 19-year-old for a further twelve months.
Galbraith made his United debut in a 2-1 Europa League victory over Astana last season and has been training regularly with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-team squad as he looks to make further strides at Old Trafford this term.
SCHOLES PRAISES UPAMECANO AMID TRANSFER INTEREST
United legend Paul Scholes has urged Manchester United to go and sign Dayot Upamecano because he will bring something different to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's defence.
The praise for the Frenchman comes after he endured an evening to forget on Wednesday as the Red Devils put five goals past his side at Old Trafford.
Despite the result Upamecano still showed glimpses of his quality and world-class potential.
He was heavily rumoured to come to United this summer but a deal could not be made and the 22-year-old signed a new contract with RB Leipzig instead.
Scholes says that Upamecano would give United confidence to attack knowing they have a solid central defender behind them. He told BT Sport:
“It’s very much the same as what Rio [Ferdinand] used to do, what Jaap Stam used to do.
“It frees the rest of the team to worry about attacking play, because you know you’ve got a centre-half who is going to defend and he’ll do it all day.
“This is the type of defender I think United need, he’s very different to Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
“He absolutely loves one-vs-ones, he loves getting down that channel because he knows he’s gonna beat them."
ROMERO MLS MOVE FALLS THROUGH
Sergio Romero has seen a move to America fall through after talks with David Beckham’s Inter Miami came to nothing.
The MLS transfer window closes this morning and a deal could not be agreed for the 33-year-old goalkeeper.
Romero has dropped dow the pecking order at Old Trafford following Dean Henderson’s return to the club and is said to be upset with his treatment by United according to the Daily Mail.
A summer move to Everton also fell through after United demanded a fee for the £100,000 a-week goalkeeper who is now set to remain in Manchester until January or possibly June when his current contract runs out.
Romero’s wife Eliana Guercio criticised United on social media and some of his teammates are also said to be unhappy at how the club have handled the situation.
INTEREST IN TEENAGE DUO
Ajax’s Ryan Gravenberch and IFK Norrkoping’s Isak Bergmann are both being linked with moves to Old Trafford as Man Utd look to bolster their squad.
18-year-old Gravenberch has been dubbed ‘the new Paul Pogba’ and plays in a similar central midfield role. He signed a new three-year deal with Ajax in June and the Dutch side are reluctant to let him go just yet.
However, The Mirror are reporting that United, Barcelona and Juventus are all interested in the teenager so a move may not be too far away.
17-year-old Bergmann is also on the list of possible United signings according to Swedish outlet Expressen who say that Liverpool are interested in the teenager as well.
Iceland U21 star, Bergmann, was born in England and has 27 senior appearances to his name, with four goals and ten assists.
UNITED SET SIGHTS ON CALHANOGLU
Manchester United are interested in making a move for 26-year-old Hakan Calhanoglu from AC Milan according to reports.
Gazzetta dello Sport suggest the Red Devils want to offer the attacking midfielder a five year deal in the hopes of bringing him to Old Trafford.
Calhanoglu’s contract with Milan ends at the end of the season so United would be free to approach him in January to sign a pre-contract ahead of a free transfer in the summer. That is if he doesn’t agree a new deal with Milan first.
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