Manchester United transfer news: Jadon Sancho, Kingsley Coman, David Alaba, Amad Diallo latest
Manchester United could splash out this month after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer positioned the Red Devils for a title challenge
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United could strengthen further this month with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer inspiring the Red Devils towards a Premier League title challenge, meaning a signing or two in the January transfer window could prove pivotal over the coming months.
United can go top of the Premier League should they win their game in hand after a superb run of form leading up to and during the festive period. They currently sit joint-top of the Premier League with rivals Liverpool on goal difference thanks to the hard-fought win over Aston Villa on Friday night. The rollercoaster season under Solskjaer saw United exit from the Champions League last month. But with domestic fortunes back on the rise there is reason to be optimistic again at Old Trafford.
That optimism could lead to a busier January than was once expected with money available should the right target or targets reveal themselves. Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba is among the potential new recruits, and Ecuadorean midfielder Moises Caicedo is another such name. Summer signing Amad Diallo could join both in Manchester this month with his paperwork finally set to be resolved. Serie A side Atalanta were keen to keep hold of him until the summer but the suggestion is he could be on his way to bolster Solskjaer’s title challengers imminently.
There will likely be exits this month, too, with the likes of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones possible outgoings. Midfielder Jesse Lingard won’t be one of them, however, after seeing a one-year extension option in his contract triggered last week.
We will have all the latest Manchester United news, rumours and gossip – on both comings and goings – throughout the day.
We’ve taken a look at some of the likely transfers in the Premier League which could decide the title, Champions League qualification and the relegation battle.
What transfers could happen in the January window?
Clubs will be desperate to sign players to gain any advantage in the most unpredictable of seasons
SOLSKJAER INSISTS VAN DE BEEK HAS PART TO PLAY AT UNITED
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has quickly sought to end speculation surrounding the future of Donny van de Beek.
There have been suggestions that the Dutchman is unhappy about his lack of game time following his summer arrival from Ajax.
“Donny has played well when he’s got the chance. I think we are too quick sometimes to jump on that if he isn’t playing, that it is a failure," Solskjaer said.
“Victor [Lindelof] and Fred are good examples in my team that it takes a little bit of time and now they are massively important players in our squad and in our team and it will be the same with Donny. He has come in and is in a midfield pool of players with quality, challenging with Bruno [Fernandes], Juan [Mata], Jesse [Lingard].
“I’ve got loads of no.10s and loads of centre-midfielders with Paul [Pogba], Nemanja [Matic], Scott [McTominay], Fred. There are many of them and Donny has played well when he’s got the chance and that is a big thing, that you are ready.
“He is always ready, he works hard in training, [is] positive and he will make differences in many games for us this season, but he’ll grow more and more even for next year.”
UNITED INTERESTED IN DYBALA
United have rekindled their interest in Juventus forward Paolo Dybala, according to Tuttosport.
The report claims United are 'back in' for the Argentina international, with a potential part-exchange deal involving Paul Pogba on the cards.
Dybala, 27, is out of contract at Juventus next year and United want to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding his future.
UNITED COULD OFFLOAD SIX PLAYERS IN JANUARY
United could let as many as six players leave the club this month as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to trim down his squad.
The Sun claim that Sergio Romero, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Jesse Lingard and Dan James are all available, while Brandon Williams will be loaned out.
Why Manchester United’s penalties are not the advantage they once were
United are still winning a lot of spot-kicks but that alone does not explain their potential title charge
UNITED GIVEN CAICEDO WARNING
United have been warned that they are not alone in their pursuit of midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Independiente del Valle’s general manager, Santiago Morales, has revealed that other clubs are interested in the highly-rated teenager.
“There is another club interested in England and also a team from the five top leagues in Europe,” Morales told Machdeportes.
“We have two strong teams from Europe interested in him, without reaching any understanding yet. But we hope their negotiation will be prompt.”
SOLSKJAER ON FLETCHER SIGNING
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained the thought behind the addition of Darren Fletcher to the club’s coaching staff.
The former United midfielder was brought in earlier this week after impressing in his work with the Under-16s.
“Yeah, I thought Michael [Carrick] and Darren should play in midfield for one of these big games!” Solskjaer told the club’s official website. “No, it’s good to have him back.
“Fletch has been very important for this club for many years. I’ve known him since he was a young boy coming through as a 16-year-old and [former assistant] Mark Dempsey, he’s moved down to the Academy helping out there more.
“We had an opening, an open spot and with Darren having been away for a few years I thought it was important that we brought him in, because he’s got very many good opinions and ideas about football and I thought he’s been in with the [Under-]16s, starting his coaching.
“We felt it was right bringing him in now.”
WHY UNITED’S PENALTIES ARE NO LONGER THE ADVANTAGE THEY ONCE WERE
Manchester United’s strange talent for winning penalties is provoking debate again, thanks in part to Jurgen Klopp.
“I hear now that Manchester United had more penalties in two years than I had in five and a half years,” Klopp claimed after Liverpool’s defeat to Southampton on Monday night, which left the champions only above United at the top of the Premier League table on goal difference.
And Klopp is not the only top-flight manager to have drawn attention to the subject over the past few days.
While pointing out that Son Heung-Min is enjoying a prolific goal-scoring season without the advantage of taking spot-kicks, Jose Mourinho could not help but have a dig at United’s penalty taker and top scorer Bruno Fernandes.
Why Manchester United’s penalties are not the advantage they once were
United are still winning a lot of spot-kicks but that alone does not explain their potential title charge
SOLSKJAER ON RIVAL MANAGERS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes rival managers draw attention to Manchester United's number of penalties in order to influence referees, following pointed comments by Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho.
After Liverpool’s defeat by Southampton at St Mary’s on Monday night, Klopp claimed that United had won more penalties in the past two years than his side had during his five-year tenure at Anfield.
Those remarks followed Mourinho aiming a thinly-veiled jibe at Bruno Fernandes, United's penalty-taker and top scorer this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggests rival managers are attempting to ‘influence referees’
Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho both highlighted the number of penalties United have been awarded
COMAN ON TRANSFER SPECULATION LINKING HIM TO UNITED
“Knowing that good teams are interested in me is good, it gives me additional confidence,” Coman told Bild, having been linked to United last summer as an alternative to Jadon Sancho.
“But I have a contract here until 2023, I’m just thinking of Bayern. It’s all good, I’m happy.
“I had the feeling that I could be used less often [due to Leroy Sane’s arrival]. I’m 24, that’s an age I have to play! Fortunately, my fear did not come true.”
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