MANCHESTER UNITED are preparing to take on Liverpool in the FA Cup just a week after their draw at Anfield.
On the transfer front, we've the very latest on the hunt for the likes of Jadon Sancho, Gabriel Veron, Corentin Tolisso and Christian Eriksen.
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Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
- Craig Mahood
CHANGES AHEAD
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have Victor Lindelof back in contention for this afternoon's cup tie against Liverpool.
Solskjaer – who is yet to pick the same starting XI in consecutive games this campaign – admitted there would again be changes to his team later today.
Brandon Williams and Phil Jones the only injury concerns.
Ole said:
“We’ll rotate that’s for sure, but we’ll put a decent team together of course and a team that I feel can win the game."
- Craig Mahood
GAME DAY
Another big afternoon of football lies ahead at Old Trafford with Liverpool the visitors in the FA Cup.
You confident, Reds fans?
- Craig Mahood
GOOD MORNING UTD FANS,
Bruno Fernandes can trace the club’s transformation back to a downbeat dressing room at Leicester on Boxing Day.
He said: “After the Leicester game when we drew in the last minute, I was really happy to see the frustration on the team when I got to the dressing room.
“It was the first time I saw a real frustration after drawing a game.
“I think we have to build on this and more and more be prepared, when we lose one game, to keep going on the same level.”
Meanwhile, on the transfer front, United are set to put one over on Liverpool by snapping up £55million centre-back Dayot Upamecano.
Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp has targeted the RB Leipzig star, 22, to bolster his creaking backline in the long-term absence of Virgil van Dijk.
But with Klopp insisting he will NOT enter the market this month, United chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could add to the German’s woes by nipping in to sign him.
Upamenco’s £38m release clause is only activated in the summer.
And if United fail to land him, they could turn their attention to Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane in the summer.
And finally, Jamal Musiala’s wage demands have been holding up contract negotiations with Bayern Munich.
The 17-year-old wants £100,000-a-week after just 20 senior appearances for the Bundesliga champions.
He has 18 months left on his youth agreement and Allianz Arena bigwigs are eager to secure his future.
A failure to agree fresh terms could spark a summer transfer amid interest from Manchester United.
But Goal claim negotiations between the club and player are advancing.
- Joe Brophy
DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
Manchester United are set to put one over on Liverpool by snapping up £55million centre-back Dayot Upamecano.
Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp has targeted the RB Leipzig star, 22, to bolster his creaking backline in the long-term absence of Virgil van Dijk.
But with Klopp insisting he will NOT enter the market this month, United chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could add to the German’s woes by nipping in to sign him.
Upamenco’s £38m release clause is only activated in the summer.
And if United fail to land him, they could turn their attention to Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane in the summer.
- Joe Brophy
FER THE WIN
Bruno Fernandes can trace Manchester United’s transformation back to a downbeat dressing room at Leicester on Boxing Day.
He said: “After the Leicester game when we drew in the last minute, I was really happy to see the frustration on the team when I got to the dressing room.
“It was the first time I saw a real frustration after drawing a game.
“I think we have to build on this and more and more be prepared, when we lose one game, to keep going on the same level.”
- Joe Brophy
ED FOR THE HILLS
Edinson Cavani has sent a special message to United's faithful…
- Joe Brophy
BELE FLOP
Manchester United are among the clubs reportedly keeping tabs on Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele.
Sport claim the Red Devils are set to rival Chelsea, Juventus and Bayern Munich by monitoring the Frenchman’s contract situation.
Dembele is only tied to the Liga giants until 2022 and Camp Nou officials are said to be against letting him enter the final 12 months of his deal.
- Joe Brophy
PAUL TO PLAY FOR
Manchester United winning the title and moving on Paul Pogba in the summer would be “a win-win” situation at Old Trafford, says Paul Parker.
He told Eurosport: “Paul Pogba's recent performances have been reminiscent of the player from Juventus: he is respectful, humble and is not looking for excuses.
“Suddenly he has become a team player again. He’s earning the right to play.
“However, let's reserve judgement as we have been here before – Pogba needs to be consistently excellent; great players don’t play well the odd game, they have consistency.
“However, this week, at least, Pogba has been – alongside Bruno Fernandes – United's best player.
“If the season was over three games then great. It’s quite interesting that his level has spiked as United start to challenge at the top.
“If he wants to leave, there’s no better place to showcase yourself than playing for a team that’s competing to win a league title.
“It is a win-win if Manchester United finish as champions and Pogba gets a move.”
- Joe Brophy
STORM BREWING
Bruno Fernandes has admitted he is wary of an FA Cup backlash from Liverpool.
He told club media: "I think teams have moments.
"I don't think Liverpool are playing poorly. I think they don't win and this is the point.
"We don't have to look at that moment because big teams and big players can show in every moment.
"When teams don't win, everyone talks about that. When players don't score, everyone talks about that.
"I feel that on me because I know the standard is high, because I arrived and I scored a lot of goals and make a lot of assists, and everyone is wanting goals and assists from me."
- Joe Brophy
MARCS OUT OF TEN
Marcus Rashford, 23, believes his England pals Mason Mount and Reece James can make a huge difference.
After winning the Football Writers’ Association Tribute Award, Rashford said: “It is great.
"The fact people are doing it off their own backs is an amazing feeling and for the future it is going to help massively for kids that are not born yet.
"It is going to be a different environment which they come in to.
“Hopefully it continues and more and more people come on board and start to do their own things, their own little ways of helping people. That is how change happens."
- Joe Brophy
TOP MARCS
Marcus Rashford has hailed Reece James and Mason Mount for “amazing” charity work he believes can help change the world.
Right-back James, 21, has been helping The Felix Project hand out healthy food to charities and schools.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old midfielder Mount is a patron of Together for Short Lives, supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
And after winning the Football Writers’ Association Tribute Award, Rashford said: “It is great.
“We have all experienced a tough year and change needs to happen, which is evident.
"The fact people like Reece and Mason are doing that is amazing to see.”
- Joe Brophy
MUS PAY UP
Jamal Musiala's wage demands have been holding up contract negotiations with Bayern Munich.
The 17-year-old wants £100,000-a-week after just 20 senior appearances for the Bundesliga champions.
He has 18 months left on his youth agreement and Allianz Arena bigwigs are eager to secure his future.
A failure to agree fresh terms could spark a summer transfer amid interest from Manchester United.
But Goal claim negotiations between the club and player are advancing.
The former Chelsea youngster is reportedly happy to remain at Bayern despite having plenty of admirers in the Premier League.
- Joe Brophy
ED STRONG
Edinson Cavani has responded to Paul Pogba's claims his teammates do not have "same quality" as him.
Speaking to United review about the differences between himself and other forwards, he said: "On many occasions, there are lots of strikers who score goals from more static positions.
"The ball comes to them, they can finish well, and they score goals.
"But you also have the other kind of striker who has the ability to sense things and anticipate where the cross is going to end up, or the ball in behind. Or when that through-ball is going to be played.
“I’ve worked really hard on anticipating the play intuitively. Looking at my team-mate to see where he’s going to play the pass, and watching the defender and how he’s moving so that I, in turn, can make a run or a move that will give me the advantage.
"And that’s something that you have to work on, and it’s also a question of focus and concentration on what you’re doing, and not just doing it naturally or for the sake of it."
- Joe Brophy
SHAW THING
An appreciation post for Manchester United's inform defender…
- Joe Brophy
ICYMI
Paul Pogba is undecided on his future at Manchester United, according to reports.
Agent Mino Raiola had been pushing for a move but the Mail claims all options are still on the table as the Red Devils make a push for the title.
Pogba’s contract expires at the end of the 2021/22 season meaning United would be likely to cash in this summer if he decides he wants to leave.
- Joe Brophy
HAMMER TIME
West Ham plan to offer David Moyes a new contract at the end of the season, according to reports.
Hammers bigwigs have revelled in their revival in the former Manchester United manager's second spell in charge of the Irons.
A return to 32 points from 19 games has the team in the hunt for European football.
Moyes has six months left on his current deal, with the option for another year.
But he is set to be rewarded with a long-term extension as reward for his fine work, according to the Guardian.
- Joe Brophy
CUNDO ATTITUDE
Facundo Pellestri is heading out on loan after failing to play for Manchester United since his summer arrival.
The Uruguay winger's agent believes the 19-year-old will join a Spanish club temporarily.
And with a loan exit looming, Pellestri's representative Edgardo Lasalvia said: "We’re working on that, surely Spain is the destination."
- Jake Lambourne
SOL STORM
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at claims Manchester United were too conservative in last weekend's stalemate at Anfield.
He said: "We didn't go out there to drop deep and try to soak up the pressure. We attacked every time we got the ball, maybe too much.
"We kept giving it away, that was the challenge. We went forward too quickly. The thought that we weren't attacking, for me I don't understand that one.
"It's the quality of what we did, we need to do better. We tried to press them high. It's not easy, they played well, they played their way out of our press. They had five midfielders out there to play out plus a 'keeper who is very capable.
When you look back at it, I think it was a good game by the two teams. We played against a top Liverpool team.
"Yeah, (Virgil) Van Dijk is not there but everyone's got an injury or two here or there. I was very pleased with the performance when I looked at it after."
- Jake Lambourne
VAR FROM HOME
Man Utd target Raphael Varane wants to quit Real Madrid with his contract expiring in 2022, reports say.
The Frenchman has been at the club since 2011, joining aged 17, and has since won 18 trophies in the Spanish capital.
But according to SPORT, Varane feels his time with Madrid is drawing to a close, leaving him considering a new challenge.
His contract expires next summer, meaning he is allowed to talk to clubs over a free transfer in 12 months time.
To avoid losing the 27-year-old for nothing, Madrid need either cash in and sell him or convince the defender to stay and extend his deal.
But, it is understood Varane will not sign a new contract.
- Jake Lambourne
LEAGUES BEHIND
LaLiga chief Javier Tebas has slammed “selfish” Euro giants for backing the planned 20-club Super League.
SunSport reported the Prem Big Six are being tempted by up to £310m each plus a minimum of £130m per year to join the breakaway alternative to the Champions League.
And as further details of how the competition would be ENTIRELY run by the “founder” clubs, including a form of Financial Fair Play on transfer and wages spending, Tebas went after his three potential mutineers.
Tebas said: “This is a clandestine and unviable project that would do a lot of damage to European football. I know what is going on and what is being discussed.
“Those clubs working on this project behind the back of football institutions are not loyal to the competitions in which they participate.
“I don’t understand why we should want change because of the theoretical selfishness of a few clubs.”
- Jake Lambourne
OLE TRAFFORD
Former Man Utd striker Mark Hughes has praised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for turning things around at Old Trafford.
He told talkSPORT: "Ole has done a good job.
“There’s a lot of pressure on him this year, but you’ve got to allow people to do their job and give them time to make their mark.
“He’s got to a point now where it’s his team, he’s forming a side that looks more like a Man Utd side should.
“It seems they’ve got this mentality of being more together, which hasn’t been the case in recent times.
“Now they’re in good confidence, and even if they have setbacks in games they’ve been able to turn things around, and that’s a great trait to have in a top team."
- Jake Lambourne
CAV SOME OF THAT
Man Utd striker Edinson Cavani believes his experience gives him ad advantage over the likes of Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
Speaking to the club's website, the 33-year-old said: "I always think that, in all aspects of life, a person’s maturity is important because it helps you to resolve problems more quickly.
“As they say, to find a short-cut and make things a little more straightforward.
“And it’s the same in football. I think that, in football, you start to gain in maturity, and begin to grow in experience and confidence.
“That means that, as the years pass by, you feel better in yourself, and feel in good nick and you start to feel that you can really compete, having been constantly involved.
“So yes, I feel that experience is hugely important.
“In spite of the fact that there are many talented guys out there, lots of gifted youngsters, I firmly believe, and I’ve always said that in football, it’s not all about having one, two or even three good games."
- Jake Lambourne
CAI IT AIN'T SO
Man Utd and Chelsea look set to be beaten to the transfer of Ecuador wonderkid Moises Caicedo by Brighton.
Caicedo plays for Independiente del Valle in his native country of Ecuador, where he has become a regular feature.
The 19-year-old box-to-box midfielder has also featured for Ecuador's national side making four appearances.
Sky Sports reports that Caicedo is flying in to the UK to finalise a £4.5m move to the Seagulls.
According to his club's general manager Santiago Morales, a work permit has already been arranged.
There is also a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the transfer.
- Jake Lambourne
RICE IS RIGHT
Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly in competition with two other Premier League clubs in the race to sign West Ham star Declan Rice.
According to 90min, both Liverpool and Manchester City are keen on securing the England international's services.
It has been claimed that the 22-year-old could cost in the region of £50million.
Rice has spoken of his fondness for Chelsea in the past, but it remains to be seen who will manage to nab him should he decide to depart the Hammers.
- Jake Lambourne
PAUL TO PLAY FOR
FAN'S VIEW – Paul Pogba… I’d have sold him a year or even two years ago.
Always the 'nearly' man for United, the 2018 World Cup winner tends to have have one excellent performance followed by eight mediocre ones
Oh yes, we knew he had 'it' – we just never saw it enough.
His form and perhaps even the direction the club was taking appeared to trouble him and it was easy for fans to see.
But what if United could get the best from Pogba – what might he bring?
You’d get what we’ve seen in the last three Premier League games against Burnley, Liverpool and Fulham.
Read more from Tom McDermott by clicking HERE.
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