PAUL POGBA will leave Manchester United in summer provided an agreement can be reached, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Meanwhile, United are also interested in Declan Rice, while Gary Neville defended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's approach in their 0-0 draw at Anfield.
- Liverpool vs Man Utd: 40/1 price boost on a penalty for EITHER team at Anfield
Follow all the latest with our blog below…
- Etienne Fermie
'EXTRA CLARITY'
Premier League chiefs hope to end the uncertainty over Covid-19 postponement rules by getting two new protocols agreed by clubs on Wednesday.
The first shareholders’ club meeting of 2021 will see League bosses push through the regulations after three weeks of criticism.
The first of the new rules will confirm that a Covid outbreak which closes a training ground – which is a directive from Public Health England – will be sufficient grounds for a postponement.
But clubs will also be given more instructions about the precise information required in order to request a postponement.
It is hoped that the extra clarity will head off the arguments over inconsistency and ensure clubs and fans alike recognise there is a simple process.
Despite that, clubs are due to debate and attempt to agree on a threshold for a points per game calculation to be made if the season is curtailed by future Covid outbreaks.
The next block of TV fixtures are also due to be agreed, with the expectation that all matches through to mid-March will be confirmed as being shown live while fans remain locked out.
- Etienne Fermie
ANT ONE TO MISS
What a goal this was, Man United fans!
Antonio Valencia's memorable strike is your Goal of the Day.
- Etienne Fermie
'TUG OF WAR'
Manchester United outcast Jesse Lingard is keen to leave Old Trafford this month but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is wary of letting him go, according to reports.
Inter Milan, West Ham, Tottenham, Sheffield United, Porto, Marseille, and Nice are all said to be interested in the midfielder.
But the 28-year-old will not be going anywhere if his manager has anything to do with it sparking a tug-of-war between the pair, according to ESPN.
Former England international Lingard has played just three times for Solskjaer's side this season.
And he is said to be 'desperate' for first-team football.
Solskjaer reportedly sympathises with Lingard's position but wants him to stay until the end of the season to ensure he has cover for the packed fixture schedule in the months to come.
Credit: Getty – Contributor
- Etienne Fermie
FUL OF IT
Next up for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men is a trip to West London as they take on strugglers Fulham.
Judging by this tweet, could Alex Telles return to the starting XI?
- Etienne Fermie
ALA-BAD NEWS
Former Manchester United target David Alaba has signed a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid, according to reports.
The versatile Bayern Munich defender had been heavily linked with the Red Devils, as well as Chelsea and Liverpool but Los Blancos have moved quicker to beat their Premier League counterparts to his signature.
Alaba's Bayern contract expires at the end of this season and he will move to the Bernabeu on a free, according to Spanish outlet AS.
The 28-year-old is said to have put pen-to-paper on a four-year £186,000-a-week deal.
Alaba was free to sign a pre-contract agreement this month and he will now complete the transfer in June.
Credit: AFP - William Pugh
GOOD MORNING RED DEVILS FANS
Harry Maguire has hailed Manchester United’s defensive resilience after their 0-0 draw with Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield.
The Red Devils skipper beamed: “It was a big defensive display,”
“Not just from the defenders and the goalkeeper, it was the midfielders, the forwards.
“They covered us and we looked solid. We didn’t give them a big chance. It was a great defensive display.”
Meanwhile, Edwin van der Sar has revealed Donny van de Beek is showing a ‘fantastic attitude’ in training despite his lack of game time.
Ajax’s chief executive told Ziggo Sport: “I do talk to more people at the club… Fantastic attitude, he is doing well in training.
“It’s hard. Pogba is coming back, Fernandes is very important, Matic and McTominay, who are there.
“There’s no shame at all, it’s a big club too, isn’t it?
“Of course it is a large amount (the transfer fee), but they are confident that he will get there.”
Finally, former Liverpool star Jason McAteer says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ‘too nervous’ to lead United to glory.
He told FreeSuperTips: “I still don’t think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the man to take United to the next step.
“I know that sounds daft when they sit at the top of the table, but he doesn’t have the temperament to be a top Premier League manager in my opinion.
“This season is a one-off, and a real difficult season to judge compared to previous ones in the past.
“He is sitting top of the table in a very false position with a team that aren’t the best in the league at all.”
- Anthony Chapman
DAVE SAVES
David De Gea was between the sticks for United's 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
And the result marked his 150th clean sheet in a Red Devils shirt.
Dean Henderson could be waiting a while longer to take De Gea's place as United's No1…
- Anthony Chapman
NARROW MINDED
Jamie Carragher claims Gary Neville is treating Manchester United like 'a small club’ after he defended their tactics at Liverpool
Neville initially said on Sky Sports: “I understood why it wasn’t a bit gung-ho and going for it – even though part of me in the game thought if they were a bit further ahead in their development, a bit further ahead in their journey and experience, they'd have gone for it. But they’re not.
“Seven weeks ago the manager was getting sacked, the players were getting booted out, Raiola was talking about Pogba… they were all over the place.”
Carragher retorted: “What’s this journey? You are talking like Manchester United are this small club.
“It’s Manchester United. You tell us they are the biggest club in the world. You don’t have to be a champion team to smell something in the game.”
- Anthony Chapman
FROM SUNSPORT'S MARTIN LIPTON
Prem chiefs hope to end the uncertainty over Covid postponement rules by getting two new protocols agreed by clubs on Wednesday.
The first of the new rules will confirm that a Covid outbreak which closes a training ground – which is a directive from Public Health England – will be sufficient grounds for a postponement.
But clubs will also be given more instructions about the precise information required in order to request a postponement.
It is hoped that the extra clarity will head off the arguments over inconsistency and ensure clubs and fans alike recognise there is a simple process.
Despite that, clubs are due to debate and attempt to agree on a threshold for a points per game calculation to be made if the season is curtailed by future Covid outbreaks.
The next block of TV fixtures are also due to be agreed, with the expectation that all matches through to mid-March will be confirmed as being shown live while fans remain locked out.
- Anthony Chapman
FUL OF IT
Harry Maguire has urged Man Utd to get back to winning ways against Fulham.
The skipper declared: “We wanted to win the game (at Liverpool) but we didn’t, but we keep the momentum going of not losing, especially away from home.
“I’ve watched their recent games, Fulham, and they've got some great attacking players and they play nice football, so we know it's going to be tough.
“Every game in the Premier League is tough but we need to go there with the right mentality to go and win the game.
“We need to make sure we prepare, recover, get back on the training pitch and make sure we improve.
“As a group of players, we need to improve to be where we want to be.”
- Anthony Chapman
MAC ATTACK
Former Liverpool star Jason McAteer says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ‘too nervous’ to lead Manchester United to glory.
He told FreeSuperTips: “I still don’t think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the man to take United to the next step.
“I know that sounds daft when they sit at the top of the table, but he doesn’t have the temperament to be a top Premier League manager in my opinion.
“This season is a one-off, and a real difficult season to judge compared to previous ones in the past.
“He is sitting top of the table in a very false position with a team that aren’t the best in the league at all.”
- Anthony Chapman
HEAD FIRST
Concussion substitutes will be allowed in the Prem from NEXT week.
Prem clubs will formally back the measure at tomorrow’s virtual “shareholder” meeting, to come into effect from the upcoming full midweek programme next week.
Under the new Laws, each team will be allowed two permanent concussion substitutes if players have head injuries, assessed by qualified medics.
But to avoid potential ‘gaming’ by cynical managers seeking to take advantage of the new Laws, the opposing coach will also be allowed to make extra substitutions on top of the standard three changes.
- Anthony Chapman
DON DONE WELL
Edwin van der Sar has revealed Donny van de Beek is showing a 'fantastic attitude' in Man United training despite his lack of game time.
Ajax's chief executive, who won the Champions League at Old Trafford, told Ziggo Sport: "I do talk to more people at the club… Fantastic attitude, he is doing well in training.
“It’s hard. Pogba is coming back, Fernandes is very important, Matic and McTominay, who are there.
"There’s no shame at all, it’s a big club too, isn’t it?
“Of course it is a large amount (the transfer fee), but they are confident that he will get there.”
- Anthony Chapman
BRU-TAL TRUTH
Bruno Fernandes appears to be failing to deliver against the rest of the Big Six.
The Man Utd ace came under fire after a poor showing in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Despite a stunning start to his Red Devils career last year, Fernandes looks like he’s becoming less and less influential against fellow top sides.
And judging by this, the stats back up those claims…
- Anthony Chapman
FROM SUNSPORT'S MARTIN LIPTON
Prem bosses believe their Covid clampdown is working after the number of positive tests more than halved last week.
League agents carried out a record 3,115 tests across the 20 clubs in their two testing rounds.
But there were only 16 positive test results, down from 36 in the week up to January 10 and 40 the previous week.
The results are seen as further evidence that the “enhanced” protocol regimes introduced since January 7 are having the desired effect.
Last week’s first testing round brought 10 positives from 1,826 tests.
The second round, between Friday and Sunday saw just six positives from 1,289 tests.
- Anthony Chapman
STRENGTH IN DEPTH
Harry Maguire believes that competition between Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly can help Man Utd topple Liverpool this season.
The Red Devils captain explained: “Victor has come back to the team in a big game with huge pressure and performed excellently.
“Credit to Vic, it shows the depth we've got at centre-half now with Eric, who has been playing and doing really well.
“It's important, whoever plays, in the back-four, knows the team, knows their responsibilities and keeps clean sheets, as that gives us the best chance of going on to win the games.”
- Anthony Chapman
SOLID AS A ROCK
Harry Maguire has hailed Manchester United’s defensive resilience after their 0-0 draw with Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield.
The Red Devils skipper beamed: “It was a big defensive display,”
“Not just from the defenders and the goalkeeper, it was the midfielders, the forwards.
“They covered us and we looked solid. We didn't give them a big chance. It was a great defensive display.”
- Joshua Jones
JUR THE WORST
Jurgen Klopp moaned Manchester United threw all their 'world-class players' behind the ball against Liverpool.
Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba had the best chances of the goalless draw at Anfield.
But Klopp was fuming with opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, blasting his cautious tactics as the 'worst thing you can face in football'.
Klopp said: "We played football, tried to do it, force them back into their own box.
"The worst thing you can face in the world, in football is you play against a side with world-class players and they all defend with all they have, deep in the box and only counter-attack.
"It's really difficult – that's the biggest challenge."
- Joshua Jones
BRU BEGINNINGS
Bruno Fernandes is keeping positive despite a disappointing performance at Anfield.
The playmaker was off the pace in the goalless draw but took to Instagram with a philosophical message.
He wrote: “One day when you look back, you will see that the most beautiful days were the ones you fought for.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Bruno Fernandes (@brunofernandes.10)
- Joshua Jones
FERGIE FAVOURITE
Sir Alex Ferguson has officially joined the Kieran Tierney fan club.
Arsenal's Scottish left-back has been one of the Gunners' standout players this season – and Ferguson is impressed.
And the ex-United boss admits fitting both Tierney and Andy Robertson into the team is a conundrum for Scotland chief Steve Clarke.
Fergie said: "I do think Scotland have some very good midfield players, and I’m not sure how they’re gonna play Robertson and Tierney in the same team.
"I know there were some situations where they played Tierney as the third centre-back, but the form of Tierney since he’s gone to Arsenal has been phenomenal.”
- Joshua Jones
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Gary Neville believes United are two key signings away from having a title-winning team.
The Red Devils top the Premier League table after Sunday's goalless draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
He said on The Gary Neville Podcast: "I look at this game and think where can you go from being [challengers] to being title winners.
"One thing would be that Manchester United need to push up the pitch a bit more, to be up in the game a little bit more.
"So a centre-back that gets them up the pitch that extra 10 yards and maybe that right-winger.
“We know that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted that right-wing position filled in the summer, he didn’t get it, and it’s just posing a little bit of a problem.
"Manchester United just need that little bit of belief, couple of extra players, they’re not as far away as it looks if Liverpool and Manchester City stay at this standard."
- Joshua Jones
JESS THE TICKET
Sheffield United are reportedly confident of signing Jesse Lingard on loan.
Chris Wilder wants the Manchester United playmaker to bolster the Blades' bid to beat the drop.
Lingard has not featured in the Premier League this season and could be allowed to depart Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old has been reassured by his camp that joining the Blades will not affect his chances of a permanent exit from Old Trafford this summer, according to The Star.
- Joshua Jones
GOODBYE LIONESSES
Phil Neville has quit as England women's manager and looks set to take over at Inter Miami.
The ex-Manchester United man took over in January 2018 and was scheduled to depart after the 2021 Euros – but they have now been delayed.
He will be replaced by Sarina Wiegman when she leaves her role with the Netherlands after the Olympics while the FA scramble to find an interim boss, who would likely take charge of the Team GB side in Tokyo.
Neville said: “It has been an honour to manage England and I have enjoyed three of the best years of my career with The FA and the Lionesses.
“The players who wear the England shirt are some of the most talented and dedicated athletes I have ever had the privilege to work with. They have challenged me and improved me as a coach and I am very grateful to them for the fantastic memories we have shared."
- Joshua Jones
DEP-ARTING?
Memphis Depay is targeting a move to one of the 'top three clubs in the world'.
And the Manchester United flop has revealed Lyon team-mate Houssem Aouar has similar ambitions for a mega move at the end of the season.
Depay has revitalised his career in France after struggling to justify the hype that surrounded his arrival at Old Trafford in 2015.
He was wanted by Barcelona last summer while Aouar continues to be linked with Arsenal.
Depay – out of contract this summer – told Canal+: "We know we play for a very big club but we want to go to one of the top three clubs in the world.
"Then you will see Houssem, he will get 10 times better. For me, it's the same."
- Joshua Jones
PAUL ON YOU
Gary Neville reckons Manchester United's 'slim' chance of winning the Premier League depend on Paul Pogba producing ‘two or three months of brilliance’.
Frenchman Pogba had a golden chance to score the winner at Anfield, but he blasted his close-range effort right at keeper Alisson.
Neville said on Sky Sports: "I think Manchester United's chances of winning this league are slim – Liverpool and Man City are still the best two teams in this league.
"But the slim chance they have to win this league will depend on something like Paul Pogba delivering a cameo of two or three months of brilliance, which he is capable of.
"He's got confidence, he's got arrogance – good arrogance, in a sense that he believes in himself.
"He thinks he should be playing in the biggest games in the world, and winning titles, and thinking positive thoughts, thinking you're the best is a big thing when you're looking to win."
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