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Man Utd takeover news LIVE: Timo Werner transfer latest, Antonio Silva 'revealed as No.1 target', Jim Ratcliffe updates | The Sun
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MANCHESTER UNITED have made an inquiry about signing former Chelsea forward Timo Werner, according to shock reports in Germany.
Erik ten Hag is in the market for striking reinforcements with £72million summer signing Rasmus Hojlund still without a Premier League goal.
Elsewhere, the Red Devils are being linked with a "dream" move for Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva.
Meanwhile, we have the very latest on Jim Ratcliffe's deal for 25% of Manchester United.
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By Kostas Lianos
Antonio Silva linked
Manchester United are keeping tabs on Benfica star Antonio Silva ahead of the January transfer window.
According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenburg, there is a real interest in Silva.
The centre-back, though, has a whopping £85million release clause.
The Portugal international has amassed a total of 17 appearances this season.
By Kostas Lianos
Man Utd target Werner
Manchester United have inquired about signing Chelsea flop Timo Werner from RB Leipzig.
United boss Erik ten Hag is in the market for striking reinforcements with Rasmus Hojlund still without a Premier League goal.
And according to Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg, the Germany international is on Ten Hag's wishlist.
It is claimed the Red Devils have already asked Leipzig about the striker's availability, but formal negotiations have yet to take place.
The 27-year-old signed for the Blues in 2020 for £53million and he struggled during his two years in West London.
By Cosmo Teare
Paul Parker recounts welcome to hell fixture
Manchester United will return to Istanbul to face Galatasaray tomorrow.
And former midfielder Paul Parker has recounted Manchester United's 'Welcome to hell' match in the '90s exclusively to The Sun.
He said he was pushed down a set of stairs by a police officer prior to the game and that Sir Alex Ferguson was ready to fight in the tunnel after the game.
I was pushed down the STAIRS by a policeman during 'Welcome to hell' match
By Cosmo Teare
United linked with 'dream' move for centre-back
Manchester United are being linked with a "dream" move for Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva.
German journalist Florian Plettenburg reports that there is a real interest in the 20-year-old.
He has an £85million release clause.
'TOP TIER'
Man Utd fans say 'this would be a dream come true' as summer target is revealed
By Cosmo Teare
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By Cosmo Teare
Erik ten Hag heaps praise on Mainoo
Erik ten Hag has spoken of how pleased he is with Kobbie Mainoo's integration into the team.
He said: “We know we're in a transition. We have to develop players. Kids have to deserve it. It was painful for us when he got a bad injury in pre-season but now he's back. He's a good boy, very mature. He showed it today.”
By Cosmo Teare
Fernandes calls Garnacho a Ronaldo superfan
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has accused Alejandro Garnacho of being a Cristiano Ronaldo superfan after his overhead kick yesterday.
He said on the stunning goal: "It's amazing – something out of this world. He’s probably watching too much Cristiano Ronaldo clips! We all know that he's a big fan."
By Cosmo Teare
Erik ten Hag on Kobbie Mainoo
Erik ten Hag showered Kobbie Mainoo with praise after his full debut against Everton yesterday.
The Dutchman said Mainoo was: "Very mature. Getting the ball and making the right decisions. Leading our build-up, leading our possession. That is what we expect from our no.6 there…
""He was playing as a man, as a senior. A very good start and now he has to do it on a consistent basis."
By Cosmo Teare
Neville dazzled by Kobbie
Gary Neville was stunned by Kobbie Mainoo's performance against Everton yesterday.
He was full of praise for the 18-year old and paid him what he saw as the highest compliment.
Neville said: "The biggest compliment I can pay him, and it hurts to say this, I hope people can take this in the right spirit… he looked like a Manchester City player.
"Honestly, I was watching him and thinking, ‘that’s a player that Pep Guardiola will be looking at and thinking, ‘I want him in my midfield, that’s what my midfield players do’.
MAIN MAN
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By Cosmo Teare
Mainoo praise
Kobbie Mainoo was showered with praise yesterday after making his full debut in a Manchester United shirt.
Pundit Karen Carney praised Mainoo's ability to "glide past" players with ease on Sky Sports.
And Manchester United legend Roy Keane called his performance "unbelievable", saying "he always looked like he had time on the ball.
By Cosmo Teare
Garnacho goal the best I've seen – Neville
Gary Neville said Garnacho's third minute overhead kick was the best goal he'd ever witnessed.
The co-commentator was stunned when the winger produced a piece of acrobatic perfection.
CREME DE LA PREM
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By Cosmo Teare
Fernandes praises Mainoo
Bruno Fernandes has heaped praise on United youngster Kobbie Mainoo after his man-of-the-match performance against Everton yesterday.
The United captain said: "I talk always about Kobbie [Mainoo]. I think he’s a special player.
"For his age he has too much quality."
By Joshua Jones
He's simply Tre-mendous
Gary Neville knows a thing or two about being a right-back.
So his claim that Trent Alexander-Arnold could be the best of all time has certainly caused a stir.
However, Nev insists he must improve on his defending to claim the title.
The ex-United full-back said: "This is a sensational footballer. Manchester City had a player injured today in Kevin De Bruyne who is world class in terms of delivery, striking of a ball and his passing. "Trent Alexander-Arnold is the equal of him.
"All I've said in the last two, three maybe four years is: just get that little bit more serious about your defending.
"All he has to be as a defender is sort of semi-competent, he doesn’t have to be the best right-back in the world defensively.
"What he does have to be is not a liability and there have been times in the last three or four years where that has been a standout feature of Liverpool’s big games, where he’s been too easy to beat and too easy to get at.
"His performances on the ball are absolutely out of this world. The difference between me and him is night and day. I can’t even relate to what he’s doing on the pitch.
"He’s playing in central midfield for 50-60 per cent of it, he’s going forward scoring goals, he’s setting up goals and assists. He’s achieving numbers that right wingers don’t achieve.
"He’s got the material to be the very best right-back of all-time. But he’s going to have to be a little bit more serious about his defending because currently he struggles to get into the England team – or he has struggled."
By Joshua Jones
Bru-tal snub
Fernandes, though, could not resist a cheeky dig at Alejandro Garnacho after the match.
Garnacho was named man of the match following his spectacular overhead kick – but many including Gary Neville felt debutant Kobbie Mainoo deserved the gong for his performance.
And as Bruno handed the trophy over to the Argentine, he said: "I don't think he deserves but okay."
In a separate interview for Match of the Day, Fernandes then had his say on Mainoo's display.
He said: "Great game, for me man of the match, a great performance and secure on the ball and never puts a foot wrong.
"He is always ready to help, for his age he has too much quality.
"He sees the play before and did so many good things today he was secure on the ball."
By Joshua Jones
Roy raging… again
Roy Kane blasted Erik ten Hag for praising Bruno Fernandes over the penalty incident.
Fernandes gave the ball to Marcus Rashford who fired in for his first goal since September 3.
Ten Hag thought it was a great move and piece of captaincy… but Keane disagreed.
He raged: “He's giving toffee out there to Bruno for passing on the ball for the penalty. Absolute bloody rubbish.
“Absolute rubbish coming out with that. Manchester United are sixth now – if you went back a few years, if you were sixth you'd be embarrassed. But obviously they seem happy with sixth.
“They have a long way to go. Manchester United have to be competing with the best teams. That's including Liverpool, [Manchester] City, Arsenal.
“It's not been good enough with the talent they've got. Look, they've got themselves in a nice position but the reason you're playing for Manchester United is to compete against the top teams.”
By Joshua Jones
Marc of success
United fans are convinced Marcus Rashford is "back to his best" because he might be back together with ex Lucia Loi.
SunSport exclusively revealed on Saturday that Rashford enjoyed a romantic date at a posh restaurant with his former partner.
And he followed it up with his first goal since early September at Goodison Park yesterday.
One fan said: "Rashford fresh trim and got his girl back, he’s gonna be back to his best now.”
Another wrote: "Rashford back with his girl, Rashford scores. Coincidence? I think not."
By Joshua Jones
How the rest of 2023 shapes up
There are no more international breaks until March, whoop whoop!
So that gives Erik ten Hag a consistent run of matches to keep his side challenging for the title – as well as trying to keep their European campaign alive.
Here are United's remaining fixtures in 2023:
29/11 – Galatasaray (a) – CL
02/12 – Newcastle (a) – PL
06/12 – Chelsea (h) – PL
09/12 – Bournemouth (h) – PL
12/12 – Bayern Munich (h) – CL
17/12 – Liverpool (a) – PL
23/12 – West Ham (a) – PL
26/12 – Aston Villa (h) – PL
30/12 – Nottingham Forest (a) – PL
Super bad news for United
A supercomputer has had its say on how the Premier League table will finish…
And it does not bode well for Manchester United.
The number-cruncher has the Red Devils down to finish way down in EIGHTH – even behind Chelsea.
Ant going anywhere, please
Ex-United striker Dimitar Berbatov wants his old club to keep hold of Anthony Martial.
The Bulgarian told Betfair: "I really hope [he has a future at Man United]. I’m a bit biased because I used to play with him and I saw the quality he has.
"Everyone knows that he’s not working the way he should be. He’s not using his quality properly and he’s struggling because of this.
"He needs to be shaken up a little bit and there are moments where he needs to push hard and change his game a little bit.
"I saw in the last couple of games, he actually did that, he pressed, he was angry in his body language and going hard towards the opposition. He needs to do something extra.
"When you’ve been at a club for a long time, you get complacent. From time to time you need to challenge yourself and the people around you need to wake you up and say, ‘Look, you have so many qualities that you’re not using correctly. Wake up, do more and bring it to the team’."
Martial hurts Toffees again
Anthony Martial rounded off the win with a cool finish to make it 3-0.
And that continued his superb record against Everton.
Martial now has nine goals and five assists in 17 games.
Ten Tornado
Ten Hag admitted firing a rocket at his players during his half-time team talk at Goodison Park.
The Dutchman, who watched the game from the stands as he served a touchline ban, let rip despite Garnacho's wondergoal putting United in front.
He said: "After the start of the game we were too easy-going. I criticised the team at half-time. They thought they were already there. You can't do that.
"You have to do 100 minutes on the pitch. Second half we did very well.
"Our three offensive players scored. That's what we need. It will help us as a team."
By Joshua Jones
Ten Hag hails his captain
Erik ten Hag was impressed by Bruno Fernandes' selflessness ahead of the penalty.
He said: "You saw how great a captain Bruno is. He could see, feel, assess that his team-mate needed that goal.
"Also he had the confidence in Rashy to take the penalty because he knows he is a very good penalty taker. 'Take that ball and take your confidence.'
"As a team, you need that. You need such leadership and you back each other, you cover each other and you give each other the confidence because you know you need it to get a successful season."
By Joshua Jones
Bruno's classy gesture
It looked as though Bruno Fernandes was going to take the United penalty.
But he handed the ball over to Rashford – and the England star made no mistake up against Pickford.
The captain said: “[I did it] because I felt Marcus needed a little bit of confidence, he needed his goal.
“Marcus is an excellent penalty taker too, I am 100 per cent sure he could score that penalty.
“It is not about who takes it, it is about scoring and Marcus did it perfectly.
“I think we all know strikers and wingers want to score goals, they need to score, that is part of their game.
“It gives you more of a boost and as you saw after the goal Marcus was unstoppable. He could take on everyone."
By Joshua Jones
Rashford back on the scoresheet
Marcus Rashford scored his second goal of the season from the spot at Everton.
His only previous goal in 16 appearances for United this term came in the defeat at Arsenal on September 3.
But he stepped up with the penalty to make it 2-0 and help the Red Devils overcome the Toffees.
By Joshua Jones
'Can't believe it'
Here's how Garnacho reacted to his wondergoal at Everton.
He said: “I can't believe it to be honest.
“I just did [it] and I didn't see how I scored, I just listened around.
“I said: 'Oh my god', and for me, of course, it was one of the best goals I have ever scored. I am very happy.”
Garnacho added: “I say it is very much like [Wayne] Rooney's goal, I don't know which one is better. Both are incredible goals.
“It was a very important win and we need this [win] to be in the top six. We need this win, three goals and a clean sheet. It is very important.”