Man Utd news LIVE: Solskjaer sack latest, Sancho transfer instruction, Glazers’ plan

Manchester United news LIVE updates

Saturday, October 12

• Manchester United could look to Julian Nagelsmann to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
• Jadon Sancho has been told to snub a transfer to the Red Devils
• The Glazers have a plan to invest money in refurbishing Old Trafford
• Mario Mandzukic continues to be linked with a January move to United

Sir Alex Ferguson and Ed Woodward relationship

Manchester United chief Ed Woodward reportedly barely speaks to Sir Alex Ferguson when they’re sat in the directors box.

Woodward has been vice-executive chairman since 2013 – the same year the Scot walked away from Old Trafford to retire.

Manchester United have endured a difficult few years in the time since Ferguson walked away, winning the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League but failing to challenge for the Premier League title or the Champions League.

And The Athletic say one person at United has claimed that the duo rarely speak at matches.

“They can be ten yards from each other and not shake hands,” the person is quoted as saying.

Another source says differently but the report goes into detail about their relationship.

It is claimed Ferguson and Woodward have been on different wavelengths ever since the summer the Scot retired.

Real reason why Jose Mourinho signed Fred

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho only signed Fred because he felt the alternative was no midfielder at all, reports say.

Fred touched down from Shakhtar Donetsk back in the summer of 2018, with the Red Devils beating competition from Manchester City to get a transfer over the line.

However, the Manchester United star has struggled during his time at Old Trafford, most recently toiling in a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.

And the Athletic claim Mourinho only landed Fred because he felt that, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t get a midfielder at all.

The Red Devils refute this, insisting the Portuguese was the one driving the deal for the midfielder.

Man Utd told to sign Kasper Schmeichel

Manchester United supporters want to see Kasper Schmeichel at Old Trafford on a regular basis.

They urged manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to sign the 32-year-old, after he saved Denmark on numerous occasions in their match against Switzerland.

Schmeichel made a terrific diving save to keep out Arsenal’s Grant Xhaka in the first half.

United fans liked what they saw from the Foxes’ goalkeeper, and want the Old Trafford hierarchy to sign Schmeichel this summer.

“Kasper Schmeichel would’ve done well at United,” tweeted one United fan at full-time.

“Great goalkeeper, Schmeichel, from Denmark,” added another supporter.

“He’s got his father’s talent. I’d like to see him defending United too.”

Man Utd need a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Manchester United have struggled this season due to their lack of attacking threat.

That’s the view of Tony Cascarino, who believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs a striker like Arsenal ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“[Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang’s goalscoring record is extraordinary,” Cascarino said on talkSPORT.

“It’s one thing I look at United and think they haven’t got a [Sergio] Aguero, a [Harry] Kane, a Aubameyang, a [Alexandre] Lacazette, a [Mohamed] Salah or [Sadio] Mane.

“They haven’t got any of that and that’s why their failing because they don’t have forwards with that quality.

“I’ve always argued that Manchester United as a football club should never employ a coach that plays cautious football because the club is not built on that,.

“From the 60s and onwards, the club was built to entertain at the highest level with players who were good enough technically to wear that shirt.

“I think they’ve gone away from that.”

Juan Mata and David De Gea knew Jose Mourinho sack wouldn’t solve problems

Manchester United duo David De Gea and Juan Mata supposedly warned friends that Jose Mourinho’s exit would not mark an end to the club’s problems.

Mourinho was axed by the Red Devils last December after overseeing a difficult start to the Premier League season.

Manchester United have since hired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Portuguese’s successor but he, like his predecessors, looks to be in line for the sack.

The Red Devils sit just two points above the relegation zone and pressure is mounting on Solskjaer to turn things around.

And The Athletic say that, after Mourinho was axed, Mata and De Gea issued a warning.

It is claimed they told friends that the departure of the manager would not change things at United and believed the issue ran deeper.

Rio Ferdinand on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacking

Rio Ferdinand believes the Manchester United board knew when appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that there would be plenty of ups and downs at the start of the 46-year-old’s tenure.

“There’s no way that the club would have thought that this would have been rosy straight away,” Ferdinand said on talkSPORT.

“They’re not naive enough to think this is going to be a situation that just changes over night.

“This is definitely somewhere where there’s going to be early pain and result won’t go our way, especially with the recruitment and that they’ve started to go with younger players.

“That’s why I don’t see there being a change straight away.

“I’ll be very surprised if I wake up, open a paper or an app and see that he’s gone so quickly.”

Paul Pogba to miss Liverpool match

Manchester United star Paul Pogba looks certain to miss his side’s clash with Liverpool next weekend through injury, according to reports.

Pogba still has his foot in a protective cast after suffering an injury earlier this season.

On Friday, the Frenchman posted “Almost there”, alongside a picture of himself working out in Dubai where he’s undergoing rehabilitation.

But according to the Daily Mail, Pogba won’t make it back in time for the Liverpool game at Old Trafford next week.

He’s due to return to Carrington in the next few days where club doctors will determine the severity of his injury and how much more recovery time he will need.

Mario Mandzukic to Man Utd backed

Mario Mandzukic’s move to Manchester United is “pretty much signed and sealed”, according to Liverpool legend Steve Nicol.

Mandzukic has emerged as a serious transfer target for United in the upcoming January window.

“I think it happens and I think it’s pretty much signed and sealed as well,” Nicol told ESPN FC. “So yeah I don’t think there’s any question this is a hit.

“It’s something that United need but let’s be honest, it’s going against all the nonsense they gave us at the start of the season about youth – yeah right. Mandzukic, an old campaigner, experienced. He will come in for a short period of time and do a good job.”

Kalidou Koulibaly speaks on his future

Kalidou Koulibaly has dismissed recent transfer speculation and remains focused on Napoli amid interest from Manchester United.

The Senegal international said: “I’m used to it. So many [stories] come out each day, which say I’m leaving.

“Right now, my only objective is to win with Napoli. I don’t care about the rest.

“Our objective remains to beat the best teams in Italy and win the title.

“This season is more difficult because all the teams have got stronger and Serie A has become more competitive.

“I haven’t made the best start to the season. Juventus remain the team to beat. For our part, we must work even harder, improving our game to get closer to them.

“Our objective is to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage as soon as possible.”

Surprise candidate to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United may replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann.

Are Manchester United really about to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, just months after they planned for a bright future of success at Old Trafford?

It’s certainly not out of the question. Since getting the job full time in March, on the back of a successful stint as interim boss, Solskjaer has overseen a disastrous run. Now, the club look further away from challenging for major honours than ever before.

Amid their struggles, links to managers have started to emerge. Massimiliano Allegri is available and seemingly the obvious choice to take over.

But, intriguingly, Julian Nagelsmann was tipped to take over during the week.

The RB Leipzig boss has overseen his side’s fine start to the Bundesliga campaign, where they sit just two points behind league leaders Borussia Monchengladbach.

He had previously worked wonders at Hoffenheim, guiding them to a Champions League qualifying spot two years in a row.

Jadon Sancho told to snub Man Utd

England winger Jadon Sancho has been urged to say no to Manchester United, if the club tried to sign him from Borussia Dortmund.

“[From Dortmund] to Manchester United? No, he’d be talking a step down,” he said on ESPN FC.

“Let’s be blunt about it, this is a team in the bottom half of the table.

“This is Manchester United, and they’ve still got the gloss and the glamour that sticks to the name, just about.

“Imagine how Manchester City would feel if the guy who was a kid in their academy went down the road to Manchester United?

“I know Manchester United would be interested, but the queue would be halfway around Europe for this youngster.”

The Glazers have Old Trafford plan

Manchester United’s owners, the Glazer Family, are ready to invest in Old Trafford.

The Glazers have come in for criticism regarding their spending on stadium maintenance and upgrades – leaving Old Trafford aged and lagging behind their rivals’ new modern facilities.

The belief has been that the owners has been shocked by spending on transfer fees and player wages in recent years and have scaled back plans to spend on the stadium.

However, Express Sport can reveal the Glazers do intend to pump money into Old Trafford – and have overseen a £20million investment already.

Part of that was down to VAR, with United introducing a production room for the system.

United have an ongoing multi-million pound refurbishment plan. Last summer that squared to £2m and, this summer, to £3.9m.