AVRAM GLAZER is expected to be in attendance at Wembley for the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City tomorrow afternoon.
Elsewhere, Red Devils target Rasmus Hojlund has hired the same agent as United boss Erik Ten Hag.
In other news, Harry Kane will stay at Spurs for a final season — if he cannot get a move to Manchester United, SunSport can exclusively report.
Meanwhile, Chelsea star Mason Mount could be involved in a swap deal with Manchester United's Harry Maguire this summer.
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Keep up to date with all the latest news from Old Trafford…
- By Alex Smith
Man Utd chase Hojlund
Man Utd are leading the race to sign Atalanta star Rasmus Hojlund.
The club are beginning to make contact with the players representatives.
Atalanta want United to put an offer in of £43m to bring them to the negotiating table.
- By Alex Smith
Tierney ref for final
Paul Tierney will referee the FA Cup final tomorrow.
Man Utd have a poor record when he is in charge, winning only 63.3 per cent of matches.
Meanwhile, City have won 88.5 per cent of matches with Tierney in charge.
He has handed both teams six penalties in the matches and United three more yellow cards when he has officiated either side.
Stats via Gambling Zone.
- By Alex Smith
Cole backs United to win
Andy Cole thinks that Man Utd will beat Man City in the FA Cup final tomorrow.
Cole said to FA Cup betting: "If Manchester City score early, they'll go on to win the game comfortably. If Manchester United frustrates them and nicks a goal, they can win a game.
"I have this feeling that United will win that game. No one seems to mention that the last time they played, United won, they played well and convincingly won. But anything can happen in the FA Cup, that's the magic of it.
"However you look at it, Manchester United will go into this game knowing we've achieved history by winning this cup and completing the treble.
"Our neighbours have a great chance of matching the treble if they beat us. They have the club's history and legacy on the line, it's as simple as that."
- By Alex Smith
Cole hits out at Carragher
Treble-winning Andy Cole has hit out at Jamie Carragher for his 1999 Man Utd x this season's Man City combined XI.
Cole told FA Cup betting: "I would not change a single player out of my team for any of these current Manchester City players. Otherwise, that's me being disrespectful to my team-mates, and at the end of the day, we're still the only team to have won the treble so far.
"City spent a lot of money to get to this position, Man Utd had six homegrown players, that tells you everything.
"There's a perception about Gary Neville and also me that we couldn't play in today's game or make this Manchester City team.
"I don't care because I know I achieved the treble, people can say what they want but at the end of the day, the people making these statements were nowhere near winning a league title, never mind the treble.
"What Jaime Carragher says, it makes no difference to me. People talk a lot of flannel. You have to be in that position of success to be able to have an opinion on what's better.
"Carragher put Jack Grealish in ahead of Ryan Giggs because he had more goal contributions? That says it all."
- By Alex Smith
Neville sacked at Miami
David Beckham has sacked former Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville as Inter Miami manager.
Fans' fury soared after Wednesday's 1-0 loss to New York Red Bulls left Miami bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.
And Inter announced Nev's departure midway through his third season in charge with a blunt social media message on Thursday night.
The club listed the managerial changes above a black and white picture of the former England defender captioned "THANK YOU Phil Neville".
Supporters held up signs calling for Neville's sacking following the dire midweek defeat – and even booed his son Harvey.
- By Alex Smith
Glazers in attendance
Avram Glazer is expected to be in attendance at Wembley for the FA Cup final.
The owner was also in the stadium for the Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle earlier this season.
The Glazer family have put Man Utd up for sale with no preferred bidder revealed yet.
- By Alex Smith
Weghorst admits disappointment
Wout Weghorst has conceded that he is unhappy with just the two goals he's scored for Man Utd since his January loan arrival.
Weghorst said: "I've really tried to give my all in every match I've played, in every minute I've had.
"It doesn’t matter which position it is. I always give my best.
“Of course, for me as a striker, only two goals is not enough. It’s not good.
"That's just the only thing for me that's disappointing, because I know I'm capable to do it.
I scored a lot in the past, but all the other parts of the football contribution, in helping with the team pressure and work ethic, link-up play.
"I think I’ve developed myself there again and I could help the team and be important for them.
"Let's keep the goal for Saturday. Let's do it that way."
- By Alex Smith
Bargain
Man Utd paid just a £100,000 compensation fee to Atletico Madrid to sign Alejandro Garnacho.
The Red Devils purchased the winger in October 2020.
Garnacho has since gone on to earn a big-money five-year deal at the club.
- By Alex Smith
Fresh trim
Alejandro Garnacho caught the eye in the latter months of the season with his performances and dyed blonde hair.
The Athletic report the Argentine has no issue with being the centre of attention, they write: "Some might think it's too much, but he wants the attention, you need that kind of mentality to thrive here.
"Other players have signed and shrunk under the scale of the club."
Credit: EPA
- By Alex Smith
Garnacho's delight
Alejandro Garnacho was so pleased the day he signed his new contract that he flew family over from Argentina to celebrate.
The winger supposedly gave his family a tour of Old Trafford.
Garnacho penned a lucrative five-year deal in April.
- By Alex Smith
Varane on success
Raphael Varane will be hoping to add the FA Cup to his glittering trophy collection and he has spoken about the mentality of winning.
He said: "We want to develop and be on the top at Man Utd. When you start winning you can change the mentality and are more prepared to win more, and the biggest trophies.
"Sometimes quality is not enough – you need the motivation, character, passion on the pitch.
"To play for these kind of clubs you need something else, something different – that character to fight, to assume responsibility, to never hide on the pitch."
- By Alex Smith
Treble not important
Man Utd centre-back Raphael Varane has stressed that they want to win the FA Cup for themselves and stopping Man City from winning the treble is a bonus.
The Frenchman said: "We want to win and that’s the only objective we have. We don’t try to stop them, but we want to win for the club."
Erik ten Hag said similar: "Blocking Manchester City's treble dreams? Well this is about us, about us winning the FA Cup. This tournament is huge in England. I want to give our fans this trophy."
- By Alex Smith
Varane on Haaland
Raphael Varane is ready for the challenge of Erling Haaland in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
The United star said: "Fear? No. No way. Why? I like to face big challenges.
"He’s a very good player, we all know that, but the danger from City is everywhere. They are very complete. We know we have to stop them as a team and collectively as a group."
- By Alex Smith
Rice & Kane the difference
Sam Allardyce thinks that if Man Utd buy Harry Kane and Declan Rice they will win the Premier League.
The ex-Prem boss told William Hill: "I saw Declan Rice first hand at West Ham away this season. It’s rare that you see a player who has been brought up as a centre-half evolve into a central-midfield player as well as he has.
"He’s the all-action midfield player, he’s not just a sitting anchor man, he’s everything. H
"e’s a passer and he’s box-to-box, and people might say he doesn’t score enough to be worth £100m, but what he can bring to the team would evolve Manchester United through the middle.
"If Harry Kane and Declan Rice were both through the middle for United then they’d be fighting for spots one and two in the league."
- By Alex Smith
Ownership battle picks up pace
The fight between Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe could soon move faster with the Glazers set to soon choose a preferred bidder.
Once the American owners decide who they want to sell to, the new chiefs could take the reigns very quickly.
But until they do things remain at a standoff.
Reporter Ben Jacobs said: “These kinds of deals take as long as they take in many ways.
“Until a singular group is chosen, it's very difficult for things to progress.
"The upside is that a lot of what has gone to date is in many ways transactionally backwards and would be traditionally associated with a period of exclusivity.
“Those logistical elements, including preparation for a Premier League Owners' and Directors' Test and due diligence, are sometimes the time-consuming things.
"Because they've been done ahead of a preferred bidder at large, it does mean if the Glazers choose to green-light something, things could still move reasonably quickly by takeover standards."
- By Gary Stonehouse
Morning, United fans
Harry Maguire could be part-exchanged for Mason Mount and Randal Kolo Muani has shot up United's list of strike targets.
That's the transfer gossip vying for the spotlight with preparations for tomorrow's FA Cup final.
Midfielder Mount is emerging as a major target – but Chelsea's £70million valuation is a stumbling block.
So the Red Devils are willing to send England colleague Maguire the other way as part of any deal.
United value the centre-back at around £30m and boss Erik ten Hag has already admitted the 30-year-old "has a decision to make" over his future.
Meanwhile, Old Trafford officials have “held talks” over signing Eintracht Frankfurt'sl Kolo Muani.
The seven-cap Frenchman, 24, is the latest back-up option in case United fail to prise Harry Kane from Tottenham.
Ten Hag has also held multiple video calls with Atalanta's Danish frontman Rasmus Hojlund.
Finally, Raphael Varane has vowed to stop Erling Haaland tomorrow and end Manchester City’s treble dreams at Wembley.
The centre-back has told United to cut the supply line to the 52-goal forward.
Varane said: “The connection especially with De Bruyne because they have a connection, we try to cut that connection.
“We try to stop them earlier and not at the end because sometimes it’s too late. We know we have to be strong as a team."
- By Ian Tuckey
Maguire could go in Mount exchange
EXCLUSIVE: Harry Maguire could form part of Manchester United’s package to land Chelsea’s Mason Mount, writes CHARLIE WYETT.
United are hopeful of securing Mount but they are some distance away from agreeing a fee with Chelsea wanting around £70million.
But Old Trafford skipper Maguire, 30, who looks certain to leave the club, is valued at about £30m and could be offered by United.
Manager Erik ten Hag has claimed that Maguire, who joined United for £85million in 2019, “has a decision to make” in terms of his future.
However, the pair have yet to stage any talks.
With the FA Cup final against Manchester City tomorrow, they are due to meet next week, although ten Hag looks certain to open the door for the player’s exit.
New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino tried to sign Maguire when he was at Hull but the offer from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was not good enough, so the defender signed for Leicester instead.
- By Ian Tuckey
Glazer commits cardinal red sin
Avram Glazer has stunned Manchester United fans as he committed one of football's biggest sins.
The United owner was pictured in front of what appears to be the White House in Washington D.C, USA, alongside a Liverpool supporter.
Liverpool and Man United have been fierce rivals for years, with fans often too keen to try and one-up each other.
So the unpopular owner having a picture with and smiling alongside a Red is not a popular sight for United supporters.
Avram, 62, looks happy to be in the snap as he dons a suit, while the Liverpool fan also looks chuffed with himself as he points to the club's emblem on his shirt.
And United fans quickly voiced their displeasure on social media once they saw the picture.
One tweeted: "GET OUT OF OUR CLUB."
A second wrote: "This ruined my day."
A third said: "No way this is real😳😳."
A fourth added: "Oh yeah, they have to go now surely."
- By Ian Tuckey
Prem clubs on alert over Tammy
Roma are reportedly ready to sell Tammy Abraham to avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions.
The Serie A side had hoped to win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League and claim the riches that would have followed.
Clubs such as West Ham, Everton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham could all be on the hunt for a new striker this summer.
And if Abraham is available for a reasonable fee for Premier League sides, it would seem an attractive option.
Abraham has previously admitted that he is happy in Italy, as he said on Uefa.com: "I’ve become more confident and have learnt a lot about myself.
"At Chelsea, I was known as ‘the academy player’, and I think coming here I’ve realised it’s time to bring out my personality and show the world what I can do.
"It’s been an amazing experience learning about a different culture and seeing a different area of life.
"It’s something I’ll treasure even more looking back when my career has finished."
- By Ian Tuckey
Varane reveals key to stopping Haaland
Raphael Varane has vowed to stop Erling Haaland in his tracks and ruin Manchester City’s treble dreams at the same time.
With 52 goals in 51 games Haaland enters his first FA Cup final as the most feared striker on the planet.
But United centre-back Varane insists the key to stopping him is breaking his connection with Kevin De Bruyne by pressing high up.
Varane said: “The connection especially with De Bruyne because they have a connection, we try to cut that connection.
“We try to stop them earlier and not at the end because sometimes it’s too late. We know we have to be strong as a team.
“Obviously he is one of the very good players they have, but they are strong as a team and we have to respond not to the individual but more to the collective.
He said: “I think we know we are able to beat any team. We showed that this season. We know we can beat them but we know they are a good team.
“The approach, we have to learn from the games we played against them and we need a great performance."
- By Ian Tuckey
For purely goalkeeping De Gea pips Ederson
Paul Parker rates David de Gea a better shot-stopper than Ederson.
De Gea is still uncertain to stay with Manchester United next season as his contract runs out this month.
And Ederson is the unquestioned No1 at neighbours City, helped by his brilliant footwork.
But ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final, former Old Trafford right-back Parker told MyBettingSites: “David De Gea is a tough one, because he wouldn’t be fancied by Pep Guardiola but I think he is a better goalkeeper than Ederson and he is not getting the appreciation he should.
“Everyone wants to play out from the back but the most important thing for a goalkeeper is to make saves, and David De Gea does that.
“He does not get the respect he should. He could have won the player of the year if it wasn’t for the great performances of Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez.”
- By Ian Tuckey
Casemiro might be better than Rodri
Here's why Paul Parker believes United anchorman Casemiro might edge City's Rodri out or the team if the Brazilian was at the Etihad.
Parker told MyBettingSites: “I think that there is a good chance that Casemiro could go into their lineup as well.
"His education is very good and his qualities could be used at almost every club.
"But of course, Rodri is really an amazing player and I’m not going to say that he 100% would walk into their lineup. But there is a good chance that he could.”
- By Ian Tuckey
Why 3 Red Devils would get in City team
Former United and England defender Paul Parker has explained why he thinks Casemiro, Luke Shaw and David De Gea should be starters if they play or FA Cup final opponents Manchester City.
But Parker believes Etihad chief Pep Guardiola would snub Shaw because of his "temperament".
Prem champs City are gunning for a Treble.
However, Parker told MyBettingSites: “If we look at performances this season, I think that Luke Shaw could go into Man City’s starting lineup.
"But temperament wise, I don’t think he could play under Pep Guardiola because his players are very controlled and disciplined. We also need to keep in mind that they are not playing with a natural left back.
“Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji have performed amazingly well and they have changed their formation. But if we only look at performances, he could play for Man City."
- By Ian Tuckey
'Utd should beat City'
Ex-United defender Paul Parker expects victory over City in Saturday's FA Cup final.
And he reckons Red Devils' trio Casemiro, Luke Shaw and David De Gea would be regulars or Pep Guardiola's chamois.
Former England star Parker told MyBettingSites: “My expectation…is that Man United will win a very hard fought and difficult game against the best team in this country. Maybe even the best team in Europe.
“I just want Man United to do themselves justice. Every team can lose to Man City but I just want them to pull off a great performance."
"There are a lot of expectations because of Erik ten Hag. Their performances since the league cup final have been poor but they still managed to get a lot of good results.
"Now they can really enjoy it off the back of a trophy in the bank and having qualified for the Champions League.”
“I think that the majority of Man United’s fans expect them to lose against Man City but they still have the belief that they can be competitive and do themselves justice in the game.”
- By Ian Tuckey
Mason Mount release clause
Manchester United are hoping to pay less than £60million for Chelsea star Mason Mount.
Mount has agreed personal terms with United but there is a “£15-20m gulf in valuation” between the Manchester giants and the Blues.
CBS reporter Ben Jacobs tweeted: “As reported last week, #CFC will negotiate and sell if Mount indicates he wants to leave.
“But there is a £15-20m gulf in valuation. #MUFC are hoping for under £60m.”
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