MANCHESTER UNITED expect to sign Frenkie de Jong with an 'irrefutable' offer, according to reports.
Spanish press claim that there is a belief that the reason the Dutchman is playing hardball with Barcelona is to drive up the offer he will ultimately get from the Red Devils or Chelsea.
Man Utd are also set to battle Chelsea for the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, SunSport can reveal.
The Red Devils considered signing the former Arsenal captain in January and are now ready to launch a bid, following Cristiano Ronaldo's sulky display at Brentford.
It is also claimed that Ronaldo often eats alone during training and has been openly questioning Erik ten Hag's high pressing style.
The Red Devils are also said to be closing in on the signing of Adrien Rabiot, with the club's recruitment said to have agreed terms with his mother and agent.
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- Alex Cole
Barca ‘mafia’ for the way they’ve treated De Jong, says Van der Vaart
Barcelona have been slammed for their “mafia” treatment of Manchester United and Chelsea target Frenkie de Jong.
Holland legend Rafael van der Vaart reckons the Spaniards have acted like crooks regarding De Jong’s future this summer.
The decorated attacker, who spent two seasons at Real Madrid, has hit out at Barca for their unfair tactics against De Jong.
He believes the star is absolutely entitled to the contract he signed with the Catalans.
Van der Vaart told Ziggo Sport: “You can’t treat people like that.
“Frenkie earns too much? First you sign a contract and then you fulfil it or you go on good terms, but not like that.
“This is mafia and they must be punished.”
This is mafia and they must be punished.
Rafael Van Der VaartZiggo Sport
- Alex Cole
United can't say goodbye to Ron, says Neville
Man United could finish in the bottom half of the league if they sell Ronaldo and fail to replace him immediately.
That’s according to Gary Neville, who said: “United are damned if they do, damned if they don’t on Ronaldo.
“It seemed like the best thing was to facilitate a move away. Now, if they lose him, there is NO goalscoring left.
“If they don’t bring players in, or players don’t perform, and Ronaldo leaves, I think they can finish bottom half of the Premier League.”
- Alex Cole
More on Ron
SunSport exclusively revealed last month that new owner Todd Boehly liked the idea of bringing Ronaldo in as a statement signing.
Atletico fans meanwhile have publicly protested against the signing of the Real Madrid legend.
Transfer talks with United are yet to get underway – but nevertheless both teams are still claimed to hold an interest in the superstar forward.
The Blues are crying out for a proven goalscorer up front, while Atletico may need to bring in another attacker themselves.
- Alex Cole
Blues and Atleti STILL keen on Ron
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid ARE reportedly still keen on signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both sides were linked with the wantaway Manchester United ace earlier in the summer, before interest appeared to cool.
CHELSEA and Atletico Madrid ARE reportedly still keen on signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both sides were linked with the wantaway Manchester United ace earlier in the summer, before interest appeared to cool.
- Alex Cole
Rabiot developments revealed
Man United are working tirelessly behind the scenes to secure to services of Adrien Rabiot.
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano who says the Red Devils are locked in ongoing talks with Rabiot over personal terms.
He told Give Me Sport: “It’s the same today, on Monday.
“In order to reach an agreement on personal terms, there are contacts ongoing, as there were on Sunday, same today, so they are working on it to get it done.”
- Alex Cole
Martinez will be ‘targeted’
Lisandro Martinez will be targeted by the Prem’s deadliest centre-forwards this season because of his height, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand made the predictions on his YouTube channel, saying: “He’s going to be a target mate, seriously.
“I know for a fact there will be players, centre-halves, who will be going up for set-pieces, centre-forwards – Mitrovic, Nunez, Haaland, Wood, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, all of them.
“They’ll be sitting there going ‘oh my god, get me in the team’ there’s definitely chances there, minimum.”
- Alex Cole
Good morning Man Utd fans
Manchester United and Arsenal are set to battle it out over Brighton star Moises Caicedo ahead of transfer deadline day.
Caicedo has enjoyed a stunning beginning to the new Premier League season with the Seagulls.
According to the Mirror, both United and the Gunners are interested in signing the midfielder before deadline day.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s reportedly been given permission to leave Man United.
United boss Erik ten Hag has previously insisted Ronaldo’s not for sale.
But the Dutchman’s had a chance of heart and will no longer block Ronaldo’s exit, according to The Athletic.
Ten Hag’s has reportedly pleaded with the Man United board to bring in some new signings before the transfer window closes.
The Dutchman watched in horror as United crumbled against Brentford.
And he’s begged the club’s hierarchy to spend big while they still can to turn things around at Old Trafford, according to The Times.
Elsewhere, Man United’s offer for Frenkie de Jong has now expired, according to reports.
United reportedly had an agreement in place with the Barcelona star’s agent.
But a move hasn’t yet materialised, and will unlikely do so in the future as United’s offer has reached its time limit, Dutch football podcast Kick-off of de Telegraaf claimed.
Finally, United are interested in signing Atletico Madrid star Matheus Cunha, according to reports.
According to ESPN, Cunha is on United’s shortlist of targets and would be keen to make the move.
But he has four years remaining on his contract and could cost up to £45million, report the Daily Mail.
- Justin Lawrence
Man United linked with Cunha
Man United are interested in signing Atletico Madrid star Matheus Cunha, according to reports.
According to ESPN, Cunha is on United's shortlist of targets and would be keen to make the move.
But he has four years remaining on his contract and could cost up to £45million, report the Daily Mail.
- Justin Lawrence
Graveyard United
Man United's unsuccesful transfer stratergy has turned the club into a graveyard for players, Gary Neville feels.
He said: "It has become a graveyard for footballers this football club.
"Seventy-five per cent of those signings have not worked.
"Four or five per cent have worked – that is a horror story.
"We have blamed the players a lot over the last ten years.
"When a school is underperforming, they get put in special measures by the government and you don't blame the kids."
- Justin Lawrence
Malacia reveals frustration
Man United star Tyrell Malacia has expressed his frustration about sitting on the bench.
He said before Brentford humiliated United: "You have to ask the trainer about that.
"It’s something between me and the trainer, we discuss that together. I’m fit.
"I don’t come here to sit on the bench. I always want to play, of course. When my time comes, I will definitely be there.”
- Justin Lawrence
United supporters group slams Glazers
The Manchester United Supporters' Trust have slammed the Glazers for their "rotten" ownership of the club.
A statement from the Trust read: "We don’t usually comment on on-field matters, but felt that we should make an exception on this occasion.
"After the disaster-zone of last season, and the tumbleweed of the transfer window (so far!), hopes were not exactly high entering into this term.
"But we don’t think many people expected things to be quite so humiliatingly bad as they were on Saturday evening.
"As we’ve always said, a fish rots from the head. And the ultimate responsibility for the terrible state of our football club must lie with its owners, the Glazer family.
"It is now for them to explain to United fans just why we are in this state, and what they are going to do about it. We’ve had some difficult times in the last decade, but this really does feel like rock bottom."
- Justin Lawrence
Martinez will be 'targeted'
Lisandro Martinez will be targeted by the Prem's deadliest centre-forwards this season because of his height, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand made the predictions on his YouTube channel, saying: "He’s going to be a target mate, seriously.
“I know for a fact there will be players, centre-halves, who will be going up for set-pieces, centre-forwards – Mitrovic, Nunez, Haaland, Wood, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, all of them.
"They’ll be sitting there going ‘oh my god, get me in the team’ there’s definitely chances there, minimum."
- Justin Lawrence
United shock league finish prediction
Man United could finish in the bottom half of the league if they sell Ronaldo and fail to replace him immediately.
That's according to Gary Neville, who said: "United are damned if they do, damned if they don't on Ronaldo.
“It seemed like the best thing was to facilitate a move away. Now, if they lose him, there is NO goalscoring left.
“If they don't bring players in, or players don't perform, and Ronaldo leaves, I think they can finish bottom half of the Premier League."
- Justin Lawrence
Ronaldo pressure on squad
Cristiano Ronaldo's aura might be too much for the Man United squad to handle, according to Rio Ferdinand.
He said on his FIVE podcast: "I think maybe Cristiano’s stature, he’s not a talker and someone who’s going to sit down at a table and talk to people, but he’s more: “you’re going to watch me and you’re going to learn.
"And the aura that he has and being one of the best players ever, I think, could be a burden on some of these players and they’re not able to handle that pressure that’s coming from someone like him."
- Justin Lawrence
Rabiot developments revealed
Man United ar working tirelessly behind the scenes to secure to services of Adrien Rabiot.
That's according to Fabrizio Romano who says the Red Devils are locked in ongoing talks with Rabiot over personal terms.
He told Give Mes Sport: "It’s the same today, on Monday.
"In order to reach an agreement on personal terms, there are contacts ongoing, as there were on Sunday, same today, so they are working on it to get it done."
- Justin Lawrence
Anthony told to avoid United
Ajax ace Anthony has been urged to avoid joining the circus at Man United.
Ex-Ajax boss Erik ten Hag is keen on bringing Anthony to Man United.
But a Dutch publication reckons Anthony's better off staying at Ajax instead of entering the mess engulfing United.
De Telegraaf explained: “At Ajax, they have more to offer the Brazilian than at United, who, despite the presence of Ten Hag, are all over the place.
"With a view to the World Cup, it would very unwise for Antony to go.”
- Justin Lawrence
United starlet set for Birmingham loan
Man United starlet Hannibal Mejbri is poised to join Birmingham City on loan for the season.
A number of clubs were reportedly chasing Mejbri, but Birmingham are said to be in pole position to land the star.
That's according to Manchester Evening News, who place Birmingham at the top of the list of clubs in the hunt for Mejbri.
- Justin Lawrence
United target makes Liverpool admission
Man United have been dealt a huge transfer blow by Brazilian sensation Joao Gomes.
The Flamengo starlet revealed Liverpool are the Prem team he wants to play for in a recent interview.
He declared: "Liverpool are a team I’d play for.
"I have the greatest desire to play. Playing in the Champions League is my biggest dream and that of my family. My biggest dream in football."
- Justin Lawrence
Ferguson inspires Horner
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has compared himself to Man United's legendary ex-head coach Sir Alex Ferguson when it comes to handling criticism.
Horner's regularly come under fire in his role at Red Bull, but he refuses to let it get to him – just like Fergie.
He said: "My job is to do the best I can for the team and the people I represent.
"If I look at someone like Sir Alex Ferguson, I doubt he ever worried about what perception other managers or people thought about him in the sport.”
- Justin Lawrence
Time's up on De Jong
Man United's offer for Frenkie de Jong has now expired, according to reports.
United reportedly had an agreement in place with the Barcelona star's agent.
But a move hasn't yet materialised, and will unlikely do so in the future as United's offer has reached its time limit, Dutch football podcast Kick-off of de Telegraaf claimed.
- Justin Lawrence
Ten Hag makes transfer plea
Erik ten Hag has reportedly pleaded with the Man United board to bring in some new signings before the transfer window closes.
Ten Hag watched in horror as United crumbled against Brentford.
And he's begged the club's hierarchy to spend big while they still can to turn things around at Old Trafford, according to The Times.
- Justin Lawrence
Ronaldo given permission to leave
Cristiano Ronaldo's reportedly been given permission to leave Man United.
United boss Erik ten Hag has previously insisted Ronaldo's not for sale.
But the Dutchman's had a chance of heart and will no longer block Ronaldo's exit, according to The Athletic.
- Kostas Lianos
Taken off air
Manchester United axed their own TV show ‘The Debate’ after the club’s disastrous 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
The MUTV programme is aired at 6pm on a Monday and dissects United’s weekend games and other issues at the club.
Regular guests are former players David May and Ben Thornley with two journalists invited to share their views as well.
But just after midday on Sunday the show, due to be recorded at 10.30am this morning, was dropped.
MUTV statedit was due to staff shortages as a number were in Toulouse covering the womens’ team’s pre-season preparations.
It is not clear how this could not have been foreseen a number of days prior to the Brentford loss
Credit: Getty - Kostas Lianos
Not too Keane
Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren has lifted the kid on Roy Keane's brutal training ground treatment of Manchester United youngsters.
According to current United coach, who was enjoying his first spell at Old Trafford in the late 1990s, Keane asked for play to continue while a young star was injured during training.
McClaren told The Times: "I’m blowing the whistle and stopping the play for treatment and Roy is saying, ‘Stevie, leave him, play on.’ ”
McClaren continued: "It was a tough school."
- Kostas Lianos
Make some Moise
Manchester United and Arsenal are set to battle it out over Brighton star Moises Caicedo ahead of transfer deadline day.
Caicedo has enjoyed a stunning beginning to the new Premier League season with the Seagulls.
According to the Mirror, both United and the Gunners are interested in signing the midfielder before deadline day.
The Ecuador international starred in Brighton’s opening day victory over the Manchester giants at Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old ace also caught the eye in Saturday’s draw against Newcastle.
And his performances at the latter stages of last season have also been taken into account
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