UNITED CONSIDERING SHOCK KOBBIE MAINOO SALE THIS SUMMER

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up the possibility of selling Kobbie Mainoo at the end of the season, with contract negotiations yet to reach a resolution. The 19-year-old midfielder is under contract until 2027, but despite ongoing talks over a new deal, no agreement has been found, leaving his future at Old Trafford uncertain.

Mainoo has endured a frustrating campaign, both due to injuries and his struggle to fit into Ruben Amorim’s system. A muscle injury has kept him sidelined, and even when available, he has been deployed in unfamiliar roles, including as a number ten and, in a failed experiment, as a false nine. With Amorim yet to find a clear role for the young midfielder, speculation over his long-term future at the club has intensified.

HOJLUND'S UNITED FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE

Boil it down to the raw numbers, and 13 goals in 54 Premier League games is a poor return on a £64 million investment, with another £8 million in potential add-ons. Nobody can currently argue that Rasmus Hojlund has been good value for Manchester United.

The 22-year-old remains an inconsistent striker, frustratingly unpredictable in his performances. After scoring against Leicester City and then netting for Denmark against Portugal, there was optimism that he had turned a corner. His goal earned him a start in the second leg of the Nations League quarter-final, but he was subbed off just after the 70-minute mark and criticised in the Danish media for an underwhelming display.

HOJLUND BREAKS THE DROUGHT

Rasmus Højlund’s goal against Leicester City on Sunday ended a challenging 21-game goal drought, a moment that was celebrated with a determined, straight-faced reaction.

The 22-year-old Danish striker admitted that the goal was a significant milestone, but it’s clear he understands the work that still lies ahead in his development.

Højlund, who is on his second permanent manager at Old Trafford, revealed that adapting to the team’s new system under Ruben Amorim, particularly the 3-4-2-1 formation, has been one of the key factors behind his goal-scoring struggles. “I think obviously I’ve not been on top of my game as I wanted to,” he acknowledged. “We’re still adapting to a new system and some new positions.”

MANCHESTER UNITED PLOTTING BELLINGHAM MOVE

Manchester United are reportedly planning a significant squad overhaul this summer in order to raise transfer funds, with Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham among the key targets lined up. The club is looking to offload several players, including Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Kobbie Mainoo, as they seek to strengthen their squad under manager Ruben Amorim.

The Red Devils have a number of high-profile players they are willing to sell to fund new signings. Casemiro, whose £350,000-a-week contract has just one year remaining, could be one of the big names to leave.

PLANS TO BUILD NEW 100,000-SEATER STADIUM

Manchester United have unveiled ambitious plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium, aiming to create the world’s best football ground rather than redevelop their current home, Old Trafford. The new state-of-the-art stadium will be constructed next to Old Trafford, and the club has confirmed they will stop playing at the historic ground once the new stadium is ready.

The new stadium is part of a larger project to redevelop the surrounding area, which could bring significant economic benefits. The development is projected to inject an additional £7.3 billion into the British economy and create 92,000 new jobs. Lord Coe, chairman of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, hailed the project as the biggest urban regeneration initiative in the UK since the 2012 London Olympics.

MOUNT AND UGARTE BACK IN TRAINING

Manchester United have received some positive news ahead of their crucial Europa League round-of-16 clash against Real Sociedad, with midfielders Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte returning to full training. However, there were notable absentees from the session, including young defender Leny Yoro, who looks set to miss the return leg of the tie.

The first leg of the Europa League tie, played last week at Old Trafford, ended in a 1-1 draw. United had taken the lead through a well-taken goal from Joshua Zirkzee, only for Sociedad to level with a penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal. With the tie finely balanced, Manchester United will need to put in a strong performance in the second leg at the Anoeta Stadium in Spain to advance to the quarter-finals.

WEBB DEFENDS RED CARD DECISION FOR DORGU

PGMOL chief Howard Webb has supported the decision to give Patrick Dorgu a straight red card during Manchester United's 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, calling it the correct call.

Dorgu, who joined Manchester United for £25 million last month, was sent off for a high challenge on Omari Hutchinson. While the 20-year-old did make slight contact with the ball, his follow-through caught Hutchinson on the shin.

Referee Darren England initially awarded a throw-in, but after being advised by VAR, he reviewed the incident on the pitch-side monitor and subsequently issued a red card to Dorgu.

SPORTS MEDICINE HEAD TO LEAVE AFTER 18 MONTHS

Manchester United’s head of sports medicine, Gary O’Driscoll, is set to leave the club after just 18 months in the role. The news comes as a surprise, with club sources confirming that O'Driscoll’s departure is unrelated to the club’s recent round of redundancies or the ongoing injury crisis at the first-team level.

O'Driscoll joined Manchester United from Arsenal in September 2023, a move that was hailed as a significant coup for the club. During his brief tenure, he oversaw numerous changes within the medical department.

However, despite his initial success, O'Driscoll has decided to move on, prompting a shake-up in the club’s medical staff. Jim Moxon, the men’s first-team football doctor, is also leaving the club to take up a new role elsewhere.

FERNANDES REFLECTS ON AMORIM RELATIONSHIP

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has shared his perspective on his relationship with manager Ruben Amorim, admitting that while they have a solid professional connection, they aren't particularly close on a personal level.

Fernandes, who has been in excellent form lately, netting twice and adding one assist in his last three Premier League matches, remains one of the most influential figures at Old Trafford. His brilliant 25-yard free-kick against Arsenal in a 1-1 draw on Sunday underscored his importance to the team.

Since Amorim took over as the permanent United boss in November, the Portuguese midfielder has been a consistent presence, starting 25 of the 26 matches under the new manager. His only absence came when he was suspended for one match following an incident in the game against Newcastle.

DORGU'S UNEXPECTED ROLE RAISES QUESTIONS

Attacking the East Stand in last Friday night’s FA Cup victory over Leicester City, Patrick Dorgu’s positioning came as a surprise. Instead of settling into the left wing-back role United had seemingly brought him in for, the January signing sprinted over to the right flank.

With Diogo Dalot, a natural right-back, continuing at left wing-back, many supporters were left puzzled by Ruben Amorim’s tactical choices.

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