Erik ten Hag – CaughtOffside

Man United scouting 23-year-old with Barcelona past ahead of transfer window

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:53:28 +0000

How Man United fare in the upcoming January transfer window is likely to set the tone for the second half of what’s been a disappointing 2023/24 campaign so far.

Erik ten Hag’s side have flattered to deceive for the most part, but with a strong January can still end up finishing the season smelling of roses.

That will almost certainly be the Dutchman’s focus, particularly with all of the expected change going on behind the scenes.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival could well see a shake up in the first-team squad, and one of the first deals that he could be likely to authorise will see a player move from one of his teams to another.

According to The Sun, Nice’s 23-year-old defensive star, Jean-Clair Todibo, is top of the list as far as defensive replacements at Old Trafford are concerned.

Things didn’t quite work out for Todibo when he was at Barcelona, however, he’s one of the rocks in the Nice defence that have ensured the team are just a point behind Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue Un table.

More Stories / Latest News

Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal star with four appearances will start vs Brentford

Nov 24 2023, 11:56

West Ham open to selling 27-year-old ace for just £12m

Nov 24 2023, 11:53

Arsenal will prioritise a move for 25-year-old PL star in January

Nov 24 2023, 11:35

To that end, a mid-season switch for the player isn’t likely to go down well amongst the Nice faithful, but modern football being what it is means that such a switch could be the first of many for Ratcliffe’s multi-club ownership model.

The post Man United scouting 23-year-old with Barcelona past ahead of transfer window appeared first on CaughtOffside.

£60m-rated 23-year-old set to spark bidding war between Arsenal and Man United

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 07:53:13 +0000

At present, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side look in healthier shape than Erik ten Hag’s Man United outfit, however, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe expected to be taking over the sporting side of the business imminently, that gap could soon be narrowed.

One of the main areas where the Red Devils need a change is in their recruitment policy for playing staff.

Though the likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane are serial Champions League winners, they are also the two top earners at the club despite being nearer the end of their careers than the beginning.

Capology note that the Brazilian earns a whopping £350,000 per week, with Frenchman, Varane, not too far behind on £340,000 per week.

If the club are able to rid themselves of that extensive salary burden, it will allow them to compete with the Gunners for £60m-rated Wolves ace, Pedro Neto.

According to TeamTalk, both Premier League clubs as well as their Saudi Pro League counterparts are interested in the player, however, the outlet also note that Wolves won’t let him leave for less than £60m.

Whilst that is a considerable outlay for any club, given that the player is only 23 years of age and playing as well as he has at any point during his career to date, it could prove to be a bargain in the longer-term, particularly as transfer fees continue to rise.

The post £60m-rated 23-year-old set to spark bidding war between Arsenal and Man United appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Man United prepared to let high-profile ace leave in January but want £50m

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 06:45:40 +0000

The January transfer window could be a busy time for Man United, regardless of whether results have picked up by then or not.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s imminent arrival is expected to herald the start of a new era at the club, and this new broom will be sweeping clean with almost immediate effect.

It’s clear that things on the pitch can’t stay the way they have been for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign for the Red Devils.

If the club genuinely want to be challenging for domestic honours at the end of the campaign, then the building blocks put in place now will help them to achieve that aim.

What that looks like will only be determined over the next few months, however, it’s clear that there needs to be a reshuffle in terms of the squad and in order to make way for new faces, some of the old guard must be dispensed with.

To that end, TeamTalk are reporting that the club are ready to cut their losses on midfield giant, Casemiro, and have placed a £50m price on his head.

Whilst that may seem excessive for a 31-year-old that’s seriously out of form, he does still have two and a half years left on his current deal at Old Trafford.

With Saudi clubs apparently interested, it could provide the perfect scenario for the Brazilian to finish his career.

The post Man United prepared to let high-profile ace leave in January but want £50m appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Newcastle could head off Liverpool and Man United interest in €60m ace

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 23:01:05 +0000

The rise of Newcastle United under the ownership of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the management of Eddie Howe can most notably be seen by the fact that the Magpies are now on a level playing field with any other club regarding transfers.

When European football’s hottest properties become available Newcastle are one of the teams in the conversation, and that’s something unlikely to have been the case even as recently as a couple of years ago.

According to Mais Futebol, the Magpies are now looking at the possibility of paying Goncalo Inacio’s €60m release clause in the upcoming transfer window.

The 22-year-old Sporting centre-back has also been linked to Man United and Liverpool, per The Hard Tackle.

Goncalo Inacio celebrates scoring against Arsenal

It’s obvious why all three Premier League outfits would be keen to acquire the Portuguese international.

Man United would appear to have question marks over the futures of both Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane, Liverpool wouldn’t be averse to having another high-quality exponent to play alongside Virgil van Dijk and Newcastle’s defensive injury woes are getting worse by the week.

Sporting aren’t likely to be too enamoured at potentially losing one of their best players, however, if any team meets the release clause, there’s little they can do.

It would then be purely down to the players own wishes as to where he wishes to further his career.

The post Newcastle could head off Liverpool and Man United interest in €60m ace appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United team news vs Everton

Connor Holden — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:13:36 +0000

Everton (19th in the Premier League) take on Manchester United (6th in the Premier League) on Sunday 26th of November, at Goodison Park, at 16:30 PM (GMT).

The last time these two sides faced, Manchester United beat Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford. Goals from Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial securing the victory for United.

Everton won their last Premier League game, beating Crystal Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park. Goals from Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard for Palace, and goals from Vitaliy Mykolenko, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye for Everton.

Manchester United also won their last Premier League game, beating Luton Town 1-0. The only goal of the game coming from Victor Lindelof 59 minutes in.

How to watch Everton vs Manchester United

Date: Sunday, November 26th, 2023
Kickoff: 16:30 PM (GMT)
TV Network: Sky Sports
Venue: Goodison Park

Team News:

Manchester United will be without Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw through injury, whilst Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will have further fitness assessments before determining their availability to face Everton on Sunday.

Predicted XI:

Everton: Pickford, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Young, McNeil, Onana, Garner, Harrison, Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin.

Manchester United: Onana, Lindelof, Varane, Maguire, Dalot, Mount, McTominay, Rashford, Fernandes, Antony, Hojlund.

The post Manchester United team news vs Everton appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“We know” – Villa linked with Man United outcast ahead of January clear out

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 18:25:28 +0000

It would appear that Aston Villa could be one of many teams to benefit from what’s expected to be a fire sale or two at Old Trafford in 2024.

The Manchester Evening News report that there will be a clear out of players next year which is expected to reach double figures.

Whilst that would appear to be a little drastic on the face of it, desperate times call for desperate measures, and there’s no getting away from the fact that the Red Devils have been pretty desperate on and off the pitch for the most part of 2023/24.

One player that’s almost certain to be sent packing as soon as the January transfer window opens for business is Jadon Sancho.

Ever since he decided to take to social media to suggest that his manager, Erik ten Hag, had lied about the reasons why he was being left out, Sancho has been persona non grata at the Old Trafford outfit.

Transfer expert, Dean Jones, believes that Villa Park could well be the player’s next destination, should he stay in England.

“It doesn’t feel like the sort of one that Tottenham are going to be looking for in the January window, from what I can tell at this stage, so I wouldn’t necessarily expect them to need to come back in for Jadon Sancho in a moment like that unless an easy loan or a really cheap deal opened up,” he told GiveMeSport earlier this season.

“Aston Villa, I’d say, is probably a bit more reasonable. We know that they’re going to be on the lookout again, for a player of that type, so I’d say that’s very plausible.

“But the big question for Jadon Sancho will be whether he even has a future within the Premier League or he needs to go back abroad again. I think that’s going to be the first thing that he has to address.”

Unai Emery won’t suffer fools gladly either and is known for his high-intensity work ethic, so whether Sancho is the right fit or not is a moot point at this stage.

The post “We know” – Villa linked with Man United outcast ahead of January clear out appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Quite hopeful” – Man United might have some good news to celebrate this weekend

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:10:05 +0000

The current season has been devoid of celebratory moments for Man United, but that could be about to change this weekend.

Erik ten Hag’s side have looked a shadow of the team that showed up for the Dutchman week after week in the previous campaign, and that’s a shame.

This storied outfit looks as far away from winning anything than at any point since Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call it quits 10 years ago.

It’s true that the squad have been beset by injuries to key players, however, most other clubs have also had to deal with similar issues.

They really could do with some good news and it looks like they could soon get it.

According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) from reliable journalist, Fabrizio Romano, ten Hag is hoping to welcome Luke Shaw back into the first-team fold after his long-term injury.

???????? Ten Hag: “Luke Shaw has been training for two weeks with the team”.

“We are quite hopeful that he will return to the squad for Sunday’s game”. pic.twitter.com/ZuL733pNav

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 23, 2023

“Luke Shaw has been training for two weeks with the team,” the Red Devils manager was quoted as saying.

“We are quite hopeful that he will return to the squad for Sunday’s game.”

The balance that Shaw will give to United’s back line can’t be overstated.

Not only that, the team will surely also notice the benefit of having the England international as a supplementary attacking presence.

United are undoubtedly a better side with him in it than without, but whether ten Hag will want to ease him in gently given just how physical the match at Everton is expected to be, only the Dutchman can decide.

The post “Quite hopeful” – Man United might have some good news to celebrate this weekend appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Major star set to hand Man United another headache in the new year

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 15:40:41 +0000

It’s been the most disappointing of seasons for Man United in 2023/24, and no mistake.

After a more than reasonable campaign in 2022/23, there clearly was an expectation that the Red Devils would kick on from there and continue their good form.

However, it’s been one disaster after another for Erik ten Hag’s team, as they stumble from one crisis to the next.

Form went out the window long ago, and it’s the disconnect between the players and management that’s very evident of late.

Certainly, Erik ten Hag has got a fight on his hands in terms of not losing the dressing room, and if results don’t improve quickly the Dutchman faces a very difficult couple of months indeed.

That could be exacerbated by the news that Aaron Wan-Bissaka is considering switching his international allegiance according to The Athletic (subscription required).

With an England cap looking further and further away for the right-back, Wan-Bissaka is considering the overtures from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Were he to accept their offer, that would mean ten Hag would lose him for almost a month at the start of 2024.

Depending how the next few weeks go in terms of domestic results, as well as if they’ve been knocked out of the Champions League, will determine the mood around the club as the January transfer window opens.

Losing Wan-Bissaka could end up being the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

The post Major star set to hand Man United another headache in the new year appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Man United star considering approach that could leave Erik ten Hag short in key area for a month

Mark Brus — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:29:39 +0000

Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has reportedly been approached by the DR Congo national team over representing them at AFCON between January and February.

Wan-Bissaka has previously represented England at Under-21 level, but he has now been given the opportunity to switch international allegiance, and is considering the offer, according to The Athletic.

It remains to be seen what the 25-year-old will end up deciding, but it could be a blow for Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag, as it would mean losing the player for potentially a month as the tournament runs from January 13th until February 11th.

United have already had so many issues this season because of injuries to key players, so losing Wan-Bissaka for that long is far from ideal.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka in action for Manchester United

Manchester United may have to trigger star’s €120m release clause for transfer

Mark Brus — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:52:16 +0000

Manchester United may reportedly have to trigger Joao Neves’ €120million release clause if they want to sign him from Benfica as they have no intention to negotiate his sale this January.

That’s according to transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano, who says that Man Utd have scouted Neves on a number of occasions, but are likely to face difficulties in trying to bring him to Old Trafford any time soon.

Neves is protected by a huge release clause, much like the one Benfica had with Enzo Fernandez last January, though of course on that occasion we eventually saw Chelsea pay up to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

Will United do the same? It remains to be seen, but here’s the situation as it stands, according to Romano via his X page…

??? Benfica have no intention to open talks for João Neves in January despite Man United sending their scouts many times to track talented midfielder.

There’s same clause as Enzo Fernández one year ago into his contract: €120m. pic.twitter.com/jHdSJlhq71

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 20, 2023