Manchester United transfer news LIVE takeover latest plus Liverpool FC vs Man Utd team news

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly entered the second stage of the Manchester Untied takeover process.

MEN Sport revealed last month that all initial bids were indicative only and that a second phase would see bidders allowed access to a ‘data room’ where financial documents could be viewed.

The Telegraph tonight reports that both bidders have been told they have made it through to this stage but are yet to be presented with any further insight into club finances.

It claims bidders have signed a non-disclosure agreement although the takeover race is said to be intensifying and the Glazers wish to see the process over by April.

The report further adds it is unclear whether two investment-linked entities – US hedgefund Elliott Management Investments and Oaktree Capital and MSD Partners – have made it to said second phase.

As many as six players are apparently to be put up for sale by Erik ten Hag this summer.

MEN Sport reported last month that Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire are considerations to be chopped.

Meanwhile, a report from Football Insider claims Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Dean Henderson and Brandon Williams are set to be offered exits too.

“I didn’t think he [Casemiro] took to it that well when he started. I thought he looked heavy and sluggish. I don’t know if he had trained well before he came.

“I must admit I thought he was an ageing player leaving one big club and coming to another one for money, if I am honest. But what he has done, he looks like a proper leader, a proper guy.

“I always look at people and think I would like to play with him and he is one of them.”

Read what Nicky Butt said in full here >>>

Lisandro Martinez has shown his appreciation for the support United fans give him during matches.

The defender has become one of the first names on Erik ten Hag’s teamsheet this season with his performances at centre-half this season.

The Argentine has thanked supporters for their role in his displays.

Read what he said here >>>

Co-director of human rights group FairSquare, Nick McGeehan, says a Qatar-led takeover of Manchester United would be “tremendously dangerous” for both the club and the city amid a bid from one of the country’s high-ranked bankers, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“There are obvious reasons why the Qataris would want a club like Manchester United – Manchester United is the type of club that obviously they would want to use as a vehicle for their interests,” he said.

“I do think it’s tremendously dangerous and sets a precedent for English and European football. Then there’s ramifications for Manchester the city itself, which I think need to be considered.”

Read the full piece here >>>

United are reportedly willing to let Scott McTominay leave this summer with the hopes of reaping around £25-£30m for the midfielder.

The academy graduate has played 28 games this season but started just 12 of them with Fred, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and January recruit Marcel Sabitzer ahead of him in the pecking order.

90min claims a number of Premier League clubs hold an interest in the 26-year-old and United would be open to allowing him to exit.

MEN Sport understands, as well as a striker, Erik ten Hag is also keen on a new midfielder this summer and that there are likely to be more departues than arrivals next window.

Read more about that here >>>

A trip to Anfield this weekend is a reminder of just how far this team has progressed under the stewardship of Erik ten Hag. Eight players who started the dismal 4-0 defeat against Liverpool back in April, remain at the club today. While the likes of Anthony Elanga and Harry Maguire are unlikely to start on Sunday, players such as David de Gea, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford still hold prominent roles in this squad. They were all called out by Roy Keane after that annihilation, as he exposed the squad’s failings for the world to see.

Click here to read the full story.

United are reportedly interested in signing Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa and have been scouting him regularly.

As reported by Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, the 23-year-old shot-stopper is a target for several clubs in Europe, with the Reds said to be the favourites to sign Costa.

It adds that the club’s scouts have been a ‘regular presence’ at the Estadio do Dragao this season.

Co-director of human rights group FairSquare, Nick McGeehan, says a Qatar-led takeover of Manchester United would be “tremendously dangerous” for both the club and the city amid a bid from one of the country’s high-ranked bankers, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Click here to read the full story.

Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said:

“This is the most confident I’ve been going into a Liverpool fixture for the last six or seven years. I think Man United are going like that [on the up] whereas Liverpool have stagnated, taken a couple of steps back. They’ve been on a formidable run in the last few years, but they aren’t the Liverpool team that we’ve seen in the last few years at the moment. What a time to go to Anfield. It’s the best place to win as a Man United player.”

According to the Guardian, Frenkie de Jong is again a transfer target for United, however, it is thought that the Dutchman is not currently seeking a move away from Spain.

De Jong, who came close to a move to Old Trafford last summer, has made 32 appearances for Xavi’s side this term. Erik ten Hag is keen to bolster his midfield, and the 25-year-olc could provide competition for the first-choice Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

According to Caught Offside, United are becoming increasingly confident of signing Jeremie Frimpong.

The Bayer Leverkusen man has five goals and seven assists in 30 appearances this season from the right-back or right-side of midfield position.

It is claimed that Ten Hag knows Frimpong well and wishes to make the Dutchman a member of the United squad.

Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Newcastle, Guardiola confirmed that United are back and in the title race.

He told BT Sport:

They are back. Some are happy, this reunion, happier than the other ones, but it should happen sooner or later. I said a month ago United is back. Their body language, how they celebrate the goals, the commitment, how they run for each other – in the past it was not like that – you feel that this is United, come on. Sooner or later they should be back. The strange thing about [the last] seven or eight years is that they were not there. That was the big surprise for me when I arrived seven years ago.

Read more from Guardiola here.

According to iNews, United are continuing to monitor Roma’s English striker.

Abraham has scored seven goals in 33 appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side this season.

It is claimed that although United are monitoring Abraham is not their main target.

Luke Shaw and Casemiro are both expected to start on Sunday against Liverpool in the Premier League.

United are in great form going into the clash at Anfield and find themselves third.

Liverpool meanwhile have struggled this season and sit sixth, ten points behind the Reds.

Here is how we expect United to line-up this weekend.

BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand admits that he is not feeling nervous ahead of United’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City vs Newcastle, Ferdinand said:

Nervous? This is the most confident I’ve been going into a Liverpool game for probably the last six or seven years. This is the most confident I’ve been. I think Man United are on (the way up) whereas Liverpool have stagnated and taken a couple of steps backwards. They’ve been on a formidable run in the last few years, but they aren’t the Liverpool team that we’ve seen in the last few years at the moment.

United are being linked with a sensational swoop to re-sign Wilfried Zaha this summer.

London World report that Tottenham are confident of securing Zaha’s signature when his Crystal Palace contract expires at the end of the season, but say that United have also been in touch with the player’s representatives, along with AS Roma.

According to Calciomercato, the Reds are one of a few teams still looking at Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic.

The report claims that United, as well as Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea are looking at the forward.

MEN Sport understands that a striker is a priority for United this season.

The Liverpool boss has claimed that he thanks God for the fact that tomorrow’s match is still relevant on a global scale.

Speaking to the media, Klopp added:

We can cut it into pieces. Three points, that is pretty much the only normal stuff like in other games, three points, but the moment when Liverpool versus Manchester United is not a special game any more then something went really wrong. Liverpool versus Man United: Who? That would be really difficult, that would be really sad.

Read more from Klopp here.

According to The Guardian, United are now at the front of the queue to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

MEN Sport understands that Ten Hag would be willing to try again for De Jong should the opportunity arise.

However, The Guardian report adds that De Jong has not changed his mind on remaining at Camp Nou.

Kleberson believes it would be wise for United to try to sign Richarlison from Tottenham.

“I’d really like to see Richarlison play for Man Utd,” he told OLBG. “He’s the kind of striker that could help United a lot. Especially with teams pressing, he can do a low block, he can put pressure on the centre-back and he can get inside the box.

“He’s played in the Premier League for many years, he understands the rules and he’s a really hard-working player. As Man Utd get more structure and consistency, winning more games, I think Richarlison is a player who could do a lot for the club.”

Erik ten Hag says his criticism of the players was warranted during his half-time team talk against West Ham.

“What I saw was that we were not playing to our standards,” Ten Hag said. “That’s what I saw in the first half. Then I will be tough on my team, to my players, because I demand a performance.

“Every day I demand a performance. I don’t accept when it’s lower, then I will criticise them and tell them what to expect. Then I have to give the team solutions on how to win the game and I think the performance in the second-half was much better.”

Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho are expected to return against Liverpool on Sunday.

Shaw missed the FA Cup fifth round win over West Ham on Wednesday night with an unspecified injury but manager Erik ten Hag suggested he will be fit to play at Anfield.

Sancho was also absent against West Ham through illness but could be back in the squad.

“I think we’ll have players back,” Ten Hag said. “I’m not sure if you’ve seen but yesterday Luke Shaw was not available. We expect him back.

“Sancho was ill. We’ll have to wait for how that develops but yeah, I think [he will be back] as well.”

Former Middlesbrough forward Brian Deane has given his verdict on Michael Carrick and backed him for a possible future role at United.

“I don’t think Carrick will be thinking about taking over at a Manchester United right now, I think that he’s such a grounded guy that he will be focussed on nothing but success with Boro, and doing the best job he can with Boro,” he told NJ.bet.

“He may well end up at a Spurs or a United, but I think he’ll just be focussed on doing the best job he can with Boro for the time being, and then he will worry about doing the best job he can at whichever team he ends up with after that – but that’s a bridge he will cross when the time comes.

“The most impressive thing is his man management, and you can tell that he’s learned a lot from his time under Fergie, but it’s also his own demeanour that is shining through and why he’s such a good, personable manager.”