Kompany might not be able to make a comeback until the final part of the season. “He (Kompany) is a key player for us and our captain. With or without him we have to work hard to concede less. It’s a duty we have to fulfil before too long. Hopefully we can do that in this new year. It’s not just the defence that defends but the whole team,” Silva was quoted as saying by The Guardian on Tuesday....
But still, their lead over Liverpool is only in terms of goal difference, and that too with the Reds still having a game in hand. City’s next challenge will be at home. It will be against the team which gave Liverpool the lead on the league table for the first time this season, Chelsea. And to think, Chelsea could help Liverpool get some breathing space yet again. Chelsea will come to the Etihad Stadium, confident on the back of their 5-0 battering of Huddersfield....
Neymar struck twice on either side of Marquinhos’ goal, as Marcus Rashford’s strike went in vain and the Red Devils lost for the second time in Group H. They were largely second-best in the match and created fewer clear-cut opportunities. They also went down to 10 men, after Fred was sent off rather harshly in the second half. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side needed just a point to secure their place in the last 16....
Antony was a key member of the Dutch club’s capture of the Eridivise title last season. However, with Erik ten Hag jumping ship from Amsterdam to Manchester, there remains a chance of a compromise between the two teams for the sale of Antony. The Brazilian registered eight goals and four assists in 23 league starts last season. He is a fantastic dribbler and has a lethal left foot in the game....
Dybala to move FIFA agent Giovanni Branchini has claimed that Manchester United target Paulo Dybala is set to leave Juventus in the summer. The Argentine forward has been in the shadows this season after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer. As a result, he has been linked with a move out of Turin and the Red Devils were one of the teams touted as a potential destination. And according to Branchini, the former Palermo star is not happy at Juventus and thinks a departure from Turin is possible....
As per The Sun, the two Premier League clubs are both huge admirers of the 16-year-old defender who has made a name for himself in the youth ranks of Blackburn Rovers. Scouts from Manchester United and Chelsea have been in regular attendance at Rovers’ Under-23 games to watch the promising teenage defender in action. Already capped thrice for the England Under-17 side, Phillips has a big future ahead of him and it would take a fortune to lure him away from Ewood Park....
United confirmed in a club statement on Saturday that a procedure undergone by Ferguson had gone well, with no further medical updates released since. Carrick was brought to United by Ferguson in 2006, the midfielder going on to become the club’s captain. “I was devastated,” the former England international told MUTV. “I got a text on Saturday evening and I couldn’t quite believe it. It didn’t really sink in. I was just devastated....
The Red Devils are expected to complete a flurry of transfer deals in this window, given their attempts to renovate their current roster. With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward tasked with the challenge of steering the club back to its former glory, this transfer window is set to be the most crucial one since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as the manager. On that note, let’s have a look at the top stories featuring Manchester United in the rumour mill today....
Turkish international defender Semih Kaya has been lined up as a direct replacement for the departing Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United, according to talkSPORT. Vidic, 32, confirmed last night that he is to leave Man United in the summerwhen his contract expires, leaving a gap in David Moyes’ defence. The Serbian defender is set to be the first of many long-standing United players to leave the club in the summer as Moyes plans a complete overhaul of the playing squad after a tough first season in charge....
In case you didn’t know… Juan Mata joined Manchester United back in 2014 from Chelsea for around £40m. He’s been with the club for over five years now and his contract is set to expire in the summer. Although contract negotiations have taken place, neither party has been able to come to an agreement thus far. As there are only six months remaining on his contract, Mata is eligible to discuss his future with other clubs and has been linked with the likes of Juventus, Barcelona and Inter Milan....
United fell to a 2-0 loss at Arsenal on Wednesday, left in fifth in the Premier League table and sitting five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Central midfield is an area of huge concern at United, with Paul Pogba (ankle) and Scott McTominay (knee) set to be sidelined for several weeks. Solskjaer said he would like to make signings, but added it would only be if United could find the right players....
The 23-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign so far, netting 25 goals to join Roma forward Edin Dzeko at the top of the Serie A scoring charts. Belotti could snub big-money move Belotti’s current deal - signed in December 2016 - runs until June 2021, though it includes a €100million buy-out clause for teams outside of Serie A. However, Belotti, who looks set to lead Italy’s line heading into the 2018 World Cup, is adamant that he thinks little of the transfer rumours - despite his wish to play in the Champions League....
Lindelof breaks silence over Man Utd Jones has returned to his club after sustaining an unspecified problem during training on Tuesday. There are no immediate plans to call up a replacement for Wednesday’s friendly against the world champions at Signal Iduna Park, although boss Gareth Southgate will assess his options ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania as Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill is suspended for the latter clash....
He has, however, become something of a forgotten man after being overlooked by Jose Mourinho on a regular basis. An early-season settling in period could have been forgiven, as the 27-year-old adjusted to new surroundings in the Premier League, but his ongoing absence has caused bemusement all round. Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez? Click here to see the countdown of the 50 best players in the world in the 2016 Goal 50...
The Red Devils are in the Europa League semi-finals and still have a chance of finishing in the top four of the Premier League, but the fixture backlog that has been created by their participation on those two fronts - as well as in the FA and League Cups - has left them with a truly daunting end-of-season schedule. Mourinho: Man Utd are in trouble We took a look at how busy Jose Mourinho’s men are going to be over the final month of the 2016-17 campaign....
Lukaku underwent a medical in Los Angeles on Saturday after United agreed a fee, believed to be in the region of £75million, with the Toffees. United departed for LA themselves on Sunday, with games against LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona to come in a glitzy pre-season schedule in the States. Lukaku’s switch is expected to be announced in the coming week, after which the Belgian striker will likely be added to the squad list....
But, after United’s second 4-0 win in six days over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday it will be that little bit harder to play down the form of Jose Mourinho’s side as a flash in the pan. Sure, we are still only 180 minutes into a very long season, but this was another showing of power, poise and dominance the like of which United have rarely delivered in recent years....
Goal has compiled a list of all of United’s fixtures against Russian opposition, and the statistics will make grim reading for Jose Mourinho. TORPEDO MOSCOW 0-0 MAN UTD (4-3 ON PENS) - 1992-93 In September of 1992, a United team comprising the likes of Bryan Robson, Paul Ince and Denis Irwin failed to find their way through to a stubborn Torpedo side over two legs. Having battled to a 0-0 draw at home, United knew that a win in Russia would send them through to the Second Round of the UEFA Cup, but they were profligate once again, and Moscow triumphed on penalties....
Back in 2013, the Armenian playmaker was a much sought-after talent after starring for Shakhtar Donetsk. Interest was shown from Anfield at that stage, with talks being held regarding a possible transfer. However, Mkhitaryan was to part company with Dimitry Seluk around that time – despite the pair having been together since his Metalurh Donetsk days – and he ended up heading to Borussia Dortmund instead under the guidance of Mino Raiola....
Hayden Brown, a 53-year-old man from Norfolk, appeared before Norwich Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, pleading guilty to criminal damage, according to Norfolk Constabulary. Brown also admitted to causing a public nuisance relating to the fact that he prevented COVID-19 booster vaccines from being administered to 504 vulnerable people. “Brown’s actions prevented more than 500 people to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations,” Norfolk Constabulary superintendent Nathan Clark said. “A large number of these people are elderly and this disruption will have caused great anxiety to those who have chosen to be vaccinated and then not able to attend....
