BREAKING NEWS: Alexander Arnold is disappointed by his friend’s choice to join Manchester United instead of Liverpool . The Liverpool star shared his feelings, saying, “I really thought we’d be thriving together at Anfield! We’ve been successful and winning trophies, so I thought it would be an obvious decision.”

Phil Foden, a key player for Manchester City and an integral part of the club’s success under Pep Guardiola, has shared his disappointment regarding his close friend Jarrad Branthwaite’s decision to sign with Manchester United.

Foden and Branthwaite have a strong bond, having played together for England’s national team, and Foden’s reaction reflects both personal frustration and the wider implications of the intense rivalry between Manchester’s two major clubs.

In an open interview, Foden revealed that he personally tried to persuade Branthwaite to join Manchester City, a club currently dominating both English and European football.

Foden believed it was an obvious choice for his friend to move to the Etihad, given City’s ongoing success. “I told him to come to City. We’ve been winning everything, so it seemed like an easy decision,” Foden explained.

To Foden’s disappointment, Branthwaite chose Manchester United instead, a club that has struggled in recent years to reclaim its former dominance. United’s inconsistent performances and lack of trophies have stood in contrast to City’s continued triumphs under Guardiola, making Branthwaite’s decision even more surprising to many.

Despite Foden’s efforts, Branthwaite opted to join United, believing in their long-term rebuilding project and the opportunity to be part of a squad aiming for resurgence.

Foden expressed his frustration, particularly about the missed opportunity to play alongside Branthwaite at City. “Playing with him at City would have been amazing,” he said. Foden’s comments illustrate the disappointment of a player who, having experienced great success with his club, felt Branthwaite’s decision represented a missed chance for the defender to advance his career with a winning team.

The rivalry between Manchester City and Manchester United is longstanding, and in recent years, City has become the dominant force in English football, winning numerous titles under Guardiola. Meanwhile, United has struggled with managerial instability and inconsistent performances since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Despite Anold frustration, he acknowledged that his friendship with Branthwaite remains strong. While he respects Branthwaite’s decision, he hinted at the challenges that come with playing for a club like United, where high expectations often clash with underwhelming results.

BREAKING: Manchester United have finally decided to part ways with Erik Ten Hag, decision taken by the board this morning to replace Him with Zidane

Zinedine Zidane has one signing in mind if he takes over at Man Utd with the former Real Madrid boss now ‘open’ to succeeding Erik ten Hag, according to reports.

The Red Devils have made their worst start to a Premier League season this term with Ten Hag’s side earning just eight points from a possible 21 in their first seven matches this term.

Man Utd, who have scored just five goals in the Premier League this campaign. are currently floundering in 14th and Ten Hag is now under pressure from media, fans and the board to turn around results.

Ten Hag is expected to be in charge of the Red Devils’ first match back after the international break against Brentford amid speculation the Man Utd board could try and keep him in position until closer to January.

Speaking ahead of the Red Devils’ executive committee’s pre-planned monthly meeting last Tuesday, Ten Hag said: “We always talk, every week. I would say every day we talk so, yeah, I expect I will speak with them.”

Pushed on them being in the bottom of half after drawing 0-0 against Aston Villa, Ten Hag replied: “I think you said it very good – it is external noise.

“Internal we are disappointed and we know we need to do better, especially we need to score more because in this moment after this block of games that’s the area we’re really short.

“All the other areas I think we are doing really well. We have four clean sheets so that says a lot about the defending and the organisation. Also now the defending of defensive transitions we are doing really well, so we are really improving on that point.

“Our build-up play is good – we are calm, composed. We’re creating the chances apart from today.

“I think today we should have created more, but that area in the box of the opponent we have to be more ruthless, more clinical, more killing and we have to work on this.”

There have been rumours of numerous managers being in line to replace Ten Hag if he is sacked with Max Allegri, Gareth Southgate, Thomas Tuchel, Eddie Howe and Thomas Frank among the names linked.

Former Real Madrid boss Zidane is another manager reportedly on the Red Devils’ radar and reports in Spain claim that he ‘would be open to the possibility of landing at Old Trafford’.

And Zidane ‘already has a priority target in mind’ for the January transfer window with the Frenchman demanding Barcelona defender Jules Kounde as his first signing.

The France international has ‘aroused the interest of Zidane’ and ‘would be fundamental to strengthen a defence that has shown serious weaknesses in recent months’.

The report adds:

‘It is no secret that Zidane deeply admires his compatriot, and believes that his incorporation could give the English team a leap in quality.

‘However, FC Barcelona are not willing to let one of their most important players go. The Catalan club considers Koundé to be untransferable, and the player seems to be fully committed to the Barça project.’

Potential Erik ten Hag replacement enters talks for different job, Man Utd candidate is battling Pep Guardiola

Ineos decided against sacking Erik ten Hag over the international break despite Manchester United’s terrible start to the season.

Manchester United have suffered their worst-ever start to a Premier League season under Erik ten Hag, but the Dutchman has narrowly avoided being sacked.

After the dismal 3-0 defeat to Tottenham late last month, the pressure on Ten Hag hit boiling point and he was given two games to turn things around by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

United then drew back-to-back games away to Porto and Aston Villa which was enough for Ten Hag to keep his job over the October break.

Ten Hag is expected to take charge of the Red Devils when they return to action against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

There were as many as 10 potential replacements for Ten Hag if Ineos decided to pull the trigger, many of which are already known by the United owners after their interviews over the summer.

However, that number will dwindle the longer they leave the decision, with unemployed managers likely to look elsewhere if Ineos stick with Ten Hag.

The likes of Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel are all currently out of a job and have been linked with the Old Trafford hot seat, although Southgate ruled himself out of the job.

It seems Tuchel is also set to drop out of the replacement list with the former Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich boss now leading the race for the England vacancy.

Thomas Tuchel battling Pep Guardiola for England job

According to Sky Sports, Thomas Tuchel is in “pole position” to become the new England manager.

They claim Tuchel’s representatives have entered talks with the FA as they search for a successor to Southgate.

Tuchel came extremely close to becoming United manager over the summer after talks with Ineos progressed to the point where financial terms were discussed.

However, he will no longer be an option available to Ineos if he takes the England job.

Tuchel is currently in pole position for the England vacancy, but Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remains the FA’s “dream candidate” according to Fabrizio Romano.

Guardiola is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and the FA have identified him as a top target.

He added fuel to the England rumours this week after saying “anything is possible” when asked about the Three Lions job.