MANCHESTER UNITED
Jude Bellingham to get dream shirt number with Manchester United transfer on one condition
Jude Bellingham to get dream shirt number with Manchester United transfer on one condition
Man United are one of several clubs monitoring Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham ahead of the summer transfer window.
Manchester United are set to focus most of their energy on signing a central-midfielder and a striker in this summer’s transfer window.
United are set to move to the second phase of their rebuilding project under manager Erik ten Hag. The club invested a record-breaking amount of money in new additions last summer to kick-start the beginning of the Ten Hag era, bringing in the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony in big-money deals.
However, although it was not a necessity at the time, they failed to strengthen their attacking ranks with a new centre-forward. It is a position they must strengthen as a matter of urgency ahead of next season, with injury-prone Anthony Martial and loanee Wout Weghorst their only current options.
Tottenham Hotspur ace Harry Kane, who is Ten Hag’s preferred target, and Napoli star Victor Osimhen have been sounded out as leading candidates to strengthen the Reds’ forward options. Both players are held in very high regard by their clubs, meaning United have their work cut out if they are to land either of them.
The Reds also want to recruit a younger and more dynamic central-midfielder, not only to bolster their midfield options but to bring the average age of that position within the team down. United, of course, chased Barcelona and Netherlands ace Frenkie de Jong for long periods last summer and have refused to rule out the prospect of a fresh pursuit for his signature this forthcoming summer.
Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham is another player United remain interested in, also refusing to rule out a second move for him. The England international, 19, is considered one of the hottest properties in world football and is continuing to go from strength to strength with both club and country.
He is expected to have a lorry load of suitors ahead of the transfer window opening, meaning the task of luring him to Old Trafford would be difficult. But even though United accept they are not at the front of the queue in the race for the former Birmingham City youngster, that’s not to say they cannot move through the field and put themselves in pole position, especially if a takeover comes to fruition by the summer and sufficient funds are available for Ten Hag to strengthen his squad.
It is understood that Ten Hag has told confidants that if he could sign any player in the world it would be Bellingham. The midfielder is a generational talent and United did attempt to sign him ahead of him joining Dortmund in 2020.
Therefore, if United are successful in the race to sign the box-to-box midfielder and bring him back to England, it would be a statement signing that would send out a powerful message. With that said, if he was to complete a move to Old Trafford, you can guarantee that no shortage of supporters would want his name on the back of their 2023/24 replica shirts. But what number would he claim in event of sealing a move to M16?
Currently, the England ace wears the No.22 shirt for Dortmund – a number that he has donned throughout his club career. He has also worn it on the international stage, wearing it during the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year.
He sports the No.22 shirt because he was told, as a youngster in Birmingham’s academy, that he could play as a No.4, a No.8 or a No.10. Adding those three numbers together, of course, gives you 22, meaning it is a number that has always stuck with him.
At the moment, the No.22 shirt at United is occupied by goalkeeper Tom Heaton. However, his contract is due to expire at the end of this season, meaning he could leave Old Trafford and free up the number. The former Burnley shot-stopper does, however, have the option of an additional year that could be activated, meaning Bellingham, if he was to join United, may have to ask Heaton if he’d be prepared to swap.
Heaton, who has won the No.22 shirt at several junctures during his career, has made two appearances for United this season and it remains to be seen if his deal will be extended by a further 12 months. He turns 37 next month and the Reds have some big decisions to make in the goalkeeping department in the coming months.
MANCHESTER UNITED
“He needs to go now ” Man Utd sent clear Erik ten Hag sack message as Star players calls for a change
“He needs to go now ” Man Utd sent clear Erik ten Hag sack message as Star players calls for a change
Matthijs de Ligt has sent an indirect message to the Manchester United hierarchy amid uncertainty about Erik ten Hag’s status as manager. De Ligt reunited with Ten Hag at Old Trafford in the summer and appears to have made it clear that he would prefer to continue working with the Dutchman.
He is no stranger to experiencing a coaching change across his spells at Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich, and Ineos could enforce the latest as early as next week.
Ten Hag is under severe pressure, having overseen just three wins in United’s opening 10 matches of the season after a largely woeful second campaign.
A poor result in Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa could prove fatal, with patience among the fanbase on the brink of collapse.
United bosses are scheduled to meet in London less than 48 hours after the Premier League clash at Villa Park, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer among the planned attendees.
But De Ligt has publicly suggested that he would prefer the club to stick with Ten Hag so he can enjoy a longer-term relationship with one of his coaches.
“To be fair, it’s quite funny because in my career, I’ve never had a trainer for longer than one and a half seasons,” De Ligt told Sky Sports.
“So this is something that I hope I can have now, that I have a trainer or a manager who stays longer with me as a player so you can grow more together also.”
De Ligt has featured more under Ten Hag than any other manager in his career, being selected 78 times at Ajax and United.
The next highest totals belong to Thomas Tuchel and Massimiliano Allegri, but at just 42, it’s easy to see why the 25-year-old is seeking stability.
United would likely prefer to retain faith in Ten Hag after concluding a search for a worthy replacement in the summer by extending his contract by one year until 2026.
Ratcliffe also sanctioned around £200million in transfers to bolster the Dutchman’s squad, including the £43m deal for De Ligt.
However, a failure to win at Villa could leave United as many as nine points adrift of the top four and closer to rock-bottom than the Champions League spots.
A fourth defeat in seven league games could make Ten Hag’s position untenable and leave De Ligt temporarily coach-less again.
The centre-back’s status may also be in doubt after a dismal showing at Porto on Thursday, with last-gasp hero Harry Maguire knocking on the door.
Predicted Manchester United XI vs Aston Villa: Hojlund leads the attack
Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United celebrates with his team mate Lisandro Martínez after scores his team second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between FC Porto and Manchester United at Estadio do Dragao on October 3, 2024 in Porto, Portugal.
There is a lot on the line this weekend when Manchester United visit Aston Villa in the Premier League.
The Reds need three points after a slow start to the season and Erik ten Hag is walking a tightrope to keep his job after Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to back him when asked about the manager’s situation in a recent interview.
Aston Villa go into the game after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League, so both teams come into the game with completely contrasting situations at play.
Ten Hag’s side have won just six in 20 Premier League matches. That record must change if he is to keep his job.
Manchester United predicted XI vs Aston Villa
Andre Onana has shown better form this season, despite United struggling to get results. The Cameroon international will start between the sticks.
Ten Hag will stick with his favourite back four, although they let him down on Thursday night by conceding three goals against Porto.
There are question marks over Kobbie Mainoo’s fitness after he withdrew from the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham with a knock that forced him out of the Porto tie. He trained on Friday and should feature at some point against Villa. However, we’re going to opt for more protection by starting Casemiro alongside Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes is available after United successfully appealed his three-match domestic ban due to a wrongful dismissal against Tottenham.
The front three will consist of Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford. Hojlund got back on the scoresheet against Porto and will be hungry to add to his tally.
Predicted Manchester United XI vs Aston Villa: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugare, Casemiro, Fernandes; Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford.
MANCHESTER UNITED
“Drop them both” Manchester United fans blames two players for loss against Porto and demand they are dropped and tell Erik ten Hag who should replace both
“Drop them both”
Manchester United fans blames two players for loss against Porto and demand they are dropped and tell Erik ten Hag who should replace both
Manchester United fans are demanding two players are dropped after a horror show in the 3-3 Europa League draw against Porto.
United were 2-0 up and flying 20 minutes thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund.
But Pepe reduced the deficit for the hosts before 20-year-old striker Samu Omorodion struck twice to complete a remarkable turnaround.
The former Atletico Madrid man bullied Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt at the Estadio do Dragao.
The former Ajax defenders appeared to establish themselves as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice pairing in the early parts of the season but both were all over the place on Thursday.
They were so poor in fact, that both were hooked for Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in the 77th minute with United 3-2 down.
Maguire scored a stoppage-time equaliser to save Ten Hag’s bacon and fans want changes at the heart of the backline.
They cannot wait for £52 million summer signing Leny Yoro to return from injury and believe partnering the 18-year-old with Maguire is the way to go.
One said: “Chuckle brothers to start at Villa Park on Sunday. Drop De Ligt & Martinez.”
A second person agreed: “De Ligt cannot start on Sunday. Martinez will be lucky to start on Sunday.”
A third commented: “Get Leny Yoro back man.”
A fourth opined: “Leny Yoro can’t come back soon enough. First choice pairing should be him and Maguire until Martinez and De Ligt get their s**t together.
A fifth user wrote: “I need me a Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire partnership.”
A final person posted: “Sir Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans have to be our staring CB parting from here on out until Leny Yoro comes back.”
Winless in their last four games and currently 13th in the Premier League, United travel to Aston Villa on Sunday for a huge clash.
Pressure continues to pile on Ten Hag and it’s emerged that INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be in attendance at Villa Park.
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