Manchester United are expected to bolster their squad in the summer and Ruben Amorim’s side first have the small matter of welcoming back their injured stars for a big two months
Manchester United have an extended break following the March internationals thanks to their elimination from the FA Cup. That gives them a bit of extra time to welcome back injured stars ahead of a crucial two months.
Fulham will face Crystal Palace in the cup quarter-finals over the weekend after eliminating Ruben Amorim’s team in the previous round. United, meanwhile, are not back in action until April 1’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
The Red Devils sit 13th in the Premier League, two points behind Crystal Palace in 12th, with the Eagles due to play a game in hand against Newcastle in April. Some seven points separate United from 10th-place Bournemouth, while Manchester City – currently in the fifth and potential final Champions League qualification spot – four points further away. With that in mind, the Europa League has taken on even more importance. Amorim’s side face Lyon in the quarter-finals, with a potential meeting with bookies’ favourites Athletic Club in the final four.
Once this season is taken care of and European qualification determined, attention will turn to the summer transfer window. That’s where some of our focus is today in Mirror Football‘s latest lines from around Old Trafford.
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United facing Arsenal battle
Manchester United and Arsenal are poised to do battle for Greek starlets Babis Kostoulas and Christos Mouzakitis. The Olympiacos youngsters, 17 and 18 respectively, were part of the squad which won last season’s UEFA Youth League, beating AC Milan in the final.
According to The Sun, Milan are also exploring moves for the team-mates. There is also a third Premier League side in the mix in the form of Aston Villa, with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund also mentioned in connection with the pair.
If United are able to get deals over the line, it wouldn’t be the first time they have frustrated Arsenal in the last 12 months. Gunners youngsters Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven both traded North London for Manchester and have since made their Premier League debuts.
Encouraging injury update
All 20 Premier League clubs are sweating on injured stars, and Manchester United have more missing than most. Mirror Football‘s latest injury check outlines the state of play as players return from international duty.
Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Patrick Dorgu could all be available to face Nottingham Forest. Dorgu has completed a three-game ban for his red card against Ipswich, while centre-backs Maguire and Yoro have been injured.
Some of United’s rivals encountered issues during the break, though. Indeed, upcoming opponents Forest could find themselves without Chris Wood after the striker was forced off during New Zealand’s victory over New Caledonia.
Ref’s outburst to Man Utd star
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has opened up on the time he clashed with Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand. Clattenburg, who left the English top flight in 2017, had his run-in with Ferdinand during Sir Alex Ferguson’s time in charge at Old Trafford.
“I remember Manchester United, and how they used to do it,” Clattenburg told The Overlap’s Fan Debate. “Fergie, I’m convinced, used to send one player at a time because he knew if you kept sending the same player, eventually he’s going to get cautioned.
“I remember saying to Rio once: ‘Go and tell your f***ing manager to f*** off!’ And you know what, he turned around, he said: ‘I’m not telling him!'”
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