Manchester United transfer news RECAP Harry Kane blow and Antony injury updates

We’re ending our live blog coverage of United for today.

As ever, many thanks for staying with us throughout the day for all the updates on all things Old Trafford. Of course, we’ll be back tomorrow with another live blog to bring you all the developments on United on and off the pitch.

See you then, bright and early tomorrow morning!

It feels at the moment that Tottenham is a shambles. They can’t seem to get a manager. If you were Harry Kane with one year to go, this is the time to leave.

He has to push now because Man United might get somebody else. He missed out on Man City a few years ago when he wasn’t allowed to leave, right now it feels like he needs to push.

One year on his contract, go somewhere and really show what he has got because at the moment Tottenham don’t look like they are even close. It is like a social experiment of how far you can push your fans before they completely lose it.

No one is going to want to lose Harry Kane, he has been incredible for that team, but I just feel he deserves better.

As soon as he comes on you see the twinkle in everybody’s eyes. He’s lightning. Defenders are afraid of him.

Erik ten Hag has reportedly told senior Manchester United officials to launch a bid for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, being convinced Declan Rice will move to Arsenal.

The Dutchman is after a young midfield addition this summer, as well as a marquee attacker. Mount has been strongly linked to United in recent days.

The playmaker is being backed to leave Chelsea with just 12 months left on his deal so his club can stay within Financial Fair Play Regulations after a mass spend over the past year. Interim boss Frank Lampard didn’t rule out an exit when asked about the possibility on Wednesday.

Now, the Sun claims Ten Hag is resigned to the fact that Rice will go to Arsenal with the Gunners said to be at an advanced stage in talks. And so, it moots that United will instead make a move for Mount.

The Reds ‘won’t pay silly money’ and only want to pay a maximum of £60m for the 24-year-old but are willing to move on Scott McTominay to facilitate a transfer, the report claims. Donny van de Beek could also face the same fate.

I like him on the left but I also like him in the middle. It depends what team you’re playing against.

If you’re playing against Man City and you’re going to counter-attack, I can understand that they’re going to play him through the middle. He’s got so much pace, technically really good.

When he sees the goal and runs at the goal he’s very difficult to stop.

Marc Skinner and his Manchester United side have been praised by title-rivals Chelsea boss Emma Hayes for their steely resistance in pushing the WSL race to the season’s final day, dubbing Skinner’s squad ‘far and away one of the best teams in the league this year’.

Lucia Garcia’s dramatic injury-time winner over Manchester City on the penultimate day of the season denied the reigning champions early celebrations with the WSL title race forced into a final day reckoning.

United sit two points shy of Chelsea at the top as they travel to Liverpool on Saturday, while the Blues travel to relegation-threatened Reading.

Fate firmly rests in Chelsea’s hands, but if the Royals’ plot for a final day upset comes to fruition, Skinner’s side could find themselves lifting a first-ever WSL title.

And Hayes acknowledged the challenge that United have posed to their bid for an unprecedented fourth successive WSL feat and has insisted that the United fanbase should not consider a second-place finish as anything other than an achievement.

Read what she had to say here.

It is a concern. How will it affect recruitment? What is the philosophy of any potential new owners?

For United to take the next step, they need top-quality players – and they are not cheap.

Read more of what the United defender had to say on Erik ten Hag’s job this season here.

For once, United are not the party who are needing to convince the other. The roles have been reversed.

For Neymar, a transfer to Old Trafford would be a favourable move. Thursday night’s qualification for the Champions League will allow the Brazilian to compete in the competition he loves and there is also an abundance of players at the club he already knows.

Antony, Fred and Casemiro all call Manchester home and the winger’s fondness for the latter man could feed his desire to move. At the World Cup, Neymar showed how highly he regards Casemiro.

Read the piece in full here.

King Eric will be returning to Manchester, but not on a football pitch.

United legend Eric Cantona won four Premier League titles and two FA Cup winners’ medals in a trophy-laden spell, before hanging up his boots in 1997 after five seasons at Old Trafford.

Cantona will be returning to the city where he is best remembered later this year. However, he will not be putting his boots back on, but instead flexing his vocal chords as he embarks on a singing tour.

See here for more details on Cantona’s interesting return to Manchester.

Chelsea’s interim manager Frank Lampard has admitted Mason Mount is in a position where he could be leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer.

There is growing speculation United are looking at a move for Mount at the end of the season. Further reports suggested Mount, who has been missing since February with a pelvis injury, would favour a move to Old Trafford over Liverpool.

Lampard is a big fan of the Englishman having brought him to Derby County during his time at Pride Park. However, the interim boss hinted the relationship between Mount and Chelsea may be coming towards the end amid speculation of a switch to United.

Here’s what Lampard had to say on the subject.

United are ‘interested’ in signing Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

That is according to a report by Fichajes, who claim that the Reds have taken a liking to the 23-year-old.

He is out-of-contract at the German club this summer and is set to be available on a free transfer.

United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has expressed his delight at winning the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year Award.

He was presented with the gong during the half-time interval of United’s 4-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford last night.

Click here to read the full story.

“There didn’t look to be anything in Trevoh Chalobah’s challenge to stop Antony midway through the first half, but the reaction of the Brazilian winger suggested he knew he had done himself some damage. As he was stretchered off Erik ten Hag stepped onto the pitch and patted the 23-year-old on the chest, with a few consoling words for him. You would certainly have to mark him down as a doubt for the FA Cup final now.”

Click here to read more.

United are sweating over the availability of Antony and Luke Shaw ahead of their final two games of the season.

Both players went off injured during last night’s 4-1 win over Chelsea, though there is far more concern surrounding Antony after he was taken off on a stretcher.

Click here to read more.

According to a report by SPORT, United have ‘made contract’ to sign 18-year-old midfielder Arthur Vermeeren from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

The youngster is considered as one of the most highly-rated midfielders in Europe and is also said to be attracting interest from Barcelona. It is claimed that United have already touched base with the player’s representatives to find out if he would be interested in a summer switch to Old Trafford.

“Last summer, of course, marked the beginning of a new dawn at Old Trafford following the appointment of Erik ten Hag, meaning it was one of the biggest windows the club had faced in years. United brought in a total of six new signings, five of which joined on permanent deals, including the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony. Though last summer was important, this upcoming window could be just as crucial. Despite the progress that United have made this term, they still need reinforcements, both for Ten Hag’s strongest starting line-up and the squad as a whole to add some much-needed depth to key areas.”

Click here to read more.

In an interview with ESPN, Bruno Fernandes has stressed the season has not been success despite returning to the Champions League.

It’s a positive season, not successful because success is different for this club and for us players it has to be too. We did win a trophy. We got into the top four. Now we have another final but whatever happened in that final will not change anything about the season we have done. After we couldn’t fight anymore for the league title we had to fight for our top four and we did it. We are really happy to be in the Champions League next season. But obviously, it’s kind of an obligation for this club to be in these positions.

United’s boss was pleased with Jadon Sancho’s performance following the victory over Chelsea.

He did very well on the right side, and I think he played a very good game today [Thursday night]. And I think Jadon Sancho was one of the players who [has made good] progress in this season. There were many players in our squad who made good progress. I think it’s a good base to build further on. He can do both, but I think he prefers to play on the left. But we have seen today he is very good on the right as well.

According to Record, United are chasing Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

The Reds are looking for a new ‘keeper in the summer with De Gea’s future at the club still up in the air.

United are understood to be ‘repeatedly’ showing interest in Costa but Bayern Munich and Spurs are also keen.

According to the Sheffield Star, Sheffield United are looking to build a relationship with the Reds and other top Premier League clubs despite their top flight promotion.

Last season, the Blades took City’s Tommy Doyle and James McAtee on loan.

Manager Paul Heckingbottom is understood to be hopeful of building further connections with United, Arsenal and Chelsea in order to make Bramall Lane a top location for young stars hoping to get their break.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was left highly impressed by Casemiro.

I think coming from Real Madrid, coming here, how he gets into the dressing room with everybody looking at him… He’s won so much. He’s a big man, and he plays like a big man. He leads, scores goals, tackles. He’s had a few red cards but he’s a proper leader on the pitch. I can only imagine how he gets in the dressing room, and what kind of lift he gives to the other players. Big, big, big player.

“I think the mentality and effort everyone puts in [has been the difference]. Everyone knows exactly what to do on the pitch, we have a system and everyone knows their roles out there, so we’ve played some great football this season.

“We deserve this spot in the Champions League. I think I’ve been performing well and when I’m on the pitch, I just want to help my teammates to perform and to win the game. I think I’ve done that, so I’m pleased.”

“They have got fantastic players, [Marcus] Rashford scored 30 goals, [Raphael] Varane, [Bruno] Fernandes, bring Casemiro in.

“I remember when Ten Hag first came people were talking about discipline and fines and setting the standard. Those things are where this club has had a positive upturn.”

Read everything he said here >>>

When Manchester United needed a leader to drag them over the line and back into the Champions League, of course it was Casemiro who stepped up.

The man who told United he would “fix” their problems after watching the 4-0 defeat to Brentford back in August has been as good as his word.

Casemiro had been below par since his latest suspension but against Bournemouth and Chelsea he has risen to the occasion. When his team needed him, he was there.

Read on here >>>

Victor Lindelof has praised two of his United colleagues after the Reds secured a top four finish in the 4-1 win over Chelsea.

One of them was Casemiro, who scored the opener and played excellently.

“He’s (Casemiro’s) a fantastic player, he’s got a great mentality and he’s a top professional,” Lindelof said.

Find out who the other player was here >>>

Erik ten Hag has sent a message about the need to recruit quality players over the summer if United are to push for the title itself.

Speaking after last night’s win over Chelsea, he said:

“Now we are far away, so we have a lot of work to do, we’ve made progress with this team, with this squad but we need better players if we want to compete for the highest.

“I think in the Premier League, yeah, it (top four) is something like [a trophy], it’s the main objective of the season to get in the Champions League, so therefore you have to see yourself in the top four. “

Read everything he said here >>>

Napoli defender Kim Min-jae has given a very coy response when asked about where he will be playing next season.

The centre-back has been frequently linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months.

As per Calcio Napoli, the 26-year-old as asked by South Korean TV to complete a sentence – “Season 2023/24, my next team is…?”

Min-jae replied: “My agent is outside the restaurant, ask him!”

Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Antony is a worry for the FA Cup final after sustaining a “serious” injury in last night’s 4-1 win over Chelsea.

The Brazilian was taken off on a stretcher after half-an-hour with the 23-year-old due to be assessed today.

Ten Hag said post-match: “Everyone has seen he came off. I can tell you that it’s serious but we have to wait a minimum 24 hours and then we know probably more about the status of his injury.”

Read on here >>>

According to a report by Football Insider, United are ‘keeping tabs’ on Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams.

Despite only arriving at Elland Road last summer, the USA international is highly likely to leave the West Yorkshire club if they are relegated to the Championship. The Whites are currently camped inside the relegation zone ahead of the final day of the season on Sunday.

United plan to recruit a new midfielder this forthcoming summer and Adams is described as being a potential target for the Old Trafford club.

Marcus Rashford became the first United player since Robin van Persie in 2012/13 to score 30 goals in a single season after finding the net in last night’s 4-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford.

After stepping off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Antony, who was forced off on a stretcher, the England international turned the ball home from close quarters to net United’s fourth goal of the night.

Click here to read more.

United wrapped up a top-four finish with a comfortable 4-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford last night.

Goals from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford wrapped up a fully-deserved three points for the Reds ahead of Joao Felix netting a late consolation goal for the visitors. As ever, Samuel Luckhurst was inside Old Trafford and here is a flavour of how he rated each player out of 10…

David de Gea

Faced plenty of attempts and had saves to make after the interval. Joao Felix’s late goal spoiled a clean sheet for the Golden Glove recipient. 7

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Relished his rapport with Antony again but regressed to leave space for Lewis Hall to charge into and create two great chances for Chelsea. 6

Click here to read more.

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