Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Sancho ‘nears United EXIT’, European ‘giants want McTominay’, Calvert-Lewin ‘on shortlist’

Erik ten Hag prediction

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will probably be gone before the end of the season, according to Pat Nevin.

Nevin told In the Zone:

I thought Erik ten Hag would be gone by now. INEOS are clever. What they can now do is say, right, okay, sit back. And if he doesn't get it right, they can say, not their man.

Had they got them out now, which most big takeovers do pretty quickly for somebody who's not been doing brilliantly well – and by the way, this is all with the caveat, it is Manchester United we're talking about, so the expectations are huge, or should be huge because they’re a world wide club – but they've been quite clever.

All right, you stay there and you run it through, we will. We'll give you the players that we want to give you again. Very noticeable Ten Hag over in America there, having a wee dig himself. A lot of these big name managers expect control. Sir Alex Ferguson always wanted control. All the big ones want control. You're not getting it. You're not getting it anymore.

Pat Nevin

Ivan Toney advice

Manchester United legend Brian McClair has urged his former club to sign Brentford star Ivan Toney.

McClair told SportsBoom:

I think they’d benefit from signing Ivan Toney. The biggest problem for United is scoring goals.

Getting him would provide good competition, for me that’s always the best thing, and from what I can see, with [Rasmus] Hojlund injured they don’t have a number 9.

I’m not sure if everybody is comparing what Marcus [Rashford] did two years ago to every other season because, for me, he’s never been a prolific goal scorer.

He has scored more goals in the past, but he’s been out-of-sorts for all sorts of reasons. He must be better and, with some of these new players able to play wide, then there’s going to be more competition for Marcus.

Brian McClair

Noussair Mazraoui warning

Manchester United hero Lee Sharpe claims Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be a "tough act to follow" for Noussair Mazraoui.

Sharpe told Highest Payout Online Casino:

The manager has sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka and brought Noussair Mazraoui in to replace him so I’m guessing he considers him an upgrade. You don’t go out and sell one player and buy someone else who’s not quite so good.

I was surprised that they sold Wan-Bissaka, he brought something to the side and to the squad that no one else has got and is one of the best one-on-one defenders in the Premier League, if not the world.

Against certain opposition like those out-and-out wingers, he can do a really good job so I’m surprised they’ve let him go.

I just hope Mazraoui goes in there and offers strength in both directions. He needs to be strong defensively and be as good as Wan-Bissaka, but also offer things offensively and going forward. It’s a tough act to follow.

Lee Sharpe

Van Nistelrooy prediction

Michael Owen predicted Manchester United assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy might get to manage the club if he outlasts Erik ten Hag.

Owen told OLBG:

“It’s an interesting situation for Ruud van Nistelroy at Manchester United, because if it’s five games, 50 games or 500 games, Erik ten Hag will go at some point.

When it does happen the club will look for a new manager and because that takes time, there is often an interim coach or a caretaker while that search happens.

So if Van Nistelrooy doesn’t leave before Ten Hag, you would think that he would get a handful of games as manager like Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick have done in the past.

Even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was temporary and he did well enough to buy himself more time and eventually they had to give him the job.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that having been a manager and now being the assistant manager at his former club, Van Nistelrooy could get to manage Manchester United at some point.

But I think at this stage he's obviously coming to the club to help Ten Hag change their fortunes around, I don't think he's got eyes on that prize just yet but in the future I definitely wouldn't be surprised if he got to manage the team for a handful of games.

Michael Owen

Luke Shaw blow

Manchester United ace Luke Shaw has suffered another calf injury and will miss the start of the Premier League season.

Shaw is now expected to be out of action until after the international break next month.

That means the left-back will miss fixtures against Fulham, Brighton and Liverpool.

An injury update read: "Luke Shaw will miss the opening games of the Premier League season due to a calf injury sustained at the start of pre-season training.

"He is working hard on his rehabilitation with a view to being available after the first international break."

LUKE AWAY

Luke Shaw OUT of start of Man Utd season including crucial Liverpool clash

Neville's formation prediction

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has predicted his former club will play in a bizarre formation this season. that will get the best out of manager Erik ten Hag's midfield and strikers.

Neville told Stick to Football via Sky Bet:

I was thinking they've got an interesting collection of midfield players with [Mason] Mount, Casemiro, [Kobbie] Mainoo, [Bruno] Fernandes, [Scott] McTominay.

It's quite an interesting bunch, I can't think of a team that has played four central midfielders but towards the end of last season, those two [Manchester] City performances that we've seen, book ending the end of last season and this one, they've all sort of played in the game and they've narrowed the midfield.

There was a Juventus team that played with four central midfield players with [Paul] Pogba and [Claudio] Marchisio playing that narrow [style]."

Gary NevilleStick to Football

Man Utd Prem fixtures

Here's how Manchester United's Premier League schedule looks like:

Marcos Alonso linked

Manchester United are considering a swoop for former Chelsea ace Marcos Alonso.

United boss Erik ten Hag's defensive injury woes have continued into the new season, with Luke Shaw ruled out until the international break with a fresh calf problem.

The Red Devils remain short on left-back options with Tyrell Malacia still out after his knee surgery caused him to miss the whole of last season.

And according to The Athletic, ex-Chelsea ace Alonso has been discussed as a potential option by Old Trafford chiefs.

The 33-year-old is a free agent after his contract with Barcelona expired at the end of last season and he would be open to returning to the Premier League this summer.

LON SHOT

Man Utd hold shock transfer talks over former Chelsea star Marcos Alonso

Set the Tone

Manchester United and Chelsea are considering a swoop for Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, the Blues and United are among the clubs that have already expressed an interest but they have all been put off by Toney’s £60million price tag.

According to The Independent, the Red Devils and Chelsea could suggest a loan deal with an obligation to buy late in the window.

The striker’s contract with the Bees is set to expire next summer and he currently has no willingness to extend.

Therefore, Brentford will have to sell the England international within the next few weeks or in January if they want to earn any money for him.

A loan-to-buy deal would be a way for Thomas Frank’s side to earn a fee close to their valuation and allow potential Premier League suitors to comply with PSR rules.

SET THE TONE

Man Utd and Chelsea 'consider shock Ivan Toney loan deal'

Roy Keane worry

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has worries about his former club ahead of the coming season.

Keane told Stick to Football, as per Sky Bet:

It’s always a worry for me about competing and I still worry about the spine of that Manchester United team. For all the nice play they have and good players, I still worry about the goalkeeper and striker.

On paper they have a decent squad, but the reality is when they’ve played games, and last year with their record in the league they were so open, If you’re on about competing, I worry about the spine of the team.

Roy Keane

Man Utd target Calvert-Lewin

Manchester United are keeping tabs on Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

According to Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth, Calvert-Lewin is one of a number of forwards discussed by United during the summer transfer window.

As it stands, however, the No9 position is not a priority and the Red Devils are unlikely to reinforce in that area unless there are sales first.

The England international is into the final year of his contract with the Toffees.