Manchester United news, transfer gossip and updates are coming thick and fast during the international break. Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the very latest from Old Trafford. Eric Bailly started the first two games but was dropped following a poor performance in defeat to Brighton. It’s led to questions being raised over the future of the Ivory Coast international with the Metro reporting that Bailly is unsure whether he will stay at the club for the long-term. It’s claimed that Bailly is a ‘popular figure’ in the United dressing room and a departure could upset some players at United. Emre Can scouting. Manchester United could have signed Emre Can on a free transfer from Liverpool had former scout Javier Ribalta got his way. Manchester United appointed Ribalta as head of recruitment in 2017 but the scout has since embarked on a new challenge in Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg.
He worked closely with Jose Mourinho for a year, helping the 55-year-old devise a list of transfer targets. And he has now sensationally revealed that he wanted to sign Can on a free transfer for Manchester United from Liverpool before his departure. “For my time in Manchester, I was only there for a year but I’d have liked to sign Emre Can and [Leon] Goretzka on free transfers,” he told Italian newspaper Tuttosport. Can moved to Juventus from Liverpool instead and said: “Not a lot of managers would let you play so many times when you are in the final year of your contract. My relationship with Klopp was always good. He wished me all the best when I told him I was leaving.
Atletico Madrid are set to offer centre-back Lucas Hernandez a new contract, reports claim. Yesterday, TribalFootball via France Football claimed Manchester United wanted to bring the World Cup winner to Old Trafford by triggering a £72million release clause. But apparently that’s spooked Atletico, who are now eager to initiate contract talks. TribalFootball report that Hernandez’s deal will be extended a further year to 2024 with an increased £135m buy-out clause. Pogba staying… for now Paul Pogba has agreed to stay at Old Trafford in a massive boost for Jose Mourinho, reports claim. It’s understood that Barcelona and Juventus are both keen to sign the France international, who has a strained relationship with his manager. However, the Mirror claim Pogba and Mourinho have now reached a truce. And the 25-year-old has supposedly agreed NOT to agitate for a move to either Barcelona or Juventus in January. He will stay put until next summer at the earliest and examine his future then. The Mirror say Pogba has reached an understanding with Mourinho where all talk of a transfer away will be delayed.
