ALEX TELLES is reportedly confident of joining Manchester United this week and linking up with the squad before Saturday's fixture at Brighton.
Meanwhile the Red Devils are also reportedly considering Ansu Fati, rather than Ousmane Dembele, as a backup option to Jadon Sancho.
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Get all the latest news and transfer gossip here…
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FIXTURE FIX
TV companies have scrambled to make sure all top flight games are televised following the government shelving plans to get some fans back in the stadium next month.
Sky have just announced their pick for October games before the international break, and United fans can look forward to a televised Sunday afternoon showdown with Spurs and Jose Mourinho.
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DEAN MACHINE
Some fans are still raving about Dean Henderson's brilliant save at Kenilworth Road last night.
There's only one man in the red half of Manchester who may not be so pleased United's number 2 is making such a big impression.
Clue: His name ends in “Gea”
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FLETCHER'S WARNING
Ex-Man United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been warning of Jesse Lingard's future and fears he may want to leave.
The out-of-favour 27-year-old featured in last night's win at Old Trafford but Fletcher is worried Lingard – and his notorious agent – may cause trouble for Old Trafford Chiefs.
Fletcher told Sky Sports: “The alarm bells started ringing for me when he appointed Mino Raiola as his agent.
“Now you don’t appoint Mino Raiola as your agent if you’re looking at staying at a club.
“That suggests to me that he’s looking for a move. He’s not a starter in Manchester United’s strongest team, he’s a squad player now.”
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HAPPY DONNY
Donny van de Beek got 78 minutes under his belt last night as Man United won at Luton.
And the Dutchman is looking forward to the next round.
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TELL ME SOME GOOD NEWS
Manchester United are reportedly close to agreeing a deal for Porto defender Alex Telles.
The Red Devils are hoping to provide competition for Luke Shaw with a move for the Brazilian defender.
United recently stepped up their chase for Telles by offering Diogo Dalot plus cash.
However, Porto knocked-back the offer as they have no interest of taking back their former player – who left the club to join United in 2018.
Telles meanwhile has a release clause of £36.7m in his current contract at the Portuguese giants.
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SMALL CHANGE
Roma are still unwilling to match Manchester United’s £18.4million valuation for Chris Smalling.
But they hope to make one final offer that will be their last-ditch attempt to bring the England defender back to the Stadio Olimpico.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma boss Paulo Fonseca declaring in public that he has been in touch with Smalling, 30, did not go down well at United.
The Serie A club’s first offer of £11m was flatly rejected by United.
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HELPING HEND
Dean Henderson is over the moon at making his Manchester United debut.
The former Sheffield United loanee made a cracking save in the second half and kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win at Luton.
He tweeted: “I dreamt about this my whole life!! Unbelievable feeling to make my debut for the club I love!! Clean sheet and a win to top it off!!!”
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NO CASE FOR DEFENCE
Dimitar Berbatov reckons Manchester United need a new defence after their hammering by Crystal Palace.
The former Old Trafford striker told Betfair: “Some will be happy, some won't, even with the retaking of the penalty. It's no excuse for United, the performance just wasn't good, and hopefully it will just be a first-game blip.
“If we just based it on the first game then United are miles off the speed of the other top teams in the league, and so I hope it is just down to it being game one.
“If it becomes a trend, it could be a very long season. I and others have big expectations for United this season.
“They need a centre-half, and probably further recruitment also to be competitive. At the end of the day, if Crystal Palace can score three past you, you are in trouble.
“It can be hard to sign players, maybe the players don't want to come, it is hard to say, but their defence is what they need to work on.”
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MASTERS OF THEIR ART
Chile stars Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal have finally united at Inter Milan.
The pair appear to be over the moon at finally being able to play together for a club team after winning two Copa America together for their national side.
Former United winger Sanchez joined Inter on a permanent basis earlier this summer.
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REVENUE KO
Manchester United could miss out on a staggering £111million in matchday income this season if fans are forced to stay away from Old Trafford.
Football fans were dealt a bitter blow on Tuesday after the Government announced they had “paused” plans to allow supporters back into stadiums to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
And they show that the current Premier League teams made a combined £692.5m solely from their home games in 2018-19.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham all raked in over £80m that season from home games.
The Gunners cashed in £96.2m from Emirates matches, while the Reds and Spurs pocketed £84.2m and £81.7m respectively.
Chelsea (£66.6m) and Manchester City (£56m) were the only other two teams to make over £50m from matchday income two seasons ago.
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GETS IN THE BOX
Donny van de Beek will get quite a few goals for United if he keeps playing like this.
The Dutchman, 23, had nine touches inside the Luton box last night.
He had one shot on target, one key pass and was offside once also.
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LUTON STATS
Here are some insights from the 3-0 win over the Hatters.
ACTION AREAS
AVERAGE POSITIONS
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WE'VE GOT BACK-UP
Manchester United will not focus on signing a new centre-back despite a rocky start to the season for Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
The defensive pair were tormented by Crystal Palace's frontline in a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford on the weekend.
Speculation that Dayot Upamecano is interesting the Red Devils has increased since, with the centre-back a long-term target for Real Madrid.
However, according to The Athletic, such a signing is not a priority at this time.
Instead, a right-sided attacker such as Jadon Sancho and a left-back are seen as more integral to bolster the squad.
Alex Telles of Porto and Ajax's Nicolas Tagliafico are being monitored to improve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's defence.
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TAG, YOU'RE OURS
Manchester United target Nicolas Tagliafico has reportedly been offered a new contract to stay at Ajax.
De Telegraaf claims the left-back has received a lucrative fresh deal from director of football Marc Overmars.
Ajax are keen to keep Tagliafico after SunSport exclusively revealed the 28-year-old has emerged as a target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United had been weighing up a move for Porto star Alex Telles, who has entered the final year of his deal.
But negotiations are progressing slowly and Tagliafico is now in Solskjaer’s sights, with a deal worth £23million mooted.
However, Ajax are ready to scupper United’s plans by tying Tagliafico down to a new long-term contract.
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FLETCH: BE PATIENT
Darren Fletcher reckons it is NOT the end of the world if Manchester United don't sign Jadon Sancho this summer, in conversation with Darren Bent after United's 3-0 win over Luton.
The former Old Trafford midfielder said: “Say you add Jadon Sancho, do you instantly challenge for that title? No!
Bent replied: “No, I think Sancho is a world class player, but I think there's other areas they have to add first before they go and sign a Sancho.”
Fletcher added: “I think that's what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is thinking as well, I think people are outraged they're not adding Jadon Sancho and you can't challenge for that title.
“I still think he feels like you've got to bridge between Liverpool and Man City, you've got to bridge a gap before you can overtake them.
“I feel like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the club are willing to be patient, if it means not signing Sancho this summer, add in in other areas, have another season with this team improving, getting a year older.
“Then add Jadon Sancho next summer, what's wrong with that if it's the right player if he's your main target, what's the point in adding a stop gap?”
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GREEN BEHIND THE EARS
Mason Greenwood grabbed his first goal for United since losing his head in Iceland.
And boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged the teenager to keep practising with his bonce to become the perfect number nine.
Greenwood, sent home in disgrace from Iceland after breaking lockdown rules, sealed a flattering Carabao Cup win with an injury-time goal after a first-half penalty from Juan Mata and a late strike from Marcus Rashford.
Solskjaer said: “The goal was important for him and Marcus, always as strikers. To get that confidence and feeling of scoring.
“Mason can play through the middle and also wide. Sometimes, it is nice to be out wide facing forward rather than being the number nine and battering ram. I think he will end up as a number nine.
“But for him to be a number nine, he needs to learn how to head a ball. I keep telling him that. If he wants to do that he is welcome to come and practice with me.”
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MORNING, UTD FANS
United's approach for Jadon Sancho has been labelled “bemusing” – but at least boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could hail keeper Dean Henderson after his belated debut.
Old Trafford chiefs have been accused of dawdling in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund's England attacker Sancho – haggling over details rather than showing urgency ahead of the October 5 transfer deadline.
But on the pitch United won 3-0 at Luton in the Carabao Cup, with Solskjaer praising both Henderson and under-pressure midfielder Jesse Lingard.
The Norwegian told Sky Sports: “Going through is the big thing. There are some positives.
“The keeper does his job, we scored some nice goals towards the end, apart from that it was a good workout.”
And of Lingard he said:“He was getting closer to a goal and he had the legs and he was bright and busy today.”
Solskjaer also hinted there might be more dealings to follow Donny van de Beek's summer arrival.
But Ajax will offer midfielder Van de Beek's old team-mate Nicolas Tagliafico a new contract – in a bid to fend off United's interest in the left-back as an alternative to Porto's Alex Telles.
Meanwhile, United are said to rate ex-England centre-back Chris Smalling at £18million – as Roma and Inter Milan hover.
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SPURS IN FOR UTD TARGET SKRIN
Spurs have opened talks with Inter Milan over defender Milan Skriniar, according to reports.
The Slovakian centre-back is a transfer target for Manchester United this summer.
But journalist Fabrizio Romano believes it is the North Londoners who are in negotiations.
However, the sticking point could be the price tag with Inter hoping to get as much as £55million for the 25-year-old.
Any suggestion Tanguy Ndombele may be used as part of a swap deal have been ruled out, though.
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AJAX FIGHT TO KEEP TAGLIAFICO
United target Nicolas Tagliafico has reportedly been offered a new contract to stay at Ajax.
De Telegraaf claims the left-back has received a lucrative fresh deal from director of football Marc Overmars.
Ajax are keen to keep Tagliafico after SunSport exclusively revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on the 28-year-old.
United had been weighing up a move for Porto star Alex Telles, who has entered the final year of his deal.
But negotiations are progressing slowly and Tagliafico is now in Solskjaer’s sights, with a deal worth £23million mooted.
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WE COULD BUY AND SOL
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says United's transfer window dealings might not be over.
The Old Trafford boss told Sky Sports: “We are working with what we have now and then let's see what happens.
“We will give updates if something happens.”
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OLE PRAISES HENDERSON AND LINGARD
United chef Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed debutant keeper Dean Henderson and under-fire midfielder Jesse Lingard after a 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Luton.
Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “There are some positives, the keeper does his job, we scored some nice goals towards the end, apart from that it was a good workout.”
And of Lingard – tipped by many for a transfer window exit – he added: “I thought he was bright, he was getting closer to a goal and he had the legs and he was bright and busy today.”
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LUTON BOSS: UTD WIN SO 'FLATTERING'
Luton chief Nathan Jones claimed United were “massively falltered by their 3-0 Carabao Cup game at the Championship club – as subs Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood struck at the death.
Only Juan Mata's 44th minute penalty had separated the sides in a tight third-round tie before that.
And Jones told Sky Sports: “For 85-86 minutes I thought we were outstanding and then they bring Rashford and Greenwood on.
“They push on when we are trying to get the goal back.”
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RATINGS – THE SUBS
Rashford (on 79) – scored a well taken second to put the game beyond doubt.
Greenwood (on 78) – First goal of the season in the few final seconds of the matches will do him the world of good after a difficult summer. Assisted Rashford too.
Fernandes (78) – Played a key role for the second goal.
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RATINGS – CONTINUED
Lingard 5/10 – Plenty of running and effort but a lack of quality in the final third. Not for the want of trying but will struggle to force himself into United's forward line on this performance.
Needs a fresh challenge and a real regular run in the first-team – just not United's.
Ighalo 3/10 – Pretty ineffectual throughout the contest although slightly improved as the game went on.
Has barely featured recently and it is unlikely we'll see much more of him in a United shirt except the odd cup clash.
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RATINGS – CONTINUED
Fred 6/10 – Competition is rife for places in midfield and Fred can't afford any bad performances. A steady match, although didn't produce anything spectacular.
Van de Beek 7/10 – A clever player, often on different wavelengths to his team-mates. Makes smart runs into the box and finds pockets of space when United are attacking.
Does not shy away from a challenge either. Almost scored with 15 minutes to play.
Mata 8/10 – Opened the scoring with a well-dispatched strike from the spot. Was probably United's biggest attacking threat and produced rare moments of class to help cut open Luton's defence.
Will give Solskjaer confidence he can still perform at the top level.
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