MANCHESTER UNITED will begin their Premier League campaign on September 19 at home to Crystal Palace, with their September 12 trip to Burnley postponed due to their exploits in the Europa League.
Meanwhile Joel Glazer is said to be the only thing standing in the way of the signing of Jadon Sancho as he is unwilling to pay the £108m fee demanded by Dortmund.
Get all the latest transfer updates and gossip from Old Trafford here…
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REST-LESS RED DEVILS
Manchester United have the second fewest number of days to prepare for the new season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have 34 days from crashing out of the Europa League against Sevilla in the semi-final to their opening league fixture.
But the Red Devils have a whole six days MORE than unlucky Arsenal.
The Gunners will compete in the Charity Shield just 28 days after winning the FA Cup at Wembley.
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MARTIAL LAW
Troy Deeney said Anthony Martial is in the top three strikers in the Premier League but can't be relied upon to bag 25 goals in a season and fire the Red Devils to the title.
The relegated Watford striker told talkSPORT: “I think people are missing the point.
“If you had to bank on him scoring 25 goals and [United] winning the league, I don’t think that’s the player.
“When you look at big teams, [Manchester] City have Aguero and they can bank on him getting 25 goals.
“Leicester have [Jamie] Vardy, Tottenham have [Harry] Kane, [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mane are going to chip in with that.”
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THAT'S YOUR DA-LOT
Manchester United's Diogo Dalot is reportedly heading for the exit door at Old Trafford.
The full-back is being looked at by Everton and PSG.
Portuguese outlet O Jogo reports the 21-year-old is virtually certain to look for a move elsewhere.
With Timothy Fosu-Mensah ahead of him in the pecking order, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can do without the former Porto man.
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HE KANT SURELY…
Manchester United are being linked with a surprise move for Chelsea star N'Golo Kante.
A number of bets on the move have seen the odds on French World Cup winner Kante becoming a Red Devil slashed.
According to Oddschecker, United are front runners in the race to sign Kante – who could be offloaded by Frank Lampard as part of his squad revamp.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are priced at just 1/2 to poach Kante from West London.
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BARNES-TORMING
Manchester United's glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson will be hard to top for Liverpool, according to John Barnes.
Anfield legend Barnes told Sky Sports: “It's very difficult to defend a title but Liverpool aren't defending the title.
“Liverpool are going to defend the games that they play, so Jurgen Klopp doesn't put pressure on them to win titles, he puts pressure on them to win football matches.
“It's an old cliche, take every game as it comes.
“It's difficult for any one team, Liverpool included, to dominate English football like Liverpool did in the 1980s or Manchester United did under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“In any given year the top six teams can go and spend £200-300million to get better players to challenge or to win.”
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SUNSPORT EXCLUSIVE
Manchester United are still looking to introduce safe-standing – even with a reduced capacity in the upcoming season.
The Red Devils got permission in April to become the first Premier League side to trial the new seating area.
And SunSport understands the club are keen to persist with plans despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Fans could be allowed back in limited numbers and United are still keen to trial standing in the north-east corner of Old Trafford.
And are open to extending it to other parts of the stadium, if the trial is successful.
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RASH DECISION
Manchester United stars Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard might have to cut short their Greek holiday.
The Red Devils jetted off on the trip together after United crashed out of the Europa League to Sevilla in the semi-final.
The club sanctioned the vacation with the instructions to be back for pre-season training on September 1.
But UK government quarantine regulations could hit Greece this weekend and the best-mates may have to dash home to avoid missing training through two weeks of isolation.
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SHON THE DOOR?
Di'Shon Bernard could be leaving United, either on loan or permanently.
According to the Telegraph's Mike McGrath, the defender, 19, is attracting interest from Huddersfield and Coventry.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a decision over whether he leaves permanently or on loan.
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UNITED FIXTURES
Here are some key games for the Red Devils this season.
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BOX CLEVER
Fans will reportedly be treated to an extra 20 live Premier League games in 2020/21 although NONE will be free.
There was hope that, with fans not expected to return to stadiums for a couple of months at least, broadcasters will again allow for a handful of free-to-air games.
However, Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon Prime are said to have successfully banded together to keep matches on their subscription services.
The Mail report that, with fans locked out for the start of the campaign at least, 20 more games will be shown.
Sky's total has been bolstered by 12 to total a whopping 140 live games, with BT handed six more to make 58.
Online streaming service Amazon Prime, which secured a number of games from the decision to show every game during the lockdown, ups its tally from 20 to 22.
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NO SMALL MATTER
Chris Smalling is willing to “dig his heels in” to get his Old Trafford exit, according to reports in Italy, with Roma's CEO Guido Fienga flying to London to get a deal done.
The centre-back is currently on course to return to duties with United next season.
But he has settled well on loan at Roma, before the stint ended.
He even posted a goodbye Instagram post to the AS Roma fans after his stay at the Stadio Olimpico ended.
Roma hope to do a deal to sign the 30-year-old permanently, but United are determined to hold out for the right price.
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THIS IS THE HEND
Dean Henderson has thanked Sheffield United in a heartfelt Instagram post after leaving the club, following his two-year spell on loan.
The Englishman said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at @sheffieldunited for the last two years.
“Winning promotion to the Premier League with my brothers and having the season we had this season is something I will never forget.
“I would like to thank the manager, my team-mates, the backroom staff and of course, the fans, who have been unbelievable towards to me.
“I will look back at the last two years as an important chapter in my career and more than anything, i’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and develop with such a class group of lads.
“I can’t wait for the next chapter! Once again, thank you for everything! Once a blade, always a blade!”
View this post on Instagram
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at @sheffieldunited for the last two years. Winning promotion to the Premier League with my brothers and having the season we had this season is something I will never forget. I would like to thank the manager, my teammates, the backroom staff and of course, the fans, who have been unbelievable towards to me. I will look back at the last two years as an important chapter in my career and more than anything, i’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and develop with such a class group of lads. I can’t wait for the next chapter! Once again, thank you for everything! Once a blade, always a blade! ❤️???
A post shared byDean Henderson (@deanhenderson) on
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HOW DIOGO HE RATE?
Diogo Dalot has been at United since June 2018.
Here are his stats and how he ranks compared to the five main full-backs who have been at Old Trafford in that time: Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams and Ashley Young.
It appears his passing accuracy lets him down!
- Games played 20 (4th)
- Games started 13 (4th)
- Games won 9 (4th)
- Minutes played 1,080 (4th)
- Goals 0 (=4th)
- Assists 2 (4th)
- Tackles 27 (4th)
- Tackle success 52% (5th)
- Passes 474 (5th)
- Pass accuracy 71% (5th)
- Crosses 50 (4th)
- Crossing accuracy 26% (1st)
- Clearanes (4th)
- Headed clearances (4th)
SHOULD HE STAY OR 'OGO
United fans are split over whether the club should sell Diogo Dalot to raise funds for other transfers.
What do we think – should United sell the 21-year-old full-back?
PRIME CUT
Amazon Prime Video have released the 20 fixtures fans can watch for free in the 2020/21 Premier League season – including Liverpool against Tottenham.
Just like last season, the online streaming platform won the rights to two complete match weeks.
An extra two additional individual fixtures will be confirmed at a later date.
But in the two rounds of Premier League matches already in the Prime diary, Spurs' trip to Anfield is the standout tie.
Amazon have the midweek games from December 15 to 17 as well as the round of fixtures between the Boxing Day games and New Year, from December 28 to 30.
All 20 matches will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video across the two three-day windows.
HANDS ARE TIED
Joel Glazer is the one brother of the family who own Manchester United who has allegedly told Ed Woodward he is NOT to bid £108million for Jadon Sancho.
Joel, 49, and Avram, 59, are the two co-chairmen of United, with executive vice chairman Woodward sitting under them.
But it appears the pair are using their power to yay or nay any transfer activity.
The problem is, when that player is your marquee signing, there is not much wiggle room for Woodward under pressure from the fans.
It also shows how much power the brothers have over the day-to-day running of United.
EAGLES SWOOP
Benfica are interested in signing out of favour Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira, according to reports.
The Brazilian was a regular in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield in the first half of the 2019-20 campaign, but had a limited role by the end of the season.
The emergence of Fred and Scott McTominay, coupled with Nemanja Matic’s renaissance and Bruno Fernandes’ January arrival saw Pereira’s game time become limited.
And Paul Pogba’s return from injury post-lockdown made things even more difficult.
So much so, that ESPN claim that he could be on his way to Benfica, who are interested in bolstering their squad with the 24-year-old.
Solskjaer still likes Pereira and would like to keep him around at Old Trafford, but he will not give him any assurances over his playing time.
NEW KIT ON THE BLOCK
Youngster Arnau Puigmal is impressed with United's new jersey.
He posted on Instagram: “New kit looking?”
New kit looking? #mufc
A post shared byArnau Puigmal Martínez (@arnaupuigmal8) on
MARTIAL'S BIG SEASON
Here is how the Frenchman fared last term – his best season at United to date.
JUVE HAD A LOOK
Manchester United are reportedly upping their interest in Juventus stars Douglas Costa and Alex Sandro.
The Italian champions are sifting through their finances amid the coronavirus pandemic with the two players deemed good assets to cash in on.
According to CalcioMercato, United are becoming increasingly keen on winger Costa, 29.
Juve value the Brazilian at £36million as they seek to get rid of his £5.4m annual wages, post-tax.
There is talk of a £27m opening offer for a player who scored three goals and made three assists in an injury-hit campaign.
Costa still has two years left to run on his Bianconeri contract and reports outline his desire to stay in Turin.
UNITED'S RUN-IN
Here are the Red Devils' last five games.
Sat May 1 – Liverpool (H)
Sat May 8 – Aston Villa (A)
Tues May 11 – Leicester (H)
Sat May 15 – Fulham (H)
Sun May 23 – Wolves (A)
FIXTURES RELEASED
Here are United’s first five games of the Premier League season.
Burnley (A) Postponed due to Europa League participation
Sat Sept 19 – Crystal Palace (H)
Sat Sept 26 – Brighton (A)
Sat Oct 3 – Spurs (H)
Sat Oct 17 – Newcastle (A)
Sat Oct 24 – Chelsea (H)
DAY' OF RECKONING?
Dayot Upamecano is still being scouted by Manchester United, according to reports.
The RB Leipzig defender, 21, was on the end of a thumping from PSG in the Champions League semi-finals, as the French club took Julian Nagelsmann’s side to the cleaners in Portugal.
But Upamecano has attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including United.
According to the Athletic, the Red Devils will keep scouting him, but may not want to drag their feet.
The Red Devils missed out on the player three years ago when they approached him and his family before being accused of not meeting his requirements for family visits at the academy.
Arsenal have been closely linked to the French defender.
BROUGHT TO BROOK
United have been told they must cough up a whopping £40million to land Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks.
They have identified Wales winger Brooks, 23, as a viable alternative to top target Jadon Sancho as talks with Borussia Dortmund continue to stall.
The Red Devils are long-term admirers of Brooks and are ready to press ahead with a move despite the former Sheffield United man missing most of last season through injury.
Bournemouth’s new manager Jason Tindall wants to keep Brooks and build his side’s bid for an instant return to the Premier League around him.
But the club’s Russian owner Maxim Demin would be willing to sell for the right price as he looks to reduce the financial impact of the Cherries’ relegation to the Championship.
Brooks cost Bournemouth £11.5m from Sheffield United in the summer of 2018 and enjoyed a stellar debut season in the Premier League, scoring seven goals in 30 games.
CLOSING THE DOR
Manchester United's move for Jadon Sancho is reportedly being held up by one man… Joel Glazer.
The Athletic claim that Man Utd representatives broadly agree that meeting Sancho's £108m asking price is worth it, due to the fact he is likely to remain at Old Trafford for the next decade.
However, Glazer is said to be reluctant to take the gamble and keen on reducing the fee through negotiations with Dortmund.
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