Man Utd transfer news recap - Sancho's fresh exit route and McTominay's U-turn

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Onana warned about AFCON snub

Andre Onana has been told to "be careful" as he weighs up snubbing the Africa Cup of Nations to salvage his Manchester United career - a decision that could see him hit with a ban.

Former Man United star Eric Djemba-Djemba has told the shot-stopper he has to make a decision that is right for him, with reports suggesting the Cameroonian could remain in the UK during the tournament.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

Onana has dropped several clangers following his summer move to Old Trafford from Inter Milan and is keen to knuckle down at Old Trafford to retain his place between the sticks, but his plan could backfire on him due to FIFA regulations.

Earps bags SPOTY award

Flying the flag for Man Utd!

Mary Earps has been named the Sports Personality of the Year after her efforts with the Lionesses, saving a penalty in the World Cup final in what proved to be a heartbreaking outing.

Nevertheless Earps has transcended women's football on and off the pitch.

Can Leipzig help Sancho

A move back to Germany has emerged as an exit route for Sancho with RB Leipzig keen.

It was in the Bundesliga that the winger caught the attention of Europe's finest before he chose to eventually leave Dortmund. Away from the media scrutiny, it seems like it could be an environment where Sancho can get back to his best.

Sancho's profile would appear to suit what Leipzig want. He's still very much a young player who can aid a side that, despite their success, are by no means a giant. That again could help a player who simply needs to get his head down.

Eriksen opens up on frustration

Christian Eriksen has confessed that he's found it frustrating sitting on the sidelines as he nursed an injury issues.

“I think it's always annoying to be on the side, no matter for how long and definitely now," said the Dane.

“When it takes a little bit longer than you wished for, then obviously it's hard, but no, I was eager to come back as soon as I could.”

Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move

Red Devils urged to consider Alonso appointment

Manchester United have been told to appoint ex-Liverpool star Xabi Alonso instead of Graham Potter as Erik ten Hag's replacement.

The Dutchman has come under huge pressure at Old Trafford this term. The Red Devils have already been eliminated from Europe after a rotten Champions League campaign.

They also sit seventh in the Premier League table after losing seven out of their opening 17 league games. It has been suggested that the former Chelsea and Brighton boss could be appointed as Ten Hag’s replacement by incoming shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Liverpool icon Steve McManaman is not convinced. He believes that former Reds midfielder Alonso would prove a far better fit at Old Trafford.

January plans laid bare by club chief

Manchester United chief Collette Roche has confessed that they "are not expecting it to be particularly busy" during the January transfer window.

Erik ten Hag spent £185million in the summer with Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana as his three main arrivals. He added further new faces despite being limited by Financial Fair Play restrictions, but that could prove to be his lot this season.

United are wary of the threats that come with breaching FFP and no major arrivals are expected despite the club struggling so far this term and in need of a spark. Deficiencies in their squad have been exposed but the club are more focused on potential exits.

Read more here.

Fenerbahce offer Martial exit route

Fenerbahce are reportedly keen on signing Anthony Martial in the January transfer window.

A report from Turkey, via Sport Witness, says Fenerbahce board member Selahattin Baki ‘will have a meeting with the striker’ to discuss a potential move to Istanbul. That meeting will involve a discussion about Martial reducing his wages to make the move possible.

United have the option to extend Martial's contract by 12 months, but are preparing to let him leave for free in June.

Anthony Martial is set to leave Manchester United (Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

Most likely scenario for January

So, Donny van de Beek is heading out to Eintracht Frankfurt once the January transfer window opens. That is good news for Manchester United, but what else can we expect from January?

Jadon Sancho is the big question mark heading into the New Year. United are keen to offload him after he fell out with Erik ten Hag, but his gigantic wages and lengthy contract make that difficult, despite rumoured interest from Germany. Sancho was not interested in moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer, so that avenue might be unavailable.

Elsewhere, United are understood to be open to selling Casemiro and Anthony Martial - who are both high-earning players who are thought to be beyond their best years. Raphael Varane has also been linked with an exit, but the current injury problems in central defence might mean he stays longer. Varane's contract expires in the summer, although United have the option to extend it by 12 months. A decision needs to be taken in January either way, because he can negotiate with foreign clubs.

(Manchester United via Getty Images)

Fixtures before the January transfer window

Manchester United still have three games over the festive period before the January transfer window opens on January 1. They are:

• December 23 - West Ham (a), Saturday - 12.30pm
• December 26 - Aston Villa (h), Tuesday - 8pm
• December 30 - Nottingham Forest (a), Saturday - 5.30pm

Frankfurt hail "outstanding" Van de Beek

Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmöller has welcomed the impending arrival of Donny van de Beek. The United midfielder is closing in on a loan move to the Bundesliga side, with no clear future at Old Trafford.

While Toppmöller was keen to make it clear that the deal has not been completed, he admitted he would be delighted to be able to count him among his options, as Frankfurt fight for European qualification.

“He’s not our player yet. I think everyone who knows a little bit about football knows that he is an outstanding footballer,” said Toppmöller. “If he comes, we would be looking forward to it.”

Fulham 'win race' for Man Utd target

Fulham are reportedly set to sign Fluminense star Andre next year, beating off competition from Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

talkSPORT report that Fulham have an agreement in principle to pay £20million for the 22-year-old. The club are waiting to see what happens to Joao Palhinha before making the move.

Keane told to "get a life" in Van Dijk row

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has hit back at Roy Keane after he labelled Virgil van Dijk "arrogant", telling him: "Roy, get a life!"

Liverpool skipper Van Dijk claimed that his side were the only team looking to win Sunday's meeting with Manchester United at Anfield, as Erik ten Hag's side held the Reds to a goalless draw. United claimed a share of the spoils having been soundly beaten by Bournemouth at Old Trafford the previous week, before being knocked out of the Champions League.

Read more here.

Rooney blasts Birmingham players

Wayne Rooney has accused his Birmingham City players of being "naive" after their 3-2 defeat to Leicester on Monday.

Birmingham have dropped from sixth to 17th in the Championship since the Manchester United legend's appointment.

"I’m very disappointed to lose the game," Rooney told Sky Sports. "I thought for 30 minutes we were really good and had good control of the game. We pressed really well and created chances, then something we spoke about (happened)."

Rooney was disappointed with his players for failing to stop Leicester's counter attacks. He added: "Leicester are very good on transition. Sometimes you have to take a yellow card. Bit naivety in that."

Who do you think Manchester United should sign in January?

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Van de Beek heads for Frankfurt medical

Donny van de Beek is on his way to Germany to complete a medical ahead of his loan move to Eintract Frankfurt, according to The Athletic.

Frankfurt have the option to sign the 26-year-old midfielder for around £9.5million at the end of the season.

Lineker takes sides in row

Gary Lineker has taken Virgil van Dijk's side in the row over United's tactics against Liverpool.

Van Dijk accused Erik ten Hag's side of not trying to win the game, with Roy Keane calling the defender's reaction as "arrogant". Lineker has not got involved in the debate.

Lineker told The Rest Is Football: "That was a damp squib, wasn’t it? There was hardly a proper chance in the game.

"The only bit I enjoyed about the match was watching Trent’s passing," Lineker told The Rest is Football podcast when talking about the match.

"I got a text from a Manchester United-supporting friend of mine he said, ‘it's come to this, the highlight of the game is watching Jonny Evans punt the ball down the touchline in the hope, the dream that Antony could maybe get on the end of it and win a throw in'.

"We're talking about Manchester United like they’re a League Two team going to Anfield and hanging on for a draw."

Gary has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

More Man Utd news coming up!

Stay tuned for more news on Erik ten Hag's side...

Ferdinand has hair transplant

Rio Ferdinand has followed in the footsteps of his former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney by having a hair transplant.

Ferdinand has revealed all in a promotional video for Dr Cinik, a clinic based in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

The 45-year-old underwent procedures on his hair and beard, and while the video was released on Sunday, it is unclear when they took place.

"I'm here to get my beard sorted out, I've got a couple of holes, a couple of patches," Ferdinand says in the video. "Get my hair transplant done.

"I can't wait to get it done. Listen, if you're ever thinking about getting yours done, this is the place to be."

Click HERE to read more

Sancho's new escape route

RB Leipzig are one of the clubs mulling over a January move for Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho, it has been claimed.

Sancho, 23, swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League back in the summer of 2021 but struggled to replicate his dazzling Borussia Dortmund form for United.

And things have got even worse for the England winger during Erik ten Hag's premiership.

The Dutchman banished Sancho from the first-team squad earlier this season after a public fallout back in September.

Both Sancho and United are now understood to be open to a transfer in January and a handful of potential suitors for the £73million man are now starting to emerge.

Click HERE to read more

United urged to spend in January

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes wholesale changes are needed in January.

"If it was up to me, I'd buy a player in each position," the Champions League winner told OLBG.

"When the transfer window opens again, the club have to get behind the manager, and I think they will.

"The United injuries aren’t ideal but there are lots of teams with injuries, you just have to handle it. There's not much you can do.

"At the beginning of the season, it’s not something you can predict so management doesn't think about it too much because everyone's fit and ready to go."

United's transfer plan derailed

Arsenal are set to activate the £51m release clause of Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio in a January swoop.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the north London side will activate the €60million (£51.5m) release clause written into Inacio’s Sporting Lisbon deal. It is also suggested that his current club have already identified Famalicao centre-back Otavio as a potential successor - a boost to Arsenal ’s hopes of getting a deal over the line.

A move for Inacio would also see the Gunners hijack a move eyed by a couple of their Premier League rivals. Manchester United were linked with a swoop for the defender last month, with reports suggesting they were considering an offer.

Find the full story

Ratcliffe faces £35m transfer dilemma

Sir Jim Ratcliffe could block Tottenham's move to sign Manchester United target Jean-Clair Todibo, despite the player being keen on joining Spurs.

Todibo, 23, is enjoying another impressive season with French side Nice, who are majority owned by Ratcliffe's company, INEOS. Although an announcement is yet to be made, INEOS have agreed a £1.3billion deal with the Glazer family to acquire a 25 per cent stake in United which will see Ratcliffe and his colleagues take control of the club's football operations.

The Red Devils were first linked with Todibo long before the agreement was reached - going as far back as during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign while the 23-year-old was still attempting to make the grade at Barcelona - although it now appears that Tottenham have jumped ahead in the queue.

Click here to read the full story.

Man Utd must make urgent decision to keep "outstanding" star

Raphael Varane impressed in Manchester United's draw with Liverpool after coming in from the cold, but United still run the risk of losing the French international for nothing.

The 30-year-old has played back-up to Harry Maguire in recent weeks, but partnered Jonny Evans at the back at Anfield with Maguire out injured. Despite Liverpool registering 34 shots on goal, United's defenders and goalkeeper ensured the game ended scoreless.

Varane is out of contract at the end of the season, despite earlier reports suggesting his deal ran until 2025, and will be free to speak to potential suitors in January unless United trigger an extension before then. After being given a reminder of what the former Real Madrid star can do, though, manager Erik ten Hag may find himself pushing to extend the defender's deal.

Click here to read the full story.

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Fan hammers VIP treatment

A lifelong Manchester United fan who splashed out £450 for a VIP experience at Old Trafford has slammed the 'disgraceful' meal he was served.

The disappointed supporter told the Manchester Evening News that he was served food that 'looked like dog meat on curry' and that the experience was 'very very poor and unacceptable,' adding he 'came home feeling worse'.

Read more here.

Shaw calls on Anfield to set the tone

Luke Shaw has called on his Manchester United teammates to ensure that their display against Liverpool at the weekend sets the tone for performances going forward.

When he was asked to put into the magnitude of Sunday's result into context, Shaw told BetFred: “Really important, especially with the results we’ve been having recently conceding a lot of goals. To go there, especially away at Anfield, what happened last year there - we all remembered that very well. It was one of the worst days in my footballing career.

“And for all of us. I think it was definitely showing a step in the right direction, still obviously little things we can do better on when we have the ball, but I think as a defensive block, a defensive unit, I think that is the foundations we need to approach every game with, exactly how we defended in that game.”

Ten Hag rallies youth stars

Erik ten Hag has highlighted the importance of the FA Youth Cup in aiding future first-team players.

The club's latest youth products host Derby County at Old Trafford on Tuesday, in the third round of this year’s competition.

“It's very important for the development of the players to play in occasions where you get challenged and, in a cup, it's always about do or die,” Ten Hag told the club.

“So under such strong expectations, you have to perform as a team and as an individual and especially in youth development, it's about the individual development of the player by the end of that day.

“So they are challenged and they are getting an opportunity to show how far [along] they are.”

Dubravka opens up on strange Man Utd medal

Martin Dubravka got a Carabao Cup final winner's medal from Manchester United - while registered for the losing side Newcastle.

‌The keeper wants to go all the way to Wembley again with Eddie Howe's side this season as they face Chelsea on Tuesday. But he's revealed the highly unusual situation from last season, which ended up with him being quietly presented with a winner's medal.

Read more here.