Manchester United's hopes of winning three trophies this season got a whole lot harder last night, with the Red Devils throwing away a 2-0 lead over Sevilla in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
Erik ten Hag and co only came away from Old Trafford with a deflating 2-2 draw, despite Marcel Sabitzer scoring an early double. Bruno Fernandes was booked and will miss the second leg, just like Lisandro Martinez is expected to after a picking up a worrying injury prior to Sevilla's late comeback thanks to two calamitous own goals.
Elsewhere, United are still in the process of being sold - either via a full takeover or through minority investment. The Glazers have opened a third round of bidding which has already seen one prospective owner, Finnish billionaire Thomas Zilliacus, drop out and label the process a "farce."
Stay tuned for the latest news and reaction from Old Trafford...
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Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
We'll be back with more tomorrow, including further build-up ahead of the Nottingham Forest game.
See you then!
Nottingham Forest keeper Keylor Navas says the team still "have time" to seal the survival they so desperately crave, with Man Utd set to visit the City Ground.
“It’s a really important game this weekend. We’ll be playing at home in front of our fans who are fantastic and we just want to give them something to smile about," the Costa Rican said, per club media.
“Our objective is to keep Nottingham Forest in the Premier League for next season and that’s what we need to have in mind always.
“If we achieve that then it will bring a huge sense of joy, not just to the players, but most importantly to the fans and everyone at the club."
Before the news about Martinez and Varane was confirmed, Erik ten Hag issued an update on Luke Shaw.
“Are any players available that were missing? For Sunday, yeah, [they] could be. But we have to see,” the manager said.
“We have now two sessions to go of training, so I don't know by now. But it can be that Scott [McTominay] and Luke [Shaw] return in the squad, but [we are] not sure.”
Shaw last featured in the home meeting with Brentford on April 5, leaving the field early due to injury.
Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move
With Man Utd's centre-back options limited, some fans on social media are regretting the decision to loan out Eric Bailly.
Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both suffered injuries on Thursday, leaving United with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof as their two remaining orthodox centre-backs, with Luke Shaw another option when he returns.
Bailly is spending the current campaign at Marseille, and came off the bench in a draw at Lorient last time out.
Manchester United's share price has closed nearly five per cent down on yesterday's close.
After ending Thursday at $23.13 and opening today at $23.01, it dropped below $22 before a late rally.
The price had climbed above $25 as recently as March 22, amid the various reports around the takeover.
Lisandro Martinez will miss the remainder of the campaign as Manchester United attempt to deal with a bruising double injury blow.
The Argentine defender was hauled off - literally by his Argentina colleagues Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel - during the 2-2 draw with Spanish side Sevilla at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag was initially guarded over Martinez’s potential absence.
Speaking after the full-time whistle on Thursday evening, the Dutchman said: "When Licha Martinez drops out with no opponent involved, it doesn't look that great. It doesn’t look that great. We have to wait, I can’t say in this moment.”
Read the full story here
Marcel Sabitzer's double looked to have put Man Utd in control against Sevilla, only for the visitors to claim a late draw, and the Austrian wants to finish what he started next week.
“[We] played a good first half, we had good chances and we had to finish the game off," the on-loan midfielder said. "At the end it's a draw and it is not what we wanted. We have to go to Seville and get it done there.
“As I said I think we had to finish the game off. We had the chances, we were confident in the game and we controlled the game.
“Unfortunately we gave easy goals away, we cannot concede these kind of goals and we are very disappointed.”
Lisandro Martinez's recovery time is in question, and Erik ten Hag was asked in his press conference ahead of Nottingham Forest whether the defender might have suffered a metatarsal injury.
"I can't say in this moment, when we have news we will give it to you," the Dutchman said.
"Let's do the medical, a full assessment, complete diagnosis, it doesn't change in this moment. I have an idea but I don't cause speculation."
Thomas Zilliacus has appealed for the Glazers to engage in takeover negotiations just days after appearing to pull out of the race for Manchester United.
The Finnish businessman was previously in the running alongside Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. However, he made an announcement on Wednesday that he did not intend to lodge a bid in the third round of offers being orchestrated by the Raine Group.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “I have declined participation in a third bidding round for United. The bidding is turning into a farce, with Glazers giving no respect to the club. The delays will make it very difficult for any new owner to build a winning team for next season.”
Read the full story here
If Wout Weghorst is to start for Man Utd at Nottingham Forest, he'll have a chance to score his second goal against the strugglers.
Weghorst's first United goal came at the City Ground in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and added a further goal in Europe.
With Anthony Martial only just returning from injury, manager Erik ten Hag suggested the Frenchman won't be risked from the start on Sunday.
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has taken aim at Harry Maguire for his ‘lack of leadership’ as teammate Lisandro Martinez was lifted off of the pitch against Sevilla.
The Argentine defender picked up what looked to be an innocuous injury in the Red Devils’ 2-2 with the Spanish side in the Europa League. He crumpled to the ground under no challenge and was eventually carried off of the pitch by his international teammates Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel.
Whilst that gesture was praiseworthy, Schmeichel was not too convinced that it was as innocent as first perceived and was disappointed with United skipper Maguire for not intervening.
Read the full story here
Thomas Ziliacus has said his second bid for Man Utd still stands, having said he would not participate in the third round of bidding.
The Finn has clarified his position to the BBC's How To Buy A Football Club podcast.
"My earlier offer still stands and I am willing to pay a premium above what I offered," Ziliacus said.
"I'm not going to be participating in a third round because I find it highly unprofessional. I see no reason whatsoever why a third round is basically starting the whole thing from scratch.
"It seems odd to me that, if there is a genuine will to sell and you have three serious bidders, why you don't sit down with the bidders, discuss and negotiate and hopefully come to a number that everyone can agree."
Manchester United have been mentioned in connection with Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who has also attracted interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool remain in the hunt and Chelsea could yet move for the Argentine.
"Normally the next [transfer window] will find him playing in another institution, we don't know which one," Mac Allister's father Carlos said.
"The talks are just beginning in general, but it is most likely that Alexis will already be playing in another team next July."
Erik ten Hag has warned Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof they must be ready to answer Manchester United's SOS – or find another club.
Maguire and Lindelof, frozen out for much of the season, will start at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with first-choice central defence pairing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both injured.
Ten Hag said he will not accept excuses from players about not being ready to step into the starting line-up and said they should not be at United if that is the case. “Every game is a battle, every game is a fight and you have to be ready for that fight,” said Ten Hag.
Read the full story here
Erik ten Hag has raved over the benefits of Anthony Martial’s return to fitness at Manchester United – ensuring he shares the same stance on the Frenchman as club owner Joel Glazer.
The club’s Glazer family owners previously blocked Jose Mourinho’s attempts to sell the forward, when the former boss tried to allow Martial to leave in a move to tempt then-Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic to Old Trafford.
Glazer stepped in and refused to green-light the Frenchman's exit despite the clear benefits to Man United at the time. He even compared Martial to Brazilian icon Pele and clearly holds him in incredibly high regard.
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With concerns over Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, questions have been asked regarding whether Phil Jones could make an unlikely Man Utd return.
United face Brighton in their FA Cup semi-final, and Harry Maguire is suspended for the clash.
Jones hasn't featured under Erik ten Hag, with his last Man Utd outing coming against Brentford in May 2022, and is not in the club's Premier League squad for the second half of the season after a series of injury woes.
"I can't say (if Jones will play again this season)," Ten Hag said in January.
"What I can say is that he's not available for training since the first day of training this season so I think there's not an opportunity for you to recover quickly and be available quickly."
Manchester United striker Anthony Martial is not expected to start against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this Sunday.
Martial made his first start in three months on Thursday, when he featured in United's 2-2 draw with Sevilla at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old forward has struggled with a hip injury and was substituted after 62 minutes of the Europa League clash.
Erik ten Hag was asked whether Martial would continue up front against Forest during his pre-match press conference on Friday. The United manager's response suggests Wout Weghorst will be recalled to the starting XI for the Premier League clash.
Read the full story here
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is set to make a renewed bid for Manchester United before the end of the month.
The Qatari was one of several bidders still involved in the second round of bidding, along with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. However, another of the interested parties, Finnish tycoon Thomas Ziliacus, has pulled out of the running.
Current owners the Glazer family put the club up for sale in November, with a number of potential owners coming forward in the new year. However, as we prepare for a third round of bidding, nothing is set in stone when it comes to United's next custodians.
Read more here.
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust have called on the Glazers to speed up the takeover process.
MUST released a statement on Thursday, which read: "When it was announced in November that the Glazers were undertaking a “strategic review” and inviting offers to buy the Club, MUST welcomed the news and went on to urge the majority owners to move ahead with the process with speed, so that any period of uncertainty was as short as possible. Nearly five months on, we read speculation that offers from prospective buyers remain below the Glazers valuation, and that a third round of offers will now be invited.
"With Erik ten Hag having made such great progress in his first season, and with the vital summer transfer window a matter of weeks away, the news of these delays and further prolonged uncertainty are of great concern.
“We are also unable to move forward on major investment projects - not least the stadium redevelopment as we remain in limbo.We are in dire need of new investment, which undoubtedly requires new ownership. MUST, along with United fans all around the world, are calling for this process to be concluded without further delay."
It's now been 143 days since the Glazers released a statement stating they were "exploring strategic alternatives" for the club, including a sale.
We are now waiting for the third deadline for bids to be submitted, which is on April 28 - two weeks from today.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, both Manchester United and Chelsea considering a move for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.
The 27-year-old Cameroonian shot-stopper, who worked with Erik ten Hag at Ajax, has impressed in the Champions League of late and reportedly garnered interest from the English duo.
(Getty Images)Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is keen on joining Manchester United this summer but will not discuss his future until the end of the season.
The Dutch defender recently dropped a hint about his future by insisting that his next move would have the priority of winning titles. Frimpong spent nine years in the Manchester City youth academy and now wants to return to the city to play for United.
Frimpong was initially linked with a move to the Red Devils in November with a new right-back said to be a priority for boss Erik ten Hag. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot have both been deployed in the position, but Frimpong remains on their radar.
Read the full story HERE.
Frimpong is a summer transfer target for Man Utd (Rene Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images)Paul Scholes is concerned about Manchester United's European hopes after losing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez to injury.
Erik ten Hag's preferred centre-back partnership limped out of United's 2-2 draw against Sevilla on Thursday night. The Red Devils threw away a two-goal lead at Old Trafford and must win the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final in Spain to progress.
Scholes is confident United will reach the semi-finals but is worried about Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof coming in to replace the injured pair, as they have not played a lot of minutes this season. It's unclear when Varane and Martinez will return to fitness.
Read the full story HERE.
(Getty Images)Manchester United have added teenage goalkeeper Dermot Mee to their Europa League squad to offset the absence of goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who's suffered a serious foot injury.
Mee, 20, played four times on loan at National League side Altrincham earlier this season.
Casemiro plans to retire at Manchester United despite calls from his former Real Madrid teammate Danilo to join him at Juventus.
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal last summer to end a trophy-laden nine years at Real Madrid – where he won five Champions League crowns at the base of a midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The trio formed a formidable partnership that largely dominated Europe.
The Brazilian’s arrival has helped transform Erik ten Hag’s team this season. He has added balance, control and structure to a team that desperately needed such attributes. He is likely to be a contender for the Player of the Year award in the Premier League.
Read the full story HERE.
(PA)Gary Neville says the FA's decision not to take further action against linesman Constantine Hatzidakis is the "correct call," urging fans and authorities to "move on."
Hatzidakis sparked controversy after appearing to elbow Liverpool defender Andy Robertson during his side's dramatic 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. At the half-time interval, left-back Robertson walked over to the official to protest against his decisions in the first 45 minutes but was stunningly met with an elbow to his chin before being yellow carded for his angry reaction.
Video footage of the incident soon emerged and fans, pundits and former referees alike weighed in with their verdicts. The FA, however, have confirmed that Hatzidakis will face no further action and Manchester United legend Neville, who was at the game, agrees. "Correct call," the ex-United captain tweeted. "Move on."
Read the full story HERE.
(The Overlap)There has been a great deal of change on and off the pitch at Manchester United in recent seasons with the squad now almost unrecognisable from the one left behind by Jose Mourinho four years ago.
Mourinho was replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dugout midway through the 2018/19 campaign and the Norwegian was urged by former teammate Paul Scholes to put his own stamp on the team by clearing out the squad he had inherited.
United had a bloated squad and a sizable wage bill that needed to be scaled down, while the club were on course for an underwhelming sixth-placed finish and a trophyless campaign. There were a number of players who needed to be moved on.
Read the full story HERE.
(CameraSport via Getty Images)Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has insisted he was left with little choice when it came to the substitutions he made during the 2-2 Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw against Sevilla.
The Red Devils were 2-0 up and cruising against the Spaniards courtesy of a brace from Bayern Munich loanee Marcel Sabitzer, but the last 10 minutes of the tie saw both Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire net own goals to give Sevilla plenty of hope ahead of next week's second-leg on their own patch.
Following the full-time whistle, Scholes declared that the changes Ten Hag made played a large part in United's second-half demise. The former Red Devils ace was covering the clash as part of BT Sport's punditry team when he made the bold claims.
Read the full story HERE.
(TalkSPORT)Manchester United endured a difficult night on Thursday as they threw away a two-goal lead in a disappointing Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla.
United led 2-0 going into the closing stages at Old Trafford thanks to Marcel Sabitzer’s first-half goals, but own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire saw Sevilla take a 2-2 draw back to Spain for next week’s second leg. Things were compounded further by injuries, which left United with 10 men after Erik ten Hag had used all five substitutes.
Lisandro Martinez was carried off the pitch by his Argentina team-mates Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna after going down clutching his leg when no opponent was nearby. Meanwhile, Raphael Varane also had to be taken off at half-time, meaning United lost both first-choice centre-backs.
See the full list HERE.
(Getty Images)Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Peter Schmeichel have laid into Tyrell Malacia after he made a "sloppy" error which sparked a "disaster" collapse against Sevilla in the Europa League.
United look set to comfortably win the first leg of their quarter-final clash 2-0 thanks to a first-half brace from Marcel Sabitzer. However, they conceded two late own goals as Sevilla rescued a draw to leave the tie hanging in the balance heading into next week's second leg.
And Malacia was responsible for Sevilla's first goal after failing to clear a cross. The left-back let the ball run to Jesus Navas, whose shot was deflected past goalkeeper David de Gea by Malacia.
Read the full story HERE.
Paul Scholes (BT Sport)
