Manchester United

Alex Turk, Stretford Paddock, external

Manchester United got one of the club's most important decisions in modern history right by appointing Erik ten Hag.

I could end it there and there would be little room for complaint. But let me elaborate…

When United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, there were three names on everyone's lips - Ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte.

It would have been easy to go for Premier League experience, right? Pochettino was still at PSG, but Conte was available, so much so that his agent offered his services.

United were criticised when they didn't budge, helping Tottenham appoint the Italian, who subsequently guided the Londoners to a top-four finish.

Fast forward 17 months and Conte has been sacked amid a turbulent and trophy-less season.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag eyes two more pieces of silverware after already ending United's six-year drought with the Carabao Cup.

Not to mention the Red Devils are third in the Premier League and have successfully ditched their pre-season status as top-four outsiders to now being Champions League-bound.

Perhaps Conte would have arrived at Old Trafford if it was still under the Ed Woodward regime. But Richard Arnold's refreshed structure took a risk that has evidently paid off.

Napoli value 24-year-old Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, who is a target for Manchester United and Chelsea, at a minimum of 150m euros (£131.7m). (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

There's a new episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast available now on BBC Sounds.

This week, hosts Gaz and Joe talk about their dream of signing Harry Kane for Manchester United next season.

They also take a dive into the international break fallout, before building up to Sunday's game against Newcastle United.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Manchester United are interested in signing 21-year-old Benfica and Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos, who has a release clause of 120m euros (£105.6m). (Record, via Goal), external

Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, 18, will turn down a move to Old Trafford because the Republic of Ireland international thinks staying at Albion will be better for his development. (Sun), external

South Korea defender Kim Min-jae has been linked with Manchester United but the 26-year-old says he is not interested in rumours about his future and wants to focus on playing for Napoli. (Mail), external

Meanwhile, United will consider Brentford's Spain goalkeeper David Raya, 27, as an alternative to David de Gea, who is yet to agree a new contract. (Give Me Sport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus' bid to buy Manchester United is "quite idealistic", says United We Stand editor Andy Mitten as the race to buy the club accelerates.

On Thursday, Zilliacus declared he wanted to purchase half of the club with the other half being owned by supporters.

Mitten told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast that he understood how this offer would be attractive - but was uncertain it would ever succeed.

"It's something a lot of United fans would love the idea of because the club is big enough to stand on its own two feet," said Mitten.

"I love the fact United have a global support and the community truly is global and yet the club is from Manchester and the demographic range of fans is absolutely vast.

"I'm just doubtful. The horse has bolted [for fan ownership] and we don't actually know anything about Thomas either. Has he gone to Raine bank who are overseeing the sale? Does he have the funds to do it?

"And getting money out of fans is different."

For more on the potential United takeover, listen to the latest episode of How to Buy a Football Club on BBC Sounds

Image source, Reuters

Harry Maguire deserves credit for how he recovered after his mistakes contributed to Italy's goal in Thursday's Euro 2024 qualifier, says ex-England goalkeeper Rob Green.

The Manchester United centre-back made two errors in the lead-up to Mateo Retegui's strike in Naples, with the Italians subsequently piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

Green told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast that Maguire demonstrated his strong mentality to bounce back in helping England hold out for a win.

"Those mistakes are obviously going to be highlighted," said Green. "But to respond how he did - he won a lot of headers after that and got a lot of blocks in.

"He was rattled in the second half, but that was like the whole team, and credit to them because they got through it."

England had cruised into a two-goal lead before the break and Green noted Maguire's composure in the first half.

"He was so confident," said Green. "He was very happy on the ball and coming out from the back and had a good understanding with the back five.

"It looked like he was enjoying the challenge of playing the Italian debutant Retegui."

Full discussion on Maguire from 20'30 on BBC Sounds

England striker Marcus Rashford, 25, will hold off signing a new contract at Manchester United until the club's new owners are confirmed. (Sun, external)

Concerns are growing among some parties interested in buying United that the Glazer family may choose not to sell the club. (Guardian, external)

Finally, United will face competition from Liverpool to secure the services of recruitment guru Paul Mitchell, 41, who will leave Monaco this summer. (Mirror, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus says he has submitted a bid to buy Manchester United and hopes to oversee a takeover conducted in conjunction with supporters.

"Any sport club ultimately should belong to its fans. My bid is built on equality with fans," said Zilliacus.

"The current development, where billionaire sheiks and oligarchs take over clubs and control them as their personal playgrounds is not a healthy trend.

"The current market value of the club is just under $3.9bn (£3.17bn). That means that if every one of the fans of the club would join in buying the club, the total sum per fan would amount to less than $6.

"My group will finance half of the sum needed to take over the club, and will ask the fans, through a new company that is being set up for this specific purpose, to participate for the other half.

"If every fan joins it means less than $3 per fan."

Get more on the story here

What do you think of United's ownership race? And what do you think will happen? Let us know here

Manchester United have been charged by the Football Association after players surrounded a match official during Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham at Old Trafford.

Referee Chris Kavanagh faced protests from several United players claiming Willian had handled the ball on the line to keep out Jadon Sancho's shot on goal.

Kavanagh initially signalled for a corner, but eventually awarded a penalty after intervention by VAR - sending off Willian, Fulham manager Marco Silva and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for their protests.

"It is alleged that Manchester United failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or do not behave in a way which is improper," said an FA statement.

United have until Monday to respond to the charge.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone, BBC Sport

US-based Elliot Investment Management has made an offer to buy part of Manchester United.

It is understood Elliott, who previously owned Italian giants AC Milan, tabled the offer ahead of what would have been yesterday’s 9pm deadline before it was shifted to Friday.

Elliott had previously only indicated a willingness to fund any takeover attempt or provide the Glazer family with finance for the redevelopment of Old Trafford and the club’s Carrington training ground.

However, after being amongst those shown round United by the Raine Group, who are handling the Glazer family’s search for ‘strategic alternatives’ at United, they have changed their approach and have offered to purchase a minority stake.

It is not known what percentage they have offered to take and it is understood their move is irrespective of who ends up owning the club.

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group remain the only known bidders for the club, although neither have submitted revised offers amid confusion over the reasons behind the change of deadline.

Both parties have pledged to bid ahead of the new deadline.

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A new episode of the How To Buy A Football Club podcast is available to listen to now on BBC Sounds.

Following the news of the Manchester United deadline day that never was, Sally Nugent, Faisal Islam and Simon Stone unravel the chaos around the second bid deadline.

"We don't quite know what has led to this extension, but the extension has been granted and the bids haven't gone in [for Ineos and Sheikh Jassim], bids from other sources have gone in," said BBC Sport senior football reporter Stone.

"I've got to be honest, there are parts of this story that don't make sense, there are gaps in the story as well that are proving difficult to fill in but hopefully they will be filled in.

"What we are looking at now is a deadline on Friday night, that like last night, you are waiting to be told by sources how many people are involved in this process and really you don't know what is going to happen next."

Listen to the full episode and catch up on previous episodes on BBC Sounds

We asked our fan writer to pick the best save they'd seen from a Manchester United keeper. Edwin van der Sar's penalty save from Nicolas Anelka in the 2008 Champions League final got the nod.

Now it's your turn. Here are some of your selections:

Jonathan: Peter Schmeichel against Rapid Vienna. How a big man like that actually manages to change direction and scoop the ball up and away was nothing short of miraculous.

Ivan: Edwin van der Sar pulled off a blinder from his top-right corner in a match at Lille in 2005. Sadly, United lost the game and it was never shown again. The best of all was never acknowledged.

Tony: Gary Bailey made one of the greatest saves I ever saw while on the wrong side of a 5-3 defeat against West Brom. It was a flying leap across goal to push one round the post at full length from Cyrille Regis.

Chris: Alex Stepney from Eusebio, 1968 European Cup final. The score is 1-1 going into the last few minutes and Eusebio is one on one with Stepney. He blasts the ball as only he could and Stepney didn’t just block it, he caught it. If Eusebio had scored then, they would have won. Eusebio even applauded the save!

Roy: Schmeichel's semi-final replay stoppage-time penalty save from Dennis Bergkamp in 1999. Without that, the treble never happens.

Check out the full piece on great saves here

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United could use Tottenham's interest in English goalkeeper Dean Henderson, 26, to persuade Spurs to sell England striker Harry Kane, 29. (ESPN), external

Eintracht Frankfurt's France forward Randal Kolo Muani, 24, who is a £105m target for Manchester United, has suggested he is open to a move this summer. (L'Equipe, via Mail), external

Several clubs have shown interest in signing English left-back Brandon Williams, 22, from Manchester United. (Football Insider), external

Manchester United are set to sign Watford's English left-back Harry Amass and beat Chelsea to the 16-year-old's signature. (Evening Standard), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Roan, BBC sports editor

BBC Sport has learned that Manchester United officials met eight different potential investors over a 10-day period of high-level meetings recently, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and representatives of Sheikh Jassim.

The amount of their initial bids have not been disclosed (with reports both are in the region of £4.5bn), but they are clearly far below the £5-6bn valuation that the club's American owners - the Glazers - have established.

Whether they - or any other prospective bidders - are able to submit an offer that persuades the Glazers to sell is the next key question.

If not, and with United's fortunes improving significantly in recent months under manager Erik ten Hag, the Americans may well yet decide to retain the club and perhaps instead look to sell a minority stake to the likes of US hedge fund Elliott Investment Management.

Get the very latest from Dan on the Man Utd takeover here

Manchester United have stepped up their interested in Monaco's France centre-back Axel Disasi, 25. (Mail, external)

United and Liverpool lead Barcelona in the race to sign Wolves and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, 26, this summer. (Football Insider, external)

Meanwhile, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani is set to up his bid to buy the Old Trafford club to £5.5bn. (Mirror, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's players will "win the war" and have a better season than fiercest rivals Liverpool, but their display against Fulham in the FA Cup showed they are "still bearing the scars" from the 7-0 hiding at Anfield.

That's the view of BBC Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath, speaking on this week's episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast.

He puts United's flat performance against the Cottagers down to the sheer number of games they have played on four fronts this season, and the aftermath of that game against Liverpool.

"Getting beaten like that must have rocked some of these players to the core," he said. "It was a very hard day to be a United player and it's not going to be a quick and easy thing to come back from it."

Erik ten Hag's side bounced back immediately after that defeat with a win over Real Betis, but were flat for much of the game against Fulham until an extraordinary 72nd minute when the visitors were reduced to nine men and United equalised.

"I bet there are some battle scars in the squad," added McGrath. "We'll finish above Liverpool and win trophies, so we will win the war. But I know some will still be hurting.

"Time is the healer. It's the international break then full steam ahead."

Listen to the full podcast now on BBC Sounds