Man Utd transfer news: Alvarez deal hits snag amid second bid for Premier League star. Manchester United are set for a busy summer transfer window after losing the likes of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial as they look to make a push for a top four return
Erik ten Hag will get a third season as Manchester United manager, but the Dutchman could find himself dealing with a rather different squad next term. United have kept faith with Ten Hag despite holding talks with Thomas Tuchel, but his role in transfers is expected to be diluted. Some of the players brought to the club by the former Ajax boss could yet leave this summer, with Casemiro among them.
Part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made some appointments behind the scenes after taking control of football opertions at Old Trafford. Those new hires are likely to be tasked with refreshing a squad which only finished eighth in the Premier League last term.
So far, though, things haven’t gone entirely smoothly for the Red Devils. Here are Mirror Football’s latest transfer lines from the red side of Manchester.
Alvarez injurly could threaten deal
Manchester United’s hopes of signing West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez have been complicated after he was injured on international duty. Alvarez lasted just 30 minutes of Mexico’s Copa America opener against Jamaica before limping off with a hamstring problem.
“We’re going to wait a couple of days to do some testing on him and to know well what he’s got going on,” El Tri manager Jaime Lozano said. It didn’t look good, though, with Alvarez – who played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax – in tears as he left the field of play.
“He’s extremely important,” Lozano continued. “He’s a leader, he understands the game well. He’s important on the pitch and in the locker room as well. You listen to him talk, he has a way with words and when he speaks you listen. This was a tough blow for all of us.”
Marcus Rashford is prepared to stay and fight for his place at Manchester United despite not being included among seven ‘ring-fenced’ players the club are unprepared to sell. Academy graduates Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are part of the seven, along with Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund, but there’s no place for Rashford.
The England international hit 30 goals in Ten Hag’s first season as manager but found things tougher last term. He netted just eight times in what was a tough campaign for plenty of the club’s players as United finished far adrift of the Champions League spots.
Rashford’s tough season saw him left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, prompting some to suggest he needed a move. While United would be open to selling the forward for the right price if he wanted to leave, he appears happy to stay put and attempt to rediscover his best form.
Second Branthwaite bid on the way
Manchester United saw their initial bid for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite knocked back, but they’re not giving up just yet. The first offer was worth an initial £35m plus add-ons, with The Mail reporting they’ll now up that offer.
Everton are understood to want £70m for Branthwaite, who joined from Carlisle United for a reported £1m. The 21-year-old made his England debut this summer after an impressive season at Goodison Park, but narrowly missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s final Euros squad.
