MANCHESTER UNITED are pressing on with training ahead of the Premier League's likely restart in June.
Odion Ighalo is said to be 'very close' to extending his stay at Old Trafford in what would be a big boost for boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But United fans weren't impressed with Jadon Sancho's showing as Dortmund lost to Bayern last night, with some commenting on his fitness and that he looked "overweight".
Get all the Red Devils news and updates here…
STAY ON TRACK
Man Utd and Arsenal are now able to track and trace players during training sessions to avoid coronavirus potentially sweeping through their squads.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Spurs are also among the 11 top-flight sides using the technology which shows how many players come into contact with a certain team-mate during a session – and for how long.
The 20 clubs tested their players and staff for a third time yesterday with just eight positive results for the virus from the opening two rounds.
While players will continually be tested during the weeks, a player could catch the virus and spread it around the team – once full contact training resumes – before the next test days later.
Football performance analysis company STATSports also helped the Premier League in their blueprint for Project Restart and the phased training.
PAUL TO PAY FOR
Man Utd will settle for recouping the £89million they spent on Paul Pogba if they agree to sell him, according to reports.
But a dream return to Juventus could be off the cards due to the midfielder's £15m-a-year wage demands.
Pogba, 27, has just one year left on his current deal at Old Trafford and continues to be linked with a transfer away.
United demanded as much as £150m for him last year but after a turbulent season with ankle injuries – limiting the Frenchman to just eight appearances – as well as coronavirus, they are likely to drop their asking price.
And Corriere dello Sport believe an offer of £89m would be enough for the club to sell.
That is the exact figure Manchester United paid Juventus to re-sign Pogba back in 2016 after four successful years in Italy.
GOING ON TORR
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly putting together a bid for Valencia forward Ferran Torres.
The Standard report that Unitedwant to “make a firm offer right now” to lead the race for Torres should they miss out on Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho.
Torres is under contract with the La Liga club until June 2021 and has a release clause of £92m written into his current package – but Los Che may be forced to accept a much lesser price this summer if they cash in this summer.
SAN-TASTIC FIGURES
Jadon Sancho's amazing stats prove he is “ready to play for Liverpool and Manchester United”.
That's the verdict of ex-Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham midfielder Steffen Freund as Premier League giants queue up for £100million-rated England attacker Sancho.
With Chelsea too reportedly keen on Sancho, Freund told talkSPORT: “Jadon is ready to play for Liverpool or Man United, no question, because his stats are unbelievable.”
“That shows he can take the next step.
“In the Borussia Dortmund side with [Erling] Haaland, [Julian] Brandt improving, with Emre Can signing, with changing to a back-three that suits Sancho.”
FIGHTING FIT
Man Utdplayers have returned to training fit and healthy, delighting medical staff.
SunSport understands that not a single player has reported back overweight despite the coronavirus delay to the season.
Two or three stars, including keeper David De Gea, have returned to social distancing sessions LIGHTER because of doing less weight training.
Conditioning staff are said to be “chuffed to bits” that the players have been looking after themselves in lockdown.
United are concentrating more on cardio exercises this week and “are hoping the restrictions will be lifted quicker” so they can introduce some of the gym equipment.
This could mean machines and weight-trainers are moved outdoors to fit with any restrictions.
OD TO JOY
Odion Ighalois “very close” to reaching an agreement to stay at Manchester United, his agent has confirmed.
The former Watford striker is set to return to Shanghai Shenhua when his six-month loan deal expires on Sunday.
However, United are hoping to prolong the 30-year-old's stay at Old Trafford with the Premier League season now due to finish in July.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that the Red Devils remain in talks but Ighalo’s agent has revealed that an agreement is close.
Ladi Salami told FootMercato: “On the one hand, the Super Eagle [Nigerian] feels very good in Manchester with which it is very close to a salary agreement.
“Negotiations with the Chinese are ongoing and are going well.
“On the other hand, in view of the latest regulations in force in the Middle Empire, it is almost impossible to offer such amounts.”
TED TALKS
Teddy Sheringham pulled no punches as he launched a scathing attack on Paul Pogba, slamming the midfielder for being “cocky and arrogant”.
He said: When you look at Pogba, yes, he may be a talented boy, but does he have the same mentality?
“Does he really dig deep and get Manchester United out of the mire when the going gets tough? For me the answer is no. He gives off the wrong vibe as a Manchester United player.
“Yes, it's good to be cocky and arrogant at the right times, Dwight Yorke had that as well, a big smile on his face when he played.
“But Yorke had a desire to do the right things at the right times. You've got to have that, and I don't think Paul Pogba gives you that.
“He would be one that would need to go so that you can get someone else in with the right mentality and desire to drive Manchester United out of the position they are in and move the club forward.”
JADON SANCHO LATEST
Borussia Dortmund may struggle to hold on to Jadon Sancho after their Bundesliga hopes were all but ended by Bayern Munich.
Joshua Kimmich's first-half strike was enough to separate the two sides at an empty Westfalenstadion, which left Dortmund trailing Bayern by seven points with six games to go.
Sancho started on the bench as he continues to make a recovery from a calf injury and struggled to have an impact when he came on.
Manchester United and Chelsea are among the clubs interested in signing the 20-year-old.
And according to the Evening Standard, Sancho – now in his third season at Dortmund – may be ready to return to the Premier League and seek a new challenge.
OD ONE OUT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits he wants to extend Odion Ighalo’s loan deal with the striker set to leave at the end of the week.
Solskjaer told MUTV: “The loan deal went until the end of May now, so obviously he’s supposed to be going back.
“We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, and allowed him to play for his dream club.
“It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us.
“At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
GOOD MORNING, MAN UTD FANS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford will both be available when the Premier League returns.
Pogba has featured just EIGHT times this season after undergoing surgery on a foot injury – and been strongly linked with a move away.
Rashford hasn’t featured since January after suffering a double fracture in his back.
SunSport told you all United players are in the good books having returned to their Carrington training base without putting on weight during the lockdown.
Meanwhile, Utd fans tuning in to check out Jadon Sancho in Dortmund's clash against Bayern Munich were left somewhat disappointed with his performance – and questioning whether he had piled on the pounds.
Finally, Odion Ighalo's agent says his man is “very close” to reaching an agreement with Man Utd.
The Nigerian's loan spell in the Premier League from parent club Shanghai Shenhua comes to an end this week, but Ladi Salami said: “We are very close to a salary agreement.”
TWO GOOD
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford will both be available when the Premier League returns.
Pogba has featured just EIGHT times this season after undergoing surgery on a foot injury – and been strongly linked with a move away.
Rashford hasn’t featured since January after suffering a double fracture in his back.
SunSport told you all United players are in the good books having returned to their Carrington training base without putting on weight during the lockdown.
AL STAY PUT
Former Inter striker Ruben Sosa has told the club to keep hold of Alexis Sanchez.
The 31-year-old Man Utd forward joined the Serie A side on a season-long loan last year but has failed to make a mark.
Speaking to La Cuarta, Sosa said: “I was with him in the hotel where he lived in Milan. For me he's a great player, with a long career, especially with his national team, he's very respected.
“He hasn't been given the right time, he can't play so little, he needs to stay on the pitch for several games, for ninety minutes. He needs time to go back to be the player he is.
“He needs two games to gain confidence, but he needs to do it whilst starting and playing the full game.
“I'd keep Alexis for another year at Inter. He's a goal scorer, physically he's very well and still has a lot to give. He's a guy who has scored a lot of goals and will continue to do so.”
BIG NAME SIGNING
Fans tuning in to get a glimpse of Jadon Sancho, including Man Utd supporters, were left somewhat disappointed with his performance.
Joshua Kimmich's exquisite chip handed Bayern Munich a one-goal victory, and probably an eighth straight Bundesliga title, in a game which saw Sancho come on for the second half.
And some viewers on Twitter even said they believe the England international was overweight.
OLD LADY COUNTS PENNIES
Juventus have told Paul Pogba to drop his £11million-a-year wage demands if he wants a return to the Old Lady.
According to Tuttosport, the World Cup winner will have to lower his salary expectations and can expect a lower rate than he earns at Old Trafford.
Pogba was a world record £89m signing when he re-joined United in 2016.
GREAL DEAL
Man Utd tried to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in 2012, former boss Alex McLeish has claimed.
The midfielder, 24, is being linked with a summer move to Old Trafford.
But Big Eck says United's interest goes way back.
He said: “At that moment [2012] we felt people were getting in contact with him to leave Villa.
“That was one of the main reasons to get him involved with us [in the first team].
“He would have been on the bench anyway because of the casualties we had. He was the best youngster coming through.
“When we played Man United we heard he was in a restaurant being courted by one of the agents to try and get him to Man United.
“We were a bit alarmed about that so we fought well to keep him. We knew he loved Villa, his old man as well. We had them in speaking to them. They’re lovely people.”
OD MAN IN?
Odion Ighalo's agent says his man is “very close” to reaching an agreement with Man Utd.
The Nigerian’s loan spell at Old Trafford expires this week.
His future is still unclear, with reports claiming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to keep him.
But a decision is being complicated over talks with Ighalo's parent club Shanghai Shenhua.
Ladi Salami said: “On the one hand, the Super Eagle [Nigerian] feels very good in Manchester, with which it is very close to a salary agreement.
“Negotiations with the Chinese are ongoing and are going well.”
HEN-D OF THE ROAD
Man Utd are set to let Dean Henderson stay at Sheffield United for the rest of season – despite his loan deal expiring in June.
The England hopeful, 23, is currently on loan at Bramall Lane with United chiefs facing a moral dilemma over whether to recall him.
United and the Blades are both vying for the final Champions League qualification spot, worth £60million.
But Old Trafford chiefs are set to be kind and allow him to finish off the 2019-20 season at Sheffield United.
The current campaign has been on pause since March after the coronavirus pandemic forced all sport into lockdown.
Premier League chiefs are now hoping to restart next month, with Friday June 12 the initial proposed date, although some reports claim it could be pushed back to June 26.
OD ONE OUT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits he wants to extend Odion Ighalo’s loan deal with the striker set to leave at the end of the week.
The Red Devils boss told MUTV: “The loan deal went until the end of May now, so obviously he’s supposed to be going back.
“We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, and allowed him to play for his dream club.
“It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us.
“At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
BEATEN TOON IT
Newcastle have opened talks with Philippe Coutinho and lead Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign him, according to reports.
The Magpies have moved to land the ex-Liverpool man ahead of their imminent mega-money Saudi backed takeover.
Reports earlier today suggested the Gunners plan to start discussions with the 27-year-old soon while United and Chelsea have been linked for months.
But the Toon have beaten the Premier League trio to the punch and begun talks with the playmaker and his camp, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
SOL PROPRIETOR
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Man Utd are doing all they can to keep Odion Ighalo, despite his loan deal running out at the end of this week.
He told the club website: “The loan deal went until the end of May now, so obviously he’s supposed to be going back.
“We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, and allowed him to play for his dream club.
”It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us.
“At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
STRIKING GOLD
United are considering moves for Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele, according to reports.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking at buying a younger, explosive striker in the summer.
According to Goal, two of those on his wish list are Werner and Dembele.
At 24 and 23 respectively, they have enough experience to come straight into the starting XI but should have their best years ahead of them.
GIFT OF THE RAB
Real Madrid have reportedly joined the race to sign Rabbi Matondo from Schalke.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have been heavily linked to the former Manchester City academy star.
According to Diario Madridista, Madrid president Florentino Perez is keeping a close eye on Matondo.
It is reported that Matondo's progress in the Bundesliga has “not gone unnoticed” by Zinedine Zidane.
'LOOKING SHARP'
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed how the Manchester United squad have been getting on at training.
During an MUTV Group Chat interview, he said: “We're back in training which has been great.
“The boys have been fantastic, the weather's been good and they've enjoyed.”
Before he added: “Everyone's looking sharp, everyone's been in a good mood and we've been splitting up in groups so fours and five together and they've really done well.
“Hopefully, they can as I said, step up and go to bigger training groups but so far it's been good.”
THREE & EASY
The Premier League have finally given the go head for 3pm games to shown live on TV – with some matches even set to be aired for FREE.
Top-flight bosses have dropped its opposition to the game being shown to compensate for them being behind closed doors.
The long-standing blackout was lifted last month, but Prem bosses initially claimed they still wouldn't allow 3pm matches to be broadcast.
But now they have had a “change of heart”, according to The Times – with the previously blocked games now allowed to be shown.
There are 92 Premier League matches left to be played this season, with the restart pencilled in for June 12, although some fear it may be more like June 26.
Every match will be broadcast via some medium to make up for the fact fans are not allowed to watch live from inside the stadium.
EXCLUSIVE
United's players have returned to training fit and healthy, delighting medical staff.
SunSport understands that not a single player has reported back overweight despite the coronavirus delay to the season.
Two or three stars, including keeper David De Gea, have returned to social distancing sessions LIGHTER because of doing less weight training.
Conditioning staff are said to be “chuffed to bits” that the players have been looking after themselves in lockdown.
United are concentrating more on cardio exercises this week and “are hoping the restrictions will be lifted quicker” so they can introduce some of the gym equipment.
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