SHEIKH JASSIM is set to complete his £6billion takeover of Manchester United by mid-October, SunSport can exclusively reveal.
Elsewhere, £72million signing Rasmus Hojlund could make his debut at Old Trafford this weekend.
Meanwhile, Man United have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat
Fiorentina have reportedly slashed their asking price to £21million amid the Red Devils' interest in the midfielder.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from Old Trafford…
- By Tony Robertson
BREAKING: Man Utd Amrabat boost
Manchester United have been handed a transfer boost after Sofyan Amrabat's price was reportedly slashed by Fiorentina.
According to Corriere Dello Sport, the Moroccan's asking price has been slashed to just £21million.
It comes with the news that he has also been left out of Fiorentina's Europa Conference League clash with Rapid Vienna
Boss Vicenzo Italiano appeared to take a dig at Amrabat when assessing his squad ahead of the game and said: "There are still a few days left until the end of the transfer market.
"I only see guys who are happy to be part of this team, so let's go ahead and work."
Credit: Getty - By Tony Robertson
Man Utd v Forest: Odds
Latest odds
- Man Utd 3/10 to win
- Draw 17/4
- Nottm Forest to win 9/1
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication
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Red Devils hope to put Spurs defeat behind them in tasty Prem clash
Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest: All you need to know
part 2Is Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest on TV?
- Unfortunately, Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest will NOT be broadcast live on TV in the UK.
- This is due to the Saturday 3pm football blackout law.
- However, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the entire action through our live blog.
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Red Devils hope to put Spurs defeat behind them in tasty Prem clash
- By Tony Robertson
Startling stats
Man Utd's disjointed start to the season has been well-documented.
With that reality, United have faced a shocking number of shots against them so far.
They will need to rectify this issue if they are to have any success going forward.
- By Tony Robertson
Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest: All you need to know
When is Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest?
- Manchester United and Nottingham Forest will face off on Saturday, August 26.
- It is scheduled to get underway at 3pm BST.
- Old Trafford in Manchester is the allocated arena for this huge fixture and it can host approximately 74,310 fans.
- Goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot was enough to help United see off Forest when the sides last met in April.
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Red Devils hope to put Spurs defeat behind them in tasty Prem clash
Arsenal icon says Mount at United is not working
Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit has claimed Mason Mount would have been better off staying at Chelsea.
Speaking to BettingSites.co.uk, he said: "I was very frustrated by the fact that Mason Mount asked to leave Chelsea. We could feel his frustration for months last season.
"He was injured for a while and he didn't play too many games towards the end. His contract issues had been really poorly managed by the club.
"I think he is suffering from last season right now and the fact that he signed for Manchester United means he is under huge pressure.
"He has been struggling in midfield and Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Mount is not working at all at the moment. Maybe it will work in the future but at the moment it's not working at all.
"I was very upset because Mount came from the Chelsea academy.
"With all the money that Chelsea have spent in the last eighteen months, nearly a billion pounds, they are not able to give a proper respectful contract to one of their homegrown English players in the dressing room?
"It’s ridiculous. He was also loved by the fans but you cannot give him the same money as the players you have bought for a hundred million from the outside? I can't understand this."
United face missing Onana for four games
Erik ten Hag faces losing Andre Onana for at least four games this season.
It comes after it was revealed Onana is back in the International fold for Cameroon after his public fallout with manager Rigobert Song at the World Cup.
Onana retired following the incident but reports are suggesting a U-turn is on the cards.
And this may mean United could lose Onana for a month due to the African Cup of Nations.
Ex-United star set to join former club
Alexis Sanchez is moving closer to an Inter Milan return after Joaquin Correa agreed a move to Marseille.
The French outfit could pay £13m in total for the move according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, which will then free up Sanchez to join Inter again.
The deal will start off as a loan that will cost roughly £1.7m before a option of £13m is considered.
However, should Marseille make it into the Champions League next season, they will need to pay an obligatory fee of £10m.
Sanchez will reportedly earn £2.5m in his one-year deal.
Gabri Veiga set to head to Saudi Arabia
Gabri Veiga is set to complete a transfer to Saudi Arabia, reports suggest.
Fabrizio Romano revealed the transfer late last night.
While he does not mention a fee being to Celta Vigo, he states Al-Ahil coach Matthias Jaissle was crucial in convincing the player.
The 21-year-old previously held interest from Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea.
- By Tony Robertson
Former Man Utd doctor heads ref dietary demands
Former Manchester United doctor Steve McNally is believed to be the mastermind behind a stunning new list of dietary demands for Premier League referees.
The list, reported by the Daily Mail, sees foods in high in fibre and co-called "fatty foods" banned from the menu – which includes sandwiches and nuts.
Instead, items such as breakfast bars, rice cakes and fresh fruit are what refs will now be able to snack on before a game.
However, post-match refs want to dine on protein – such as chicken, beef or fish, and veg.
Meanwhile, fishcakes and sweet potato wedges will line up with breaded chicken salad wraps' and stir-frys, curries and pasta dishes.
McNally left United after 16 years to become the support performance director at PGMOL.
Hojlund return date
Rasmus Hojlund is set to come to Manchester United’s rescue this weekend.
The Red Devils have recorded just one goal in the first two games and that is from centre-back Raphael Varane.
But £72million striker Hojlund, on whom so much rests, is now ready to start training with the full squad.
He has suffered a slight injury in pre-season training with his former club Atalanta.
That left him out of the opening games which saw United luckily edge past Wolves 1-0 and lose away at Tottenham 2-0.
Now Man Utd are hopeful he will be fit enough to be on the bench for Saturday’s 3pm kick-off against Nottingham Forest.
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A-HOJ THERE Man Utd handed huge Hojlund boost with date set for £72m signing’s debut
- By Nyle Smith
Bruno Fernandes slammed
Micah Richards has branded Bruno Fernandes' body language "pathetic".
Fernandes was visibly exasperated throughout Manchester United's 2-0 loss to Totttenham Hotspur last weekend.
"Pellistri made a run, Fernandes didn't see him and [so] he made a different run but because he wasn't where [Fernandes] wanted him to be, he's going off at Pellestri.
"It's every time. I saw an interview with him the other day and he said he needs to be emotional when he performs because it makes him play better.
"'But I feel like his body language on the pitch is disturbing the rest of the team and it's just not a good look at all. It's pathetic at times."
- By Sam Dymond
It's Alvaro and out for youngster
Fernandez is on his way out of Manchester United – but don't worry, it's not that one.
Because while captain Bruno Fernandes stays put, youngster Alvaro Fernandez is heading away from Old Trafford and to Granada on a season-loan.
The 20-year-old left-back looked the part for the Red Devils in pre-season, having enjoyed a successful spell on loan at Preston last term.
However, United officials feel his development is best served elsewhere, and that's in the top-flight back in his native Spain.
The Manchester Evening News suggest that the only stumbling block to the deal is that Granada would prefer an option to make the deal permanent which United are keen to avoid.
- By Sam Dymond
Next five for Red Devils
Manchester United may not have made an eye-catching start to the new Premier League season but have a great opportunity to lay down a marker this weekend.
Erik ten Hag's team host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, having won their last ten games against the Tricky Trees in all competitions.
United are also are unbeaten in 30 matches at Old Trafford, and have won their last seven in the Premier League on home soil.
However, the two games that follow either side of the international break have an all-together trickier look about them; United go to Arsenal first and then face stylish Brighton.
And at the end of September, there's a short trip to Burnley – the side that beat a United team 3-0 behind closed doors yesterday – and a home match with Crystal Palace.
- By Sam Dymond
Viola lower Amrabat asking price
Fiorentina have lowered their asking price for Sofyan Amrabat – and that should tempt Manchester United to the table.
Reports in Italy suggest that the Viola are now prepared to accept an offer of £21m for the Moroccan midfielder.
The Red Devils have been keen on Amrabat for several weeks, and are suddenly in need of another midfielder following the injury suffered by Mason Mount.
It was confirmed yesterday that Amrabat had been training on his own, and the Florence club have left him out of their squad for the weekend's game with Lecce.
- By Sam Dymond
Are Glazers stalling on sale?
Despite reports yesterday that a date had been set for the Qataris takeover of Manchester United, some media outlets are suggesting that it is not yet a done deal.
Both The Mail and Sky Sports believe that the Glazers are still deliberating as to whether to sell the club or not, and there may even be disagreement within the family ownership as to their best action.
Meanwhile, Kaveh Solhekol says 'senior figures at Manchester United are in the dark' as to the latest with the takeover despite the Qatari bid having support within the clubb.
- By Sam Dymond
Mount-ing problems offers Scott lifeline
Mason Mount could be out injured for up to six weeks with the hamstring injury picked up in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.
But the England international's disappointment may offer forgotten man Scott McTominay another chance to shine at Old Trafford.
McTominay looked on his way out of the club after United accepted an offer from West Ham earlier in this transfer window.
Now, with the Red Devils unable to get a deal for Sofyan Amrabat over the line, there is every chance that the Scottish star starts alongside Casemiro against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
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MASON WOE Man Utd blow with Mount set to miss key games handing lifeline to ‘unwanted’ star
- By Sam Dymond
United target 'training on his own'
Manchester United transfer target Sofyan Amrabat has been omitted from the Fiorentina first team squad as his future remains in doubt.
The Red Devils have been tracking the Moroccan midfielder for several months but are yet to make an offer that meets the Serie A club's valuation.
Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Italiano is quoted as saying: "Amrabat is training on his own. He won’t travel with us for the next game."
The Florence club have supposedly given United and other suitors to the end of this week to make a serious bid for the 27-year-old.
- By Sam Dymond
New captain Fernandes under fire
Bruno Fernandes was meant to lead by example after being handed the Manchester United captain's armband by Erik ten Hag in the summer.
But so far the Portuguese playmaker has struggled to make a positive impact on the pitch with the Red Devils looking sluggish in their opening two games.
Subsequently, fans, pundits and FPL players have been critical of the 28-year-old, and now the statisticians at Squawka have shone a light on United's midfield.
They posted a graphic that showed Manchester United's midfield has been dribbled beyond more than any other in the Premier League – and Fernandes is the player to have lost the most such challenges.
Credit: @Squawka Twitter READ MORE SUN STORIES
GONE TOO FER Sky Sports pundit slams Bruno Fernandes’ ‘pathetic’ body language
- By Sam Dymond
Klap trap! United lure Dino
Manchester United are in talks to signing Croatian hot shot Dino Klapija.
Fabrizio Romano has stated that Old Trafford officials are currently negotiating with representatives of the 16-year-old striker.
The US-born Klapija is currently on the books of NK Kustosija, and has captured the attention of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Chelsea have shown a key interest but, at this moment, RB Leipzig are United's biggest rivals for the teenager's signature.
- By Sam Dymond
United will miss out on top four
Manchester United and Arsenal will miss out on making the top four this season, according to one former Premier League star.
That’s the view of ex-Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, who is tipping his old club to overhaul both the Red Devils and the Gunners despite another period of upheaval at Stamford Bridge.
In an interview with Betway, the Frenchman said: “I think Chelsea will struggle to get in the top four – but I think they’ll still do it.
“Manchester City are above all teams in the league, then I would pick Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea after that.
“It’s a transition season for them, but I’d pick them over Manchester United and Arsenal. To make it in the top four now is very difficult.”
- By Sam Dymond
Turf-ed out! United suffer friendly defeat
Manchester United have not given their watching fans too much to get excited by so far this season – and it's not any better when the football is behind the scenes.
The Red Devils took on fellow Premier League team Burnley in a friendly fixture behind closed doors at their Carrington training ground this afternoon, and were promptly dispatched 3-0.
It is understood that Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, Jonny Evans, Facundo Pellistri and Hannibal Mejbri all started for United.
- By Sam Dymond
Maguire expected to stay put
Manchester United will NOT sign any new defenders before the transfer window closes next week.
And that's because they fully expect Harry Maguire to remain at the club until January at least.
The former United captain looked set for a £30m switch to West Ham earlier this month before negotiations broke down.
Samuel Luckhurst at the Manchester Evening News reports that the England centre-back rejected the Red Devils' pay-off of £6m, and is instead holding out for a figure almost double that amount.
- By Dylan Terry
Heaton praises Varane's mentality
Manchester United's back-up keeper Tom Heaton has named Raphael Varane as the member of the Red Devils squad with the best mentality.
He told the club website: "Of course, you don’t play for Manchester United without being strong mentally, I think that pretty much goes throughout the squad.
"But I’m going to go with Rapha (Raphael Varane) with what he’s done in the past at other clubs and his performances since he’s walked through the door here.
"He has a really strong mentality with how he goes about it, how he performs in all the games he plays, whatever he’s doing day-to-day.
"He’s not massively outspoken but when he speaks, people usually listen."
- By Dylan Terry
Richards slams Fernandes behaviour
Micah Richards has slammed Bruno Fernandes' body language as "pathetic" on The Rest Is Football podcast.
The former Manchester City defender said: "It's getting embarrassing now. The young lad Pellistri comes on. Fernandes is trying to get his team playing and I totally understand he's frustrated.
"Pellistri made a run, Fernandes didn't see him and [so] he made a different run but because he wasn't where [Fernandes] wanted him to be, he's going off at Pellestri.
"It's every time. I saw an interview with him the other day and he said he needs to be emotional when he performs because it makes him play better.
"But I feel like his body language on the pitch is disturbing the rest of the team and it's just not a good look at all. It's pathetic at times."
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