OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is weighing up whether to keep Dean Henderson as his No1 or use David De Gea after the Spaniard's return from paternity leave.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland remains the hottest property in European football and Manchester United will be meeting his representatives SOON.
But the Red Devils face hot competition from around the Premier League and new director of football John Murtough faces a huge early test of his credentials as he tries to woo the Norwegian hotshot.
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Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
- William Pugh
'TIN MAN'
Scott McTominay has revealed his nickname is ‘Tin Man’ within the Manchester United dressing room, NOT ‘McSauce’.
After netting two goals in just three minutes against Leeds back in December, social media exploded as ‘McSauce’ began trending on Twitter.
But the Red Devils midfielder has now confirmed he is known by a different tag with his teammates. Speaking to ESPN, he said: “I don’t know where that originated from. It’s social media isn’t it? I don’t pay attention to Instagram and Twitter. I tend to stay away.
“I’ll give you a nickname, my old reserve team coach Warren Joyce used to call me the Tin Man. So, yeah. Whenever I was growing up, I was really small, then I went really tall all of a sudden.
“It was quite a big change, but I was really like, my legs, I always struggled to move my hips and stuff. Dean Henderson still calls me it, because we were in the same reserve team together so he still calls me Tin Man to this day.
“And the foreign lads are always looking at him like: ‘Are you alright, why are you calling him that?’ So that’s been one for years now. But we don’t need that one to stick, I don’t like it!”
Credit: Getty - William Pugh
COST AN ARM AND A LEG
The captain's armband thrown to the floor by former Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo in last week’s World Cup qualifier has raised £54,000 for charity.
The item was collected from the Red Star Stadium pitch in Belgrade and soon found its way online.
Posted on auction website Limundo, it received huge attention with the proceeds going to charity. The money raised from selling the armband will be sent to Gavril Djurdjevic.
The six-month-old baby lives in the city of Kragujevac and suffers from spinal muscular atrophy. Humanitarian organisation Together for Life is hoping to raise just over £2million to pay for his treatment.
After 408 bids, the auction has ended with £54,000 raised from the buyer.
The armband was picked up from the pitch by a Serbian firefighter, who posed with the piece before the auction closed.
Credit: EPA - William Pugh
SEEING RED
Manchester United are the ninth dirtiest team in Premier League history.
The Red Devils have had players sent off 67 times – three less than bitter rivals City.
Arsenal top the list with a staggering 98 reds – level with Everton.
- William Pugh
COKE RAID
Two men have been arrested after police seized packages branded with Cristiano Ronaldo’s logo containing 50kg of cocaine.
A United States narcotics investigation found £1.5million worth of the illegal drug stashed in a closet in New York. The cocaine was wrapped in packaging marked with the Juventus star’s ‘CR7’ branding.
Police officers found materials persistent with drug trafficking inside an apartment in Queens, including a loaded firearm, $10,000 in cash, and money counting machines.
An investigation led to 43-year-old Christopher Jones being observed as he entered the apartment on Monday afternoon, as confirmed by a US Justice Department statement.
Jones entered the complex empty handed but left with a suitcase and drove away before being arrested.
The suitcase was found to contain approximately $200,000 in cash. Another man, Wykim Williams, was also arrested and there is no suggestion of a link between the raid and Ronaldo.
- William Pugh
'IT WASN'T ME'
Scott McTominay has revealed he told team-mate Sergio Romero to speak to Lionel Messi about swapping shirts with him.
The Barcelona superstar was given a bloodied nose during a Champions League quarter-final match against Man Utd in 2019, an injury he mistakenly thought was caused by McTominay.
In actual fact, the busted up Argentine had been on the end of a Chris Smalling elbow. And McTominay used Messi’s compatriot Romero to ensure he received Messi’s coveted shirt at full time.
The Scot told the Man Utd club website: “So, whenever we played against him for Barcelona [in 2009], Chris Smalling elbowed him and he’s got blood coming out of his nose. And he thought it was me.
“Because I said to Sergio Romero, ‘please can you ask Messi to get his shirt?’. Sergio comes back in and said, ‘Oh, he thinks you were the one who elbowed him on the halfway line’.
“I said, ‘No, no, no, no – tell him it wasn’t me, so make sure I get that shirt because that’s going in my bedroom’. So he knows it wasn’t me now. Sorry Chrissy, but he was the one who roughed him up a bit.”
Credit: AFP or licensors - William Pugh
NO SMALL FEAT
Everton youngster Thierry Small is reportedly willing to snub offers from Manchester United, Arsenal and Brighton in his pursuit of first team football.
The Toffees have offered the full-back a three-year deal but he is reluctant to sign given the lack of first team opportunities, according to the Express.
Talks between Small's representatives and Everton are ongoing.
But Brighton, Leeds and Brentford are said to be waiting in the wings and are willing to offer the 16-year-old a pathway to first team football.
- William Pugh
FLUSHED OUT
Erling Haaland's dad reportedly hid in a TOILET for 30 minutes to try and keep transfer talks with Barcelona a secret.
The Borussia Dortmund striker’s father Alf Inge was spotted at Barcelona El-Prat Airport on Thursday morning with agent Mino Raiola.
But according to AS, the German’s transfer talks were supposed to go undetected. The plan was for Raiola to exit the airport, drag the cameras away and allow Alf-Inge to leave without hassle.
But that never materialised as the ex-Manchester City defender was caught by the press, leading to wild speculation his son may be on his way to the Nou Camp.
However, Alf-Inge and Raiola also reportedly flew to Madrid for talks with Real over a potential deal. And there are also said to be three other clubs in the running to sign the Norwegian sensation.
Man City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all said to be in the running for the 20-year-old prodigy.
Credit: Instagram @erling.haaland - William Pugh
LUK-ING HELL
Inter Milan have slapped a £102million price tag on former Man Utd striker Romelu Lukaku, according to reports.
Chelsea and Manchester City are among a number of clubs said to be interested in the Belgian.
But the Italians have valued him north of £100m in a bid to deter potential suitors, according to the Mail.
Lukaku has scored 25 times for the Serie A leaders this season.
- William Pugh
DE-PAYING THE PRICE
Liverpool have been linked with a shock move for ex-Manchester United forward Memphis Depay.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have struggled for goals since the turn of the year as question marks begin to be asked about their long-time front three Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah.
And while Diogo Jota has come in this season to freshen things up in an attacking sense, the Reds are thought to be seeking more options in the transfer window.
According to Marca, Liverpool are considering a bid for Depay, who has impressed since joining Lyon in 2017.
In 169 appearances for the French side, he has scored 69 times and provided a further 52 assists.
And with his contract coming to an end this summer, Klopp’s men could be poised to land him on a free transfer.
Credit: EPA
- William Pugh
MORE ON MAN UTD'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST ONLINE ABUSE…
Old Trafford’s group managing director Richard Arnold said : “We are proud that players of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities have pulled on the Manchester United jersey.
“We challenge our fans, and indeed fans of every club, to watch this and think about their own favourite memories, their top teams and their most celebrated players.
“How different would those memories be without the diversity of some of the best players in the world who have graced our game and our club?
“Sadly, footballers across the country continue to receive abuse online, seemingly without fear of censure.
“United has been, and always will be, a club for all.”
- William Pugh
RED FLAG
Manchester United have launched a huge campaign against social media abuse.
The 'See Red' movement urges fans to report any abuse they see online.
Captain Harry Maguire has also backed the campaign and reminded fans: "Your inaction has a consequence."
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