Manchester United and Scotland legend Denis Law has passed away at the age of 84.

Law – who scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for the Red Devils – confirmed in August 2021 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

Known as The King by United fans, Law is one of the United Trinity, immortalised in a statue outside Old Trafford alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best.

Law’s family confirmed the news on Friday night. A statement read: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle but finally he is now at peace.

“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently. We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference. Thank you.”

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Law is the only Scottish player to win the Ballon d’Or, doing so in 1964.

He won the European Cup, two English titles and the FA Cup in his 11 years at Old Trafford and scored 30 goals in 54 caps for his country.

Law was born in Aberdeen on 24 February, 1940 and came through the Huddersfield Town youth academy.

He moved to Manchester City in 1960, joined Italian side Torino a year later and returned to England for United in 1962, spending 11 years at the club before returning to City for a year.

Law became the last remaining member of the United Trinity in 2023 following the death of Charlton.

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Ruben Amorim appears to have given up on signing Nuno Mendes from Paris Saint-Germain, with a Premier League alternative now named as his ‘preferred’ replacement for Tyrell Malacia.

Malacia missed the whole of last season through injury and has made just 44 appearances in total for United despite joining them in the summer of 2022.

He’s made two Premier League starts under Amorim but was hooked at half-time in both of them and it appears the Red Devils boss has seen enough.

CaughtOffside claim Amorim is willing to see the back of the 25-year-old with Juventus ‘making enquiries about’ his availability this month.

The report adds:

‘The Italian football giants are looking to loan the player until the end of the season and then make the move permanent in the summer.

‘Importantly, sources have also advanced that the Bianconeri are ready to cover the bulk of Malacia’s £75,000-a-week salary.

‘Borussia Dortmund are also understood to be interested in a player who is in good form and, apparently, is keen to make a move to the Bundesliga.’

With Malacia’s exit and Luke Shaw’s horrific fitness record United will need to sign a new left-back this month and although previous reports have suggested Nuno Mendes is Amorim’s top target, they now appear to have admitted defeat in that chase.

Mendes is unhappy with the extension offers tabled by PSG and is thought to be keen on reuniting with Amorim, whom he played under at Sporting, but the Ligue 1 side’s £51m demand is beyond the Red Devils’ reach.

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CaughtOffside now claim that Amorim has identified Wolves star Rayan Ait-Nouri as his ‘first-choice left-back’.

It’s not clear how much United would have to pay, with previous reports claiming Wolves also want £51m while others claim the Algerian has a £38m release clause, or whether they may be able to strike a loan deal, either with an obligation or option to buy.

The 23-year-old has managed three goals and five assists in 20 Premier League appearances this season, with only Fulham’s Antonee Robinson registering more goal involvements.

Liverpool have also been linked with Air-Nouri in the past but are instead thought to be closing in on a deal for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, who has reportedly chosen the Reds over Man Utd and Man City as his next club, with Arne Slot wanting the Hungary international as the long-term replacement for Andy Robertson.

Manchester United are ‘seriously interested’ in signing Jamie Gittens, whose exit from Borussia Dortmund is ‘very likely’ on one condition.

Ruben Amorim is desperate to bolster his United squad with a 3-1 win over Southampton on Thursday papering over significant cracks evident in that display and throughout his short tenure at Old Trafford.

That victory lifted the Red Devils into 12th place but they remain closer to the relegation zone than the top four having won just seven of their 21 Premier League games this season.

The problem for Amorim and United is that they need to sell before they buy this month with PSR regulations limiting their spending.

That’s why previously ‘untouchable’ players now have a price, with Napoli pushing to sign Garnacho and Chelsea keeping tabs on contract negotiations with Kobbie Mainoo.

Marcus Rashford’s presumed exit will provide some wiggle room on the wage bill, but not all that much given United will likely have to subsidise his loan move by paying a significant chunk of his wages.

In the main, Amorim will probably have to make do with what he’s got for the rest of the season, with the required rebuild more likely to start (or continue depending how you look at it) in the summer.

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And Florian Plettenberg claims United are ‘seriously interested’ in Gittens, who – much like Jadon Sancho – left the Manchester City academy for Dortmund, and has managed 16 goals and 14 assists in 83 appearances for the Bundesliga slide.

He’s got seven goals and four assists this term, with that form also catching the eye of rivals Bayern Munich, who have ‘already held talks’ with his representatives over a summer move, while United keep tabs on his situation.

Plettenberg further claims that the England U21 international’s exit is ‘very likely’ if Dortmund fail to qualify for the Champions League this term, which is presumably also bad news for United, whose chances of making into Europea’s showcase competition are slim to none.

Plettenberg wrote on X: ‘Jamie #Gittens remains a top transfer target for FC Bayern in the upcoming summer. Bayern have already held talks with his management, as they aim to sign at least one top winger. All exclusively revealed in December.

‘Should Borussia Dortmund fail to qualify for the Champions League, a departure of Gittens in the summer becomes very likely. #BVB FC Bayern are aware of this!

‘Also seriously interested: Manchester United. #MUFC@SkySportDE’

Chelsea have ‘made enquiries’ about Man Utd winger Alejandro Garnacho and Red Devils target Jamie Gittens, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Garnacho has been the subject of strong interest from Napoli with the Serie A club reportedly having an approach of around £40m turned down by Man Utd.

Man Utd are believed to be keen on hanging on to Garnacho despite his poor form with the Argentina international one of the hottest prospects at Old Trafford.

It is believed that the Red Devils ‘will begin to consider a deal’ if Garnacho asks to leave for Napoli and that the Serie A side offer over £50m.

Tottenham and Atletico Madrid have also been linked with a move for the Man Utd winger with The Athletic journalist Ornstein confirming that Chelsea have also ‘made enquiries’.

Ornstein wrote on The Athletic‘s transfer blog:

‘Chelsea have made enquiries about Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens of Borussia Dortmund as they consider options to bolster in the wide attacking areas.

‘The 20-year-old wingers are among multiple candidates of interest to Chelsea as they explore potential signings.

‘Conversations remain at an early stage, with Garnacho and Gittens fitting the profile the west London club are pondering to bolster head coach Enzo Maresca’s squad.’

The news of Chelsea’s interest in Gittens comes after Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed that Man Utd are ‘seriously interested’ in the Borussia Dortmund star.

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Plettenberg continued by insisting that Gittens exit from Dortmund is ‘very likely’ if the Bundesliga side fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.

German reporter Plettenberg wrote on X: ‘Jamie #Gittens remains a top transfer target for FC Bayern in the upcoming summer. Bayern have already held talks with his management, as they aim to sign at least one top winger. All exclusively revealed in December.

‘Should Borussia Dortmund fail to qualify for the Champions League, a departure of Gittens in the summer becomes very likely. #BVB FC Bayern are aware of this!

‘Also seriously interested: Manchester United. #MUFC@SkySportDE.’

Former Man Utd defender Paul Parker reckons the Red Devils could replace Garnacho if he was to leave the club in the next couple of transfer windows.

Parker told Betfred: “Regarding Garnacho, if someone new were to come in, I don’t think he holds the same as [Kobbie] Mainoo. Would he be missed in that sense? I would personally say no, not at all really, and doubt he would be missed too much if he were to go.

“It appears that he is already looking for that move anyway and will go once he thinks that a big club abroad is going to be better than Manchester United. I think he will only find out once he gets there that it won’t be the same. He will understand that where he is now is virtually as good as it gets, and he needs to show everything.”

Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford is ‘close’ to leaving the Red Devils for Barcelona but only if they guarantee him a starting role, according to reports.

Rashford made it clear last month that he is ready for a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford after failing to hit good form over the last 18 months.

The England international was left out of the squad for the Manchester Derby by Ruben Amorim before Rashford announced in an interview with journalist Henry Winter that he is likely to leave Man Utd.

Despite coming back into the squad for the 2-0 loss to Newcastle on December 30, Rashford has not played a single minute since the Red Devils beat Viktoria Plzen on December 12.

A report last week insisted that Milan were pushing for Noah Okafor to join Bundesliga side Leipzig in January ‘to allow them to go all in for Rashford’.

But Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze revealed earlier this week that RB Leipzig have ‘cancelled the transfer’ after the results of his medical showed that Okafor is “not ready for action”.

Hinze wrote on X: ‘Exclusive: RB Leipzig have stopped the Okafor transfer! The results of the medical check showed that Okafor is not an immediate help. The Swiss player is not ready for action. As a result, Leipzig have cancelled the transfer. Okafor will not move to Leipzig! Deal collapsed.’

That has seen rumours Man Utd forward Rashford could join Borussia Dortmund or Barcelona instead before the end of the January transfer window.

Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg reported on Thursday that Dortmund are now “pushing” for Rashford as they look to secure a loan deal for Man Utd man.

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Transfer expert Plettenberg wrote on X: ‘Sebastian Kehl and Nuri Sahin are now pushing to sign Marcus Rashford!

‘New talks have taken place, with Borussia Dortmund aiming to secure him on loan.

‘The decision to pursue Rashford was made after Friday’s defeat, as exclusively revealed.

‘However, AC Milan are also very concrete in their interest and are actively trying to secure a deal themselves.’

And now reports in Spain claim that Rashford ‘is close to being the reinforcement in attack’ for Barcelona and that he ‘arrives with a direct message’.

The England international has ‘become the club’s main target for this winter transfer market’ but Rashford ‘has made his intentions clear from the beginning: if he comes to Barca, it is to be a starter.’

Man Utd forward Rashford ‘wants sporting guarantees before accepting the challenge of dressing for Barca’ and Hansi Flick ‘knows that his arrival will generate direct competition, especially with Raphinha , who is going through a great moment in the team’.

Rashford is convinced that ‘competition with Raphinha would not be a problem, but rather a motivation’ as the England and Man Utd player can play on either flank or through the middle.