Manchester United are ready to ramp up their pursuit of Newcastle maestro Sandro Tonali, according to the latest report from Italy. Best in England Despite enduring a torrid start to life on Tyneside after a ten-month ban for breaching betting rules, Tonali has bounced back to establish himself as one of the finest operators in the Premier League. Combining the technique and tactical awareness for which Italian midfielders are famed with an unrelenting engine and excellent ball-winning abilities, the 26-year-old is effective across all phases of play. It’s little wonder that Newcastle’s struggles this season, with the club currently stranded in thirteenth place and with no hope of qualifying for Europe, have put England’s biggest clubs on red alert over a potential raid. United are joined by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in their admiration, while Serie A giant Juventus are hoping to seal a return to Italy if finances permit. However, the Magpies are intent on retaining their best players amidst growing unrest at St James’ Park. They are expected to demand up to £100 million to let Tonali leave the north-east of England, which was understood to have cooled United’s interest — but that looks set to change now. United ready to strike Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web claims the Red Devils are “ready to submit a suitable offer” for the Lodi native. United are described as “ahead of the game” and have communicated their intent to intensify their interest. While it is not specified whether this message has been delivered to the player or his club, it is believed to be the former. Interestingly, the Italian outlet contends the price is now around the £86 million mark, potentially explaining why United have reignited a pursuit. The club’s primary target is understood to be Elliot Anderson, but Manchester City are frontrunners for the Nottingham Forest and England star’s signature. Other names on the list are Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, with whom United agreed personal terms last summer. Final Thoughts The task of replacing the departing Casemiro will be one which defines INEOS’ tenure as rulers at the Theatre of Dreams. The Brazilian behemoth will leave an enormous gap in the squad when his contract expires in June. Tonali is one of the few players in the Premier League not already plying his trade for a ‘Big Six’ club who could fill these shoes, along with Anderson. If United are now ready to strike a deal, it would be the perfect start to the summer window. Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.
United “ready to submit” blockbuster offer to sign elite 26-yo talisman from bitter PL rival – report
Jaap Stam says he would “cycle to Barcelona” to bring game-changing star home to Old Trafford – report
Manchester United have secured their return to Champions League football after a fine run since the start of the calendar year that is likely to see them finish in the top three of the Premier League. Qualification for Europe’s top competition will make INEOS’s summer a much easier one, with the funds from participating in the tournament providing a timely boost to the coffers at Old Trafford. Additionally, the draw of competing at the top level of European football should allow United to fish in the ponds of the elite players across the globe. Old flame linked once more Therefore, as ever with United, the rumour mill is going into overdrive with a raft of stars linked to improving the options at the Theatre of Dreams for next season. It is widely acknowledged that INEOS will be focusing on the middle of the park in the transfer market, with the need to improve in the engine room evident, particularly with Casemiro’s exit at the end of the campaign. INEOS have favoured Premier League-proven players in their recruitment since taking over the sporting structure in 2024, but they have been urged to finally get a deal over the line for a player on the continent they have been linked with for what feels like every transfer window in recent memory. As reported by Mundo Deportivo, former United defender Jaap Stam says the club should move heaven and earth to convince Frenkie de Jong to swap Barcelona for Manchester, and he is even willing to do his bit to make the deal happen. Stam heaped praise on his fellow Dutchman, saying he would be the perfect player for United due to his technical qualities and offered his services to help bring him to the north of England. “I think Frenkie de Jong would be the ideal player, he is very good with the ball. We can talk about his physique in the Premier League, maybe, because if you look at the individual duels, the tackles and the physical aspect, of course he’s not the greatest, but he’s a very good player. “So, if the opportunity presents itself for United, I would help them. I’ll cycle to Barcelona and bring him to United, no problem,” he said. Deal unlikely Despite United’s obvious admiration for De Jong, it does rather feel like the ship has sailed on a deal that looked all but done when Erik ten Hag was in situ at the club. Terms were seemingly agreed to see the midfield maestro make the move to United, but inexplicable financial issues at the Camp Nou played a huge role in the transfer falling through and saw De Jong continue his stay in Spain. As mentioned, it feels as though INEOS are likely to be shopping in the Premier League for their first-choice targets after the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo proved a success last summer. Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali and Carlos Baleba are players at the top of the wish list of the owners, who will be looking for at least two additions to the midfield before the new campaign. Whilst De Jong would be an undoubted quality signing, it would be a huge shock to see Stam needing to hop on his bike and do any heavy lifting on the club’s behalf this summer. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Conner Botterill Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for three years. A lifelong red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology through the Open University. His favourite match attended was the unforgettable night in Paris in 2019 under the guidance of one of his idols, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
United can easily offer staggering £250k-a-week contract to lure world-class 26-yo star to Old Trafford – report
Aurelien Tchouameni’s Real Madrid career has been thrown into turmoil, just at the right time as far as Manchester United are concerned. Real have opened disciplinary proceedings against Tchouameni and Federico Valverde after the two players reportedly came to blows ahead of Sunday’s Clasico, in which Barcelona can lift the La Liga title. Mundo Deportivo claim that they could face a sanction of up to 20 matches of suspension without pay. As such, it is not out of the question that the Frenchman may have already played his final game for Los Blancos amid serious interest from United. Manchester United could benefit from chaos at Real Madrid It has been widely reported that Manchester United view Aurelien Tchouameni as one of their preferred candidates to replace Casemiro, having seen the dynamic midfielder do the same at Real Madrid since arriving from AS Monaco in 2022. The 6’2″ French behemoth’s athleticism and positional awareness make him a cheat code in transition. At Old Trafford, the 26-year-old would allow Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes the freedom to attack the final third with more ferocity. Up until the start of this week, not many would have given United a chance of luring arguably Real Madrid’s best midfielder to the Premier League. However, that sentiment has changed. According to Attacking Football journalist Paddy Keogh, the fighting issue between Tchouameni and Valverde “could turn out VERY good for Man United.” It is claimed Real are open to cashing in on their midfield maestro for around £70 million and “it genuinely feels like it could happen.” But there is a pay-rise twist. Manchester United can match Real Madrid’s contract offer Keogh reveals that the France international initially joined Real on a contract worth £150k per week and he is now on about £200k a week. Before the dramatic turn of events in the Spanish capital, it was believed the La Liga powerhouses offered him a £250k per week deal. It is claimed United can match that “easily” for a player of Tchouameni‘s calibre. However, INEOS would be reluctant to go over that as they have a strict £250k cap for elite signings. United had to offer north of £300k to both Raphael Varane and Casemiro to convince them to leave Madrid for Manchester. Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming United have made a “formative approach” to Tchouameni to gauge his potential interest. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
4-2-3-1: United will tear through Sunderland with this electric line-up crackling with danger
Manchester United are assured of Champions League football next season but will want to finish strongly in their last three games in the Premier League. A third-place finish will earn the Red Devils around £5 million in extra prize money, but more importantly, it will make Michael Carrick’s case for the permanent manager role very hard to ignore. For those reasons, we expect the boss to field a full-strength side and for there to be little rotation of fringe players into the starting XI. Defence Senne Lammens will be in goal. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are likely to continue in the full-back positions, but Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu are also available if Carrick does decide to rotate. Lisandro Martinez is back from his three-match ban and could go straight back into the starting line-up. However, we expect the manager to stick with Ayden Heaven, who has been performing superbly alongside Harry Maguire. Martinez has only seen 56 minutes of action since early February, so is not fully match fit and could be given 20–30 minutes off the bench. Leny Yoro is another option at centre-back. Midfield and Attack The stand-out pair under Carrick’s reign, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, will start again in central midfield with Bruno Fernandes, who is hunting down the Premier League assist record, ahead of them in the number 10 role. Benjamin Sesko is a doubt for the game, having aggravated a previous injury last time out, but he is afforded a 75% chance of passing a late fitness test, according to premierinjuries.com. If fit enough, he should play, as his aerial presence could cause havoc against a depleted Sunderland back line lacking height. Sesko will be flanked by Matheus Cunha and probably Bryan Mbeumo, with Amad, Mason Mount and Josh Zirkzee on standby should a change be needed. Final Thoughts Carrick to field strong XI Heaven to keep his place despite Martinez return Sesko late fitness test Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Red Billy Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and two magazines and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy first saw United live in 1971, watching George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, before becoming a League Match ticket book holder from 1975/76 and a writer since 1995. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
JJ Gabriel leads charge for PL’s U-18 POTY award, but United’s “commanding” 18-yo titan also in the mix
Manchester United starlets JJ Gabriel and Albert Mills have been nominated for the Premier League’s Under-18 Player of the Season award. U-18s stellar season Under the watchful eye of head coach Darren Fletcher, the Under-18s have enjoyed a superb season, reaching the final of the FA Youth Cup and securing a second-place finish in the Under-18 Premier League North table. A clash with local rivals Manchester City awaits in the cup, though the game has become embroiled in controversy after the opponents opted to host it at the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium, across the road from the Etihad. “The centrepiece of the academy season is a Manchester derby final, but the game is being played at City’s Joie Stadium on Thursday, May 14, rather than the Etihad,” the Manchester Evening News reports. “City had home advantage for the final but with work going on to ensure the Etihad’s North Stand redevelopment is ready for a test event, say the first-team stadium is unavailable.” An offer to move the final to Old Trafford at United’s grace was rejected by City, sparking widespread criticism, with MUST describing the decision as a “disgrace”. While both Gabriel and Mills, two of the academy’s standout prospects, look destined to make the step up into senior football, for many youngsters the chance to play in front of a full crowd at a big stadium is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For the blue half of Manchester to have actively discarded this to maintain ‘home advantage’ in a developmental game justifies supporters’ outrage. The perfect response for United will be to put their noisy neighbours to the sword on May 14 — with Gabriel and Mills set to play a foundational role for Fletcher’s side, as recognised by the Premier League itself. The Nominees Despite only turning 15 in October, Gabriel has enjoyed a meteoric debut season in academy football, returning 20 goals and four assists to lead the league as top scorer. His skill is unmatched by his peers, while his attitude and competitiveness have helped him dominate against players far bigger and stronger than he is. The north London native is the standout nominee and is understood to be a frontrunner for the award. He has trained with the first team on numerous occasions this year and is expected to join Michael Carrick’s squad in pre-season, setting up the prospect of history being made next season. While Gabriel’s star has shone bright enough to already be a well-known name amongst United fans, Mills has emerged under the radar as a bedrock of the Under-18s team, alongside fellow centre-back Dan Armer. An academy expert describes the 18-year-old as a “great ball playing defender” who possesses a “fantastic passing range and impressive carrying ability”. He possesses an imposing frame and has produced “commanding” performances at the heart of United’s defence. When Carrick faced an injury crisis at centre-back in March, Mills was called up to training for the first team to fill in — a reflection of his growing reputation at Old Trafford. United are joined by Chelsea as the only other side to have two players — Mathis Eboue and Chizaram Ezenwata — nominated by the Premier League for the prestigious award. Teddie Lamb (City), Joe Roberts (Middlesbrough), Joshua Sonni-Lambie (Liverpool) and Tyler Tingey (Tottenham Hotspur) round off the other nominees. Here are the nominees for #U18PL Player of the Season ✨ See their stats and watch their highlights!👉 https://t.co/7UpIfQBLu3 pic.twitter.com/Ygp9WlVKA3 — PL Youth (@PLYouth) May 8, 2026 The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.
Jadon Sancho’s unbelievable treble rubs salt in United’s £73m wounds, fans left with bitter taste in their mouths
Manchester United will say goodbye to one of the worst signings in the club’s history this summer when his contract runs out in June. Terrible United career The winger was pursued relentlessly by Manchester United for two summers and was finally signed in 2021 from Borussia Dortmund for the massive fee of £73 million. Sadly, Sancho’s time at Old Trafford has been a catastrophe. The English winger has only managed 83 appearances for the club and scored 12 goals. He has spent the last three seasons on loan with Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa, where he has enjoyed team success. Three seasons, three finals Sancho only came on as a late substitute last night with Aston Villa already coasting 4-0 in their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest. He played the final nine minutes of the game and only had one touch of the ball. The winger did not have any key passes or shots on goal. The 26-year-old also made one defensive contribution, making one clearance in the victory. Aston Villa and Sancho will take on German side Freiburg on Wednesday 20th May, and it will, incredibly, be Sancho’s third different European final in three years. Jadon Sancho will play his 3rd European final in the last three years with three different clubs. 🏆✨ 2023/24 – Champions League final2024/25 – Conference League final2025/26 – Europa League final pic.twitter.com/VETWNTZDPj — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 8, 2026 The English forward had a very strong end to the 2024 season and helped Borussia Dortmund to the final of the Champions League. Unfortunately, they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid but gave a very good account of themselves. Last season, Sancho tasted victory as Chelsea crushed Real Betis 4-1 to win the Conference League, with the English winger scoring in the final. The winger has been a bit-part player at most this season for the Villans but will now have the chance to do what few players have ever done and play in all three separate finals. Jadon Sancho stats vs Nottingham Forest StatValue Goals0 Assists0 Total shots0 Shots on target0 Shots blocked0 Touches1 Dribbles (successful)0 (0) Key passes0 Crosses (accurate)0 (0) Accurate passes0/0 Def. contributions1 Tackles (won)0 (0) Interceptions0 Clearances1 Blocked shots0 Ground duels (won)0 (0) Dribbled past0 Source: Sofascore Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
United identify rampaging PL fullback as “perfect” target, already in talks to sign his teammate – report
Manchester United are accelerating their summer transfer plans after a return to Champions League football was confirmed last weekend. Strength in Depth The Red Devils secured a guaranteed top-five finish with the pulsating 3-2 win over bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. This was the brief INEOS handed interim boss Michael Carrick when he took the reins from Ruben Amorim in January. The 44-year-old coach has delivered it with ease, guiding his side to third place with the best run of form in the Premier League during his tenure. Along the way, United have put every member of England’s ‘big six’ to the sword, with victories over Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. A well-placed source reveals they would be “astounded” if the former midfielder was not given the job on a permanent basis once the season has run its course. But movements are already underway to strengthen the squad, irrespective of who is in the dugout, though Carrick and his coaching staff are understood to have been consulted over potential incomings and outgoings. One key consideration is depth, given the limited schedule of no European football and early cup exits this season has allowed players like Luke Shaw and Casemiro to virtually play every league game. With the workload set to increase next season, alternatives—or in the case of the Brazilian midfielder, a replacement—will be needed to avoid burnout on the pitch. Touchline Terror While many had predicted United would target a left-winger this summer to provide a complement to Matheus Cunha, the emergence of Patrick Dorgu as a rampaging wideman has seen attention fall further back. The 21-year-old Dane would have served as an understudy to Shaw, but instead, a new left-back has become a top priority to allow him to remain higher up the pitch. Football Insider reveals West Ham breakout star El Hadji Malick Diouf is seen as the “perfect profile” by Old Trafford executives. The 21-year-old flying full-back “ticks a lot of boxes” due to his “attacking prowess”, with the club “keen to add an athletic, exciting player” on that side of the pitch. “The 21-year-old is seen as a player who is only going to get better as he builds his career in the Premier League, and sources say that is another major reason behind United’s interest.” The Senegal international, who thrived for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has registered five assists in an impressive debut season at the London Stadium, putting a number of top clubs on red alert. His crosses into the box are already as good as any other full-back in the league and offer a tantalising prospect for Benjamin Sesko. The Hammers paid £19 million to secure the 6’0 juggernaut last summer from Czech champions Slavia Prague, where he played a pivotal role in their title win. It would require a much higher fee to prise him away from east London. However, West Ham are currently embroiled in a dogfight for relegation with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, one they look set to lose. If Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are unable to avoid the drop, their negotiating position for their best players will crumble. United are also understood to have held talks to sign midfield maestro Mateus Fernandes, setting up the prospect of a blockbuster double raid for the two teammates were West Ham to be relegated. Final Thoughts Diouf is undoubtedly an exciting prospect, with a potent pairing of speed, size and strength that makes him perfectly suited to Premier League football. The fact that he combines these physical qualities with a wicked delivery only adds to his intrigue. However, the Dakar native is poor defensively, often switching off and allowing opposition forwards to run inside or behind him. Despite his size, he is not particularly strong in the air, nor is his positioning near the level needed at the Theatre of Dreams. United would be better served redeploying Dorgu as a flying full-back while targeting a more natural winger on the left, as the two 21-year-olds possess strikingly similar profiles. Featured image Warren Little via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.
European giants urged to pair “world class” United star with Nigerian marksman
Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes is in a glorious run of form that has helped his team climb up to third in the Premier League table after 35 games this season. The Red Devils have already confirmed their participation in next season’s Champions League, following a two-year hiatus. The Portuguese has registered 20 assists in all competitions this season, including 19 in the Premier League, which puts him one short of the league record. That accolade belongs to Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, but Fernandes could soon join them with three games left in the season. United next face Sunderland this weekend at the Stadium of Light, when fans will be hoping their mercurial skipper can etch his name in history. Earlier this year, the 31 year old broke David Beckham’s record for most assists by a Red Devils player in a Premier League season (15). However, Fernandes will enter the final year of his contract this summer and is yet to sign a new deal. The situation has added to speculation regarding the United skipper’s future. Fernandes’ uncertain future Fernandes moved to Old Trafford from Sporting in January 2020, when United were looking to add more creativity to their ranks. The Portuguese turned out to be the solution to their woes, and he has arguably been the most creative player in the league since his arrival. This season, he has created 120 chances in the Premier League, the most by a United player on record, highlighting his importance to the team. Meanwhile, Fernandes has missed only six games due to injury during his six-year stay at the Theatre of Dreams so far, including three this season. Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League32328195-2,798′ FA Cup11-1–90′ EFL Cup10—-45′ Total34338205-2,933′ Source: Transfermarkt. The Portuguese Magnifico was also linked with an exit from Old Trafford last summer but ended up staying. He has since revealed that he turned down lucrative offers to leave United because he wanted to help the club return to their glory days. That has not stopped rumours surrounding his future, and a recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that Galatasaray are keen to sign Fernandes this summer. Former Turkey international Zeki Önder Özen has now explained why the Lions must make a move for the Portuguese at the end of this season. Fernandes hailed as world class Speaking on VOLE, Zeki Önder insisted that teaming “world-class” Fernandes with Victor Osimhen could help Galatasaray’s pursuit of Champions League glory. He said: “With Osimhen there in attack, I can’t think of anything to say to Fernandes. He’s world class, right, one of the best in the World. This would also help Galatasaray in their hunt for success in the UEFA Champions League.” “In the league too, he’ll cause lots of trouble for everyone. It would deter other rivals [Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Trabzonspor] from competing for the league title. His addition would make Osimhen want to stay. Imagine these players competing in top form and without any injuries.” Zeki Önder, though, acknowledged that prising the Portuguese away from the Theatre of Dreams will be next to impossible, stating: “However, their chances of approaching him are very slim.” Fernandes has registered 106 goals and 106 assists in 324 games across all competitions for United to date. While United want him to stay, the Portuguese reportedly wants the club to provide assurances about their ambitions before committing his future. Final Thoughts Although Benjamin Sesko has shown promise of late, a world-class attacker like Osimhen could further elevate Fernandes’ performances. United remain linked with a move for Harry Kane this summer, but recent reports suggest that he is likely to sign a new deal with Bayern Munich. 120 – Bruno Fernandes has created 120 chances in the Premier League this season, the most by a Manchester United player in a season on record since 2003-04; the previous most was 119, by Fernandes in 2022-23. Conductor. pic.twitter.com/xp1rFZcqaL — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 3, 2026 Featured image by Michael Regan/Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
Man Utd take major steps in pursuit of £42m relegation-threatened midfielder who is ‘open’ to Old Trafford switch
Manchester United have reportedly been in ongoing talks with Mateus Fernandes for the last four to six weeks.That’s according to Ben Jacobs (via The United Stand), who has revealed that the Red Devils have been trying to determine whether Fernandes would be ‘open’ to making the switch to Old Trafford – and they have found out that he is.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYWhy United’s potential pursuit of Mateus Fernandes hinges on upcoming resultsHowever, one factor that is said to be imperative in United’s pursuit is West Ham’s relegation.The Irons dropped back into the bottom three last weekend following a 3-0 defeat to Brentford, which Tottenham Hotspur capitalised on by beating Aston Villa 2-1 to move up to 17th.Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustOn Sunday, West Ham will be looking to bounce back by overturning, or at least taking a point, from their clash with London rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal.Should the club manage to escape the drop by the end of the month, they will be adamant about keeping hold of Fernandes, who they signed only last August in a £42 million (£38m upfront + £4m in add-ons) transfer from Southampton. Club Appearances (starts) Goal contributions Minutes played West Ham 33 (32) 6 2,756 Southampton 36 (34) 6 2,922 West Ham will try to price United out of a deal for FernandesStaying in the top flight would then allow the Hammers to name their price tag for the youngster, and it would be an exorbitant one, given they want to deter any potential suitors. Mateus Fernandes scores from close range and West Ham are back in it 👀 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/yNmv1h3fgf — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2026Fernandes, 21, earned his maiden Portugal cap last month in a 2-0 win against the United States. Whether he’ll have done enough to be in contention to make Roberto Martinez’s World Cup squad remains to be seen, as the Portuguese certainly aren’t short of quality in the middle of the park.When asked to name his footballing role model, the Algrave native actually opted for none other than United’s talisman and skipper, Bruno Fernandes.“The biggest one right now is Bruno [Fernandes] because of the player he already is,” said Fernandes.“Back when I was at Sporting [CP], I looked up to him and tried to learn from him. He plays in the same league as me, he has a lot of experience with the national team, and, in the Premier League, I try to watch him a lot. Without a doubt, he stands out.”
Journo: Man Utd will only move for PL star primed for World Cup call-up if Michael Carrick stays long-term
Manchester United view Yan Diomande and Morgan Rogers as two ‘leading targets’ to bolster the attack next season, according to Ben Jacobs.The two players have been heavily linked with moves away from their respective clubs this summer, and United are ready to be at the front of the queue.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYUnited tracking youngster Yan DiomandeDiomande has only spent nine months with RB Leipzig, but has impressed so much in his maiden season that he’s already being tipped for a move to a European heavyweight.The 19-year-old starlet has returned 13 goals and nine assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this term, making it no surprise his form has caught the eye of a host of potential suitors, including United. RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, one of Liverpool’s targets to replace Mo Salah in the summer, produced a fine display in his side’s win on Friday 😮💨🌟 pic.twitter.com/zE0enKwWlv — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 27, 2026One Red Bull chief even told Flashscore that Diomande is ‘the most gifted player within our system since Erling Haaland.’While Leipzig will do their utmost to convince the Ivorian international to stay at least another year, it’s thought that they would facilitate a sale in the coming months if they can receive a lucrative sum for Diomande’s services.What would make United move for Rogers?As for Rogers, Jacobs suspects United would intensify their interest in the event that Michael Carrick is appointed as the permanent manager.Carrick worked with the Aston Villa talisman during his time at Middlesbrough in the 2023/2024 campaign.(Photo via Ashley Crowden/REX/Shuttershock)Rogers made 33 appearances (20 as a starter) under the former Red, scoring seven goals and assisting nine.He is said to be plotting a Villa Park exit this summer, irrespective of whether they qualify for the Champions League. Morgan Rogers pulling the strings 🧵#UEL | @AVFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/ioKZb7ZHiK — UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 21, 2026However, before Rogers can start really considering where his future lies, he’ll just be doing his utmost to secure his spot in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup selection next month.
