MANCHESTER UNITED summer signing Mason Mount could be out for up to SIX weeks with a hamstring injury.
However, a sensational deal for Sofyan Amrabat is still on the cards but there are now doubts over the potential transfer.
Fiorentina are looking for £34million for the midfielder, 27, who has a year left on his contract.
And we have a major update on the takeover situation with the Glazers reportedly still deliberating whether to sell.
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- 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.
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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."
- By Kealan Hughes
Ten Hag eager for reinforcements
Erik ten Hag is said to be desperate for some midfield reinforcements to arrive at the club following Mason Mount’s injury.
Mason Mount picked up an injury against Tottenham Hotspurs which has made Erik ten Hag‘s need for a midfielder even more urgent.
Amrabat remains the club's number one target but the Red Devils need to offload players before they can sign the midfielder.
- By Kealan Hughes
United drop out of Pavard chase
Manchester United have pulled out of the race to sign Benjamin Pavard, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He said: “In the last 48 hours, Man Utd told the agents of Benjamin Pavard that they are no longer in the race and the player can join Inter because they are not negotiating with any club for Maguire, and they expect him to stay.
“Only a new bid in the final days of the window can change the situation. For now, it’s very quiet on Maguire, and for Pavard, it’s going to be Inter.”
- By Kealan Hughes
Todibo signing now 'in sight'
Manchester United's move for £34million Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is "in sight", according to GetFootball.
Erik ten Hag has been on the hunt all summer for a centre-back despite uncertainty over Harry Maguire's future at United.
Todibo's contract at Nice does not run out until 2027, however, a move to the Premier League is likely.
United scouts watched Nice's vice-captain play against Lille OSC in a Ligue 1 curtain-raiser and were convinced on the move.
Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard was also on United's radar but the defender prefers a move to Inter Milan.
- By Kealan Hughes
Heaton names United's best finisher
Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton has named Anthony Martial as the best finisher at the club, hailing the different ways that he can make life difficult for a 'keeper.
He said: "For me it would probably be Anthony Martial: he can bend it, he can whip it, he can go with power, he can lift it over you.
"He's got that composure, that sort of calmness in front of goal that makes it difficult for a goalkeeper.
"[As a goalkeeper] you very often want people to take a shot early or to force them into something but with Anthony it's very difficult to affect him, so when he's through on goal it usually ends up in the net."
- By Kealan Hughes
Hojlund given advice by icons
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have told Rasmus Hojlund he will need to be mentally strong to succeed at Manchester United.
On their new podcast The Rest is Football, Shearer began: "No [I was never afraid of the pressure].
"I can only talk about myself in the fact that I absolutely loved it. I have always been reluctant to call it pressure because everybody wants to be in our position.
"When someone pays a lot of money for you, everybody is looking at me and I loved it because I thought: 'Yeah, it's what I always wanted.' I get there is a certain amount of pressure on you to go out and perform but I think that is really good thing."
When asked by Micah Richards for his thoughts, Lineker added: "For me, what is most important is what is between the ears. I think the mental strength and the resilience to deal with spells when things are not going well, to deal with your own fans' abuse at times, I felt that was my strongest attribute.
"I don't think I was a brilliant footballer, I don't think I was enormously talented in terms of touch, technique and beating players but I was very resilient, very strong and thought about the game a lot.
"I think the mental side, coping with the stress and the pressure is perhaps the most important ingredient of them all."
- By Kealan Hughes
Richards slams Fernandes as "embarrassing"
Micah Richards reckons Bruno Fernandes' on-field antics are proving to be detrimental to his Manchester United team-mates in his new role as club captain.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Richards 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."
- By Kealan Hughes
Qatari owners plot transfer targets
Sheikh Jassim has reportedly targeted 10 players as the Manchester United takeover is said to be completed soon.
According to El Pais, Sheikh Jassim wanted to plan one of the largest market assaults in the history of the sport.
Frenkie de Jong, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kingsley Coman and Ronald Araujo could all be eyed by the new United owner.
- By Kealan Hughes
Mount ruled out of two games
Mason Mount has been ruled out of Manchester United's next two matches through injury.
The 24-year-old sustained what the club have described as a "small complaint" during Saturday's 2-0 loss at Spurs and is not expected to return before September's international break.
That means Mount will miss this Saturday's home match against Nottingham Forest and the trip to Arsenal on Sunday 3 September.
- By Kealan Hughes
Club legend slams United performance
Dimitar Berbatov has urged Manchester United to "f***ing wake-up" after the dismal defeat to Tottenham.
The Red Devils were outplayed as they lost 2-0 to Spurs in their second game of the Premier League season.
Berbatov told Betfair: "Tottenham scored one and the belief grew and they kept pushing. To be honest, you can't take anything away from Spurs. They had a good game, especially in the second half.
"It's just one game, of course, Spurs need to build on that, and United need to f*****g wake up as soon as possible.
"The second half for United was especially bad."
- By Kealan Hughes
Rasmus Hojlund set goals target
Former Red Devils striker Louis Saha has set a realistic goalscoring target for Manchester United new boy Rasmus Hojlund in his first season at Old Trafford.
The ex-striker said: “When you start your first season, you need to adapt to the Premier League.
“Rasmus Hojlund is from Denmark, and he played in Italy, but the Premier League is a different animal, and he will need time to adapt.
“Hojlund should be aiming for 20 goals this season when you consider that he has [Marcus] Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and [Christian] Eriksen who can all create chances for him.
“With the players he’s got around him, 20 goals is a good target this season.
“We can see that if things click, he has good players around him and he’s got a manager who is smart enough to give him time to settle in."
- By Kealan Hughes
Update on United youngster's future
Manchester United youngster Dan Gore is not expected to be sent on loan this season.
Gore, 18, travelled with the first-team on their pre-season tour of the USA and the Manchester Evening News understands that he's more likely to stay at the club instead of leaving on loan before the end of the transfer window.
The youngster has received domestic loan interest but the expectation is he'll stay around the first-team squad instead.
- By Kealan Hughes
United looking at Croatian wonderkid
Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign highly-rated Croatian starlet Dino Klapija with the hope of bringing him into the fold in two years.
According to the Daily Mail, United are eyeing up another starlet in 16-year-old Klapija, who's also being linked with RB Leipzig, Barcelona and Chelsea among others.
Klapija was born in the USA and started his career as a midfielder at New York City's academy before moving with his family back to Croatia.
He's been training with NK Kustosija and has begun to garner plenty of interest from a host of top European clubs.
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