Deadline day is here and eager Manchester United fans will be keeping their eyes firmly on the goings on at Old Trafford to see whether their club will be tempted into any late business.
The Red Devils have already brought in two senior players this month in the form of striker Wout Weghorst and goalkeeper Jack Butland, while youngster Gabriele Biancheri, 16, is set to arrive from Cardiff. With finances tight at the club and the Glazers looking for a sale, it’s unlikely there will be any huge investments before the deadline.
However, Christian Eriksen’s injury could force that to change as Erik ten Hag weighs up his options, while United have fielded an enquiry from Inter Milan about taking Harry Maguire on loan. Winger Anthony Elanga is another star who could also depart on a temporary basis.
We’ll be rounding up all the latest Man Utd deadline day news as it happens right here on Mirror Football , so stay tuned!
DONE DEAL – McNeill joins Newport
Manchester United youngster Charlie McNeill has joined Newport County on loan until the end of the season.
McNeill made his Red Devils debut back in September having been a key member of United’s FA Youth Cup-winning side. After joining the first-team squad’s winter training camp in Spain, McNeill is now looking forward to gaining senior experience at Newport.
“I’m really proud and honoured to be representing this club. I know it’s a big club and a family-based club and I’m just really happy to be here,” he said.
“The gaffer made me feel really comfortable as soon as I spoke to him, he was really nice, he really sold it to me. I can’t wait to meet the lads, get training and hopefully play the game on Saturday!”
Bernard set for Portsmouth move
League One side Portsmouth are expected to announce the loan signing of Manchester United youngster Di’Shon Bernard.
Bernard spent last season on loan at Hull City, with the Portsmouth News reporting he is set to move to Fratton Park for the rest of the season.
Pompey boss John Mousinho put signing a new centre-back at the top of his shopping list, with the move for Bernard now granting that wish.
Pellistri to stay at United
Facundo Pellistri is set to stay at Manchester United until at least the summer.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Watford had held talks about a potential loan move, but boss Erik ten Hag has decided to keep him at Old Trafford.
Pellistri has struggled for game time this season, but Ten Hag is said to have had a change of heart about letting him depart.
Red Devils warned against De Gea exit
Paul Ince has warned Manchester United against allowing David de Gea to leave Old Trafford.
The Spaniard’s contract will expire at the end of the season, but Ince believes there is no better option to take over as United’s number one.
“David de Gea is still a very good goalkeeper. Eventually, most foreign players want to make their way back home and that’s natural so it wouldn’t surprise me if he wanted to go back to Spain,” Ince told Premier League Odds.
“At the moment, there aren’t many ‘keepers out there better than him and I think he’ll stay at Man United for now.”
Maguire to reject United exit
Harry Maguire will stay at Manchester United beyond tonight’s transfer deadline.
The centre-back is the subject of interest from Inter Milan, who are in the market for a centre-back. But according to the Manchester Evening News, Maguire ‘wants to stay’ at Old Trafford.
The England international is set to reassess his future in the summer amid his lack of game time. Maguire’s stance will be pleasing news for Erik ten Hag, who is ‘reluctant’ to reduce the size of his squad.
Antony slammed by Van der Vaart
Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart has warned Antony he is still yet to achieve anything of note following his mega-money move to Manchester United.
“Do you know what it is with Antony… He is of course a great talent and a great player, but he shouldn’t believe in himself very much. He’s just a good player, who hasn’t proven anything yet,” he told Ziggo Sports.
“He has played some good Champions League games, he’s come in reasonably well with the Brazil national team a few times, he’s made a big move and hasn’t done much at Manchester United yet. He shouldn’t think: ‘I’ve made it and I’m going to show it to the whole world by doing crazy things’.
“No, he has to decide games, like Marcus Rashford is doing now. Then you can do something crazy for once. But he has to be very humble, try really hard and shoot or pass those balls in.”
Inter eye Lindelof
Inter Milan are reportedly eyeing a move for Victor Lindelof as they seek to sign a new centre-back.
The Serie A side are set to sell Milan Skriniar to PSG and need a new defender. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, they will ‘prioritise’ a move for Lindelof if a separate deal for Harry Maguire falls through.
Inter only want to take the Swedish international on loan though, with United preferring a permanent move.
Pellistri ‘considering’ exit
Manchester United youngster Facundo Pellistri is considering leaving Old Trafford.
Club chiefs will hold a deadline day meeting to decide his future, with the Uruguayan having struggled for game-time this term.
According to the Daily Mail, the 21-year-old is keen to gain more minutes, be at United or elsewhere.
United put Kane move on backburner
Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold is desperate to lure Harry Kane to Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag told him his priority was to land a world class No.9 before the start of next season.
Arnold had considered making an approach to Tottenham this month, but is now expected to wait until the summer to begin his game of brinksmanship with Spurs counterpart Daniel Levy.
England captain Kane will be entering the final 12 months of his current deal and has let it be known he would be open to joining a club that can offer him Champions League football and a better chances of winning trophies.
Elanga ‘ready to leave’
Anthony Elanga is reportedly keen to leave Manchester United.
The winger has been a peripheral player under new boss Erik ten Hag this season, with his game-time limited.
According to the Daily Mail, that lack of opportunity means the Swede is now ready to depart Old Trafford.
PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund and Everton are all said to be keen to sign him.
United to hold deadline day meeting
Manchester United chiefs will reportedly hold a deadline day meeting to decide the futures of Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri.
The duo have both struggled for game-time this season and Erik ten Hag is still weighing up allowing them to depart on loan.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United transfer chiefs will meet on Tuesday to make a final decision on allowing both stars to leave on loan.
Wolves abandon Wan-Bissaka move
Wolves have reportedly abandoned a move for Manchester United star Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Though he has fought his way into Erik ten Hag’s plans, Wan-Bissaka could still be allowed to leave Old Trafford. Wolves were thought to be interested in the Englishman amid Nelson Semedo’s poor performances.
But boss Julen Lopetegui has now confirmed that he is happy with the right-back and will not be pushing to bring a new man in.
“We are happy with Nelson’s performance,” Lopetegui said. “His commitment is very big in his daily work. He wants to improve, so we try to help him. At the moment he’s playing very well.
“I think he’s defending well, which is very important. In elite football, first of all you have to defend well, after he has to do more, because he’s a good player.”
Mejbri to stay at Birmingham
Manchester United will not recall Hannibal Mejbri from his loan spell at Birmingham City.
Mejbri has spent the first half of the season at St Andrew’s, enjoying a successful time with Blues. But an injury to Christian Eriksen led to some suggestions he may be recalled to Old Trafford.
That is not on the table though, according to Birmingham Live, who report that Mejbri will be allowed to stay in the Second City for the rest of the campaign.
Lindelof interesting Inter Milan too?
Harry Maguire isn’t the only Man Utd player interesting Inter Milan.
According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, the Italian side are also keen on Maguire’s fellow centre-back Victor Lindelof.
Sweden international Lindelof has, like Maguire, dropped back in the pecking order since United signed Lisandro Martinez over the summer. The former Benfica man has played just 15 times for United this season, with only six of those outings coming in the Premier League.
One obstacle, according to the report from Italy, is that Inter would prefer a loan while United would only sanction a permanent sale. One alternative for the Italian club could be Thilo Kehrer, who has fallen out of favour at West Ham after his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Everton keen on Elanga
12 months on from completing a deadline day loan swoop for Donny van de Beek, Everton are keen on another bit of business with Man Utd.
According to The Athletic, the Toffees are one of a number of clubs interested in Anthony Elanga, who has seen his opportunities limited this term.
It might not be straightforward, though. Erik ten Hag has spoken of his reluctance to let members of his squad move on in January, and this appears to apply to Elanga as well as fellow winger Facundo Pellistri.
“I think they have to develop first in our environment and second, we have many games to cover, and so we need players to cover that,” Ten Hag recently told club media. “When you play in 30 days 10 games, you need a lot of players.”
Raphinha possibility and two exits
Manchester United have never been shy of splashing the cash in transfer windows.
But January is not the time the English giants tend to do their main business in.
That’s likely to be the case today… but some shrewd moves may well be on the table.
Mirror Football takes a look..
Man Utd make Hannibal decision
Manchester United are set to allow Hannibal Mejbri to see out the season on loan at Birmingham City having impressed the Red Devils’ hierarchy this season.
The 20-year-old Tunisian international joined the Blues at the start of the campaign for a season-long loan spell. He has impressed in a central midfield role in the Midlands with 23 appearances for the side and four assists since.
Continued here
Will Maguire go?
Harry Maguire has turned down a loan move to Inter Milan.
But the disgruntled captain will consider leaving Old Trafford in the summer if he cannot get back into the good books of Erik ten Hag.
It seems Magure is happy to remain for new and try to win his place back and unless he sees much more game time in the coming months, the England defender will depart.
However, can he or United be persuaded on Deadline Day to part ways? One to keep an eye on perhaps.
Welcome!
The countdown to the January transfer deadline is on!
Erik ten Hag managed to sort his first priority earlier in the window by replacing Cristiano Ronaldo with a new striker in Wout Weghorst.
But will the Dutchman bring in another face to strengthen his outfield options amid their midfield injury woes?
More pressing for United’s manager is whether he will let the likes of Harry Maguire leave amid interest from Inter Milan.
Follow all the latest transfer updates from Old Trafford as we take you right through till the window slams shut!
