Manchester United

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BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater says he is cautious of reading too much into pre-season - despite Manchester United winning the Premier League Summer Series - but there have been some positive signs.

Injuries have plagued United in recent seasons but Ruben Amorim seems to now have a variety of players at his disposal.

Reflecting on the USA tour on The Devils' Advocate podcast, Drinkwater said: "It matters in terms of getting the players together off the pitch and implementing tactics, but the rest doesn't really.

"The good thing is that we don't have any injuries, and those that are - like Luke Shaw - look as fit as a fiddle and ready to go.

"I'm not sure there are any new youngsters that are going to make themselves known this season.

"There will be the existing ones that we have already seen play for Manchester United like Chido Obi, who I hope improves, and Toby Collyer, who could also have a decent season.

"But we are after the experience and you can see that from the two signings we have made this summer. That has got to make the difference this season.

"Everyone is fit and ready to go."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

RB Leipzig's Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, 22, is playing Newcastle and Manchester United off against each other in a game of transfer poker. (Bild - in German), external

Bayer Leverkusen want Rasmus Hojlund, 22, but face competition from AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus for the Denmark striker. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Atlanta

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Manchester United defender Leny Yoro says his team-mates are determined to prove the doubters wrong.

United are unbeaten during their pre-season programme so far, with Sunday's 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta proving enough to secure silverware in the form of the Premier League Summer Series trophy.

However, after their unprecedented 15th-placed finish last season, Yoro knows it will take more than that to convince anyone life at Old Trafford will be better this time around.

Indeed, many are willing the situation to get even worse.

"There are a lot of people that want us to fail, we know that," said Yoro. "But there are also a lot of people that want us to do great things.

"We don't care about what they say outside - the media, everyone.

"I understand that because we didn't do well.

"I think what they did last season was a mistake for us. When you're Manchester United, you cannot be at this position. The fans know it - everyone knows it. We understand this.

This season will be different. It will be like a revenge from last season."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Atlanta

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Manchester United defender Leny Yoro could not have had a bigger change in pre-season fortunes this season.

Last July, just two weeks after from his £52m move from Lille last summer, Yoro suffered a foot injury in a friendly against Arsenal last July that prevented him from making his debut until 4 December, by which time the man who bought him – Erik ten Hag – had been sacked and replaced by Ruben Amorim.

Yoro has enjoyed better fortunes on United's pre-season trip to the United States this time around and looks nailed on to start the Premier League opener against Arsenal on Sunday, 17 August after some assured performance in his side's victorious three-match Summer Series programme.

"Last season was not easy," he said. "When you start with an injury and then have to come back during the season, it's difficult.

"But today I'm good. I did a good pre-season and I'm not injured. Hopefully, I will continue like this and try to play as many games as I can."

The Devils' Advocate team have dropped a fresh episode for your Monday.

This week there's chat about Ruben Amorim staying 20 years, there's views on the US tour and plenty on the regeneration of Old Trafford.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We know the relationship between a football fan and their club is a special one so, as we gear up for the new season, we asked you to share why you fell in love with Manchester United and some of your favourite moments supporting them.

Here are some of your submissions:

Wycliffe: I became a Manchester United fan the day we demolished Arsenal 8-2. I wasn't even watching the game at first, just flipping through channels until I saw the scoreline - 4-1 then 6-2 then 8-2. I thought it was a glitch! But no, it was real.

Rooney's hat-trick, Young's screamers and that unstoppable swagger. It felt like watching football magic. That day I didn't just see goals - I saw dominance, history and heart.

Arsenal fans were speechless, and I? I was converted. From that moment on, it was the Red Devils all the way.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Atlanta

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has called on the club to sign more players to help improve fortunes at Old Trafford.

Fernandes snubbed a huge offer to play in the Saudi Pro-League this summer and committed himself to dragging United out of the mess they landed in last season.

The club has already spent almost £130m this summer on forward players Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and also brought Paraguay Under-20 international Diego Leon to the club.

But Fernandes believes more is required.

"It was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here and more quality to get everyone to step up to get into the starting XI," he told host broadcaster NBC after United won the Premier League Summer Series thanks to a 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta.

"That's what the club and the manager are trying to do and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that."

In a separate interview with Manchester United's own media channel, chief executive Omar Berrada said the club was working "round the clock" to make the most of any opportunities that arise.

United's interest in RB Leipzig's Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko remains high, which also means they would listen to offers for their Danish front-man Rasmus Hojlund.

However, judging by their performance against Everton, central midfield should also be a priority.

Uruguay international Manuel Ugarte was at fault for the first Everton goal and no matter what combination of players was paired up in the midfield positions, gaps appeared for David Moyes' side to exploit.

In addition to his comments on potential signings, Fernandes also demanded more from his current team-mates, saying their performance without the ball had been "lazy".

He added it was not good enough in a period of time where 450 staff members had lost their jobs and ticket prices had risen sharply as part of a drive to cut costs and maximise revenues to plough back into the first team.

"I'm happy for the players to have that feeling," said Amorim. "It's saying they understand the situation. That is good."

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim says new signing Bryan Mbeumo "delivered" everything he expected of him in his club debut against Everton.

The 25-year-old helped United win the Premier League Summer Series overnight with a 2-2 draw against the Toffees in Atlanta.

"I think he played well," said Amorim. "He needs to understand the position, the movements, but I think the first touch, the way he connects with one touch, opened a lot of space.

"You can see that he's not in the perfect condition physically, but he makes a lot of runs and that can stretch one team.

"So everything I was expecting, he delivered."

Amorim is also aware that despite winning the trophy, there is still work to be done when they return to Carrington this week.

Captain Bruno Fernandes described the team performance as "lazy" in a post-match interview with American broadcaster NBC and wants his team-mates to give more ahead of the start of the new season.

He said: "We need to be really consistent. We already knew that we had two weeks, this will not change in two weeks, but we are better.

"I think it's the perfect feeling to go back to Carrington. I think the momentum of the tour was perfect.

"We are going with the feeling that we need to do a lot of things."

Manchester United are ready to match Newcastle's opening offer for RB Leipzig and Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, 22. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Paris St-Germain and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 26, is interested in joining Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United and Brazil winger Antony, 25, is not interested in a move to Saudi Arabia and wants to join Real Betis, where he was on loan last season. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Manchester United and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, 21, has given total priority to Chelsea and is waiting for talks to begin over a move. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Atlanta

A 'sit down' on tour with travelling UK media is a bit of a tradition at Manchester United.

It hasn't happened every summer, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho both scrapped them at short notice, but generally it is a chance to ask questions in more depth, when the pressure on the manager is not as intense as when the season actually starts.

It also allows a manager (or head coach) and the journalists to show their human side and, in theory, sustain a healthy rather than confrontational relationship.

We may never get to the point with Ruben Amorim that Ferguson reached, where he knew the first names of the reporters who covered the club extensively and, in many instances, what they wrote or said, but even the Scot was never as open as Amorim was in Chicago when we spoke last Friday.

He was full of smiles, was happy to chat - briefly - about matters other than football and seemed to be enjoying himself.

There have been explosive 'sit downs' in the past but I can't recall any United boss being quite so open and this is the 19th trip I have been lucky enough to be part of for various organisations.

It was impossible not to warm to Amorim on a human level and he does genuinely seem convinced Manchester United are on the right track.

Everyone – including him – is acutely aware of the chances of the feelgood factor being wrecked by a testing start, which includes meetings with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in the first five Premier League games.

But if Amorim's mood is any guide, United fans have reason to be optimistic for what lies ahead.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Atlanta

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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says his club cannot afford to spend time worrying about their rivals when there are so many issues to sort out at Old Trafford.

United will take their summer spending to around £200m if they can persuade RB Leipzig and Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko to join them ahead of Newcastle.

Yet champions Liverpool have already spent £250m to bolster Arne Slot's squad, a figure that will rise substantially if they bought Alexander Isak from Newcastle, while Manchester City took their 2025 spending to around £350m when they bought goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley.

Those sums suggest the pair will be even further out of United's reach over the coming campaign.

Amorim says there is no point thinking about events outside Old Trafford.

"If we were in a different moment, I would be more concerned about that," he said.

"I'm just focused on what we need to improve here.

"I'm really happy with the players that we bought because they proved (themselves) in the Premier League. I'm not concerned about the physical aspect, and I'm really happy with the character.

"I can guarantee if you bring any manager here, they will say, Bryan (Mbeumo), thank you. Matheus Cunha, thank you."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Atlanta

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In his wide-ranging chat with the UK media in the United States, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim offered a surprising response when he started talking about what things he wanted from his team.

You would expect him to say he wants more calmness in decision making, for his players not to rush their decisions and execution.

No. He wants more emotion - and he thinks competition for places will help.

"We need to be a little bit more emotional in this team," he said.

"With the emotion, we make more sacrifice, we have more pace, more energy. We are improving on that.

"Competition is going to help. So if (Matheus) Cunha is playing and Mason (Mount) is on the bench. Bruno (Fernandes) and Kobbie (Mainoo) are in the same position. Of course, Bruno can do different positions and even Kobbie.

"These things are going to help us. It's a perfect year to do that without European competition.

"We need to put in the standards, then I think we'll be ready next season, and in other seasons, to cope with less training because the culture is already here."

Manchester United's overall summer outlay is a surprise given minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said in March the club could have "gone bust by Christmas" without the huge cuts implemented to slash costs.

Club sources cite a number of reasons - including Marcus Rashford's £325,000-a-week salary being fully covered during his loan move to Barcelona, various sell-on clauses that have been activated this summer and the payment schedules agreed with Wolves and Brentford around Mathues Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo's arrivals - as the reason why they can still spend.

United sources had said on Friday their attempts to sign Benjamin Sesko were continuing.

However, subsequently, reports have emerged in the forward's native Slovenia stating the forward had chosen to join Newcastle. Neither club has commented officially on the latest reports.

Yet, it is accepted even if Sesko did arrive in a move that would take the club's overall spend to about £200m, there will still be issues for Amorim to address, chief among them the goalkeeper.

It now seems certain Andre Onana will remain as Amorim's first choice.

The Cameroon international has been working hard on his fitness in the United States after hurting his hamstring on the second day of pre-season training.

He is unlikely to be involved against Everton in Saturday's friendly but there is hope Onana could play some part in the final friendly against a Fiorentina side including former United keeper David de Gea at Old Trafford on 9 August.

"We are always looking to improve the team and we have some characteristics we would like to have. But it depends on the market and depends on sales," said Amorim.

"You can see the goalkeepers. Tom [Heaton] is leaner, Altay [Bayindir] did really well and [Andre] Onana is going to be better like the other guys that are getting better this year."

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