Manchester United

Simon Stone in Los Angeles
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton is not ready to hang up his gloves just yet.

Heaton failed to make a senior appearance for the Old Trafford club last term and was drafted into Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad to help with England’s training drills.

But the 38-year-old is not thinking of turning to coaching just yet.

Having signed a one-year contract extension with his boyhood club this summer, Heaton is determined to play for United again.

"I still have a hunger to play," he said. "If I didn't, I wouldn't be here.

"There is still a drive to get into the team. I know the natural way of things. I have not played as much football as I would have liked, certainly not last season. You get to a certain point and there is a supporting role.

"But there is no loss of appetite. Fighting to get into that Manchester United shirt is something special."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen says he is in "no rush" to find another club.

Eriksen is about to enter the final year of his Old Trafford contract.

The 32-year-old Denmark international found his game time reduced last term and he was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final.

There has been rumours about a potential return to Dutch giants Ajax, where he spent four years before joining Tottenham in 2013.

But Eriksen, who left Spurs for Inter Milan six months before his contract was due to expire in 2020, is not in a hurry to make any significant decisions about his future.

"I am really happy at United," he said. "I have had two very good years and am going into my third.

"It is a special club and a special place. Also my family is settled in Manchester, so I am in no rush.

"Obviously I want to play as much as possible and do everything I can. But that is nothing to do with the club - it is up to you and the manager.

"But in terms of how I feel, I feel very good at United."

Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 26, has rejected advances from West Ham and would prefer a move to Inter Milan this summer. (Talksport), external

Manchester United have revisited a potential swap deal involving Wan-Bissaka and Inter's Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries, 28. (Mail), external

England defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 22, is intending not to sign a new deal at Everton unless they can match the £160,000 a week being offered by Manchester United. (Mail), external

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

We asked for your views on Manchester United's 2024-25 away kit, which was released on Thursday.

Here are some of your comments:

Craig: Finally an away kit fans can be proud of. Some of the past kits have been absolutely frightening.

Steve: Looks like we're Chelsea! Terrible! Bad for the fans and bad for the brand. Unbelievable decision from marketing department!

Damian: Manchester United coming in with a cold away kit, going to be putting a lot of goals past teams on the road in this snazzy number!

Jay: Terrible away kit. Looks like Chelsea's home kit.

Arya: I love it! It’s ice cold.

Joe: I hate it. United should never play in blue, however its 1000 times better than the lime green monstrosity from two years ago.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have arrived in Los Angeles, with their players primed to avoid the punishing effects of jet lag.

Los Angeles is eight hours behind the UK and all three of United's games on their trip to the States begin after midnight BST.

It is not the easiest transition in such a short space of time. But United's physical performance team are on the case.

Players will be designated sleep and meal windows, a hydration plan and tailored compression garments to increase blood circulation (so don't avoid wearing them on a flight because they don't look good).

In addition, training has been scheduled to support players and help adjust their body clocks, so Friday's open session starts at 5pm local time, the same time as their game against Arsenal starts the following day.

Image source, Manchester United

Manchester United have revealed their away kit for the upcoming season, which features an all-over embossed 'M' motif "in celebration of the city the club calls home".

The shirt has a navy blue base with the royal blue 'M' "applied as a series of repeated circular patterns" on the main body.

The club says the bold design is "a homage to the 3D monograms frequently seen on Manchester United kits from 30 years ago" and also hints to the three rivers that flow through Manchester.

Other features include a polo club collar, silver detailing on the Adidas stripes down each shoulder and the Manchester United devil on the nape of the neck.

It will be worn with navy blue shorts and socks.

What do you think of the new kit, United fans? Have your say here, external

Manchester United are considering a move for Sporting Lisbon's 25-year-old Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand. (FootballTransfers), external

The club are set to intensify their search for a full-back, with 26-year-old Bayern Munich and Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui thought to be a potential option. (Telegraph), external

Manchester United must wait to sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka before recruiting a replacement, with West Ham interested in the right-back. (Manchester Evening News), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have announced their 29 man squad travelling to America for their pre-season training camp.

New signing Leny Yoro has been included in the squad, which also features Jadon Sancho. Tyrell Malacia has not been included in the list as he continues to recover from injury at the club's training ground.

A number of players who were involved at the Euros and the Copa America will also not travel, including Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

The Red Devils will be playing Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Betis during their tour in America.

The club have also announced striker Rasmus Hojlund will be wearing the number nine shirt this season having previously been number 11.

Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Paris St-Germain are keen on signing 24-year-old Manchester United and England forward Jadon Sancho, but the clubs cannot meet the Old Trafford club's valuation. (Sky Sports), external

United want £40m for Sancho. (Mirror), external

Manchester United have offered just under 40m euros (£33.6m) for Netherlands centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, but Bayern Munich will not accept less than 50m euros (£42.2m) plus add-ons for the 24-year-old. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Getafe will get just over £5m from Mason Greenwood's £26.7m move from Manchester United to Marseille because of a sell-on clause they negotiated when they took the 22-year-old on loan last season. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are in the process of telling staff whether they are at risk of redundancy or not, with the club’s new ownership looking to cut current staffing levels from over 1,100 by around 250.

Although more than that number are deemed at risk, not all of those affected will lose their jobs.

Erik ten Hag’s squad leave for a three-match tour of the United States on Wednesday.

Those staff expecting to be part of the club’s tour whose job is under threat were told last week they would not be travelling.

However more staff were told about proposed cuts at meetings on Tuesday.

United have refused to comment.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group is determined to drive down costs at Old Trafford, although there is thought to be disquiet among employees who believe the savings are minimal compared to the £1bn former chief executive Richard Arnold said in 2022 the club had "burned" on underperforming players.

Already this summer, United have spent almost £90m on signing defender Leny Yoro and striker Joshua Zirkzee. They have raised a guaranteed £31.6m through the sales of Mason Greenwood, Willy Kambwala and Donny van de Beek.

United are also trying to bring in another central defender although two bids for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite have been rejected and talks around Bayern Munich’s Dutch international Matthijs de Ligt have failed to reach a positive conclusion.

The club are also looking to sign a right-back, with Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich among their targets, although that may be linked to the future of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is about to enter the final year of his contract.

Yoro is expected to be in Ten Hag’s squad for the tour of the US, which includes high-profile encounters with Arsenal in Los Angeles on 27 July and Liverpool in Columbia, South Carolina on 3 August.

Our chief football news reporter Simon Stone is in the United States following Manchester United's pre-season tour - and he's ready to answer your burning questions about the Red Devils.

Ask what you would like to know and we will put a selection before him for his inside take.

Submit your questions here, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

It isn't quiet in one specific part of the major football clubs - the acquisitions department.

I know that because I was once the acquisitions department - well me and the manager mostly. While each player returned from holidays like a bronzed Adonis, we were cooped up in a small darkened room, beavering the daylight hours away like vampires.

There is plenty of guesswork in the media and a fair bit of leaking from the players and their people, but the clubs usually try to keep their transfer moves as quiet as possible.

If word gets out that a player is available, they know they might lose him to another club or else the price will increase as a bidding war erupts.

‌These are high stakes games and many are impressed by those who gamble and go early.

Manchester City have always been good enough, and let's be honest wealthy enough, to be able to do this well.

The problem is that some clubs are trying to do the same thing and are ending up paying top dollar for less able players, because they haven't done their due diligence in the market.

This is another area where the use of data, or maybe over-reliance on pure data, comes into play - feed all of the numbers in, let the technology do the crunching, and out comes the answer.

The problem is that everyone else has got the same or similar data.

What is needed, of course, is good human knowledge and the vision to aid the use of the information they have got. This is why these departments should be busy just now, they shouldn't just be doing deals which are admittedly very complex legal and financial documents these days.

Even more time should be spent on ensuring the new £75m player hasn't got a hidden weakness in his game or even the odd skeleton in his closet.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra Newsletter

Image source, Getty Images

On the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast, BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater ponders the future of Casemiro:

"It looks like he's going to stay but I don't think he should be playing every week. It was so obvious, especially towards the end of last season, that he was shattered.

"If he wants to come in every now and then, I'm all for it so he can keep his legs [fresh] but I'd rather him be replaced. Manuel Ugarte [who United have been linked to] is a defensive midfielder and I think we'll go and get him. I've got real confidence in this new set-up where we are linked to players and then we go and actually get them.

"If Casemiro can play half of the games that he did last season then we might actually get more out of him because he's not going to be shattered.

On Sofyan Amrabat, who was on loan at United last season, Drinkwater added: "I want to keep him because of the money it's going to take to get someone else."

Listen to the full show here

PSG want 24-year-old Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho and the England international appears open to the idea of joining the French champions. (Foot Mercato - in French), external

PSG will try to strike a deal with Manchester United for Sancho but are also keen on the Old Trafford club's Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, 29. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Manchester United and West Ham are in competition to sign Morocco right-back Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, who want about £19m for the 26-year-old. (Sky Sports Germany), external

West Ham could pursue a deal for Manchester United's 26-year-old English right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka if Mazraoui moves to Old Trafford. (Sky Sports), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

On the latest episode of The Devils Advocate podcast, BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater spoke about Scott McTominay's future:

"I think McTominay is still vastly underrated. In terms of our attack, I think he can still be vital for United.I think he's the best at heading the ball apart from Harry Maguire.

"It depends if he's happy playing the role I want him to, as an impact player that comes off the bench.

"I think he should only be played as a number 10 or as a forward-thinking midfielder. I don't want him deep in the midfield because he can't control games. On the turn, he's not as fast mentally as Kobbie Mainoo or Bruno Fernandes.

"[But] McTominay arriving late in the box, there's not many better players in the league for it. I'd keep him."

Listen to the full episode here

In the latest The Devils' Advocate, BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath discuss whether Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay should stay at Old Trafford.

With the summer transfer window well under way and new recruits already through the door, they also chat potential signings and the club's pre-season tour.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has issued his first message to the club's, external fans since he took on the role earlier this month.

Ashworth made the switch to Old Trafford after lengthy negotiations with his former club Newcastle United.

"The close season is always a reset moment for every club, but the sense of renewal has been particularly strong at Manchester United this summer as our new leadership structure takes shape," said Ashworth.

"Our first big decision of the summer was to extend Erik ten Hag's contract as men's first-team manager to June 2026, reflecting our strong belief in him as one of Europe's top coaches, and the partner we want to continue working with to get the team back to the levels expected.

"We are all clear that last season fell below the required standards in the Premier League and Champions League but, by winning the FA Cup in such impressive fashion, our players and staff showed what they are capable of when everyone pulls together and performs to their potential."

"Our collective challenge is to reach those levels much more consistently.

"My first impression is the scale of opportunity available to us at Manchester United as we review and refresh all areas of the club.

"This remains one of the biggest football clubs in the world, but that is not our measure of success. The focus is on getting back to being among the best on the pitch.

"We will not rest until we have achieved it.”

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's preparations for the new campaign will ramp up this week when they travel to America for their pre-season tour.

The Reds have already got some minutes in their legs after a 1-0 loss to Rosenborg and a 2-0 win over Scottish Premiership side Rangers last week.

While in America, United will play three fixtures, including two against Premier League opposition:

Arsenal v Manchester United - Sunday, 28 July (01:00 BST)

Manchester United v Real Betis - Thursday, 1 August (03:00 BST)

Manchester United v Liverpool - Sunday, 4 August (00:30 BST)

Manchester United have decided not to trigger an option to sign 27-year-old Morroco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina. (Tuttomercato - in Italian), external

The Old Trafford club are interested in keeping Amrabat following his loan spell last season, but they want to negotiate a new deal. (Metro), external

Honorary Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has suggested 24-year-old Netherlands defender and United target Matthijs de Ligt could leave the club this summer. (Sky Germany), external

Meanwhile, United do not want midfielder Scott McTominay to leave, amid interest from Premier League rivals Fulham and Tottenham. (Standard), external

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