Manchester United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are using their United States tour to trial new cooling jackets kit manufacturers Adidas feel will be in widespread use at next summer's World Cup.

Extreme weather was a significant factor at the recent Club World Cup and with more early kick-offs likely at a 48-team World Cup, ways are being found to try to keep players cool.

Lead physical performance coach Charlie Owen and head of physical performance Ed Leng wore the jackets and explained the benefits to United's players at the start of their scheduled training session at Chicago's Soldier Field stadium on Friday.

The jackets have already been trialled in cycling and Formula 1. The United players will wear them after the warm-up and at half-time in all three games at the Premier League Summer Series, starting against West Ham at MetLife Stadium on Saturday.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim had his side training at 8am the day after they arrived in the United States this week to help them with the acclimatisation process.

United landed in Chicago late on Tuesday but with a six-hour time difference to the UK, Amorim had his players working early the following day.

Breakfast was available from 6.30am, although most arrived slightly later before leaving for the training complex at local Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire.

At least the players were spared having to load up on pasta at that time in the morning – former United defender Patrice Evra famously said he was sick after his debut against Manchester City, which had a 12.30pm start as he had never eaten so early before a game.

Players don't need to eat as much before training, so most stuck with omelettes or avocado on toast.

The timing was put back slightly on Thursday, when the players had to be in the gym at 8.30am and on the pitch at 9am. For the part-open session on Friday, the players are due to start training at 9.30am.

It was helpful in the sense it kept United's players out of the fierce mid-afternoon temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday, which climbed to over 30C.

Still, it might come as a shock to the body clock on Saturday when their Premier League Summer Series game against West Ham starts at 7pm local time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, meaning the game won't finish until around 2am UK time.

The players who are not involved will have a training session on the pitch after the game.

United are flying straight back to their Chicago base after the game.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago

Mason Mount is backing himself to force his way into Manchester United's starting line-up this season.

In signing what club sources have stressed were head coach Ruben Amorim's top two summer targets - Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo - United seem to have sealed off the two number 10 slots Mount seems ideally suited for.

With skipper Bruno Fernandes, striker Joshua Zirkzee, wide man Amad Diallo and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo also providing competition, and no European football meaning substantially fewer games, Mount knows the pressure is on to get on the pitch at all.

But despite the £55m signing struggling with injuries and a loss of form since his arrival from Chelsea two years ago, Mount retains enough confidence in his ability to believe he can find a role.

"Yes, 100%," he said from the club's pre-season training camp in Chicago.

"Any time you get that opportunity to be on the pitch, you want to do something, you want to affect the game. That's always the way I've looked at it.

"I mean, I'll always back myself. I know what I can do.

"Obviously the new signings are going to elevate us to another level and we all need to be at that level to really perform."

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount says the pain of last season's Europa League final defeat by Tottenham lingered well into the summer.

Mount started the final in Bilbao but, like many of his team-mates, failed to have a significant impact on the game as Spurs won thanks to a deflected Brennan Johnson effort.

The result condemned United to only their second season without European football in 35 years following their 15th-placed Premier League finish, their worst performance since the 1973-74 relegation campaign.

"It took some time, that's for sure," said Mount, speaking at the club's pre-season training camp in Chicago.

"You're just thinking about little things in the game. I started, so it was like: 'What could I have done in that situation?' Or: 'Could I have made that pass better?'

"You would drive yourself crazy, looking into loads of detail, but it hurts. The whole season hurt."

Aston Villa have told Manchester United 29-year-old England striker Ollie Watkins is not for sale. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Chelsea have ruled out a move for Sweden striker Alexander Isak, after the 25-year-old said he wants to explore a move away from Newcastle. (Mail), external

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

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's US tour squad has sharpened the minds of a few younger players when it comes to assessing options for next season.

Left-back Harry Amass was omitted so he could secure a loan move and a number of options have already opened up.

Midfielder Jack Moorhouse - who like Amass went on United's post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong - is likely to go on loan to Leyton Orient in League One.

After his spell at Doncaster Rovers last season, 20-year-old wide player Ethan Ennis is looking at another temporary move.

And Ethan Wheatley, fresh from his goalscoring contribution to England Under-19s' European Championship campaign is another likely to be moving out, at least in the short term.

Goalkeeper Radek Vitek, a surprising omission from the US tour party, is also lined up for a loan deal.

For the latter two in particular, it will be interesting to see if United look at a permanent transfer given the Profit and Sustainability Rules benefit that would come from it.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Maguire arrived in Chicago on Wednesday night to link up with his Manchester United team-mates for the Premier League Summer Series, which gets under way this weekend.

Maguire did not travel with his team-mates on Tuesday for "personal reasons", sparking loads of conspiracy theories.

The answer may have been quite straightforward judging by the number of happy birthday messages posted to Maguire's wife, Fern - including one from the United centre-back himself.

Javi Guerra has rejected an offer to renew his contract with Valencia, with Manchester United monitoring the 22-year-old Spanish midfielder. (Marca - in Spanish), external

Tottenham are closely watching Kobbie Mainoo's situation at Old Trafford, with the midfielder yet to agree a long-term extension to his contract, which expires in 2027. (tbrfootball.com), external

Fulham are confident of keeping hold of midfielder Seth Ridgeon despite United, Liverpool and Chelsea showing interest in the England Under-17 captain. (Standard), external

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Barcelona have unveiled Marcus Rashford as their new number 14 after the forward completed his season-long loan move with an option to buy for £30.3m.

The 27-year-old made 426 appearances at Manchester United and has wished them "all the best" as he starts his 'next chapter'.

"The club is in a period of change, and they have been for a while," Rashford told reporters at his unveiling on Wednesday.

"I don't have anything bad to say as it has been an important part - not just of my career - but of my life. So I was grateful for the opportunity.

"But like life, not everything goes as simple as you thought and this is my next chapter. I'm fully focused on improving myself and helping the team win trophies.

"I have nothing bad to say about United. I wish them all the best and hope they are successful in the future."

Image source, Getty Images

There is no doubt a fully-motivated, focused and determined Marcus Rashford would walk into Ruben Amorim's team.

But, in reality, that Rashford has only been seen for one full season since 2021 - and that was the campaign that led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer getting sacked.

There were signs of the old Rashford during his half season loan at Aston Villa - but there were also games where he did not perform so well.

Offloading an unwanted player to Barcelona is bizarre for a club in Manchester United's position. But that is where they are right now. What they have to do is maximise the opportunity.

At Old Trafford, they cannot worry about optics.

They have to deliver a squad that Amorim can drive up the table.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

The team most in need of goals is Manchester United.‌

Last season, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Alexander Isak of Newcastle combined to score far more in the Premier League (52) than United did as an entire squad (44).

Considering they had splurged more than £200m last summer to just about zero effect, it is no surprise that new defenders are way down on their list of priorities this summer.

Like everyone else, they are looking ahead by investing £62.5m on Matheus Cunha and another £65m-plus on Bryan Mbuemo.

What a great time to be an attacker in the Premier League, but there is also huge pressure that comes with those transfer fees, especially at United.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago

I could hardly claim Chicago was brought to a standstill by Manchester United's arrival on Tuesday night.

There were a couple of fans waiting for them - and a couple of lads who asked what was happening when the local police put the barriers out that briefly blocked the pavement.

But there was not too much buzz when Ruben Amorim and his players eventually arrived.

United are using Chicago as their training base for the Premier League Summer Series, although their first match, against West Ham on Saturday, is actually at the MetLife Stadium - which hosted the Club World Cup final earlier this month - in New Jersey.

Atalanta and Lazio are interested in Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund. (Footmercato - in French, external)

Meanwhile, United are monitoring Angers' Mali Under-20 left-back Dan Sinate, but they are unlikely to make a move for the 19-year-old until January at the earliest (Sun, external)

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

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Manchester United are trying to make ends meet by offloading their so-called "deadwood" but it will not be easy without losing a lot of money.

‌These players are getting blanked by Ruben Amorim. They are not training with the first-team squad and not joining the A team for the pre-season tours.

This treatment is intended to force them out and it often does, but it can have the opposite effect.

The wages alone of Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho are estimated to be about £1m a week. This is a serious drain on resources but the players will not care a jot.

Rashford's £17m-per-year salary may be covered by his loan to Barcelona this season, but remember that this once extremely valuable asset apparently can't now be sold for a cent.

When they feel badly or unfairly treated, footballers are not averse to digging their heels in and refusing to move unless everything suits them perfectly, especially financially.

United have to pay them until they move or their contracts run out, so they are in no rush.

Those players haven't asked to leave so from their perspective it is the club that is breaking the agreed contract, not them.

The argument usually follows: "You don't want me, so why don't you pay up my contract in full and I will leave with a smile on my face?" And a bad back carrying all that dosh no doubt...

These face-offs will be resolved in time but United do not have a strong hand in negotiations. Few other clubs will pay top prices for apparently damaged goods, especially with those huge wages.

This summer's buys have been impressive by United so far, but they need more and that could be scuppered unless those unwanted players are carefully removed.

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Simon Stone in Chicago
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bryan Mbeumo has spoken to Manchester United's club media following his £65m arrival from Brentford.

There are a couple of interesting snippets, one of which makes me feel very old - and it is not this one, where he explains why he enjoys playing the piano and his new-found love for chess.

"I really discovered it (piano) a few years ago, a friend was playing and I wanted to try," he said.

"With chess, I played a little bit when I was younger. Two or three years ago, I started playing again and I really enjoyed it.

"I play online. I have a board at home but I have nobody to play with."

The sobering comments relate to his footballing idols when he was a kid.

His first ones are both still playing.

"I grew up in a small town, where everyone knew each other," he said. "My first top was Manchester United with Ronaldo behind.

"My favourite players changed with time. When I was really young, my two best footballers were Lionel Messi and Ronaldo. When I was growing up, Neymar. After that it was Eden Hazard."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago

Image source, Getty Images

It has been Manchester United's target for some time to ensure Bryan Mbeumo was signed before they set off for Chicago and the start of their three-match Premier League Summer Series campaign.

They made it. But it was close.

United leave on Tuesday afternoon so they had less than 24 hours to spare before they were able to make an official announcement.

But now the £65m deal is done, we will start to get an indication of how head coach Ruben Amorim intends to piece his team together.

In theory, Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo will fill the two number 10 slots behind a main striker.

However, who occupies the two midfield slots behind?

Presumably Bruno Fernandes will be in one. The United skipper played there for 45 minutes in Saturday's goalless draw with Leeds United.

But neither Kobbie Mainoo nor Casemiro would appear to have the legs to operate alongside Fernandes and, even at £50m, there are doubts over Manuel Ugarte's quality.

And then there are the other players who could play in the number 10 slots. They include Fernandes and Mainoo but also Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount. What role is available for them?

And Amorim might not be finished in the transfer market just yet either, especially if he can unload unwanted quartet Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia in the same way as is happening with Marcus Rashford.

Amorim has got what he wants in Cunha and Mbeumo. But that does not mean his problems have gone away.

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Where Bryan Mbeumo will play for Manchester United is still unclear, but his arrival has been described as another "step in the right direction" for the club.

The forward joined United from Brentford on Monday in a £65m deal.

Discussing the transfer on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen said: "He offers something different.

"In Amorim's system, where does he play? Does he play off the left, down the middle or off the right in a narrow front three?

"Narrow forwards fit that system better. I think he is a great signing for United. It's just the environment he steps into, the team dynamics and how they are going to operate. Is he going to be competing with Rasmus Hojlund? Is he going to be playing to the side of Hojlund?

"But it is a good, solid signing and a player who has certainly proved himself in the league."

Ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha agreed, adding: "I think realistically, for the position that United are in now, they don't really have a solid foundation for building true success in this particular moment.

"You need some people who are aware of the league itself, aware of how United stand within it and aware of the expectation that comes with being there.

"On the other side of it, you look at Hojlund - he has huge potential but it has not really worked out yet. They need something to work out now. As they build for the future, those younger players and bigger prospects that take a few years develop, that's great, but they are not there now.

"By getting Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha now, those are steps in the right direction for United."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds