Manchester United

Manchester United have scouted Atalanta's Ederson, 25, with the Brazilian central midfielder one of the few players the club are giving serious consideration to at that position. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Southampton could sell academy graduate Tyler Dibling, 18, if they are relegated from the Premier League, with Manchester United and Newcastle both interested in the English midfielder. (Football Insider), external

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

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to Sky Sports after Thursday's Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham:

"We disconnected at the beginning of the second half, that was a tough moment. If you look at all of the game, we were the best team but they were more clinical. We lost but the fight from the lads was really important for me.

"We were comfortable and dominated possession. It was not the last pass but the last shot [that was the problem]."

On what he has learned from the match: "I will think about that tomorrow, tonight I don't feel anything. There is nothing I can say to you about what is good. Tomorrow I can say a lot of things. Tonight we lost and then we have to take a night to think and then tomorrow we will have a lot of good things from this game.

"We cannot think in that way that winning silverware makes everything OK. It will be a long way, we are improving, our goal is to win the Premier League, how long it will take I don't know."

Asked if it is best for both parties if Marcus Rashford leaves the club in January: "Tomorrow we have training, he will be there preparing for the next game. He is a United player, everyone has a future at Manchester United."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Man Utd's display?

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

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BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater spoke to the Devils' advocate podcast about Manchester United's trip to Tottenham in the EFL Cup on Thursday: "We know that they are going to play the way they play with a really high line. They will try and throw everything at United, but they have been somewhat solid defensively under Ruben Amorim.

"They are going to be more open than a lot of teams we have played against recently. Ange [Postecoglou] is on the edge, so they might win.

Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath added: "I want three wins from four games between now and the end of the year- Tottenham, Bournemouth on Sunday and Newcastle. Wolves [on boxing day] might be tricky because they will have a new manager bounce."

Listen to the full episode here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ploughed another $100m (£79.43m) into the Old Trafford club.

The payment had to be made by 31 December under the terms of the agreement between Ratcliffe and the Glazer family that was announced earlier this year.

It was confirmed by a filing United made to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning and takes Ratcliffe's stake in United to 28.94%.

The money will be used for infrastructure projects and is not available for transfers.

In addition, it was revealed the ownership was being transferred from Ratcliffe to his company INEOS in line with his other sporting enterprises.

Christmas Eve will mark 12 months since Ratcliffe and the Glazer family agreed their deal, since when the boyhood United fan has transformed the structures within the club, bringing in former Manchester City chief football operations officer Omar Berrada as chief executive and Southampton technical director Jason Wilcox in a similar role.

However, the transition has not been straightforward. Erik ten Hag was initially retained as manager following United's FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, then ditched after 10 Premier League games. And, after spending five months on gardening leave while compensation was agreed with Newcastle, Dan Ashworth was dumped as sporting director after just five months at Old Trafford.

In addition, 250 staff members have been made redundant, while other perks for ordinary staff members have been slashed as Ratcliffe cuts cost with the aim of being able to invest more in the first-team.

Discussions over a new stadium will continue until the middle of 2025, although work on massive improvements to United's Carrington training ground have been started.

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Marcus Rashford is 27 years old now and I have heard people argue that, at his age, he is not going to change.

I'm not sure he needs to, but I would definitely describe him as someone who is firmly attached to this Manchester United era.

By that, I mean his time in the United first team has been very different to most of the young players who came through the ranks there in the years before him.

The 'Class of 92' is always seen as the modern-day marker in that respect, but more recently Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck and Darren Fletcher all came through the ranks to break into successful Manchester United teams and win Premier League titles.

It was a lot easier for them. Rashford's era has been very different.

He has still won trophies but, since his debut in 2016, United have never come close to being champions. They have been far too inconsistent for that but, good or bad, he has always been one of the big talking points of this team - as he is now.

What happens next is going to be very interesting. Ruben Amorim has said this situation is not down to discipline, but this is the first time Rashford's day-to-day character has been actively discussed by his manager, rather than by fans or the media.

So this is different - and it is why we are at the stage where Rashford is speaking openly about a "new challenge" - but he doesn't have to leave Old Trafford for that.

If he is going to move on, it would have to be a deal that suits everyone - his fee, from the club's point of view, plus his wages and where he wants to play.

I think there is still only really one answer to that last question - and surely Manchester United fans would agree with me. He is a Red at heart.

He has been at his boyhood club since he was seven years old - and his utopia is to be playing every week for Manchester United, winning trophies and taking them back to where he feels they should be.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan

Read the full feature here

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Marcus Rashford would be taking "the easy way out" if he was to leave Manchester United, says former England winger Chris Waddle.

The United forward said on he is "ready for a new challenge" after being asked about his future at the club.

Rashford has struggled to find consistent form over the past 18 months and was dropped from the squad for Sunday's derby which United won 2-1 against Manchester City.

The 27-year-old has been linked with moves to European giants Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

"We know he's a talented footballer," Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live. "He's been playing a lot of football over the years for arguably the biggest football club in the world, so if you want a challenge – do you not want to put Manchester United back on the map? There's no bigger club than United in my eyes globally.

"Just because you've got that talent, it's what is upstairs. Why would somebody splash out £100m for somebody who you don't know what you're going to get? And if you upset them a bit, you're stuck with a player on a big contract worth a fortune.

"He's got a challenge in front of him where he could roll his sleeves up and say: 'I'm becoming a United legend here - I want to get this club back to where they should be'. That's the challenge, not 'I want another challenge'. That's the easy way out.

"With his ability, he should be winning games for Man Utd nearly every week. He should be unplayable.

"You've got a new manager who's trying to get a bit of rhythm going – after a great win at Manchester City for them. He should be thinking 'I want to be part of this, I can see something happen here and I want to get in that team'.

"I wouldn't pick a player who's not in the right frame of mind."

Atletico Madrid could make a loan move for Manchester United's 27-year-old forward Marcus Rashford, who has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford. (TBR Football), external

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are also interested in Rashford and believe he is the right player to boost the league's global profile. (Telegraph), external

Rashford has been left out of Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim's squad to face Tottenham in their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Thursday. (Mail), external

Manchester United remain interested in 22-year-old Portugal left-back Nuno Mendes, but Paris St-Germain want to extend his current deal beyond 2026. (Florian Plettenberg/Sky Germany), external

Finally, Inter Milan and Italy defender Federico Dimarco will reject any approach from United, in favour of staying with the Serie A champions. (Tuttosport via Goal), external

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

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It is one thing to say you want to try something new - but it is another thing to know where somewhere new is going to be.

Marcus Rashford needs to find where that new position would be.I am not 100% sold that his Manchester United career is coming to an end just yet.

He has said what he has said. In terms of timing, it will be tough for him because he has said that after being left out of a Manchester derby.

There will be some people who interpret it as he just wants to leave but maybe he does not. This is his club. This is the place where he has come through the academy, done really well overall and had so many big moments.

It is very familiar for him.

So to say he wants a new challenge - maybe, but where is that going to be? Who knows.

Will United actually want to sell him? Who knows.

I do not know if it is the natural conclusion to his time at United as such. It has the potential to be, but there is no guarantee.

Ruben Amorim seems like someone who is very much there to give feedback. I do not think Rashford would have been left out of the squad and not know the reasons why. That is part of a culture of fairness as well.

You can disagree with a manager but if they explain why they are doing what they are doing then the ball is in your court.

Nine times out of 10 what a manager sees is quite accurate.

With both Rashford and Alejandro Garancho, Amorim made the point that they are not frozen out and it was just for last weekend.

Let's see what happens next.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Marcus Rashford's future at Old Trafford. Would it be a mistake to let the homegrown talent leave the club? Should he fight for his position in the team, go out on loan or leave permanently?

Here are some of your comments:

Yusuf: It is time for Rashford to go. He has been at the club for so long but he is ready to give the iconic moments he had with us in the past to a new club with fresh ideas. He is now losing the touch he had during 2022-23, which was one of his best seasons. I still think he can try to earn his place during December, but I feel this could be the end between United and Rashford.

Simon: He looks like he has lost all of his hunger and desire to be a top player. He didn't push on when he got his big new contract, like a world-class player would. He seems more more interested in how he looks to the world. It is a real shame. You can tell he has given up.

Chris: The idea of Rashford leaving makes me sad, as I think it would for most United supporters. Seeing him succeed in a United shirt is fantastic, but he has become a player who attracts headlines for the wrong reasons and I think he needs a fresh start elsewhere. It will not be nice to see him go - however, if we get a decent fee, it is a genuine win-win for the club and the player.

Michael: His work-rate recently has not matched his potential. If he was an 'ordinary' worker instead of a highly paid football star, it would be said he has lost interest in his job - and it shows.

Vaughan: Time for Marcus to move on, I'm afraid. The lack of interest and work-rate is unforgivable in a United shirt. It seems he is more interested in living the superstar lifestyle at the expense of his football. It is such a waste of his great talent.

Alan: Has anyone sat down with the player and really tried to establish what is behind the drop in both his performances and enthusiasm? Only by looking at all aspects will the problems and, more importantly, the solutions be identified.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Eighty-seven minutes in and I was convinced I would write about the much anticipated Manchester derby without using the word drama - the match did not deserve it.

It was the dullest Premier League game of the weekend then it contrived to steal all the headlines via the one class act on show: Amad Diallo.

United fans might feel this is a turning point but, in reality, boss Ruben Amorim was right, it is just one game even if those late goals tasted oh so sweet in the moment. They still do not look to have the energy needed to be a top-four side, however giddy they felt leaving the Etihad.

Amorim has to look to youth as he goes forward. It helps having Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo in situ but many more are needed from outside the club.

Diallo's type of energy, along with his ability and passion, is needed at Old Trafford if they are going to get back to the top any time soon.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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If Manchester United offered guidance about not creating even more turmoil around an already delicate situation, Ruben Amorim has followed it.

We know enough about Amorim now to know he is not someone who will hold back just for the sake of it, so there is an element of reality about his observations that Marcus Rashford is a big talent - "and we need big talents" he said.

But this is also a case where actions will speak louder than words.

Amorim says he wants Rashford to stay, but also that his players have to meet his standards.

He says Rashford - and Alejandro Garnacho - will be assessed for selection based on their training ground performances.

Therefore, it is fair to assume that if neither reaches the required standard, they will not travel to London for the Carabao Cup tie at Tottenham - even if Rashford has shaken off the illness that prevented him from training on Monday.

After Tottenham, Manchester United have Premier League games against Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle.

We will know soon enough where Rashford fits in Amorim's plans. But, if he fails to reach the standard his new boss demands, the 27-year-old will not feature.

What should Rashford do next? Vote here

How good is Marcus Rashford? It is a question that is quite difficult to pin down.

If going off goal contributions per season, he does not jump out as one of Manchester United's most important players.

Only three times in nine seasons has he broken the magical 20-goal barrier by which strikers are often judged.

Of course, during Erik ten Hag's first campaign in 2022-23, he was majestic - almost seeming to score every week on his way to a thunderous 30 goals.

Unfortunately, that type of end product has not continued.

In Rashford's defence, with seven already in 2024-25, he is on track to easily beat last season's meagre tally of eight goals scored and five assists. Yet, one gets the feeling United expect and need more from their number 10.

When he burst on to the scene in 2015-16, it was utterly spectacular - sadly, those flashes of brilliance have been all-too fleeting during his time at Old Trafford.

What should Rashford do? Have your say in our poll

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Carabao Cup quarter-final at Tottenham (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He has not had the chance to speak to Marcus Rashford about his comments, after giving the players a day off on Tuesday.

• Amorim said there is no concern over whether the situation will have an impact on the wider squad: "They are more simple than that. Everyone focuses on their job. I was a player and we are a little bit selfish, so [I think] they will be focused on their job to win a place in this team. So I don't think it will even impact the team."

• He is "of course" happy for the forward to remain at Old Trafford: "This kind of club needs big talents - and he is a big talent. We just need to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help him."

• Rashford is "right" in saying that he is ready for "a new challenge" because there is currently a "difficult situation" at the club.

• He added: "It is a tough one. For me, it is the biggest challenge in football because, as I've already said, this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. This is really a new challenge, and the biggest one, so I hope all of my players are ready."

• Rashford will be ready to face Tottenham, if called upon: "He is our player and he is ready for the game. I want to take the best from Marcus Rashford, as with the other players - that is a key point for me. I have spoken with a lot of the players, individually, during training. I just want to win and to help the team be better."

• He admitted the team is "better" with the England international, adding: "That is simple. We will try different things to push Marcus to his best level, which he has shown me in the past. That is all."

• But there is "one more training session" before he will make his decision on whether Rashford and fellow forward Alejandro Garnacho - who was also left out of the squad for the Manchester derby - will be involved in the cup tie.

• He added: "It is the same situation with all of the other players. If they train well, then I will have to make a choice. We will see at the end of the training session."

• Lastly, he confirmed his focus is on "the present" and not on "the future", adding that his priority is having all of his players "preparing the best they can for each game", as they work towards Thursday's game.

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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It is being suggested to me by sources close to Marcus Rashford that he is in an emotional frame of mind, as far as his Manchester United career is concerned, has no desire to leave Old Trafford and, in an ideal world, would return to Ruben Amorim's starting line-up, stay there and move on.

However, Rashford is a realist.

He watched Sunday's victory at Manchester City in front of a TV at home.

Amorim might have massaged the situation by saying this was a new week, but Rashford and the people closest to him have been around long enough to know new bosses can make a big impact by leaving out a big name - and the big name tends to be someone who is not pivotal to their plans.

A January move is not straightforward. Paris St-Germain are the club most linked with Rashford. They are also the club to distance themselves from a transfer most often.

Aside from Casemiro, Rashford is United's highest earner and not many clubs in the world could match his wages.

At 27 years old, and theoretically in the prime stage of his career, Rashford might be someone of major interest to the Saudi Pro League - but would that appeal to Rashford? Some who know the player suggest not.

Rashford has witnessed a shining example of someone who has turned a bleak situation around. Erik ten Hag did not want Harry Maguire - and had Maguire been ambivalent about his situation, he would be long gone by now.

But Maguire stuck it out, won his place back and ended up lasting longer than Ten Hag.

Rashford has the ability to turn this situation around, but his words suggest very strongly that is not his current mindset.

He is ready for a new challenge but the secondary part remains: where?

Does Rashford still have a future at Old Trafford? Would it be a mistake to let the forward leave?

Let us know your thoughts here