Manchester United

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Manchester United have confirmed defender Lenny Yoro has had successful surgery on a foot injury.

The 18-year-old summer signing is still expected to be sidelined until October after sustaining the injury in United's pre-season game against Arsenal in Los Angeles.

Yoro is expected to miss nine Premier League games, including matches against Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa, and the start of United’s Europa League and Carabao Cup campaigns.

A statement from United said: "Yoro’s rehabilitation starts now and we look forward to the 18-year-old returning to fitness in around three months."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox will not kick a ball for Manchester United this season.

But that quartet will be at the centre of how the 2024-25 campaign pans out for the club and Ten Hag.

In a sense, they are dealing with a few fundamental problems and a legacy of bad recruitment.

They did not buy Casemiro, but they have to deal with the financial reality of the Brazilian being on an enormous salary for another two years while delivering the type of flawed performance that allowed Fabio Carvalho to ghost past him inside the penalty area for Liverpool's opener on Saturday.

A 'tight' Profit and Sustainability situation is the result of correct checks and balances not being in place previously to prevent the kind of overspend that saw £81.3m committed to sign Brazilian winger Antony from Ajax two years ago when the reality is he is probably not even worth half that.

It is desperate luck for Leny Yoro to get a serious injury within a fortnight of his £52m arrival from Lille but at 18, the centre-back was never going to be the answer on his own.

United need to bring in another central defender. But to do that, they need to sell Victor Lindelof, and maybe Harry Maguire, and that is not easy.

The same is also true at right-back, where Aaron Wan-Bissaka could make way for Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui.

The problem at United is all across the squad there are players on huge contracts they will struggle to get elsewhere, and who have simply not delivered performances that make them value for money.

Ask any manager what the key to success is, at whatever level, and they will say recruitment.

United's new structure features Ineos-backed board members and a new chief executive, sporting director and technical director.

It is their collective job to ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United’s new sponsors insist ‘Old Trafford is Old Trafford’ but they would be interested in some kind of commercial partnership around the club’s stadium plans.

United will have the Snapdragon logo on their shirts for the next three years, with the option to extend for a further two after a £60m-a-year deal with US-based Qualcomm Technologies was announced at the beginning of last month.

That will take it to around the time United hope to be close to completing their stadium project, whether that is the 100,000-capacity new build on land close to Old Trafford which is the preference, or a slightly cheaper remodelling of the current stadium.

Having committed itself to United for such an extended period of time, Qualcomm’s chief marketing officer Don McGuire feels it would be natural for the organisation to be interesting in a naming rights deal, which is one of the methods co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Taskforce on the project is looking at to meet a construction cost that could exceed £2bn.

"Old Trafford is Old Trafford. It should always be Old Trafford," said McGuire.

"But there could be a brand attached to that in some way shape or form, a ‘powered by someone,’ or an “at” or whatever."

United’s US tour game with Spanish side Real Betis was played in San Diego, in a stadium officially called the Snapdragon Stadium at Bashor Field, which was the name given to it in 2019 when local businesswoman Dianne L Bashor donated $15m (£11.71m) to help pay for construction costs.

"This (sponsorship) deal is not inexpensive anyway but we are working very closely with the team on the reimagination of Old Trafford and Carrington from a technology and innovation standpoint. But if it makes sense we are always looking out for opportunities."

After successive pre-season tours to California it remains to be seen where United will target in 2025.

McGuire says China and India are huge markets for the Snapdragon brand and one of the reasons for their tie-up with United was the number of fans they have in both countries.

"We’d love for them to play in China or India," he said.

However, arranging a pre-season trip to either country is not straightforward for climactic reasons.

United have not visited China since 2019 when they played Tottenham in Shanghai. Three years earlier a planned match against Manchester City was scrapped after heavy rain in Beijing left the pitch at the Birds Nest stadium unplayable.

No major European team toured China this summer amid reports a planned tournament involving PSG, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid had to be scrapped as promised payments to the clubs were not met.

In 2020, United had been due to play in India for the first time but that was scrapped following the outbreak of Covid-19.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's friendly game between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Tom: Great pre-season but we can't get carried away. New manager, new system and no new players. They need to bolster as this style will exhaust players and bring on injuries.

Stuart: Salah, Quansah, Jones and Kelleher looked sharp. Carvalho is working very hard and producing results with another goal. Steady progress is being achieved, but with most of the squad still to come back time is very short indeed. It might be up to some of these players to get our season started. Arne Slot is certainly not getting carried away yet.

Eug: It is always good to beat United but it's only a friendly so let's not get carried away. Still no new players have been brought in so Slot must be happy with the squad he's got. This must be Salah's last season with Liverpool too. He's getting on a bit but is still good.

Ian: I’m interested in seeing what Arne Slot will do with Carvalho as he looks really promising.

Man Utd fans

Hrundi: In the final third United still seem to wing it. An individual takes a pot shot or hopes for a fortuitous cross. There are no patterns of attacking play forming yet. Even without our best XI we should be seeing it by now.

David: The result didn't reflect the game. There was much better pressing from Man Utd. If we can carry that forward there is hope for next season.

Paul: I don't see any good coming from friendlies in the United States. It was last pre-season that both Mainoo and Malacia became long term injuries. In this pre-season tour the same has happened again to both Yoro and Hojlund, with further injury setbacks to Rashford, Evans, and Lindelof. We collect injuries instead of victories. Not happy with our prep!

JP: I think United have shown what we can expect with Ten Hag at the helm and that is poor tactics, lack of direction and an inability to encourage the team to play at their best. I really don't believe he is cut out for the job. We're losing friendlies left, right and centre and I'm expecting more of the same over the coming season.

Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in a cut-price deal for 26-year-old Italy forward Federico Chiesa, who is in the final year of his contract. (Teamtalk), external

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

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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on whether there will be any more changes to the squad before the Premier League season starts: "It is always difficult to say. We hope.

"We are always looking and this new leadership team is really eager to do business and to make deals. They are on it.

"But we have to wait if the timing is there and if the opportunities are there."

Ten Hag, who trialled Jadon Sancho in the centre forward role in United’s last game before the Community Shield showdown with Manchester City, admitted using him in that role at Wembley is more appealing than playing Marcus Rashford there: "If Jadon wasn’t an option we wouldn’t have played him there.

"Marcus has done it before and it is definitely an option but I think he is more productive from the left, when he is coming inside."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool concluded their US tour with a 3-0 victory over Manchester United in Columbia.

What did you learn from this game?

Reds fans, let us know your thoughts on the match, external

What did you make of the performance, United supporters?, external

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's international contingent are returning to pre-season training after their exploits at Euro 2024 and Copa America.

Alejandro Garnacho came back at the end of last week and his Argentina team-mate Lisandro Martinez is due at Carrington on Monday.

England's Kobbie Mainoo is also set to return next week but has spent his holidays in Los Angeles, where United have been based for the majority of their three-match United States tour.

Mainoo called in at UCLA to watch a training session, then hung about for a chat afterwards.

When I spoke to United manager Erik ten Hag on Thursday, I asked him about Mainoo's progress and his hopes for the 19-year-old.

"It is amazing what he did last season," said the Dutchman. "He achieved a high level in every game.

"Of course, we are aiming to get the same but at the end of the day, he has to do it.

"It depends a lot on his focus and his attitude and how he is coming into the season.

"But I don’t worry. I see now he is a very mature guy already."

Bayern Munich have rejected Manchester United's joint bid for Netherlands centre-half Matthijs de Ligt and Morocco full-back Noussair Mazraoui. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

While Inter Milan have joined West Ham in the race to sign United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. (Football Insider), external

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

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's all-Premier League friendly between old rivals Liverpool and Manchester United is expected to be the highest-ever grossing event at the Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina.

Both clubs conclude their three-game US tours with the match, which is also expected to have the highest attendance for a non-American football game at the 77,559 venue.

The stadium itself, which opened in 1934, is home to the South Carolina Gamecocks college football team.

Unlike last weekend at the SoFi Stadium in California, when a grass pitch was prepared especially for a single match, the stadium for Saturday's game has a natural grass pitch.

The stadium is named after Martha Williams-Brice, who left a substantial sum of money to the University of South Carolina in the 1970s to increase the capacity.

Image source, Manchester United via Getty Images

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has downplayed the importance of having a strong start to a season in order to be successful.

United lost the first two league games of Ten Hag's first season in charge, and had a similarly rocky start last year, losing six of the first 10 matches in all competitions.

"The start is always important but it is the end that matters," Ten Hag told BBC chief football news reporter Simon Stone.

"We saw in the first season [2022-23] we bounced back, we had a successful season with many games and two finals. We went quite far in Europe and we were third in the league.

"The start is the foundation. If you have a good start it gives you a foundation to run into a successful season. But if you don't get it, you have to keep going. It can still be a successful season because seasons are very long and trophies are always won in April or May.

"You don't have to [have a good start] but it is very helpful if you do. But the season is long. Of course we are aiming for this. In this period of the year we are aiming to get a successful start."

Image source, The FA via Getty Images

Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United are capable of winning another trophy in 2024-25.

The former Ajax boss could become only the second manager in United's history after Sir Alex Ferguson to win trophies in three consecutive seasons.

"I definitely believe it is possible to win another trophy. But that [the personal achievement] is not my goal, it is not about me," Ten Hag told BBC chief football news reporter Simon Stone.

"It is about the club. That is the most important thing. We have to put the club in front.

"Everyone has to be aligned and go for a greater purpose. It is not about individuals. It is about the team. It is about unity. It is about togetherness to achieve at the highest."

Asked about the potential for United making more signings this summer, he added: "That is the plan. We want to make improvements in the squad and we want a squad as good as possible, although that is the aim of every club.

"It is very important when you want to be at the top level, in a season like this, which will be a season of 'survival of the fittest', you need squad depth."

Image source, Manchester United via Getty Images

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he has "left behind" the memories of the uncertainty over his future following the club's FA Cup triumph.

Ten Hag won his second trophy as Red Devils boss on 25 May, but his position was reported to be in question and news of his contract extension only became official at the start of July.

"It feels like it is years ago," Ten Hag told BBC chief football news reporter Simon Stone.

"I left it behind and I am looking forward. I know why I am here. I am here to win. I am here for the project and to win trophies. We want to move forward.

"I know this project and we are going in the right direction. We had won two trophies and I was preparing for the season. That is what I did in this period. And of course I took a break, I needed it. It was a tough season."

Ten Hag says he was not certain he would be allowed to stay in his role, adding: "But for me that was not important. I was focused on the reality. The reality was we had a tough season and I had to plan the squad. I had to prepare pre-season and the season and the decision-making and we are here.

"We are working now very good together. We are all here on the tour preparing the season. The leadership group, the new staff, the new coaching staff, also some new players. We are working on our improvements and making the next step level in the new season."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is anticipated Manchester United will reject Fulham's offer for Scott McTominay but the Scotland international's future is again uncertain after West Ham tried to sign him last summer.

The Old Trafford club are trying to generate funds to buy new players and the injuries to defender Leny Yoro, who is set to miss three months, and striker Rasmus Hojlund heighten the issue.

McTominay is moving into the prime years of his career and wants to be a first-team regular.

West Ham have agreed personal terms to sign right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 26, but have yet to agree a fee with Manchester United, who want £18m rather than the £10m offered. (Sky Sports Germany), external

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

We asked for your thoughts after Manchester United beat Real Betis in a pre-season friendly.

Here are some of your comments:

John: It genuinely feels like Groundhog Day. It’s one step forward with Amad Diallo and two steps back with injuries to Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund - and potentially Rashford and Antony! I am encouraged by Amad, however I am remembering how good Anthony Martial looked every pre season for nine years!

Adam: Amad and Harry Amass are the bright sparks of the pre-season despite injuries to Yoro and Hojlund. Amad has to start and play more games otherwise Antony will cost Erik ten Hag his job. Amass should be competing for a starting left-back spot with Shaw given Tyrell Malacia is injury prone.

Christine: Youth is being given an opportunity at Manchester United - it feels a bit like the 'Class of '92'. More young players like Amad are grabbing their opportunity and giving other players something to think about. It feels exciting but teams are still scoring against us.

Antony: Looks like it's going to be another injury prone start to the season. What's going on at Man Utd? Who is responsible for the physical wellbeing of the players, and doesn't this prove that pre season touring is just not worth the risks involved?

Steven: Not sure if the match, or any of these fixtures in fact, are there for us to 'learn' anything as fans. Our players need the minutes to get fit and Ten Hag needs to observe how different tactics and combinations work together. Frankly I don't care if we lose each game, so long as the plans have been worked out by Fulham. The media needs to calm down!

Image source, Getty Images

While Manchester United's growing injury list grabs headlines, Amad Diallo is making his case for an increased role this season.

The Ivorian has scored twice in United's four pre-season matches and also won a penalty for Marcus Rashford against Real Betis in the most recent friendly.

It is a continuation of the form he showed in the final months of 2023-24 and he seems hungry to get his Old Trafford career up and running.

But do you think he's ready to step up and make an impact, Manchester United fans?

Choose here