Manchester United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United’s Europa League matchwinner Amad Diallo is keen to extend his stay at the club. His current deal expires in the summer, although United do have an option to extend that contract for an additional year.

The Ivorian said in the summer his aim was to remain at Old Trafford and clearly nothing has changed after his double against Greek champions PAOK gave United their first Europa League win over the season and their first victory in continental competition for 12 months.

"I’m happy to be here, happy to play for this club and yes, I want to stay here for a long time and make history here," Amad said.

Talks have been taking place over an extension with an expectation Amad will sign a new deal that will run to 2027.

His efforts were much needed against PAOK and transformed what interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy described as a disappointing first-half performance into a winning one in the second.

For Amad, it was the perfect way to answer a frustrating month where he has failed to start a game.

"I always do my best, even when I am not starting,” he said. “Everyone wants to play but I just try to stay focused. I was (United) player of the month in August but now I have moved on and am focused on the future."

The impending arrival of Ruben Amorim from Sporting offers Amad a fresh chance to impress, even if United’s new head coach does not tend to use orthodox wide players.

Amad is not on his own in being unclear what role will be demanded of him by Amorim. But he is looking forward to the challenge.

"I am excited to have him in this team and I can’t wait to work with him," he said.

Manchester United will rival Juventus, Liverpool and Arsenal for 24-year-old Lille striker Jonathan David. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

United are also set to reignite their interest in £70m-rated Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, with the Merseyside club unable to afford a new contract for the 22-year-old England international. (Mail - subscription required), external

Finally, United are also targeting 17-year-old Sporting forward Geovany Quenda, who is also on the radar of Manchester City and Liverpool. Premier League rivals Arsenal have held talks with Quenda's agents. (Teamtalk), external

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

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Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Looking at the game around the 65-to-70 minute mark, I thought to myself - why have United fallen back and giving PAOK all the space to play?

"But the goal from Diallo came at the right time, it does feel like there was a different feel, a different energy and a bit more freedom.

"There is still a lack of quality in the final third, but eventually they kept going and Diallo got the goal.

"It's almost as if you can start to enjoy watching Manchester United again.

"Ruud van Nistelrooy has used his time well to address the players.

"It was clear Ruben Amorim was coming in, but he has said, "I have four games with you guys and we need to fix those things".

"He has done a great job."

On goalscorer Amad Diallo: "Diallo was by far the best man.

"The first goal, brilliant header, a very clever header.

"But I was more impressed with the second goal. He made that goal with his tenacity, pressing to win the ball back and then to dribble inside and have a fantastic finish.

"For a player who has not started a lot of the games, he was magnificent."

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Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, speaking to TNT Sports: "It was a pretty poor first half if I'm being nice. The second half way was better. That was clear."

On Amad Diallo: "He made a difference today, because of his goals but he was very sharp. Well done to him, good game. Positionally we weren't good in the first half. We were much better at that in the second half.

"He has been incredible in training, he always trains well and is asking me to do more."

On Rasmus Hojlund: "It didn't happen enough for him. In the second half we were better in positions but some of the crosses didn't come for him.

"I said to the lads before the game that it was a year ago since the last European win at Old Trafford. We couldn't believe. It was time to turn it around, build and change. It's a big period at the club."

On one final game in charge on Sunday: "For me it was important to get results. I can only be happy with the performance that the players put in.

"I enjoy it but Sunday is another one and I'm so focused on doing that so I'm not thinking of what is next."

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Manchester United goalscorer Amad Diallo, speaking to TNT Sports: "It's been a long time since we won in Europe. Today we showed why we are one of the best teams. It was important to win today.

"It is important to score every time. This season I have been unlucky so I am happy to score two today. But the most important thing was to win.

"I like to celebrate with the fans and make people happy."

On winning the ball back for his second goal: "It came from work we did in the training. we have to press the opposing team."

On interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy: "Since he has arrived at Manchester United he has been very important for everyone."

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No player has assisted more goals in Europa League history than Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes (16 - level with Borek Dockal).

In facts, since his European debut for Sporting in September 2017, the Portugal international has recorded more assists in major European competition than any other player (26).

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Come back to this page on Friday for a selection of replies

Three Premier League clubs are in action as part of Thursday's schedule of games in the Europa League and Conference League.

Europa League

• Galatasaray v Tottenham (17:45)

• Manchester United v PAOK (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Conference League

• Chelsea v Noah (20:00)

All kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction

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Ruud van Nistelrooy says a "sense of excitement" is building at Manchester United around the arrival of Ruben Amorim, but it is his "continued privilege" to take charge of the side.

The interim boss has two more games at the helm - against PAOK in the Europa League and Leicester in the Premier League - before incoming head coach Amorim begins his new role on 11 November.

United have won once and drawn once since Van Nistelrooy stepped up from his position as assistant coach following Erik ten Hag's sacking, but there are question marks over his future at Old Trafford after this weekend.

"There is a sense of excitement around the club as we prepare to welcome Ruben Amorim next week," Van Nistelrooy said in the matchday programme for Thursday's game.

"Until then it will be my continued privilege to manage the team. In my two games so far I have felt a lot of love from the stands. I know how much energy this gives me and the players, so we need to keep this connection going.

"If we all keep pulling together and reaching for our highest levels in every game, we will move in the right direction - I am certain of that."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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The next move of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is a big talking point in football.

His hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday cemented the 26-year-old’s reputation as one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe and took his overall tally for the season to 23 in 17 games.

Gyokeres, who has nine goals in his past three matches alone, has also scored 10 for the Sweden national team.

According to BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone, Sporting could allow Gyokeres to leave the club for less than his €100m (£83.16m) release clause this summer.

He says the reigning Primeira Liga champions have told the forward's camp they would be willing to accept between €75m-€85m (£62.37m-£70.68m) for the player.

Gyokeres' contract runs to 2028 and contains his release clause with Championship side Coventry City set to receive 10% of any profit Sporting receive above the price they paid for Gyokeres.

However, the drop in price will likely alert England’s top clubs, including Manchester United given current Sporting boss Ruben Amorim will join them as their new head coach next week.

Amorim has promised not to return to his former club for transfer targets in January. Speaking about Gyokeres, Amorim said the issue was so sensitive he would "not even make a joke about it".

Incidentally, it was Dan Ashworth - the current sporting director of United - that sold Gyokeres to Coventry for just £1m in 2021 from former club Brighton.

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Ruben Amorim carries a certain amount of weight to his name so it is hugely positive for Manchester United that they have brought him in.

We have heard a lot about how he is one of the most exciting managers around at the moment in football and that led him to be linked to Liverpool in the summer.

As a young manager, he could play a real part in building a future team that can be winning Premier League titles again.

It seems very unlikely that success will come this season but there is no reason why it cannot happen in seasons to come. A lot of things will have to change moving forward as he is arriving at a team that are struggling, but on paper they do have more talent than his Sporting Lisbon side.

He will also have to adapt to a more competitive league but he has the mindset and ideas. People who have met him say he is very impressive, so for United it could end up being a very good appointment.

Amorim will also be very different to Erik ten Hag. He will be more open and honest in interviews about performances and that will help get the media and fans onside because so many people disliked Ten Hag's interviews.

On the pitch, he is set to make them more defensively solid and also bring an exciting style of play to Old Trafford that should lead to a lot more goals.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Manchester United and Chelsea will lead the race for 26-year-old Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres next summer. (Star), external

The Sweden forward will be available for around £63m - £20m less than his release clause. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, United are also monitoring Bayern Munich's 29-year-old Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka. (Florian Plettenberg), external

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

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Andre Onana says he retains "a very good relationship" with Erik ten Hag, after working under him at Ajax and Manchester United, but believes results were the reason behind the Dutchman's exit from Old Trafford.

Speaking before United host PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night (20:00 GMT), the goalkeeper said: "When I heard [Ten Hag] was leaving, I felt bad. It's not always easy for players to understand when a manager is leaving.

"At the end of the day, the club has to make a decision and we have to follow [that decision]. I worked with him [at Ajax] and he is a very good manager. I have a very good relationship with him.

"Why things didn't work out here is simple - we didn't win enough games. At a high level, it is not easy and sometimes we all have to pay the price and, unfortunately, [this time] it was him.

"We did everything - the players gave everything, worked hard and tried their best - but it just didn't work."

United are undefeated in both games under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will remain in charge until new boss Ruben Amorim takes over on 11 November.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against PAOK (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He has not had any "contact" with new manager Ruben Amorim and is still "waiting for conversations to take place" about his future, adding: "I don't know when it will be yet either."

• Defender Leny Yoro is back in training and the club are managing his return back to full fitness: "We are going to get him back, partially, over the next couple of weeks and we will look to get him on board as quickly as possible."

• He also provided an update on the other long-term absentees, explaining that Tyrell Malacia is "furthest" away from being match-fit. Harry Maguire is "still inside working on his rehab" while Luke Shaw is "doing pitch work" and should hopefully be in "partial team training" soon.

• "There is no special news" about why Marcus Rashford was seen doing individual training before joining in with the group session today. The winger was just doing "a bit of extra work before the session on his own".

• Centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund "needs to stay calm and believe in himself and his qualities", after scoring two goals in 10 appearances in all competitions so far this season: "He knows he is young and promising. The daily work he is putting in will pay off for him and his team-mates, I'm confident in that."

• On keeping his concentration on his current job and not on the decisions Ruben Amorim is going to have to make,: "I'm putting all of my energy in with the current squad. The next two games are vital for the season and I think I'm doing the new manager the best favour by concentrating on the games."

• He accepted it was harder to keep the players focused on the games against Leicester City and Chelsea last week because "things were changing quickly and massively", but things have "calmed down" this week and everyone at the club is "focusing on the next two performances".

• On facing current Greek Super League champions PAOK: "It is a game of high priority - we know it needs all of our attention and power. We have analysed them very well - they have lots of talented and experienced players. They are a strong side that will be supported here with 4,000 travelling fans. We are ready to face a very tough game."

• He believes success in European competitions is "important" and that is what drew him to coming back to work at his former club: "I arrived at the club to help the club build to those years, where there were successful times in Europe, again."

• On not having much European success in the past 10 years, he highlighted: "There was the Europa League final with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] and the Europa League win with [Jose] Mourinho - I think they are big European successes. Manchester United are always there to compete in Europe, that is what we want."

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

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

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If any team hopes to bolster their attack in the January or summer transfer window then Sporting Lisbon's number nine Viktor Gyokeres has to be in the conversation.

Following Tuesday's hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, Gyokeres is the joint leading scorer in this season's most elite European competition with Harry Kane and has scored 66 goals in 67 matches for the reigning Primeira Liga champions.

The sceptics, who have argued the standard of football in Portugal is not that of Premier League, are likely to have been silenced by the striker's performance against the often dubbed 'best team in the world.'

So if the Sweden international is to be snapped up by an English club, where could he go?

Well, Gyokeres is not going to be cheap so it will have to be a club with long-term ambition and deep pockets. The 26-year-old is believed to have a release clause of 100m euros (£83m) despite only signing from Coventry City in 2023 for a fee close to £20m in 2023.

Premier League clubs were linked to Gyokeres while he was at the Championship club but it was Sporting who seized the opportunity to sign him.

And now Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are the English clubs that are linked with his name in the daily gossip pages.

The most obvious choice would be to follow head coach Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford. However, with the club already owning Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Antony it is unlikely they would sign Gyokeres without selling at least one.

Plus, it was Dan Ashworth - the current sporting director of United - that sold Gyokeres to Coventry for just £1m in 2021 from former club Brighton.

United's neighbours Manchester City could view Gyokeres as a long-term replacement for Erling Haaland should he leave the Etihad, and Sporting's director Hugo Viana may want to re-sign his Sporting star when he succeeds the outgoing Txiki Begiristain.

Liverpool could also be in the market if Mohamed Salah does not sign a new contract and departs Anfield after eight years next summer.

Chelsea, who have three strikers, have proven they like to spend big in recent transfer windows but it is their rivals in North London that appear to be the most obvious fit.

Fans and pundits have long said that Arsenal need a number nine.

Mikel Arteta's side would be formidable with a striker like Gyokeres and would be strong contenders in the league and Europe if he could replicate his form there.

"I could see that," columnist Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport. "From the style of play that I have seen from him and the intelligence he has, he is a handful.

"If he comes to England then it is important to note that he is simply coming back because he has already got experience playing here and he knows the physical level required. He comes across as very coachable so in an Arsenal system it could really work for him and them.

"That is on the assumption that he is the sort of player that the Gunners are looking for."

In the meantime Gyokeres will no doubt continue to add to his price tag by doing what he does best - scoring.

Wednesday's newspapers make for tricky reading for Manchester City fans and have a Manchester United slant.

Incoming United manager Ruben Amorim is hailed. The Star calls him 'Ruben Hammerin' after his Sporting Lisbon side beat City 4-1.

'Manchester here I come' reads The Times.

The Sun goes with 'Ferglee Time' and points to Amorim's own words given he'd stated if Sporting overcame City, United fans may think they are getting the next Sir Alex Ferguson in as manager.

Finally The Guardian uses a little Oasis, simply stating 'He's electric', with a nod to both hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres and Amorim.