Manchester United supporters will have to wait another two weeks for club football matches as the international break continues. Michael Carrick continues to do important work with foreign players at Carrington, but a number of first-team players have gone on to represent their home countries. Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot have been linked with Portugal, while Harry Maguire and Koby Mainu have joined the England camp along with on-loan Marcus Rashford. There are also international players such as Senne Lamence, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Manuel Ugarte.
Carrick will carry out important preparations at Carrington as United prepare for the visit of Leeds United on April 13th. For the Red Devils, the Premier League is still a long way off, but preparations for the summer transfer window will likely accelerate.
Here’s our round-up of the latest developments to emerge from Old Trafford…
Bruno Fernandes approves transfer
Club captain Fernandes is said to have backed the signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle as United move closer to strengthening their midfield options. The Red Devils are keen to strengthen their central position and the Italian is linked with a move away from the North East, with Arsenal also understood to be interested.
With Newcastle virtually guaranteed to miss out on next season’s Champions League qualification and United retaining their European place in the table, key players such as Tonali could seek a new challenge elsewhere.
The Daily Mail reports that United are expected to make a formal offer for the former AC Milan midfielder. Tonali is expected to be prioritized over alternative targets such as Elliott Anderson and Adam Wharton, so Fernandes is thought to support the move.
talkSPORT report that a figure of between £80m and £100m could be enough to convince the Magpies to let go of a key member of their midfield. Newcastle invested £52m in the 25-year-old three years ago and are hoping for a return if he leaves.
Carrick ‘closer’ to contract
United have suffered a major setback in their manager hunt as Luis Enrique looks set to begin a new spell at Paris Saint-Germain. The Spaniard is on the club’s shortlist to assess potential new managers, but information has emerged about his short-term plans.
The i newspaper reported that club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is determined to keep Enrique in the future. The 55-year-old’s current contract expires in 2027, but it seems likely that it will be extended next season.
It is understood that the signing of Doro Fernandes in January was seen as an incentive to keep Enrique in the long term.
The development means Carrick is said to be on the “brink” of taking the position permanently, having been expected to hold the position on a temporary basis until his new appointment in the summer.
The caretaker manager replaced Ruben Amorim in January and has since made a positive impression on supporters who have been calling for him to take over permanently.
