MANCHESTER UNITED could be forced in a tug-of-war with rivals Manchester City for another goalkeeper – and it’s not Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But SunSport understands the Red Devils are not planning for a blockbuster No.1 this summer and Andre Onana is expected to stay at Old Trafford.
The links to £17million-rated Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens are legit, but there’s a feeling that the 23-year-old rising star would not be an immediate starter.
And now dreaded rivals Man City have entered the race for Lammens, so that could be one to watch ahead of United’s trip to the Etihad on September 14.
Onana, 29, is under consideration to come back into the side for United’s visit to Fulham on Sunday, which would kill No.2 stopper Atlay Bayindir’s spirit.
Bayindir was given the nod to start against Arsenal but had a disaster during the narrow 1-0 defeat in their Premier League opener last week.
The Turkish goalkeeper, 27, was the talk of the game after he flapped at Declan Rice’s corner to palm the ball towards his own net and into the direction of Riccardo Calafiori at the back post.
In fact, it would’ve likely gone down as an own goal whether or not Calafiori was on the line to head in.
Fans praise club over country
ONE of United’s brightest – and youngest – academy prospects JJ Gabriel is set to politely turn down the chance to play for England Under-16s this week.
At 14 years old, Gabriel was the ONLY United youth star to be called up to the nation’s talented 23-player squad.
But Gabriel’s dad, former footballer Joe O’Cearuill, replied to a social media post saying his son couldn’t go.
Former Republic of Ireland international O’Cearuill wrote on X: “JJ’s not going, he is staying with the Under-18s at United.”
Gabriel, who is set to train with Amorim’s first team this season, is eligible to represent England, Ireland, Cyprus, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Though born and raised in Britain, his international options come through his Irish father, Cypriot mother, and Trinidadian grandfather.
The teenager and his family were invited to meet Amorim at Carrington this week after being given VIP treatment in the directors’ box for the Arsenal game on Sunday.
Drag-along ownership clause
THE Red Devils are technically back on the market after a clause agreed between the majority owning Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe became active last week.
When Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in February 2024, a clause was inserted into the deal which said the Glazers would have the ability to force all shareholders – including Ineos – to sell their shares after 18 months of the investment being signed off.
The ‘drag-along clause’ means the Glazers have the right to sell to a third party, and to force Ratcliffe to sell his shares, but the Ineos chief has the right to match any such offer.
This kind of clause is commonplace in business deals in order to give majority shareholders the power to sell.
However, any movement in the United’s ownership is currently unlikely owing to the strong relationship between Sir Jim and the Glazers.
Despite being a minority shareholder, Ratcliffe has been given free rein to control the day-to-day running of the club.
The British billionaire has already left his stamp on United, drastically changing the club’s football structure, appointing Ruben Amorim as boss, making over 450 staff members redundant and announcing plans for a new £2bn stadium.
Hojlund does an Eze
INSIDERS at United have praised Rasmus Hojlund’s “mature attitude” after being dropped from the squad against Arsenal.
Hojlund, 22, is on the transfer list at United after the £74million arrival of Benjamin Sesko and it appears that a move that suits all parties could be on the horizon.
But in a summer window full of player strikes, internal spats, public statements and removing mentions from social media, Hojlund has remained the ultimate pro while reporting to every training session.
The Denmark international has been working exceptionally hard to be involved this weekend against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
These days it seems to be a big ask for players not to make their grievances public – just ask Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa – but Hojlund is said to reluctantly accept he doesn’t have a future at the club.
However, the Dane would prefer a loan to a club with an ‘obligation’ to buy him.
Napoli are the latest Serie A side interested after former United striker Romelu Lukaku was ruled out for three months, with AC Milan also considering a loan move.
Hojlund can be likened to Eberechi Eze , who remained private, worked hard for Crystal Palace and clapped the fans at Stamford Bridge last Sunday amid interest from Spurs and Arsenal.
Eze trained with Palace on Wednesday but was left out of the squad’s Conference League play-off opener on Thursday ahead of his Arsenal medical.
Latest Brentford raid
UNITED announced the arrival of Brentford academy director Stephen Torpey on Thursday.
Current academy chief Nick Cox is leaving Carrington after agreeing to become Everton ‘s technical director.
Torpey is well known to United technical director Jason Wilcox as the pair worked together at Manchester City.
Torpey joined Brentford in January 2024, and is highly rated following his work with Man City, where he helped to develop the likes of Cole Palmer , James McAtee and Rico Lewis.
Wilcox is understood to have driven the recruitment process.
United signed striker Bryan Mbeumo from the Bees for £65m last month, manager Thomas Frank left for Tottenham and skipper Christian Norgaard moved to Arsenal in a £15m deal.
Striker Wissa is also in a row with the G-Tech chiefs as he looks to push through a move to Newcastle.
Other steals
UNITED are set to appoint Crystal Palace’s Imtiaz Ahmad as the club’s head of medical services.
Ahmad is serving his notice at Selhurst Park and his start date will be confirmed in due course.
He will replace Gary O’Driscoll, who currently remains in his post to ensure a smooth transition.
Club sources have said they are pleased to have secured “another high-quality addition” to their medical team, which has undergone significant change in the last 18 months under Ineos.
United’s performance director, Sam Erith, has overseen the changes and was key to Ahmad’s appointment.
Earlier this year, it emerged that O’Driscoll (head of medical services) and Jim Moxon (first-team doctor) both handed in their notice.
