FOOTBALL UPDATE

Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera,Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku were United so seal their place in the draw for the FA Cup fifth round as they eased past Yeovil Town on Friday night. The main talking point going into the game was a debut for Alexis Sanchez after he completed his move from Arsenal on Monday. The Chilean lined up on the left of an attacking three alongside Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata and fizzed around, looking busy if not at his incisive best on his United debut. Yeovil started the game well and had the first chance of the tie as Jordan Green burst through the United rearguard after being found by Sam Surridge out on the left but the former Fulham trainee’s low effort was blocked away by Sergio Romero. Green was involved again as Yeovil went close with 15 minutes gone. The winger was brought down by Matteo Darmian and from the ensuing free kick Omar Sowunmi should have done better, managing only to head straight at Romero after escaping the attentions of Luke...

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Alexis Sanchez should not be considered a "mercenary" for opting to join Manchester United rather than renewing his contract at the Emirates Stadium. Sanchez made the move to Old Trafford on Monday, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan switching the other way in a swap deal. The Chilean is reported to be earning £350,000 a week at Old Trafford, vastly in excess of Arsenal's top-earning players, having entered the last six months of his Gunners contract without penning fresh terms. Wenger previously appeared to suggest Sanchez had moved for money, citing the forward's desire to secure "his last contract" and claiming he "cannot understand" why the 29-year-old wanted to leave Arsenal. But the Frenchman appeared to row back on his comments when he spoke to the media on Tuesday ahead of his side's EFL Cup semi-final second leg at home to Chelsea. "Of course the financial aspect is important but he could combine ...

Premier League game between Burnley and Manchester United at Turf Moor. Burnley:  The hosts could have Scott Arfield back available following a hamstring strain, though veteran striker Jon Walters will be missing for up to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery. Defender Steven Ward (knee) and striker Chris Wood (leg) are on right in schedule with their recoveries but they will not feautre in this one, meaning that Charlie Taylor and Sam Vokes should start, despite the former nursing sore ribs. Long-term absentees Tom Heaton (shoulder) and Robbie Brady (knee) remain sidelined.   Manchester United  : United have Ashley Young available once again after he completed a three-game ban, though Luke Shaw is expected to start at left-back. Daley Blind, Eric Bailly, Michael Carrick and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will all miss out, whilst Playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not feature as he closes in on a move to Arsenal.   Burnley boss Sean Dyche: ...

Bale has been a long-time target for United but is believed to have turned down moves to Old Trafford twice before. It had been thought, however, that Jose Mourinho was prepared to end his interest in the Wales star, due to the imminent arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal. Don Balon claims that the 29-year-old has told Real that he will be joining Sanchez at Old Trafford, although whether that will be in January or the summer is unclear at this stage.  The former Tottenham attacker has struggled for injuries over the past 12 months and has been rumoured to be part of a dramatic shake-up of the playing and coaching staff at The Bernabeu. Real president Florentino Perez is said to be ready to wield the axe after a disastrous La Liga title defence, with boss Zinedine Zidane and some of the clubs highest profile stars, including top man Cristiano Ronaldo, set to be moved on.  The report goes on to state that Bale has been in secret talks with United over the la...

Manchester United are in the mood, they are among the most clinical sides around. A good performance from the visitors in the first period would have left new manager Paul Lambert pleased with what he witnessed from the stands, but it was not enough to get something out of Old Trafford. And Stoke had their chances. After Antonio Valencia put Manchester United ahead with a superb left-footed effort, the Potters reacted well and pushed up the pitch, but they lacked the edge the Red Devils seem to have in abundance when in the right mind-set. Pogba was magical in midfield again and the Frenchman was instrumental in the build-up to United's first two goals. He spreaded the play out to the right flank for Valencia in the first goal, though the Ecuatorian still had plenty to do, cutting inside and swinging a delightful strikeinto the top far corner. Martial also benefitted from his compat...

Cristiano Ronaldo has told his Real Madrid team-mates he wants to return to Manchester United in the summer.  Spanish publication 'AS' reports that the Portuguese has made the decision to leave Real Madrid, with a return to Old Trafford now his priority. Ronaldo looks set to dominate the back pages once again this summer. The aforementioned source claims that the Real Madrid star feels deceived by the club's hierarchy after being promised a new deal that never came to fruition. It claims that Real president Florentino Perez promised the 32-year-old a new contract after 'Los Blancos' defeated Juventus in last season's Champions League final, but over six months on from that triumph, talks are still yet to take place.  Ronaldo has taken matters into his own hands to try to force the issue in recent months, declaring his desire to retire at the Bernabeu whilst also pointing out that ultimately it is not his decision. "If it is possible I would like ...

Alexis Sanchez will earn up to £60,000-a-week more if he opts for Manchester United over rivals City, claims the Sun.  Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of his former Barcelona charge, but is willing to go as high as a  £20 million fee and £290,000-a-week for his services. Not only will United gazump their neighbours by some £10m, but they are also prepared to offer as much as £350,000-a-week to land the Arsenal star in January.

United and Sevilla are locked in a bitter ticket war over their forthcoming Champions League last-16 clash with the Spanish club saying they will report United to UEFA for not offering their fans enough seats.  Sevilla claim that United have not followed UEFA’s ticket guidelines in allocating 5%  of the tickets to their supporters and had been given just under 3,000 tickets when they should have had 3,800. Sevilla are also upset their fans are being charged £89 but United say that is because the Spanish club declined to lower their own prices.  Sevilla are charging United fans between £89 and £133 pounds ($120 to $179) to watch the first leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on February 21, which the English club considered excessive. “Sevilla will subsidise the tickets of the fans who go to Manchester so they will not pay more than the €60 established  in the first place,” read a Sevilla statement. “We will make UEFA aware that five percent of the stadium is n...

Borussia Dortmund have agreed a £63.5m deal to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.  The Dortmund forward has been long linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United all showing reported interest in the player. The Chinese club have now entered advanced negotiations with the 28-year-old. China’s next big name Should Aubameyang make the switch, he would be following in the footsteps of the likes of Carlos Tevez, Hulk and Oscar in moving to the Chinese Super League. Evergrande won the Chinese league title in 2017 and are now looking to assert their dominance by moving for the Dortmund player. They are currently managed by World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, who took over from former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, returning for a second spell in charge. Chinese clubs are limited to four foreign players, at this moment in time, Evergrande have just...

LA LIGA news is coming thick and fast with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all looking at strengthening during the January transfer window.   Harry Kane to Real Madrid Harry Kane to Real Madrid could have huge consequences for Manchester United. Don Balon say any move to the Bernabeu for the England star may see Gareth Bale depart. And United, who also want Kane, may benefit. Red Devils want to sign Bale this month. But if Real dig their heels in, Jose Mourinho may have to wait until the summer instead.   Luis Suarez to Liverpool Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly hopeful of re-signing Luis Suarez from Barcelona. Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim the Reds manager is determined to bring Suarez back. Liverpool are on the lookout for new attackers after selling Philippe Coutinho to Barca for a huge £142million. And though Roberto Firmino has excelled in a no9 role this season, Liverpool want Suarez back to lead the l...

Manchester United have been given an update on transfer target Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic. United have been heavily linked with a move for the 17-year-old in recent weeks but Jose Mourinho could face a battle to land him if Jokanovic's comments are anything to go by. Fulham are doing everything they can to keep him at the club and Jokanovic was asked about Sessegnon's future after their defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup. He said: "I don't have any information that we want to sell him."  The 17-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in this country and, according to The Mirror, PSG will battle United for his signature. Tottenham tried to sign him last summer but the teenager decided to stay put at Fulham and his form this season has led to even more admirers.  FA Cup weekend Jokanovic said: "Yes, Sessegnon is probably the most talented player in this country and this age, his natural physical prepa...

Jose Mourinho revealed he apologised to Henrikh Mkhitaryan after taking the midfielder off at half-time in Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Derby County. Goals from Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku ensured the Red Devils’ smooth passage to the fourth round in the game at Old Trafford. However, Mkhitaryan lasted only 45 minutes before being hooked for Lukaku. The Armenian looked bereft of confidence, losing the ball on countless occasions but Mourinho has apologised for withdrawing the midfielder so early. "(It was) unfair. Unfair," he said. "And I told that at half-time. I didn't like what I did. Unfair. He didn't deserve it. "He was playing well, he was not playing bad. He had a couple of missed possessions but he was playing well, he was giving (a) good dynamic to the team. "My feeling was just that (Marcus) Rashford is not going to score a goal. And because of that I'm not going to lose time and I'm going to play Romelu. ...

The New Year's Day win lifted United back into second place in the table, above Chelsea and, for 24 hours at least, to within 12 points of runaway Premier League leaders Manchester Cit y. Martial capped a spell of United pressure early in the second half by shooting his side in front after Paul Pogba had found him in space 20 yards from goal. The striker took a controlling touch before producing a brilliant right-foot finish that flew into the top right corner of the Everton goal. It was a much-improved second half showing from United and one capped by a superb individual goal from Lingard that settled the outcome 10 minutes from time.  After Luke Shaw won possession from an Everton throw-in, Pogba slipped through a pass which Lingard accepted, weaving his way through the midfield to the edge of the area before depositing an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. Everton, seeking to bounce back from the first defeat of Sam Allardyce's reign, had made a promising st...

Manchester United were held to a goalless draw at home to Southampton yesterday. Lukaku was stretchered off and taken down the Old Trafford tunnel after an accidental collision with the Dutch defender. Hoedt appeared to head into the back of Lukaku’s head. The Belgian striker was left unconscious on the pitch and required medical treatment before he was further examined at the ground. But Mourinho refused to pin the blame on Hoedt. “He was just unlucky,” Mourinho told MUTV. I think the Dutch central defender goes with him for the ball and it's unlucky for Romelu and unlucky for Hoedt.  “It was nothing aggressive and, hopefully, nothing important. “But the first consequence of is he didn't play for the rest of the game." Mourinho confirmed Lukaku is likely to be out for two matches. He added: “I don’t know. I know that normally bad, bad news arrives immediately. Bad news didn't arrive. I think that there’s a problem for the next two matches. ...

Man Utd’s journey to be league leaders is getting really tough as Manchester City is still unbeaten in the Premier League. In order to achieve it, Manchester United need back to back big wins, will they manage to do it against Burnley?   Recent Performance Manchester United vs Burnley Preview, Predictions: Let us analyze how Manchester United and Burnley have performed in their recent encounters in Premier League and EFL Cup:   Manchester United: In their last five games, Man Utd have won two, lost two and rest one was a draw. Their away game against Leicester City was a struggling 2-2 draw. Manchester United recently clashed with Bristol City in an away game in EFL Cup, which resulted in a 2-1 defeat. They defeated West Bromwich 1-2 hon their own turf. Manchester United’s home game against Bournemouth in Premier League was a maiden 1-0 victory for them. They faced yet another defeat against Manchester City, which was a 1-2 home lose.   Burnley: Their las...