Man Utd Transfer News Today: Romano on Brazilian WONDERKID targets as Real Madrid flop admired

Graham Shaw

• Updated: 7 Oct 2023 09:49 BST
• 12 min read

Manchester United are scouting not one but two Brazilian wonderkids, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian transfer expert already previously revealed that United and Chelsea are keeping a keen eye on 17-year-old Flamengo youngster Lorran, but there's another 17-year-old in Brazil that has aroused the Red Devils' attention.

That kid is Luis Guilherme of Palmeiras. A teammate of Endrick, who will join Real Madrid upon turning 18 in 2024 for a reported €37.5 million, Guilherme is an attacking midfielder like Lorran.

However, Guilherme is further along in his development than his Flamengo counterpart. While the latter has only made a handful of appearances for his senior side, the Palmeiras youngster is already something of a regular, having racked up 22 first-team appearances this calendar year, though has not yet managed to contribute with or to a goal.

Man Utd eyeing Real Madrid flop as ten Hag replacement?

Manchester United 'admire' former Wolves and Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui, according to a report.

The Red Devils have endured a terrible start to the season and the recent losses to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray have thrown doubt on Erik ten Hag's ability to get this team firing - despite it being 'his' team now, with many of 'his' signings.

This has given rise to rumours that United could move on from the Dutchman. By all accounts, Ten Hag still enjoys the backing of the Red Devils hierarchy who believe that the former Ajax boss is still the man to turn things around, and it appears unlikely that he will be sacked anytime soon.

EXCLUSIVE: Ten Hag targets PSG star for Man Utd move

Erik Ten Hag wants to bring in a right back to Man Utd in January and sees Paris Saint-Germain defender Nordi Mukiele as a viable target, FootballTransfers has been told.

The Dutchman is a fan of the Frenchman’s versatility, given that he can play at centre-back either on the right or left, while he also has been deployed on the flank before.

Mukiele signed from RB Leipzig in 2022 for £13.5million but has so far struggled to earn first-team football for the French giants. We are informed that the club had weighed up making an offer for Mukiele last summer when Ten Hag first arrived. But ultimately the former Ajax coach wanted to hand chances to Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan Bissaka, while the 25-year-old ended up at PSG.

READ: Which football managers have been sacked this season?

However, it’s our information that Ten Hag is not a fan of Wan-Bissaka’s temperament, believing that the former England international does not have the personality conducive to forging a successful side.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag also believes Dalot lacks physicality and defensive stability, as shown during Wilfred Zaha’s goal for Galatasaray in the Champions League mid-week.

Sancho cold war could impact ten Hag transfer plans

The Jadon Sancho cold war continues at Old Trafford with the winger's situation starting to impact Erik ten Hag's Man Utd transfer plans.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the England winger's time at Old Trafford is, for now, coming to an end. The 23-year-old still has not apologised to Ten Hag and, therefore, his path back into the Manchester United first team remains blocked.

On Friday the Dutch coach confirmed that Sancho is still not with the first-team squad, despite being seen arriving at Carrington. That means he will not of course be available for Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford.

While it could prove tough for Man Utd to offload him permanently in January, a loan seems almost inevitable for the winger who is still under contract until 2026.

However, according to TEAMtalk, United would be prepared to take a big loss on Sancho in the winter in order to get him off the books for good. The report claims that the relationship between Sancho and Ten Hag and the club is 'completely broken.'

REVEALED: The Onana weakness opponents are told to exploit

As recently reported by German media, Borussia Dortmund are, at this stage, an unlikely but not impossible January destination. 90min even suggests that Sancho is keen to return to the Bundesliga side with which he is still in regular contact via head coach Edin Terzic.

Man Utd face competition for Benfica WONDERKID

Man Utd face stiff competition in their pursuit of Benfica wonderkid Joao Neves.

Juventus are paying close attention to the talented young midfielder, according to reports from Italy.

Neves, 19, has become a regular at Benfica following Enzo Fernandez’s €121 million move to Chelsea at the start of 2023.

The Argentine’s departure has provided Neves with a chance in the Benfica first-team and he has cemented his place in the starting XI this season.

Unsurprisingly, his breakout onto the senior stage has attracted transfer interest from clubs around Europe, with Man Utd expressing their desire to sign Neves close to Transfer Deadline Day.

At the end of August, The Sun reported that Erik ten Hag’s side had held talks with Benfica regarding a possible move for Neves. Those talks did not lead to a deal, however, as Benfica are reportedly keen on waiting until next summer to cash in on the Portuguese youngster.

Zlatan DEFENDS Glazers and says 'they are investing'

The Glazers are persona non grata at Man Utd if you ask most fans these days - but not everybody is against the controversial American owners.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic became an Old Trafford legend despite a relatively short spell at Old Trafford. But the Swedish great's latest musings on the current situation at the 'Theatre of Dreams' might impact that status.

Asked about what is happening at his old club by Piers Morgan this week, Ibrahimovic responded: “I think now in Man United, I don't know… there are some kind of demonstrations about the owners to sell it and that…but just a reminder, the owners are investing".

Wow, controversial opinion. Get the popcorn and await the response(s).

New striker target as Man Utd seek Hojlund partner

Despite signing Rasmus Hojlund in the summer, Erik ten Hag is keen to add another striker to his Manchester United arsenal.

Though the Red Devils ultimately did not sign the big-name, €100 million striker of the Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen type that Ten Hag had initially wanted, they did get the next closest thing with Hojlund who has started well, already scoring three goals in the Champions League.

United parted with an eyebrow-raising €75m to land the 20-year-old Dane, but it is already looking like money well spent. Nevertheless, Ten Hag would still like to sign one more forward, particularly if the much-maligned Anthony Martial departs.

READ: Chelsea, Man Utd and Real Madrid fight over 15-YEAR-OLD wonderkid

The player the Dutchman could target to fill that role is a familiar face. According to the Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils may revive their interest in Benjamin Sesko, whom they had already approached last year as well as this summer.

Ratcliffe bid to end takeover deadlock with Glazers

The Man Utd takeover saga rumbles on and on with the club lurching from one crisis to another. But now prospective buyer Sir Jim Ratcliffe is changing tack in a bid to end the impasse.

So far Ratcliffe and Qatari rival Sheikh Jassim have both failed to get a deal over the line with the Glazers holding out for a world-record fee for a sports franchise.

But now according to The Mirror the INEOS tycoon believes his reworked plan - which would see him initially take a minority stake in the club - gives him the best chance of eventually owning the whole thing.

The plan would see Ratcliffe acquire 25% of United now with an established plan to a complete buyout down the line.

Not just Gimenez as Man Utd among Timber admirers

In addition to Santiago Gimenez, the Premier League's biggest hitters are also after Quinten Timber, claims 90min.

The 22-year-old midfielder from Feyenoord has left a very good impression in the matches where scouts from various English top clubs were present. Atlético Madrid, the Rotterdam team's opponent on Wednesday evening in the group stage of the Champions League, are also said to be among the clubs interested in Timber.

During the 4-0 win in De Klassieker at the Johan Cruijff ArenA against Ajax, several scouts from the top of the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A were reportedly in the stands to watch the performances of various Feyenoord players, including Giménez, Calvin Stengs and Igor Paixão.

It now appears that these three are not the only ones who can count on interest from the European top. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Man Utd and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be keeping an eye on Timber.

Ten Hag urged to dump Onana as errors mount up

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes that Manchester United would do well to replace Andre Onana next summer.

The Red Devils goalkeeper was brought in to fill the hole left by the departure of modern-day club legend David de Gea, who headed for the exit after Man Utd reneged on their initial contract proposal. The Spaniard is still a free agent and some are clamouring for him to return in light of Onana's poor start to life at Old Trafford.

Signed for €52.5 million as an upgrade on De Gea, particularly with the ball at his feet, Onana has already made several high-profile howlers in this still-young season. His shot-stopping in particular has raised questions and former Norwich and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton believes that United should move on from the Cameroon international.

"I think he's a downgrade on De Gea. I really do," Sutton said on the It's All Coming Up podcast. "I've seen enough of him. Is he better than De Gea with his feet? Probably, only just."

"But," Sutton continued, "I'm more interested in him keeping the ball out the back of the net and I think he's made a lot of blunders this season. A lot of goalkeeping errors."

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