NEW DEAL
Manchester United are preparing to offer midfielder Ander Herrera a bumper new contract. The Spaniard has enjoyed a superb season at Old Trafford and led the side to a 2-0 victory over Chelsea. United are ready to offer Herrera £120k-a-week deal and tie him down for the long term. The 27-year-old has a year left on his current contract, revealing in February that he was ready for talks.
KEANE ON A DEAL?
Manchester United are willing to spend big to sign Michael Keane, who was sold by the club during Louis van Gaal’s reign. The in-form defender is valued at £30 million and is set for a move to one of the premier clubs in the country. Liverpool and Tottenham are also willing to part with big bucks for the England International. If he returns to Old Trafford, it will be the second time in two years that United have resigned a former player, following Paul Pogba’s world record £89 million return from Juventus.
ON COMEBACK TRAIL
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling has stepped up recovery with a reduced weight pool session. He has not been ruled out for the season and is looking to make a comeback towards the back end of the campaign. Sharing a video of him jogging in a pool, Smalling said: “Good day at the office and nice to be finally out of the brace. Running on reduced weight to strengthen the leg.”
Juan Mata who has been ruled out of the season also shared a picture from Carrington earlier in the week. The caption along with the picture said that he had a good session.
WOODWARD’S MAGIC
Manchester United are officially back as the world’s top revenue generating club. They are top of the Deloitte list for the 2015-16 season, the first time since 2003-04. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is the man responsible for this. Woodward has made Manchester United into a money-churning giant for the Glazers. United’s revenue grew to £515m last season.
TONY WARNED
Jose Mourinho has asked Anthony Martial to prove him that he has a Manchester United future. The Frenchman has found himself in and out of the team. Speaking ahead of the Europa League quarter-final second-leg with Anderlecht, Mourinho said: “Do I think Anthony is a player with great potential? Yes. Do I think he can play successfully for me? Yes. But he needs to give me things that I like very much.”
SQUAD FOR ANDERLECHT
Wayne Rooney was among the 18-man squad for Manchester United’s Europa League encounter against Anderlecht. The players were seen arriving at the usual rendezvous point at the Lowry. However, Manchester Evening News photographers at the scene did not spot Axel Tuanzebe or Timothy Fosu Mensah. Daley Blind usually arrives on his own as he lives nearby.
SQUAD: David de Gea, Sergio Romero, Joel Pereira, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford.