Gossip: Rashford ready to accept pay cut to seal Barca movepublished at 07:12
07:12
Marcus Rashford could return early to Manchester United from his loan spell at Aston Villa after suffering a potentially season-ending hamstring injury. (Sun), external
Rashford is willing to take a pay cut in order to force through a dream move to Barcelona. (Mirror), external
But there is a potential complication as Barca are unwilling to match the £40m fee agreed with Villa for Rashford. (Independent), external
What's the one thing no-one is talking about?published at 16:30 29 April
16:30 29 April
Plenty has been said and written about Manchester United's inability to score goals and how easily they have conceded them this season.
But where would they be without Harry Maguire? United have won just three league games without him in the starting XI - two against Leicester - and he's scored four match-deciding goals this season across three competitions.
Anyhow, you know your club best, so give us a peek behind the curtain and tell us the one thing no-one is talking about at United but really should be.
'Maguire is a must for Europa League'published at 10:40 29 April
10:40 29 April
BBC Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath, appearing on The Devils' Podcast, spoke about the need to start England international Harry Maguire in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Europa League against Athletic Bilbao: "I think Maguire is a must for the Europa League. Just from what we've seen, you need passion on that pitch, you need someone who cares, someone who gives their all for 90 minutes, and our entire focus has to be on that. So, for me, Maguire starts."
McGrath also spoke briefly about the ability that Maguire has on the ball compared to the other defenders in the squad.
He added: "Maguire can look comfortable on the ball. I know sometimes it never really comes off. I feel there's a weird sort of magic around a Maguire run."
Gossip: Real Betis face Antony dilemmapublished at 07:18 29 April
07:18 29 April
Real Betis might struggle to meet Manchester United's asking price for Antony, despite the La Liga club's chief insisting they want to make the winger's loan move permanent. (Mirror), external
United are still interested in signing 26-year-old Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, but there are concerns about a deal at Old Trafford. (TBF Football), external
Hojlund alone not responsible for scoring woes - Fernandespublished at 17:42 28 April
17:42 28 April
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes does not feel Rasmus Hojlund should be left to shoulder the responsibility for the club's goalscoring issues.
Hojlund netted the injury-time equaliser that earned United a point at Bournemouth.
It was the Denmark striker's first goal in seven games and only his ninth all season.
Head coach Ruben Amorim has repeatedly stressed goalscoring is a major issue for his team and Hojlund has faced some external criticism, fuelled by his £72m price tag.
But Fernandes, whose 16 goals this term puts him clear in the United scoring charts, feels the burden needs to be widened.
"We can't hide behind Rasmus not scoring as many goals as we wanted him to score," said Fernandes. "Obviously, he has to score more. He's the number nine of the team. The number nine is expected to score goals so whether he's not scoring for Manchester United or any other club, you will always get the spotlight.
"But Josh (Zirkzee) has to score more. I have to score more. Garna (Alejandro Garnacho) has to score more. Mason (Mount), Amad (Diallo).
"We need to try to find a way of creating more chances for the team to score."
It has been suggested Hojlund does not make the off-the-ball runs that would lead to him becoming more effective.
Again, Fernandes views the situation from a wider perspective and says players have to understand the strengths of their team-mates.
"We need to understand the characteristics of every player on the pitch," he said.
"Obviously we need to read whether he's on the ball, what kind of movements we can do. We need to know if the player on the ball is capable of a pass behind or a risky pass or whatever.
"You don't make the same runs no matter which player is on the ball."
'Congratulations, Liverpool... it took you long enough'published at 13:13 28 April
13:13 28 April
Alex Turk Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
As I sit here with a stern look, a slight headache and a clenched fist, I will find my professional hat and reluctantly pen this.
There is a deep hatred between these two famous clubs. It is unavoidable and what makes a great rivalry tick. But so does mutual respect and that comes naturally to two clubs so far above everyone else on the ladder.
So, congratulations, Liverpool. It took you long enough.
It has been 12 years of miserable decline since Sir Alex Ferguson completed his mission and took your perch but you finally got there.
And how poetic? In the background of Liverpool's most memorable Premier League campaign, United are suffering through their worst.
Arne Slot's side, filled with some of Europe's best-paid but finest players, are worthy champions. They are also England's most successful club - that debate is over for now.
But that does not make them the biggest. The infinite global interest in the events at Old Trafford speaks for itself.
And while Liverpool have been fortunate that the Glazers have let United rot across the last decade, there is a new ambitious tenant wearing the pants.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made the end game of his passion project clear. His band of brothers have already lit the beacons through their ruthless streak of decisions at the helm.
This is no longer a craving for corporate supremacy. It's a football-focused quest for the restoration of order - and greatness.
The sight of Liverpool drawing level on 20 English titles hours after United could barely draw against Bournemouth will only fuel the fire.
So it might feel like it, looking at the table. But United are not in free fall anymore.
Enjoy the glory while you can. This sleeping giant will not be in its slumber for another 12 years.
Pressure always there at Man Utd - Fernandespublished at 12:05 28 April
12:05 28 April
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United's players need to be prepared for the pressure that comes with playing for the club, according to skipper Bruno Fernandes.
Rasmus Hojlund's injury-time equaliser salvaged a draw from their Premier League trip to Bournemouth.
However, the result means United have collected just two points from their past five games and it seems inevitable they will finish no higher than 13th in the Premier League this season.
They have not finished lower than that since the 1973-73 relegation campaign, which means there will be even more focus on Thursday's Europa League trip to Athletic Bilbao.
The competition is United's only remaining route into Europe next season. But top scorer Fernandes does not feel a club of their size can just ignore the league matches that are being played around it.
"Obviously for us it's very important to go until the end of the competition and to get silverware this season," he said. "But the expectation at United is always high. It doesn't matter if it is a semi -final.
"We're going to play Brentford after the first leg with Athletic and the expectation will be there for that. It will always be there. You just have to be prepared for it."
'Embarrassing', 'lucky' or 'an impressive display'?published at 10:37 28 April
John: It's embarrassing to see United struggle against teams like Bournemouth. They are a team that we should be steamrolling. Top four is a pipe dream for us. Why is Ruben Amorim sticking with systems that do not work?
Derek: United only look like scoring when they have to throw players forward. The gap between defence, midfield and the front line was massive for all of the first half. When we sacrifice a defender to attack, it looks like a proper Man Utd team. Please wake up to this simple fact, Ruben Amorim.
Yusuf: An impressive United display despite only the point with 25 shots and domination after that red card. I'm satisfied with the draw. Hojlund was able to score late on just barely staying onside but still not a win for us and we have to start putting those shots to better use and finish our chances. Hopefully, we can put this dominant performance into action when we face West Ham next weekend
Eric: We were lucky. It's great that Luke Shaw is fit but Alejandro Garnacho, Andre Onana and Mason Mount need to be sold because they didn't impact the game, Onana wasn't focused and he is not alert, Mount didn't do much while Garnacho doesn't run down the wing or take players on. But we also need to stop playing out from defence!
Kevin: Shaw, Mount, Casemiro, Victor Lindelof and company are going to cost Amorim his job and he will deserve it - if for no other reason than him claiming there has been progress under his watch.
Margaret: Not many thoughts. What's going to happen now? Surely this manager cannot remain. The good players that we have will not work with him. There must be a reason for their unwillingness to train properly or something. Maybe the bosses should ask the players that question. There will be no European football next year - how long can you afford to wait before you get the message?
Tony: Another frustrating day at the office - totally devoid of ideas in the final third. So many United players guilty of poor passing and getting mugged in possession. The only plus was Rasmus Hojlund scoring, he deserves better than what he's getting. Let the transfer window open, get rid of the wasters and roll on next season.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 07:44 28 April
07:44 28 April
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
Gossip: Cunha offered five-year deal published at 07:20 28 April
07:20 28 April
Manchester United have offered Wolves forward Matheus Cunha a five-year contract if the 25-year-old Brazilian opts to move to Old Trafford. (Teamtalk, external)
United also remain interested in signing Crystal Palace's French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 27, if they are unable to win the race for Ipswich Town's English forward Liam Delap, 22. (GiveMeSport, external)
Chelsea are pushing hard to seal the signing of Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, 19, but face competition from Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City for the Turkey international. (Caught Offside, external)
'We had to push a little to get something'published at 16:51 27 April
16:51 27 April
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been speaking to Sky Sports about the performance: "It was very important not to lose the game today. We're not at the best level in the Premier League, so we needed to get something. It's not the result we wanted, but we had to push a little to get something.
"We did enough to at least score one goal. We created enough chances to score more than one goal, but it is still not enough from us.
"We need to be have more anger than the defenders to get the ball. To get there first, you need to be focused in everything you do in training. That's what we have to do from now on. We should have done it already, we have been doing it in training, but you need to do it in games.
"Sometimes you get one chance and you score a goal, and sometimes you get 10 or 15 chances and don't score. With the team we have, we need to get more bodies in the box, create more danger, be more active in the box, and outside the box be much braver to take our chances."
On teammate Rasmus Hojlund: "He knows how much he needs to score goals at this club. If you want to be at a big club like Manchester United, you need to improve every time you step onto the pitch, but it's not only up to him.
"Expectations on him are very high - and he has to deal with that. When he doesn't score, he has to focus on what he needs to do a little bit differently to score."
On the parallels between Bilbao and Bournemouth: "Both teams are very intense, with very quick wingers who are very good in 1v1s.
"We have time now to try and focus on what Athletic are going to do, but we have to focus on what we are going to do."
'The players did really well to get at least one point'published at 16:45 27 April
16:45 27 April
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the result: "I think we deserved it. In the first half, we suffered with their high-intensity press but we created chances. We had quite similar chances near the box with a lot of shots.
"I think we deserved at least one point if you look at the game. If you look at our last games, it is always like this - we do something to help the opponent get an advantage. Then it is really hard to score goals, but the players did really well to get at least one point.
"We have the ability to push our opponents. There are small things I think we can do better. We need to understand these moments better, but if you look at the 20 minutes [after Evanilson's red card], we had situations to score which is really important."
On Rasmus Hojlund: "I will not say [he is] relaxed, but he could be a little bit lighter during the week. He now needs to score many more."
On Luke Shaw's first league start since last year: "It's really important. Of course we need to be careful with his availability. [After the red card], he was the guy to overload that side. He has quality in the last third, he has a good pass."
On boosting morale ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg: "We have lost two points. We didn't win, but it doesn't matter - it is a different competition."
Bournemouth 1-1 Man Utd: Key statspublished at 16:29 27 April
16:29 27 April
Image source, Getty Images
Andoni Iraola is unbeaten in all four of his Premier League meetings with Manchester United (W2 D2).
Rasmus Hojlund's goal (95:36) is Manchester United's latest Premier League equaliser away from home on record (since 2006-07).
Bournemouth 1-1 Man Utd - send us your thoughtspublished at 15:58 27 April
Sutton's predictions: Bournemouth v Manchester Unitedpublished at 12:18 27 April
12:18 27 April
Bournemouth hammered Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford before Christmas and they have to be heavy favourites to win this game too.
United travel to play Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final next Thursday, and Ruben Amorim has already spoken about how he will prioritise that competition over the Premier League.
So, Amorim will play more younger players here and on top of that, although Bournemouth are not on a great run of results, they are still in better form than United are.
I am backing Bournemouth and it is going to be tough for United against Bilbao too.
Bilbao got the better of Rangers in the last round and I am expecting two pretty tight games.
Rangers did have some opportunities, though, so United have got a chance if they can click going forward. Having the second leg at Old Trafford will help Amorim's side, too.
Kone working with French-speaking player-coach Rowepublished at 17:03 26 April
17:03 26 April
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United player-coach Tommy Rowe is taking French lessons to help smooth Sekou Kone's path into the first-team.
Rowe started his career as an academy player at United and went on to make over 600 professional appearances, primarily for Peterborough and Doncaster, before joining the Old Trafford outfit last summer as a player-coach, working with their junior teams.
He was on the bench during last night's Premier League 2 play-off victory over Everton and he took particular satisfaction in Kone's contribution.
The Mali youth international set up Tyler Fletcher for Manchester United's third goal, before scoring a fine fourth in their 4-2 win.
After recovering from an injury sustained in an EFL Trophy match against Huddersfield in November, Kone has started to make the strides anticipated on his arrival from Africa.
And Under-21s coach Travis Binnion says Tommy Rowe's linguistic contribution should not be overlooked. "Tommy has been brilliant with him," Binnion said.
"He must have been on holiday to the south of France with how his French is coming on. He will sit in Sekou's English lessons just so he can pick it up.
"They do analysis and translate it through the language tutor.
"Sekou has a long way to go. He can get through three games in a week now for us, but he wouldn't be able to do that at first-team level because he's not quite there yet. His decision-making will make that easier for him, physically.
"It is a long-term project with him, but his ability is there for all to see."
