Man Utd news live updates: gossip and rumours from Old Trafford
Saturday February 10
Jose Mourinho mocks Wayne Rooney
06:15: Jose Mourinho has mocked Wayne Rooney’s suggestion that Paul Pogba can be a box-to-box midfield player without defensive responsibility.
The Manchester United boss says there is no “confusion” or “problem” between him and the club’s £89million record signing about his role in the team, despite their heated touchline exchange during the recent defeat by Tottenham.
Pogba will return to the starting line-up at Newcastle after being dropped for the win over Huddersfield following his substitution in the Spurs game that prompted heavy criticism for his defensive indiscipline and a debate on how he should be played.
“With some comments from some important people in football I got a little confused,” said Mourinho. “For me, box to box means you have to be good in this box and have to be good in that box.
“It means you have to defend well in this box and have the physical condition, desire and stamina to go to the other box where you have to be good at scoring, creating, heading and so on.”
Christian Pulisic snub
05:45: Liverpool and Manchester United target Christian Pulisic is reportedly prepared to turn his nose up at a move to the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp, who managed the winger at Signal Iduna Park, is known to be a long-term admirer and is keen to take him to Liverpool.
United, meanwhile, have their eye on Pulisic as they look to bolster their squad and consider how he could increase their following in the USA.
The latest reports from Spain suggest the 19-year-old has his heart set on a move to La Liga if he’s to leave Dortmund though.
According to transfer rumour specialists Don Balon, Pulisic would is ready to reject Liverpool and United.
And they claim it’s because he’s desperate to join Real Madrid instead.
Ander Herrera shock switch
05:15: Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has emerged as a target for Italian giants AC Milan as they look to offer the Spaniard the chance to play first-team football.
Herrera joined Manchester United from Athletic Bilbao in 2014 for £28m and has gone on to make 151 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals.
Originally, Herrera was used as United’s midfield enforcer by Jose Mourinho upon the manager’s arrival in 2016.
However the Spaniard has since fallen behind summer signing Nemanja Matic in the pecking order and has seen his first-team opportunities begin to dwindle.
AC Milan are willing to offer the 28-year-old a get-out by attempting to bring him to the San Siro this summer, and have been sending scouts to monitor his progress at Old Trafford, according to Tuttosport.
Marcus Rashford problem
04:45: Jamie Redknapp has explained why Alexis Sanchez’s arrival at Manchester United is problematic for Marcus Rashford.
After bursting onto the scene two years ago under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal, Rashford has found regular game time harder to come by under Jose Mourinho this season and he has dropped down the pecking order.
Although the England international would prefer to play in a central striking berth, he has be shunted out into a wider role when he has come on as a substitute.
And Sky Sports pundit Redknapp fears why the Chilean could make it even harder for Rashford to break into the first team.
“Due to his reputation and the fact he has been bought by the manager, Sanchez will always go ahead of Rashford whether he is playing better or not,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.
“You feel like you are just getting to the top of the pecking order and then suddenly, bang, it’s like a sledgehammer hits you. Your club have signed a world star.”