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Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has challenged club captain Maya Le Tissier to become “one of the world’s best” and cement her place in the England squad.

Le Tissier has been a key player for United this season, with the Reds sitting in third place in the WSL, tied on points with Arsenal in second.

Her efforts have been crucial in United holding the league’s best defensive record, yet despite this, she’s found herself on the sidelines when it comes to playing for England.

In England’s last two matches against Belgium, Le Tissier has had to be content with a place on the bench, amidst Sarina Wiegmann’s preference for a pairing of Leah Williamson (Arsenal) and Millie Bright (Chelsea).

On Tuesday, as the Lionesses were beaten 3-2 by Belgium, Wiegmann made two defensive substitutions at the break but still overlooked Le Tissier.

Skinner spoke to BBC Sport and weighed in on the matter. He said, “I won’t discuss Sarina’s plans because they are hers to discuss. I see the absolute value in Maya and what she gives to our team.”

“She is a fantastic captain and a fantastic person. I can only see growth in that. I don’t know where Sarina sees Maya within her plan. I just know when Maya comes back to Manchester United she is going to give the same consistency, the same quality and she is going to keep growing.”

“My challenge then goes back to Maya. It’s your job to break into Sarina’s plans as well. Me and her have a relationship where we can challenge each other.”

“Every day she has got to get better. Even though she is fantastic, she has to get better.”

Skinner continued, “I want this player, especially my captain, to be one of the world’s best.”

“She is proving the consistency but there is much more to come. I am really proud of Maya and the growth this season.”

United are back in action on Sunday when they go away to Manchester City for the semi-final of the FA Women’s Cup. Kick-off is at 15:00 BST.

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Rasmus Hojlund’s form has a major concern for Ruben Amorim with the Dane scoring only twice in the Premier League since the Portuguese took over the job at Manchester United.

After finishing his debut season as top scorer, a lot was expected from the 22-year-old in his sophomore campaign but the season has been a disaster for the former Atalanta star.

Apart from the lack of goals, the Denmark international’s overall gameplay has also attracted a lot of criticism especially his back-to-goal play.

Pundits have pointed to his penchant for backing into defenders instead of using his brains as an area where the striker has simply not improved in.

Rasmus’ poor form

Which is why Amorim is desperate to get rid of the No 9 but given his woeful form, INEOS are aware that they will struggle to recoup the initial fee of £64 million they paid for him back in 2023.

They were even open to a loan exit while a swap deal with Napoli involving Victor Osimhen heading to Old Trafford was also in the works.

But as per journalist Matteo Moretto on his YouTube channel, the United striker is not only being eyed by Antonio Conte’s men but also Juventus.

In fact, the Bianconeri have even opened talks with Hojlund’s camp over a summer move to Turin even though club-to-club talks over a concrete fee have yet to start.

Juventus still interested

“The answer is yes. Some clubs are interested. I believe Hojlund will be an interesting name in the summer. Two clubs are monitoring him.

“On the one hand, Napoli are looking for a striker. Hojlund is part of their long list. He’s not a top choice. Not a priority.

“On the other hand, Juventus want two strikers. They have already started preliminary talks even if a real negotiation hasn’t yet begun.”

All this indicates a summer exit is indeed on the cards. A swap deal would be the best option for the 20-time English league champions but even a direct exit wherein United recoup a large fee would also be welcome.

That fee could then be utilised to fund the move for a ruthless goalscorer. This saga just got a lot more interesting.

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Manchester United not only needs a ruthless goalscorer in the summer but also a creative force who play behind the striker.

Rasmus Hojlund has proven to be a disaster in his sophomore campaign with only two Premier League goals since Ruben Amorim’s arrival. However, the Dane will point to a lack of service as a mitigating factor.

With Amad injured and Bruno Fernandes forced to play in a deeper role, the onus for creating chances has fallen to Alejandro Garnacho, whose form has fallen off a cliff since January.

The Red Devils have lined up a whole host of potential additions for the attacking midfield position with the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo among the options from the Premier League.

Simons has been a long-term target

Another player who has long been on United’s radar is Xavi Simons, currently of RB Leipzig. The Dutchman’s creativity and eye for goal saw the 20-time English league champions get linked with a move for the 21-year-old in the last two summers.

This season the Netherlands international has eight goals and six assists from 28 appearances in all competitions and with his contract expiring in two years, there is a chance to acquire his signature in the summer.

While the Bundesliga side were initially hoping to earn €80 million from his sale, they have slashed his price to €59 million and as per CaughtOffside, there is even more good news in store for the three-time Champions League winners.

Liverpool were reportedly looking at the former Paris Saint-Germain star as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, who had yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.

But recent reports have suggested that the Egyptian could remain at Anfield and therefore, that puts United in pole position should they make a move.

“Manchester United are now a step closer to an exciting potential transfer swoop for RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons.

Liverpool no longer in the race

“The Netherlands international is widely expected to leave Leipzig this summer and has long been linked with big clubs in the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe.

“Two of the main names thought to be pursuing Simons were both Man Utd and Liverpool, but there now seems to have been a major development in the saga.

“However, that was with the 21-year-old being lined up as a Mohamed Salah replacement, which may no longer be needed. Breaking reports today state that Salah is now closing in on a new contract with Liverpool, meaning a move for Simons may no longer make sense as a priority for the Reds. This could be a huge boost for United.”

Potentially United could now try and bring the “brilliant” Simons’ price down even further given the obvious lack of suitors.

But whether the Red Devils can afford an attacking midfielder following an extensive outlay on a striker while there is also a need to add a midfielder and wingback to the squad remains to be seen.

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Manchester United have reportedly “made contact” over a potential move for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen but will face stiff competition from Serie A for the Dutch international.

Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Sports Witness) reveals the Red Devils have “asked for information about signing” Verbruggen with the form of Old Trafford’s current goalkeeper, Andre Onana, leaving a lot to be desired.

Inconsistent Onana

Onana, 29, continues to produce wildly inconsistent displays between the sticks for United, ranging from a sublime save one minute to an inexplicable mistake the next.

The Cameroonian international’s ability to play out from the back has also significantly declined since arriving in Manchester from Inter Milan two years ago as one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in Europe, often conceding possession with hopeless long-range passes up field.

Head coach Ruben Amorim, who inherited Onana from previous incumbent Erik ten Hag, has shown faith in the former Ajax man since he arrived from Sporting CP in November, playing him in virtually every game outside of cup competitions.

However, the Portuguese coach’s patience is likely to be increasingly tested by Onana and his unorthodox style, which appears to lend itself to producing mistakes.

United hold a long-standing interest in Verbruggen and were strongly linked with a move for the Dutchman when he was still at Anderlecht, only for Brighton to swoop in 2023 and secure a deal for £17 million.

And Gazzetta dello Sport claim the Seagulls would be likely to demand “more than double” that amount now should they sell Verbruggen this summer.

This is an underestimation, however, given the 22-year-old’s contract at the Amex runs until 2028 and Brighton’s executive branch are notoriously strong negotiators.

A Better Option in Italy?

The report also reveals Serie A giant AC Milan are interested in Verbruggen as their number one, Mike Maignan, enters the final year of his contract this summer (expires June 2026).

Gazzetta dello Sport contends there is “trouble over a renewal” between I Rossoneri and the French international with Milan “searching for options” should negotiations breakdown.

Maignan, 29, is one of the premier goalkeepers in Europe and is the perfect age for a goalkeeper. He has excellent fundamentals – in contrast to Onana – and possesses a tall, powerful frame, standing over 6’3. He is a brilliant shot stopper but is also adept at playing out from the back, lending himself to a progressive style of play.

If United are to make the decision to move on from Onana this summer, which is a big if given the club’s constrained transfer budget and sheer number of positions requiring upgrades, then the Reds should be targeting Maignan, rather than the younger option Milan would seek to replace the world-class Frenchman with.

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The England international faced his old Tottenham team-mate earlier in the season.

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There is considerable interest from Serie A in Rasmus Højlund with multiple clubs “ready to start” talks should Manchester United look to sell the Danish striker this summer, Fabrizio Romano reveals.

The Italian transfer guru contends “Serie A clubs are monitoring Ramus Højlund situation ahead of the summer transfer window,” though he does not specify which teams.

Napoli are believed to be the Italian club with the strongest interest in the 22-year-old striker with a report relayed by The Peoples Person revealing I Partenopei would be “open” to a part-exchange deal involving Højlund and Victor Osimhen.

However, Juventus and AC Milan have also both been linked with a move for the former Atalanta star, with many recruitment teams in Italy still holding the Dane in high regard, despite his struggles at Old Trafford.

Serie A clubs are monitoring Rasmus Højlund situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

If Manchester United decided to sell Højlund to bring in a new striker in the summer, Italian clubs would be ready to start concrete contacts. pic.twitter.com/XDfWZNLjST

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 10, 2025

Tweet: “Serie A clubs are monitoring Rasmus Højlund situation ahead of the summer transfer window.
If Manchester United decided to sell Højlund to bring in a new striker in the summer, Italian clubs would be ready to start concrete contacts.”

United signed Højlund in 2023 for a fee worth an initial £64 million with a further £8 million in potential add-ons.

This means, as of this summer, the Dane’s ‘book value’ (i.e. the amount the club still has to account for his transfer fee) would total £38.4 million, if we omit the add-ons – a reasonable leap of faith given Højlund’s form is unlikely to have triggered any additional bonuses since he arrived in Manchester.

It would, therefore, require a transfer fee of at least £38.4 million for United to not incur an FFP hit by selling Højlund to one of his potential Italian suitors.

If the Red Devils were to sell for less than this amount, the Dane’s sale would actually produce a negative effect on the club’s finances.

And with Serie A a notoriously difficult league to extract large sums of money from, this feels an unlikely sum for an Italian side to meet for a striker in such dire form and just three league goals to his name this season. As such, a loan would be a far more realistic option should United seek to make room for a new centre-forward this summer.

There is a growing sense Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap is the club’s first-choice target, given a favourable £30 million release clause should (or, more accurately, when) the Tractor Boys be relegated.

The recruitment team at Old Trafford “firmly believe” Delap offers an “upgrade” on both Højlund and teammate Joshua Zirkzee, who has also been linked with his own return to Italy since after from Bologna last summer.

If United are to seal a move for the Ipswich striker, it feels likely at least one of the existing forwards at Old Trafford will have to make way for the imposing 22-year-old; and Serie A looks the most likely destination for either player.

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Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has branded Bruno Fernandes the club’s most important player.

United are set to take on French outfit Olympique Lyonnais later tonight in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie.

With United currently languishing in 13th place with seven top-flight games left to play, the Europa League remains their only way of clinching silverware and qualifying for Europe.

Pre-match discussions have largely revolved around Andre Onana and Nemanja Matic, following a heated exchange triggered by the Cameroonian goalkeeper’s assertion that Manchester United are far better than Lyon.

However, according to Varane, Fernandes is the key player to watch and could prove to be the decisive factor for United.

Having spent three years at Old Trafford between 2021 and 2024, Varane is well-acquainted with Fernandes and is therefore well-positioned to provide an informed assessment of the midfielder.

L’Equipe [via SportWitness] spoke to a few Frenchmen about Fernandes and unsurprisingly, Varane was one of them.

The four-time Champions League winner told the news outlet, “He’s the heart of the team, one of the players who defends the most, he runs everywhere.”

“He gives a lot of himself on the pitch, and off it, because he’s really involved in team life.”

L’Equipe also relayed the sentiments of Jérémy Mathieu, who played with Fernandes at Sporting CP.

Mathieu explained, “Certainly, Bruno can be a bit annoying when he complains because a teammate misses a pass, while he himself could sometimes play more simply.”

“But when you take stock of his leadership, it is very positive because Bruno naturally commands the team and speaks up in the locker room when necessary. He is a star, but he is constantly thinking about the group.”

The Peoples Person recently highlighted statistics that present a strong argument for Fernandes being the most complete midfielder in football today.

It’s encouraging to see that those who have played alongside him also recognise his influence and impact on the pitch.

Lyon vs. United kicks off at 20:00 BST.

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The Gunners are looking to tie their young stars down to North London.

Manchester United travel to central France tonight to face Lyon in the first leg of the Europa League quarter finals.

Europe represents United’s only chance of saving a season that has been nothing short of a catastrophe to date and will hope to return to Old Trafford with a positive result to take into the deciding leg, next week.

Andre Onana has already lit the blue touch paper with his claims United are ‘way better’ than their Ligue 1 opponents but Ruben Amorim’s side will have to be at their best to leave Lyon as victors.

Paulo Fonseca’s men are in fine form and boast some talented attacking players that United must keep a close eye on this evening.

United transfer target Rayan Cherki has returned to full fitness and will be desperate to put on a strong showing in front of potential suitors as his reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young talents grows.

Much like United with Bruno Fernandes, the majority of Lyon’s good work comes through the 21-year-old and Casemiro will need all his experience to keep the Frenchman quiet tonight in the pockets.

Former red, Nemanja Matic, who hit back at Onana’s ill-advised comments will provide experience in midfield should he start, with ex-Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette doing likewise up front.

Amorim’s side have looked much harder to beat in recent weeks and Amorim will be looking for more of the same in the Parc Olympique Lyonnais tonight.

United on the other hand will continue with their three at the back system so tried and trusted by the head coach and the signs are there that his players are slowly getting to grips with the modus operandi.

Captain Fernandes is arguably in the form of his life and given United’s issues in front of goal the midfielder remains the most likely to trouble the score board tonight.

Getting Bruno into dangerous positions in and around the box will be key to United’s attacking ploy and if he can be found with space high up the pitch, there’s not many players on the continent you’d fancy more to make something happen right now.

Additionally, Rasmus Hojlund can draw confidence on the fact he has enjoyed some of his best moments in a United shirt in European competition and will be desperate to grab a priceless goal or two here.

As ever with Amorim’s system, there will be space in wide areas the long diagonal, primarily to Patrick Dorgu who is much more comfortable in the wing back role than Dalot and will look to be set free to then feed Hojlund or the supporting cast in attacking positions.

Getting the front players back firing is critical to how the season ends for United and despite his wretched form, Hojlund is still the biggest hope to put a run together between now and what remains of the campaign.

To his credit, the Dane is willing and should relish the chance to get back on track against a team that do give up goals.

Managing the early exchanges will be key to how United fare and will look to keep the ball as much as possible in the opening 15-20 minutes before building into their attacking plan.

United have found the pace of European football much more to their liking than the Premier League this term and remain the only side in the three major competitions who are unbeaten in Europe.

Whilst Amorim will be playing for a victory tonight, preserving that record should be enough of an advantage to see them through the tie with the second leg at Old Trafford providing a major advantage.

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