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Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Eriksen pursuit hijacked, Pogba agent talks, Barcelona battle
Man Utd transfer news - Express Sport brings you all the latest Man Utd transfer news as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyes reinforcements for his Red Devils squad.
Man Utd transfer news live updates
Saturday, January 4
- Manchester United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Christian Eriksen
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals plans for Paul Pogba talks
- Barcelona to rival United for Spain international
Christian Eriksen blow
Manchester United’s pursuit of Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen has suffered a massive blow, according to reports.
The Red Devils are understood to be weighing up a bid for the Denmark international, whose contract at the London Stadium expires at the end of the season. However, it’s claimed Serie A giants Inter Milan are close to pipping the Old Trafford club for the wantaway midfielder’s services.
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet claim the 27-year-old’s representatives have been locked in talks with the Italian club and an agreement for him to move to the San Siro is ‘imminent’.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirms agent talks with Paul Pogba
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he intends to hold talks with Paul Pogba following his agent’s latest comments on his future at the club.
"I can speak to Paul about it,” said the Norwegian. “I don't think I should talk to - or about - agents that talk about us.
"But Paul is our player and agents are hired by players - not the opposite way around. It is not agents' players, it is our players."
Barcelona to rival United for Dani Olmo
Manchester United will reportedly have to battle Barcelona for the signature of Dinamo Zagreb ace Dani Olmo.
The Red Devils are said to have been thoroughly impressed by the 21-year-old’s recent displays for the Croatian giants, with reports claiming Solskjaer has been keeping close tabs on the attacking midfielder.
But according to Mundo Deportivo, Barca are currently weighing up a move for the Spain international - whom they let leave the Nou Camp five years ago.
Nemanja Matic exit stance revealed
Solskjaer has revealed that Serbia international Nemanja Matic won’t be sold in the January transfer window, despite the midfielder making only a handful of appearances this season.
"Nemanja will stay," Solskjaer said when asked about the former Chelsea man’s future at the club.
"He's been working hard to get back in and now he's here and he's playing well."
James Maddison blow suffered
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has ruled out selling United target James Maddison this month.
When pressed on the future of Maddison, the Northern Irishman said: ”Nobody will leave here that we don't want to go.
"I think we've had a couple of enquiries in terms of loans and for some of our younger players.
"But the players that are always talked about and mentioned, there will be nobody going."
Solskjaer defends transfer failures
Solskjaer has defend the club’s failure to sign a midfielder last summer, saying: “Well, we had four fit players for two positions at the start of the season, and we felt that we didn’t find the right one [midfielder] for the right value.
“But we have been looking to strengthen the squad in several positions. ‘You could probably handle and deal with three players rotating there. But we have two players who are fit there now, Nemanja and Fred. It’ll be a hard task for them, and we’ll just have to ask them to keep going if they can.
“Nemanja has been out for a while, Paul has been out for a while and I think Scott and Fred have done really well, so now Nemanja is in when Scott is out.
“Paul unfortunately is not there, so we’ll just have to find a way. You just can’t accept that we’re tired, you’ve got to find a way and it might be that we’ll have to find different positions for someone.”
Harry Maguire signing slammed
Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker believes Harry Maguire has yet to live up to his £80million price tag.
“He has done okay,” Parker told https://bonuscodebets.co.uk. “He has not stood out for me and for the money that United paid for him, he has not earned that.
“You look at someone like Virgil van Dijk, who has absolutely been value for money, and you would go as far to say that he has exceeded that.
“I don’t think they needed to spend that money on Maguire. They got pressured into getting him from the previous manger [Jose Mourinho] when they did not need to spend that type of money.”
Paul Pogba exit predicted
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf reckons Manchester United will soon get fed up with Pogba and allow him to leave Old Trafford.
Leboeuf said on ESPN FC: “When you sign for a club you have to make sure you will do everything to respect the club who sign you. "Nowadays it seems when the player just wants to leave, they just break everything down to make sure the club don’t want them anymore.
“For me, what’s going to happen very soon to Paul Pogba, Manchester United will say ‘he can go, the fans don’t want him, he can go anywhere else’.”