It is just under two weeks until Manchester United kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Brighton on Sunday August 7. And it is fair to say that most supporters will be in agreement that a lot needs to be done before now and then in the transfer market if Erik ten Hag is to enjoy a successful first campaign as manager at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have so far brought in three new faces, with Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez freshening up the squad. But the situation regarding the longest-running transfer saga of the summer - the pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong - is yet to be resolved, and fans of United will be desperate for a decision one way or the other soon.
Meanwhile, the club reportedly have a new target in Red Bull Salzburg's 19-year-old striking sensation Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian has been turning heads with his performances of late, although United may find it tricky to convince the Austrian club to sell.
Oh, and there is also the small matter of the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. Will we ever see him pull on the famous red No.7 shirt again? Or is he bound for pastures new this summer? All will be revealed in the coming days and weeks.
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Marcus Rashford has insisted Manchester United's players are keen to prove they are better than what they showcased last season.
The 24-year-old forward has claimed there is a collective positive feeling among the squad that they can show improvements when the season starts.
He told The National: "I’m in a good place mentally and physically. I feel really positive, and I know I’m not the only one there. There’s a joined-up feeling among players.
"We want the season to start to show what we can do. Hopefully, we can start the season off a lot better. We’re better players than what we showed last year."
Erik ten Hag has pinpointed three methods he plans to use at Manchester United to develop the state of the squad he inherited.
According to Sky Sports, Ten Hag will continue the intense training he has imposed on his players throughout pre-season.
He is also working hard to change the psychology of the group in order to return to a winning culture at Old Trafford.
And in terms of recruitment, he is only interested in focused transfers that will contribute toward the direction he wants to go. Rather than signing big names for the sake of it.
Cristiano Ronaldo is due to return to Manchester on Monday ahead of showdown talks with Erik ten Hag this week.
The Athletic report Ten Hag is set to meet Ronaldo face-to-face for the first time since becoming Manchester United manager as speculation swirls over his future.
The 37-year-old striker wants to leave United this summer for Champions League football, but his return has made figures 'increasingly' confident that he'll remain at the club.
United are back at Carrington on Tuesday as Ten Hag begins the final preparations to make his squad ready for the start of the new season. And Ronaldo could be part of them.
Erik ten Hag left Manchester United chiefs pleasantly surprised in his interview for the job, ultimately helping him land the role.
The Dutchman has made an impactful start at United, and there has been little doubt that he's the right man for the job.
And that positive impression stretched all the way back to his first meeting with the club in London.
The Mail report Ten Hag impressed United early on by greeting figures with a pile of data and charts on the table in front of him ahead of his interview.
His attention to detail has become apparent throughout pre-season as he's made the perfect start to life as Red Devils boss.
James Garner has admitted he's open to leaving Manchester United on loan to another Premier League side this season.
The 21-year-old midfielder wants to continue regularly playing games and believes warming the bench at United would be a 'step back' for him.
He said: "Last season, at Forest, was almost a perfect loan experience. I played pretty much every single game, played well and ended up winning promotion.
"However, because I've had two seasons back to back where I've been playing games non-stop, I don't really want to stop that.
"I want to play for United," Garner added. "That's obviously my aim. For me, not to play back-to-back games, two or three times a week, would be a step back in my career.
"So I feel like if I'm not going to be playing as regularly as I would like, I'm definitely open to going back on loan to a Premier League side."
United have snapped up Tyrell Malacia, with the Netherlands international the first arriving of the Erik ten Hag era.
And he’s now opened up on how he’s adjusted to life with the Red Devils.
He told club media: “I really feel like I’m at home already.
“The guys took me into the group and it feels good. I’m good with Anthony [Elanga], Tahith [Chong], of course. Hannibal, Ethan [Laird], Jimmy [Garner], mostly the younger guys.
“A couple of the older guys like Eric [Bailly], Alex [Telles], they speak a lot with me. [I’m] learning about the group and the team.”
Sky Sports have claimed United remain confident of bringing the Barcelona star to Old Trafford this summer, despite the complexities of any potential deal.
And it's also stated they haven't ruled out Antony, either.
The Brazil international managed 12 goal involvements from 23 Eredivisie matches last term as Ajax won the title.
Frenkie de Jong’s wage was deliberately leaked by someone at Barcelona, according to a report in Spain.
Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, claim today that somebody at Barcelona actively and deliberately made the midfielder’s salary public.
De Jong earns close to £360,000-a-week over at the Nou Camp, having penned a big contract upon joining from Ajax back in the summer transfer window of 2019.
However, this same individual didn’t leak De Jong’s decision to accept a pay cut.
And it’s insinuated this was Barcelona’s way of making the Netherlands international look bad in an attempt to hasten his departure.
Former Chelsea star Craig Burley thinks United need to sort out Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation once and for all.
“This is not an ideal scenario for Ten Hag,” Burley told ESPN.
“I think Ronaldo’s team just need to make it a bit clearer. ‘Look, we want this done come hell or high water, we want out of the club, this is our stance’.
“Don’t try and paint yourself in a great picture with the fans, just get the move done and Ten Hag can move forward with what he has got, but he will need to get somebody in that position.
“But don’t leave it, and I think it was Gab Marcotti who said a few days ago that his camp have a habit of leaving things right until the death, that is not going to be favourable to the new United manager.”
In a new twist, ESPN journalist Rob Dawson has revealed United have been in touch with other midfielders as the De Jong saga goes on.
"There are certainly other players on the list, but I get the impression that, for ten Hag, de Jong is such the ideal player that they want to do everything they possibly can to get that deal over the line,” he told The United Stand.
"There may be a case of where Barcelona aren't playing ball, or de Jong says he doesn't want to come. He'll [Erik ten Hag] then have to decide if he's got a player in the squad, or if he needs to sign someone.
"He's [Erik ten Hag] come in, and set such high standards on the training pitch, with the way the club is run, his transfer targets, that he wants his number one [Frenkie de Jong].
"The danger is [with Frenkie de Jong] that there's only a finite amount of time to get it done, as the deadline is quickly approaching. At what point do you pull the plug?
"I'm sure they have [been in contact with other midfielders]. I'm not suggesting they have a deal in place, but there will have been contact.
"They'll know whether the player [other midfield targets] wants to come, they'll know, vaguely, what the valuation is, what it'll take to get a deal over the line. They'll have all that information."
Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Frenkie de Jong saga has taken a new twist (Image: GETTY)
Red Bull Salzburg do not expect to lose highly-coveted 19-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko this summer amid strong interest from across Europe. The Austrian champions have unearthed yet another attacking gem from their illustrious conveyor belt of enthralling talent but club sources have told Express Sport that the player is not for sale.
Manchester United and Newcastle have been monitoring Sesko's development closely with the teenage sensation considered to be among the continent's finest young forward prospects.
Yet despite claims in the Austrian press, United are yet to move for Sesko despite being keen admirers of his talents. A Salzburg source has since relayed to Express Sport that Sesko is not considered to be a saleable asset this summer, despite their unprecedented ability to overturn mega profits.
Barcelona boss Xavi has told Frenkie de Jong he must take a pay-cut in order to stay at the club - a request the Dutchman looks willing to approve, according to reports in Spain. The never-ending transfer saga that has dominated the headlines appears to finally be nearing a conclusion but it does not bode well for Manchester United.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Xavi has held face-to-face talks with De Jong this week in which he relayed a message from above that the player must take a pay-cut to stay at the club.
It's claimed De Jong is expected to comply, despite allegedly being owed wages by his current employers.