Here are your Manchester United evening headlines for Monday, December 7.
Paul Pogba’s Manchester United career “over”
Paul Pogba’s United career is “over," according to his agent Mino Raiola.
Pogba produced his best performance of the season in the weekend’s victory over West Ham United but, as he enters the final 18 months of his current deal, it seems as though any hopes of the club extending his stay are futile.
Raiola, who is known for his spiky outbursts, said in no uncertain terms that Pogba will leave Old Trafford.
“I can say that it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United,” he is quoted as saying in an interview with Italian outlet, Tuttosport.
Pogba has said previously that he would like a new challenge, while he called a move to Real Madrid a “dream” earlier this year.
Injury update ahead of Leipzig clash
United provided an injury update on four key players ahead of the monumental midweek Champions League clash against RB Leipzig.
Both Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial will miss the trip to Germany, but David de Gea and Luke Shaw are both in the travelling party and could feature.
“David is travelling, Luke is travelling. Edinson and Anthony only minor niggles, but won’t be making the trip,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Monday afternoon.
United dismantled Leipzig 5-0 in the home fixture and they must now avoid defeat to secure their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Gary Neville highlights Bruno Fernandes concern
Gary Neville has highlighted a major concern regarding Bruno Fernandes and United’s over-reliance on the attacking midfielder.
Fernandes was introduced from off the bench in Saturday’s victory over West Ham. He produced a brilliant display to turn the tide of the match, but Neville questioned how long United can continue winning matches based on moments of individual inspiration.
“What Manchester United have is four or five match-winners, game-changers, that play in moments,” he told the Gary Neville podcast. “My concern is for the longer-term because you need performances that knit together that look like an identity is building. I can't quite see what they are yet.
“They can't play without Bruno (Fernandes). I don't know what it is, he's a very good player but you'd think that Van de Beek and Pogba, McTominay in midfield with Greenwood, Cavani and Martial would be able to do so much better than that.
“The minute Bruno comes on - and Marcus Rashford as well who probably had a bigger impact yesterday - but Bruno's impact on the team is huge. You can't compare Bruno to Harry Kane but you know Kane has an influence on his team that's bigger than just his performances, which are excellent.
“Bruno is exactly the same with this Manchester United team and he's only been there a short amount of time. As soon as he came on, they seemed more arrogant, more connected, more cohesive. I don't know what it is when he doesn't play.”
