Here are your Manchester United morning headlines for Monday, 31 August.
United close in on Van de Beek
Manchester United are poised to make Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek their first signing of the summer in a deal that could rise to €45million (£40.1m).
MEN Sport understands that United are close to finalising an agreement with Ajax, although the 23-year-old is yet to agree personal terms.
United’s move for Van de Beek developed over the weekend, with the midfielder left out of the Ajax squad for Saturday’s friendly with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Spurs and Real Madrid have previously been credited with an interest in Van de Beek, who helped Ajax reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
United also remain interested in their leading transfer target Jadon Sancho, with Borussia Dortmund demanding in excess of £100m for the England international.
Van de Beek pursuit symbolic of long-term squad building
United’s pursuit of Van de Beek is evidence of the club’s commitment to building a squad for the future, writes MEN’s Tyrone Marshall.
While the Reds still require a centre-back, the Ajax midfielder’s arrival will provide Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with important depth as United look to compete on four fronts this term.
United are set for a return to the Champions League and their heavy fixture schedule will heighten the need for squad rotation.
Van de Beek, who can play as a No.10 or further back, will provide stiffer competition than Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira for Bruno Fernandes.
“The ideal way to find that depth is to recruit good players when they become available,” writes Marshall.
“That is exactly what United are doing with Van de Beek and it's the justification of the approach they've been taking since Solskjaer arrived.”
United fans send Mejbri message
Manchester United fans have told Hannibal Mejbri to keep working hard following his goal for the U23 side against Huddersfield at the weekend.
Mejbri, 17, joined United last summer from Monaco and is widely regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in the club's academy.
United's development sides were forced out of action as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which put an end to the Premier League 2 season.
The young Reds played a pre-season friendly match against Huddersfield on Saturday, drawing 3-3, with Mejbri getting on the score sheet late in the second-half.
Read what fans had to say about him here.
