Man Utd information: £14m payment set for star amid Arsenal switch battle as Michael Carrick fumes
Manchester United’s Michael Carrick is looking towards the transfer window again after the Red Devils secured a controversial win over Leeds United
Michael Carrick faces a busy transfer window
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick will turn his attention back to the transfer window after the Red Devils beat Leeds United in a controversial pre-season friendly.
The score was locked at 1-1 when the two bitter rivals clashed at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. But as the clock ticked to signal 90 minutes and the beginning of added time, pitch invaders forced the referee to end the match early and head straight to penalties once they had been escorted away by security.
Carrick will guide his side out next against AC Milan – overseen by his predecessor Ruben Amorim – in the final pre-season friendly for the Red Devils on Saturday, before the curtain-raiser in the Premier League a week later against newly-promoted Hull City. But he knows his squad requires further investment and must shed deadwood – here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick has been building his squad for a new Manchester United season(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
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United win shootout after game abandoned
United’s friendly against Leeds was prematurely ended and full-time declared early due to children storming the pitch to try and get selfies with players.
The referee put a stop to the game, leaving opposition managers Carrick and Daniel Farke seething. United defender Noussair Mazraoui then netted the decisive penalty to round off a solid workout for both teams.
The milestone match at Croke Park saw 82,000 supporters pack out the stadium. Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring in the first half, as he was set up by Bryan Mbeumo. But former United man Dan James pounced to dispossess Tyler Fletcher and feed Brenden Aaronson for an equaliser.
During the penalties, Bruno Fernandes sent his spot-kick wide, while James Justin struck the crossbar after Dermot Mee had denied Harry Wilson’s penalty earlier in the shootout. Mazraoui then stepped forward to bag the win.
Leicester wonderkid ‘favours’ United
Leicester City youngster Louis Page would favour joining Manchester United if offered the choice between them and Arsenal, according to The Athletic.
Page claimed the Championship’s Apprentice of the Year award last season, following in the footsteps of England internationals Jude Bellingham and Lewis Cook.
Page, 18, featured 18 times in the Championship during the previous campaign, reports the Mirror.
Louis Page played for Leicester City in the Carabao Cup as they beat Northampton 1-0(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
The central midfielder came on as a substitute for the Foxes in their Carabao Cup first round fixture last weekend, but may still depart before the window closes.
Should he make the move, Page would follow young team-mate Jeremy Monga in making the leap from League One to the Premier League. England Under-19 winger Monga, who became a Premier League debutant at just 15, has signed for Manchester City in a transfer valued at £12.5million.
Leicester tied Page down to professional terms last year, so United – or any interested club – would need to agree a transfer fee with the League One club, rather than the deal value being decided by a tribunal. He could cost in excess of £10m.
Salinas transfer stance clear
Jorge Salinas of Racing Santander
United will be required to meet Jorge Salinas’ release clause if they wish to secure the Spanish left-back.
That would involve paying just under £14m, a figure the club seem willing to stump up if it means pipping Barcelona to the 19-year-old Racing Santander prospect.
The Athletic have reported that Salinas – who is represented by Jorge Mendes – is on United’s shortlist.
“A club has offered €14m for Jorge Salinas, and Racing have rejected it,” Racing sporting director Chema Aragon revealed this week. “His release clause is €16 million, and the club will not budge from that figure.”
United’s interest in Salinas has emerged after Newcastle made it abundantly clear they have no intention of selling Lewis Hall.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who remains tied down until 2029, was a consistent starter last season as Racing secured promotion back to La Liga.
