Manchester United have two more matches before finishing their season and opening the door to major changes, with doubts continuing over the future of Erik ten Hag
Manchester United are approaching the end of their season with just two matches remaining before the curtain comes down.
United are eighth in the Premier League going into Sunday’s final game against Brighton and need a result to try and secure some European football next season. The 3-2 win over Newcastle on Wednesday night was important and offered some hope for the trip to the south coast and the FA Cup final afterwards.
But the victory could not paper over the cracks that have appeared all over the club – and at Old Trafford itself. Erik ten Hag is working despite huge uncertainty over his future as manager, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking at potential replacements.
The summer transfer window is around the corner and it is sure to be a busy one for United, no matter who is in charge. With that in mind, here are the latest headlines from Mirror Football surrounding United.
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Shaw injury blow
Luke Shaw was expected to return before the end of the season, but Ten Hag has revealed that he has experienced a setback in his recovery. The left-back has been out injured since February, missing 15 games, and is now a major doubt for the Euros.
“For England, I can’t say – it’s not up to me,” Ten Hag said when asked if Shaw and Harry Maguire can return. “But for the Cup final, we’re working on it. Harry Maguire, I think it’s a fair chance he will be available. Luke is more complicated, in this moment. I think it’s less of a chance that he will make it but there is still a chance. He had a setback, and now we have to find out how he is.”
Gareth Southgate names his 26-man England squad for Euro 2024 on Tuesday, meaning that Shaw is currently looking likely to miss out.
Tuchel pushing for Fernandes
Thomas Tuchel was set to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, but he is now in talks to stay on after other candidates rejected the role. That is relevant to United because the former Chelsea boss wants to sign Bruno Fernandes this summer.
Reports suggest that Tuchel has made it clear he wants assurances over Bayern’s plans for the summer transfer window before he agrees to stay on. Fernandes is an ambitious target – exactly the sort of player that Tuchel wants to land as a statement of intent.
Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick are among those to have rejected an approach from Bayern, who are now in limbo after failing to win the Bundesliga and being knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals.
Frank responds to United interest
Thomas Frank is happy at Brentford but has refused to rule out leaving them if another job comes along. Frank is on United’s shortlist to replace Ten Hag and is a favourite of Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford.
“I can’t see why not,” Frank said when asked if he can fulfil his ambitions at Brentford. “I think ambition is many things. I never know what’s going to happen in the future. Maybe I’m staying here for the rest of my time in football. Am I going to another club? Maybe that’s also a good opportunity. But you never know.
“What I know is that I’m very happy here. Ambition is ‘how can I make the perfect club? How can we try to maybe win something?’ How can you beat the odds and maybe one year qualify for Europe? You never know, I don’t want to set any aims.”
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