Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Antony ANNOUNCED by United, Sergino Dest and Wan-Bissaka SWAP, Hakimi enquiry – updates

Basque test for Red Devils

Manchester United will face Real Sociedad in the group stage of this season’s Europa League.

However, the LaLiga side are likely to be without their star man with Alexander Isak on the verge of joining Newcastle.

Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia of Cyprus make up Group E.

• Manchester United
• Real Sociedad
• Sheriff Tiraspol
• Omonia

Follow the live reaction to the draw in our dedicated blog.

It's E-asy for the Red Devils

Manchester United have been selected in Group E for this year's Europa League.

You can follow our live draw over at SunSport.

United close to Dubravka deal

Martin Dubravka is expected to finalise his switch to Manchester United this weekend.

Newcastle's Slovakian stopper is keen to make the move to Old Trafford, having lost his first team place at St James' Park to Nick Pope.

The 33-year-old will join United on an initial season-loan with the Red Devils holding the option to make the move permanent for £5m next summer.

Toon boss Eddie Howe confirmed that the talks had taken place, and added that he didn't want to lose Dubravka, but the deal was 'out of his hands'.

United have alternatives to Antony

Manchester United are closing in on an £84m deal for Ajax winger Antony - but have a back-up plan if things go wrong.

The Red Devils are confident they can finalise the transfer and bring the 22-year-old to Old Trafford yet still have a three-man shortlist of alternatives if the deal falls through.

According to ESPN, one of the players they are monitoring is Chelsea star Christian Pulisic.

Another player on United's list is PSV forward Cody Gakpo, 23, who missed out on qualifying for the Champions League group stages earlier this week when the Dutch side were beaten by Rangers.

And the final man on the three-man list is Borussia Monchengladbach star Marcus Thuram.

Matt a man in demand

Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is being tracked by a host of Europe’s top clubs.

ESPN report that Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are also keeping close tabs on the 21-year-old midfielder.

Indeed, Dortmund were linked with O’Riley while he was a highly-rated teenager at Fulham.

However, Scott Parker repeatedly overlooked the youngster, and he eventually left Craven Cottage on a free transfer before joining MK Dons.

Now O’Riley is valued in the region of £20m after just eight months at Celtic Park.

Prem pair to learn fate

Two Premier League giants will today discover who they will face in the group stage of this season's Europa League.

Manchester United, winners of the trophy in 2017, and 2019 runners-up Arsenal are both involved in Europe's secondary competition this year.

And despite its disparaging reputation among clubs of their size, both the Red Devils and Gunners will know that it represents a real chance of silverware - and a route back into the Champions League.

The draw is due to start at midday.

Casemiro confirmed as new 18

It was one of the worst kept secrets in the game, and now it has been confirmed - Casemiro will wear the number 18 shirt at Manchester United.

The Brazilian follows in the footsteps of Bruno Fernandes, Ashley Young and Paul Scholes in taking the squad number.

Indeed, the former Real Madrid man named Scholes this week as a former United star that he admired.

"My idol growing up was always [Zinedine] Zidane. Here at Manchester United, it was always Paul Scholes," Casemiro told journalist Andy Mitten.

"He’s a player that was small but he got stuck in, he was a fighter, he gave everything on the pitch. His passing over 50 to 70 metres was incredible.

“The little guy [Scholes] was very good and what I loved about him when he played was that he was small but he went in hard and fair.”

Asensio wants out of Madrid

Manchester United have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Marco Asensio with the news that the forward wants to leave Real Madrid.

It emerged yesterday that the Red Devils have submitted a bid in the region of £25m for the 26-year-old.

And now it appears that the Spanish international is looking for a move away from the Bernabeu.

Spanish outlet quote Real manager Carlo Ancelotti as saying: "Marco is looking at things to see if he can leave."

Asensio scored 12 goals in 42 appearances for Los Blancos last season.

Scott to stay at United

Manchester United have no intention of letting Scott McTominay leave in this transfer window.

The Mail reported that Newcastle were interested in taking the midfielder as part of the deal that saw Martin Dubravka move to the Red Devils

However, the same publication quashed those rumours by revealing that Old Trafford insiders were determined to keep the Scotland international.

The 25-year-old made 37 appearances in all competitions last season, but his first team place is now under threat by the arrival of Casemiro.

Unhappy Ron offered to Napoli

Jorge Mendes is still working hard to seal Cristiano Ronaldo a move away from Old Trafford.

The fast-moving agent has held talks with Napoli this week about a return to Serie A for his client, according to .

Mendes has even encouraged bids for the Italian club's star striker Victor Osimhen so they can facilitate Ronaldo's arrival.

The unhappy Manchester United forward is desperate to leave England in order to continue playing in the Champions League.

Napoli were yesterday drawn in a thrilling group alongside Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers.

Good morning Man Utd fans

Cristiano Ronaldo was brutally axed in front of the whole Manchester United squad during a two-hour summit meeting, SunSport can reveal.

Boss Erik ten Hag called the players together last Thursday and urged them to air any grievances without the threat of repercussions.

During the clear-the-air session Ten Hag told Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire they would not be starting against Liverpool on Monday.

Ronaldo, 37, did not speak but a number of players had their say, while the manager laid down the law to his under-performers.

They then beat Liverpool 2-1.

Ronaldo's future remains unclear having spent the summer pushing to leave but having no clubs come forward with a bid.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag does appear ready to look for a replacement following links with Barcelona forward Memphis Depay.

The 28-year-old was expected to rip up his Barcelona contract for a move to Juventus.

But with a deal now seemingly collapsed, Sport claims United are ready to pick up the pieces with an official £8m bid.

Ten Hag is desperate to boost his attacking options before next week’s transfer deadline.

Top of the flops

After Arsenal agreed to farm out Nicolas Pepe on loan to Nice, an extraordinary pattern of transfer activity was completed this summer.

It meant that Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and the Gunners have all allowed their club-record signings — who cost a combined £313.5million — to depart without a single penny being recouped in transfer fees.

There is little surprise that those four members of England’s ‘Big Six’ have been left trailing in the wake of Manchester City and Liverpool in recent seasons, with such haphazard and shambolic recruitment.

And no wonder that clubs on the continent talk of ‘stupid English money’, knowing they can fleece filthy-rich Premier League sides in the market.

First, United’s £89m man Paul Pogba was allowed to leave Old Trafford for Juventus on a free — for a second time — after a largely miserable six-year spell for the French World Cup winner.

Then Chelsea sent £97.5m Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan, after a single season at Stamford Bridge, for a modest loan fee of £7m — so desperate was Thomas Tuchel to get the big Belgian striker out of the building.

Last week, Spurs loaned their most expensive recruit, Tanguy Ndombele — a £55m buy from Lyon in 2019 — to Napoli. There is an option, but no obligation, for the Italian club to buy the French midfielder next summer.

And Pepe’s loan move to Nice completes the set.

Rem-mem-ber me?

Erik ten Hag is reportedly urging Manchester United to seal an £8million return for Memphis Depay.

The 28-year-old was expected to rip up his Barcelona contract for a move to Juventus.

But with a deal now seemingly collapsed, Sport claims United are ready to pick up the pieces with an official £8m bid.

Ten Hag is desperate to boost his attacking options before next week’s transfer deadline.

Depay then scored 12 league goals for Barca last season and would give United real depth up top, as well as on the left flank.

The Holland international was set to join Juventus this week after agreeing to rip up his contract.

But the Italians eventually pulled out after striking a deal for Marseille’s Arkadiusz Milik instead.

Ten Hag now hopes to wrap up a quick deal for Depay as he looks to build on Monday’s win over Liverpool.

Arsenal and Chelsea were among the interested clubs in England linked with the forward earlier on in the summer.

The axe factor

Cristiano Ronaldo was brutally axed in front of the whole Manchester United squad during a two-hour summit meeting.

Boss Erik ten Hag called the players together last Thursday and urged them to air any grievances without the threat of repercussions.

During the clear-the-air session Ten Hag told Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire they would not be starting against Liverpool on Monday.

Ronaldo, 37, did not speak but a number of players had their say, while the manager laid down the law to his under-performers.

They then beat Liverpool 2-1.

Ten Hag is sick of the Ronaldo circus that threatens to undermine his rebuilding job.

He was particularly angry last week after the Portuguese superstar promised he would soon deliver a tell-all interview.

Now Ten Hag just wants the forward out, while a number of players feel Ronaldo’s attitude and mood is affecting spirit in the camp.

The United boss told his players it is his way or the highway in the no-nonsense address to the squad.

The boss invited everyone to have their say at the training ground last week as he tried to get to the bottom of why they had performed so poorly in the opening two games.

In a two-hour showdown, Ten Hag gave every player the opportunity to say whatever they wanted about the state of the club.
But he insisted on going first.

The Dutchman told the players that he had the full backing of the United board to do everything his way.

If anyone did not like it or did not want to play for him, they were invited to tell him there and then - and they were free to leave the club.

ICYMI

Casemiro is ready to get back to business with ex-Real Madrid’s team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane.

He said: “Well, they are two players that I’ve had the pleasure of playing alongside.

“We could spend all day talking about Cristiano. He’s one of the best players in the history of football. Looking back at his time at Real Madrid.

“I think we spent seven years together, so it’s an honour to play once again with these players but not just these guys, I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates, to helping them and them helping me, too.

“I’m incredibly excited to be here at Manchester United.

“I’ve spoken to Rafa. He tells me he’s happy. His family is very happy here in Manchester and I feel Manchester United have a great centre-back in him and, as we know, Cristiano is up there as one of the best players in the history of football and I think he’ll keep achieving things.”

Ard' target

Man Utd had their surprise bid for Benjamin Pavard rejected by Bayern Munich, according to reports.

The Red Devils were in a race for the French full-back with Chelsea.

Despite attracting other European clubs such as Juventus and Atletico Madrid, Pavard decided to remain with the German giants, L'Equipe reports.

Bayern had been willing to accept £30million for the 26-year-old.

But later, it was revealed that Pavard convinced the club to let him stay at the Allianz Arena.

Pavard usually plays as a right-back but has proved himself as a centre half too, making him a useful asset to have around.

Keeper Dubravka nearing loan switch

Manchester United’s move for Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is understood to be a loan with an option to buy.

Fabrizio Romano reports that the Red Devils have asked the St James’ Park club to take the Slovakian stopper for an initial 12 months to act as back-up for David de Gea.

United also want to include a clause to make the move permanent next year for a fee of £5m.

The Magpies are now deciding whether to accept the proposal.

Carr race

Chelsea legend John Terry and ex-Man Utd midfielder Michael Carrick are among those in contention to take over at Stoke.

Stoke are now searching for a new manager having sacked O'Neill after a poor start to the Championship season.

Sky Bet think Sean Dyche is the most likely candidate, and SunSport understand the no-nonsense Englishman is Stoke's top target.

Elsewhere Coventry boss Mark Robins is 9/1, ahead of 14/1 trio Gareth Ainsworth, Liam Manning and Tony Pulis.

Four candidates follow at 16/1, and those include Duncan Ferguson, Jack Ross, Terry and Carrick.

Schole of hard knocks

Manchester United signing Casemiro has revealed that Paul Scholes was one of his idols growing up.

The 30-year-old said on the Red Devils' website: "Well, there are many players… I think there are player that you remember in your life.

"So, in terms of idols in this position my idol growing up was always [Zinedine] Zidane, [but] here at Manchester United it was always Paul Scholes.

"He's a player that was small but he got stuck in, he was a fighter, he gave everything on the pitch.

"His passing over 50 to 70 metres was incredible.

"Manchester United have always [had] good players in that position.

"[Michael] Carrick was also a great player so I think Manchester United have always had good players in that position and in midfield.

"The little guy [Scholes] was very good and what I loved about him was when he played was that he was small but he went in hard and fair."

Back of the Net-0

Wolves have slapped a £50million price tag on Pedro Neto after Arsenal's reported interest.

But Sky Bet reckon it's more likely he'll stay at Molineux than make the switch to North London in this window.

The Gunners are 6/4 to sign him this summer, with Manchester United next best at 10/1.

It looks therefore that it'll be between Wolves and Arsenal as to where he'll be playing his football this year.

Barcelona, Liverpool and Spurs are 16/1, ahead of Chelsea and Newcastle at 18/1.

West Ham are the outsiders of the lot at 25/1.

Haz seen enough

Patrice Evra admitted time may be up for Harry Maguire at Manchester United.

The £85million defender has endured a tough time at Old Trafford, struggling to live up to his world-record transfer fee.

Despite being club captain, he was dropped for Monday's 2-1 win over Liverpool.

SunSport revealed Erik ten Hag has told Maguire he is no longer first choice therefore plunging the armband into doubt.

And with Chelsea sniffing around a potential transfer in their desperate pursuit for a centre-back, former Red Devils star Evra reckons his old side should cash in.

He said: "I can say people are too harsh on Harry Maguire, but he is paying the price for his transfer fee.

"From that day, I said he is going to have the most difficult season for United because people only looked at the price.

"If we bought him for £5m, people would say he's an amazing centre-back.

"We all have bad games but now we've got to a point where even if he has a good game people are not happy. So there's a negativity around him."

Max power

Allan Saint-Maximin is going NOWHERE, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has said.

But speculation surrounding his future isn't going away and Betfair have the tricky winger at 2/1 to sign for Tottenham.

Reports from France claimed Manchester United might be about to test the water and take a gamble on the winger to help bolster their attacking options.

Chelsea are next best in the betting at 7/2 after they were strongly linked with a move earlier this summer.

They have brought in Raheem Sterling who can play in the wide positions but have offloaded Timo Werner and others could follow.

Arsenal know a thing or two about tricky French players that play out wide and Betfair have them at 11/2 to strike a deal for Saint-Maximin.

While you can get 9/1 on a return home to France with Nice or Monaco, while Barcelona are given the same odds.

What a Tuch

Manchester United and Arsenal watched from the outside as Chelsea drew seven-time champions AC Milan in a blockbuster Champions League showdown.

But it is routine Group E for Thomas Tuchel's side who also face Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.

The Blues reached the quarter-finals as defending champions last season.

However, despite a stunning comeback against Real Madrid, they were undone by the eventual champions in extra-time at the Bernabeu.

Now Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori will return to Stamford Bridge as Serie A champions.

Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.

Those will be played on September 6/7 and 13/14, October 4/5 and 11/12 then October 25/26 and November 1/2.

United and Arsenal will find out their Europa League fait tomorrow.

Euro stars

The Champions League has returned for another epic season as Real Madrid look to defend their title.

And England's four representatives have discovered their fates in Thursday's draw in Istanbul.

This season's group stage will be packed into just nine weeks ahead of the winter World Cup.

Teams usually get 12 weeks to complete all six matches.

The first games will be played on September 6th.

And the group stage runs all the way until November 2 - just 18 days before kick-off in Qatar.

There will then be a lengthy gap before the knockout stages start.

The last-16 ties run from February 14 to March 15.

The quarters will be played in April, with the semis in May.

And this season's final will take place on June 10 at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey.

Ziy in the sky

Hakim Ziyech’s Ajax return is reportedly on the verge of collapse.

That’s with the Dutch side refusing to meet Chelsea’s asking price.

Ziyech, 29, is not in Thomas Tuchel’s plans for this season.

And he is desperate to secure a transfer exit before next week’s deadline.

Italian champions AC Milan were leading the race earlier this summer.

And Chelsea's fierce rivals Spurs and Manchester United have also been linked.