Manchester United - Post-Ferguson

Manchester Manager eyes starlet for Evra replacement.

http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/shaw-21-08.gif
Red Devils want Shaw

With Patrice Evra in the defender’s final year at Old Trafford and likely to leave next summer, the club need to find a replacement and want Southampton’s Luke Shaw.

The 18-year-old has risen to prominence over the past two years with the Saints and is now their undisputed No.1 left-back.

Also, with the Red Devils having inexperienced new manager Josh Sleightholm, currently the Premier League champions are becoming increasingly less of an attractive prospect.

Shaw however could well be tempted by a switch to the north west, although has turned down proposals from Chelsea in the past.

The defender signed a five-year deal at St Mary’s upon turning 18 and looks happy under Mauricio Pochettino and the successful side the Argentine is building on the south coast.

The full-back is just one in a long line of talent that has emerged from the Southampton youth system, which recently includes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale.

This is Ben Dover, reporting for Sky Sports News.

Good couple of updates

United Fixtures list released

New United boss Josh Sleightholm would have probably hoped for some easy games to start off his managerial career. The traditional curtain raiser, the FA Community Shield, will certainly be raising hairs on the back of Josh's neck, as it is a match he is expected to win, but Wigan managed to battle off Manchester City, who just so happen to be the team that Josh will face in his Premier League debut. He faces arguably the best match in the entirety of English football. The Manchester Derby. Josh and his team will visit the Eithad Stadium in hope they can take back 3 points. A win there would surely go a long way in securing his position as manager.

The Red Devils then host the Hammers in what many would believe to be a 'simple task' for the new man. However, after travelling to St. Mary's United go through what is probably their hardest run of games in the entire season, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool. Many fans and pundits have already been tweeting about that particular line up of games and don't think their team will pull through.





Aside from the opening games, United's final 10 games only consist of two teams that would be a real 'threat' They face the gunners at the Emirates, and their final game being at home against Everton. This season is certainly going to be a difficult one for Josh.



Manchester United also find themselves against both AS Monaco and FC Bayern in a range of friendlies that see them travel to Korea, and even Switzerland. However more information will be available soon.

Great update and the Roy Keane twitter addition was awesome

2013-11-24 10:22#145739 pompeyblue : Great update and the Roy Keane twitter addition was awesome

cheers ;')

United launch £15M bid for Saints star Shaw

http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1863058.ece/ALTERNATES/s2197/Luke-Shaw-1863058.jpg
£15M is hoped by Sleightholm to be the magic number to unleash the English international.

United boss Josh Sleightholm has conceded defeat in his efforts to get a price tag on Leighton Baines as he is currently considering, and more than likely accepting, a contract offer from his current club Everton. Sleightholm is now targeting the Southampton wonder-kid to solve his search for a left-back. Southampton however, have put a huge price tag of £25M on the teenager's head in a bid to scare off suitors, but that is unlikely to deter Sleightholm, who has put in a £15M bid for him, and is desperate to beat Chelsea and Tottenham to sign the England Under-21 defender. United also failed to clinch a loan move for Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao. The Spanish giants had in fact accepted the offer, but when it came to personal matters, United and Coentrao had to go separate ways.

The Saints academy product has now emerged as the man Sleightholm wants to become Patrice Evra's eventual successor at Old Trafford. However, pulling off a deal won't be easy. As well as the huge fee, Southampton won't feel any obligation to accept the offer put in, especially after Shaw signed a five-year deal when he turned 18 a couple of days ago. However if Saints decide to do business, United won't be the only interested party. As said before, Chelsea are long-term admirers and understood to be Blues fan Shaw's preferred destination. Spurs are also keen, but boss Andre Villas-Boas has been impressed by current left-back Danny Rose.

More on this later I've been Mike Litoris reporting for Sky Sports News. Yes that's MIKE, Litoris, nothing else...

I love Mike Litoris, even if he is a little sensitive sometimes

Really great last couple of updates by the way, Shaw will be brilliant!

Neal: Ahahaha, I'll need some more names for future updates

joethequin: Why thank you But who said I was getting him?

Good update mate, hopefully Southampton will accept, it seems a reasonable price tag!

AaronHJFT96: So do I, hefty amount of money, sure they will though..

Rio: "Old guard key"

Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United’s old guard will guide manager Josh Sleightholm through his first season at the club. Sleightholm has admitted to being slightly daunted at the prospect of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferdinand said: “I just look at it as if I was taking the job on. Would you lean on players who have been here for many years? Of course you would. I think the manager is fortunate he’s got someone like Giggsy, among others like myself and Carras, who know the fabric of the club. If there’s anything we can pass on to help him become a better manager and to help us win more trophies, that’s fantastic. I don’t think it’s going to change massively in terms of the way we play. The new manager is going to try to implement parts of his style into our team but he’s not silly. He knows he’s coming into a championship-winning team. You've got to give the manager time and, hopefully, he is at a club where he will get that.”

Rio further went on to say that the possible signing of Luke Shaw would be a step in the right direction for United. “Not only is it a good transfer, it's a clever one, Luke will undoubtedly be the next Leighton Baines, so picking him up now is a great way to go. Although he will have to prove himself to not only Josh, but the world, that he can, and will, be one of the best.”

Elsewhere, United have offered hot prospects James Wilson, 17, and Ben Pearson, 18 out to Division Three clubs in the hope they spark some interest, and get access to first team action.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44971000/jpg/_44971240_rio512.jpg

Nice update

Pompey Blue: Cheers man!

Jonny Evans. Devil to Gunner?

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2012/8/28/1346155425339/Jonny-Evans-008.jpg
Could Jonny Evans be making a quick switch to from the red side of Manchester to the red side of London?

Northern Ireland born Jonny Evans has been the 'flint' over the last couple of days with London club Arsenal being the 'steel'. Interest has been sparked by Evans, after announcing in an interview with ESPN that he would consider a move to the Emirates. French boss Arsene Wenger has to spoken about the prospect of the transfer, and has agreed that Jonny joining the likes of Vermaelen and Koscielny, would toughen up their back four even more. "Evans would be a fantastic addition to us yes, his ability to do everything he is needed to is more than enough for us to take a look into, but he is a part of Manchester United at the moment, and a deal for him is something that lingers in the future perhaps" Arsene was quoted. The 25 year old has made 144 appearances for the Reds, scoring 7 goals in his 12 season career, of which three were spent on loan at both Antwerp and Sunderland respectively.

The United boss has not spoken about the speculation, but regardless Arsenal seem confident enough they can lure Jonny away from Old Trafford. £20M is said the be the price tag on the defender, but a bid of considerably less value is more likely to be made by the Gunners.

Other news from the red side of Manchester, the board have let go of another seven members of their scouting team. However they have secured the names of both Blackpool top scorer Jimmy Hampson, and ex-Manchester City scout, Barry Poynton. Both have been claimed to be obligatory transfers into the backroom staff.