Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is targeting Sporting CP’s Francisco Trincao as a key part of his planned summer squad overhaul, talkSPORT understands.
Amorim, who has faced a challenging start to life at Old Trafford, sees Trincao as an essential attacking reinforcement.
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Many expect Man United to make significant moves in the summer transfer windowCredit: Getty
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talkSPORT understands Trincao is high on his listCredit: Getty
The potential reunion stems from Trincao’s current form at Sporting, where Amorim previously managed him.
The Portugal international has a £50million release clause, but Barcelona will get 50 per cent of any future transfer fee.
Reports claim Sporting want to recover at least £35m for their prized asset, which could force United to pay over the odds.
That was certainly the case for Wolverhampton Wanderers when they loaned Trincao from Barcelona in 2021.
Despite high expectations, the forward was underwhelming at Molineux, scoring just four goals in 30 appearances.
As part of the deal with Barcelona, Wolves had to pay a £5m loan fee to avoid exercising their option to buy.
Trincao’s journey began at Braga, where he debuted in 2018 and celebrated a Taca da Liga triumph in 2019-20.
His £26m transfer to Barcelona in 2020 was a significant milestone, followed by that loan spell at Wolves in 2021.
In 2022, he joined Sporting CP, initially on loan, before making the move permanent in 2023.
This season, he has already contributed eight goals and 12 assists across 26 league matches.
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Trincao struggled at Molineux, managing only four goals in 30 gamesCredit: Getty
The 25-year-old is already a fully-fledged Portugal international, with ten caps and two goals since his senior debut in 2020.
Yet, Sporting CP are hesitant to part with Trincao, particularly with burgeoning interest in their star striker, Viktor Gyokeres, from Man United themselves.
Moreover, Gyokeres’s promising understudy, 19-year-old Conrad Harder, is drawing attention from clubs like Chelsea after an impressive tally of nine goals this term.
Before any transfer decisions unfold, United will concentrate on their upcoming clash against Nottingham Forest, followed by the Manchester derby against City.
Frustrated Ruben Amorim forced to correct Man United press officer
Manchester United will attempt to make a vast summer refresh with a colossal squad exodus incoming.
That’s according to the Manchester Evening News, which reveals that Old Trafford may bid farewell to a double-figure list of players.
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Amorim could be saying goodbye to numerous players in the summerCredit: Getty
Some of United’s big figures are anticipated to hang up their boots at the close of this season, including Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton.
Evans, at 37, hasn’t started for United in four months and last took the pitch on December 18. Meanwhile, Heaton, who will turn 39 next month, has been sidelined since early February due to an unspecified injury.
Chelsea holds an obligation to buy Sancho for between £20 million and £25 million but may consider paying a penalty clause to swerve making his season-long loan permanent.
The Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) effectively assess the value of non-academy players, determining a player’s price based on the transfer fee allocated over the duration of their contract.
Casemiro joined Manchester United for £60 million on a four-year contract in 2022, leading the club to seek £15 million for his sale to avoid a loss under PSR.
Antony was acquired for £81.3 million during the same summer on a five-year deal, costing £32.52 million, while Sancho would stand at £14.58 million if United continues to hold onto him.
Man United might also be compelled to reduce their squad as they face the prospect of a season devoid of European football, given that the Champions League and Europa League formats require an additional eight matches.
The last time United embarked on a campaign without European competition in 2014-15, they played 44 games, suffering a staggering 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the second round of the League Cup.
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Evans started his career at Man United and progressed through the club’s academyCredit: Getty
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Malacia was sent out on loan in February to join PSV Eindhoven for the remainder of the seasonCredit: Getty
Already having played 46 matches this term, United is assured of at least 11 more.
In terms of goalkeepers, Altay Bayindir’s future remains uncertain. He may seek opportunities elsewhere to secure regular playing time, hoping to start for Turkey in the World Cup next year.
The Red Devils also missed out on Chelsea-bound Geovany Quenda, leaving them still searching for a new winger.
United could also bid farewell to Tyrell Malacia, currently on loan at PSV Eindhoven, who may secure a permanent transfer, while they might face challenges in offloading Luke Shaw, who hasn’t started for the club in 13 months, participating in only nine matches over the last 19 months.
Despite not having signed a renewal, Mainoo’s current contract extends until 2028, and Garnacho faced a rejected £40 million bid from Napoli in January.
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Garnacho & Mainoo face an uncertain future at Old Trafford as summer approachesCredit: Getty
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Zirkzee has struggled during his time at Old Trafford with just three goalsCredit: Getty
Garnacho has received consistent praise from Amorim for his adaptability, while Mainoo, despite spending nearly four months sidelined due to injuries, showcased his potential as a playmaker with a goal in the 2-0 Europa League victory over FCSB in January.
The Red Devils must also consider the long-term future of Joshua Zirkzee, who was initially signed as a support striker but is now thriving as a playmaker.
The fate of Rasmus Hojlund, too, remains to be determined.
One player significantly affected by injuries is Mason Mount, who has managed to play only 33 of a possible 98 matches for United.
Yet, he may find a second chance, as Amorim believes he could fit in his 3-4-2-1 system.
Senior sales might be complemented by homegrown departures, as Amorim has previously emphasized the need for United to enhance their efforts in selling their cultivated talents.
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Man United’s potential exits this summer
Last summer, United accrued £109.18 million, including add-ons, through player departures.
Since 2022, their most lucrative sales have predominantly involved academy products: Andreas Pereira, James Garner, Anthony Elanga, Dean Henderson, Mason Greenwood, and Scott McTominay.
Man United’s next fixture is against Nottingham Forest on April 1, with kick-off at 7pm.
Sancho’s loan from Man United includes an obligation to buyCredit: Getty
Across three years at Man United, Sancho, who was signed for over £70million from Borussia Dortmund, scored just nine goals in 58 Premier League games.
He was exiled from the United squad after falling out with then-manager Erik ten Hag, leading to his loan departure to Chelsea.
The start to his spell in London went well, as he scored two goals and assisted three in his opening few games for the Blues.
However, Sancho’s form has dipped since and he’s been criticised for his performances, having not scored in his last 18 matches.
And with the deal only a loan, some Chelsea fans and even club legends, are questioning whether they want to keep him going forward…
Do Chelsea have to buy Jadon Sancho?
When Sancho made the summer switch to Chelsea, the deal was confirmed to be a season-long loan with the obligation to buy for £25million.
Reports claim that the Blues must pay the obligatory fee if they finish above 14th in the Premier League, and that looks sure to happen.
However, there is still a chance that the permanent move won’t happen at the end of the season.
However, to do that, they must pay £5million to the Red Devils.
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Sancho has been ineffective at Chelsea despite a good start
There are also reports that Sancho hasn’t agreed personal terms over a permanent move either, with that potentially scuppering things too.
But the forward seems to be happy with life in London, despite his recent struggles, and Chelsea are said to still be intent on signing him.
Speaking after a win over Leicester earlier this month, Sancho said: “I’m really delighted that I’m here, playing football at Chelsea.
“Maresca makes us feel at home. It’s not easy for players to say that. We’ve grown into one big family.”
Enzo Maresca mentioned Sancho after the Blues’ defeat to Arsenal at the weekend and he was seemingly pleased with his performance.
When asked about whether he wanted more out of his loanee and Christopher Nkunku due to Cole Palmer being absent, Maresca said: “Jadon did quite well, Christo also.
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Sancho may end up back at Man UnitedCredit: Getty
“I didn’t have the feeling they can do something better. For sure, we can create and attack better as a team.”
In that defeat to Arsenal, Sancho failed to register a shot on goal in 76 minutes and with only 36 touches of the ball, he struggled to get involved.
That continued his poor streak, with that game being his 11th in the Premier League this campaign that he didn’t have a shot on target.
So despite the obligation in his loan deal, Chelsea can still opt out if they want to.
Whether Man United want Sancho back is a different question and should the Blues decide to pay a fee to send him to Old Trafford again, he could be left in limbo.
He will be back in action after the international break when he could feature against Tottenham on Thursday, April 3.
Deceived! Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel lays into Jadon Sancho in scathing rant
In a media blitz, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has repeatedly claimed that the club would go “bust by Christmas” if he did not execute a controversial cost-cutting plan.
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United have made 450 staff redundant, 39% of the club’s workforce, so far this financial year as penny pinching methods including scrapping staff lunches and ending legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2 million-a-year ambassador deal have been implemented.
Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of British multinational conglomerate Ineos who bought a 28.94 per cent stake in the club from the Glazers a year ago for £1.25 billion with a commitment to inject a further £232 million, has total control over football operations and has copped flack for the redundancies in particular.
But in separate interviews with the BBC, UK Telegraph as well as with club great Gary Neville for Sky Sports and The Overlap podcast, Ratcliffe reiterated that United had “gone off the rails” and his measures were necessary to get the club back on track.
“In super simple terms the club has been spending more money than it has been earning for the last seven years, including this year,” he said.
“If you do that for a prolonged period of time it ends up in a very difficult place and, for Manchester United, that place ended at the end of this year. At the end of 2025, Manchester United would have run out of cash. There would be no cash at the end of this year. That is the first time we have ever said that in public, but that is the fact of the matter.
“It [United] goes bust at Christmas [without change]”.
“Do you want to run an organisation as the press would like you to run the organisation or run the organisation the way you think is the best?” Ratcliffe added.
“My mother would say: ‘You look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves.’
“[The club can say to staff] ‘We’ll give you free lunches, we’ll give you all these perks and we’ll pay for your first-class train fare. We’ll give you a free taxi for this, but we’re going to cut back here [elsewhere].’ It’s not coherent.
“I know I’m getting a tough time in the press for being brutal, unpleasant, all those sorts of things.
“People [think], ‘Well, you know the directors are doing this, in that case I can do that [in terms of spending]. That sort of thing, you can’t be half pregnant. You either get it sorted out or not.
“I mean it [United] goes bust at Christmas.
“To be clear, if we hadn’t implemented the cost-saving projects and [even] if we bought no players in the summer then it would have run out of cash at Christmas.
“However, we reduced the cost of running the club by about £125 million so that transforms the club. And £125 million is a lot.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 25: Manchester United co owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe with Sir Dave Brailsford (L) and Sir Alex Ferguson (R) before the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The dire financial state that Ratcliffe has outlined is the result of astronomical spending on a massively underperforming squad.
United have lost £410 million over the past seven years on the transfer market and are required to spend £100 million this summer in fees for players they already own.
Despite all that spending, the Red Devils sit 14th on the Premier League table and need to beat Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie on Friday morning Australian to keep their last remaining hope of winning silverware this season alive.
Such a lowly standing in the league prompted Ratcliffe to label some of the recent signings “not good enough” and “overpaid” but he defended manager Ruben Amorim, who is having a torrid time since replacing Erik ten Hag in November.
Ratcliffe stated that the squad the Portuguese boss is dealing with is a “fraction” of Liverpool or Manchester City’s.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” Ratcliffe said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
Utd coach full of praise for Fernandes | 00:48
Ratcliffe was also reluctant to point the finger at his co-owners.
The Glazers have been the bane of Manchester United fans throughout the club’s downward spiral, and Neville pointed out that United had “the best stadium in the country, the best training ground in the country, the best team in the country and were debt-free” roughly 20 years ago when the American family took charge.
But Ratcliffe insisted that past administrations were at fault for United’s current woes, rather than the Glazer’s.
“If you look at some of the other characters in English football that are owners, and you know them very well, they’re heavily involved in all the running of the club,” Ratcliffe said.
“They [The Glazers] gave management an awful lot of rope, too much rope, obviously. But the previous two teams of management have to take a lot of the blame for the decisions they made.
“They have to, I’m afraid. It’s not just the Glazer family. They’ve not been involved in a level of detail.”
Neville was angered by the Glazer’s stepping back from the intricacies of how the club was run, labelling their actions “negligence”.
“You’re involved in the level of detail and you’re having to correct their mistakes,” Neville said to Ratcliffe.
“If they’ve not overseen the club in the last ten years to the point where it’s run out of cash, that’s negligence.
“You know that better than anybody.”
Premier League wrap: Arsenal fall behind | 03:13
Ratcliffe avoided the debate going further and instead also took the chance to look to the future.
One of the biggest gripes among United fans for many years has been the state of Old Trafford.
As rivals have unveiled shiny new stadiums or redeveloped their traditional homes, ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ has remained much the same, a relic of a bygone era, fitting of the club’s downfall.
A roof leak at the famous Stretford End last year was a particularly embarrassing moment for the iconic venue, while rival fans love to chant ‘Old Trafford is falling down’ to taunt United supporters.
All the while ticket prices have risen and away fans have gained easy access to sit among season-ticket holders, causing clashes, at several Premier League and European fixtures this season.
But despite the cost-cutting measures, Ratcliffe revealed that a new-look Old Trafford is among his plans to make United the most profitable Premier League club within three years.
“It’s definitely deliverable but I think it needs to be set in context again,” Ratcliffe said.
“If you take the view that it’s the greatest football club in the world, then if it’s going to build a new stadium it should be a new stadium that’s befitting the greatest club in the world.
“And also a stadium that befits the greatest league in the world because the Premier League is the greatest league in the world.”
Ratcliffe wants to emulate Real Madrid’s Bernabeu which was renovated from 2019 to 2024.
The stadium in the Spanish capital can hold up to 83,000 fans and boasts a retractable playing surface to easily swap out the football pitch for stages to host concerts.
It also has a retractable roof to ensure matches are always played in sublime conditions, as the club spent more than US$1 billion on the project to make the venue look out of this world.
“At the moment, if you look at the Premier League, we’ve got some great stadiums, but we don’t have a Bernabeu, do we? And we don’t have the new Nou Camp. We don’t have that in the Premier League,” he said.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe claims there are players in the Manchester United squad who are not good enough to play for the club and ‘overpaid’.
Over the last ten years, the Red Devils have forked out over £1billion on transfer fees.
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Ratcliffe believes some players at the club have been paid more than they’re worthCredit: Getty
In fact, United are second to only Chelsea in terms of the most spent on transfers in the last five years.
Yet the large investments into the playing squad have largely failed to transform the club’s fortunes on the pitch.
It has come to a head this season as United are on course for their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League era having come eighth in what was an all-time Premier League low last season.
Although a multitude of factors across the board have contributed to the Red Devils’ demise, the level of quality amongst the players and the transfer fees attached are two of the biggest according to Ratcliffe.
In an interview with the BBC, Ratcliffe pointed out such were the high fees for five players, United will only fully pay off their transfers this summer.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out,” Ratcliffe said.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17million to buy him in the summer.”
When pressed whether he had suggested the five players named weren’t good enough for United, Ratcliffe replied: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.
“We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.
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United paid an eye-watering £73m for Sancho in the summer of 2021Credit: Getty
“There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer.
“We definitely need Bruno (Fernandes), he’s a fantastic footballer.”
With United’s many financial missteps in the transfer market in previous years, it makes manager Ruben Amorim‘s job to improve their fortunes on the park that much harder.
Amorim, who has lost eight of his 17 Premier League matches in charge, was only able to sign one player of his choosing in the January window.
Amorim’s United project has struggled to gather momentum since he took over in NovemberCredit: Getty
Given Ratcliffe’s claims about the state of the squad, it explains why he’s given Amorim a pass mark in terms of his results since taking over last November.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” Ratcliffe said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do.
“He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
Amorim will look to continue earning Ratcliffe’s backing when United host Real Sociedad for the second leg of their Europa League last 16 tie, live on talkSPORT.
The contest is evenly poised at 1-1 following the first leg in San Sebastian.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has blasted some of his troubled club’s stars as “not good enough” and “probably overpaid”.
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Ratcliffe has endured a dismal start to his reign at Old Trafford since taking charge of footballing operations in February last year.
The British billionaire named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration.
Sancho and Antony are currently on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis respectively after underachieving with United.
In reference to United still paying instalments of transfer fees on several out-of-form players, Ratcliffe, who shares ownership of United with the US-based Glazer family, told the BBC: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17 million to buy him in the summer.”
Asked if he was suggesting those players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe said: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
After United finished eighth in the Premier League last season and won the FA Cup, Ratcliffe and his United advisers opted to stick with boss Erik ten Hag despite their poor form for much of the campaign.
The Dutchman was subsequently sacked in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim after United endured another wretched run.
Premier League wrap: Arsenal fall behind | 03:13
INEOS chairman Ratcliffe has accepted the decision to keep Ten Hag was a mistake.
He applied the same verdict to his decision to hire Dan Ashworth as sporting director, a role he left in December after just five months.
“I agree the Erik ten Tag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors,” the 72-year-old said.
“I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologise for that.”
Despite United’s struggles since Amorim took charge, leaving them 14th in the Premier League, Ratcliffe insisted he would keep faith with the former Sporting Lisbon boss.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” he said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
Backing Amorim’s decision to allow England forward Marcus Rashford to join Aston Villa on loan, Ratcliffe said: “He wants a dressing room that is full of people who are totally committed to winning football matches.
“He won’t tolerate people who don’t have 100 percent of that attitude. The players have to be in the same box.”
Arteta departs after title race question | 00:34
Ratcliffe made his incendiary comments on United’s moribund team just 24 hours after thousands of fans took part in a protest against the club’s ownership ahead of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Angry chants were directed at the Glazers and Ratcliffe, whose controversial off-field decisions have included a mid-season ticket price hike, as well as 200 anticipated redundancies among staff after 250 jobs were cut last year.
Ratcliffe claimed the “unpleasant” cost-cutting measures were “necessary” because the club would “run out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things”.
Stressing his “only interest here is returning Manchester United back to greatness again”, Ratcliffe said Amorim would have money to spend in the close-season to improve his squad.
United haven’t won the Premier League since 2013, the last season of Alex Ferguson’s legendary spell as manager.
While they have a huge task to close the gap on champions-elect Liverpool in future, Ratcliffe insisted his aim of winning the league by 2028, the club’s 150th anniversary, was “not impossible”.
Declan Rice’s equaliser denied Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim a much-needed win but Arsenal’s faltering Premier League title challenge suffered another damaging blow in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
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The Gunners sit 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, now with just one game in hand, with their focus beginning to turn to holding off the chasing pack for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Bruno Fernandes’ stunning free-kick put United ahead in first-half stoppage time.
The Red Devils, though, could not hold on for just a sixth Premier League win in 16 games under Amorim as Rice swept home on 74 minutes.
United missed a string of late chances to win the game, with a point leaving them down in 14th.
“How we conceded chances in certain moments was not acceptable,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
“They have so much quality and they pick the right player and normally that would end in a goal.
Utd coach full of praise for Fernandes | 00:48
“We opened the gate to lose the game. there was no chance to lose the game and we opened it ourselves. I will defend my players all the time but in those moments we have to do better.”
Arteta, however, was in no mood to answer questions about the club’s failure to make signings in January amid a striker injury crisis, or about its stuttering title challenge.
The Arsenal boss awkwardly ended a post-match interview abruptly when asked about both matters.
Asked if he regrets not signing a striker in January, Arteta shook his head, said ‘no, it’s not about that’, then started trying to exit.
Stopped and asked for one more question, Arteta paused. But when the interviewer started to point out the 15 gap to Liverpool in the title race, the Spaniard said ‘no’ and completed his walk off.
Spurs salvage draw against Bournemouth | 01:30
Also feeling the heat will be United boss Amorim.
United have had three permanent managers and an interim during Arteta’s five years in charge of Arsenal.
Amorim said he knows he will not get the time Arteta did to turn around a sinking ship at Old Trafford.
The discontent among the home support could be seen around the stands with many taking part in a protest by wearing black over what they perceive as “the death” of their club.
“This club will never die, that is clear,” said Amorim. “You feel it in the streets. This is a big business and maybe all the fans in this league sometimes feel it is harder to go to the games and pay for tickets.”
Arsenal had failed to score in either of their previous two league games to realistically wave goodbye to their hopes of a first title in 21 years.
Premier League wrap: Arsenal fall behind | 03:13
Despite still missing the attacking quartet of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners hit back in stunning fashion to thrash PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Infused with fresh confidence, Arsenal started on the front foot but again missed the focal point of a natural centre-forward.
Midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise upfront in recent weeks and fired wide from the edge of the area with an early opening.
United have struggled for goals all season, but their skipper has remained a source of inspiration and Fernandes produced once more with a sumptuous free-kick just before halftime.
Questions will be asked over Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s starting position, but Fernandes still had to whip the ball over an imposing wall and back down into the visitors’ net.
Spurs suffer huge Europa League blow | 01:41
– Raya rescues Arsenal –
If Raya was at fault for the opener, he made amends with a string of saves in the second period.
Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee were the first to be denied as United threatened a second on the counter-attack.
Arteta was able to throw on Martinelli on his return from a hamstring injury in the hunt for an equaliser.
Instead, it was Rice who matched Fernandes’ fine finish by arrowing a shot beyond Andre Onana from Jurrien Timber’s pass.
Amorim had dropped Rasmus Hojlund to the bench after a run of 19 games without a goal.
The Dane should have ended that streak when he allowed Rice to get back and make a goal-saving challenge.
More Raya heroics followed to stop Fernandes from snatching a winner as the match entered stoppage time.
However, a draw did little for Arsenal’s title challenge.
Arteta’s men edge four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest and eight clear of Manchester City in fifth in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Manchester United against Arsenal is also a highlight of the English football calendarCredit: Getty
The Portuguese manager saw his side, who won the competition under his predecessor Erik ten Hag, fall to Fulham on penalties.
Amorim‘s latest disappointment comes amid United languishing in 14th in the Premier League table and desperately needing a win.
To add insult to injury, another two senior stars picked up fitness issues against Fulham and are now doubts over their involvement.
Arsenal will be buoyed by their historic 7-1 win over PSVin the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
However, the Gunners have faltered domestically in recent weeks, following a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest, which was preceded by a home defeat to West Ham.
Arsenal are now a whopping 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand, and Mikel Arteta has vowed not to give up on his club’s title challenge.
Manchester United
United‘s England contingent continues to thin, with Harry Maguire forced off just before extra-time during the Red Devils’ FA Cup exit.
He hasn’t trained this week, but unlike compatriots Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, and Mason Mount, should still be fit to feature this Sunday.
Manuel Ugarte similarly picked up a ‘minor knock’ against Fulham and faces a race against time to be named in the XI against Arsenal.
Amorim’s absentee list also includes Lisandro Martinez, Amad, Jonny Evans, and Altay Bayindir – with Patrick Dorgu still suspended.
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This dismissal came moments before Ipswich equalised to make it 2-2Credit: Getty
Andre Onana will continue between the sticks, with Amorim’s preferred three centre-backs lined up in front of him.
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Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho’s substitution strop is set to cost him, but not in the form of a fine.
Garnacho was the unlucky individual who got substituted for tactical reasons after defender Patrick Dorgu was sent off in the first half of United’s 3-2 win over Ipswich Town on Wednesday.
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Garnacho went straight down the tunnel after being substituted against IpswichCredit: Getty
But instead of sitting on the bench and watching the remainder of the half, Garnacho headed straight down the touchline and into the tunnel at Old Trafford.
The young Argentine also posted a picture of himself looking disappointed on the pitch on social media after the game, apparently to voice his displeasure at the decision… despite United actually winning the match.
In his post-match interviews Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim confirmed he would speak to the forward about the incident.
But speaking at his press conference on Friday, Amorim confirmed the reason behind Garnacho’s mid-match dash was nothing sinister.
However, the 20-year-old would still be punished given the negative perception it gave off as Amorim looks to set high standards – by buying the entire team dinner.
“He came to me,” Amorim said.
“Was funny because the next day he came to me to my office. I did some investigation and he went to the dressing room, changed his clothes because he was wet, he watched the game not on the bench and at the end of the game he was there and went home. So there is not an issue there.
“He’s a young kid that will learn. The important thing was the next morning he was speaking with me. I think we need to see that small things like walking out onto the pitch – because (Joshua) Zirkzee did the same thing and the context was different – but it was the same thing.
“We have to understand the situation, the context, the age of the players, of course they have to be better.
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Amorim has confirmed Garnacho will foot the bill for a team dinnerCredit: Getty
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Garnacho posted this picture on his Instagram page after Man United’s late win over IpswichCredit: Instagram
“They have to understand perception here is really important. But you can deal with that the next day and move on so let’s just move on.
“But I told him at Manchester United, everything is important and the perception in a big club is really important. So he is going to pay a dinner to all the team and that’s it.
“I think he (Garnacho) understands. But, like I said, [the players] read everything, all the small things. And I know the players quite well, I played for quite a while, I understand they are frustrated. He was subbed, he was playing well and has to go off in that moment of the game.
“It’s hard to deal with everything but they have to deal with everything. I just try to help them be better footballers.”
Despite Garnacho and Amorim clearing the air regarding what happened against Ipswich, the Argentinian is no guarantee to feature for United’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Fulham on Sunday.
“He has a knock,” Amorim said.
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The United boss hopes Garnacho can recover from a knock in time for Sunday’s fixtureCredit: Getty
“When he went to shoot, was blocked almost inside the box. He has a knock, I expect for him to be ready but we will see.
“I have to wait until tomorrow.”
A win over the Cottagers on Sunday would be United’s third in their last five across all competitions.
The Red Devils have already beaten Fulham twice this term, with both league fixtures ending 1-0.
Victory for United on Sunday would also be the second time in the last three campaigns the English giants have beaten Fulham three times in a single season.
The two teams met in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup during the 2022/23 season at Old Trafford, as United ran out 3-1 winners over a nine-man Fulham.
Going to ruin his career! Alejandro Garnacho slammed for storming off down tunnel after being hauled off by Ruben Amorim
