Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer running out of time at Old Trafford?

Manchester United are already five points off the pace in the Premier League and pressure is mounting.

United, though, are believed to be firmly in favour of sticking with their manager.

 

TOP STORY – SOLSKJAER WANTED AT THE WHEEL

Manchester United are still backing under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

United slumped to a 4-2 Premier League defeat to Leicester City at the weekend, which has left the Red Devils with just two wins from their past seven games across all competitions.

As pressure mounts on Solskjaer, United still reportedly have faith in the Norwegian amid links with the likes of Antonio Conte, Zinedine Zidane and Erik ten Hag.

 

ROUND-UP

- Calciomercato reports Serie A champions Inter are ready to battle Arsenal for Madrid forward Luka Jovic. The Serbia international has struggled for form and fitness in the Spanish capital.

PSG want to swap Mauro Icardi for Barcelona's Sergio Aguero, claims El Nacional. The reports says Lionel Messi wants to reunite with countryman Aguero, who left Manchester City for Barca, only for Messi to join PSG.

- Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni, Borussia Dortmund's Axel Witsel, Denis Zakaria of Borussia Monchengladbach and Ajax's Ryan Gravenberch are among Juventus' transfer targets as they look to add options in midfield, per Tuttosport. Tchouameni has also been linked with Chelsea, Manchester United, Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City, while Roma have been eyeing Zakaria.

Borussia Dortmund appear to be more willing to allow Jadon Sancho to depart this off-season.

The England international has been courted by several Premier League clubs in the past.

He almost joined Manchester United 12 months ago in a drawn out transfer saga.

 

TOP STORY - SANCHO DEAL BACK ON FOR UNITED

The Mirror claims that Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho has agreed personal terms on a move to join Manchester United.

The 21-year-old winger came close to signing with the Red Devils 12 months ago but this time around Dortmund are more willing to part ways with him.

Sancho has reportedly settled on the details of the contract offer but United and Dortmund still need to agree on the transfer fee.

 

ROUND-UP

- Tottenham's search for a new manager has moved to Ajax boss Erik van Tag according to the Mirror. Spurs' move for Antonio Conte has collapsed.

- New Roma head coach Jose Mourinho is chasing a goalkeeper, with Tottenham's Hugo Lloris, Juventus' Wojciech Szczesny and Wolverhampton's Rui Patricio top of the list, reports La Gazetta dello Sport.

- Roma are also keen on Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka according to Corriere dello Sport.

- The Mirror also reports that England full-back Kieran Trippier has informed his Atletico Madrid teammates that he wants to join Manchester United this off-season.

- Marca reports that Barcelona plan to offer a new contract to youngster Ilaix Moriba following interest from several top clubs after his breakout season.

Ajax wrapped up a 35th Dutch league title as Erik ten Hag saw his team thrash Emmen 4-0 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Their latest Eredivisie triumph arrived on Sunday as Ajax completed a league and cup double.

It came just two days after head coach Ten Hag signed a new two-year contract with the club, amid reported interest from Tottenham.

Goals from Jurrien Timber, Sebastien Haller, Devyne Rensch and Davy Klaassen saw the Amsterdam giants sweep to a crushing win.

The result took them to 79 points from 31 games, with second-placed PSV no longer able to catch their great rivals.

Ajax also won the KNVB Beker – the Netherlands' cup competition – by beating Vitesse 2-1 in the final two weeks ago.

Last season's Eredivisie was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Ajax level on points with AZ Alkmaar at the top after 25 games, and no champions were crowned.

They have dominated in this campaign, losing only two games so far, with three full rounds of matches remaining.

Only twice before have they clinched the title with at least three rounds left to play, doing so previously in the 1971-72 and 1997-98 campaigns.

Erik ten Hag has signed a new two-year contract at Ajax, effectively ending speculation linking him to the vacancy at Tottenham.

Ten Hag had been touted as one of Spurs' preferred candidates to be the long-term successor to Jose Mourinho, who was sacked by the north London club last week.

RB Leipzig had also been floated as a possible destination for Ten Hag after Julian Nagelsmann was confirmed as Bayern Munich's next head coach, but Jesse Marsch will take over at the Bundesliga club next season.

Ajax are a point away from retaining the Eredivisie crown they won in 2018-19 as part of a domestic double under Ten Hag – they were top of the table when last season was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic – and ahead of Sunday's potentially celebratory home game against Emmen, the Amsterdam giants were handed a timely boost.

"We want to work on a successful and attractive Ajax,” Ten Hag told Ajax's official website after committing until June 2023. "I know what I have here and I know the people I work with here. I also know how we can take the next step with this team. I'm happy here."

Ten Hag memorably led Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2018-19, where they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Spurs.

Roma ended their Europa League involvement at the quarter-final stage this time around but the coach is keen to re-establish them as a continental force.

"Getting somewhere is one thing, staying somewhere is another. Ajax is back on the map internationally," Ten Hag said.

"We get the recognition we deserve for that, but we want even more. We want to go even higher and challenge the top clubs in Europe."

Ajax's website noted Ten Hag had received "serious offers from teams abroad" and director of football Marc Overmars is delighted to have extended terms that were set to expire in June 2022.

"I think it is very important for Erik that he sees what is possible with the team and that there is still room for growth," the former Arsenal winger said.

Everton have been busy in the transfer market in recent times and they are preparing for another splash.

The Toffees, who are led by two-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti, brought in James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan this season.

Everton remain in the hunt for European football with a top 10 finish looking assured but owner Farhad Moshiri's ambition still burns for more.

 

TOP STORY - EVERTON SET FOR COUTINHO SPLASH

Everton are set to land former Liverpool forward Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona in a £35million deal, according to The Sun.

The Toffees are allegedly already house hunting for the 28-year-old Brazilian, who would join countrymen Richarlison, Bernard and Allan at Goodison Park.

Coutinho has never quite settled at Barcelona since leaving Liverpool for Camp Nou in 2018, spending time on loan on Bayern Munich, while he has had injuries this term.

Barcelona are reportedly keen to offload Coutinho, who underwent knee surgery earlier this month, even for a cut-price fee.

 

ROUND-UP

- Calciomercato claims that Inter have rebuffed Manchester City's advances for Romelu Lukaku, insisting they are not willing to listen to any offers for the Belgian marksman.

- Aston Villa are monitoring Tammy Abraham's situation at Chelsea after it emerged that Blues are willing to sell him for a reported £40 million price tag, claims The Mirror.

- The Sun reports Brighton's Ben White has attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund who join the likes of Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in pursuing him.

- Tottenham are hoping to speak to Ajax coach Erik ten Hag about taking up their vacant position following Jose Mourinho's sacking, according to The Guardian.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.