In a late turn in the transfer window ahead of the Premier League restart this evening, Brazilian midfielder Fred is set to leave Manchester United after they reportedly accepted a bid from Turkish team, Fenerbahçe SK.
That’s right, United fans, the age of McFred is coming to an end.
As per numerous outlets, Man United accepted a bid for Fred from Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe on Thursday for an estimated €15 million euros (£12.9m), with the 30-year-old now set to leave Old Trafford after five years at the club.
Fred made 139 league appearances for the club in the top, scoring eight goals and seven assists — half a dozen of each coming last season, which proved to be one of his best in a United shirt. According to Fabrizio Romano, though, his personal terms have already been agreed.
Fred to Fenerbahçe, here we go! Deal in place with Manchester United, proposal revealed earlier has been accepted and verbal agreement reached 🚨🟡🔵
Fred has agreed terms with Fenerbahçe and will travel for medical tests soon.
Neither club is yet to confirm the agreement and the full details surrounding the deal are still unknown but the transfer is said to be permanent, with Fred expected to sign a four-year contract.
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The Brazilian international joined the Red Devils from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk back in 2018 for £52m and was tipped to be a revolutionary signing, having been pursued by Pep Guardiola and Manchester City before opting to choose the other half of Manchester.
He famously made up one-half of the ‘McFred’ midfield partnership alongside Scott McTominay, which whether for the right reasons or not, became iconic and a bit of a meme over the past few seasons.
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Capable of solid, no-nonsense and often brilliant performances in one game but pure calamity in the next three, the dynamic duo have been central (quite literally) to the way United play, good or bad, for many years and fans have already responded with somewhat of a bittersweet goodbye.
However, despite being somewhat of a mainstay in United’s recent generation, he and McTominay only started three matches alongside each other under Erik ten Hag last season and the midfielder was reportedly informed that he would be unlikely to feature regularly going forward.
Nevertheless, he has been a faithful servant during his time at the club, always willing to put in a shift and has genuinely become a bit of a cult figure, with fans inserting his name into the famous ‘tear you apart’ chant and interacting with his family as they watched on from on the stands.
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He may never have hit the heights supporters were promised but always did his best to cover every blade of grass and was never afraid to put his body on the line. With Fred now set to leave and vacate the no.17 shirt, many fans are expecting the number to be given to their new striker, Rasmus Højlund.
It has also been rumoured that Scott McTominay might be leaving his boyhood club since the age of five, with West Ham, Newcastle and more said to be interested but it is now thought he will stay. McFred might be over, but Reds might still see the likes of McEriksen and McMount from time to time.
VAR audio requested as Nottingham Forest prepare complaint after Man City defeat
Danny Jones
Nottingham Forest have requested that the VAR audio from their game against Manchester City be released, as they are considering launching a formal complaint following the defeat.
Forest hosted Man City at home this past weekend and went on to lose 2-1.
However, Sean Dyche’s side are said to be ‘extremely unhappy’ with some of the refereeing decisions made by first official, Rob Jones, on the day.
As a result, they are now asking the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to share some of the conversations between on-pitch officials and the VAR team at Stockley Park in West London.
"I'm scratching my head and I can't believe it!" 😳
Sean Dyche wasn't happy with the officiating in their loss to Man City 😬
As you can see, Dyche initially said that “there’s no point” in pushing the refs on their performance, as he feels they usually only “get in trouble”, but it looks as though his employers have advocated for him.
Nottingham Forest had a problem with the final call in a number of instances during the festive fixture on Saturday, 27 December, but none more so than in one key moment.
The manager and his coaching team felt that Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been cancelled out following a foul by Nico O’Reilly on Morgan Gibbs-White in the preceding corner, which may have prevented Cherki from scoring another decisive finish.
Dyche also argued that another City defender, Ruben Dias, was due a second yellow card and therefore dismissal from the pitch for a challenge after the break, but there was ultimately nothing doing.
You can see the collision here:
"I do have sympathy for Sean Dyche… it is a second yellow card!"
Ref Watch discuss whether Ruben Dias should have been sent off against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/dxTYmGsEqZ
According to Sky Sports News, Nottingham have already requested more information from the refereeing body, with this not being the first time they’ve felt hard done by.
As they put it, the hope/belief is that raising the issue could help “start a broader discussion around officiating this season.”
What do you make of Forest’s concerns against Manchester City, and do you think they’re worthy of launching an official complaint against the PGMOL and Premier League?
You can see the highlights from the game and perhaps decide for yourself down below.
Featured Images — TNT Sports (screenshot via YouTube)/The Manc Group
Sport
Manchester United Women have signed a new Swedish international defender
Danny Jones
Manchester United Women have announced that the club has reached an agreement for the signing of Swedish international defender Hanna Lundkvist.
Having just departed American outfit San Diego Wave FC last week, Hanna Lundkvist is set to become a Man United and Women’s Super League (WSL) player on 1 January 2026.
Leaving the US after more than a year in the National Women’s Soccer League – Lundkvist signed for San Diego back in February 2024 – she
At just 23 and having already made 17 appearances for her country, including every game at the most recent Women’s Euros, she’s a highly-rated European prospect.
With the club already confirming the deal ahead of being fully unveiled as an official United Women’s signing, she will be the fourth member of the Sweden national setup in the squad after Anna Sandberg, Fridolina Rolfo and Julia Zigiotti Olme.
The ex-AIK and Hammarby IF youth is also set to face another one of her former teams, Atlético Madrid, in the growing Greater Manchester side’s knockout phase play-off fixture in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (WCL) this coming February.
Making it through to the next stage after beating fellow group qualifiers Juventus earlier this month, it remains to be seen how far Marc Skinner‘s side will go in their debut WCL campaign.
Her arrival is the first in what Skinner has already built up as an “aggressive” period of recruitment in the New Year, with the women’s transfer window set to close on Tuesday, 3 February, just a day after the male equivalent does.
As for Lundkvist, she’s already been given the seal of approval by her coach and the club, even being given a big defensive number.
Putting pen to paper on a contract until 2029, Lundkvist said in a statement: “I am really excited to be here; Manchester United is a club with an amazing history. You can feel how much they have grown in the last few years, competing in one of the strongest leagues in the world and performing in the WCL.
“Speaking with Marc and the coaches confirmed all of the great things I have heard about the culture of the team here. I cannot wait to get started and help the group to achieve more success.”
Director of women’s football at Man United, Matt Johnson, went on to add: “We are delighted to have signed a player with excellent experience at both club and international level at such a young age.
“Hanna will add further quality and energy to our defence; her determination and attitude will really help the group as we continue to compete across domestic and European competitions.”
Over in the blue half of Manchester, another youngster is reportedly heading out on his second loan spell in the January transfer window.
Danny Jones -
11th August 2023 
