Sport

Raphaël Varane set to be out for ‘a few weeks’ as Manchester United’s injury list grows

It's not looking good for United — their backline, in particular.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 30th August 2023

Manchester United have confirmed that defender Raphaël Varane will miss the Red Devil’s away game against Arsenal this Sunday as the Frenchman is now set to be out for “a few weeks”.

The veteran centre-back is a key part of Erik ten Hag‘s first-choice defensive partnership and even scored the winner in the narrow 1-0 victory over Wolves on the opening day of the season, however, it’s no secret that he’s had his injury problems since joining the club.

Having been in and out of the squad on numerous occasions in his two years at Old Trafford, the 30-year-old made the decision to retire from international football to focus on his fitness and hopefully prolong his career, but it hasn’t stopped him from picking up yet another injury.

As stated by the club in an update on Wednesday, 30 August, Varane picked up another problem in their win against Nottingham Forest at the weekend and was ultimately subbed at half-time before they completed the thrilling 3-2 comeback, and he will now drop out of the side ahead of a crucial game against a historic rival.

As the message goes on to detail, the World Cup winner and four-time European champion was hooked off after 45 minutes “due to the complaint” and while the full extent of the injury has not been detailed, it is “expected to keep him out for a few weeks.”

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This means that Varane will now likely miss most if not all of September and subsequently be unavailable for the Premier League games against Brighton at Old Trafford, Burnley away, and potentially Crystal Palace at home.

Worse still for Man United fans, Varane is just the latest in what appears to be a growing list of injured players which includes, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Tom Heaton, Mason Mount, Amad Diallo, and more recently Luke Shaw — several of which are said to be out for extended periods.

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One upshot is that they should finally get to see their new striker in action, Rasmus Højlund this weekend, as the previously unfit forward is set to make his debut at the Emirates.

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Varane did at least dismiss the reports that he had given “positive indications” of joining Saudi team Al-Ittihad earlier this month, insisting that he wants to stay and fight for silverware right here in Manchester.

Moreover, his injury will also likely put to bed any further rumblings that out-of-favour number five, Harry Maguire, will be departing the club as he and Victor Lindelöf will be needed to cover Varane’s position and any further defensive setbacks should they arise.

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The struggling centre-back looked like he was London-bound when a deal with West Ham was reportedly agreed for a fee of £30m, but negotiations were said to have stalled after the clubs took too long to finalise terms.

With the summer transfer window shutting this Friday, 1 September, it’s still possible that United could recruit another back-up defender and have already been linked with signing Chelsea fullback, Marc Cucurella, on loan to fill in for Shaw and Malacia.

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Featured Image — Raphael Varane (via Instagram)

Sport

Erik ten Hag opens up on Man United’s failed Harry Kane and Frenkie de Jong transfers

Danny Jones Danny Jones Erik ten Hag on failed Harry Kane and Frenkie de Jong transfers

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has shed more light on his club’s failure to sign two key transfer targets in previous transfer windows, Harry Kane and Frenkie de Jong.

With Man United‘s interest in the proven Premier League star and England captain along with the former Ajax star turned Barcelona midfielder having been widely publicised last year, it was no secret that they were top of the wish list at Old Trafford but nothing concrete ever came of it.

Now, addressing the Kane and de Jong transfers directly for the first time, ten Hag not only admitted that he wanted to sign them but that he wasn’t given the full backing of the board to do so, suggesting that his squad therefore missed out two key talents that he hoped to build the playing style around.

Speaking to club legend Gary Neville in a Sky Sports exclusive, the 54-year-old was careful not to outwardly criticise the previous executives – the majority of whom have now departed – but confessed that they weren’t able to get either deal across the line.

As you can see, ten Hag revealed that he quickly identified Kane as the ‘proven’ striker who could have brought “30 goals” to the team but that they simply couldn’t get him, presumably down to the potential transfer fee and wage expectations.

The 30-year-old striker obviously went on to sign for German giants Bayern Munich and has now broken the record for the most goals in a debut Bundesliga season, not mention being on the verge of surpassing the highest-ever tally in a single campaign, held by Robert Lewandowski (41).

He went on to express that he has every faith in the striker they did manage to sign, insisting that 21-year-old Rasmus Højlund “will get there [to that level] but needs time” and was offered some of “the biggest potential” on the market when they snapped him up.

As for his fellow Dutchman, de Jong – who he previously coached as part of the hugely talented Ajax which impressed so many in 2018/19 – ten Hag hinted at the failure to sign him as being a key factor in why he couldn’t implement his tactics at United, telling Neville: “you have to bring in [the right] players”.

The three-time Eredivisie winner went on to explain, “You need the player with those typical assets and you can’t bring a player, say, here who has a [certain] style of play I don’t want to change his nature.”

With Neville naming de Jong specifically, ten Hag confirmed the name by adding that he envisioned a partnership between him and Casemiro or, indeed, Kobbie Mainoo eventually, adding: “They would have been really complimentary with each other, absolutely. That is the [type of player you need] if you want to play the Ajax style.

However, despite having reportedly agreed on a sizeable fee with Barcelona (the number of which has been much disputed), it came to be that de Jong seemingly didn’t want the move and preferred to stay with the Catalan club.

As a result, this meant that United had to continue experimenting with different midfield combinations and signing alternatives like Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount, who perhaps weren’t as high up on the list of transfer targets or as well suited to ten Hag’s desired approach on the pitch.

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ten Hag ultimately went on to add that a laundry list of injury problems this season has also derailed the progress of his squad as a unit, with the Red Devils having been forced to utilise 31 different back-four combinations so far.

There have been some rumblings that de Jong could be open to another potential move elsewhere again this summer, but it’s fair to say that even if they were in the running it will take more than one player to get his side back on track.

You can watch the interview with Gary Neville in full HERE.

It remains to be seen how well ten Hag will be backed by the new footballing administration this summer but it is said United are willing to consider serious offers for several members of their first-team squad as they look to raise funds for any prospective incomings.

Only three Manchester United players are said to be ‘off limits’ this summer transfer window

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Featured Images — Wikimedia Commons/Sky Sports (via YouTube)/Frenkie De Jong (via IG)

Sport

Man City stars Phil Foden and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw win 2024 FWA Footballer of the Year awards

Danny Jones Danny Jones Phil Foden and Bunny Shaw voted Footballers of the Year 2024 by Football Writers Association

Manchester City stars Phil Foden and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw have made it another double for the Blues after picking up the men’s and women’s awards for the 2024 Footballer of the Year from the Football Writers’ Association (FWA).

The Man City forwards have arguably been the players of the season for their respective teams this year, with Foden enjoying the best statistical campaign of his career so far and ‘Bunny’ Shaw becoming the club’s record goalscorer back in March, surpassing women’s legend and Lioness Georgia Stanway.

With nearly 60 goal contributions across all competitions between the two of them and both sides looking very likely to lift the Premier League and WSL titles this month, it’s been an impressive performance both individually and as a team.

We reckon these won’t be the only awards they end up with this year.

Both players have been a constant threat and focal point for their squads this season.

Pipping one of the best players in the league to the post this year in the shape of Chelsea and England star Lauren James, the 27-year-old Jamaican striker told the FWA and the club: “I am very proud and privileged to have received this award and to be recognised in this way is a special honour.

“I want to also thank all of my team-mates. They provide me with the chances to score goals and I could not have won this award without them. I also owe such a lot to Gareth [Taylor, head coach], the rest of the coaching team and everyone else here at City.

It’s a pleasure to be part of such a special group. Many thanks to all who voted for me and to my fellow nominees. It means such a lot to have won this award. Hopefully, the side can now finish off the season in style and give everyone a special cause to celebrate.” Shaw is now recovering from surgery on a broken foot sustained against West Ham.

This is actually the second time that the club have mopped up both the men’s and women’s FWA awards, with Raheem Sterling and Nikita Parris achieving the same feat back in 2019.

Manager Pep Guardiola has once again been full of praise for his in-form forward ahead of Saturday’s league fixture against Wolves.

Foden also picked up City’s Player of the Month nod for April.

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As for first-team talisman and England favourite himself, Foden added: “Being named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year is a huge honour. I’m very, very happy to receive this award but I could not have done it without the help of my teammates.

“We have a very special squad of players at City, and I’m privileged to be a part of that group.” With two PFA Young Player of the Year awards to his name in 20/21 and 21/22 as well, the ‘Stockport Iniesta’ is no stranger to receiving this kind of recognition but this is undoubtedly his biggest nod yet.

The 23-year-old Foden won 42% of the members’ votes and is the fourth City player to pick up the award in four years, with Erling Haaland obviously storming the race last season. That being said, 2023/24 has well and truly been the year of Phil Foden.

Congratulations to both players on their very well-earned accolades and we’re keeping our eyes peeled on both of them ahead of a big summer for international football.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Bunny Shaw/Manchester City (via Instagram)

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