Manchester United

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Jay Motty from the Stretford Paddock says Luke Shaw has had a fantastic season for Manchester United - but still thinks the club may need to bring in an additional left-back in the transfer window.

Shaw, who has suffered several long-term injuries in his 12-year spell at United, has enjoyed an injury-free campaign this term and started every Premier League game.

However, Motty worries this season could be "an anomaly" and therefore an extra option at left-back may be needed next season, when United will also have Champions League football added to their schedule.

"It's a shame that his United career, on the whole, has been hampered by injuries," said Motty on BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast.

"Before going into this season, for the last five campaigns he had missed over half the games, which is a crying shame because they should have been his peak years. Between the ages of 24 and 29, you expect to be at your best and we haven't seen enough of him because of those injuries.

"That's not his fault. He suffered that horrific injury under Louis van Gaal in Europe and had other injuries and niggles since.

"There was a lot of anger when he wasn't fit for United and then he went to the Euros, which again wasn't his fault. I wouldn't begrudge him that.

"But he's been playing regularly this season and you can see the quality he's got and the experience he has.

"It's a weird one for United because if Shaw stays fit for next season then they are laughing, but there's part of me that feels like this season is an anomaly and you need another option at left-back.

"I am a bit concerned about whether he can maintain this level of fitness, but if he can then he's a fantastic footballer."

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Andre Onana is planning to report for pre-season training at Manchester United even though he knows the club are looking to move him on this summer.

Onana lost his place initially to Altay Bayindir at the start of the season, since when Belgium international Senne Lammens has established himself as United's first choice goalkeeper.

Onana will complete his loan stint at Trabzonspor on Friday when they take on Konyaspor in the Turkish Cup final.

United will return for pre-season training in mid-July, ahead of their opening friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July, the day before the World Cup final.

Onana is among a small group of senior United players who will not be involved in the World Cup, and the anticipation is they will be the core of the squad for the Wrexham game, supplemented by a large number of academy players.

Lammens and Bayindir are both set to be at the World Cup, although veteran Tom Heaton is about to sign a new one-year contract.

Will Murdock started for United's Under-21 side in their Premier League 2 final defeat at Brighton, with Under-18 keeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes on the bench. In addition, the future of Radek Vitek, who had such an outstanding campaign on loan at Bristol City, is still to be decided.

The unknown is whether Onana will be included for the Wrexham game if his future remains unresolved, or if he will be exiled, as was the case last summer, when Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Antony were all put in a 'bomb squad' by Ruben Amorim and told to train at different times to the main first team group.

Onana's only appearance for United this season was in the embarrassing EFL Cup defeat at League Two Grimsby.

He has played 29 league games for Trabzonspor as they secured a third place league finish and European qualification ahead of Friday's final in Antalya.

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Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney recalles his fallout with Sir Alex Ferguson that saw him not named in the squad for Ferguson's final home game at Old Trafford.

Although Rooney did not figure against Swansea, he did join his team-mates in the Premier League title celebrations after the match when United were presented with the trophy.

At the time, Ferguson said Rooney "was not keen to play" in his last home match as Manchester United manager and confirmed the club had refused his transfer request.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney said: "I'd trained all week with no issues. I was in the dressing room 90 minutes before kick-off and he announced the team.

"Mike Phelan asked me to go into the office, so I obviously did, and I was told I wasn't on the bench and he'd not put me in the squad because of the arguments and what had happened.

"He didn't want any distractions on what was going to be his final home game.

"I felt that was wrong because I wasn't being a distraction and I had trained hard so that I was ready to play. I didn't cause any issues.

"But that was it. I went up and watched the game from one of the boxes and had about four pints.

"The worst thing about it was then we had to lift the Premier League trophy and the boss was handing medals out so I had to put my head down!

"That was tough and hard to take, but in the bigger picture, you are better off having those discussions within the club which is what I went and did.

"That's better than airing it in public."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Returning Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign England forward Marcus Rashford, 28, who is on loan at La Liga champions Barcelona from Manchester United. (Sport - in Spanish, external)

Manchester United and Chelsea are both interested in signing Germany forward Karim Adeyemi this summer, with Borussia Dortmund willing to sell the 24-year-old for the right price. (Teamtalk, external)

English goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 40, is poised to sign a one-year contract extension to stay at United for a sixth season. (Mirror, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United's recruitment last summer was excellent.

Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens have all made a positive contribution.

This summer needs to be just as good.

For a start, United need to sign at least two, possibly three, central midfielders.

They have been linked with several players including Brighton's Carlos Baleba – who they were keen to sign last summer and may be available this time for substantially less than the £100m fee being bandied around 12 months ago.

Then there is Ederson from Atalanta, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Bournemouth duo Tyler Adams and Alex Scott, Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Aurelien Tchouameni, who was involved in that huge bust-up with Real Madrid team-mate Federico Valverde.

At the top of the list in England's Elliot Anderson, who for the second time this season was outstanding against United for Nottingham Forest.

It was Anderson who was the supplier for Morato's equaliser just as it was Anderson who was rampaging through the home midfield in the first half.

It did appear Forest boss Vitor Pereira was damning the 23-year-old with faint praise when he reacted to a question about Anderson's performance by stating it came "in an open game".

However, Pereira's other words left no doubt.

"He has the talent to be one of the top of the top," he said.

"He can score more goals and take a little bit more risk in the last third because he has a very good shot.

"It depends on the system. If we give him total freedom to build the play, he can do everything. But we are playing with two midfielders, which is a system that doesn't give him total freedom to create.

"He needs to understand when the other one loses their position, he cannot, but he has a lot of talent. He is young and will fly with big wings."

In addition to central midfield, Carrick needs a left-sided player, presumably in defence to support Luke Shaw given Patrick Dorgu, signed as a wing-back, is seen as more of an attacking player than a defender.

United may also need cover for Lammens in goal and Sesko in attack.

Read more about Man Utd's priorities

The Devils' Advocate team are are joined by Jay Motty to discuss the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, Bruno Fernandes equalling the assists record and Casemiro's final game at Old Trafford.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds

Alex Turk
Fan writer

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Bruno Fernandes has taken his rightful place in the Premier League history books.

Whichever way you look at it, 20 assists in a season is an outstanding achievement. Only two other players doing the same in 34 years confirms that.

This is Manchester United. So, of course, there will be masses desperately attempting to downplay Fernandes' brilliance.

But, let's be honest here, if Fernandes was spoilt with the quality of attacking team-mates that Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne had around them, he would be out of sight.

You only had to watch Sunday's 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest to accept that. If his team-mates were more clinical, Fernandes would be closer to 25 assists than 20. He put on a clinic at Old Trafford.

The United captain has created 32 big chances this season. His closest competitor? Rayan Cherki - with 19.

He has crafted 132 chances in total - 58 more than the next best, Dominik Szoboszlai. Since his January 2020 arrival, the tally stands at 670. No other player touches Fernandes in that regard. Not De Bruyne (238 behind). Not Mohamed Salah. No-one.

Fernandes has cemented himself as a United icon by winning a record fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award. He is only a Premier League or Champions League crown away from legend status.

The 31-year-old has been named the FWA Men's Footballer of the Year. If he doesn't also receive the PFA and Premier League awards, that would confirm they are team honours as much as celebrating individuals.

Even if Fernandes doesn't get the assist he needs to take the outright record at Brighton on Sunday, his name will forever be etched in United and Premier League folklore.

The Red Devils must now repay him by ensuring this summer's midfield rebuild is as much of a success as last year's attacking overhaul.

Fernandes deserves to be the nucleus of a team capable of challenging for the biggest trophies - although he doesn't need them to prove how special a player he is.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

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BBC Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel says Michael Carrick's impact and record as interim Manchester United boss made him the "only candidate" to be given the permanent role.

United secured their 11th victory in 16 games under Carrick against Nottingham Forest on Sunday and his appointment on a two-year deal, with a one-year extension, is expected from the club imminently.

"Carrick has taken that job in his stride so impressively," Mokbel told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Being Manchester United manager, albeit on a short-term basis until the end of the season, is a mammoth task.

"It's arguably the biggest club in European football but he's just taken to it like a duck to water. His press conferences are always on point, the results leading the club to Champions League qualification have been brilliant.

"Let's face it, under Ruben Amorim finishing in the top five looked far beyond them really. The performances and results were so tepid and mediocre that you feared where they may finish this season.

"What Carrick has done is turn a situation where United were open-minded in regards to where they might look for a new full-time head coach into a situation where he could have been the only candidate. He's been so impressive that anything other than making him full time manager would have been the wrong decision.

"It's up to Carrick now to grab the bull by the horns and show everyone next season why United have been correct in showing the faith in him that they have.

"Everything that he's touched at the moment has turned to gold."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Eric: Great performance from United. Forget the contentious handball decision - they were well-deserved winners after hitting the post twice, numerous other missed chances and a fair share of contentious decisions against them throughout this season. Some 29 shots at goal and Forest's keeper did well - and fair play to them as they added to a very entertaining "dead rubber", as Chris Sutton put it.

Mark: A really enjoyable game where we really should have scored more but a shoutout to Forest for making a good effort. We really need to tighten the defence up, especially at full-back, where we aren't good enough. Replacing Casemiro will be pivotal so it will be interesting to see who's brought in. Onwards and upwards then - I hope we can win something next season and push on from there.

Andrew: I thought this was a good performance overall, albeit definitely lucky with the second goal. Forest have been a solid side of late so it's a good result. It's so obvious that the focus needs to be on the Casemiro replacement. Look at Gibbs-White and Anderson - they'd transform United! Amad was wasteful and poor again! The defence was awesome! I hope we make signings early, not after the World Cup!

Christine: It was a very open game, especially in the second half and Bruno could have had five assists. Shaw scoring gave the game some impetus, and United actually pressed forward, with Mbeumo and Cunha scoring. The defence was comfortable but could have been tighter with the two Forest goals. Coming third in the Premier League has to be Manchester United's best season in years. From the depths of despair, achieving top three behind Manchester City and Arsenal is fantastic and United need to spend well in the summer with personalities that will fight for the club.

Nottingham Forest fans

Kris: A great display from a tired and depleted Forest side, away at a rejuvenated Manchester United. Such a pity it was largely settled by a very dubious refereeing decision. A lot of talk will turn to where Anderson 'ends up' next season, but I don't see this United team and manager attracting a player of his calibre.

John: A terrific display from every player. We deserved at least a draw but it wasn't to be and we all know why. Thank goodness we didn't need the points to stay in the Premier League. A great game spoiled only by the referee. VAR was supposed to prevent that.

Jason: Forest played well, best in a while, shame about the handball incident, but the referee made a wrong call. He clearly handled the ball.

Jon: Excellent performance from Forest. Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson are demonstrating why they must both go to the World Cup. As for the handball, a terrible decision that could cost the club £5m based on where we finish in the table. Another VAR-trocity!

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick thinks Luke Shaw should be in England's World Cup squad when it is announced by Thomas Tuchel on Friday.

Shaw was named in Tuchel's expanded 55-man squad when it was submitted to world governing body Fifa earlier this month.

However, the full-back has not played for his country since the Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain and he was not selected in Tuchel's 35-man squad for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

The 30-year-old has started every Premier League game for United this season, and he scored his first goal for the club in over three years in the 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.

When asked if Shaw was worthy of an England recall, Carrick replied: "I certainly think so, yes. I haven't got much sway in the matter, but I certainly think so.

"It is his consistency, his performance, his experience, his strengths, and the attributes he has got. He is a fantastic full-back.

"He is at that stage now where he has got an awful lot of experience. That will be valuable for us next season, however many games he plays."

Listen to Carrick speak after United's latest win on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes says he did not think about the Premier League assist record until he reached number 19 against Brentford last month.

Fernandes has been on an amazing run of form since Michael Carrick took charge at United in January.

The Brentford game, when he set up Benjamin Sesko, was his seventh assist in as many matches and left him one short of the season record, jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne.

Fernandes was asked on the day by team-mates if he would have passed to Benjamin Sesko rather than shoot himself had he not been so close to the record.

The 31-year-old denied it at the time and, after creating Bryan Mbeumo's goal in the 3-2 victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford, insisted he was not thinking about the record until after the Brentford game.

"When I got to 19, you start thinking a little bit," he said.

"I had never done 19 either, so even if I had finished with 19, I would be very happy.

"Obviously, it's a proud moment. We're speaking about Thierry and Kevin, two of the main names of the Premier League, and for me I'm very grateful and very happy to do it."

Fernandes has been named Manchester United Player of the Year for the fifth time.

And he still has one game left to break the assist record, at Brighton next Sunday.

Judging by the reaction of his team-mates at Old Trafford yesterday, they are quite keen to make it happen.

"It doesn't change the way I play my game, so I will still have to create things for my team, and hopefully it can happen but if it doesn't, I'm already very happy because I've never done 20 assists in the Premier League," he said.

"My team-mates were aware but they are aware also I try everything I can to help them.

"I didn't want to make it about myself because at the end of the day scoring the goal is the biggest thing in football and I wanted Bryan to celebrate his goal because if he doesn't put it in the back of the net, my record will not be there."

Chelsea have an interest in Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers but Arsenal, Manchester United and Paris St-Germain are also looking at the 23-year-old England international. (Talksport), external

Barcelona, who are reluctant to pay the 30m euros to turn Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford's loan move into a permanent deal, are aware Aston Villa are keen on the 28-year-old England international. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Pundits Dion Dublin and Mark Schwarzer join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday's and Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leeds 1-0 Burnley

• Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace

• Newcastle 3-1 West Ham

Paul Robinson
Former Premier League goalkeeper on Final Score

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Michael Carrick has forced Manchester United's hand.

Nobody has won more Premier League points than him since he came in. The club seems harmonious again - and it hasn't been like that for a long time.

There is so much talked about around the so-called 'DNA' and 'footprint' of Manchester United, but he gets and understands the club. He is a good front man.

He never gets too high when they win and he never gets too low when they lose, he is always on a level.

Whether he can do it at the very top level for a longer period of time, well he has earned himself the opportunity to find that out.

The strategy from Manchester United was clear. Bring in Carrick until the end of the season to buy themselves time, knowing at the end of this season there would be some big managers out there that they would undoubtedly be looking at.

But Carrick and his staff have forced the club's hand. It would almost be wrong not to give him the permanent job.

If they had gone with someone else and a few weeks into the season it was going wrong again, then everyone would've been saying: 'You had the right man all along'.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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With Michael Carrick's status yet to be confirmed, it was a day to remember in other aspects.

Matheus Cunha almost laughed at Luke Shaw's impromptu reaction at scoring.

It was hardly a surprise. The left-back's last Premier League goal came against Bournemouth in January 2023. It was only his fifth in all competitions for Manchester United.

Bruno Fernandes had already had two games to get his 20th assist. When Bryan Mbeumo blazed over after being sent through by the Portugal midfielder, Fernandes buried his head in the turf, presumably fearing the momentous assist would never come.

Finally - after Mbeumo had wasted another chance to break a goal drought stretching back to 7 February when he thudded a first-half shot against the post - it came, sparking gleeful celebrations from the United players, who ran to Fernandes almost before acclaiming the man who had scored the goal.

Fernandes might have had the record to himself, only for Dalot to thud a shot against the base of a post in stoppage time, after nicking the ball away from his fellow countryman.

The biggest reaction was for Casemiro though.

The Brazilian looked genuinely moved as he made his way slowly to the touchline when he was replaced by Mason Mount nine minutes from time, shaking hands with team-mates on the way.

Joshua Zirkzee came close to adding another for the hosts just before the end. But it didn't really matter on a day when Fernandes and Casemiro took centre stage.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick speaking to Sky Sports: "We wanted to finish strong. We've put ourselves in a good position and to have today in front of our supporters. We wanted to win the game, made it a bit difficult for ourselves at times but I thought some of the football was fantastic and we could've won by more. It was a good day for us to win the game and see the atmosphere in the stadium was special."

On Bruno Fernandes equalling the assist record: "It's what he's good at. He has a knack and a gift of creating opportunities and sensing space and knowing what's around him. It was important for him and for all of us. There was two or three times where I thought he was going to get it, a couple of times when he was running through and I thought is he going to shoot or pass but he didn't want it to overtake the team. It was nice that he did that for himself but for everyone to celebrate it was a nice moment."

On Casemiro: "Casemiro has been a very good player for a long time. We appreciate everything he has done and especially since I have been here he's been excellent. Part of football is that things come to an end and you have to evolve and adapt. There's been big players over the time I've been here that have left the club. It's a challenge but we thank him for everything he's done."

On Luke Shaw: "Delighted for Luke, he's been consistent and stay fit. He's such a good player and to have him score in that moment was nice. He's had ups and tough moments and he's come through it and is still here. We expect a lot from him, he's very experienced now, but today was a nice day for him."

On his own future at the club: "Clarity in terms of coming towards the end of the season, nothing has changed. If there's something to be said either way then it will be announced but today was about the game and finishing the season strongly for all the players and the club. We'll see what happens in the next few days.

"There's a lot of rumours, it's interesting to see what's true and what isn't. That's not for me to get involved with. Clarity will come in the next few days."

Bruno Fernandes speaking to Sky Sports on the assist record: "I spoke about that, everybody knew it was important. They've been trying to score from my passes. I'm very happy for the assist and for the win and to finish the season on a high."

On votes for player of the season: "It's a privilege and a pleasure for me, knowing that your job is being recognised by many people, that I was player of the season I am very grateful."

On his assist record: "I got to 20 today, let's see, we have one more game. It's the highest I've done in the Premier League so I am very happy with it."

Did you know?

• Bruno Fernandes has now equalled the record for most assists in a Premier League season (20), levelling Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20.

• Manchester United have scored in 33 of their 37 games, no team has done so more often in the Premier League this season.

• Manchester United have beaten Nottingham Forest for the first time in the Premier League since 26 August 2023, a run of four games without a win.