Category: Sports

4

Scott McTominay has been nominated for the Scottish Football Writers Association (SFWA) Men’s International Player of the Year award.

According to the BBC, the Manchester United midfielder has been nominated alongside Angus Gunn, John McGinn and Callum McGregor on a four player shortlist.

The award factors in all games since and including the Euro 2024 qualifiers in June 2023.

According to the SFWA’s website, “for logistical reasons we have decided to bring the voting for this award forward by a few weeks. The deadline for voting is close of play on Monday March 18 2024”.

“The winner will receive their prize at 2024 SFWA Player of the Year dinner on Sunday 19 May at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Glasgow”.

The 27 year old was the subject of much interest from West Ham last summer but United rejected the Hammers’ approach for him. Many believed that he would have no future at the club but to his credit, he has turned it around.

The United academy graduate has reinvented himself into something of a super sub, who has grabbed numerous late goals in this campaign, notably a match-winning brace against Brentford at the death and a late winner at Villa Park.

The Scottish international is also his side’s joint top goal scorer in the Premier League with seven goals, alongside Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes.

McTominay has found the back of the net eight times in total and he also scored a goal in the Champions League away to Galatasaray.

However, it is most probably his goals for his national side that have seen him nominated for the award.

The tall midfielder played a vital role in his side’s qualification for Euro 2024 where they finished second in their group behind Spain.

The United man was imperious in numerous qualifiers and scored seven goals for his national team. The highlight was a double against Spain when Scotland beat the southern European side 2-0 at Hampden Park on a famous night for Scottish football.

McTominay has made his way back into the starting line up at Old Trafford as of late, starting in his last three matches. Therefore he will be hoping that his run of games from the kick off will continue as the Red Devils take on Liverpool in a mouth-watering FA Cup quarter final on Sunday.

12

Manchester United may have returned to winning ways in the Premier League at the weekend but the race for to-four is likely to elude them this term.

They are eight points behind Aston Villa in fourth and six points behind Tottenham Hotspur who are fifth but have a game in hand.

Judging by the team’s form this campaign, they should be more wary of losing sixth place to the likes of West Ham United and Brighton who are only four and five points behind respectively.

The FA Cup represents the team’s best chance at qualifying for Europe next season but Liverpool are up next in the quarterfinals.

EtH’s uncertain future

Even winning that competition might not be enough to keep Erik ten Hag in the hot seat with new minority stakeholders INEOS talking to multiple candidates regarding replacing the Dutchman.

One of the top contenders linked with the Old Trafford job is current Germany national coach Julian Nagelsmann who is set to have a busy summer with the European Championships coming up.

According to Sky Sport Germany, the former Bayern Munich boss is keen to return to club football and his plan is to do so after the Euros.

See more

⚠️ Excl. News #Nagelsmann: He wants to make a future decision before the EUROs! Possibly in April or May …

➡️ Ideally he wants to announce a new club before the tournament!

Nagelsmann wants to make a conscious decision early to have clarity. During the tournament and just… pic.twitter.com/tetBSOis4l

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) March 11, 2024

As reported by Florian Plettenberg, Nagelsmann wants to agree a move before the tournament commences, so as to avoid any distractions during the course of the competition.

“Nagelsmann wants to make a future decision before the EUROs! Possibly in April or May. Ideally he wants to announce a new club before the tournament!” the journalist wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Keen to return

“Nagelsmann wants to make a conscious decision early to have clarity. During the tournament and just before it, he wants to fully focus on the tournament and not make his future a topic.”

It could mean his future club could be without their boss ahead of preparing plans for pre-season but that is unlikely to stop interested parties from swooping for the former RB Leipzig coach.

There is also the potential cost of sacking Ten Hag, which may rise to as high as £10 million.

INEOS are expected to be ruthless and for them, money does not seem to be an obstacle should they want their man as seen from their chase of Newcastle’s sporting director Dan Ashworth.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Ten Hag will be hoping results and displays can improve in the days to come as he seeks to continue in the job.

3

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly instructed his club to complete the signing of AS Monaco star Youssouf Fofana as Casemiro’s long-term replacement.

Casemiro is increasingly looking likely to be on his way out of Old Trafford.

After a stellar maiden season in England following his big-money arrival from Real Madrid, the Brazilian has struggled to replicate the excellent performances he put up last term.

He was poor again over the weekend as United eased past Everton in a 2-0 victory.

Casemiro has been strongly linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, with INEOS keen on offloading his wages from the club’s books.

In case he leaves, the Red Devils will almost certainly need a replacement for him.

Some of the players that have been mentioned as possible Casemiro successors include Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners and Everton’s Amadou Onana.

According to Fichajes, Monaco’s Fofana is also of interest to United and Ten Hag has requested his side to get a deal for the player over the line.

The publication states, “Manchester United is clear about the need to find a guarantee replacement for Casemiro, whom they could release this summer, putting their sights on Monaco, and more specifically on the figure of French midfielder Youssouf Fofana.”

It’s believed that United may need to ward off competition from Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, who are also admirers of the Frenchman.

Monaco want €30m for the 25-year-old.

This season, Fofana has been a mainstay for his side. He has made 23 appearances in Ligue 1 so far and has just one goal and three assists to his name.

4

Manchester United’s bitter rivals, Liverpool, have reportedly joined the race to sign midfield target Teun Koopmeiners.

The middle of the park is understood to be an area of the pitch United are keen on strengthening ahead of the summer transfer window.

This need will only become more urgent if Casemiro leaves Old Trafford. The Brazilian continues to be strongly associated with a switch to the Saudi Pro League, with INEOS thought to be keen on offloading his wages from United’s payroll.

A previous report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Koopmeiners is a player on the Red Devils’ wishlist.

The Dutchman has been one of Atalanta’s best players this term and has plundered 12 goals and four assists in 33 matches across all competitions – impressive numbers for a player who primarily plays as a defensive midfielder.

During the weekend, United scouts were personally in attendance and watched from the stands as Koopmeiners bagged a sensational brace against Juventus.

His double secured a valuable point for Atalanta.

It seems that the 26-year-old’s exploits have not gone unnoticed and Liverpool are now prepared to make their move in an effort to beat the likes of United to the midfielder’s services.

The Anfield outfit have reportedly turned their attention to Koopmeiners, who is also the number one target for Serie A giants Juventus.

Liverpool are said to be keen on acting on their interest and scooping up the Netherlands international.

The Merseyside club have already established contact with Atalanta and have informed them they’re interested in getting a deal over the line.

Juventus are aware of Liverpool’s admiration for Koopmeiners but Jurgen Klopp’s side have an advantage – Atalanta don’t want to sell one of their star players to a direct rival. They also know that Liverpool have more money compared to the Old Lady.

The report adds that Atalanta are “looking with interest” to England and Liverpool especially.

A fee of about €60m (approx. £51m) would be enough to convince La Dea to let Koopmeiners depart Bergamo for pastures anew.

2

Mason Mount, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and now add Rasmus Hojlund to the list of returnees Erik ten Hag can call upon for the marquee clash against Liverpool.

Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has confirmed that they are in talks with Ten Hag and expect Hojlund to come through the game vs Liverpool in top condition.

Hojlund has been called up to the national team for the upcoming international break and Hjulmand said it would be contingent on him coming through the game unscathed.

He said: “It is clear that Rasmus will play on Sunday against Liverpool and must get through the game well. We expect that.

“We are in contact with United. I have spoken to Erik, and we expect that to happen. But it is clear that he has to get through the game, and there must be nothing on the other side for that to be possible [to get called up for international duty].”

The striker was deemed injured before the last game in February, against Fulham, just as he was on the best scoring run of his United career.

The player would go on to win the Premier League’s Player of the Month honours for his exploits in February.

United huffed and puffed in attack in his absence, as Marcus Rashford’s shortcomings came to the fore when deployed in his unfavourable striker position.

Hojlund’s return vs Liverpool will allow Ten Hag to field his first-choice front three of Rashford on the left, Garnacho on the right, with the Dane through the middle.

It will also give Virgil Van Dijk and potentially Ibrahima Konate something to worry about, as Rashford rarely involves himself in physical duels when playing as the No 9.

It must be noted that Hojlund was rumoured to return against Everton, however, but the team chose not to rush him back and risk further setback.

Therefore, these comments by Denmark’s manager come as a strong vote of confidence that United are finally ready to unleash their dynamic forward again.