Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd future will decided by a key figure not joining until the summer – Paper Round
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Updated 26/03/2024 at 08:42 GMT
Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Manchester United, where a figure not yet at the club is expected to decide Erik ten Hag’s future in the summer. Elsewhere, the race for Xabi Alonso between Liverpool and Bayern Munich could see the ‘loser’ chase Roberto De Zerbi instead. There’s also talk of Everton’s highly-coveted England U17s goalkeeper attracting interest from the Premier League and abroad.
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The big Man Utd decision
Manchester United will wait for the arrival of incoming chief executive Omar Berrada before deciding on Erik ten Hag’s future at the club, the Manchester Evening News reports. Berrada was City's chief football operating officer but decided to join United in January.
Berrada will take on the role in the summer, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe passing the decision on Ten Hag over the soon-to-be CEO.
The MEN adds: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe does not want to intervene to determine Ten Hag's fate and intends to delegate to the football expertise of Berrada, who is on gardening leave at Manchester City.
“The Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford has attended the majority of United's matches since the petrochemicals group agreed to a 28% stakeholding in the club on Christmas Eve. Although Brailsford is conducting a thorough audit on United and sits on the football board, a well-placed source said he will not decide Ten Hag's position.
“United would prefer that a settled structure oversees any managerial change but Dan Ashworth's protracted arrival from Newcastle United is not thought to be imminent. John Murtough remains the football director but Ratcliffe glossed over his role in a round-table with journalists last month.
“Ten Hag is expected to see out the season with United after an uplifting couple of weeks climaxed with a raucous FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 17.”
Loser gets De Zerbi?
The race for Xabi Alonso between Liverpool and Bayern Munich could see the club that misses out pursue Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi instead, the Daily Mail reports. With Liverpool and Bayern Munich seeking new managers in the summer, Alonso is the No 1 target for both clubs.
Whether the Spaniard even wants to leave Bayer Leverkusen is not yet known, with the leading the way in the Bundesliga, but wanted by two clubs he played for, it is believed he will make a decision on footballing matters – and not finances.
The Daily Mail adds: “The two clubs will battle and make pitches for Alonso and the manager himself will have the final say on his next destination, if he chooses to leave league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
“Interestingly, both clubs are also keen on Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, too. New sporting director Hughes is a massive fan of the Italian and tried to bring him to Bournemouth when Scott Parker left the club two years ago, only for an ownership lag to thwart this charge.”
Everton’s battle to keep ‘keeper
Everton face a battle to keep 16-year-old goalkeeper Douglas Lukjanciks amid a flurry of interest from European sides and Premier League rivals.
Lukjanciks is set to make the step up to Everton’s academy in the summer, but it is understood Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Maresille have been keeping tabs on the prospect, who has played for England’s U17s.
The Mail adds: “But it is not just foreign clubs who are circling, with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Southampton regular observers of the youngster.
“Lukjanciks, who finishes school this summer, is set to join Everton’s academy as a scholar in July, but the interest from home and abroad could yet see him decide to continue his career elsewhere.
“That would be a blow for the Toffees, who have him earmarked as a future first-team keeper.”
Real Madrid want French defender
Real Madrid have identified Lille centre-back Leny Yoro as their No 1 defensive target this summer, AS in Spain reports. Lille want around 60 million euros for the player, who is currently contracted at the club until 2025.
Yoro is also attracting interest from Chelsea, Bayern Munich and PSG.
AS writes: “Madrid's strategy is clear: either Lille agrees to negotiate within parameters that fit or they will try to get the player to continue one more season at their club and arrive with a freedom letter in 2025.
“Lille is aware of the position of weakness in which it finds itself when it comes to maintaining a negotiation. For this reason, they are trying by all means to renew his contract and guarantee a better condition for negotiating.
“Yoro, for his part, is more in favour of not extending his current contract and taking the leap this coming summer rather than having to wait until 2025.”
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