United stars to cash in? Barca provide Fergie solution, Madrid swoop on the cards for Sir Alex? – Best of MUFC

Manchester United set one foot in the knockout phase of the Champions League this week with a professional performance from the club’s second string in Turkey against Bursaspor. United have yet to hit top gear so far this season, but another win at home maintained the Red Devils’ unbeaten start to their Premier League campaign.

The week has not been without controversy for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. Portuguese winger Nani hardly covered himself in glory with his contentious goal at Old Trafford last weekend, and Wayne Rooney was spotted breaking a few rules of nutrition on a boozy birthday holiday.  Ferguson will be keen for a break from the media glare after the intensity of the last few weeks.

This week’s top blogs have jumped on stories linking some of United’s old guard with big money moves to the Middle East. There are also entries concerning the potential of some of the side’s rising stars and concerns expressed about the issue of player loyalty in the wake of Rooney’s contract renewal.

We also have the best of what the web has to offer.

Featured articles of the week

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Will Nani ever fill the hole?

Is this the catalyst behind Manchester United’s title challenge?

WAG Weekly – Man United starlet scores a beauty!

A final pay day for United’s finest?

Manchester United stars set to cash in?

Ten things we have noticed from the Premier League this season

Smalling making big leaps at Manchester United

Manchester United starlet finally coming of age

Spurs, Liverpool, United…whose need for Real Madrid swoop is greater?

The Spanish solution to Arsenal and Manchester United’s pending problem

Is Wayne Rooney’s plight ultimately a blessing in disguise?

An important FACT that is lost on most Premier League players

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Click here to see the Best MANCHESTER UNITED around the Web this week

Best of the Web

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Rio has the X-Factor- The Busby Way

Carrick’s return welcome but only if it lasts- United Rant

A Salute to Sir Alex- The United Religion

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool vs. Man United – Transfer spending comparison: 1990-2010 – Liverpool Kop

Karel Poborsky: what could have been?- The Busby Way

Daniel Sturridge praises Villas-Boas

Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge has stated that he is happy at the club, and has praised under-fire manager Andre Villas Boas for helping him to develop as a player.

The young forward has played a key role for the Stamford Bridge this season, has admitted he is enjoying regular football and is eyeing silverware.

“The manager has helped me a lot. He’s playing me a lot so I can’t complain. I’ve not had a Chelsea manager do that for me before,” he stated to Sky Sports.

“It’s helped me so much because previously I’ve not had a chance to play week in and week out, except when I was on loan at Bolton.

“To play at one of the best clubs in the world and start every week is a dream come true. I love playing for Chelsea. Some of the stuff I’ve read about me asking for a contract is not true.

“I’ve not spoken to the club to ask for a new contract, or told them I’m unhappy. I’m just doing a job. Working hard.

“I’m not worrying about my contract. I’m committed to Chelsea.

“A successful season now would be winning the FA Cup or the Champions League. If we could do one or the other it would be great.

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“I think we’ve got to get some sort of silverware, and to get in the top four, to qualify for next season’s Champions League,” he confessed.

By Gareth McKnight

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Karanka keen to keep competing

Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka concedes his side cannot win the La Liga crown, but insisted they will continue to fight for wins.Speaking after Real’s 6-2 demolition of Sevilla, Karanka said his team – who sit five points behind league leaders Barcelona with three games remaining – will continue to push hard for wins.

Barca have four matches remaining, and play host to Espanyol on Sunday, but Real’s emphatic win means their fierce rivals will have to wait until at least next week before wrapping up a third successive La Liga crown.

Karanka was taking responsibility for his club’s media duties in the absence of Jose Mourinho, who was handed a five-match ban by UEFA on Friday following comments he made after Real’s 2-0 loss to Barca in their Champions League semi-final first leg on April 27.

“We will continue fighting and winning matches out of respect for everyone,” Karanka said.

“We need to pick up the pieces and learn from our mistakes heading into next season.”

“We cannot lose points in matches in which at first glance we are the superior team. Every point is important is such close league races.”

“The fact that we have played better on the road than at home in recent weeks is a fact. Looking at the schedule you see all these hard away matches, but we lost matches that we didn’t expect to lose.”

Real’s win on Saturday was powered by four goals from superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who lifted his tally for the 2010-11 season to 46 goals in all competitions.

Scott Carson cools West Brom expectations

Goalkeeper Scott Carson insists survival remains the priority despite West Bromwich Albion's impressive start to the season.

The Baggies are currently riding high in sixth place in the Premier League table following a five-match unbeaten run stretching back to August.

That record is likely to come under threat when Roberto Di Matteo's side take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

But despite Albion's strong start to the campaign, Carson insists nobody at The Hawthorns is getting carried away by their early-season form.

"We haven't readjusted our ambitions," he said."Our target is 40 points – nothing less. Any more will be a massive bonus.

"We won't get carried away. People are talking about top six but here they're not.

"We just want to make sure we build as a club. We've had a good run and we know that a bad patch can happen and dampen our confidence.

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"We have to be realistic about our ambitions. The main thing is to still be in this division next year.

"If we can do that then only then will we think about moving on to the next target."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Isco offers all the artistry that Mourinho’s Man United are sorely lacking

Spain were as fancied as any side going into the week before the World Cup began, but then their preparations began to unravel.

Julen Lopetegui agreed to join Real Madrid at the conclusion of the tournament but the Spanish FA were so affronted that the process had bypassed them that they fired him just two days before their opening match of the tournament.

Fernando Hierro has been left to oversee a tournament that has seen the 2010 winners struggle to find their best form, but still contrive to win Group B on goals scored thanks to a 2-2 draw with Morocco.

What do you think of the World Cup so far? Let us know and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

That game yet again saw Real Madrid playmaker Isco – valued at £67.5m by Transfermarkt – stand out above nervous teammates making six key passes and scoring his side’s first equaliser after Khalid Boutaib’s shock opener.

On this form, it is staggering that the Champions League winners cannot always find space for the playmaker in their starting eleven, and Manchester United have been linked with a summer move.

That prospect could be raised again amid rumours that Juan Mata is very much on Barcelona’s radar and there can be little doubt that Isco has the star quality that United are sorely lacking in forward areas.

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Lanzini says West Ham teammate is like Payet

Manuel Lanzini has compared current West Ham United teammate Marko Arnautovic to former Hammers star Dimitri Payet.

Payet left West Ham under a cloud in January 2017 after refusing to train or play for the London club as he forced a move to Marseille.

The attacker was outstanding for the Hammers during the 2015-16 season, however, scoring 12 times in 38 appearances in all competitions.

Lanzini has claimed that Arnautovic, who has found his feet at the London Stadium following a slow start to the season, is very much like Payet due to the incredible ability that the Austria international is able to call upon.

Lanzini told West Ham’s official website:

“We make each other better, of course. We want the same things and we think the same way.

“It’s similar to the feeling I had with Dimi before, because they are similar players. If you have a player who plays like you, it’s easy.

“You need to connect and that’s it. You touch the ball one way, and he touches the ball the same way.”

Arnautovic has scored seven times in 21 Premier League appearances for West Ham this season, with his form particularly impressive since David Moyes took charge.

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Lanzini, meanwhile, has recently returned to action following a month on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, and is in line to start against Swansea City this weekend.

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FIVE Man United stars to sub IN and OUT of your Fantasy Team

With the international break over (cheer or sigh depending your feelings towards the past two weeks) the Premier League roadshow is once again back in town and that means Fantasy Football returns!

The fiendishly addictive game will have us all scrambling for 3G signal while taking a strange interest in Crystal Palace v Burnley as we plot to overhaul our mates or continue the quest for office bragging rights.

Manchester United provide, perhaps, the most interesting challenge heading into the weekend following their transfer activity, and here is how you could take advantage of Louis van Gaal’s dealings…

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CLICK ON RADAMEL FALCAO TO REVEAL

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IN – Angel di Maria

Having broken the British transfer record and shown signs of promise during his debut at Burnley, Di Maria is likely to be a key cog in United’s XI against QPR on Sunday. The Argentine was La Liga’s top assist maker last season with Real Madrid and has shown in the past he knows where the goal is, making a points return feasible.

He may not come cheap, but Di Maria could become the focal point of your side and potential future captain material.

OUT – Juan Mata

With the raft of attacking additions at United it looks like one man could drop out just to ensure that LVG doesn’t have the most top-heavy team in Premier League history. Even though Mata has impressed so far in terms of points, his Dutch manager may be tempted to add more pace to his side and incorporate his own players, which could see the Spaniard drop out.

IN – Marcos Rojo

After finally being granted a work permit, Rojo looks set to slot into United’s backline in a bid to add some form of solidity. The Argentine was decent at the World Cup in a left wing-back role, and he has shown in the past with Sporting Lisbon that he can occupy a centre back position capably – which is where he could be used.

Rojo won’t break the bank and chances of keeping a clean sheet at home to QPR are relatively high.

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OUT – Tyler Blackett

For anyone who has been using Blackett as a cheap way into a big side’s backline, it may be the time to cut the youngster loose. With Rojo in and Jonny Evans back, the academy graduate’s short run in the first-team might be at an end. Blackett picked up a decent return at Burnley, but that may not be enough to keep him in LVG’s XI any longer.

IN – Radamel Falcao

Now back to the fun stuff. Falcao grabbed headlines on deadline day by completing a loan move from Monaco, and LVG may opt to throw him straight into the action on Sunday. If the Colombian’s record is anything to go by he will guarantee goals, with his spells at Atletico Madrid and Porto having garnered a return of nearly a goal a game! You’re looking at a Wayne Rooney or Sergio Aguero style price tag, but the South American may well be worth it.

Gunners striker aiming to knock out former club

Olivier Giroud insists that Arsenal cannot afford another slip up when they come up against Montpellier in the Champions League tomorrow night.

Arsene Wenger’s side have failed to win in their last two games, both losses coming against Schalke and now take on the French champions who have just the one point in the group stage so far.

Giroud scored his seventh goal for Arsenal during the 5-2 victory against Tottenham at the weekend and understands the importance of getting a result when he comes up against his former team.

“It’s a must-win match for us because Arsenal have to go through to the next phase of the competition,” the Frenchman told The Sun.

“Montpellier have nothing to lose now they are already eliminated but we have to be careful as that’s when some teams are most dangerous.

“They didn’t become champions of France with no talent. We must not take anything for granted when they come to the Emirates.”

Giroud also hinted that Montpellier are struggling to cope with the success they achieved last season, adding fuel to the fire of his return to his former club.

“I’ve spoken to some of the guys at Montpellier and they have been having a difficult season. It was a big surprise to everyone that we were champions of France and maybe it was hard to digest,” he added.

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“Last season things seemed to go our way. We were riding a wave and it seems that wave isn’t there anymore.”

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Southampton fans don’t want Josh Sims or Jake Hesketh to replace Dusan Tadic

According to reports in Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf on Thursday, Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic is closing in on a summer move to Ajax as he looks for a return to the Netherlands, and Saints fans know two players who shouldn’t replace the Serbia international.

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After four years at St Mary’s it seems that the 29-year-old could be on his way out, and while he hasn’t been at his best over the course of the last two seasons he has still been one of the south coast outfit’s most influential players in the final third – as he showed with three goals in their final six Premier League fixtures last season as they narrowly avoided the drop.

It has been mooted that youngsters Josh Sims and Jake Hesketh could step up and replace Tadic in the first team on a regular basis, but some fans don’t agree and believe a quality player needs to be brought in to fill the void the attacker will undoubtedly leave.

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Southampton supporters, who have reacted to a link with a 55-cap international with one saying “please announce the departure of Mark Hughes”, were quick to have their say on the potential of Sims or Hesketh replacing the Serbian star, and while one said “wake up people”, another described the idea as “madness”.

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Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Arsenal fans react to potential Welbeck start

Danny Welbeck has a decent chance of starting for Arsenal in Sweden on Thursday night.

Indeed, record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ineligible due to Borussia Dortmund’s presence in the Europa League, whilst Alexandre Lacazette will miss the next six weeks following knee surgery, which has opened up a spot in the final third of the field.

Welbeck, who is valued at £13.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has had another frustrating season at Arsenal – managing just three goals in 17 Premier League appearances.

The former Manchester United youngster has appeared twice in the Europa League this season, but failed to find the back of the net.

The 27-year-old should be given the chance to lead the line against Swedish side Ostersund, and the Englishman will be looking to make an impression in an attempt to earn a regular spot in Arsene Wenger’s first XI.

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The Arsenal fans, however, are very much split when it comes to the forward. A selection of the Twitter reaction can be found below:

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