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Manchester United are looking ahead to their Premier League game against Southampton on September 14. Erik ten Hag's team are coming off successive league defeats to drop to 14th in the standings.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils have been told to appoint Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti as Ten Hag's successor. Elsewhere, the Premier League giants have received a boost in their plans to sign Bayern Munich attacker Kingsley Coman next year.
On that note, here's a look at the key Manchester United transfer stories as on September 7, 2024:
Manchester United told to appoint Carlo Ancelotti by former player
Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has advised Manchester United to appoint Carlo Ancelotti as their next manager. The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League last season under Ten Hag, who saved his job by winning the FA Cup.
However, the Premier League giants have struggled this season as well, with one win and three defeats in four games across competitions. The situation has raised questions about Ten Hag's future, with multiple sources citing that he's on borrowed time at Old Trafford.
In his column for Caught Offside, Collymore said that Ancelotti is the right man to take Manchester United forward.
“With the exception of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, the pull of Manchester United should still be big enough to make any manager in the world think about taking the job. INEOS should be out there trying for Carlo Ancelotti," wrote Collymore.
He added:
“Yes, ‘Don Carlo’ is very much a Real Madrid man, but why not say to him: ‘You’ve won everything there is to win in Madrid, do you want to come here and make us great again?’ — Regardless of what he’d say, Ancelotti is the calibre of manager United should be targeting, not below average Ten Hag.”
The Italian manager is under contract with Real Madrid till 2026 but could leave next summer.
Red Devils receive Kingsley Coman boost
Bayern Munich are ready to offload Kingsley Coman's in 2025, according to journalist Christian Falk. The French forward was heavily linked with an exit from the Allianz Arena this summer, but a move didn't materialise.
Manchester United have struggled in the final third of late and were apparently eyeing Coman this year. While a move didn't happen, the Red Devils could be tempted to turn to him if results don't improve by Christmas.
In his column for Caught Offside, Falk said that the player is also open to a move to the Premier League.
“If there will be a club willing to pay for him, and if it comes from the Premier League, I think both sides (Bayern and Coman) would be prepared to talk,” wrote Falk.
He continued:
“There will always be rumours about Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, so there are clubs interested in Coman if he’s not injured. If he’s playing very well in the lead-up to winter, I think a move could happen, as Bayern wants to sell him.”
Coman's contract with the Bundesliga giants expires in 2027, but the club are likely to let him go for a reduced fee in 2025.
Joshua Zirkzee opens up on joining Manchester United
Joshua Zirkzee has admitted that he took some time to decide to join United. The Dutch forward was roped in from Bologna early this summer following an impressive 2023-24 campaign.
Ten Hag wanted a new No. 9 to solve his goalscoring woes and turned to his countryman for solutions. The 23-year-old scored in his debut for the club against Fulham from the bench.
Speaking to Dutch outlet NOS, Zirkzee also outlined Ten Hag's role in his arrival at Old Trafford.
“If I’m honest, I was immediately convinced after the conversations. The process has started in Germany. In the end, it was an easy choice. Why? It is Manchester United, after all," said Zirkzee.
He continued:
“If a club is so convincing and wants you, it’s not difficult. I also had good conversations with Erik. He wanted me there, and I wanted to play for him. That is a good combination.”
Zirkzee registered 12 goals and seven assists un 37 games across competitions for Bologna last season.
