Manchester United face competition to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi – Paper Round

Manchester United are just one of the teams interested in signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this summer.

The Sun suggests that other clubs are keen on the centre-back, with Arsenal and Tottenham two more who are keen.

“Guehi, 23, has been among the Prem’s brightest defenders since joining Palace from Chelsea in 2021 following an £18million deal, which led to 108 appearances at Selhurst Park.

“The centre-back’s performances have sparked immense interest from the likes of United… while Tottenham and Arsenal have also enquired in the past.”

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is far from certain he will stay on at Old Trafford.

As part of the Old Trafford overhaul by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ten Hag’s position could be at risk depending on what Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford decide.

“The pressure on Ten Hag intensified with Sunday’s 3-1 derby defeat at Manchester City, which has left United in sixth spot, 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, with 11 games left. Ten Hag’s future depends on whether he is able to secure Champions League football for next season, but with that looking increasingly unlikely, candidates for the United job have emerged.

“Representatives of managers are understood to have put their clients in the frame for the Old Trafford job should Ten Hag – who has one more season left on his contract – be sacked at the end of the season. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his position, Ten Hag is said to have had positive discussions with new United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford.”

The Daily Mail believes that Dan Ashworth will not have to be on gardening leave for too much longer.

The proposed director of football for Manchester United has 18 months to wait before he can move, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not interested in paying a big compensation fee to hurry his arrival.

“Ashworth is currently on gardening leave at Newcastle after indicating that he wants to quit Tyneside for Old Trafford, and United refused point-blank to pay between £10-20million in compensation.

“Sir Jim Ratcliffe says it’s ‘absurd’ to expect the 52-year-old to kick his heels for the next 18 months, but Ashworth is expected to be in position much sooner than that to lead the club’s recruitment this summer.

“United are happy to bide their time while Newcastle have to continue paying Ashworth’s salary and choose his successor. Steve Nickson is filling the role at the moment and is set to get the job on a permanent basis.”

The Telegraph thinks that Sheffield United are likely to get rid of 10 players in the summer in the event that they go down.

The bottom-place club look set to be relegated this summer and that could lead to cost-cutting.

“Wes Foderingham, Oli McBurnie, Oliver Norwood, Ben Osborn, George Baldock, Jayden Bogle are out of contract from the players who faced Mikel Arteta’s team, with John Egan, Max Lowe and Daniel Jebbison also with expiring terms.

‘Chris Basham is out of contract and has admitted the horror injury suffered in October could be career-ending and he is fighting to play again.

“While the club have options on some players such as Bogle and Osborn, many of their first-teamers such as Foderingham, McBurnie and Norwood can leave on free transfers.

‘Blades will also see loans end for Mason Holgate, James McAtee, Ben Brereton Diaz and Yasser Larouci and they will be expected to return to their parent clubs, while Aston Villa are understood to have a buyback option on Cameron Archer.”