Manchester United interested in Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti

Manchester United apparently have interest in Barcelona’s French international central defender Samuel Umtiti, and that has prompted the Catalonians to prepare a new contract offer for him. There is no hint that Umtiti is unhappy at Barcelona - and why would you move from Spain to Brexit England for any reason at all - but he nonetheless has a £53m release clause, meaning that he is eminently affordable by the standards of modern, young and promising defenders. Victor Lindelof was watched by Jose Mourinho while on international duty, so perhaps that revived the interest.

Paul Pogba went to the EMA’s last night, and so has been on social media doing terrible things, like dancing and enjoying himself. Given he’s a hamstring injury, you would imagine that United are not overly concerned about the state of his health right now, and he could be back shortly for the first team. Or this is just unfounded speculation in its entirety.

The friction between Mourinho and his board continues. Fresh from praising Paris Saint-Germain after he decided he would like to have a raise and some more money for transfers, he has said he is worried about losing Marouane Fellaini, but not Luke Shaw. The statement could be interpreted as saying that the board cannot guarantee him what he wants, but he has Shaw for a while longer yet, who he doesn’t want.

Marcus Rashford has said that Real Ronaldo is his hero. They’re hardly similar players now, but it gives us all an excuse to remember that Not Real Ronaldo is actually the best player in the world, so there, Lionel.

Manchester United injury-sufferer Phil Jones has withdrawn from the England squad after suffering another injury. Perhaps we can get Ricardo Carvalho and his elbows to join us on loan from his Chinese club.