JOSHUA ZIRKZEE’S first season in English football has hardly gone to plan – but he could be key to another United raid on Bologna this summer.
Swiss winger Dan Ndoye is being watched by the Red Devils and has been shining for the Italian club this season.
He is being targeted by Napoli coach Antonio Conte as he looks to replace Kvicha Kvaratshkelia.
But also on their list for that role is United’s Alejandro Garnacho – who was the subject of a £40million bid in January.
If they do come back for Garnacho then Ndoye, 24, could be of interest to United and Zirkzee would have a vital role to play.
The pair are friends after their time together in Italy and the Dutchman could help turn his head towards Old Trafford.
Bologna do not want to sell but would have to listen if offers of around £30m come in for him.
Mainoo contract standoff
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KOBBIE MAINOO’S return to action after two months out injured is certain to bring his future back into focus.
Last month, it was revealed he is weighing up a move abroad with United’s new contract offer short of what he was hoping for.
Mainoo – who turns 20 this month – has two years left on his contract and currently earns around £20,000 a week.
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His representatives want terms that would reflect the England international’s standing in the squad.
Their demand for around £180,000 per week is unlikely to be met by United as they look to get control of their wage bill.
But there is still hope an agreement can be reached to keep the man who scored in last season’s FA Cup final at Old Trafford.
If not then it gives United’s hierarchy a big dilemma – they know selling a homegrown talent, who is valued at more than £70m, would be huge for the bottom line on their profit and sustainability sheets.
As well as clubs around Europe, Chelsea are likely to be watching the situation closely.
On the way?
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ANDRE ONANA was described as “one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history” by one of the club’s former players this week.
But according to reports in Italy, he could soon be replaced as Old Trafford number one by Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen.
AC Milan are pushing to sign the Dutch goalie, 22, but are concerned that they could face competition from the Red Devils for his signature.
Dutch delight
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DUTCH star Matthijs de Ligt is doing all he can to get back from his injury after turning his ankle in the closing stages of the first half of the defeat at Forest last week.
The 25-year-old defender was spotted this week being put through his paces in the pool by a United physio at the luxury Hale Country Club.
A fan who saw him feared the rehab session meant the pool at United’s Carrington training complex – famously slammed by Cristiano Ronaldo for its condition when he returned to United for a second time – was again in a state of disrepair.
But sources confirmed the pool is open and De Ligt was just doing extra work in the hope of getting back on the pitch soon.
Wayne’s world
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MAN United legend Wayne Rooney has millions in the bank following his hugely successful playing career.
But while he’s out of management after leaving Plymouth four months ago, Wazza loves nothing more than going back to his home area of Croxteth and having a couple of pints with his mates.
A source said: “Wayne is really enjoying his down time while he waits for his next management job.
“He could go afford to go anywhere in the world, but he is a frequent visitor to Croxteth.
“He loves it because he can be himself and enjoy a drink with his old pals.”
Traffic troubles
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EUROPA League trips for Manchester United’s stars just got more gruelling – after building work at a private terminal means they can no longer drive directly to Manchester airport.
For the game against Lyon, the players had to park at Carrington and then be bussed to the airport, adding around 45 minutes to the journey time.
It means when they return home, they will then have to go back to Carrington to collect their vehicles and then drive home, pushing back their bedtimes and affecting their recovery work on Friday.
Toothless devils
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NO wonder United have got Ipswich forward Liam Delap and other forwards in their sights ahead of the summer transfer window.
This will be their worst EVER season for goal-scoring in the history of the Prem – unless they can manage to get 17 in their final seven league games, starting at Newcastle on Sunday.
Their current low is 54 – when Jose Mourinho sacrificed their league campaign to go for glory in the Europa League instead and the current squad – who will be thinking along similar lines – currently have just 37.
Sunday’s goalless draw with City was the 12th time they have drawn a blank this season.
Rasmus Hojlund has copped much of the blame for United’s lack of goals – after going on a 21-game drought.
That ended at Leicester before the international break but the Dane admitted he asked himself some searching questions.
He said: “It was a vicious circle. We didn’t play that well as a team, and it also affected me. But I’m not the type to lie down and give up.
“That’s also why I played and started in those games. It’s because I’ve continued to work for the team and on my own game.
“I don’t just sit down and say: ‘It’s great that I haven’t scored in 21 games’. I sit myself down and look at my game to see what I can do better.
“I also stand somewhere and think: ‘Why the hell is it that I can’t score?’ Where is it that it’s going wrong?’ “
Pat on the back
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PATRICK DORGU has hardly set the world on fire in his first couple of months since his £30m move to Old Trafford in January.
Yet his former club Lecce have been lost without the Danish winger – and have not won a game since his departure.
They now sit dangerously close to the drop zone in Italy so the money they raised from Dorgu’s sale might come in very useful.
