Sports
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Ex-Assistant Details How He Would Fix Man Utd’s Tactics
Ruben Amorim, as the weeks go by, looks less and less capable of managing a club the size and stature of Manchester United – and Rene Meulensteen, a trusted ally of Sir Alex Ferguson, has explained how he would personally ‘fix’ the tactics of the Red Devils. As expected, the footage of his detailed plan has gone viral.
Meulensteen, who also claimed that United are a ‘broken club’ on and off the pitch, spent a five-year period as Ferguson’s right-hand man between 2008 and 2013. As a result, success was typically a given at Old Trafford – and he departed the club at the same time as the Scot.
A fan of the club himself, it’s clear the Dutchman – who managed the likes of Fulham, Brondby and Maccabi Haifa during his career in the dugout – is running out of patience with the 40-year-old. He recently joined out-of-work boss Sam Allardyce on his No Tippy Tappy Football show and detailed how he, from his years of experience, would ‘fix’ the club.
Meulensteen’s In-Detail Breakdown of How Ruben Amorim Should Tweak his Tactics
Asked about where he’d play the current Manchester United players to get them performing to the best of their abilities, he said: “It’s never the system; it’s the players that have to play the system,” as he insinuated that Amorim, despite being regarded as one of world football’s best young managers, doesn’t play, or set up his team, to factor in the strengths of his players. “If the system doesn’t suit the players, you’re not very clever as a coach.
“One of the things that has happened with Manchester United is in midfield, you’ve got different options, you play Casemiro here with Fernandes or Ugarte here with Fernandes. And I think that’s one of the problems already, because if you put Fernandes that deep in the midfield, I don’t think he’s got the energy and defensive discipline to do so.
“I would definitely play him higher up, off the striker,” he said before reverting back to the ongoing problems in United’s engine room. Meulensteen believes that Crystal Palace and England youngster Adam Wharton would’ve been the perfect addition in the summer given Ugarte and Casemiro are not of the required level to play in the Premier League.
One of the sticking points over Amorim has been his willingness to not divert to his three-at-the-back system – and, to sedate the defensive issues, Meulensteen would revert to a four-man defensive structure, with two sixes and Bruno Fernandes as the supporting act to the centre-forward, which would get the best out of the club’s creator-in-chief. On the front three, he said:
“Now, look at these players that they brought in. Cunha, Sesko, Fernandes and Mbeumo – together, more than 50 goals,” he said, before saying that Cunha is best when driving inside and making a nuisance of himself in and around the box. That would allow Patrick Dorgu to burst up the left-hand side, thus playing to both players’ strengths.
Meulensteen placed importance on the two midfielders to screen and offer protection for the central defensive partnership, while allowing Fernandes and Cunha freedom in danger areas could be crucial moving forward. As a result, Sesko – who has netted one strike since his big-money arrival – would be given much more support as the lone frontman.
“The key is to ensure he [Sesko] gets service here and that we’ve got numbers in the box when the ball gets in there,” he said before pointing to the midfield duo. “And plus, you’ve got security here. So I would go, in this position, for that situation. Defensively, it’s nice and compact, and I would defend in a 4-4-2.” Out of possession, Fernandes and Sesko would act as a two-man strike partnership and the space between the lines would decrease.
Watch Meulensteen’s full breakdown of how he’d ‘fix’ Manchester United below:
Although Amorim, who enjoyed plenty of success with Portuguese outfit Sporting CP before moving to England, has admitted that he is not willing to stray from his system, he has recently said that many players from his side – who currently reside 14th in the Premier League table – believe that him being wedded to his 3-4-3 formation is the problem. He said:
“My players believe you guys when you say the problem of our team is the system. I get crazy about that. I don’t want to change your mind but my players, I guarantee you, they are listening to you, and they are putting that inside because we are not winning games.”
As things stand, just six games into the 2025/26 campaign, United are languishing in the bottom half of the table and have just the FA Cup to focus on. Up next for the Red Devils is Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland before the dauting task of travelling to Anfield to face the reigning champions of England, Liverpool.
Sports
Man Utd Show Aggressive Interest in Signing Gilberto Mora
Manchester United are among the clubs showing a strong interest in Mexico sensation Gilberto Mora after his performances at the World Cup, according to TEAMtalk.
The Red Devils are keen to add to their midfield this summer after losing Casemiro at the end of his contract, while Manuel Ugarte has suffered a serious knee injury. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have been brought in for a combined fee of £85m, but the club are now pushing for a third midfielder to complete the rebuild.
A number of names have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, but the club have now emerged as one of the teams taking a close look at the supremely talented teenager.
Man Utd Eyeing Gilberto Mora
Mora, who has been described as ‘fearless’ and compared to Barcelona star Pedri, shone for Mexico during the World Cup this summer despite being just 17, and has now attracted the attention of a number of Europe’s top clubs.
Man Utd are understood to have shown an aggressive early interest in a deal for the Tijuana central midfielder, but they have got strong competition for his signature.
Liverpool have made direct contact over a deal, while the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Ajax, PSG, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan are also said to be monitoring the situation.
Mora is understood to prefer a move to Real Madrid as his dream scenario, but he is not pushing to leave the Mexican side, who value him at around £25m due to the growing interest around him.
It’s also stated that Tijuana have a structured release clause as part of his contract which is designed to protect their interests, while his current deal runs until 2029, meaning they are under no pressure to sell this summer.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Mora is a Superstar in Waiting
Man Utd are in the market to strengthen their midfield options, but they are looking for players who can walk straight into the first-team and make an immediate impact.
While Mora is undoubtedly a superstar in the making, whether he could walk into the Premier League aged 17 and be someone who can affect games the way United need him to is a major question mark.
Should the club decide to proceed with a move for the teenager, it would likely be an extra deal, rather than the final midfield signing of the window. But they would have to put together a major pitch to convince him to join them over all the other interested clubs, which makes this a situation to watch in the coming weeks.
Sports
Liverpool Ready to ‘Demolish’ Transfer Record to Sign Bradley Barcola
Liverpool are now ready to smash the British transfer record again to sign a ‘world-class’ star for Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool chiefs are working overtime to strengthen Iraola’s squad ahead of the new season, with the only brand-new arrival so far this summer being Victor Munoz.
In a summer where the Reds have lost some key voices from the dressing room in Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate, and off the back of a disappointing season, that is clearly not enough.
A freshen up of the squad is needed and one of the big priorities is bringing in a replacement for Salah, who has been such a key player for the Merseyside outfit for a number of years in terms of his quality and extraordinary record of goals and assists.
As well as needing a response in the Premier League after a miserable defence of their crown, Iraola will also want to perform better than they did last term in the Champions League too.
While the Reds have decent depth on the left flank in Munoz, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha, that depth is lacking on the opposite side, with Federico Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong two of the main options available there.
Liverpool Ready to ‘Demolish’ Transfer Record for Bradley Barcola
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now ready to ‘demolish’ their transfer record to sign Barcola this summer, after holding positive talks over a deal with the player’s representatives.
The Reds are now ready to make their move for the France international, with GIVEMESPORT sources revealing that their first bid is in the offing.
TEAMtalk report that the Merseyside outfit have been given fresh encouragement from the ‘world-class’ PSG winger’s camp over a move to Anfield, and while there is no agreement on personal terms yet, they aren’t expected to be an obstacle in any potential deal.
Liverpool are said to have made it clear they are willing to break the British transfer record again to bring the 23-year-old to the club, less than 12 months after they paid £125m to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
PSG value Barcola at around £145m, but that asking price seemingly hasn’t deterred the Reds, who believe that he is the ‘closest fit’ to Salah available anywhere in Europe.
Liverpool Make £85m Barcola Alternative ‘Dream’ Signing
According to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs, reporting for talkSPORT, Liverpool have identified exciting Bournemouth winger Rayan as their ‘dream’ target should they fail to make progress on a move to prise Barcola away from the Parc des Princes.
The Brazilian teenager only joined the Cherries in January, but he made a big impression in the second-half of the 2025-26 campaign with five goals in 15 Premier League appearances, striking up a strong partnership with Eli Junior Kroupi to help the south coast outfit qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
It’s unclear how much Bournemouth would demand to sell Rayan this summer, with a £85m release clause for clubs incoming for 2027 for a player who looks to have a huge future ahead of him.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Sports
Arsenal Want to Complete Deal to Sign Bruno Guimaraes by Sunday
Arsenal believe that they can tie up a deal to sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United by the end of this week. That’s according to ESPN Brasil reporter Bruno Andrade.
The Gunners have been relatively quiet in the transfer market so far, with winger Christos Tzolis their one big signing so far, arriving from Club Brugge in a deal worth around £34million.
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier has also come in, arriving on a free transfer from Leeds United, with Jakub Kiwior completing a permanent move away after a season-long loan deal with Porto and Leandro Trossard leaving for Besiktas.
Vinicius Junior move signalled Arsenal’s intent in the transfer window
Arsenal remain in the hunt for a new midfielder and another forward, with Mikel Arteta keen to make a statement signing as the Gunners look to defend their Premier League crown in 2026/27.
They have been linked with a sensational move for Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid, although it has now been reported that the Brazilian will stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, they are still in talks over a move to sign Guimaraes, one of Vinicius’ teammates from the World Cup, with a move seemingly edging ever closer to completion.
Arsenal had an initial £55million bid rejected by Newcastle, who have already lost Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon this summer, with the Magpies holding out for £80million if they are to sell their ‘world-class’ player – something they are reluctant to do.
It seems the Gunners are closing in on a fee that could reach £75million all in, which they believe will convince Newcastle to sell.
Guimaraes to Arsenal could be completed by Sunday
Speaking on ESPN Brasil, Nadrade said: “Arsenal have raised the offer for Bruno Guimares, now they are offering £75million, £70million fixed plus £5million in objectives, totalling £75million.
“Two or three weeks ago the first offer of £55million was rejected so an agreement is starting to take shape. Newcastle are still waiting for an £80million offer, but given that Arsenal have already reached £75million it is very likely negotiations will progress positively this week since Bruno Guimaraes is in Brazil and returns to England on Friday and needs to report back [to Newcastle for training] on Monday.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
“The idea is that this won’t even be necessary, that the deal with Arsenal will be closed. He has already sent a positive message to Arsenal that he is open to it, that he wants to negotiate. He hasn’t forced an exit but has already signalled, communicated his desire to be transferred, to take this step in the Premier League.”
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