Manchester Evening News

Manchester City travel to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon

Manchester City resume their Premier League campaign this afternoon at Tottenham. The Blues beat Galatasaray in midweek in the Champions League to secure a straight passage into the last-16.

That 2-0 Etihad victory meant Pep Guardiola's side bypassed the play-off round and an extra two fixtures this month. City turn their attention to domestic matters today seeking to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the table.

The Blues will make changes from midweek with several players missing from Wednesday's win. Gianluigi Donnaruma will continue in goal and Nico O'Reilly could revert to left back despite impressing in midfield against Galatasaray.

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Marc Guehi was ineligible in midweek and will come back into the XI with Abdukodir Khusanov set to partner him. Matheus Nunes will be at right back.

Rodri, suspended for the European encounter, is likely to return and while Nico Gonzalez came off the bench in the win over the Turkish Super Lig outfit, it could be too soon for him to go back into the XI so Tijjani Reijnders could get the nod with Bernardo Silva completing the midfield trio.

Phil Foden is out of form so Rayan Cherki could start in the number 10 role behind Erling Haaland. Antoine Semenyo will surely play with the January signing another who couldn't feature in Europe.

Speaking about the test of facing a struggling Spurs, City assistant boss Pep Lijnders said: "They are quite clear in their plan, Thomas sets them up in a clear way so they can link inside to attack, they can play the ball in behind as well.

"High pressing team, man marking, above everything a good set-piece team so we are really looking forward to this game. We have really concentrate on how we want to play for 95 minutes, to show our mentality and our way and we look forward to go there."

Former Premier League star Sol Campbell has backed Ruben Amorim to take charge at Tottenham after his exit from Manchester United

Former Premier League defender Sol Campbell has suggested that ex-Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim could be in line for the Tottenham Hotspur job. Amorim is currently out of work after being sacked by United last week, with Darren Fletcher subsequently appointed as interim manager until a successor is found.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick have both been linked with getting the United job on a caretaker basis until the end of the season - with Carrick understood to be in line for the role.

Thomas Frank was brought in as Tottenham manager last summer after Ange Postecoglou's exit.

Frank has faced mounting pressure since his move to North London from Brentford, recently suffering a 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.

Spurs currently lie in 14th place in the Premier League standings and haven't got a win in their previous three league fixtures.

Frank is presently battling to retain his position at Tottenham, though he continues to receive support from the club's hierarchy.

Nevertheless, former Spurs and Arsenal centre-back Campbell believes that Amorim would represent a smart option for Tottenham to succeed Frank, should the club opt for a managerial change.

“Ruben Amorim [would be the ideal manager for Tottenham]. They’ll be looking at him,” Campbell said in an interview with Sky Bet.

“They’re probably talking to him now; it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t think he’ll go back to Portugal. Tottenham will be talking to him to see if there’s any situation going on – there’ll be people talking behind the scenes.

“Thomas Frank is a top manager, but he’s not at Brentford anymore – it’s a different animal. Tottenham is a big club and people are demanding. They want success and they want to keep moving forward in a successful way. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re talking to other managers.

“Obviously, if he starts turning it around and winning games and having good performances, that helps. Sometimes you don’t need to win, but if you can have good performances and show you’re moving in the right direction, that can help.

“But they will be talking to other managers. It’s part and parcel until you show who you are and start winning on a regular basis.”

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The England legend admits he wishes he'd chosen Manchester United over Tottenham

Paul Gascoigne admitted he regrets not choosing Manchester United over Tottenham after turning down the Premier League giants in 1988.

The ex-Spurs midfielder spent three seasons in north London, scoring 33 goals and providing nine assists. He made the switch from Newcastle to Tottenham in 1988 in a transfer valued at £2.2million.

However, problems arose when United had matched the identical bid and were eager to bring Gazza to Old Trafford for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. But Gascoigne ultimately had a conversation with former team-mate Chris Waddle, who persuaded him to opt for the capital rather than Manchester.

Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2023, Waddle revealed how his chat with Gazza influenced the midfielder's decision to join him at White Hart Lane. He said: "I went up to the North East one weekend.

"Terry had given me an additional day off and said that if I saw my pal up there, to have a word about him potentially coming to Tottenham, because everyone knew he was leaving Newcastle.

"I got in touch with Gazza and arranged to meet in a pub at midday on the Sunday. He strolled in with his entourage, all his mates. I asked him who he was going to sign for and he replied, 'Manchester United.'

"I said, 'Why don't you come to Spurs?' I told him he could get lost in London and no one would find out half the stuff he'd do.

"If he moved to United, he'd have Alex Ferguson on his case all of the time, along with some senior players. I said Terry Venables was really knowledgeable and would look after him.

"He said, no, he was still off to Manchester United. I said, 'Fair enough' and wished him the best of luck."

Yet Waddle's chat proved more significant than he'd anticipated. He added: "I left the pub, then he came out with his friends shouting, 'Waddler, see you at White Hart Lane on Monday!'

"I thought he was joking around, but when I returned to London on the Tuesday, I was told Gazza had been at the club the previous day and signed a contract."

Although Gascoigne enjoyed success at Spurs, lifting the FA Cup in 1991, he later admitted to Sky News, following his retirement, that joining United might have been a wiser career move.

Reflecting on the possibility of a switch to Old Trafford in 2009, Gascoigne said: "Maybe if I had stayed at Man United I might have still been there.

"I don't know, you just look at these players and the squad of young kids that play, young Rooney that's there, the Neville brothers and Becks, the way he [Ferguson] just brought them on and there are so many.

"It took me six years to get back talking to Sir Alex, I called him from Lazio and asked him would he re-sign us. He was with Eric Cantona and he said he would see what Cantona was going to do but I think everyone knows if you do something to Sir Alex Ferguson the way I did you don't get a second chance."

Antoine Semenyo has been linked with a transfer to Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, with the Bournemouth winger's form having attracted plenty of attention

Everything you need to know about Antoine Semenyo's future with Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham in transfer race for Bournemouth star...

Manchester City: City are described as being serious contenders and are "seriously considering" activating his release clause. Reports suggest they have made formal inquiries and view him as a dynamic addition to their attack.

Manchester United: The Reds are also lurking and are keen on the player, potentially to bolster their attack, especially with a need for more firepower in January.

Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs are said to be "stepping up" and "intensifying their interest," looking to move quickly to get ahead of their rivals. They were reportedly deterred by Bournemouth's valuation last summer but are now more willing to meet the current asking price, as per Sky Sports.

Liverpool: Arne Slot's side have a long-standing interest in Semenyo and view him as a potential long-term successor to Mohamed Salah. However, they are reportedly drawing up a "Plan B" shortlist due to the strong interest from Manchester City.

Release Clause: Semenyo's contract is widely reported to include a release clause, which is generally cited to be £65million.

Clause Deadline: Some reports suggest the clause is active only in the opening week of the January window, or that it must be triggered by an undisclosed date this January to give Bournemouth time for a replacement.

Future Clause: Interestingly, one report suggests the release clause drops to nearer £50million in the summer 2026 transfer window, which may be why Bournemouth is keen to encourage a January auction.

Top performances: The 25-year-old Ghanaian international has been in excellent form for Bournemouth, recording six goals and three assists in just 12 Premier League appearances this season.

Sell-on clause: His former club, Bristol City, stands to benefit significantly from a move due to a reported 20% sell-on clause. If the £65m clause is met, this could net the Championship club around £11million.

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Manchester United came from behind to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon - getting back to winning ways in the Premier League in the process

Manchester United have ended a run of three games without a win following Sunday’s victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. It has been another mixed start to the season for the Reds, with a handful of promising results sandwiched between some far less impressive spells.

This season, Ruben Amorim’s side have beaten the likes of Liverpool away from home, yet Monday night’s display against 10-man Everton ended in bitter disappointment. Against Palace, after an evenly matched opening to the game, United were cruelly undone before half-time as Leny Yoro conceded a needless penalty.

The defender clipped striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in the box, and the forward converted from the spot, even after having to retake it due to a double kick. But it was Joshua Zirkzee who came to the rescue before the hour mark.

A free-kick delivered into the box found the Dutchman, who managed to finish from one of the tightest angles with a spectacular strike to level the score. Then Mason Mount found the net a little under 10 minutes later to complete the comeback and put United ahead for the first time in the match.

A free-kick routine saw Bruno Fernandes lay it off to Mount, who drilled a low shot inside the post. The result moves them into sixth in the Premier League table, just a point outside the top four as things stand. So, here's a look at how United's next five fixtures stack up against some of their rivals...

Man United's next five Premier League fixtures

West Ham United (H) - December 4

Wolves (A) - December 8

Bournemouth (H) - December 15

Aston Villa (A) - December 21

Newcastle United (H) - December 26

Liverpool's next five Premier League fixtures

West Ham (A) - November 30

Sunderland (H) - December 3

Leeds United (A) - December 6

Brighton (H) - December 13

Tottenham (A) - December 20

Tottenham Hotspur's next five Premier League fixtures

Newcastle United (A) - December 2

Brentford (H) - December 6

Nottingham Forest (A) - December 14

Liverpool (H) - December 20

Crystal Palace (A) - December 28

Aston Villa's next five Premier League fixtures

Wolves (H) - November 30

Brighton (A) - December 3

Arsenal (H) - December 6

West Ham (A) - December 14

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko was not seen taking part in the training session held prior to the clash with Everton on Monday night. The Slovenian hobbled off the pitch against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, leaving the Reds with just ten men for the remainder of the game.

The forward went straight down the tunnel and Ruben Amorim hinted he may have to delve into the transfer market if his injury is a long-term issue. Whether that is the case or not remains to be seen but Sesko was not seen taking part in training on Friday morning. Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo were also not seen in the training session.

Since Sesko made his full United debut Amorim has either opted to start the Slovenian or play in a strikerless formation, with the latter choice opted for against Liverpool and Tottenham. The Reds could call on Joshua Zirkzee if Sesko is out but so far this season the Dutchman has only played 90 minutes over the course of five appearances.

The more likely option would be for United to stick with the same system which they started with against Spurs. This would mean Amad possibly playing alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha leading the line as a false nine.

Alternatively, Mason Mount could be given a recall to the starting line-up. He impressed when he came on against Tottenham and set up two chances for Sesko in that draw.

Manchester United are waiting for an update on Benjamin Sesko's injury after he limped off during the draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will be eagerly awaiting news on Benjamin Sesko's injury ahead of the clash with Everton.

Joshua Zirkzee is the only other senior forward available to Ruben Amorim, but he has been on the fringes of first team action this season.

United could be without Sesko for the visit of Everton next Monday, so how will they line up if the Slovenian is not fit?

If Amorim continues to overlook Zirkzee when naming his starting XI, United will adopt a strikerless system against Everton. This could see Noussair Mazraoui retain his place at right wing-back with Amad in the No.10 role. Bryan Mbeumo could then move across to the left with Matheus Cunha leading the line in a 'false nine' role.

This would give Mazraoui some more much-needed minutes having been eased back into action by Amorim following an injury. It also pushes Amad into a more offensive position, with the Ivorian having struggled with the defensive side of his role at right wing-back at times.

However, if Everton play with a low block at Old Trafford, having an attacking outlet like Amad at right wing-back might be a good option. If he does start in that role, we can expect to see Mason Mount brought back into the starting XI to play alongside Mbeumo.

Amorim is a big fan of Mount and he has so far managed to avoid any major injury concerns this season.

United have looked impressive when playing in a strikerless formation at times this season and with plenty of options for Amorim to choose from, Sesko's absence might not be felt as harshly as you'd expect if he is ruled out.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has explained why he was left unimpressed by Djed Spence's behaviour after the Tottenham Hotspur star blanked Thomas Frank.

It was after Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in the Premier League earlier this month that Spence left the pitch and appeared to ignore Frank after the final whistle.

The Tottenham defender has been called up by Tuchel for the World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, but was an unused substitute for the first fixture on Thursday against Serbia.

Tuchel is currently preparing the England squad to face Albania on Sunday evening, and has explained why he was not impressed by Spence's behaviour.

"Yeah, I didn’t like it," Tuchel told the Daily Mail.

"Because the players know they are not only national players when they are the 10 days in camp, they are always national players and the standard of behaviour is always important."

It remains to be seen if Tuchel will name Spence in the starting line-up in Tirana for the World Cup qualifier with Albania, with the Three Lions already having booked their place in next summer's tournament in the United States with a 100 percent record from seven matches.

Spence was alongside Micky van de Ven who also appeared to blank Frank after Tottenham's defeat to Chelsea earlier this month.

Frank provided more insight into what happened behind the scenes, with the Tottenham boss confirming that the pair apologised for their actions.

"Micky and Djed came into my office yesterday, unprompted. And just said: 'Want to say sorry for the situation'," Frank told reporters on November 3 ahead of a Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen.

"They didn’t want it to look bad or disrespectful or all of the kind of perceptions you can get in this beautiful media world. That was not the intention at all towards me or the team or the club.

"They were just frustrated with the performance, the loss and the booing during the game."

Marcus Rashford is scheduled for a Manchester United return next summer but the forward's future remains uncertain

Marcus Rashford already had a cordial relationship with James Maddison before rumours linked the England forward to Tottenham Hotspur.

The star, currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, is set to remain with the Spanish heavyweights until the end of the season. With Ruben Amorim not including the 28-year-old in his plans at Old Trafford, Rashford's future beyond next summer is uncertain.

Rashford has found his form again in Spain, contributing 15 goals and assists combined in just 16 matches across all competitions for Barcelona. The Catalan club reportedly has a £26million option to buy at the end of his temporary stint.

However, a return to England could be on the cards for Rashford, with Spanish reports suggesting that his agent and brother, Dwaine Maynard, has initiated discussions with Spurs and Chelsea regarding a potential transfer.

If Rashford were to make the move to north London, he would reunite with several international colleagues, including Maddison, with whom he shares a good friendship. The duo have often appeared friendly during England call-ups and have exchanged complimentary messages on social media.

It was following Rashford's double for United in a Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2019 that saw the pair take to Instagram. The forward scored a penalty and a stunning free-kick at Stamford Bridge and posted a photo of himself celebrating in front of the Blues supporters on social media.

He posted: "Class win. Class support. Class night. Hope you enjoyed your birthday Dwaine Maynard (Rashford's brother and agent)" prompting Maddison to comment: "Nah that free-kick," with a shocked-face emoji. Rashford responded: "Maddison [I've] been watching you mate."

Another recent exchange occurred this summer amidst widespread speculation about Rashford's future. In June, he shared holiday photographs on Instagram captioned: "The lost files. Summer 25" which the Tottenham player liked.

Maddison - sidelined for much of the campaign after sustaining an ACL injury during pre-season - would likely welcome Rashford joining Spurs. The midfielder's vision and passing ability could work tremendously in tandem with Rashford's runs in behind defences, though the striker has spoken enthusiastically about his Barcelona experience.

In an ESPN interview last month, Rashford confirmed: "Oh yeah, for sure," when questioned about staying at Barcelona. He continued: "I'm enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game. For a player it is an honour."

Describing it as a "perfect scenario" playing alongside world-class talent, Rashford singled out two team-mates for particular commendation. "Lots of players have lots of qualities but probably the standouts are Lamine Yamal. And, for me, Pedri is unbelievable," he said.

"I knew he was good before I played with him. But to play with him everyday is unbelievable. Relationships on the pitch, the ones I am still learning, are very important. When it comes to the matchday, these are things which make small differences. They have such high quality. It's the perfect scenario to play with players like this."

Centre-half relief

Harry Maguire has shared an update on his injury scare, which will relieve Ruben Amorim and especially the United hierarchy ahead of the January transfer window.

The experienced centre-half suffered a hamstring issue during the 2-2 draw at Tottenham and had to be withdrawn.

But it's not a long-term problem, it seems, and means United won't have to turn to the market to fill the void in the second half of the season.

Maguire shared a couple of posts on his Instagram story to show he was working on his fitness during the international break.

Bet365 Man United offer

Manchester United extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five games against Tottenham on Saturday.

Spurs were seconds away from only a fourth Premier League home win in 2025 when Mathys Tel and Richarlison struck late on to put them 2-1 up.

But Matthijs de Ligt struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for United.

The Reds face Everton after the international break before concluding November against Crystal Palace.

Games against West Ham United, Wolves and Bournemouth kick start December, and United are 20/1 with Bet365 to win all five games.

El Mala linked with Roma amid Zirkzee speculation

Roma are reportedly exploring attacking options for January as they continue talks over Joshua Zirkzee.

The MEN reported last month that Zirkzee wants to leave United in January and, despite his struggles, is unlikely to be short of offers.

Spanish side Sevilla are keeping tabs on Zirkzee's situation, while West Ham United have also been linked with a move for the forward.

Roma were one of the first clubs to be linked with a move for the forward, but according to Corriere dello Sport, Cologne star Said El Mala has also caught the eye of the Italian side.

Sesko statement released

The Football Association of Slovenia has moved to calm down the club-versus-country row Benjamin Sesko has found himself caught up in.

Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek was left furious earlier this week after he claimed he had been kept in the dark by Manchester United over the injured striker and demanded his country be shown “maximum respect”.

Kek had threatened, according to the Daily Mail, to cause a 'diplomatic incident' and would have preferred his own doctors to examine Sesko. Instead, the forward, who picked up a knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, was examined by United’s medical staff and has stayed at Carrington for further treatment rather than link up with the Slovenia national side.

Read more here

Dorgu transfer slammed

Ruben Amorim's first Manchester United signing has been brutally slammed by a former club scout. Amorim has overseen two trading periods during his 12 months at Old Trafford, with five senior signings made and just under £250million spent.

Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens were the players acquired this summer with all four impressing to some degree. Patrick Dorgu was the first signing made by Amorim when he joined from Lecce in a £29.2million deal in the January transfer window.

The Denmark international appeared to be perfect for Amorim's wing-back system, but he has struggled for regular starts this season, particularly when Amad is deployed on the opposite flank.

Read more here

Solskjaer reveals Sancho issue

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had his say on Jadon Sancho's time at Old Trafford.

The English winger joined United in the summer of 2021, but fell out of favour at Old Trafford under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. After being sidelined from the squad by two different managers, he has been sent on three separate loan spells, the first of which saw him return to his former club Borussia Dortmund, where he played a crucial role in getting the German side to the Champions League final.

He was loaned to Chelsea last season, with his move including a £25million obligation-to-buy clause. However, the Blues chose to pay a fifth of that as a penalty fee for not exercising that option.

Read more here

£70m 'talks'

Manchester United have reportedly been put on red alert about the possibility of signing Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi. The speedy forward is enduring a difficult spell at Dortmund and is unsettled as the January transfer window approaches.

Bild report, via the Mirror, that talks are ‘in full swing’ behind the scenes over Adeyemi’s long-term future at the club. He is currently tied down until June 2027, but his new agent Jorge Mendes is pushing for fresh terms, which would include a £70million release clause.

Casemiro curveball

Manchester United find themselves in a predicament when it comes to deciding Casemiro's future.

On the one hand, the Brazilian has managed to become an integral part of Ruben Amorim's team this season. We have said time and time again that United look worse when the midfielder is not on the pitch.

Full credit goes to Casemiro for this. Last season he looked like he would never return to a point where he could perform week in, week out, in the Premier League.

Read the full piece here

Rashford transfer theory shut down

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has dismissed the notion that £28million is a bargain price for Barcelona to sign Marcus Rashford.

"I think Marcus Rashford does provide a bit of worry," he said, via OLBG. "You have to manage him. What happened to him at United?

"I think something could happen again so I think that he has to have his own objective. I think he needs to come back to that level and maintain that to be in the World Cup and win it. That's what I hope for him."

Read more here

January transfer claim

Sky Sports News report that United are not expected to sign any new players in the January transfer window. Ruben Amorim is set to lose Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui to the Africa Cup of Nations which begins in late December.

Amorim has also acknowledged that the seriousness of Benjamin Sesko's knee problem might affect their strategy.

"We have to check everything, we have to check what has happened with Ben," he said.

"Of course, we are going to have a problem there [with AFCON], but we already knew. Then you can prepare that in the summer, but then you have a lot of players in the summer who are not going to play because it's one game per week. So the management of that situation is going to be hard.

"But let's see when the window is open, if we can improve the team and try to prepare something that happened. Until then, we have to take the chance."

Anderson 'interest' amid Baleba choice

Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg has claimed that United remain keen on Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and have registered serious interest with a fee of £100m-£120m being demanded.

That update suggests that some form of talks have been held whether that be internally, with Forest or to Anderson's camp.

Toney update

Ivan Toney is reportedly open to a Premier League return in January amid speculation around a potential move to Manchester United. The 29-year-old has spent the last 15 months in Saudi Arabia after he left Brentford to sign for Al-Ahli in August 2024.

Since his move to the Middle East, Toney has scored 41 goals and provided eight assists in 59 appearances. With the ex-Peterborough man netting 11 of those in 15 matches this season, talk has increased that he could be set for a move back to English football.

Toney is thought to be considering a return to the Premier League following his exit from Brentford last summer. It's added that numerous top-flight clubs have made enquires about a January deal, with Everton and Tottenham among those interested.

While there is no specific mention of United's name in the report, the Reds wanted Toney before he went to Saudi Arabia. After impressing for Gareth Southgate's England at Euro 2024, the Old Trafford club considered Toney as a striker option as they tried to strengthen their front line.

Good morning

Welcome to our live coverage this morning as Manchester United head into the November international break feeling much better about themselves amid a five-match unbeaten run.

The Reds return to action on Monday, November 24 at home to Everton (8pm kick-off) before a trip to Crystal Palace six days later. Attention will also soon be turning to the January transfer window, which opens on New Year's Day before closing on February 2.

Stick with us throughout the day for all the latest!