Manchester United have an uncertain end to the season ahead of them.
The Red Devils could still find success if they can overcome Manchester City in the FA Cup final but need to confirm their place in Europe for next term. A Premier League draw with Burnley last weekend was a blow but United are still set to finish sixth. They hold just a one point advantage over Newcastle going into the final month of 2023/24.
Away from the pitch, attention is already firmly placed on the summer. A significant overhaul is set to take place at Old Trafford as Sir Jim Ratcliffe puts together a new footballing hierarchy to work in the transfer window.
Those already at the club will be focused on Crystal Palace however. Both coaching staff and players will be looking to prove their value.
Mirror Football takes a look at some of the latest news around Manchester United.
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First departure confirmed
With few players not up for sale in the summer, it seems United may have already secured their first deal. Young defender Alvaro Fernandez Carreras departed the club on loan in January and that move is now to become permanent.
Reports in Portugal suggest Benfica are ready to take up the option available in the 21-year-old's loan agreement. A £5.1million fee is said to already be agreed.
The Spanish left-back joined United from Real Madrid in 2020 but failed to make a first team appearance before spending time on loan at Preston and Granada. The Red Devils cut the defender's time at Granada short to facilitate a move to Benfica.
Alvaro Fernandez will join Benfica permanently this summer (Eric Verhoeven/Getty Images)The Portuguese giants have seen their loanee come in and out of the starting XI in recent months but have been willing to part with the modest fee. Carreras featured in Benfica's weekend win over Braga as he helped inspire a comeback from a goal behind to earn a 3-1 victory.
Erik ten Hag stance
United boss Erik ten Hag is reluctant to make an Ajax return, despite t he insecurity around his position at Old Trafford. The Dutch manager has been linked with a return to his former club, with Mirror Football revealing last month that Ajax would welcome him back.
Ten Hag's time at United has been turbulent and a difficult second season has left many unconvinced by his ability to take the club forward. The arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the turnover in the football hierarchy at the club leaves the 54-year-old coach's position as one under assessment.
Despite the prospect of being relieved of his duties come the summer, Ajax are aware Ten Hag would be reluctant to walk out on his current role to ensure a return. For the moment they continue to monitor his situation in case he becomes available.
United warned off Ivan Toney
Ex-Manchester United defender Paul Parker believes his former side should steer clear of signing Brentford's Ivan Toney. The 60-year-old believes that the striker has not shown enough to dislodge Rasmus Hojlund or to take on a position of seniority.
Parker believes United should instead turn their attention to Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins has 19 goals and 12 assists in 34 Premier League appearances (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)"If you are going to bring in another player to give competition to Hojlund, in my opinion, it's not going to be Ivan Toney," Parker told mybettingsites, "It's going to be somebody of more note than Ivan Toney.
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"You'd say the same about Ivan Toney working with somebody of note. He hasn't had enough points on the board as a Premier League striker to be in the position of having an understudy, in my opinion."
"Does Ivan Toney play as a centre-forward? Not really. He's trying to play more like a Harry Kane in that sense.
"If you're going to bring a centre-forward in and you're going to keep him UK based, in my opinion you bring in Watkins. But he's going to cost you £100 million and deservedly at that. Ivan Toney, £25-30 million, but Watkins has proven his worth every time.”
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