Michael Carrick takes his Manchester United troops to Goodison tonight knowing a win would catapult them three points clear in the race for Champions League football .
The stars aligned on Saturday when Chelsea coughed up a late leveller against Burnley at the Bridge, handing the Reds a golden chance to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. Liam Rosenior’s men were seconds from three points before Zian Flemming’s 93rd minute header, and United aim to cash in.
It won’t be a stroll on Merseyside, mind. The Toffees rocked up to Old Trafford earlier this season and nicked the points despite playing 50 minutes with 10 men after Idrissa Gana Gueye’s early bath. Different times, different dugout, Ruben Amorim’s long gone, Carrick’s unbeaten and dreaming of a top four fairytale.
And here’s the carrot: top four means serious spending. Sources suggest the hierarchy are ready to hand Carrick or whoever’s in charge a whopping £200m war chest if they secure Champions League qualification . Suddenly every point’s worth its weight in gold.
McTominay’s Sell On Clause
Remember Scott McTominay? United certainly will if Napoli ever cash in on their midfield colossus.
The Scotsman’s been tearing it up in Serie A since his £25m move in 2024, bagging 12 goals in the Scudetto winning campaign and 10 already this term . He’s become a bonafide legend at the Stadio Maradona, with Antonio Conte desperate to tie him down until 2030 .
But here’s the kicker for United fans, the deal included a 10 per cent sell on clause . If Napoli ever pull the trigger on a sale, the Reds are quids in.
Not that it’s likely right now. McTominay’s agent Colin Murdock has been in Naples for talks over a new and improved deal, with the player admitting he could see himself at the club for a “long time” . “My family is happy, I’m happy. I’ve grown in Naples, both tactically and physically,” he told Corriere dello Sport .
There’s still that nagging romantic pull, though. Reports suggest McTominay “dreams” of a United return one day, feeling he’s got unfinished business at the Theatre of Dreams . For now, he’s focused on getting fit after a tendon problem, but that 10 per cent clause means United are always watching.
Onana’s Turkish Delight Turning Sour?
Andre Onana’s Trabzon adventure might be heading for an early bath.
The Cameroon keeper joined the Turkish side on loan after being frozen out by Ruben Amorim, but the escape route back to Manchester is well and truly blocked . United’s hierarchy have zero appetite for reintegrating the 29 year old, with Senne Lammens and Altay Bayindir firmly established as the future .
Trabzonspor opened talks over a permanent deal, but there’s two major hurdles, the fee and the wages. United need around £18.9m to break even from a PSR perspective on their original £47.2m outlay . The Turks are baulking at that figure, and Onana might need to take a pay cut to stay .
Reports of a return to Inter Milan have been shot down by Fabrizio Romano, who says he’s “not aware” of any San Siro interest . Besiktas and Fenerbahce are sniffing, but Onana’s future’s cloudier than a Manchester winter .
Fatih Tekke, the Trabzonspor boss, has given him private backing after a 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahce, but the club aren’t prioritising a summer deal . United’s contract runs until 2028, but everyone knows the script, Onana’s played his last game for the Reds .
All eyes on Goodison tonight. Win, and United take a giant stride towards that Champions League gold. The transfer dominoes are waiting to fall.
