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Michael Owen says £74m star is ‘not the answer’ for Man Utd

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Michael Owen says £74m star is ‘not the answer’ for Man Utd

Michael Owen has called on Manchester United to strengthen their attack in the coming years, insisting Benjamin Šeško is not the long-term solution to lead the line.

United invested £74 million to sign the Slovenian striker from RB Leipzig last summer, bringing him in as a replacement for Rasmus Højlund, who departed for Napoli. The move was seen as a major step toward solving the club’s issues up front.

However, Šeško struggled to make an immediate impact, managing just two goals in the first half of the campaign while playing under former boss Rúben Amorim.

His form has improved significantly since Michael Carrick took charge on an interim basis, with the 22-year-old netting eight times in his last 11 appearances and helping United climb to third in the Premier League table.

Despite that upturn, Owen remains unconvinced about the striker’s long-term role. He acknowledged that Šeško has shown improvement and regained confidence, but suggested United would still need a higher-level centre-forward if they want to compete for major honours again. In his view, the forward can be a useful part of the squad, contributing goals and adding depth, but not necessarily the player to build a title challenge around. He also hinted that in a must-win, high-stakes match, Šeško might not be the automatic choice to start.

Owen believes there is room for an upgrade in the near future, stressing that while the youngster is now playing with more belief and becoming an asset again, there is still a considerable gap between his current level and what is required to lead a club like Manchester United back to the top.

The former England striker also weighed in on the managerial situation at Old Trafford, strongly backing Carrick to be given the job on a permanent basis. He expressed surprise that there is even debate around the decision, arguing that the team’s current trajectory under Carrick should be enough to justify continuity.

According to Owen, replacing Carrick now would be a major risk, especially given the club’s turbulent history since the departure of Alex Ferguson. He pointed out that United have already experimented with a wide range of managerial profiles — from experienced winners like Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho, to former players such as Ole Gunnar Solskjær, as well as more unconventional appointments like Ralf Rangnick and Amorim.

He argued that after years of inconsistency, United may have finally found a coach who is getting the best out of the squad. The team is winning games, performances are improving, and several players are showing their best form in years. For Owen, that progress should not be disrupted.

He suggested a short-term deal could be a sensible approach, allowing the club to continue building momentum while keeping flexibility for the future. In his view, there is little downside to backing Carrick now, especially given the current positive trend.

United’s recent 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth may have slowed their momentum slightly, but they remain third in the league and firmly in contention for a Champions League place — a position that reflects the progress made in recent months.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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