• Ed Woodward said to be content with recruitment process
• Nicky Butt will not have input on transfers in new role

Manchester United are relaxed about potentially entering the season without a technical director despite it being almost a year since the search to fill the role began.

Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, is understood to be content at how Ole Gunnar Solskjær and the manager’s assistant, Mike Phelan, have dovetailed with the recruitment department and the board regarding recruitment this summer.

Related: Cristiano Ronaldo will not face criminal charges over rape allegations

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This gossip must be living in paradise

Chinese Super League clubs Beijing Guoan, Jiangsu Suning and Shanghai Shenhua have no end of ambition. They’re banking on the fact that Gareth Bale’s own horizons have run out. Though to be fair, the offers look pretty fine to us, including benefits such as a luxury pad, lucrative image rights, regular first-class flights back home, and a manager that doesn’t think he’s a complete waste of space. We say go for it.

Bale’s departure would allow Real to sign Paul Pogba. What Manchester United then do with their money is a moot point. Spend it on £90m Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, perhaps. Or maybe they’ll go for Christian Eriksen, whose frequent come-and-get-me pleas to nobody in particular, anyone, just anyone, have been met on the continent with thundering indifference. Atlético Madrid were thinking about it, but turns out they’re more interested in James Rodríguez instead.

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• Goalkeeper says he would be ‘really happy’ to be captain
• Mata hopes ‘good influence’ Pogba will stay at United

David de Gea has said he would love to be named Manchester United captain as the goalkeeper prepares to extend his stay with the club.

The 28-year-old is understood to be preparing to sign an improved contract that is likely to run to 2025. He is keen to take on the captaincy, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær yet to confirm who will get the role after Antonio Valencia’s summer exit.

Related: Pre-season quiz: Lonergan? Spong? Who have these players turned out for?

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• Antonio Conte confirms club’s ongoing interest after friendly
• United beat Inter 1-0 thanks to Mason Greenwood’s goal

Manchester United have rejected a £54m bid from Internazionale for Romelu Lukaku and informed the Italian club it will need a significantly higher offer to succeed in luring the player away from Old Trafford.

Lukaku missed the pre-season friendly between the two clubs in Singapore on Saturday, after complaining of an ankle injury and was seen talking to Inter officials on the pitch after a 1-0 victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team, courtesy of a second-half winner from Mason Greenwood.

Related: Solskjær full of praise for Greenwood after Manchester United thrash Leeds

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This gossip doesn’t recognise all of these things

The transfer window is full of surprises, so here’s another. It turns out that, after spending more than £400m on players already this summer, Real Madrid have no money left with which to sign Paul Pogba. Apparently this is not because they never actually wanted him in the first place and have no use for an unreliable adornment who has never been the best player in a good team. As such, Florentino Pérez must convince Zinedine Zidane to use Gareth Bale instead – once the Open is finished, of course.

Another Manchester United player who might not be on the move is Romelu Lukaku. Inter are interested in securing his services, but are not sure that he’s worth £75m. It’s now up to Ed Woodward to explain that the fee includes not just the player but the antique grand piano he carries around with him on the pitch.

Related: Salomón Rondón leaves West Brom to rejoin Rafael Benítez at Dalian Yifang

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We take a look at one young player from each Premier League club who can make an impact this summer

Bukayo Saka, 17, winger

Related: Premier League transfers so far this summer and what each club still needs

Related: Everton’s summer of stealth continues with capture of Delph | Paul Wilson

Related: Che Adams: ‘In non-league it’s just a question of how hard you’re going to get kicked’

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• Greenwood scores as Man Utd beat Leeds 4-0 in Australia
• Newcastle beaten 4-0 by Wolves as Bruce appointed manager

Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford put Manchester United on course for a 4-0 pre-season win against Leeds in Australia. A fine move involving the impressive Paul Pogba and the £45m signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka led to 17-year-old Greenwood’s first senior goal and Ole Gunnar Solskjær said the young forward may even force his way into his starting lineup for the first match of the Premier League season, against Chelsea.

“He’s got a chance of starting that one, definitely,” Solskjaer said. “He’s more than capable and will always be there, in and around the box, creating chances. And I won’t say that’s not a possibility, no, it’s a good possibility. If he keeps going as he does. It’s difficult to keep players out who perform well.

Related: Sheffield Wednesday take legal advice after Newcastle appoint Steve Bruce

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• United manager: ‘Paul is a fantastic player’
• Norwegian also sees Alexis Sánchez returning to his best

Ole Gunnar Solskjær still believes in building the Manchester United team around midfielder Paul Pogba – and remains confident Alexis Sánchez will finally come good.

As the disappointment of a turbulent 2018-19 season finally begins to subside, attention turns to returning the 20-times league champions to the top of the English game.

Related: Paul Pogba stalemate a pain for Manchester United manager and fans | Paul Wilson

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• Former Manchester United midfielder back in Premier League
• Morrison joins after leaving Swedish side Östersund

The Sheffield United manager, Chris Wilder, has backed Ravel Morrison “to get back to the level he wants to be” after confirming the signing of the former Manchester United midfielder on a one-year contract.

Morrison, who spent last season at the Swedish side Östersund, has been on trial with the newly promoted side in Portugal this week and will now form part of Wilder’s squad for the new season after agreeing the deal, which also has an option to extend it should he prove successful.

️ Ravel Morrison gives his first interview as a Sheffield United player.

➡️ https://t.co/YPF5ckpvNS#SUFC

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• Still no official bid for French midfielder
• Only three and a half weeks left of transfer window

Paul Pogba’s hopes of leaving Manchester United this summer are becoming remote with the club receiving no bids for the midfielder and the transfer window closing in less than a month.

The deadline of this summer’s transfer window is 8 August and is an issue regarding any potential deal. Ole Gunnar Solskjær has already lost a midfielder in Ander Herrera, who joined Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, so if Pogba was to depart it would be difficult for the manager to have to replace a second midfielder in the three and a half weeks left of the window.

Related: Manchester City's pre-season tour finally has lift-off … two days late

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The summer has been dominated by the Pogba saga but quietly the manager has reordered the first-team and under-23 set-ups

As Ole Gunnar Solskjær grapples with the formidable challenge of overhauling his Manchester United squad, the manager is being granted unequivocal backing regarding his backroom staff.

Paul Pogba is this summer’s transfer market soap opera, Solskjær having to manage the midfielder’s wish to depart while balancing the desire to gain an optimum price for the Frenchman and his own need to maintain dressing-room cohesion.

Related: Manchester United and Inter €13.5m apart in valuation of Romelu Lukaku

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Aston Villa have been the most active of the promoted clubs; Arsenal look to have work to do; Tottenham have secured their top target; Newcastle are still looking for a manager

What have they done so far? Nowhere near enough. Teenage striker Gabriel Martinelli has arrived from regional football in Brazil and is expected to need some adaptation and development time. David Ospina has departed for a modest fee.

Related: Are Aston Villa repeating mistakes Fulham made last summer? Not at all

Related: Transfer window 2019 – every summer deal from Europe's top five leagues

Related: Transfer window 2019 – every summer deal from Europe's top five leagues

Related: Manchester City are favourites to win the Champions League. But should they be? | Paul Wilson

Related: Premier League pre-season 2019: a full list of all the clubs’ friendlies

Related: Long contracts, big pay-offs: Premier League remains a manager's market

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• United open pre-season tour with 2-0 victory
• Solskjær able to name different XIs in each half

Marcus Rashford and the teenager James Garner got Manchester United’s pre-season tour off to a winning start, with the new boys Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka showing promise in a comfortable 2-0 victory against Perth Glory.

Rashford finished nicely before 17-year-old Garner came off the bench to score in the win at the mammoth Optus Stadium in Western Australia’s state capital.

Related: Perth Glory 0-2 Manchester United preseason friendly – live!

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• Minute-by-minute updates from Optus Stadium
• Any thoughts? Get in touch on email or tweet @JPHowcroft

12.04pm BST

Shane Lowry and Ashley Young lead the sides out onto Optus Stadium to the strains of This is the One by The Stone Roses, United’s traditional walk-out music at Old Trafford.

In case it wasn’t clear, savannah (the colour of United’s new away strip) is a mucky creamy colour. Apparently it’s something to do with Manchester’s Northern Quarter, possibly the flaking paint on an inside wall of Affleck’s Palace?

12.01pm BST

Paul Pogba is not in the starting XI but that doesn’t mean he won’t be making tomorrow’s headlines.

Related: Manchester United are under no pressure to sell players, says Ole Gunnar Solskjær

11.59am BST

The weather is a tad more Mancunian than the visitors might have expected for a trip to Australia. It’s chilly with an easterly breeze, but thankfully no rain.

11.52am BST

Just a reminder that Romelu Lukaku is not in the matchday squad tonight, and we’re told it’s because of a minor injury.

Related: Manchester United and Inter €13.5m apart in valuation of Romelu Lukaku

11.51am BST

Both sides are sporting new uniforms for tonight’s match. Glory’s purple home kit has been spruced up for the new season while United are modelling their latest away jersey, coloured - wait for it - savannah. Nope, me neither.

11.44am BST

Related: Manchester United go for potential but can Solskjær nurture it? | Paul Doyle

11.42am BST

They’re here: the @premierleague giants, @ManUtd!#MUTOUR #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/3ThQY3RKPQ

11.41am BST

Five things to look out for - Perth Glory:

11.30am BST

Five things to look out for - Man Utd:

11.27am BST

Tony Popovic is not going to die wondering. His starting XI is as mature as you could expect for this stage of preseason featuring nine regulars from the recent A-League premiership campaign as well as new signings Jacob Tratt and, most notably, Bruno Fornaroli. The bench is packed with kids, and we’re sure to see them at some point during the night, possibly even the coach’s sons, Kristian and Gabriel.

Ready for the Red Devils! Our Starting XI is in to take on Manchester United at 7pm.#MUTOUR #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/uAvm7WACsZ

11.21am BST

The headline news is no Lukaku, while Pogba starts on the bench. According to United Lukaku is carrying a knock and is expected to appear against Leeds on Wednesday.

There are starts for the returning Axel Tuanzebe, new signing Daniel James and promising youngster Tahith Chong.

Time to bring you today's #MUFC team news...#MUTOUR

11.07am BST

Hello and welcome to a special preseason minute-by-minute to keep an eye on the action from the opening match of Manchester United’s preseason tour. Preparations for the new campaign begin against A-League outfit Perth Glory with kick-off at Optus Stadium around 7pm local time (9pm on Australia’s east coast or noon in the UK).

Not for the first time in recent years United are enduring a turbulent preseason. Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s first transfer window in the hot seat has already seen fevered speculation over the future of record signing Paul Pogba, question marks over whether Romelu Lukaku will begin the season at Old Trafford, and renewed supporter discontent with the club’s ownership. All of this unrest is magnified by a trophy cabinet that went unfurnished last season while fierce rivals Manchester City and Liverpool went from strength to strength.

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• United turn down Inter’s offer of €70m paid over two years
• Inter now considering making a second bid

Manchester United and Internazionale are €13.5m apart in their valuation of Romelu Lukaku after the Premier League club turned down an opening offer of €70m paid over two years.

Related: Transfer window 2019 – every summer deal from Europe's top five leagues

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Today’s gossip came from the foot of our stairs

Arsenal are not giving up on signing Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace. As well as that derisory/prudent £40m initial bid for the winger, they are prepared to offer three players they value as worth another £40m into the deal. Calum Chambers, Mohamed Elneny and Carl Jenkinson may be running out at the Selhurst Colosseum if a deal now worth £80m in book value goes through. Palace, meanwhile, would prefer £70m straight out if they are to lose their Ivorian jewel.

Diego Costa back in the Premier League just as VAR comes in? Marco Silva wants the striker, who is surplus to requirements at Atlético Madrid, to be part of his Everton revolution, though director of football Marcel Brands is resistant to the arrival of a player as old as 30. Juventus’ Moise Kean, 19, and Lille’s Nicolas Pépé, 24, are more comfortably in that Brands bracket.

Related: Inter meet Manchester United to discuss Romelu Lukaku transfer

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• Inter sporting director in London for talks with United
• Serie A club’s offer worth €70m to be paid over two years

The Internazionale sporting director, Piero Ausilio, has travelled to London to meet Manchester United to see if his club’s offer to sign Romelu Lukaku has any chance of succeeding.

Related: Transfer window 2019 – every summer deal from Europe's top five leagues

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• Paul Pogba is a ‘top bloke’, says United boss
• Business as usual for team on pre-season trip to Perth

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has told Paul Pogba and any other wantaway players that Manchester United do not have to sell anyone. For the first time in 62 days, the United manager faced the media at the Waca Ground in Perth, where the press conference was dominated by the happiness of their record signing.

Pogba’s public declaration that he would be keen to leave for a “new challenge” has been compounded in recent days by the midfielder’s agent, with Mino Raiola saying he was “in the process” of arranging a move for the World Cup winner.

Related: Paul Pogba deserves Manchester United protection amid criticism, says agent

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• Mino Raiola says Pogba ‘respectful’ despite wanting transfer
• Agent claims club should have taken stand to help midfielder

Paul Pogba is showing Manchester United “respect” despite the midfielder’s determination to force himself out of the club, according to his agent, Mino Raiola.

The 26-year-old has stated he wants a new “challenge” and last week Raiola spoke of Pogba’s “willingness to move on”. This is despite Pogba being contracted until 2021 and being one of United’s highest-paid players.

Related: Manchester United go for potential but can Solskjær nurture it? | Paul Doyle

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Today’s tell-all is weighing up its options

A penny for John Terry’s thoughts. It only took one season in the Derby dugout for his old mucker Frank Lampard to be summoned back to Stamford Bridge for the top job. And that was after missing out on promotion to an Aston Villa side inspired, of course, by JT.

The former England captain has been cutting his teeth as an assistant to Villa’s Dean Smith but must have looked on with a tinge of envy as Lampard was unveiled by Chelsea last week at the age of only 41 – the same age as José Mourinho when he first arrived in 2004. While the Mill has no doubt that Terry wishes the man he shared a dressing room with for 13 years all the best in his new post, rumours that he could be in line to take over from Rafael Benítez at Newcastle should come as no surprise given his penchant for the limelight.

Related: Transfer window 2019 – every summer deal from Europe's top five leagues

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