Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, is considering the inclusion of London-born Nigerian right-back Habeeb Ogunneye in the squad for Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Arsenal at Old Trafford, according to reports from Sportblog247.com.
Recent training images released by Manchester United show Ogunneye, an England youth international, participating in sessions with the first-team players at Carrington. Alongside Ogunneye, academy prospects Harry Amass, Louis Jackson, Toby Collyer, and Ethan Wheatley were also invited to train with the senior squad on Thursday.
United faces defensive concerns leading up to the Arsenal fixture, with players like Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, and Willy Kambwala all listed as doubtful for the match. Additionally, Argentina center-back Lisandro Martinez is under assessment after rejoining team training this week.
Ogunneye has been given opportunities to train with the first team due to the club’s extensive injury list. Despite being only 18 years old, he has already been included in matchday squads for several Premier League games and featured as an unused substitute in FA Cup matches this season.
Throughout the campaign, Ogunneye has represented Manchester United across various competitions, including the U18 Premier League, U18 Premier League Cup, Premier League 2, FA Youth Cup, UEFA Youth League, and EFL Trophy.
Reports suggest that Manchester United is entering the fray to secure the services of Nigerian central defender Tosin Adarabioyo in the upcoming summer transfer window. Adarabioyo, a product of the Manchester City academy, is set to depart Fulham after declining a lucrative contract extension, attracting interest from several Premier League clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Newcastle United.
According to ESPN’s Rob Dawson, Manchester United is now in the mix for Adarabioyo, considering a potential free transfer move to Old Trafford. The Red Devils are seeking defensive reinforcements, with uncertainties surrounding the futures of Raphaël Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf, and Jonny Evans.
The appointment of Jason Wilcox as Manchester United’s technical director adds familiarity to the potential deal, given his past association with Adarabioyo during their time at Manchester City. Despite being in good form this season, making 25 appearances with two goals, Adarabioyo finds himself surplus to requirements at Fulham, with manager Marco Silva sidelining him in recent fixtures against Crystal Palace and Brentford.
In a bid to strengthen their national team, Ghana is actively pursuing 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, a former graduate of the Manchester United Academy, to consider playing senior international football for them. Despite Mainoo’s previous representation of England at the youth level, Ghana is extending an invitation for him to showcase his skills on the international stage.
Randy Abbey, a member of the executive council of the Ghana Football Association, expressed the association’s keen interest in identifying and persuading talented players like Mainoo for their national teams. Abbey emphasized the commitment to working with exceptional talents, both within the country and abroad, to bolster Ghana’s football prowess.
Manchester United shot-stopper Andre Onana has found himself in the midst of controversy after opting to delay his departure from the club, consequently missing Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener.
Former player Sebastien Bassong did not mince words, criticising Onana for “sending a bad message” and emphasising the impact on the perceived respect for AFCON.
Bassong stated to the BBC, “If we don’t even respect ourselves, how can you expect other people to treat you any different? I like Andre, I’ll always have his back when I have to, but when things like that happen, the nation, the pride of the country and the continent is way more significant than an individual person.”
Despite the disapproval, Cameroon football chief Samuel Eto’o backed Onana’s decision, acknowledging the controversy surrounding it. Notable players like Mohamed Salah adhered to their national team commitments without delay, showcasing a sense of responsibility towards the tournament.
This move by Onana has sparked a broader discussion about the balance between club and international commitments, with differing opinions on the matter. Onana’s late decision to join the national team was primarily driven by his concern about losing his starting position to Turkey’s Altay Bayindir at Manchester United.
Having struggled for form since his transfer from Inter Milan, Onana is determined not to give his deputy any additional playing time. As the AFCON unfolds, the goalkeeper’s return to United for their FA Cup clash depends on Cameroon’s performance in a group that includes Guinea, Senegal, and Gambia.
In the larger context of football dynamics, this situation raises questions about the challenges players face in navigating their allegiance between club and country, especially when competition for starting positions intensifies.
The quotes and reactions from figures like Bassong and Eto’o underline the broader impact of individual decisions on the collective pride and perception of African nations in international football.
In a Monday showdown gearing up for the Africa Cup of Nations, Guinea triumphed 2-0 over Nigeria, but the victory came with a potential setback for Stuttgart and the Syli Nationale.
Serhou Guirassy, the 27-year-old goal machine, was substituted with a thigh injury in the first half, raising anxieties for the Bundesliga club. Guirassy’s stellar season, boasting 17 goals and one assist in 14 games, has drawn interest from clubs, with Manchester United among the suitors.
Despite a reported €17.5m release clause, Stuttgart is yet to receive offers, possibly due to uncertainty surrounding the extent of Guirassy’s injury.
As his national team prepares to face Gambia, Cameroon, and Senegal in the AFCON, Stuttgart closely monitors the situation, aware that the opening game against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday looms.
