Pressure mounts on Ten Hag as Rashford relationship breaks down

Ten Hag and Rashford relationship breaks down

The Sun believes that Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag are not on speaking terms and some staff at Manchester United think there is no way back.

Ten Hag is under pressure after a home defeat to Fulham at the weekend.

The paper writes: “Erik ten Hag and Marcus Rashford are barely on speaking terms as the pressure mounts on the Manchester United boss.

“Ten Hag was furious with Rashford when he went out partying until the early hours in Belfast last month when he was due in for training later that day.

“But the relationship between manager and player has not repaired despite Ten Hag claiming it had been put behind them.

“Staff are now concerned that the relationship between manager and player has broken down irrevocably as Rashford continues to struggle to find the form that lead him to career best figures of 30 goals last season.”

Barca eye De Zerbi switch

Barcelona want to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as the replacement for current manager Xavi, but with one particular stipulation.

The Mirror claims that the Catalan side do not want to pay Brighton any compensation to appoint their man.

The paper states: “Barcelona will only appoint Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager if they can somehow avoid paying his €15million (£12.8m) release clause.

“De Zerbi has emerged as Barca’s No.1 target in their search to find a successor to current boss Xavi, who’ll wave goodbye at the end of this season. But Brighton are desperate to keep the Italian and would be owed a sizeable sum should he depart.

“Described as ‘the chosen one’ in Spain, De Zerbi’s agents – Edmundo Kabchi and Edoardo Cnajr, who also represent Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo – are claimed to have already met sporting director Deco.

“Barca don’t want to pay a penny, as it’d only worsen financial predicament ahead of a summer which could see the La Liga giants forced into more big-money sales. Barcelona’s board admire the Italian and could see him on the touchline next season, both at the Montjuic and soon-to-be newly-renovated Camp Nou.”

Arsenal keen on Ajax youngster

Arsenal hope to sign Jorrel Hato amid interest from other European sides and Ajax’s hopes to sign him to a new deal.

The 17-year-old central defender has been impressing in the Netherlands, and Arsenal are in the market for reinforcements this summer.

The Evening Standard reports: “Ajax are working on tying down teen star Jorrel Hato to a new contract, as they brace themselves for summer interest from Arsenal and other top European clubs.

“The defender will have just one year left on his contract at the end of the season and Ajax want to extend his deal.

“The Dutch club are aware of Arsenal’s interest in Hato, as well as a number of European sides, and want to strengthen their hand ahead of any bids.

“Ajax also want to reward Hato for breaking into the first team and they hope he could be persuaded to stay beyond the summer.”

West Ham fear Paqueta exit

The Daily Mail reports that Lucas Paqueta’s uncertain future is hampering West Ham’s plans for the summer.

The Brazilian is wanted by Manchester City, but a betting probe by the FA could throw that move into doubt.

The paper explains: “West Ham are concerned that the FA’s betting probe into Lucas Paqueta could affect their transfer plans for a second successive summer, with his £85million release clause to become active at the end of the season.

“Paqueta is still subject to an active FA investigation six months after the governing body began making inquiries into suspicious betting patterns surrounding three bookings last year, which led to the collapse of an £80m move to Manchester City that had been agreed by the clubs. A similar FA investigation into bets placed on a single booking received by Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka three years ago took 17 months to conclude without any action being taken.

“City remain interested in signing Paqueta, who has shrugged off the controversy and injury problems to enjoy another excellent season for West Ham, with Pep Guardiola earmarking the 26-year-old as a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva.”