Man Utd takeover news LIVE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally ANNOUNCED, £1.3bn deal for 25%, Dave Brailsford role update

Man Utd set to lose money on Van de Beek

Manchester United are reportedly expected to make a huge loss on Donny van de Beek.

The Dutchman is set to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in the January transfer window.

Van de Beek, 26, arrived at Old Trafford in 2020 as part of a £40million transfer from Ajax.

It was expected that the Bundesliga side would have the option to buy the midfielder for £13m next summer.

However, United could be set to make an even bigger loss than first thought.

The Athletic have claimed that Frankfurt could make the transfer permanent for just £9.5m.

West Ham 2-0 Man Utd

Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus have handed West Ham a 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the early kick-off this afternoon.

It will be a drab Christmas for Erik ten Hag as their winless run extends to four matches.

Here is what is still to come today...

• Fulham vs Burnley
• Luton vs Newcastle
• Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth
• Tottenham vs Everton
• Liverpool vs Arsenal (5.30pm)

West Ham 2-0 Man Utd

That could well be that.

Mohammed Kudus has doubled West Ham's lead with just 12 minutes remaining.

Mainoo makes the mistake and Kudus capitalises with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.

West Ham 1-0 Man Utd

West Ham have broken the deadlock with 18 minutes remaining through a Jarrod Bowen strike.

Manchester United do not have much time to respond at the London Stadium.

Man Utd fans unhappy with Rashford decision

Manchester United fans have slammed Erik ten Hag after he left Marcus Rashford on the bench against West Ham.

The England star missed out on a place in the starting line-up for the fourth consecutive match.

One supporter criticised the United boss saying: "Watching Garnacho start over Rashford is just criminal."

Another added: "This Alejandro Garnacho over Marcus Rashford experiment has to stop. It’s enough."

A third wrote: "There’s no reason Garnacho should be starting over Rashford."

And another commented: "I don’t care what form Rashford is in, I don’t care how good the bicycle kick was. Garnacho is awful in the final third and needs benching."

Rashford ended up replacing Rasmus Hojlund in the 57th minute.

Weghorst blames Ten Hag for Man Utd struggles

Former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst has sensationally blamed Erik ten Hag and the Dutchman's style of play for his struggles while on loan last season.

In an interview with The Mirror he said: "[When I signed] They were super successful months in which we hardly lost. I was also very important for the team, as both a focal point of play and hard-working link between midfield and attack.

"Only my goals were lagging behind. That gnawed at me and was the reason why I lost my starting place.

"The Premier League is by far the toughest league in the world, with the best defenders. But we were rarely the dominant side creating chances. And the way we played was also different from what I was used to."

He has, however, admitted that he should have notched more goals, adding: "In Germany and Turkey, the teams always played for me. I was the end of the line, while at United I mainly had to ensure that others could excel.

"I think I managed that very well. But whichever way you look at it, I would have liked to score much more often."

West Ham 0-0 Man Utd

Still goalless at the London Stadium and very little to report.

West Ham have had the only shot on target. Both sides yet to get going.

Ten Hag confirms Varane absence

Erik ten Hag has confirmed in his pre-match interview that Raphael Varane is missing due to illness.

The Frenchman's absence has paved the way for Willy Kambala to make his Manchester United debut this afternoon.

What an early Christmas present for the teenager.

Kamwala makes Man Utd debut

So it's a Manchester United debut for 19-year-old centre-back Willy Kambwala.

He comes in for the absent duo of Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane.

How will he perform against West Ham this afternoon?

Most boring Premier League clubs revealed

Manchester United have been voted the most boring Premier League team by fans.

Erik ten Hag's side have struggled this season and find themselves six points off the top four.

At the weekend they demonstrated their boring side by sitting back and containing Liverpool at Anfield in a 0-0 draw.

A survey of 1,000 fans conducted by Lucky Block found that United were the least entertaining to watch by fans, with the Red Devils picking up 10.5 per cent of the vote.

Only four teams have scored less goals than United's tally of 18 this season - four teams have scored double that amount including rivals Manchester City.

Two of the clubs who have scored less goals - Sheffield United and Burnley - were voted the second and third most boring clubs respectively.

Early team news vs West Ham

Bruno Fernandes will be back for Man Utd after serving his suspension against Liverpool.

The midfielder will be a welcome addition against West Ham as he can provide some much-needed attacking impetus.

Erik ten Hag, however, will continue to be without stars such as Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro and Mason Mount.

Defender Diogo Dalot will also miss out after being sent off against Liverpool.

Christian Eriksen is back in training but the game against West Ham could come too soon for the midfielder.

Man Utd games after West Ham clash

So Manchester United travel to West Ham this lunchtime as they seek to build on a goalless draw with Liverpool last weekend.

But what games do they have coming up after Christmas? Here is a look at Erik ten Hag's next four fixtures after today.

Solskjaer set to join Besiktas

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly on the verge of becoming Besiktas boss - and it could be good news for a former Manchester United player.

The ex-Red Devils manager has been out of work since he left Old Trafford following a two-and-a-half year spell in November 2021.

The 50-year-old Norwegian Solskjaer, who was previously in charge of Molde in his homeland and Cardiff City, oversaw 149 matches with United before he was axed after a 4-1 thumping at Watford.

Now NTV Spor claim that he is on the verge of a return to the dug-out with the Turkish giants.

They claim that Solskjaer has been in talks to replace Riza Calimbay, who was sacked after just seven games at the helm, for some time.

And now he is expected to pen a 18-month contract to take over Besiktas.

Villa join Man Utd in Werner race

Man Utd face competition from Aston Villa to sign RB Leipzig's Timo Werner on loan in the January transfer window, according to reports.

The Red Devils have been linked with a number of forwards including Mauro Icardi, Donyell Malen and Serhou Guirassy.

Earlier this month, Werner was also mooted as someone Erik ten Hag was looking at as a short-term solution to their scoring problems.

But according to Football Insider, Werner is an ideal loan option for Villa as they prepare to sign a "superstar striker" in the summer when Financial Fair Play permits them to do so.

The German has scored just two goals in 14 games for Leipzig this season.

But he did show glimpses during his time at Chelsea - where he scored 23 times and contributed a further 21 assists in 89 games for the club.

Sled Devils! Festive Utd jumper costs £36

Newcastle fans are knit amused by the £45 price tag for one of their club’s footie-themed Christmas jumpers.

Despite the Magpies having the richest owners in the world — the Saudi sovereign wealth fund — the black, white and gold jumper is more than any other Premier League club’s festive winter woolie.

Arsenal are selling their jumper, with yellow stripes on a blue background and red and white dots, for £40.

Manchester United have designed a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer jumper, selling at £36.

They are also offering one in the original club colours of green and yellow.

Defending champions Manchester City have set their price tag at £30 — while Chelsea and Liverpool are among several clubs selling their jumpers for £35.

The cheapest sweater in the Prem can be found at Luton Town, whose Santa-inspired design retails at just £22.

Fellow strugglers Burnley are the only club not seeling a festive jumper.

Clubs have hiked prices by up to 15 per cent compared with last year.

But last night, the cost of the festive jumper on NUFC’s online shop was slashed to £13.

Dan not the Man for United

Eddie Howe has no doubt that Newcastle transfer chief Dan Ashworth will turn Manchester United’s advances down. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is close to completing his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in the Red Devils, is keen for Ashworth to overhaul the club’s recruitment. 

The 52-year-old is first choice for the football supremo role when Ratcliffe and sidekick Sir Dave Brailsford take control of football operations.

The former FA exec only joined Toon from Brighton last year, with the Magpies having to pay the Seagulls a £5million compensation fee. 

A move is complicated given there is no release clause in Ashworth’s £1.5million-a-year contract, while it is also understood that he has a 12-month notice period at St James’ Park.