Romelu Lukaku hilariously trolls Bailly on Instagram about this picture in training

Romelu Lukaku.

Jose Mourinho is well on his way towards building a side capable of challenging for the Premier League next season.

Last summer, the Portuguese manager signed Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a grand total of approximately £145 million.

The trio all impressed in bursts throughout the 2016/17 season - especially Bailly - and are expected to continue improving at Old Trafford.

As for this summer, Mourinho has completed moves for Victor Lindelof (£30.75 million from Benfica) and Romelu Lukaku from Everton for £75 million.

Further signings are expected, with Nemanja Matic, Fabinho and Tiemoue Bakayoko all linked with big-money transfers.

One thing Mourinho doesn't need more of in his Manchester United side is height; David de Gea, Marouane Fellaini, Pogba, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Lukaku, Bailly and Lindelof are all at least 6'2" tall.

United have never been a long-ball side, but that style of play could always come in handy if they're in desperate need for a goal.

It's in pre-season training where Mourinho will look to further implement his philosophy and by the looks of it, there is some fun involved, too.

United's players were pictured today on each other's backs taking part in some kind of team building exercise (see below).

Lukaku, being the beast he is, was usually the one carrying his teammates and he's now posted a pretty hilarious picture on Instagram from the drill involving Bailly.

In the post below, Bailly is looking pretty menacingly at Lukaku, to which he joked: "Eric relax we're teammates now💯.. #ThatLookTho.. #MUTOUR #REDROM #MUFC."

There are not many defenders that scare Lukaku, but Bailly has proved over the past year that he isn't one to be messed with.

The Ivorian is expected to partner Lindelof at the heart of United's defence next season in a partnership that boasts speed, strength and aggression.

Reports: Manchester United step up efforts to sign £95m duo

Manchester United will be looking to wrap up the double deal for two stars and it will cost them 95m.

Ed Woodward is all set to seal the deal and potentially wrap up United’s transfer activities.

What's the story 

In conjunction with the course of their business in the recent transfer windows, Manchester United are ready to break the bank again this summer. And according to the Mirror, the Red Devils' executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is staying back in England in hopes of completing the signings of Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan and Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur.

In case you didn't know...

Perisic has established himself as one of the best out and out wingers in world football at the moment with his performances for both Inter and Croatia. He was one of the stand-out performers in the Inter Milan side in the last season which turned out to be quite disappointing for the San Siro outfit.

On the other hand, Dier, at 23 is one of the brightest prospects in English football right now. He is a versatile player and Mauricio Pochettino has employed him in three different roles, namely as a defensive midfielder, a fullback and a centre back.

United are also reportedly exploring their options after the prospect of signing Nemanja Matic from Chelsea came to grief.

The heart of the matter

United have been in the hunt for a winger who can utilise the flanks and have been linked with Perisic since the summer transfer window opened. The Old Trafford unit having been reliant on fullback Antonio Valencia's pace and stamina to raid the right wing and swing in crosses for the likes of Zlatan or Rashford to pounce upon. With Anthony Martial being rather inconsistent down the left flank, United are direly in need of landing a pacey winger who can go full throttle in counter attacks.

The 28-year-old, like most of his contemporaries, likes to cut in from the flanks. But what sets him apart is his willingness to rush as far as the corner flag and send in balls into the box. In the 2016-17 campaign in Serie A, the 28-year-old Croatian picked up 11 goals and eight assists. He created 61 chances in 36 appearances for Inter in Serie A.

United have reportedly had two of their bids for the Croatian international turned down by Inter who are said to be holding out for a fee of £48m. The Mancunians whose latest bid for the Croatian stands at £45m expects the sum to be convincing enough for Inter Milan to send the winger to Manchester.

Mourinho has also been combing the market for a defensive midfielder who can step up to the heart of their midfield when Michael Carrick leaves at the end of the year. United, who have had their previous approaches for Eric Dier rebuffed, have been told that the Englishman is not for sale by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

The England international is believed to be open to a move to Old Trafford and knows he will be deployed as a defensive midfielder under the Portuguese. The youngster who is a good passer of the ball and impressive with it at his feet has had his tenure at midfield cut short following the arrival of Victor Wanyama and has been playing as a defender ever since at White Hart Lane. One of the other talking points when it comes to Eric Dier is that United will be willing to double the youngster's wage if he joins them.

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Author's take

Manchester United is one of the richest clubs in the world. They’ve already spent over a £100m on the deals of Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof has proved time and again the money is not going to be a stumbling block in any of the deals they want to be done. There is no question when it comes to the quality that Perisic and Dier could add to the United squad.

Man United post beautiful tweet after Wayne Rooney signs for Everton

Wayne Rooney.

Everton have confirmed the signing of Wayne Rooney from Manchester United.

The 31-year-old has returned to Goodison Park on a two-year deal, bringing to a close his incredible 13-year Man United career.

It’s the perfect move for Rooney after he was deemed surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho. The attacking-midfielder started 15 league matches last season and his production has significantly reduced over the past few years.

If you asked Rooney which club he wanted to sign for, he probably would have said Everton. A boyhood Blue, England’s all-time leading goalscorer came through the youth ranks at the Toffees and has now been given the chance to return to the place where it all began.

“Wayne has shown me that ambition that we need and that winning mentality – he knows how to win titles and I’m really happy he’s decided to come home,” Everton boss Ronald Koeman said, per Everton’s website.

“He loves Everton and he was desperate to come back. He is still only 31 and I don’t have any doubts about his qualities. It’s fantastic he’s here.”

There were plenty of memorable moments

Manchester United fans will remember the highlights, of which there were many.

The hat-trick on his debut against Fenerbahce. The overhead bicycle kick against Manchester City in 2011. The winner against Aston Villa in the 2010 League Cup final.

Man United's lovely tweet

The Red Devils posted a lovely tweet after Everton confirmed the move.

“#FarewellToALegend,” they wrote.

“@WayneRooney is leaving #MUFC to return to Everton.

“Thank you, Wayne, from all of us.”

They added an image of Rooney. Check out the tweet below.

Mourinho: 'His experience and focus will be missed'

Man United boss Jose Mourinho called Rooney a “model professional”.

"It is no secret that I have long been an admirer of Wayne; he has been a model professional throughout his time at the club and will remain in the history books for many years to come,” Mourinho said, per United’s website.

"It is never easy to see a great player playing less football than he would like and I could not stand in his way when he asked to go back to Everton. His experience, focus and determination will be missed and I wish him well for the future."

Is Wayne Rooney the biggest hero in Man United's history? Let us know in the comments section below!

Robin van Persie: Man Utd striker unsure over new contract offer

Manchester United forward Robin van Persie admits he does not know whether he will be offered a new contract when his current deal expires in 2016.

"It is not up to me - for the moment I am staying here for another 18 months," said the Dutch international, 31. 

"That is it really. I can't look into the future. I don't know what is going to happen after that. We shall have to wait and see."

Check Out The Amazing Stat of Chelase FC [@chelsaefc] and Man City[@mcfc]

IS THIS A COINCIDENCE?

Take a look at these stats between CHELSEA FC &
MANCHESTER CITY in the EPL so far this season:

Crystal Palace FC [@cpfc] Announce Alan Pardew As The Club's New Manager

Crystal Palace Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Alan Pardew as the club's new manager after signing a three and a half year contract. 

 

Chairman Steve Parish welcomes the former Palace midfielder back to Selhurst Park. "We wanted a manager with a great track record and proven experience in the Barclays Premier League. In Alan we have both these things as well as a man who has great affection for this club and shares my determination to take us to the next level."

 

Commenting on his new role, Pardew said, "I am absolutely delighted to be the new manager of Crystal Palace. Everyone knows my history here, what's important now is to move the club to the next level. I believe with the backing of Steve and the board I can help achieve that and create some new exciting history for the club.

 

Crystal Palace would like to put on record their thanks to Newcastle United Football Club, in particular Mike Ashley, for their co-operation throughout the negotiations.

 

During his playing career at Crystal Palace, Alan played 128 times, seeing promotion in 1989 and reaching the FA Cup Final in 1990.

 

In his management career Alan led Reading and West Ham United to promotion, and since taking over Newcastle in 2010, he has had four successful seasons including being named manager of the year after finishing in 5th place.

 

Alan will take charge of the team for the FA Cup tie on Sunday against Dover Athletic, after watching the team at Villa Park on New Year's Day.  

 

The first exclusive interview with Alan will be available to watch from 10am this morning at cpfc.co.uk

Read more at http://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/article/pardew-named-as-manager-2179130.aspx#PGWsBYlSeK5EfLfZ.99

GARETH BALE TO MANCHESTER UNITED

The news of a sensational switch for the explosive Welsh winger looks to be gathering momentum as Spanish paper AS claim that van Gaal is preparing to offer £120m for the 25-year-old. Gareth Bale already holds the title of the world’s most expensive footballer when he moved to the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a fee of around £85.5m. Bale is enjoying life in Spain and last season tasted his first piece of silverware winning the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

Arsenal Transfer News: Chris Smalling Talks Reported, Alexis Sanchez Latest

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images 

Tom 
Sunderland

Nov 13, 2014

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Arsenal have gone through some difficult times of late, but the January transfer window may provide the club with some relief as reports emerge that talks will soon commence to sign Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.

Perhaps the more positive news, however, is that Alexis Sanchez remains focused on seeing the Gunners improve, doing away with fears that he's already growing restless at Emirates Stadium.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Since arriving from Barcelona in a £35 million deal over the summer, Sanchez has quickly risen to become a key component of Arsene Wenger's line-up, scoring eight of Arsenal's 19 Premier League goals this term.

A lack of results led to rumbles that Sanchez was "unhappy" in north London, per the Daily Star's Nick Lustig, but Bleacher Report's Guillem Balague spoke to the attacker (via Spanish newspaper AS), helping dismiss the rumours:

The football played here is really tough – it’s very difficult. It’s been a struggle to adapt. Out of all of the leagues I have played in, this is the toughest. I’m enjoying the challenge, but it’s anything but easy.

There's not such a great difference between the teams. The clubs at the bottom of the table can complicate matters for those at the top. Every game is decided by some small, minor details and I really love that – it keeps you alert, on your toes.

Little by little I am gaining the confidence of my team mates and we're getting to know each other better. At first I did struggle to understand them – to guess what spaces they would run into, their movements and what their gesturing meant. Now I know all of their virtues, I know more now what they are like and that makes me feel much more relaxed and allows me to enjoy my game more.

On the same day that those reports emerged linking Sanchez with a premature Arsenal exit, the Chilean international posted his first tweet, which again appeared designed with a message of loyalty:

The Gunners have won just four of their first 11 Premier League games this season and sit sixth in the table. Sanchez's swift development is easily the brightest note to come from an otherwise disappointing campaign thus far.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The club have managed clean sheets in three of those victories, but it's clear that deeper reserves in defence may be needed if any top-four dreams are to be realised this season.

And it's reported Wenger sees Smalling as a likeable back-up, having been linked with the centre-back over the summer.Fichajes.net (h/t Metro) reports talks are imminent:  "The England international is a long-term target for Gunners boss ArseneWenger – who is desperate to add another defender in the new year. And amid talk that Smalling has been told he can leave OldTrafford, reports say Arsenal are set to begin talks over a switch."

The report states that United could part with their England international for a fee of £10 million, but with Louis van Gaal's side also struggling for a clean bill of health at the back, they may not be looking to sell.

Smalling was foolishly sent off in the Manchester derby at the beginning of November, drawing negative response from some critics, but WhoScored.com indicates he does have an impact on the side:

Marcos Rojo, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones have each suffered injuries this campaign, forcing the likes of Michael Carrick and youngster Paddy McNair into increased defensive responsibilities.

Smalling would join former Red Devil Danny Welbeck at the Emirates if he were to complete a switch, but with LaurentKoscielny and Per Mertesacker lurking, his first-team opportunities may not increase in the capital.