Crystal Palace and France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 29, is a target for Manchester United as they look to strengthen their attacking options. (TeamTalk), external
United are also planning to offer new terms for English defender Luke Shaw, 31, who is out of contract at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
It's been a busy few days on the blue side of Manchester.
On the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast, BBC Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath react to Manchester City being found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules.
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds
Manchester United and Arsenal are both keeping a close eye on Porto's 22-year-old Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa, but face competition from Paris St-Germain. (Caughtoffside), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesUnbelievably, sensible and well-informed people are seriously discussing Manchester City getting a huge points deduction or being demoted or kicked out of the English leagues completely.
There is also reasonable talk about them being sued by just about every other major club in the domestic game, and a few beyond that. That is before you get to the concept of titles being stripped and trophies retrospectively re-awarded to others.
There is still an appeal to be heard, but they have been found guilty already. Serious consequences must be considered. Following the draconian punishments handed to Everton and Nottingham Forest, among others, City might find they don't just have the book thrown at them, it is the entire British Library lobbed in their general direction.
Those other clubs cooperated in the process. City have faced more charges and they involve larger sums and over a longer time period. In short, things are not looking good for the club that dominated English football for almost a decade.
This may be the biggest story in the Premier League's history and it is going to run and run.
Other serious considerations will follow hard on the heels of the Blues' dilemmas – specifically what long-term effects will this have on the Premier League? They will not all be good ones.
Some reasonably argue that the financial rules City have been found to have broken shouldn't have been put there in the first place. They were brought in to safeguard the financial security of the clubs and the league, but try telling that to many City, Everton and Nottingham Forest fans just now.
Newcastle and Aston Villa have plenty of financial backing, but these rules have hurt their ability to grow and stay competitive with the legacy clubs. This all feels unfair if you are a supporter of those two.
The money that will now be frittered away by the English game on lawyers and legal fees is eye-watering, and it will grow exponentially as the litigation increases.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
Chelsea are monitoring Crystal Palace's England left-back Tyrick Mitchell, 27, but may face competition from Manchester United and Liverpool. (Caught Offside), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked you to rate Manchester United's start to the season and tell us what Michael Carrick should be focusing on during this extended international break.
Here are some of your comments:
Ricky: Slow, but not disastrous start. No need to hit the panic button! The first-team players that were late back after World Cup and the three new players in the midfield all need time to gel. I still believe a top-four finish is likely and they should give Carrick the full season.
Duncan: Not a great start, but some of the underlying stats are very positive. Let's not abandon ship just because the wind is blowing.
Godfrey: We should all calm down. Yes, the start of the season has been disappointing - there's no denying that. However, as Carrick keeps pointing out, there are a lot of results decided by fine margins. We finished last season with the most points from the games left from when Carrick took over. He deserves a full season to embed his ideas and get the new players settled in. Kobbie Mainoo has been immense so far and Marcus Rashford has looked good. He just needs a couple of goals and assists to settle him.
Hugh: United's start to this season has been really dismal, very poor. However, it is not a complete surprise. United failed to sign any of the top available players in the summer transfer market, and once again bought a player who was crocked. United are a badly run club now - just a commercial enterprise for very greedy and incompetent owners.
Bob: Having watched all the pre-season games, our comical defending has come as no surprise. However, the pedestrian football is back to the bad old days - possibly the Rashford effect. Carrick has three weeks to get to the bottom of it. Defeat by Tottenham really will mean we're in a crisis again.
Daniel Austin
BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesA 15-year-old growing up in the UK faces many tough personal decisions about their future - which school subjects to study, which social circle suits them, and where their priorities lie in life.
But in the past few weeks, the choices teenage Manchester United striker JJ Gabriel has been making about his future in football have drawn huge public attention in sports media.
Gabriel has informed the club that he wants to leave. BBC Sport has reported that he has stayed away from training and begun talking to other clubs because he and his representatives are unhappy with his progression.
The fact that a transfer saga involving a footballer so young could generate so much interest highlights a truth that to many is uncomfortable - money is changing how the football transfer market works, and children are increasingly deemed to be among its most valuable commodities.
So what is behind the rise in transfers involving boys who, in some cases, are not even old enough to have taken their GCSEs? And what kind of influence can the money on offer have on agents and parents?
Players can de-register from their academy at the end of their under-12, under-14 and under-16 seasons if they wish to explore options elsewhere.
They can be offered paid scholarship contracts from the season in which they turn 14, and they can sign professional deals from the season in which they turn 16.
Gabriel can also potentially join European clubs because he has an Irish passport.
"It is a really tough world," says Phil Jagielka, whose son Zac left Liverpool in 2024 and signed a scholarship deal at Hull City at 16. "Families want the best for their kids and you can't give them stick without knowing what their motivations are.
"The harsh reality is that if a young player fails to progress, or gets a bad injury, teams will stop being interested in them so there is an element of strike while the iron's hot."
The increasing allure of signing young academy players from rival clubs means some parents are now compiling data packs on their sons to give to potential clubs, and more and more children are being represented by football agents.
"There are good agents and bad agents," says Ryan Cardwell, a former youth scout at Liverpool and Southampton. "You certainly speak to some of them and think: 'That's completely the wrong idea' or 'This player is going to be misguided'.
"Sometimes they push for a move when a player isn't ready. The contracts can be enormous and can be a huge motivation to move. For that reason, I would quite like to see some form of financial cap."
Image source, Getty ImagesSunderland striker Brian Brobbey has been replaced by Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee in the Netherlands' squad for the remainder of the international break.
Brobbey, who has been named in Regis le Bris' starting XI for every Premier League fixture so far this season, was forced off with an apparent muscle injury in the first half of the Netherlands' 1-1 draw with Germany on Thursday.
The 24-year-old will return to Sunderland for treatment.
Brobbey went into the three-week break off the back of a hat-trick in Sunderland's 5-3 defeat by Manchester City.
As we enter the season's first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League.
Manchester United have endured a difficult start to life under Michael Carrick's permanent leadership, winning just one of their opening five league games - against promoted Ipswich.
The Red Devils have lost against fellow promoted side Hull City, against 10-man Manchester City in the derby, and exited the Carabao Cup despite leading 2-0 at half-time at home against Brighton.
How do you rate United's start to the season and why? And what should Carrick be focusing on during the extended break?
Image source, Getty ImagesKobbie Mainoo has been the standout performer for Manchester United so far this season, says former Red Devils striker Fraizer Campbell.
He told BBC Radio Manchester: "He's the only one who I think could say, 'look, I'm doing my bit here and I need you lot to help me out a little bit'."
Meanwhile, Campbell also believes that Marcus Rashford deserves more patience - the 28-year-old has made six appearances so far this campaign but has recorded no goals or assists yet.
"I'm hearing a lot of people talk about Rashford but he's one of the few that every time he gets ball, I'm thinking, 'go on, go and do something'. Sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't, but I'm all right with that," Campbell said.
"Rashford should have scored a few chances, but he's not the only one. His name gets thrown around very quickly, which is bizarre really because, like Kobbie, he's a Manchester lad, he's come through the ranks and he's everything Manchester United should be about.
"Those two should get a little bit more cotton wool wrapped around them. I'm not trying to stick up for him or feel sorry for him. Kobbie has been brilliant this season and I think Rashford can do better, but I don't think he's been as bad as everyone's making out."
Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
Manchester United's interest in Palmeiras' 16-year-old Brazilian hot prospect Eduardo Conceicao has been the subject of several questions sent in via our club Ask Me Anything form, especially around whether it has completely cooled.
I would not say that. I would be more inclined to say the situation is being monitored.
First, Palmeiras have to decide what their preferred route for Conceicao is and so do the people in charge of navigating his career.
It had been expected Gilberto Mora, who is 17, would leave Mexico for Europe after the World Cup, but he signed a contract extension with Club Tijuana.
Will Conceicao stay for a little bit longer? Obviously, the actual transfer window is closed now so he could not be in contention for a first-team place anywhere.
There are also many more clubs than Manchester United looking at him.
Who makes the most compelling pitch? What does the pathway look like? Where would he like to play? It would be naive to think money will play no part.
Conceicao is clearly a talented player. Signing players like that, at such a young age, from Brazil, is not straightforward.
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
Left-back Luke Shaw could leave Manchester United when his present deal expires with the club next summer. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesPhil Foden received a three-match suspension and will miss the Carabao Cup tie against Norwich and Premier League games with Sunderland and Liverpool
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has supported Phil Foden's red card in the Manchester derby - but on a split 3:2 vote.
The Manchester City midfielder was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Two panellists "felt that the action lacked the force to reach the threshold for a red card, and would have preferred a yellow".
The KMI panel unanimously supported no video assistant referee (VAR) intervention.
Fernandes - who initially appeared to kick Foden, leading to retaliation - escaped with no disciplinary action.
The decision not to show the Portugal midfielder a red card was backed by a 5:0 vote, both on-field and through VAR.
All KMI panel members "felt that a yellow card would have been the appropriate punishment".
City won the game 1-0 through a controversial Erling Haaland goal in the 60th minute, which was awarded after a VAR intervention.
Haaland was given offside by the assistant referee's flag, with VAR Matt Donohue finding that the Norway forward was actually onside.
However, referees' chief Howard Webb admitted that the VAR did not even consider whether Enzo Fernandez was offside when he attempted to head the ball just before Haaland scored.
The KMI panel unanimously felt that the VAR intervention to award the goal was incorrect.
"Fernandez is in an offside position, attempts to play the ball that is close to him, and impacts the ability of the defender and the goalkeeper to play the ball in the process," the panel noted.
"A VAR review should have been recommended for a missed subjective offside in the attacking possession phase."
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, does not feel any sympathy for Manchester United's Michael Carrick and Xabi Alonso of Chelsea.
Both sides have suffered some poor results early in the new season and there is pressure building over Carrick in particular to get results.
However Onuoha believes any outside noise should not concern the two managers.
"With Ruben Amorim, I remember people saying they didn't want him to go because they just wanted a level of stability but by the end, Amorim was sabotaging himself - he was so, so poor," Onuoha told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"But here's Michael Carrick now, who has got the same issues but he is managing the fan base, the board and the media a lot better. I can't speak on behalf of Manchester United fans, but it doesn't feel as hostile against him from the fan base.
"Maybe it's not hostile against Xabi Alonso because I think the fans wanted an adult in the room and they feel like they've got one - but they've still got the ownership they don't necessarily love.
"But I don't feel sympathy overall because managers stepping into these jobs, they understand for the most part what's going to happen because it's happened before.
"It's such a results-driven business that the reason they even have a job is because the other person probably got moved on. But the only way for those sides to have time with that coach is to get positive results."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here
Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United's Amir Ibragimov celebrates his Premier League 2 goal against Leicester in August
Young striker Amir Ibragimov is benefitting from his first taste of senior international football last summer, according to Manchester United's Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence.
The 18-year-old became the third-youngest player to win a full cap for Russia when he made his debut against Burkina Faso in June.
Although he has been left out of the expanded 38-man squad for the forthcoming matches against Iran, Namibia and Nigeria, Ibragimov has caught the eye at youth level for United.
He scored in Premier League 2 and Uefa Youth League victories as he fitted into a false nine role.
"He learned a lot from going on international duty over the summer," said Lawrence.
"He came back with a couple of things in terms of the intensity of the game at that level and some of the details around his game he really wanted to focus on.
"If I look at his levels from the start of the season in terms of the qualities he's showing, recognising when to drop in, when to run in behind and being a goal threat, he's in a good space."
Ibragimov had previously been thought of as a number 10, but that was the position JJ Gabriel slotted into at Under-18 level last season.
Ibragimov missed a significant chunk of last season due to a broken foot and with Gabriel now destined to leave, it remains to be seen if Lawrence will tinker with his position.
"He could end up as a centre-forward or an attacking midfield player," he said.
"He's at his best when he's in the middle of the pitch because he likes to be involved in the game; whether that's from deeper coming onto things or from higher up the pitch and dropping in, a sort of 8-10-9 position.
"He's got some real ability and potential to create and score goals. But obviously when he plays in midfield, he brings a lot of energy and intensity, and his team-mates follow him in that way as well.
"Most importantly at the moment, he's fit and strong, and his performances have been at a good level, so he has a real good platform to work on for the rest of the season."
Man City found guilty on majority of charges. Audio, 19 minutes
Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath react to reports on the Manchester City ruling.
MUFC Daily: United stars on the injury list. Audio, 2 minutes
News and views on the Red Devils in two minutes. Weekdays, 5pm.
Olid: 'It's a process' Audio, 4 minutes
Eva Olid after winning her first WSL game as Man Utd boss.
MUFC Daily: Carrick addresses 'deflated' fans. Audio, 1 minute
News and views on the Red Devils in two minutes. Weekdays, 5pm.
