MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Club chiefs launch hunt to find team news leaker, Everton star emerges as shock January target – plus why United’s Under 21s are losing 5-0 leads and getting beaten 8-1 

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Manchester United are keeping a close eye on a new anonymous account on X – formerly Twitter – leaking injury updates about the first-team.

The account, which was created earlier this year, has quickly gained attention and a large number of followers, having been accurate on several injury posts prior to official confirmation from United.

It has stopped posting on match days, but most recently gave updates on Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon.

Confidential understands that the account has raised suspicion at United who believe it may the work of someone connected with the club who has access to confidential information. The club are investigating the source of the leaks to root out any moles.

It is said to be one of several accounts being monitored by United that routinely publish information about injuries and team selections. The club feel that could damage team unity as well as giving opponents the inside track on Erik ten Hag’s side.

An account on X leaking details about injuries, including on Luke Shaw, has caused concern at United

The club feel the account is giving opponents the inside track on Erik ten Hag’s team selection

United club chiefs are investigating the source of the leaks to root out any moles

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‘Preparation for games these days is so thorough that leaked information about team line-ups and injuries can give the opposition an advantage to exploit,’ said a club insider.

‘United fans should be hounding out these accounts that routinely leak this kind of information, and questioning what is their motivation for doing it.’

Lisandro Martinez’s foot surgery is understood to have gone well as the United defender begins a lay-off of up to three months.

Martinez had a second operation on Monday after tests showed that the fifth metatarsal in his right foot had not knitted together properly following surgery in April.

The Argentina defender returned to action in time for the club’s summer tour of the US, but experienced pain in the foot against Arsenal last month. He played against Brighton and Bayern Munich before realising it wasn’t getting any better.

Martinez could now be sidelined until the New Year as he tries to overcome the problem once and for all.

Even if Martinez returns before the end of the year, United could be in the market for a new centre-back in the January transfer window – with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite one of the names on their radar.

Harry Maguire’s future will be up in the air once again in January after he rejected a £30million move to West Ham in the summer. Maguire has played more minutes for England this season than on his three appearances for his club.

Lisandro Martinez’s foot surgery is understood to have gone well in a boost for United

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is one of the names on United’s radar for the January window

United have a few options in mind, including Antonio Silva of Benfica and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.

Branthwaite is another having impressed on loan at PSV Eindhoven working with Ruud van Nistelrooy. PSV wanted to buy the 21-year-old in a permanent deal and Manchester City are among the English clubs keeping an eye on him.

Branthwaite is in talks with Everton over a new contract, but that is unlikely to deter interest in the player if he continues to progress.

The injury crisis at United in the early stages of the season has also taken its toll on the club’s Under-21 team with some wildly fluctuating results.

While Travis Binnion’s side put 10 goals past Stoke City, they then surrendered a 5-0 lead in a bonkers draw at Sunderland, lost 4-2 at home to Arsenal and were hammered 8-1 at Bolton in the EFL Trophy.

Part of the problem is that some of the best players – Hannibal Mejbri, Dan Gore and Omari Forson – have been promoted to first-team training and match-day squads to fill the gaps left by United’s injured stars.

United’s under-21 side have been impacted by the spate of injuries to first-team players

Hannibal Mejbri is among the players who have been bumped up to the first XI in recent weeks

Dan Gore (left) made his senior debut for United in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace last week

Facundo Pellistri has also made his first starts in the Champions League and Premier League as a replacement for Antony and Jadon Sancho on the right wing.

‘There are so many players who could play in the Under-21s who aren’t playing there, like Dan Gore, and Omari is always training with us,’ said manager Erik ten Hag. ‘Pellistri and (Alejandro) Garnacho are players who could play in the Under-21s.’

The team returned to winning ways at the weekend with a 5-2 victory at Blackburn while the Under-18’s maintained their 100 per cent start with a 5-1 win over Newcastle.

It came after United’s academy coaches had a ‘bio banding’ week in which players were grouped together in training and in-house games by physical maturity rather than their age bracket.

It proved a big success and is something the academy has benefitted from for several seasons now.

Bio banding might see a late developing player given an advantage as he is grouped with players of similar physical stature. A more physical player might also be matched with players of similar physiques and have to rely on technique rather than strength.

Confidential has been told it proved hugely beneficial for coaches and players, with insights gathered from the data expected to help tailor development through the age groups.

United have intensified their clampdown on ticket touting for matches at Old Trafford, with a small number of fans turned away from the defeat to Crystal Palace because they had bought seats from unofficial sources.

Confidential understands some of the supporters denied entry to the game on Saturday were handed a slip of paper by the ticket office explaining the reasons why they had not been allowed into the stadium.

Some United fans were turned away from Old Trafford prior to the Palace defeat on Saturday

Supporters who were denied entry to the Palace game were given this slip by the ticket office

These were given to fans who had purchased tickets from ‘an unofficial source at an inflated price’, including from on-street touts, reselling sites and on social media. Many of the affected supporters bought seats that had already been sold or, in some cases, did not even exist.

‘As this was an illegal transaction, we would strongly advise you to contact your bank to try and reclaim the money paid for these tickets,’ the message from United read.

It also said ‘we are sorry you were unable to attend the match’ – though it may have been a blessing in disguise as United lost 1-0 to continue their dismal start to the season.

Sources insist United try to help those stung by touts by giving them seats for matches even if they have bought tickets through unofficial means, but this is not always possible as most games at Old Trafford sell out.

United said in June that they are contacted by around 300 fans at each home match who ‘often bought tickets at vastly inflated prices, and sometimes buying seats that don’t even exist’ from touts.

The club has identified more than 4,000 tickets that have been touted since their clampdown began, but fans have criticised United for selling seats for home Premier League matches for more than £300, although they insist these come with full on or off-site hospitality.

Valencia’s rising star Javi Guerra is said to have been watched by United scouts at every game so far this season, but the Spanish club insist they have no intention of selling the youngster despite a £87million release clause in his contract.

Newcastle are also believed to be tracking the 20-year-old who has three goals and one assist from seven La Liga games so far this season.

But Miguel Angel Corona, Valencia’s sporting director, told Confidential: ‘We are fully aware that we have a player with enormous potential for the future and the ability to perform at a good level now. That is why the club have decisively moved him up to the first team in recent months.

Valencia’s rising star Javi Guerra has caught the eye of Man United and Newcastle

‘It is not in our plans to sell him to any club. Our future plans involve continuing to give him the appropriate condition so that he is able to develop his full potential, become an important player and continue to build a Valencia team of the immediate future around players like him.’

Corona added: ‘For us, the emergence of Javi Guerra has not been a surprise. We have been aware of what he is capable of for a long time, we have been helping him and demanding more from him every step of the way, from youth level to the elite. He has to continue working in this way.’

Guerra grew up a Valencia fan and was born in the Valencian province of Gilet – but his club know qualification for European football will be crucial to keeping him long term as he looks to test himself at the highest level.

It’s not the hardest tongue-twister in the world, but apparently Bruno Fernandes ranks sixth in a survey of hardest footballers’ names to pronounce correctly.

Kylian Mbappe is No.1 in the top 10 list compiled by entertainment site Betting.com based on Google search volume data for 75 players. United captain Fernandes sits below Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ilkay Gundogan.

Bruno Fernandes’ name is one of hardest to pronounce in the game, according to a new survey

Hardcore United and City fans might find it hard to understand but both Manchester clubs are benefitting financially from international tourists, particularly originating in the Middle East, who fly in to book tours and buy merchandise at Old Trafford and the Etihad.

United are piggybacking off City’s connections with Abu Dhabi as large numbers of UAE supporters come over to pay homage to Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners but see no conflict of interest by visiting United.

Vice-versa, many of United’s global fanbase are curious to see what the fuss is all about on the blue side of town.

Though a welcome boost to the coffers, it has created one issue for the clubs to deal with: United tour guides are regularly having to ask supporters to remove City lanyards if they turn up at Old Trafford still wearing them having been to the Etihad first, with the same thing happening in reverse at City.

What the local diehards in Stretford, Burnage and Harpurhey make of the joint love-in, you can only imagine!

One of the reasons Casey Stoney quit as manager of Manchester United women’s team in 2021 was said to be the poor training facilities at Carrington compared to the men.

Stoney was unhappy over the fact her players couldn’t shower in between training and meals until temporary cabins were installed, while the nearest toilets were a 10-minute walk from the training pitch.

Stoney would surely approve of the women’s facilities at United’s training base now after the players moved into their new quarters on Friday.

Former Man United women’s boss Casey Stoney was unhappy with the poor training facilities at Carrington compared to the men

Stoney oversaw a successful period for United’s women before leaving the club in 2021

It is understood to have cost £7million, a significant increase on the original estimate of £5m due to the rising price of materials and a wider spec than first envisaged.

The women’s HQ is part of a wider overhaul of Carrington by programme director Mags Mernagh, who masterminded the revamp of Leicester City’s impressive training HQ. It seems to be working well so far. United kicked off the WSL season with a 2-1 comeback win at Aston Villa.

The women’s team have moved quickly to employ two translators to help big-name summer recruits Geyse and Hinata Miyazawa settle in as quickly as possible.

While the pair are learning English, United have brought in dedicated staff members to relay manager Marc Skinner’s messaging in the dressing room.

The translators – a Portuguese speaker for Geyse and Japanese speaker for Miyazawa – were spotted at Villa Park for the season-opening win over Aston Villa in full Manchester United gear, sat just behind the substitutes so they were on hand for any queries.

Miyazawa, the 2023 World Cup golden boot winner, started on the bench before later coming on, while Geyse started but was withdrawn midway through the second half.

Summer recruit Hinata Miyazawa is set to benefit from a new translator appointed by the club

‘It’s hard to get information (to Geyse) right now,’ Skinner said. ‘She’s learning English, Lucia (Garcia) is speaking in Spanish and Leah (Galton) is speaking in northern … it’s not quite there yet.’

United have appointed Mick Matthews as the new coach development manager for their academy.

Matthews, who will begin the newly-created role at Carrington next month, has previously been with the FA as part of the support staff who supported England’s junior teams to World Cup and European Cup success in recent years.

The 63-year-old former Wolves and Hull City midfielder will work to develop United’s coaching workforce across the whole academy so the club can maximise the potential of its young players.

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