Manchester United scouts were at Bangor City to watch Tyler Dibling in action for England Under 19s against Wales, and it’s safe to say they were not alone.
Dibling will be one of the hottest English transfer properties of the summer, assuming he leaves Southampton once their return to the Championship is confirmed.
In a truly miserable season for Saints, who are all but relegated after amassing just nine points from 29 games, Dibling has been a rare bright spot.
Confidential understands that 14 Premier League clubs – led by United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City – have inquired about the gifted 19-year-old winger, and there is also strong interest in Germany from RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
But United have an ace card in technical director Jason Wilcox, who knows Dibling from his time as director of football at Southampton before joining United last year.
Ruben Amorim will be in the market for a wide player this summer with Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho all set to leave.
Man United scouts were at Bangor City to watch Tyler Dibling in action for England Under 19s against Wales
Dibling dominated United’s Diogo Dalot in their match-up at St Mary’s at the start of the season
Former Wolves winger Francisco Trincao (left) is also on Man United’s list to replace the likes of Jadon Sancho (right)
His former Sporting Lisbon winger Francisco Trincao is another option, but Dibling could be moulded into a right wing-back under United’s head coach were Wilcox to persuade him to move to Old Trafford.
United scouts have watched Dibling on a number of occasions but the club are well aware of his capabilities. He dominated Diogo Dalot in their match-up at St Mary’s at the start of the season, and shone once again when the Saints suffered a late collapse at Old Trafford in January.
Dibling also caught the eye last week as England Under 19s won 2-0 with United striker Ethan Wheatley, currently on loan at Walsall, scoring one of the goals and Gabriele Biancheri in action for Wales.
Branthwaite hopes fade
One player who has drifted off the radar somewhat is Jarrad Branthwaite.
United have a long-standing interest in the Everton centre back and failed with a £50million bid last summer. But it’s understood there has been no contact with Branthwaite’s camp for some time as the 22-year-old weighs up his options for the summer.
Branthwaite is open to leaving Everton after being told by new England boss Thomas Tuchel that a lack of experience playing in Europe was one of the reasons he was left out of the German’s first squad, and instead spent the international break playing for the Under 21s against Portugal and France.
Manchester City and Liverpool have an interest in Branthwaite who is likely to put Champions League football high on his list of criteria. United’s only hope of rejoining Europe’s elite would be to win the Europa League.
While he is still admired inside Old Trafford, the club’s priorities may also have altered after signing Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven since Everton rejected United’s offer in July and demanded around £75m.
Everton rejected United’s offer for Jarrad Branthwaite in July and demanded around £75m
United are well stocked at centre back having spent big on Leny Yoro in last summer’s window
Even though Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are likely to leave this summer, United are well stocked in central defence with Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Yoro and Heaven.
With the budget tighter than ever, will there be enough money to go back for Branthwaite?
Land swap key to OT
The construction of United’s new £2billion stadium might take longer than some people hope, but one way of speeding up the process would be for the club to agree a land swap with their freight company neighbours.
The rather optimistic five-year build time doesn’t begin from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s announcement at the home of Foster + Partners in London earlier this month.
No, United won’t actually start enabling works until they have secured planning permission and financing for the new 100,000-seater stadium, as well as a guarantee that the government will provide public funding for the wider regeneration around Old Trafford.
Even with the help of a mayoral development corporation to fast-track the whole project, United would be lucky to start work before the end of the year.
The other piece in the jigsaw is acquiring the land needed to build the new stadium from Freightliner, who own the rail terminal behind the Stretford End.
Although talks have been positive, Freightliner probably won’t be able to relocate to its new site at Parkside East near St Helens until 2029.
United won’t actually start enabling works on their New Trafford until they have secured planning permission and financing for the new 100,000-seater stadium
One option being considered is for United to swap another area of land they own at the back of the car park at Old Trafford with the slice they need for the stadium
However, Confidential understands that one option being considered is for United to swap another area of land they own at the back of the car park at Old Trafford with the slice they need for the stadium.
That would allow United to start building work and Freightliner to continue their operations uninterrupted until a more permanent solution can be found.
Even then, plans to have United playing in the new stadium by the 2030-31 season seem optimistic at best. But at least the five-year project could be underway by the start of 2026.
Dynamic pricing confirmed
United have confirmed matches will be placed into four categories next season as part of a change fans groups have slammed as ‘dynamic pricing’.
The club announced home games will be categorised on a match-by-match basis for members from the 2025-26 campaign when they detailed a raft of changes along with a price rise for season-ticket holders.
And they have now revealed Premier League fixtures will either be in the A, B, C or D bracket – meaning fans will pay significantly more for seats for matches against so-called bigger clubs.
United said a list of which games are in each category will be published when the fixtures for next term are released in June. It is likely the visits of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal will be in the A category, with newly promoted clubs in the lower price brackets.
The club could, however, decide to charge more for the visit of Leeds – should they be promoted – given the fierce rivalry between the two sides.
There are no guarantees that United would be able to move Sancho on quickly if he becomes their player again on June 30
Sancho, who turns 25 today, earns around £250,000 a week on a contract that doesn’t run out for another 15 months
Cost of Sancho return
Confidential broke the news that Chelsea would have to pay United a significant fee if they decide not to sign on-loan winger Jadon Sancho permanently in the summer, and now it has emerged that the figure would be £5million.
It’s a substantial penalty for breaking the contract between the two clubs after Chelsea agreed to pay a transfer fee of between £22-25m at the end of the season, but United still stand to take a hefty financial hit if he returns to Old Trafford.
Sancho, who turns 25 today, earns around £250,000 a week on a contract that doesn’t run out for another 15 months, and there are no guarantees that United would be able to move him on quickly if he becomes their player again on June 30.
When Sancho returned from a similar loan at Borussia Dortmund last summer, it took United until August 30 to strike the loan deal with Chelsea, which still meant having to contribute to Sancho’s wages.
In the meantime, Sancho went on tour to the US and even played in the Community Shield, having a penalty saved in the shootout against Manchester City.
The ideal scenario is still that Chelsea go ahead with signing Sancho on a permanent basis. But with just two goals and one assist in his last 20 Premier League games, his future still up in the air.
Chido’s Danish debut
Chido Obi’s star continues to rise with the teenage United striker making his debut for Denmark Under 21s during the international break.
The 17-year-old, who made his first senior appearance for United at Tottenham last month, played for his country against Poland and Italy.
Chido Obi and his fellow Dane Joachim Andersen, who he will hope to follow into his national senior squad
Denmark Under 21s boss Steffen Hojer talked up Chido after his first Under 21s debut
‘I think he is integrating well into the squad,’ Under 21s boss Steffen Hojer told Tipsbladet. ‘We had talked a lot about it beforehand because he is five years younger than some of the players we brought along. He is a very young man, he was there to learn and we had him with us to assess him.
‘He made a good impression and I was extremely pleased to see how he adapted to the squad and how the boys welcomed him. He has shown himself well.
‘Now, it’s back home to continue working at Manchester United and see if he can get a bit more playing time there.’
Fans united against Glazers
Two decades after FC United of Manchester was a formed as a breakaway club by United fans disillusioned by the Glazer takeover, it will be the stage for renewed protests against the American owners this weekend.
FC United are joining forces with The 1958 for a ‘United United Day’ demonstration before the Northern Premier League club’s game against Stockton Town on Saturday. Fans are being urged to gather at Broadhurst Park at 1pm to form ‘one united voice against the Glazers’ ownership’.
The 1958, who organised a march of thousands of fans before the last home league game against Arsenal earlier this month, said in a statement today: ‘We reached out to FC United because we firmly believe that the Glazers have divided and fractured our fanbase for their own goals for far too long.
‘We intend to heal the damage they have caused and we are committed to unify us all under a common unified cause.
‘At heart we are all United fans, we all have that fire burning inside us and the anger at one family who have inflicted untold generational damage. The great war to save our club and our national game is about to begin.’
United fan groups have joined together to lead an anti-Glazers protest
The Glazers have been the target of huge criticism inside and outside Old Trafford this season
FC United of Manchester were happy to join in the anti-Glazers protest, saying in the joint statement: ‘The Glazer family has pillaged Manchester United and divided the fanbase for two decades. This cannot go on.
‘The 1958 reached out to us and our discussions have affirmed that our goals are aligned; Manchester United has no future whilst the Glazers retain control of the club.
In an age where it is all too easy for supporters to believe that they are powerless and simply keep their heads down, The 1958 have continued to stand up and demonstrate their opposition to the Glazer occupation at Old Trafford. We are proud to stand with them and say: enough is enough.’
Ryan’s new gig
Confidential caught up with Ryan Giggs at the inaugural Champions for Children Gala Dinner which raised £267,000 for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Foundation 92.
Suited and booted in a tuxedo for the occasion as he spoke on the red carpet at Victoria Warehouse next to Old Trafford, Giggs still looked like he could still play for United. ‘For about two minutes, yeah,’ he smiled.
The next best thing is a place on the bench at Salford City where Giggs is director of football at the League Two club he owns with the rest of the Class of ’92.
The 51-year-old began working more closely alongside manager Karl Robinson on match days in October after coach Simon Wiles left to join United and assistant Alex Bruce was absent for one game on compassionate leave following the tragic death of his four-month-old nephew.
‘Karl would literally have been on his own, so I’ve gone on the bench with him and just enjoyed it,’ Giggs explains. ‘We didn’t get another coach in so when Alex came back, which was the next game, I just carried on.
‘It’s good. You miss the emotions, the ups and downs, so I’ve enjoyed that part of it. Obviously I was already involved with the club as director of football, but I’m more involved on the match day now.’
Suited and booted in a tuxedo for the occasion as he spoke on the red carpet at Victoria Warehouse next to Old Trafford, Ryan Giggs still looked like he could still play for United
United legend Nicky Butt has been helping out at Burnley since stepping down at Salford City
…while Butt keeps busy at Burnley
Giggs isn’t the only one who has missed being out on the grass. His former United team-mate and fellow Class of ’92 graduate Nicky Butt told Confidential that he has been helping out at Burnley since stepping down as chief executive at Salford City – where he is also a co-owner – after two years in October.
Butt had previously spent nine years at United where he was in charge of the youth academy and then head of first-team development. The 50-year-old feels he is better suited to a more hands-on role.
‘I’m getting around a few games doing a bit of work at Burnley two or three days a week – that’s enjoyable,’ said Butt, speaking at the same Foundation 92 event.
‘It’s just getting back into football. When I left United, I was bitter for a few months and fell out of love with it then I realised I was missing it. I’m doing bits and bobs. Not so much academy no, it’s just fun to get back on the grass.
‘I just know I can’t sit on my backside at home. It’s not about the money or getting a job to pay for anything, it’s just getting back in whether it’s working with young kids or older players or whatever it might be.’
United’s cover girls
Women’s football hasn’t always felt like a priority since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over the day-to-day running of United.
The negative stories that have emerged during his first year as co-owner include the Ineos billionaire asking the then-captain Katie Zelem what she did at the club.
But some positive news has reached Confidential with the May edition of Inside United magazine to feature the women’s team exclusively on its front and back cover for the first time.
The front and back cover of the May edition of the Inside United magazine
They have shared the cover with the men on two previous occasions – most recently when Marc Skinner’s side won the FA Cup last year – but this one will be dominated by a group shot of Maya Le Tissier, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Melvine Malard, Hinata Miyazawa, Lisa Naalsund and Millie Turner.
Described as ‘the story of a stirring season so far, and the build-up to a monster Manchester derby at Old Trafford …’ it is said to be an in-depth look at the season seen through the eyes of the players as it builds to an exciting conclusion.
United’s final home game of the WSL season is against Manchester City on May 4, but not before the two teams meet in the FA Cup semi-final at the Joie Stadium on April 13.
The new issue of Inside United will be out on April 15. Who knows, Sir Jim might even read it.
What’s the story ..?
United fans can get a unique insight into heroes from past and present if they head to the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly.
‘The Lobby Phone’ has been installed where never-before-shared stories from club legends, including Gary Neville, David May and Wes Brown, as well as current players such as Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire, are available to fans.
The one-of-a-kind installation, in partnership with United, hopes to bring fans even closer to the players and it is set to be a must-stop point for fans heading to the city for matches between now and the end of the season.
Full details on where to find it HERE.
Andre Onana is among the current United players fans can hear from on the Lobby Phone
Under 13s are kings of the north
Congratulations to United’s Under 13s after they clinched the Premier League Cup (North) by beating Newcastle United 4-0 over the weekend.
The United academy has enjoyed a rich vein of form in recent seasons across various competitions, and the Under 13s became the latest group to have medals placed around their necks after a dominant win.
They will now take on Arsenal in the national final to be crowned the best in the country in their age group.
