05.02.2020 | Author: Amir Bashir

Man United add three new players to their squad for Europa League knockout stage

Two players have been omitted from the squad

Paul Pogba transfer latest in today's Man United news

After the incomings and outgoings at the club in the January transfer window, the Red Devils have made five changes to their squad for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Manchester United have added new signings Bruno Fernandes, Nathan Bishop, and Odion Ighalo to their Europa League squad for the competition’s knockout stages.

The Red Devils qualified for the last 32 of the competition after collecting 13 points from their 6 games in the group stages of the competition.

Four wins and a defeat were enough for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men to finish top of the group which also contained the likes of AZ Alkmaar, Partizan Belgrade, and Astana.

Their opponents in the first knockout stage will be Belgian outfit Club Brugge who finished 3^rd in their Champions League group behind the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Man United add Fernandes, Ighalo to Europa League squad

Bruno Fernandes is a transfer target of Man United — January 18, 2020, Lisbon, Portugal: Bruno Fernandes of Sporting CP in action during the Portuguese League football match between Sporting CP and SL Benfica at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal on January 17, 2020. Sporting CP x SL Benfica - Primeira Liga PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAf123 20200118zapf123001 Copyright: xPedroxFiuzax

January signings Fernandes and Ighalo, both of whom arrived at the club in the last week of the transfer window, will no doubt increase United’s chances of winning the Europa League.

Fernandes, who has already represented his former side Sporting CP in the Europa League, is eligible to play for United following a change in the competition’s rules in 2018.

UEFA’s rules previously barred players who had represented one club in European competitions to play for another side in the same tournament in that year.

However, following the rule change in 2018, January transfers have become more appealing for clubs who are now free to field players that would have been previously deemed as cup-bound.

The Portuguese’s presence in the Man United squad would undoubtedly increase their chances of winning the competition and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

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Two players omitted from Red Devils’ Europa League squad

Dejected Nemanja Matic and Harry Maguire of Manchester United, ManU after conceding in the first half during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: 22nd January 2020. Picture credit should read: Andrew Yates/Sportimage PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK SPI-0453-0018

With Ashley Young signing for Inter Milan and Marcos Rojo leaving for Estudiantes last month, the duo have been excluded from United’s squad.

Eric Bailly, who is yet to feature for United in any competition this season due to an injury he sustained at the start of this campaign, has been included in the club’s preliminary squad.

Marcus Rashford is another player who has been included in the squad despite the England international being ruled out for months with the back injury he sustained against Wolves last month.

Young left-back Brandon Williams has been nominated in the squad after impressing in the Premier League in the last few games.

Man United squad for 19/20 Europa League knockout stages:

A list: Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot, David De Gea, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Odion Ighalo, Daniel James, Matej Kovar, Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Sergio Romero.

Club trained : Jesse Lingard, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Axel Tuanzebe.

Association trained: Nathan Bishop, Lee Grant, Phil Jones, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

B list players: Ethan Laird, Max Taylor, Brandon Williams, Di’Shon Bernard, Teden Mengi, James Garner, Arnau Puigmal, Largie Ramazani, Dylan Levitt, Mason Greenwood, D’Mani Mellor, Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes.