Saudi Pro League clubs 'target' £40m Man Utd star as Pep Guardiola responds to Sir Jim Ratcliffe jibe

Manchester United can further heap pressure on their top-four rivals when they host Fulham on Saturday. Erik ten Hag's side have won their last four Premier League matches in a period of rare optimism this season.

United did suffer a blow amid confirmation that Rasmus Hojlund will be out for a few weeks after picking up a muscle issue. The 20-year-old was Ten Hag's only fit natural No.9 but now joins a growing list of absentees. With all that in mind and ahead of Saturday's game, ManchesterWorld has rounded up some of the latest headlines coming out of Old Trafford.

Varane interest

Raphael Varane looks set to leave United as a free agent this summer and is reportedly attracting fresh interest from the Saudi Pro League. 90min reports that Al Ittihad and Al Nassr are both keen on the central defender and working on offers to put forward.

Varane is in the final months of his contract at United and the club opted against activating a 12-month extension at a point when they did for three other players. Ten Hag insisted talks are ongoing but a new deal would only be agreed if it is on reduced terms, which seems unlikely.

United signed Varane from Real Madrid in a deal worth around £40m back in 2021, but it is unclear whether he fits into Ten Hag's long-term plans. Central defence is expected to be a key area of focus in the summer with interest in a number of younger options.

Guardiola responds to Ratcliffe

Pep Guardiola 'has a feeling' United will get back to their competitive best under new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. INEOS chief Ratcliffe saw his stake in United fully ratified this week and admitted he is keen to knock City 'off their perch'.

"As [soon] as the teams admit it they will be closer to us,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday. "If they want to deny it for things that are not the reality then it's their problem - it's not our problem.

"When I've been below teams I've always admired them and thought about what we need to do to be close, to challenge them. When we were below and United were winning, we were watching them, admiring them. That's why, for these type of comments, that I have the feeling that they will be back."