Tottenham have shown a "genuine interest" in signing Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, 28, if they avoid relegation amid reports Barcelona have doubt about making the England international's loan permanent. (Sport - in Spanish), external
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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesBenjamin Sesko wants Michael Carrick to remain as Manchester United manager beyond the end of this season.
United's latest victory over Brentford leaves them needing two points from their remaining four games, starting against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, to seal a return to the Champions League.
Even that might not be required as Brighton and Bournemouth are the only two sides who can prevent it happening and they would need to win all four of their remaining games.
United's hierarchy is still to decide whether to give Carrick the job on a permanent basis.
Sesko feels it should happen.
"I've said this many times," said the Slovenia forward. "He's an amazing coach.
"He's brought different energy and also the way we're doing the training is unbelievable. I would like to have him here."
On Monday, Sesko took his personal goals tally to 10 in his debut Premier League campaign.
Eight of those, plus another in the FA Cup, have come since Ruben Amorim was sacked in January.
Few thought at that point United would secure a return to the Champions League after a two-match absence.
"We're in a good place," said Sesko. "It was difficult to get to this point after what we have been through but we have to keep it up.
"We're looking forward to the next game to try to secure the Champions League place."
Alex Turk
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesAnother win for Manchester United against Brentford, yet the debate surrounding Michael Carrick's credentials as permanent boss only intensified.
The opening 15 minutes offered a sense of hope that it would be a routine night at Old Trafford to all-but seal Champions League football.
But I was standing in the Stretford End at half-time in disbelief, having watched Brentford, and Igor Thiago in particular, squander an abundance of big chances.
United led 2-0, but the visitors crafted the better of the opportunities. Senne Lammens displayed once more why he is, pound for pound, the Premier League signing of the season.
Carrick reacted at the break, hooking Amad Diallo and tweaking to a back five by introducing Noussair Mazraoui.
On one hand, it was encouraging to see him acting proactively to try to shift the run of play into United's favour. And it worked, somewhat.
Brentford were shut out. No more space in behind. The Bees resorted to relentless crosses, which were gobbled up by towering centre-half duo Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven.
However, Carrick's change hindered United just as much as it helped. All attacking threat evaporated in the second half, and it felt like the Red Devils were more focused on holding on than extending the advantage.
And when Brentford's pressure inevitably paid off late on, it set up a nervy finish.
That's where concerns about whether Carrick's style of play is sustainable creep in.
He has won nine matches out of 13 and overseen an unlikely return to Europe's premier competition. Yet, United are seldom convincing.
Don't get it twisted, this is not a great United team. It's a team featuring top-class individuals who get things done. But there are also many problems.
Can Carrick spark performances as well as results after the summer transfer window? Perhaps. He deserves the opportunity, should he want it.
But while there isn't much fortune in winning 69% of your matches, there is an ominous feeling that the tight games that lean in Carrick's favour won't last.
Where do you stand on Carrick? With Champions League football all but secured, is he the man to take United forward next season? If not, why not - and who is?
Get in touch with your views here
Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external
Gaz and Joe from the Devils' Advocate are joined by BBC Sport's Simon Stone to discuss Manchester United's win over Brentford and the bigger picture for the summer and beyond.
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United striker Benjamin Sesko admits it is disappointing Casemiro is quitting the club this summer but is pleased the Brazilian still has another four games to show his worth.
Casemiro scored his eighth goal of the season to set United on their way to a vital victory over Brentford that leaves them on the brink of Champions League qualification.
Almost immediately, head coach Michael Carrick closed the door on any possibility of the Brazilian reversing his decision to quit and give it "one more year" as the United fans demanded.
Sesko feels that is a shame.
But he knows the 34-year-old former Real Madrid man still has a massive role to play as United look to secure a top-three finish for only the fifth time in 13 seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
"He's a working machine," said Sesko. "What he's putting on the pitch is unbelievable. You need someone like this.
"Unfortunately, he's leaving, but we are pleased we can manage him until the last minute in the game and we're going to use him."
Casemiro has made 157 appearances and scored 26 goals since joining Manchester United from Real in 2022.
And it could be his influence at Old Trafford continues long after his exit.
From an experience standpoint alone, his impact is huge, highlighted by the free-kicks he won inside the home penalty area in injury-time against Brentford as the visitors were chasing an equaliser.
"You are stupid if you don't look at him and try to be like him when it comes to work-rate and stuff," said Sesko.
"Everyone is pleased that he is here."
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We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between European contenders Manchester United and Brentford.
Here are some of your comments:
Man Utd fans
Christine: An excellent first half in terms of pace and press. Manchester United had most of the chances. It wasn't the same in the second half though, as United became more defensive and Brentford were better at shooting. Thiago could have won the game. Carrick is playing too much on the break, and if he's not careful the wheels are going to come off.
Clive: How did we get away with that? Brentford were much the better team. Anyway, nevermind - it's all about results at this time of the season.
Richard: It's a win. The most important thing are results. Brentford are a good team, United are better. It shows in the result and the league positions. There's still a lot to do for United to progress. One step at a time.
Niall: I'm pleased with the result, but I can't help but feel dejected by the performance. It reminded me of games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. End to end, exciting, but not a style that will win the league!
Brentford fans
Ian: A missed opportunity. For once, Thiago's lethalness in the opposition's penalty area went missing. Manchester United's goalkeeper kept his team ahead with some crucial saves in the first half. Brentford's goal, when it came, was too little, too late. The Bees go again on Saturday at the Gtech to keep their European dream alive.
Cliff: We were the better team for most of the match. Unfortunately, mistakes in both penalty areas cost us at least one point and perhaps even three. Thiago didn't take any of his three good chances and poor marking cost us two goals. With Manchester City and Liverpool being our two remaining away games, we have to beat West Ham next to stand a chance of European football.
George: It's a funny old sport. We've drawn the games we should have won and lost the one game we should have drawn! It was a spirited performance that showed real improvement on our game against Fulham. We had Manchester United turning to the dark arts to see themselves over the line.
Joe: It's fair to say we created enough chances to win, but we really struggled to convert them. I felt that we were properly in it for the full 90 minutes, but that's not enough to win games. The away end was in good voice, even when we were 2-0 down. A big shoutout to everyone who made the trip up.
Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesMany feel delivering a return to the Champions League - it was predicted before his first two games against Manchester City and Arsenal that his side would be in the bottom half of the table - should be enough to secure Michael Carrick a full-time contract.
Getting rid of Carrick, the argument goes, would be the most risky option.
But there are two schools of thought.
The first is that Carrick gets the job because he deserves the chance, it goes wrong next season and the United hierarchy are derided for following the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer model - even though that downplays the Norwegian's achievement of delivering successive top-four finishes, something no coach has done since Sir Alex Ferguson quit in 2013.
The other is that Carrick is replaced by a more experienced manager, who struggles to adapt and then the hierarchy are accused of trying to fix something that wasn't broken.
This decision is not made easier by the knowledge that Paris St-Germain are confident the standout candidate, Luis Enrique, will sign a new deal with them, and even if he does not, will want wages among the highest in the world to change clubs.
The practicalities of trying to bring in someone like Julian Nagelsman - whose contract with Germany does not expire until 2028 and could be involved in the World Cup final a day after Manchester United's first pre-season game against Wrexham in Helsinki - make it an unviable option.
Andoni Iraola is well liked but, as Thomas Frank, who spoke to United in 2024, discovered at Tottenham, managing a progressive, smaller Premier League club is a whole different world to dealing with the biggest.
No-one knew what results Carrick would deliver when he was asked to take over until the end of the season. However, one thing United's powerbrokers were certain about was that he would not be swamped by the sheer scale of what he was taking on.
Carrick met Sir Jim Ratcliffe for a cup of tea and a casual chat last week. Time will tell how important that brew was.
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Central midfield is the priority area to strengthen at Manchester United. Nottingham Forest's Elliott Anderson is the number one target.
But the feeling at Old Trafford is the approach this summer will differ significantly from what went on under previous regimes in two aspects.
Firstly, it has been stressed, the club will not overpay. If the price for Anderson, who is also coveted by Manchester City amongst others, is £120m, United won't pursue. Every player's value has a cap, no matter how well regarded they are.
Secondly, they intend to avoid getting drawn into protracted negotiations before switching after the season has started, which is exactly how Casemiro ended up at Old Trafford in 2022 after Erik ten Hag's lengthy pursuit of Frenkie de Jong ended in failure.
It is fairly obvious but still being reinforced that United's recruitment team have multiple options. If Anderson is a no, the club's hierarchy feel there will be alternatives who can improve what they already have.
The signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer are used as a template and evidence quality players can be attracted.
United know their squad needs to expand to cope with the demands of a season that could contain 50% more games than the current 40-match campaign.
It is accepted not every signing will be a success but the strategy is aimed at avoiding paying huge sums and handing out over inflated contracts that are so difficult to extricate the club from and, through the likes of Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana, are a legacy United are still to escape.
There is also a recognition that while some players - Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are the obvious examples - may struggle to play more than they have this season, others such as Noussair Mazraoui, have not played enough.
Ayden Heaven has excelled in central defence and there is a feeling he can play more often next season. Matthijs de Ligt might be out with a back injury but once fit, there is a belief he too can cope with the rigours of a more arduous season.
Two - and potentially three - central midfielders are key and regarded as the priority. A left-sided attacking player would make sense given United were in the market for Antoine Semenyo in January.
Borussia Dortmund are closing in on a deal to re-sign English winger Jadon Sancho this summer but Aston Villa remain hopeful they can agree a move for the 26-year-old when he becomes a free agent in July. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThere is a lively debate raging about who should be awarded the main Player of the Year prizes.
Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Gabriel have their supporters, so too Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo. Two of that quartet will finish the season as Premier League champions. Bernardo Silva is the sentimental choice before he leaves English football. Ryan Cherki the bolter.
But no attacking player has been more effective, so consistently this season than Fernandes.
At times it has felt he has carried Manchester United.
Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne are two of the Premier League's all-time greats. It is surely only a matter if of time before Fernandes eclipses them with the most assists in a season.
He is now one behind, with four games left.
His 19th - and seventh in as many matches - almost brought a look of apology for Bryan Mbeumo, so keen to make an impact against his old club.
Instead, as Fernandes streaked to the edge of the Brentford box, he passed left instead of right and Benjamin Sesko scored the 11th goal of his debut campaign in English football.
That proved to be enough as it turned out. But before it all, Kobbie Mainoo had produced a wonderous mazy run into the Brentford area, then set up Amad Diallo, who missed.
At the end, Casemiro used all his experience to win a couple of free-kicks in the home penalty area as Brentford presser to find a leveller.
The Casemiro-Mainoo midfield pairing has been the standout improvement from the Ruben Amorim era. Casemiro has four games remaining of his Manchester United career. He will be badly missed.
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's victory over Brentford: "It was open at times. We started fantastically well. We managed the game and had to see it out. We were pushed tonight but it's the time of year where results are even more important."
On the fast start with Casemiro's goal: "He's scored some big goals for us. Bruno, Harry and Casemiro have a good relationship. We wanted to come out and start quick and look dangerous and creative and we did that."
On scoring the second at a good time: "Just before half-time put us in a good position. The game was never dead. We controlled it with the change at half-time and looked more control and solid. We could have gone for more but I thought there were certain spaces we needed to control better. The boys showed a lot of experience to see the game out. It was a big three points for us and off the back of the Leeds game two wins is great."
On almost securing a Champions League spot: "It wasn't a given, at certain stages we weren't favourites. Now we are in a good position and want to finish as high in the league as we want to keep pushing for that."
Did you know?
Since Carrick's arrival (the start of his second stint – matchday 22 onwards), United have won more Premier League points than any other side (29 – P13 W9 D2 L2).
Bruno Fernandes has provided 19 Premier League assists for Manchester United this season, just one shy of the competition's record which is jointly held by Thierry Henry (20 in 2002-03) and Kevin De Bruyne (20 in 2019-20).
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on United's performance
What did you make of Brentford's display?
Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies
Matheus Cunha misses out for Manchester United after picking up what is thought to be a minor groin injury against Chelsea last weekend.
Amad replaces the Brazilian, with Harry Maguire's return for Noussair Mazraoui the second change from United's win at Stamford Bridge.
Patrick Dorgu returns to the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since the end of January.
United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Amad, Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Mount, Zirkzee, Malacia, Amad, Dorgu, Ugarte.
Brentford name an unchanged line-up as they look to end a run of five successive draws.
It was 1937 when the Bees last won at Old Trafford, which was also part of the last time they recorded a league double over the Red Devils.
Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade, Igor Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Ajer, Donovan, Furo, Shield.
Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
It is a sobering thought for everyone attached to Manchester United that Bruno Fernandes might not have been at Old Trafford this season.
At the end of last season, club officials told the 31-year-old they would not stand in his way if he wanted to accept a huge offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.
After speaking to his family, he opted to stay, but has spoken previously about the "hurt" he felt.
"I stayed because I thought I still had something that I can give back to the club," Fernandes told The Wayne Rooney Show.
"Obviously the Saudi situation, with the money... there was a lot. The good thing I have in my family is that my wife is pretty down to earth like me.
"We're very aware that we don't want to be the richest person in the world. We just want to be the ones that have achieved the dreams they had and live a good life with their kids and trying to be as successful as possible.
"The words of my wife were like: 'Have you achieved your dreams? Have you achieved everything you wanted?'
"And that small thing she said made me understand that she's on the same page as me. Let's keep trying and see where this takes me."
There was also a sense of trying to lift the club from their 15th-place finish last season - the worst since their 1973-74 relegation campaign.
"I didn't want to leave the club at the point when we were struggling," he said.
With a year left on his contract, there is uncertainty over Fernandes' position at the club. Given his performances this season, it would be remarkable if United do not come up with a huge new deal, even if co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trying to drive down wage costs.
Read more here and listen to the full episode of The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds or watch on BBC iPlayer
Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United boss Michael Carrick says central defence is not a position he is worried about even though he had to use Noussair Mazraoui as a stand-in at Chelsea last week.
With Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez both suspended, and Leny Yoro joining Matthijs de Ligt on the injured list, 19-year-old Ayden Heaven was Carrick's only recognised centre-back in the win at Stamford Bridge.
Maguire is available for Monday's game against Brentford at Old Trafford but given Martinez's patchy injury record and De Ligt's continued absence, it has been suggested Tottenham's Micky van de Ven could be a summer target, even though United's priority remains central midfield.
While Carrick accepts it is difficult to talk about the future too much, he is happy with his current crop of central defenders.
"It's not an area of concern for me," he said. "We've got a mixed blend of experience, real quality and two promising young players who have already shown what they can do.
"I haven't got concerns. I can't really get involved in what the future looks like, because I'm not sure myself."
The Brentford game will be the 22nd successive match De Ligt will have missed with a back complaint, having started all 15 Premier League games up to that point.
De Ligt was pictured running and doing fitness work on United's Carrington training pitches at the end of last week.
While Carrick accepts the training is "only in a small capacity", he is not prepared to rule the 26-year-old Netherlands defender out for the rest of the season.
"I am certainly hoping there is a chance that he can [play] without putting any pressure or deadlines on it," he said.
"Of course, it's something we're working towards but he needs to come back at the right time - when he's ready."
Former Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard believes Michael Carrick should be given the full-time managerial job this summer.
Lingard, who progressed through United's academy, played alongside Carrick and went on to be coached by him a few years later.
"They've come on leaps and bounds," said Lingard. "It's difficult when you've got different managers coming in because they each have their own ideas and personnel but they are on the right track with Carrick.
"I know him from my United days and I know how he operates. The lads are doing really well under him.
"He should get the job. He's got the Manchester United DNA, he knows the club inside and out and the lads have taken to him really well.
"They are winning a lot of games and they are probably going to get Champions League which is amazing."
Manchester United have become a bit unpredictable recently and Michael Carrick is another manager who could do with having a strong end to the season.
Still, it looks like Carrick has secured Champions League football, so if the club's owners are still deciding about who will be in charge next season then he has done a more than steady job so far.
It feels like he has passed his audition and also that he has a bit of clout.
I would not like to predict what will happen about his future, though, and I am not sure how this game will go either. It should be close and it could be quite open too.
Brentford will fancy their chances after beating United 3-1 earlier in the season - and also from seeing how easily Leeds carved them open at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago.
Igor Thiago scored twice against United in the reverse fixture and he might cause them a problem or two again.
The Bees just keep on drawing games at the moment, though, so I've really got to go for another draw here, haven't I?
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United Under-21s chief Adam Lawrence says Shea Lacey's regular exposure to first-team training is developing his all-round game.
Lacey was excellent in the 3-2 win over Sunderland in the PL2 play-off last-16 tie at Leigh Sports Village.
The 19-year-old showed off his superb close control, balance and excellent passing skills before he cut in off the right wing and drilled a precise low shot into the bottom corner that effectively sealed a last-eight trip to Crystal Palace.
It was a surprise to see Lacey involved given he was on the first-team bench for their most recent games against Leeds and Chelsea, but Lawrence was glad to have him available.
"Shea is playing with a lot of maturity," he said. "You can see training with the first team and being around their programme consistently is definitely helping him in a lot of areas of his game.
"It was a really good performance. He got his goal and he looked like a real threat at the top end of the pitch."
Lacey had a long spell out of the game during the 2023-24 campaign with a thigh complaint, then missed a month more recently after suffering a calf strain.
Generally, he has been operating at a high level and United feel he has huge potential.
"Credit to all the staff who work behind the scenes managing him - all the sports science and medical staff, just in terms of where he's got himself to," said Lawrence.
"He's a young man and maturing all the time. Sometimes we forget he's going through those years of growth.
"But that maturity is something we've definitely seen an improvement with, on and off the pitch.
"Hopefully he will continue to build on that and take confidence from it."
Manchester United are closely monitoring Xavi Simons' situation at Tottenham as they consider moving for the 23-year-old Netherlands midfielder in the summer. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
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