MANCHESTER UNITED have joined the race for Blackburn Rovers wonderkid Igor Tyjon.
The England youth international, 17, has turned down the chance to sign a professional contract at Ewood Park after a host of Prem clubs came calling.
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Blackburn Rovers’ Igor Tyjon have joined the race for Blackburn Rovers wonderkid Igor TyjonCredit: Getty
Blackburn have repeatedly tried to tie the English striker down over the course of this season, but are reluctantly accepting he will now go at some stage.
Prem leaders Arsenal are the favourites to prize Tyjon away and had multiple bids worth over £1million rejected by Rovers since the summer of 2024.
This month’s transfer window is the last chance for the Championship club to command a development fee for Tyjon.
The striker’s scholarship terms expire at the end of the season, when Blackburn would only be due a compensation package if he joined another English side.
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Arsenal have been hunting for a young striker ever since Chido Obi left to join United in 2024. United appeared to offer Obi a more direct route to the first team.
CARRICK’S CHANCE
Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans were in Barbados with Wayne Rooney enjoying a winter holiday when Ruben Amorim was sacked.
Evans flew home after he got the call from Darren Fletcher to assist him in preparations for United’s midweek match at Burnley.
A source close to the group said Carrick had gone “very quiet”, implying he had a reasonable chance of returning to United in caretaker charge.
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It was Fletcher who called Evans to ask him if he would like to train with United after he was released by Leicester in 2023.
An invite to training led to an invite to join the pre-season tour which led to an invite for a new contract back at the club he had left eight years earlier.
A source close to an ex-player WhatsApp group said Carrick had gone ‘very quiet’ this weekCredit: Getty
NEVER GUNNAR GIVE HIMSELF UP
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United allegiance was palpable as recently as last month – when he was on the same flight as dozens of City fans.
Solskjaer was returning from Madrid, where he was Uefa’s technical observer for City’s 2-1 win over Real at the Bernabeu.
In an attempt to avoid any attention, Solskjaer donned a baseball cap and a surgical face mask on his flight home.
However, some sympathetic passengers spotted Solskjaer, who received no hassle.
The United legend returned to Manchester in September and was fleetingly considered for the caretaker post.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are going head-to-head for the United interim jobCredit: PA
WILCOX AT THE WHEEL
On the drive to Leeds last week, this correspondent was behind a Bentley convertible with the number plate ‘JW11COX’ on the M62.
But no, it was not Jason Wilcox. It would have been too conspicuous a vehicle for a director of football.
United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) and director of football Jason Wilcox (right)Credit: Alamy
WIL HE, WON’T HE?
Wilcox is likely to come under pressure to front up after United backed him over Amorim with the Portuguese’s dismissal.
As detailed in a midweek piece, Wilcox only broke cover to speak to club media after United won three games on the spin in October.
Dan Ashworth spoke to the press two months into his short-lived sporting director role alongside chief executive Omar Berrada.
Wilcox is familiar to some members of the Manchester press pack from his time at City, where he was almost always available for interview.
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AFCON UPDATE
United could have all three Afcon players back in time for the Manchester derby.
Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui face off against each other in Friday’s quarter-final between Cameroon and Morocco.
One will be heading back to Manchester this weekend but will not be ready to face Brighton in the club’s FA Cup opener on Sunday.
Amad Diallo, who is on course to win Afcon player of the tournament at this rate, plays his quarter-final for the Ivory Coast against Mo Salah’s Egypt on Saturday.
Holders Ivory Coast are favourites to win the tournament.
United’s interim head coach Darren Fletcher was boosted by Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire’s return from injury to the squad that drew with Burnley midweek.
Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui face off against each other in Friday’s quarter-final between Cameroon and MoroccoCredit: Reuters
