Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show

It's been 84 years... well, 24 days actually, but it's felt like years. While Manchester United versus Leeds United is no longer the titanic struggle it has been in the past, it's a huge game as Michael Carrick's men close in on the Champions League.
Just seven games remain in the Premier League season and, with a fifth UCL spot guaranteed and a seven-point cushion between themselves and a misfiring Chelsea, it's looking more and more likely that United will return to Europe's top table.
United have been preparing for the game against Leeds at a training base near Dublin and they will return to Ireland during an exclusively European pre-season schedule which will also included fixtures in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Poland.
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We're in the deepest stretch of the gaping chasm that is Manchester United's March/April Premier League hiatus and we have a very special collaborative episode of Talk of the Devils for you to enjoy.
Hosted by Bobby Faghihi of the excellent Career We Go podcast, it's a Man United quiz with Andy and Critch teaming up against Carl and, a very competitive, Ian to find out who really knows their stuff.
Play along while you listen and let us know how you got on but prepare yourselves for a nail-biting finish in our battle of brains, and nerves!
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Michael Carrick's second spell as Manchester United manager has gone about as well as could have been expected. After our three-part assessment of United's summer transfer objectives, you asked if he is likely to be in charge next season, whether that affects the transfer plans, and if he's a big enough name to attract the right players.
Harry Maguire, along with Kobbie Mainoo, returned to international duty this week but Thomas Tuchel appeared to talk down Maguire's chances of making his World Cup squad. We briefly review a stop-start game against Uruguay and outline why, whatever happens with England, he's important to Manchester United and deserves a new contract.
Marc Skinner's future with the club is being questioned again in some quarters after a disappointing week for Manchester United's women. A spirited performance was spoiled by naive errors in the Champions League and they were thoroughly dismissed by City in the derby. Megan Feringa returns to fill us in on the details.
Read more about Brian Peat's flags here.
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The third, and final, discussion in our trilogy of summer transfer previews is a boutique affair, certainly by our usual standards, as the panellists (with one exception) don't expect much business to be done in this area.
Whether that turns out to be the case could depend on what happens to Joshua Zirkzee. Other than a few fleeting moments, the young Dutchman hasn't got airborne at United and, with potential interest in Italy, a move might open the door for another forward to come in.
And then, of course, there's the matter of how all this is going to be funded. Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho are almost certain to depart, with Marcus Rashford's move to Barcelona less sure. Could there be other sales?
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It's part two of our early look into summer transfer business, and the first parting of the ways on opinion. Everyone agrees midfield is the highest priority, but how important is it to bring in defensive reinforcements?
The club has been well stocked with centre backs for quite a while now, not least because the team was playing with three of them under Ruben Amorim. Now that the formation requires only two, all is well, right? Spoiler alert: yes, but...
Fullback is where things start to get interesting. Tyrell Malacia is expected to leave and Patrick Dorgu has been employed further forward by Michael Carrick. That means a long-term replacement is needed for Luke Shaw, but how urgently? And then there's the matter of competition/support for Senne Lammens. Plenty to discuss!
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