NEWS NOW: Fulham sensational defender injury is worst than first feared, as a scan revealed a proper tear in his hamstring, which could keep him out of action for over 7 months.

Van Nistelrooy urging Man Utd to sign £70m playmaker he ‘adores’ as Ten Hag also sets sights on Fulham man

Manchester United are reportedly ready to launch a firm bid to sign Xavi Simons next week as part of an incredible triple Dutch transfer raid with new assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy the driving force behind the move and amid claims Erik ten Hag also has his eyes on a surprise raid on Fulham for a defensive star.

A busy summer of transfer activity at Old Trafford is about to get underway with a deal close to being finalised for Joshua Zirkzee. Manchester United will

Ruud van Nistelrooy: Short essays on the greatest Dutch Reds - The Busby Babe

pay a combined package of around £45m for the Bologna striker, with £34mheading towards the Serie A side and the rest made up in commission to the Netherland striker’s agent, Kia Joorabchian

Zirkzee will likely, though, be the first of many new additions with sources informing TEAMtalk that minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe – granted full sporting control as a result of his £1.3bn investment into the club earlier this year – wanting at least four, and as many as six or seven, new signings this summer.

Ratcliffe’s focus has always been on strengthening the spine of the United

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squad, with at least one new centre-half, a midfielder and a new striker on their summer shopping list. A new left-back and a right-sided winger are also seen as desirable, though the urgency for the latter could be over after Jadon Sancho returned to training with the Red Devils having allegedly buried the hatchet with Ten Hag.

Following on from the capture of Zirkzee, it emerged that United are in talks to sign a quartet of top stars with a South American midfielder saying ‘yes’ to a prospective move.

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Ten Hag targets Man Utd move for Fulham defender

Now a reunion between the pair could be on the cards at Old Trafford with Simons potentially being used in a change of system with the Dutch star operating alongside Bruno Fernandes in a more-attack minded system.