Micah Richards hits back at 'disrespectful' claims after Sky Sports row with Roy Keane

Manchester United have been dealt a boost in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji, according to reports.

Rio Ferdinand has revealed how several of Manchester United players' agents have been begging him to ease off his criticism of their clients' poor form. Ferdinand, 43, is a legend at Old Trafford and has not been afraid to go in hard on the current crop of stars for their poor performances this season.

Here are your morning headlines for Wednesday, March 9.

Rio Ferdinand has claimed Marcus Rashford doesn’t deserve a place in the upcoming England squad.

Rio Ferdinand hopes that the Manchester United players are embarrassed by their display in the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Michael Carrick has admitted Donny van de Beek wasn't given enough first-team opportunities at Manchester United before heading out on loan.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has joked that he will no longer laugh on TV after being accused of being disrespectful to Roy Keane following Sunday's Manchester derby.

Manchester City full-back, 33, was heavily slammed for a hysterical outburst at the weekend following Roy Keane's scathing analysis of Manchester United. Now Richards is adamant he is going on a 'laughing strike' to avoid future criticism."I’m not allowed to laugh now… honestly, I just won’t laugh," quipped the ex-England international on BBC Radio 5's Monday Night Club."Shall I? I’ll be serious for the rest of the show.

Former centre-back Rio Ferdinand has slammed the lack of communication coming from Manchester United's defenders following Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester United have been warned they could 'f*** it up all over again' over the future of Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford. Richard Keys, in his blog, wrote: "Rangnick won’t be managing Manchester United next season.

Chelsea just before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Youngster Tino Anjorin spent the first part of the season on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow before suffering a foot injury in November.Although the 20-year-old midfielder wasn’t recalled straight away after sustaining the injury, he played his last game for the capital club in October.

Manchester United to hand Roy Keane a special role after he blasted their "shameful" derby day defeat to Manchester City.United were thumped 4-1 by their bitter rivals on Sunday, with Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez both bagging a brace. Jadon Sancho netted for United.And after the match, the United squad were accused of throwing in the towel by Keane, who has achieved legendary status at Old Trafford.His scathing post-match assessment has since gone viral.And O'Hara has suggested that United could do worse than get Keane involved to try and instil some fight in the current United squad until a new permanent manager is appointed in the summer.“Why don’t they get Roy Keane?” O’Hara told talkSPORT when dissecting the weekend's action.“Not as the manager, but why is Roy Keane not involved at Manchester United? Tell me why he’s not involved.”When quizzed on whether or not Keane would add anything as an ex-player, O'Hara fought back and insisted that Keane's frank analysis would benefit United.Would you like to see Keane involved at Man Utd? Let us know in the comments sectionAnd he also claimed that Keane would help improve the fragile mentality of the current dressing room.He added: “He’s not just an ex-player is he, he was the captain of the most successful team in the Premier League.

Speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo did not miss Sunday's derby day defeat to Manchester City due to injury has grown after it was discovered that his sister liked a post claiming he had been dropped for tactical reasons.

Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, look away. Manchester United’s fans made their feelings abundantly clear following their side’s derby defeat on Sunday.

Manchester United's players have singled out one of their team-mates as a 'teacher's pet' due to their regular starting spot.

Manchester United after being left out of the starting XI to face Manchester City.The 24-year-old was named amongst the substitutes on Sunday as United slumped to a 4-1 defeat away to their local rivals.Anthony Elanga started ahead of Rashford as Ralf Rangnick opted to use Bruno Fernandes as a 'false nine' rather than play the England international as a striker.The Manchester Evening News now report that Rashford is considering his long-term future at the club, due to concerns a lack of game time and poor form could hamper his England career.Rashford has not played for the Three Lions since the final of the Euros in July, having first been sidelined with a shoulder injury before being left out in November.He will be keen to regain his place in Gareth Southgate's squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar at the end of this year.Sources told the Manchester Evening News that Rashford has been training well and is in good spirits despite his frustrations over playing time.Rashford has started just two of United's last 11 league matches, with only 14 starts across all competitions overall this season.Should Marcus Rashford leave Manchester United in the summer? Let us know in the comments section below.Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news?Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter!From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox - don't miss a thing.It only takes a matter of seconds.Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit 'subscribe'.And that's it, job done.

Resentment remains rife in the Manchester United dressing room over the selection strategy that has affected a number of players.

Manchester United ‘gave up’ during their 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.United looked competent in the first-half of the Premier League game at the Eithad, with Jadon Sancho scoring a fabulous goal to cancel out Kevin De Bruyne’s initial effort.De Bruyne got another just before half-time and this clearly had a knock-on effect in the second period.United looked less urgent and their press dropped off as the minutes went by, with City getting a further two goals through Riyad Mahrez. Following the conclusion of the game, Gary Neville and Roy Keane scorned the side for their efforts in the second half, with the former United captain saying that they had "threw in the towel".But McTominay refuted those claims, telling Sky Sports: “From my point of view, on the pitch, it's hard to see what's going on around you but if that's what people are saying then so be it."They're all entitled to their own opinion but, for myself, it's incredibly disappointing if people think that."I'll have to watch it back and see body language and things like that but, for myself, it hurts.

Gary Lineker appeared to aim a cheeky dig at Roy Keane and Gary Neville in the aftermath of Manchester United's embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.Ralf Rangnick's visitors were totally outclassed at the Etihad as a brace apiece from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez secured all three points for the hosts. United's sorry performance prompted the usual inquest from former Old Trafford heroes after the match - something jokily predicted by Match of the Day host Lineker.

Gary Neville has still backed Manchester United to finish in the top four this season despite the Reds suffering a hammering at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Gary Neville hit out at recently departed chief executive Ed Woodward after Manchester United’s dismal 4-1 derby day defeat on Sunday.