Man Utd news LIVE updates: Mourinho’s chosen six, Ibrahimovic boost, Bailly given rest

MANCHESTER UNITED NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Follow below for all the latest news and gossip from Old Trafford…

Sunday October 1 

Breakaway league?

14:45: The Premier League’s big six will threaten to form a breakaway league if they aren’t given a bigger share of the next foreign-rights deal.

The so-called big six - Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - are all hoping to get their hands on extra cash.

According to the Mirror, there are crunch talks planned between the Premier League sides on Wednesday and they could look to rebel against the decision if they don’t like the outcome.

The six clubs are demanding 35 per cent of the next overseas deal is distributed by league position rather than an equal share of all 20 clubs.

Mourinho on Bailly

14:10: Jose Mourinho has revealed he benched Eric Bailly for the visit of Crystal Palace to give him a rest.

Chris Smalling started in place of the Ivorian and helped United to a clean sheet as they ran out 4-0 winners over the Eagles.

“The thoughts is I trust everyone, Smalling is the second game in three days,” Mourinho said.

“For Bailly it would be the third game in six [days].”

Villa want Johnstone on permanent move

12:30: Aston Villa hope they can keep goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on a permanent basis in January.

“It would be great to keep him here for the next few years as Villa’s No.1,” said Bruce.

“I will need to ask the question. The ideal move for us would be to buy him in January. You’ve seen it, a young goalkeeper coming in and getting better with every game he plays.

"The difference in him since he’s started in January to now is light years. He’s confident, playing every week and he’s playing real football.”

Gerrard praises Fellaini

08:16: Steven Gerrard heaped praise on Marouane Fellaini following his two goals in Manchester United’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday.

“He’s horrible (to play against),” Gerrard told BT Sport’s Premier League round-up on Saturday. 

“He’s a handful, even when he was at Everton, he was a little bit further forward. He used to back in, get flick-ons, hold the ball up. 

“The key here is that the manager loves him. He’s always going on record praising him.”

Mourinho's six 'chosen ones'

06:00: Jose Mourinho has six untouchables in his Manchester United squad, according to Danny Blind. 

United continued their impressive start to the season after thrashing Crystal Palace 4-0 at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon. 

David de Gea, Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lukaku all lined up for United in the victory over Roy Hodgson’s struggling Eagles. 

And Blind believes the quintet, along with the injured Paul Pogba, are Mourinho’s go-to men. 

Referring to the six stars on Dutch TV network ZiggoSport, Blind said: "They are David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, who is currently injured, Romelu Lukaku and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

"For Mourinho, that is the frame of his side. Valencia is also his captain. Around these six chosen ones, he keeps changing the players.

"Sometimes he makes a choice between Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial. Sometimes it is [Daley] Blind or Ashley Young or, rarely, Matteo Darmian."

Ibrahimovic injury boost

05:30: Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks set to return to full training at Manchester United by the end of October. 

Ibrahimovic, 35, has not featured for United since he landed awkwardly in the Europa League win over Anderlecht in April. 

But The Sun claim he is edging ever closer to a return to first-team action after remarkably stepping up his recovery. 

It is said Ibrahimovic has been running and shooting at the club’s Carrington training base and the intensity of his regimes have increased. 

The striker is apparently at 80 per cent of his maximum physical condition and - barring any setbacks - he will be able to return to full training in the next couple of weeks.