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Paper Round: Mourinho will let Wayne Rooney lift the League Cup

Alexander Netherton

Updated 26/02/2017 at 10:00 GMT

Jose Mourinho willl allow Wayne Rooney to lift the League Cup, while he looks at Celtic's Moussa Dembele as his replacement, and Leicester consider Roberto Mancini and Guus Hiddink to replace Claudio Ranieri.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and manager Jose Mourinho during training

Image credit: Reuters

Mourinho: Rooney can lift the League Cup

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has made it clear that he has no problem with Wayne Rooney lifting the League Cup should his side beat Southampton in the League Cup final today. It would be a surprise if the England striker were to start the match, and perhaps even if he were to be included on the subs bench, but with Henrikh Mkhitaryan injured and fixture congestion, he could feature.
Paper Round's view: Rooney is shot, but Mourinho might think that it is beneficial over the course of the season to give him some time on the pitch today. United would have been happy to see him leave for China last week, and to end any press coverage, but that means it might make sense to allow him to feature and prevent him becoming disgruntled on the sidelines. Were he not even in the squad, and forced to celebrate in a club suit, it might cause more hassle than it is worth.
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United to battle Chelsea for £30million Dembele

Manchester United will face stiff competition from Chelsea for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, as Jose Mourinho considers his options for the summer. Antoine Griezmann remains the preferred signing, but at £85 million there is no guarantee of an agreement between the two clubs. Dembele would be significantly cheaper, though it would require beating Chelsea to his signature. United are also interested in Celtic's full-back Kieran Lee.
Paper Round's view: With Wayne Rooney set to leave for China in the summer, United are laying down the groundwork for their transfers as they have for the past year or two. The organisation has improved since the later days of Alex Ferguson. United need to identify targets early, because they spend much of pre-season abroad on tours. Dembele, given he is in Scotland and played for Fulham, would be expected to fit in at the club quickly.
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Leicester consider Hiddink as possible new manager

Leicester are looking to Guus Hiddink - who they first approached to join the club before they appointed Claudio Ranieri last year - as the man to take over as manager. While he does not appear set on taking the job, Leicester want him for his Champions League experience and knowledge of the English game. They would like to appoint him for the remainder of the season, at least.
Paper Round's view: If Leicester can persuade him to take the job then he seems a sensible appointment. He knows the league, is a tactical pragmatist, and might even be able to spring a surprise against Sevilla. However, the bigger story is that Leicester did not have a replacement lined up. It is a failing of any club to let themselves drift like this, and could cost them points they cannot afford to drop.
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Mancini also in the frame at the King Power

Roberto Mancini is also under consideration by Leicester's owners. Mancini played, briefly, for Leicester when he was nearing the end of his career. He has been out of work since August, when he was sacked by Inter Milan, and so is available to start the job immediately.
Paper Round's view: Mancini repeatedly failed in Europe for Manchester City and Inter Milan, so if Leicester are aiming to regularly be in the competition then this is an odd choice. He only won the Premier League when Manchester United threw away a lead in comical circumstances, and while he garnered positive press from the journalists covering his side regularly because of his pleasant nature, he has done little in management to suggest he is an ideal choice.
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