Man Utd news: Concerns emerge over loan star as club are pitted against Barcelona again

While Manchester United wait to make a decision on their permanent manager, there have been developments when it comes to the current squad and potential targets

Manchester United are in the middle of a two-week break thanks to their early elimination from the FA Cup. More than a week has passed since they drew at West Ham and they won't return to action until Monday's trip to Everton.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, a lot of the conversation around the club has focused on the summer. There will be a decision needed on Michael Carrick's future as manager, with results in the final 12 games of the season likely to be a factor, while some movement will take place in the transfer market regardless of who is in the dugout.

Casemiro's exit has already been confirmed, with the Brazil international looking to go out with a bang before he departs in the summer. There are more question marks when it comes to Marcus Rashford, though the on-loan star still looks more likely than not to make a permanent move to Barcelona.

We've got an update on another of United's loanees, as well as a different Barca battle. Here are Mirror Football's latest talking points from around Old Trafford.

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READ MORE : Man Utd's £109.5m transfer spending blocks Alexis Mac Allister from dream shirt numbersREAD MORE : Benjamin Sesko makes his true thoughts on Michael Carrick known after benching admission

Kone loan concern

The winter transfer window was a quiet one for Manchester United but one bit of business saw Sekou Kone sent on loan to Lausanne-Sport. The Malian midfielder's move hasn't gone to plan so far, though.

Kone made his debut as a substitute against Thun in a Swiss Super League defeat. He has been an unused sub in each of Lausanne's other two February games, though, and has now been omitted from the club's Conference League squad.

United cited potential involvement in Europe as a reason for sending Kone to Switzerland. Now, according to The Mail, there is concern from Old Trafford following the omission.

Lausanne finished ninth in the Conference League standings before Christmas, losing just one of their six league phase matches. That means they're seeded for the play-off round, where they have been drawn against Czech side Sigma Olomouc.

Fresh Barcelona battle

Manchester United could be in line for not one but two Barcelona targets, according to reports in Germany. Borussia Dortmund right-back Julian Ryerson is one of those men, with Kennert Eichhorn the second.

According to BILD (via Sport Witness), teenage sensation Eichhorn has caught the eye of some big hitters with his form for Hertha Berlin. Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been named as potential suitors, along with United.

Eichhorn only turned 16 in July but played himself into Hertha's first team before suffering an ankle injury which has kept him out of the last three games. He has played in 12 of his team's 2. Bundesliga matches this term as Stefan Leitl's side sit sixth in the table.

The defensive midfielder is reported to have a release clause in the region of £10million. He is expected to move this summer, even if Hertha are able to secure promotion back to the top flight.

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