The Whites are just weeks away from kicking off their new Premier League campaign, and defender Liam Cooper has revealed that the Argentine boss is doing everything in his power to ensure that his players are ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
“We're enjoying it. As everyone can imagine, it is tough," Cooper explained over pre-season so far.
"The boys have had a good rest but come back and hit the ground running. They’ve stuck to their programmes in the off-season and yeah, we’re fit. The manager is always wanting us to be fitter, but everyone is in great shape to be fair.
“I think it is always essential to be in top shape, that’s the way the football world is nowadays."
United will travel to Nethermoor Park before games against Blackburn Rovers, Fleetwood Town and Real Betis later this week as pre-season kicks into gear.
An outing at Ajax also awaits ahead of next month's highly-anticipated opening day clash against arch rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“The international lads have been coming back in dribs and drabs, the better they did in the tournament the later they come back," Cooper added.
“We’re ready to go, the manager wants his squad together so we can work on what we need to put right from last season, so we’re looking forward to it.”
We’ve gathered the best of today’s Premier League transfer speculation below…
![Newcastle United have been offered a chance to land Red Bull Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman this summer. (Chronicle)
(Photo by Ronny Hartmann/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY1MzNkYWNmLTIzYWQtNDgwMy1iNWM0LTAwYTVkOWU3N2ZlMzphOGE4NzZkMS1hYzk0LTQxMjAtYmIzNC0yNDNlZGUyYTJkNTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Toon offered Lookman
Newcastle United have been offered a chance to land Red Bull Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman this summer. (Chronicle) (Photo by Ronny Hartmann/Getty Images) Photo: Ronny Hartmann
![Brighton defender Ben White is due to have a medical with Arsenal ahead of a transfer next week. (Sky Sports)
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVjNTNjNWM3LTNhN2MtNGExNi1iODVlLTQ4ZGI5MmNlMDQyMTpjOTdhNjE1NC00YjEyLTQyNjYtYTVlOS1kMGVkZmJmZjUyZDI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. White set for medical
Brighton defender Ben White is due to have a medical with Arsenal ahead of a transfer next week. (Sky Sports) (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Photo: Catherine Ivill
![Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury is seeking a loan move to Newcastle United in a bid to secure first-team football next season. (Northern Echo)
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk2MDk5ODEwLTI0YzYtNDczYy04NGZjLTNkNGJjMGFjYzVjMTphNWU3M2NmYi05OTQyLTRmMWItYjAyZi1mMDhmOGVjMzE5YTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. Choudhury wants Magpies move
Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury is seeking a loan move to Newcastle United in a bid to secure first-team football next season. (Northern Echo) (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Photo: Laurence Griffiths
![Newcastle are in the hunt to sign Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips. Burnley and Brighton are also interested. (Sky Sports)
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYzMDZhYTE4LTNmMzAtNDY4My05MTkxLWM2MjkwN2IyOTRmODo1YmQzNzU5MC1iMDMwLTRhNjMtYjJmNS1hZTgxYWUzNjZmY2M=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. Toon join Phillips race
Newcastle are in the hunt to sign Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips. Burnley and Brighton are also interested. (Sky Sports) (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Photo: Michael Regan
![Brighton are poised to step up their £20 million pursuit of Odsonne Edouard, but face competition from rivals Crystal Palace. (Daily Mail)
(Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFmYmY2MGY5LTY2NDgtNDQ1Ni1iOGRlLTNhYzQwNzQyMjg0NTo2Zjc1M2RlNy03ZWIwLTRlNmItYWIwOC1hZTA3N2I3M2E3NTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Albion step up Edouard pursuit
Brighton are poised to step up their £20 million pursuit of Odsonne Edouard, but face competition from rivals Crystal Palace. (Daily Mail) (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images) Photo: Steve Welsh
![It will cost Sheffield Wednesday £300,000 if they want to bring in Bailey Peacock-Farrell on loan for the season from Burnley. (The Sun)
(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFmMWZkYWZiLTEwNzQtNDVmOC05NjRiLThjOTczOTcyODkwOTo3YjYyZTgzYi01OGQzLTQ1NzMtOWIyYS1iN2JjZjhkNjA0NWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Peacock-Farrell price set
It will cost Sheffield Wednesday £300,000 if they want to bring in Bailey Peacock-Farrell on loan for the season from Burnley. (The Sun) (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Photo: Alex Livesey