Manchester United have been left red-faced over their possession of the Carabao Cup.

The Mirror says United have lost part of the League Cup they won against Southampton at Wembley a year ago.

The inscribed base which the Trophy sits on was discovered missing when Football League officials from their Competitions Department contacted United recently to arrange the return of the cup.

And as well as coughing up millions for Alexis Sanchez, United will also have to write another cheque – with the Football League set to bill United for a new trophy base, which could cost anything up to £1,000.

Embarrassed United staff discovered the trophy wasn't sat on it's plinth - ebonised with an inscribed silver band - when they went to collect it from the club museum at Old Trafford.

A search was mounted to discover where the base had gone and photographs of United's celebrations on the day are believed to have been examined.