Happy Thursday! Manchester United are currently in the midst of their International Champions Cup campaign, with a win over the current “holders” of the “silverware” Tottenham Hotspur earlier today. We have just 14 days until the summer transfer window closes, and there is still plenty of business to get finalized, so let’s take a look at the latest silly season narrative surrounding Bruno Fernandes.
The Sporting Lisbon midfielder is not likely to become the third signing of the summer for United. Just like the Harry Maguire situation, we are currently at an impasse.
Sporting CP have confirmed that their team captain is available this summer, but they want to create a bidding war and drive up the price.
Fernandes, a long time United target, increased his profile last night by being involved in both goals during his side’s 2-2 draw with United’s arch-rivals Liverpool at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The result meant that Liverpool completed their USA preseason tour with no victories.
United fans can no doubt get on board with the idea of signing a guy who can do damage against Liverpool! But the club is reportedly getting frustrated by transfer talks going nowhere, as the Portugese club wants to drive the price well above and beyond £56 million.
So while Fernandes maybe won’t become the third player signed this window, we do have a bit of news about the first, winger Daniel James, who got roughed up a bit during that preseason match with Spurs on Thursday.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino even apologized afterward for his team getting to physical in a match that was supposed to be an exhibition friendly.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer however, believes James can take the pounding 0f the Premier League no problem.
“We can’t lose tackling in football as long as you tackle fairly,” Solskjaer said after the match.
“Dan is so quick and it’s not easy to time tackles against him. I can understand why players mis-time tackles against him and he’s a brave little boy and he jumps, he’s taken a few knocks over the tour but as an old man I like to see tackles.”
“There’s no rolling about or diving. If he stays down, he’s injured. But he gets up when he’s just hurt. There’s a difference between being hurt and injured.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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