All the hype that entered this summer transfer window at Manchester United has essentially fizzled. MUFC have been linked with approximately 45,329 players this silly season, but only one, Daniel James, has actually been signed.
Hopefully, there will be more signings to talk about between now and when camp opens up on July 1, but until then, here are some of the top trending news items and transfer narratives in the Manchester United online community this weekend. Go here for part two of United transfer talk.
I didn’t mean to guys… we’ve all been there ?????? https://t.co/z2whONT6Po
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) June 22, 2019
We begin with the latest example of people reading way too much into what footballers do on social media, and news outlets, lacking material to write about this time of year, amplifying it further. That’s why they call it the “silly season.”
As I wrote in my new book, “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” media aren’t granted the greatest of access to big name athletes these days, and therefore everybody (fans and journalists alike) turn to social media to say what these guys really have to say about what’s going on with them from time to time.
Leicester City central defender, and long time United transfer target Harry Maguire accidentally “liked” a post on Instagram indicating that he would be a fan favorite at Old Trafford amid £80 million move to United.
The Sun, who have certainly been known for taking mere light smoke and presenting it as a full blown inferno in the last, ran with it.
Maguire himself sub-tweeted the Sun’s story link and said he simply just hit like on the social media platform by accident. As the Englishman pointed out, we’ve all been there.
Next we move on to the latest in the summer transfer window saga of the summer, Paul Pogba. Here’s where we supposedly stand as of now. He wants out, he’s said so and his public comments indicate that he believes he’ll get the opportunity to leave.
Some of the players, including a group of United’s star players, want him out as well. They think it would be best for Pogba to just go this summer, as to avoid continued distraction caused by his state of strong malcontent in staying there. And after all, nothing good comes of making someone stay there who doesn’t want to be there.
Remember when United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, during the run-in of the regular season that he wants players who want to play for the shirt? Well, he was probably speaking about Pogba, among others.
According to the BBC, Solskjaer has told the board to simply sell Pogba to the highest bidder. So, we’ll get the wheels in motion on this deal and everyone will be happy, right?
It’s not that easy, unfortunately, and with players of this expense and star power, it’s typically more complicated than that. The all powerful Ed Woodward and the board don’t want to sell Pogba, because hey, he sells shirts and that’s something which is a high priority for them.
Along those lines, the club’s kit partner Adidas doesn’t want United to sell, and if they do, they want him replaced by another superstar.
According to the Daily Mirror, the German sportswear manufacturer is trying hard to keep United from selling “feeling that if Pogba leaves, it would be a marketing disaster due to the lack of other ‘worldwide stars’ within the ranks.”
We could be handed for a stand-off which shows who is really in charge here, the team or the shoe companies.
And how this all pans out could show us exactly where United’s priorities as a club lay these days.
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.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.