We’re still waiting for all that hype that entered this summer transfer window at Manchester United to actually be realized, but at least they have signed two new players, which is more that what many teams have done.
Hopefully, there will be more signings to talk about between now and when the season starts. United are currently on their preseason tour in Australia, winning their first friendly today 2-0 over Perth Glory- a side that was very very short-handed on Saturday. With United’s first friendly now in the books, here are some of the top trending transfer narratives in the Manchester United online community today.
We start with, of course, Paul Pogba. The midfielder’s agent, Mino Raiola, is definitely trying to force a move for his client, who said last month that he seeks “a new challenge” now.
However, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made it clear that the Frenchman is very much a part of his plans, even considering him to be the side’s skipper this season. (while also seeming to confirm that Romelu Lukaku is on his way out, which we’ll cover in a bit)
Check out this tweet from a Telegraph reporter at the match today:
Solskjaer says Paul Pogba will be under consideration for the captaincy next season. Asked about Lukaku's future and whether he expects him to be a #MUFC player at the start of the season, he said: "We'll see." Said it was "private" when asked if he'd told Lukaku he wants to stay
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) July 13, 2019
While Pogba and Raiola may want a transfer, Solskjaer clearly doesn’t, and neither does the club, given the ridiculous price tag that they have slapped on the player. According to ESPN, United want £150 million for him. B/R reports £180m. Yes, we’re living in a brave new world of transfer fees after the Neymar deal, but that amount is still a couple bridges too far for almost anybody.
It’s United’s way of saying “not for sale.”
As for Lukaku, it was reported a couple days ago that negotiations are already underway with Inter Milan for the big Belgian striker. However, it looks like nothing is going to happen there either, and for the same reason.
United have slapped another ludicrous price tag on another player who is also not living up to the sky high transfer fee for which he was acquired in the first place.
https://twitter.com/adriandelmonte/status/1149961304649564161
So no, don’t expect Inter to be able/interested at that price point.
Finally, we turn our attention to long time target and Tottenham Hotspur central defender Toby Alderweireld. United seem to have given up/are out of the picture for the 30-year-old. According to Sky Sports, AS Roma Sporting Director Franco Baldini is in north London working on a deal.
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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