17 Sep 2013 10:27:36
Hi EDS - Any news on Januzaj contract talks?

Just read in the daily fail that City have been put on high alert as contract talks have stalled and have been ongoing since April

Must keep hold of this kid, I don't wanna be watching him flourish at another team like Pogba has, all for a few quid and some first team assurances, which based on the Palace game he deserves.

Thanks a lot in advance {Ed002's Note - There is nothing new I am aware of in terms of a contract for Januzaj. There remains, as expected, interest in him from a couple of other sides. I don't see that Manchester City could offer him what he wants and I don't see any direct comparison to the situation with Paul Pogba. Interest from MCFC, France and Italy would need to wait for his contract to run down before making any real move for him - so there is plenty of time to figure it out. In the short-term perhaps a loan would placate him.}

1.) 17 Sep 2013
Thank you - much appreciated

2.) 17 Sep 2013
IMO it's playing time and not money that is the issue here. He certainly wouldn't get playing time at City.

I hope he can remain patient and accept that next season is probably when he will break into the MU side.

He needs to learn to walk before he can run. Undoubtedly he has the talent, but he lacks the experience and physique.

A loan will serve him well, but we will need to agree a deal first.

3.) 17 Sep 2013
Wouldn't surprise me if he breaks into the team before the end of the season. In preseason, he was easily our most consistent and best performing winger.

Not so sure physique will be a problem, he's already started bulking up and uses his body very well. Compare him to the likes of David Silva and there isn't a great deal of difference, if any.

Let's be honest, none of our wingers have been on fire for a long time, we get the occasional good performance but overall, we have lacked consistency on the wing for a while now. I'm sure Moyes will give him more chances to shine off the bench and eventually, he'll start and that's when he needs to show that he deserves his place, which I'm sure he will.

4.) 17 Sep 2013
Hi Sydney! Do you not think that it would be better for Januzaj to stay with the first team until the new year?

I think that a few appearences similar to like against Crystal Palace alongside starts in lesser/cup games might make him sign.

Then if he's not already displaced any first teamers like Young, then go on loan - as long as the new contract has been signed?

5.) 17 Sep 2013
Syd I know what your saying about his physique and it needs to improve but maybe his balance, trickery and movement is enough to outweigh how lightweight he is, I appreciate some teams are going to bully him but I think he's ready enough to be playing a regular sub role and maybe starting 10-15 games, he seems intelligent enough on the ball to be able to cope.

6.) 17 Sep 2013
What about Wigan where he can team up with Powell perhaps? Our future together and not too far for travelling.

7.) 17 Sep 2013
Moyes said he was tempted to start him on sat so that shows how highly thought of he is and should play a lot this season. Can't see a reason not to sign if that's the case

8.) 17 Sep 2013
Physique doesn't matter as much these days as fouls are given much more easy than a few years ago. Look at Neymar for example he's very skinny and weighs 8 stone, I think Adnan is taller too. I know it's a different league and the Prem is more physical but like some women claim size doesn't matter ;) Haha

9.) 17 Sep 2013
Oz, the point is he's still growing. I agree that being a winger you do not necessarily need to be big like central midfield or CB.

10.) 17 Sep 2013
Have to disagree Syd. I think he's ready now and if this wage structure policy stops us from giving him the money which he deserves I'll be fuming. Some players are ready earlier than others, offerring Rooney 15k a week at 18 years old in this day and age would be laughed at because everyone knows he should be on more than that. Januzaj is the same, he's been one of the best players on the pitch every time he's played and he deserves the same pay that other squad players receive.

11.) 17 Sep 2013
Prodigal7, he deserves nothing. If he wants a salary that is more than the likes of Rafael, Evans, Cleverley, Welbeck etc are getting then he needs to earn it. He will be offered what everyone gets offered at his stage of his career. I wouldn't give him anything over £20k a week as it would send out the wrong message to the other youngsters and some of the current senior squad will be asking why they never got that amount. You cannot compare Rooney to Januzaj. We are certainly not going to pay him £50k a week like Rooney was getting. If we wouldn't go above £30k a week for Pogba, we wouldn't for Januzaj.

12.) 17 Sep 2013
Well that's your opinion Syd, but it's obvious to most that this kid is a worldy talent. What more can Januzaj do to show he deserves first team squad status. He's already a better player than Cleverley, he was better the moment he stepped out for his debut and has been one of the best players on the pitch every time he plays. He makes the over 100k a week Ashley Young look terrible.

13.) 17 Sep 2013
Firstly Young isn't on over £100k a week. That is pretty obvious. Secondly if Januzaj demanded £100k a week would you give it to him? Where do you draw the line? Like I said I do not believe it's about money, I think it's about playing time assurances. He is in no position to be making such demands. He is a quality talent, but you cannot let an 18 year old decide who picks the team. That's David Moyes' job as manager.

14.) 17 Sep 2013
I don't think Young is on £100K a week, I think it is closer to £60/70K.

I think Moyes is ready to give Januzaj a chance. He's saying the right things about the lad and we've seen him take part in 2 of the 5 matches played this season if you include the community shield.

I suppose the rest is now up to Januzaj to grab the opportunity and make it so that Moyes cannot leave him out of the side!

15.) 18 Sep 2013
I wouldn't give him 100k a week no. I'd give him up to 30k a week though. Some sources say young is on 70k a week some say 120k a week, either way it's too much.

16.) 18 Sep 2013
Prodigal, so what if Adnan wants £35k a week or he is signing for Juventus?

17.) 18 Sep 2013
Question: if Januzaj was available from Barca on some much lower transfer fee than an exorbitant buyout clause (think Alacantra example) how much would we bid and moreover how much a week would we offer him to join us? We wouldn't be quibbling about 15 to 20k would we?

I appreciate the importance of a defined wage structure but as in all businesses sometimes you just need a bit of JFDI and bend the rules to secure key personnel.

History is already proving, in one of Fergies rare errors of judgement, that Pogba was a) ready for a 1st team place and b) worth the 30k he was demanding.

Lets hope Januzaj United career is not finished before it starts with our typical bloody penny pinching!

And if its playing time guarantees he wants this kid IS the future. He should be getting in the team NOW certainly as a left winger in the 4411 / 442 Moyes looks to prefer ahead of:
Young - not good enough
Kagawa - out of position on the left
Welbeck - not as effective as a winger
Nani - don't even start me on our 'new contract' boy.

Lets not have another Pogba. Get him signed up Moysie.

The sky's the limit on our budget afterall!

Kinda.

18.) 18 Sep 2013
Syd. I know what you're trying to say. We have a wage structure dependent on squad status and Januzaj is just breaking through. We can't break our wage structure no matter how talented a player is because it sets a precedent to other young players coming through. My point is we can justify giving Januzaj the 30, 35, 40 or so per week by playing him the same amount of games as the squad players on that kind of money. Cleverleys wage is that of a squad player despite the fact he's been a first team regular due to there being no competition for him. Januzaj is gaining squad status and he should be offered a contract on par with Cleverley. Welbeck is on over 70k a week after signing his contract before the start of last season.

19.) 19 Sep 2013
Prodigal, I agree Adnan is a special player and we should do what we can to tie him down. Like I said I do not think money is the issue here, it's playing time and I think he doesn't want to go out on loan, but MU want him to. That being said you have to have guidelines and a wage structure in place or you will get the Zeki Fryers demanding what they want or they will join Spurs.

I would offer him £20k a week and a chance to double it after a season.