10 Dec 2019 04:45:45
Hi Ed002,
Could you please list the potential transfer targets of United when you get time.
Also, please provide your insights if the targeted players are ready to make the move.

You had mentioned few months before that United handle transfer dealings like amateurs and bully clubs to accept low offers. Do you think the club have learnt their lesson in handling transfers and are there improvements being made behind the scenes?

{Ed002's Note - CB, DM, CM, CM/AM, W/F and S are needed over coming transfer windows

Benoit Badiashile (CB) interest in taking him in the future but also interest from elsewhere.
Kalidou Koulibaly (CB) ironically a Mourinho favourite and very, very expensive. Interest has likely gone.
Eric Dier (DM) bereft of any ideas Manchester United have returned to another Mourinho target and made an enquiry to a third party about whether or not he would be open to a move as a replacement for Nemanja Matic. Now interest from another side and very likely won't happen.
Declan Rice (DM) could also look to him again but very unlikely in January.
Kalvin Phillips (CM) has been watched but I would not expect anything to come of it in the short term
Emre Can (DM) scraping the barrel but Juventus will offer Mario Mandzukic and Emre Can with some cash for Paul Pogba and Tahith Chong in January.
Denis Zakaria (CM) BM will sell in January but Spurs and Bayern Munich baulked at the €60M asking price - other clubs (Borussia Dortmund - as a Weigl replacement; Manchester United - but unless they get a decent coach; and Inter Milan who won't be able to commit to the price and want Matic instead) have been looking at him.
Bruno Fernandes (AM) Manchester United remain keen on the player but not the price.
Christian Eriksen (AM) an approach may be viable in January – but the player wants elsewhere (but he is not the first choice there)
Hakon Evjen (RW/AM) signed for AZ after rejecting Manchester City - Manchester United were planning on a January off. Scratch him.
Jadon Sancho (RW) MU remain keen.Isaac Lihadji (RW) kiddie from Marseille who is attracting interest of several leading sides - will not be interested in joining MU.
Steven Bergwijn (LW/RW/F) has been watched by MU but there is interest from elsewhere including Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Spurs, Milan and Napoli - several of these sides are able to offer CL football which has always been an important point for the player.
Mario Mandzukic (S) showing signs of desperation if MU head down that route, but I suspect they might still if no other option is available - may well impact getting a long-term solution on board
Moussa Dembele (S) If the right offer is made he may be available – but interest from elsewhere
Callum Wilson (S) Bournemouth will not be open to selling in January
Aleksandr Sobolev (S) makes little sense
Erling Haaland (S) There is significant interest in the player from a number of sides and there have been discussions with one interested side already and one other side that could be offered him regardless of a lack of interest right now. Manchester United are interested and OGS knows him, but it would be a big step up with no guarantee of a starting place. The kid needs to consider any move carefully and not end up on the bench.

Transfers will continue to be dealt with on an amateurish bais.}


1.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 10:03:51
Thanks Ed002, great info. You mention that the transfers at the club are being handled in an "amateurish" way, in your opinion what does the club need to do to improve their handling of transfers?

{Ed002's Note - Restructure how they are handled. Get a new coach and bring in a DoF to co-ordinate.}


2.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 10:10:04
Whoa god level info.


3.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 10:14:23
Thank you for the summary ED.


4.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 10:20:34
Without pushing our luck but any chances of Outs?

{Ed002's Note - Matip, Smalling, Jones, Pogba, Mata, Sanchez. But much depends on the coach.}


5.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 10:45:27
Boy great info 02 thank you!
Nothing in these plans that excites much.
Saul, Madison, Sancho and Haaland should be top choices imo and leave the rest or until someone else in that category comes into view.

(but it seems you really do not like Ole, he could win the Champions league and you still wouldn't be convinced) .


6.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 10:52:43
Thanks Ed.


7.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 11:36:06
Don't know what Sancho has done to get so much of attention, whenever pitted against a top side he has struggled.


8.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 11:54:56
becks, he's hungry, young and British (the criteria we are putting first apparently with transfer targets) with reasonable talent but I agree that he's not worth the figures quoted, but who is?


9.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 12:05:07
Thanks a lot Ed. Extremely informative.


10.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 13:02:36
Sancho for 100 mil, no thanks.


11.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 20:34:21
When did we sign Matip?


12.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 21:31:49
anything new to report on a new DoF appointment Ed or has it been shelved? Many thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Nothing has changed.}


13.) 10 Dec 2019
10 Dec 2019 23:03:17
Eriksen, Mandzukic and Koulibaly in January would be tidy. Sancho in the summer if still lookig decent.


14.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 08:01:46
Thanks, Ed. If OGS is to believed then our transfer business will be completed in the early part of the Window. In terms of CB and DM, options seem limited. I’m beginning to think Phillips from Leeds might be the best option for the DM role.
Is James Maddison not a target Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Maddison is likely going to sign a new contract at Leicester. I would no longer hold your breath about a move to MU.}


15.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 09:43:48
Thank you so much for your time and effort Ed002! Really made my day to see so much info in red writing!

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}


16.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 10:03:05
Why do we need a cb? Smalling's showing how good he is at Roma, bring him back. Smalling, maguire, lindelof and tuanzebe is a pretty decent set of cbs to have. Get rid of jones and rojo.

The midfield options look sad, Phillips, rice, dier, can, which one of these will be creating chances and help take the load off the forwards? We need a midfielder who can bring some creativity to the side while not being as hopeless on the defensive end as pogba is.


17.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 10:27:49
Csm,

Are you joking about Smalling? He’s proved he isn’t good enough in the EPL, perhaps he is doing well in Italy because it suits his game more. Also, are you basing his performances in Italy on the fact he’s scored a few goals, because he scored a few for us, he was still poor in defence.


18.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 10:31:14
Phillips is making over two key passes per game with Leeds, he is pretty creative in his passing, while being strong defensively.


19.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 10:37:08
CMS. Kalvin Philips has a good passing range but he is still raw and makes some rash challenges.
If he continues to improve, he will be a solid signing.


20.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 11:54:22
gds his biggest issue was his incessant need to grab opponent's shirts, he wasn't the greatest passer but that never really hindered him. This season maguire is clearly showing that all shirt grabbing still won't amount to penalty for the other side, so don't see why he can't come back. Especially since smalling is clearly better than lindelof.

Shappy, TRD it is a big difference playing in the championship and PL.


21.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 12:36:03
CSM, tell that to Dan James, Aaron Ramesey, Garth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, James Maddison, Ruben Neves, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham etc etc.

The difference in the quality you are playing against is matched by the difference in quality you are playing with.

Stick a top young talent from the Championship in a team full of better players why would their performance go down? The logic is that you improve and play better when you play with better players.

So there really is no reason why a young player like Phillips if playing in a more talented team couldn't step up. In Maddison, Neves, Mount, Abraham and James we have some of the most in form players in the EPL who were all playing in the Championship within the last 3 years.

Personally I feel the Championship is a better hunting ground for young talented British players.

We bought James for 18m, yet if we went for Dwight McNeil from Burnley who has had a good season this year in the EPL but probably not a better season so far than James he would cost 40-50m.

If the talent is there it doesn't matter where they are playing. Chris Smalling and Jamie Vardy although not elite players started off in non-league football.

Eric Dier who is in poor form would likely cost 20-30m more than Phillips, yet offers nothing more from defensive ability, while isn't as good with the ball.

Personally I would be very happy if we signed the best young talent from the Championship every year. I would be very confident of them having a better success rate than the 900m worth of players we have signed in the last 6 years.


22.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 15:51:46
shappy all the names you have provided were wonderkids who made their transition from championship to pl before they hit 20 except for abraham.

Also you ignore the big fact that except for bale none of the older players actually turned into anything more than decent and we are long way from coining any of the younger players as worldclass. We need an actually worldclass midfielder to replace pogba and we need it now not 2-3 years in future and phillips or any of the names mentioned are not that.


23.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 16:23:15
CSM, we won't be able to get world class players in every position.

Also the idea we need a world class DM to replace Pogba is actually quite funny.

We might need a world class or potentially world class player to add creativity to our midfield as we struggle to break down sides that sit deep and in numbers.

But we don't need a world class DM.

Think about it like this, we have beaten Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, City and PSG either this season or last season with a midfield of Fred and McTominay.


24.) 11 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 17:14:41
Thanks for the latest update Ed002 as always

I wish all the eds, posters and regulars a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. All the best guys. Have a good one.

{Ed002's Note - And to you Shane. Keep it greasy.)


25.) 12 Dec 2019
11 Dec 2019 20:45:23
Thanks Ed - great stuff as always. Enjoy a Christmas egg nog or two.


26.) 12 Dec 2019
12 Dec 2019 00:54:03
Hi Ed. Thanks for the info. As always, it’s very much appreciated.

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m a little confused by your attitude towards coaches.

When fans wanted Moyes, LVG and later Mourinho to be replaced, you branded them toxic, but I have seen you post a few times that you think OGS should be replaced. I’m curious how you come to this assessment.

Performances and results were not great under Moyes, Mourinho and LVG, but at least with OGS we have occasionally seen good attacking performances. The others also had more time before fans started to get in their backs. Is it your view that established coaches should be given more time to succeed regardless of results and performances (and that OGS simply isn’t good enough), or was it the manner in which some fans were calling for managers to be removed that lead to you calling them ‘toxics’?

{Ed002's Note - MU have a generally ill-informed and toxic fan base who know little about how the club is run yet make embarrassing and irrational attacks on individuals which make them a laughing stock. They have driven out coaches with their hate and have now ended up with someone who is simply not up to the job. The fans are largely responsible for the downfall of the club over recent years and deserve the situation the club is now in. You reap what you sow.}


27.) 12 Dec 2019
12 Dec 2019 09:44:57
Hi Ed,

I don’t disagree. Sadly, it is similar with other football clubs. The levels of criticism (particularly online) from supporters (sic) is as distasteful as it is ignorant. Not helped by the media coverage - TV and press. I do feel clubs and owners have failed to move with the times though and don’t do enough to communicate with the fans more directly about what is going on. I noted the CEO of United has been doing more interviews recently to explain decisions. That’s a good move.

I think people crave news, which is why sites like this are so popular and welcomed.

Thanks for everything and have a good festive break.

{Ed002's Note - The toxics did the damage when they forced a coach out of the club and ruined future plans. I explained this in detail at the time and told you all what would happen. It is nothing to do with other clubs.}


28.) 12 Dec 2019
12 Dec 2019 22:09:16
This is what happens when the fans think they run the club and actually stop becoming supporters and become critics. I think the fan channels are becoming pretty embarrassing these days too, their a few decent ones but they becoming far and few between now. They generally give a poor representation of the fans, but unfortunately fans seem to be getting influenced by them pretty easily.


29.) 13 Dec 2019
13 Dec 2019 16:28:00
Supporters become critics Shane, so we are not allowed to criticise a coach, formation, team selection, player.
What is football for, are we supposed to sit there blandly just watching what a game, the whole appeal of football is fan involvement, discussing tactics, formations, team selections, signings, it's the basis for this whole website and guess what sometimes we think we know better than the club or coach sometimes we are wrong sometimes we are right that is what makes football.


30.) 13 Dec 2019
13 Dec 2019 17:47:19
Be respectful about it, nothing wrong with having different of opinions. Problem is that a % of them act no better than a 10 old year kid when they don't get their own way. No one is suppose to be bigger than the club. Well sometimes I get the feeling the fans are trying to be.


31.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 13:17:52
What makes Man Utd fans anymore toxic or anymore influential than other clubs? If the decision was taken based on what someone believed what the fans wanted, it is still the question of the quality of the decision and not the fans, surely!

OGS - he clearly isn’t the best coach in the world but looks to be doing a job that a big manager won’t do. Hopefully he gets a couple of years and is then judged on the complete reboot.

Everyone here on the website, including the Ed’s (including the godly Ed002) still suffers from past biases and not knowing what they don’t know. It’s super easy to critique a decision ofcourse when you really have no skin in the game.