14 Jan 2024 14:10:03
I've just read a piece about the prospect of Alvaro going to Benfica making it an easier win for the signature of Joao Neves - I sincerely hope this is rubbish.

If this is true, then the sheer arrogance that has made us look ridiculous for years still hasn't left.

I'd be stunned if he came to United at all, but the suggested 'offering' of a youngster given no gametime by the club as some kind of sweetener is pathetically desperate at best.

1.) 14 Jan 2024
14 Jan 2024 14:29:35
I think developing a good relationship with Benfica is an excellent idea.

The generate so many quality players, smart move.

Silva and Neves are both targets and huge talents, we really need to develop and edge in the transfer market.

Alvaro Fernandez isn’t ready or good enough right now, and we have plenty of LBs at the club. Whilst I don’t agree with decision to Loan him and sign Regullion, tbf he performed when needed.

2.) 14 Jan 2024
14 Jan 2024 15:54:57
Why is it bad business if Utd can come an arrangement with Benfica that benefits both parties.

I'm not saying that this is what is happening, but it does make sense.

3.) 14 Jan 2024
14 Jan 2024 20:13:33
I was impressed with Fernandez tbh. We don’t have a wealth of left back’s and I’m surprised we’ve let him go. That said, the coaching staff will have seen him every day and will no doubt know more than us.

4.) 15 Jan 2024
15 Jan 2024 11:31:53
Maybe the lad wants to play some football. Benfica are a huge club with a great reputation for building careers. Why not go there rather than not even getting on the bench at Utd or going back to Preston?

5.) 15 Jan 2024
15 Jan 2024 14:09:44
Utd don't exactly have a great reputation at the moment for mapping out youth players careers.

I rate Fernandez, but going to Benfica is a really good move for him.

6.) 15 Jan 2024
15 Jan 2024 16:37:31
Well could be worse ork they could put you in charge?
You've no idea of any of the facts but have decided it's ridiculous.
Do you know how ridiculous that is?

7.) 16 Jan 2024
16 Jan 2024 20:26:22
João Neves looks a real top prospect, however, personally I'm not sure he's a player we should be chasing this summer.

Coming from Benfica you can be assured he'd cost something north of 80m. For a 19 year old with less than 40 professional games under his belt who has never played in a league as physical or competitive as the EPL that's a huge amount to gamble on him.

We also have the 18 year old Kobbie Mainoo in our squad who's arguably been out beat midfielder this season. I'm not sure Mainoo and Neves form a natural and complementary duo, and I'd be very surprised to see any manager regularly play two teenagers in the heart of midfield for United or for any team expecting to play regular UCL football.

Given our need to buy players who are ready to step up and play every week right now at the sharp end of the EPL, and the need bring in 5-6 players this summer I really can't see us spending the kind of money João Neves would cost on a young, unproven play like Neves.

Let's take a leaf out of Liverpool's book, they could have pushed for the 100m signing of star young midfielder Jude Bellingham last summer. But realised they needed to sign several players and couldn't afford to buy Bellingham AND the other players they needed so I stead they bought 4 midfielders and totally rebuilt their midfield.

I think signing 2-3 midfielders is the smarter option for us given the massive squad rebuild we need than spending big on one player who might not even be ready for the step up.

We kind of did that last summer in the striker department. Spent big on a young player who has massive potential but probably isn't ready to play every week for us. The difference is the striker market has far fewer good options and is massively overpriced. We should be able to scout 3 or 4 really top drawer midfielders who wouldn't cost the earth but would help totally change our side for the better.