Manchester United Rumours

25 Jul 2024 19:04:15
Rumors of a proposed swap deal involving Man utd and Inter for Dumfries and AWB. For those who have watched him, is he one who is going to replace Dalot in the starting 11?

25 Jul 2024 20:18:49
Nope. Dumfries would be ‘first reserve’ at fullback.
Dalot RB
Shaw LB
Either of them get injured and Dumfries would be next cab off the rank, with Dalot moving to LB if necessary.
Stylistically, Dumfries is far more similar to Dalot than AWB is.

25 Jul 2024 20:15:05
Genuinely don't see the hype with Dumbfries.
I have deliberately typed his name wrong because watching him during the euros he always seemed a few passes behind the rest of the team.
Like maybe he was dropped as a baby or something like that.
I don't think he is better than Dalot based upon what I've seen.

25 Jul 2024 21:01:54
Very mature Jumbo.

25 Jul 2024 22:08:47
He is better at lots of things than dalot Imo. A much better attacking threat. Not sure how good he is at defending but dalot is inconsistent at that too.
Dalot getting lots of plaudits for last season. We finished 8th.

25 Jul 2024 22:43:12
Tumbleweed!, Ken,

Dalot was brilliant at times last season. Although he did have the occasional bad game.

However, considering how the squad was ravaged by injuries and poor performances, it is hardly surprising that he had those bad games.

Last season was a season to forget, other than the FA Cup final win.

25 Jul 2024 23:28:58
Eric. maturity is not something akin to this site in the 20yrs I've been following it.
Are we now saying we are to only hold mature discussions? If so, the Ed's should take the site down.

26 Jul 2024 00:29:48
Brilliant MH? I think he was decent but he is here years and still not really contributing much to our attack and sturdier in defence.
Not the biggest of our issues but imo not the best rb.

26 Jul 2024 05:29:13
Dalot was our best player last season and showed more desire and passion for the badge than most others.

26 Jul 2024 09:29:31
Feels like a pointless transfer this one, unless the player himself is agitating for the move given his contract situation.

26 Jul 2024 09:30:20
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Denzel is a better player than Dalot. Every time I watch Dalot, I'm not convinced he should be our starting RB.

26 Jul 2024 10:47:23
Will Denzel really play second fisddle to Dalot?
I don't think so.

26 Jul 2024 10:56:19
He was kurtis one of our best players in a season we finished 8th fair play to him.

26 Jul 2024 10:59:41
Personally I feel this is a bit of a nothing rumour/ transfer.

Dalot was arguably our player of the season last year, and is not a player that needs replacing in the starting line up as any sort of priority.

AWB is a decent back up in terms of ability, but stylistically is a very different player. Which is ideal as a back up player as it means you have to change the way you play when you switch between Dalot and AWB.

Dumfries is a good player, but he has clearly weaknesses in his game. While he's physically strong and very quick, his positioning defensively is very erratic to say the least. Very good going forward, but not the most technical. He relies heavily on his physical traits. Which is fine, but you need to be aware that as he ages and his physicality drops off that there will likely be a massive drop off in his level of performance.

He is probably a more natural understudy to Dalot, with him being a front foot defender who looks to progress the ball forward and attack. Although he is a couple of years older than Dalot, so I wonder if he'll be happy to play second fiddle.

AWB either needs to be sold this summer, or let go on a free next year. It would make more sense to swap him for a player at a similar level, but more suited to the style of play we want to play this summer than lose him for nothing next year.

It makes financial and tactical sense, but it's not a transfer that is exciting or will be particularly impactful to the team.

26 Jul 2024 12:04:02
If he does sign shappy he will start more games at rb than dalot imo he imo has a lot less weaknesses to his game than dalot has.

26 Jul 2024 13:36:45
Ken, while they are both more front foot defenders than AWB, they have different strengths.

Dalot is a much more technical player, better touch, control, passing, and reading of the game. He is a much better defender in every way bar heading (which is something Dumfries is good at) . Dumfries is a more physical player and tends to play far higher up the pitch overlapping the winger and creating goals. While Dalot has the capability to play high and wide, he can also invert into midfield as well, something Dumfries can't do.

If we went to a back three or wanted a very high, offensive fullback/ wingback then Dumfries would be more suited. Yet if we wanted a more complete player to bring stability and control in a more possession oriented system then Dalot is the clear better option.

26 Jul 2024 13:48:30
Apparently Dumfries is close to signing a new contract with Inter . Latest rumours suggest Mazarauoi rejected west ham and is waiting for us.

26 Jul 2024 14:11:03
Mazraouideal to West Ham has collapsed. Could be a shrewd addition if the rumours are true for us as he can play RB and LB.

26 Jul 2024 15:16:16
Shappy, I can argue all day that Dalot isn't a better defender that Dumfries. Dalot doesn't have a better defensive awareness and is not that good at passing too.

26 Jul 2024 17:08:34
Ziko, and I can argue that water is dry, night is brighter than day, and the earth is flat. Doesn't make any of it true though 🤷🏻‍♂️😂.

26 Jul 2024 17:20:11
Dalot = bang average, agree with TW. He cannot cross nor defend. He has got an engine but that's about it. Seems a bit stupid as well.

26 Jul 2024 20:20:50
Ken sorry but that's a ridiculous point. Where we finished has nothing to do with Dalots performance.

Check the stats, Dalot outperformed Ben White, who some would argue was the best RB in the league last season and Arsenal finished 2nd.

You can't use a collective team performance over a whole season to play down Dalots.

26 Jul 2024 23:16:13
I didn't play it down. He was above average imo in a team that finished 8th. Being the best player in a team that finished 8th is not a great achievement imo.

24 Jul 2024 19:12:32
Hi Ed, which teams are interested in Scott McTomminay and do you think he will stay or go.

Many thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Galatasaray - perhaps Fulham, Outside chance of Sprurs. Will leave if an acceptable offer is made.}

24 Jul 2024 23:08:28
Thanks Ed! Rumours of a move to Fulham are starting to gather momentum.

25 Jul 2024 09:15:27
He would do very well at Fulham, would get 10 goals a season.

25 Jul 2024 09:32:32
Personally think he’s with keeping.

Eriksen will undoubtedly move on, and possibly Cas so we will be light in midfield.

25 Jul 2024 10:06:17
Thanks ed,

I agree Eric i would be happy to keep him.
I think our main issue is who else we can sell that is actually going to make a profit for the club.

25 Jul 2024 12:50:34
Think Erickson and casimiro should be moved on first

Then promote collyer from the youth and get ugarte in

Only thing with selling mctominay is that it gives us more in terms of psr to buy this summer.

{Ed002's Note - It is nothing to do with PSR.}

25 Jul 2024 12:56:40
For me there are three categories of players in our squad:

1. Those we should definitely keep (a very small group with this squad) .

2. Those that we should prioritise selling ASAP (half a dozen players maybe) .

3. Those that we should sell if a good enough offer comes in (these players offer something to the squad, but aren't long term options) .

The issue is that we might not be able to sell all of those players in that second category. Greenwood has gone, the others I'd include in that group are Sancho (bad attitude), Casemiro (expensive and declining) and Antony (not good enough, expensive, questionable attitude) . Others in that category include Lindelof, AWB Hannibal, Pellistri and Eriksen (all out of contract next summer meaning they'll leave for free while none will seriously add anything to the squad this season) .

You then have players like McTominay and Maguire who have contracts that expires next summer, but also have a one year option that the club could exercise. They also offer something to the squad and would be useful to keep around.

However, if a good offer comes in then the club should consider it. Likewise if they are unable to shift find buyers for players like Casemiro and Lindelof for example, but have offers for McTominay and/ or Maguire then the club has to consider whether it's better to sell them this summer, keep Casemiro and Lindelof as back up and use the money made to improve the team further.

Which is probably a better option than keeping them all, raise no funds and be unable to further improve the squad. All while these players probably leave for free next summer.

If you are making decisions purely based on ability and impact they can have in the squad then you probably keep both Maguire and McTominay this summer.

However, that needs to be balanced with what is best from a financial point of view, what is best for the long term progression of the squad, what offers you get, and what the players want to do.

It's a really tricky summer this year, and to be honest I think the club are doing a really good job so far. It won't be perfect, and there will likely be things we reflect on and say it was a mistake in hindsight. But that's life. Next summer the club should be in a much better position to know what they are doing, who is leaving and who they are signing with much more certainty.

As for this summer, while I can understand the fans and even people at the club wanting to keep McTominay. Whether he stays or goes might be the deciding factor on whether we sign a midfielder or not. Or possibly the difference between signing a first choice like Ugarte or having to make a short term cover option like Amrabat.

In which case I'd imagine every fan saying they want to keep McTominay would probably change their mind.

25 Jul 2024 15:14:54
I’d be happy to let McTominay go for £25M. Think that would be a fair price for him. I’d look at replacing him and Eriksen with Collyer and Oyedele. Get Ugarte in for Casemiro and then that’s a good midfield ion of Ugarte, Fernandes, Mainoo, Mount, Collyer and Oyedele.

Premier league a consistent 3 of Ugarte, Fernandes and Mainoo with Mount rotating with 1 and then Collyer and Oyedele picking up minutes where they can and in League Cup and Europe I think we’ve got a bright future for Midfield IMO.

26 Jul 2024 02:29:21
If that was our midfield options going into the season we will get nowhere near top 4. Too thin on the ground and a massive lack of experience. 4 snr midfielders (including mainoo) for 3 positions antis an entire season? It would be negligence to go in with those 6.

26 Jul 2024 06:14:22
Completely agree with Ken. I think collyer would be great as 7th choice or there is a lot of pressure on youth! Wouldn't be surprised to see an experienced player come in on loan in August to help take the pressure off the younger players. I think oyedele might get minimal minutes this year but would gladly eat my hat if both get decent game time alongside senior pro's. I don't think ETH will play them in a way that sets them up to fail.

26 Jul 2024 11:19:26
Ports, while I'm a massive advocate for giving our youth players a chance, I don't think we can really go into a season where we have only three midfield players with more than 12 months experience in senior football.

Especially when one of those has spent most of last season out injured and the other would be completely new to the team and the league (he may take time to settle) .

I like the look of Collyer and think he should get some minutes this season. While I hope he can grab his chances like Mainoo did last season, the reality is that very few academy players have a debut season like Mainoo had last year. That was a meteoric rise to prominence.

If Collyer makes 10 appearances and plays more than 500 minutes he'll have had a good season.

Personally I think we either need to bring in two midfielders, or one if we keep one of Casemiro or McTominay around. Ideally both leave and we bring in two new guys who suit the style and have potential to become key first team players.

Ugarte seems most likely, and we have been linked with Youssef Fofana who looks like he'd be a good second option to bring in along side Ugarte.

I think McTominay is most likely to leave at this point. He will likely want more game time at his age, will have more interest, and as a academy player the funds raised from any sale are more beneficial financially in terms of potentially realising more funds to bring in players.

I expect we'll see McTominay leave and Ugarte sign, then depending on whether we can shift Casemiro or not will depend on whether we can bring in a second midfielder. At the start of the summer I'd have said it was 70/ 30 that Casemiro would leave, now it's looking more like 40/ 60 that he'll leave.

If we change shape/ tactics a bit from last season and play with a more compact side with a double pivot in midfield rather than a single pivot then I think Casemiro could still be a useful player. Albeit an incredible expensive squad option in terms of wages.

24 Jul 2024 20:24:53
Hi. Unless I have missed anything and kind of Utd related. What is happening with De Gea. A United legend in my eyes and surely has to get a new club soon and i am surprised he never got a contract at any club after end of his United contract. Would not mind him back at United tbf.

{Ed002's Note - He has been asking for significant wages and that accounts for the time off.}

24 Jul 2024 21:07:38
He's a great keeper playing at the wrong time. A truly world class shot stopper, but he has too many weaknesses to play for a top side in the modern game. He can't play out from the back, he can't sweep and he's weak in the air.

I doubt he's prepared to take the step down in terms of the teams he can play for or the wages they can offer to extend his career.

24 Jul 2024 21:36:39
I think his weakness in the air would have been exploited more if he played in an earlier era. Probably the most instinctive shot stopper I’ve ever seen. His reactions are so quick. But the fact he wasn’t able to improve the weaknesses in his game is a red flag. A great keeper who could have pushed himself to be world class. Telling that he never impressed at international level, and that he was prepared to take a year off rather than a lower wage.

Still think the club treated him very poorly last summer.

25 Jul 2024 00:03:21
De Gea was the highest pad goalkeeper in the EPL by a wide margin and quite frankly he did not justify it. I would go so far as to say that it was yet another piece of poor business by United to hold on to him when his contract was renewed by using what can only be regarded as a financial bribe. In the end, of course, he left and the club made no money from it. It was the correct decision to let him go and thereby rectify the previous error. He was not treated badly. On the contrary he was treated too well.

25 Jul 2024 01:00:25
Yeah, Danny, he deserved a proper send off, whether it was a testimonial or whatever. Give the fans a chance to say thanks and goodbye. It was all very low-key and anticlimactic for a player who saved us in a fair few seasons.

25 Jul 2024 07:24:01
It baffles me how a player would rather take a year out than play and be paid, unless he just doesn’t have the love for the game.

And at what point is silly money still not enough? It must be difficult asking for example £200K a week, but interested employers are only offering a measly £100K a week. How would he live?

I’ve been a huge De Gea supporter over the years but there’s always been question mark around desire and responsibility.

25 Jul 2024 08:29:08
I’ve been a massive supporter of De Gea too in the Stretford End. But let’s get a few things straight, he only stopped with us rather than go to Real because of the astronomical amount of money put in front of him. If it hadn’t been for that he’d have been off (plus the fact we bungled the paperwork last minute on one occasion) . So in terms of loyalty he might say he loves Manchester United, but as soon as his head was turned that love soon went out the window.

In terms of having a year out, that smacks of a goalkeeper who’s tapped out on his career. A season on any wage is better than none. You can only assume he just doesn’t want to play football. Eventually he will need to make a decision on his career, for me he will probably retire if I’m totally honest.

I think for the majority of his career he’s been in the correct era. Any earlier and his aerial fragility would have really let him down. He got away with it because of the move towards referee protection of goalkeepers. It’s only the last season or two where he started to come unstuck with the ball at his feet, and to be honest, he wasn’t as bad as what we all make out.

25 Jul 2024 13:02:09
Exactly Stevie, player of the season on multiple occasions. Deserved some recognition.

25 Jul 2024 13:03:51
Wazza, he has a young family and a famous wife. They made sacrifices for his career and for him to stay in Manchester.

Maybe he doesn't feel either forcing his family to move to somewhere they don't want to be or choosing to spend a year or two living away from his family isn't worth it to play for a mid-table club somewhere.

Supposedly a big driver for his desire to move to Real Madrid was for his family. For his wife's career and to be closer to their extended family. While also playing for a top club challenging for major honours.

In the end he stayed at United, probably because of the astronomic wages on offer.

Either way I can understand why he might have chosen not to take any of the potential offers he had. He knows his time at the top is over, he won't be first choice for a title challenging side. So does he choose to keep playing on a reduced salary, for a smaller club not challenging for major honours over what is best for his family?

25 Jul 2024 20:41:21
I read that Spain isn't an option for him and he has no interest in any other team in the EPL, so was looking at a West Coast US team to continue his career.

25 Jul 2024 22:33:39
Shappy……. I’m not really sure what you said to be perfectly honest. I think you were agreeing with points already made and re-packaging 🤷‍♂️

Hasn’t he been training at Alty? Could have sworn I saw a video of him training at Moss Lane.

Wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up playing in north Wales………….

26 Jul 2024 06:38:38
Fireman, that’s a Shappy tactic. Recycle all points from the thread into a huge summary for clout. We know about him moving to Manchester and his wife’s desire to remain in Spain. We know he wanted to go back to Madrid. We know he was on huge wages etc.

23 Jul 2024 21:05:23
Hi, Ed002. I seem to remember a while back you maybe mentioned that Chalobah might be a player we were interested in. With news that Chelsea are looking to sell, is this something that Utd might still be interested in, or have we definitely moved on? Thanks as usual.

{Ed002's Note - Not first or second choice at least.}

23 Jul 2024 22:31:46
Cheers, Ed002 👍.

24 Jul 2024 09:27:57
ED001 said he would be an excellent choice.

24 Jul 2024 14:37:04
I like him, Hatter, that's why I mentioned it. Thought he could be a good option if Everton insist on silly money for Braithwaite.

24 Jul 2024 21:37:00
NouCamp99,

He wouldn't be expensive either.

25 Jul 2024 07:18:17
I would happily see Maguire and Lindelof moved on, with De Ligt and Chalobah coming in.

25 Jul 2024 13:20:24
He'd be an interesting squad option, providing cover at RCB, RB and possibly at CDM occasionally.

However, is that the limit of his ambitions?

Is he happy to be a bit part player, filling gaps here and there for Manchester United, or does he want to stake his claim as a regular starter for a side and really show what he can do?

I suspect he doesn't want to be a bit part player, which he's probably communicated with Chelsea and they've decided to sign other options and let him go.

Personally I think he's good enough to start for a side in the Europa league, an EPL side that will finish between 8th and 4th. But I'm not sure he's shown yet that he is good enough to be a regular starter for a title challenger. Maybe with more regular football he steps up to that level.

Will he get that at United? Probably not.

25 Jul 2024 15:36:44
Well, Shappy, you did describe United at the moment 😂.

26 Jul 2024 11:22:48
Trololo, yeah, at the moment but not where we are aiming to be.

26 Jul 2024 12:12:50
Thats not what you wrote Shappy, but okay!

22 Jul 2024 15:41:10
Hi Ed, do you think Bruno will leave the club this Summer?
Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - There is a reasonable chance he will.}

22 Jul 2024 17:29:54
Do we have a suitable replacement lined up Ed? Or maybe Mount is already there.

{Ed002's Note - There is Mount and other targets.}

22 Jul 2024 17:31:08
Would that still be to the Middle East Ed002, or are other clubs interested in him please?

Thanks for your time!

{Ed002's Note - If the player wants to go there is interest from several sides. The club will need to speak with him.}

22 Jul 2024 18:12:45
Thanks Ed as always. Top notch work this summer.

22 Jul 2024 18:49:22
Thanks ed002.

22 Jul 2024 20:03:58
Thanks for taking the time to respond Ed002, much appreciated.

23 Jul 2024 10:18:59
In my opinion, I think Bruno will stay, he was with us during the gloomy days, why leave when there seems to finally be a ray of light?

23 Jul 2024 10:57:51
Mbd,

Because he constantly gives the ball away and can’t stay in a position in the system we want to play? I like Bruno and would be fine with him staying but it would be crazy to ignore his limitations and if we ever want to push for a title we will need him to be moved on.

23 Jul 2024 11:46:25
GDS 😄 this is some take.

23 Jul 2024 12:15:24
The harder you work the more mistakes you make. Those that don’t work can’t make mistakes.

Only my opinion but his “limitations” were exacerbated by the system we were playing and a lack of cattle around him for the most part.

Let’s see how he goes with a better team around him before you hang him out to dry.

23 Jul 2024 09:17:31
What is the motivation by the club to sell him Ed?
Is it financial or more to do with a change in formation etc?

{Ed002's Note - Manchester United would want a new contract.}

23 Jul 2024 13:45:22
Sorry GDS, can't agree. If he goes, fair enough, but to say we can't push for a title unless we move him on is just wrong, IMO. There's many others need to go before one of the best players we've had over the last lot of 6ears.

23 Jul 2024 14:03:47
GDS, haven't u noticed the difference in our team when he plays and when he does not? He may have his flaws, but his positives more than make up for it.

23 Jul 2024 17:08:52
Genuinely baffled by the hate Bruno gets. Our best player by a country mile. No one as close to his creativeness. Bruno must stay imo, if not who is his replacement? Mount? - the same player who most people were baffled we signed!

23 Jul 2024 20:36:19
Nobody hates him singh. I don't think anybody disputes his effort commitment or that he is a very good player. I think he has done extremely well Personally at united his figures and stats are great. But the teams figures and stats are not and have not been since he joined.
I don't blame him in any way for that but I think it's time for a change and he could excel elsewhere.
For what it's worth I don't think they will sell him that is by no means a disaster it's just not my personal preference.

23 Jul 2024 20:59:52
Be absolute madness to let bruno leave, he's utds best player. Just can't see the utd captain leaving at all. and to where?

23 Jul 2024 21:49:19
Loll where is my postt but yeahh Ken I get what you are saying but I think with better players around him he will do better this year.

24 Jul 2024 01:01:48
I think you're right East stand I can't see anybody spending big on him he will be 30 next season so 7nless he fancies a stint in Saudi I don't think any of the big boys would spend big money on a player that will be on decline over the course of the next 3 or 4 years they have him.
I studied a new contract and a move to Saudi in a couple of years.
Your not the only Singh if you read above Singh. Its not all about you🤣.

24 Jul 2024 07:03:37
I commented a few times on Bruno last season, similar to GDS. I think he worked in a false 9 because there was no tactical discipline needed. Our shape wasn’t affected when he ran out of position. It meant he wasn’t making recovery runs, because he was out of position, then giving away dangerous fouls around our area.
He gives the ball away when trying things but it is less dangerous further forward than when he is in the middle of the park. The way forward must see us playing as an 11, not 10 plus Bruno.