14 Jun 2016 16:28:07
Maybe it's me?

But It's been Raphael Varane to Manchester United EVERYWHERE today?

Eds, what do you think? Any substance to these rumours that have been popping up for most of the day?

Thanks.

{Ed004's Note - Hopefully they're true I doubt it}

1.) 14 Jun 2016
14 Jun 2016 17:02:28
There is always hope - thanks Ed004!

(I know I'd be getting pi££ed off with Pepe starting in front of me! )

Cheers!

2.) 14 Jun 2016
14 Jun 2016 17:11:43
I doubt it, I suspect he's using the rumours as a negotiating tool with Real. If it was a runner then Real would want De Gea as part of the deal.

3.) 14 Jun 2016
14 Jun 2016 17:27:50
It seems to me that everyone's quoting marca (Spanish paper)

4.) 14 Jun 2016
14 Jun 2016 17:28:05
There is that, but also Zidane has stated his sticking with Navas, it's the Real board that want De Gea?

5.) 14 Jun 2016
14 Jun 2016 18:08:00
Dont think we well Get him i agree he would be ideal but its a real long shot.
Unless they decide to sacrifice him to raise funds for the likes of lew / pogba/ aubangyang etc.
But Kroos isco and benzema are earmarked for that perhaps.
I'm happy to wait n see.

6.) 14 Jun 2016
14 Jun 2016 20:50:47
I strongly think zlatan won't do well. If the board want him to solely sell shirts then okay. But if we need a striker for the short term only, and to hit the ground running, there are much better options available in terms of performance as of today. Gramerio or pelle would be so much more effecient and are just about hitting their peaks.

7.) 14 Jun 2016
14 Jun 2016 21:43:32
The whole point of signing zlatan is that we don't want someone hitting their peak who will keep rashford out of the team for 5 years we want someone who is quality but can bring rashford on for perhaps season after next.

8.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 04:07:20
As much as I would love varane in our back line, can't help seeing the whole Ramos thing again last summer, wasted most of it 'apparently' chasing someone who was always going to sign a new contract imo.

9.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 08:25:03
Real only have three CB's good enough to start for them, Ramos is 30, Pepe is 33 and Varane is 23.
Selling Varane would leave them with only two CB's both over 30, for a whole season with no one to rotate or cover for injuries or suspensions. Considering Ramos has been sent off 21 times for Real Madrid amd he is considered the cleaner of the two then Real would certainly need to sign another CB to replace the out going Varane.
I beleive they did consider Laporte for a while but that is unlikely to happen now. So I highly doubt they will be prepared to let Varane leave now.

As for Zlatan, I do worry about his ability to settle in the EPL, pace isn't everything and his lack of it doesn't concern me too much. It's his lack of mobility and the fact that his physical strength won't be as useful in the more physical EPL as it has been in other leagues. If we sign him I doubt he'll score 20 league goals, I suspect close to 15, I think he'll be more useful in the Europa League which is played at a pace and in a style more akin to what he's used to.

He has come off the back of a great season, but that is in a very poor french league where his team was head and shoulders, chest and belly botton ahead of everyone else. They won the title in March for gods sake.

I don't think he will live upto his big name reputation if we sign him.

10.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 09:10:03
I get all the concerns about Zlatan and I think they are valid. However I think there will be a number of benefits from him coming in:
1. His work ethic apparently is really good which will rub off on the younger ones (Same as Cantona did)
2. He is a winner. again this mentality will rub off on the others. He will not be coming just for the payday
3. He will score goals. he is very intelligent and will work out defences and how to handle them.
4. He will draw defenders to him as they will worry about him. if we are clever this will free up space for Martial etc. We just need to have pace and attacking runners from Midfield to benefit.

It will be fun.

11.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 09:40:19
Totally agree brad. For me the benefits of signing him far out weigh any potential negatives. Time will tell obviously. All transfers represent a risk and zlatan on a short term contract represents less risk than most imo. If he excels and is a huge success then he may stay another year.
Personally I think he will do will but I also think he will raise the games of all those around him and with any luck will take this those who currently think they run the show down a peg our two.

12.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 09:50:18
I don't understand Shappy.

You aren't worried by his lack of pace, but you are cincerned about his mobility? He's not a midfielder who needs to get up and down the pitch, and his movement is superb, finding space and good positions easily, so I'm not sure what kind of mobility you are talking about?

Why will his physical strength be less useful here? I would think the physical nature of our league will make his strength more useful, not less.

13.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 10:12:03
I hope it's Varane rather than Stones.
The price that's being banded around for Stones at the moment is frightening.
Lots of potential but doesn't mean he's going to fulfil it.
every time I have watched him this season he's had a shocker.

14.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 11:08:19
Thorne, you don't need pace to be mobile, but you need an engine and work rate.

For a forward he needs to be moving between the lines and finding space, he is capable of doimg that in slower paced leagues, but the end to end nature of the EPL means you don't get to rest in between making runs and finding space. Its the constant moving nature of the EPL I worry about with Zlatan, he is quite a static striker and looks to uses others runs to drag defenders out of position and to find space.

As for the physical side, well in other leagues his physical advantage is he is bigger amlnd stronger and defenders aren't as used to dealing with that. In the EPL defenders have to deal with big strong forwards every week so it won't be such a problem for them.

15.) 15 Jun 2016
15 Jun 2016 22:32:08
Shappy, really? Zlatan has been one of the best strikers in the world for years, we have Rooney who can no longer do it upfront, martial who has great potential and rashford who was unknown before this season and you question one of the best in the business being a good move for us? He is one of the best finishers around and will frighten the life out off defenders, I agree he don't have the pace but when you can bang them in for 30 yards who needs it.

16.) 16 Jun 2016
16 Jun 2016 06:20:28
LA, you mean like Falcao, Shevchencko, Crespo and the other world class strikers who have failed in the EPL. Its a very different kind of league, and many have failed moving here, especially when they are older and less able/ inclined to adapt.