30 Jun 2020 12:50:45
Hi Eds
Is it possible to provide any updated list of United's transfer targets? Comments on Sky today attributed to United suggesting we'd only pay £50m for Sancho so assume we can definitely scratch him from the list.

Just the 37 points behind Liverpool so clearly it's time to penny pinch : (

Federico Chiesa at Inter and Ferran Torres at Valencia previously mentioned as RW alternatives. Do you see either appearing in a United shirt next season? Or do you see a cheaper option such as Willian for a free transfer being what our glorious leaders will opt for.

Criminal not to address RW with a genuine class player in the next transfer window.

{Ed002's Note - Again, I don't really think much has changed at the moment and the club will look to to prioritise. Previously a DM would have been a target, but a new contract for Matic has delayed the immediate need. A versatile left sided CM/AM (ideally Jack Grealish) is still wanted. There is interest in the future with interest in Jude Bellingham remaining but a move being unlikely right now. Joe Hugill being taken as an option to Gelhardt. The club need to decide what to do about adding a striker with Odion Ighalo being the low cost option post his loan ending in January.

There are other youngsters the club have an interest in and could still look to cherry-pick like Ricky-Jade Jones and Kalvin Phillips. Then the issue shifts to players departing to make space. Donny van der Beek (CM) and Saul Niguez (CM) interest will have gone if Pogba decides to run down his contract next season because the club are holding him to ransom and may have no Champions League - and there is interest in both playersfrom elsewhere. A decision needs to be made as Manchester United may have the chance to replace Pogba with one of these players but they continue to make matters difficult for themselves.

In terms of Jadon Sancho, it is the overall cost of the package that is the major issue. His "agent" has approached other sides offering a better deal in terms of fees but both see the overall package as too high. Ferran Torres wants to be elsewhere and I don't see that happening. Federico Chiesa remains a very good option as I have explained. I doubt Manchester United woul offer Willian a three year contract if he becomes available.}

1.) 30 Jun 2020
30 Jun 2020 14:04:43
Thanks Ed. Chiesa and Saul would be immense but Pogba running his contract down looks more likely.

2.) 30 Jun 2020
30 Jun 2020 15:12:29
You'd like to think United will make a reasonable amount from sales with Smalling, Rojo, Jones, Pereira, Lingard and others available. Having any takers for the majority of them may be difficult though.

Chiesa looks like the best option at the moment. He's also played in a front two so the split striker tactic which we deploy when playing 3 at the back could suit him as well.

Ed, I don't suppose United have looked at Traore? I'd guess his cost would be very high as well.

{Ed002's Note - I am not aware of any approach for Traore.}

3.) 30 Jun 2020
30 Jun 2020 21:26:33
Thanks Ed2 for the update.
My I ask what the options On the table to get rid of Pogba are?

You keep saying we are messing it up and making it difficult.
Sounds to me like there would be a reasonable offer on the table and the Plan to replace him with Saul/ van de Beek is done as well and we are just too stupid to sign it all off.

Is that really the case?

Thanks A lot in advance.

{Ed002's Note - There are none right now Jonny.}

4.) 01 Jul 2020
01 Jul 2020 11:37:54
But we missed the opportunity last summer, right?
In hindsight it would have been way smarter to get Bruno in and sell Paul to Real Madrid.
But hindsight is a bitch 😂

What is the preferred option within United at the moment?
Keep Paul (with an extension) or sell him off and sign Van de Beek or Saul?

{Ed002's Note - Manchester United are not communicating with PP's representative who is focussed on other transfers now. van der Beek is now considering options and has permission to speak to other clubs. Nothing is happening with Saul.}

5.) 01 Jul 2020
01 Jul 2020 14:24:24
So we would need to engage his agent in new talks to move this forward, otherwise nothing is going to happen?

Seems to me like stubborn kids waiting for the other to say sorry first. Guess time plays against the club here.

No chance of signing van der Beek regardless of what happens to Paul? He doesn’t seem to be overpriced to me.

What’s the deal with Sancho right now?
It seems we have set a max of 50mil for his transfer fee. Is that due to the fact that we can‘t negotiate the agent and possible third parties down and try to get the total costs down?
Or is it trying to safe face after it‘s clear we will not be able to sign him?
Any other angle I‘m missing?

Thanks a lot for your insights and time.

{Ed002's Note - (1) Manchester United seem to have no interest in moving this forward and the interested sides are looking at their other options. (2) The club would need to make space in the side for van der Beek. (3) The situation with Sancho is the price as I have explained - and perhaps his desire to move elsewhere. I know nothing of any maximum transfer fee (any limit would be on the total upfront costs not just part of it). There is nothing to stop Manchester United negotiating with his agent but he has offered a better deal to two other sides already - but it hasn't helped.}

6.) 01 Jul 2020
01 Jul 2020 15:40:17
Thanks Ed!

1) is there an explanation for this? Are they expecting/ hoping Paul will extend if he doesn’t get the move?
2) so van der Beek wouldn’t join as it is right now?
3) I was talking about the Max fee of 50 million quid wandering through the press right now. Not saying I believe it, but that’s why I am asking you. What kind of fee is the agent looking for?

Thanks and have a good evening.

{Ed002's Note - (1) Because they are hopeless amateurs. (2) Where would he play? It is Grealish they will look to first. (3) His agent is looking for €50M from Manchester United. Plus there are other fees it seems easy for people to ignore.}

7.) 01 Jul 2020
01 Jul 2020 16:39:35
Thanks Ed.
1)it seems Woodward/ the Team will only ever concentrate on one deal And then move on to the next.
Is that actually what’s happening?
2) he could rotate with Bruno and Paul
3) is there any reasoning for the 50 Million? Or us it simply a case of using your power over the player to extract the Max amount?
Have we paid such excessive, at least it sounds to me, before? Habe we set a precedent there?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - (1) I don't know, people keep naming Woodward but there are others involved and the club's structure is not something to be discussed. (2) Sure, but this sounds like the Liverpool's fans viewpoint on how they will be using Mbappe, Dybala and many others they are signing. You need to keep in mind that the squad is restricted to 25 over 21 and only 17 non Home Grown. Manchester United have the opportunity to cherry pick between the likes of van der Beek, Milinkovic-Savic and Saul as higher-end options to replace Pogba but have completely lost direction with the main issue they should have been working on. Grealish is the one unrelated to this as he offers something different - as does Cantwell who was also looked at. (3) It is nothing to do with power over the player it is to do with a planned rule change. It is cheaper for two other sides. The fees paid for the transfer of Pogba from Juventus were not dissimilar, but I don't want to open that up again.}

8.) 01 Jul 2020
01 Jul 2020 19:37:35
So if Utd wait a year they would hope to get an overall cheaper deal?

{Ed002's Note - They cannot be that stupid.}

9.) 01 Jul 2020
01 Jul 2020 23:02:14
Seems like the club need to grow a set get the player and agent in a room and ask the question if he wants to stay in not (if they have t already) then act on it with pogba rather than being childish and acting like nothings happening because pogba hasn't said it in person to them (although he did say it in a addidas press appearance last year!? ) If we can choose between Saul van de beek and SMS I'd sell pogba and bring in Donny and Saul. I'd also give grealish a miss as I don't see whatever the club seems too especially at the supposed fees. Would aouar from Lyon not be a better option for the am/ lm ed?