11 Aug 2021 08:09:40
Morning everyone, hope all remain safe and well.
Ed002, in what position (s) will the club look to make further signings during the current window?
Secondly, I saw a reply from someone to a previous post of mine you mentioned that significant sales would need to be made before other players can arrive, is this true?
Cheers!

{Ed002's Note - The club would like a RB plus possibly a midfield player but the addition of Varane take the club over the maximum squad size so at least two players would need to depart before one can arrive.}


1.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 08:48:35
Thanks for clarifying Ed.
In your opinion (which I value), has the club improved on the transfer front at all during the current window? Signing Varane feels like a coup.

{Ed002's Note - Raphael Varane (CB) was sold because he would not sign a renewal. He was on the list of CB options the Chelsea coach has identified but the wages will likely put them off and they will continue to try and get their first choice. PSG came in to the summer with 10 objectives, one of which was to add a "high-end" CB. Varane would have been ideal but the overal cost and other priorities made them turn toward other options - settling on Varane over Luiz.}


2.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 08:50:52
Ed, would players leaving on loan be enough?

{Ed002's Note - Yes.}


3.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 09:17:51
Ed, appreciate you don't want to give blow by blow updates but just wondering if we are getting anywhere with Phil Jones departure?

It seems like most people think we will just release him and he's still here to get fit then when he is he will go. However, this has been the thought for the last 12 months. You've said previously he'd likely have to drop to the Championship, is that the likely outcome or is he going to end up staying and just not included in the squad?

{Ed002's Note - The cost of releasing him is huge so I would not expect that. His wages would need to be cut by perhaps 80% to find a Championship club so that remains unlikely.}


4.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 09:33:30
Goodmorning all from a new poster but old reader

Ed002, thank you very much for your hndsight, I don't know where it comes from but it's much appreciated.

Could you shed a light over something I've read : Ole wouldn't sign a midfielder this summer because his #1 target isn't available (Rice, who West Ham do not want to sell), like he didn't sign wingers last summer waiting for Sancho to be signed this summer. He wouldn't want to bloat the squad with players who are not #1 targets. Do you know if it's true? Thanks for any answer.

{Ed002's Note - Sancho did not sign last summer because of the amateurs. Haaland didn't sign prior to that because of the amateurs. Manchester United want to add a RB and a midfield player and have looked to the likes of Camavinga (who would be an alternative to Rice) and Saul (who would be an alternative to Pogba).}


5.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 10:13:12
Thanks for this quick and clear answer. From which I understand Saul won't be signed as long as Pogba doesn't leave.

I've read that Camavinga doesn't really fancy United, he wants to play for PSG or in Spain, it's mostly his agent that pushes him in the english market.

Problem is no other clubs want to buy United players, they're unsellable given their wages and the unreasonable price tags on them.

{Ed002's Note - Someone else could leave and he could be signed but it is difficult to see how they could be played together.}


6.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 10:14:08
Cheers for that, Ed. The new contract for Jones has clearly been a massive mistake.


7.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 10:37:24
Thanks for all the above Ed002!


8.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 15:05:27
Ed, Sergio Romero looks like he’s on his way to Grenada. Was he already a free agent or does he count as one of the senior squad we’d need to move on to make room?

{Ed002's Note - He was already a FA.}


9.) 11 Aug 2021
11 Aug 2021 17:57:59
Does Tuanzebe's loan move count as a departure in this sense?

{Ed002's Note - Yes.}


10.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 00:11:00
Ed002 would the cost of releasing him exceed the cost of keeping him?
If not then although costly would it still not make sense considering he is highly unlikely to play at all?

{Ed002's Note - No but it means paying upfront and not freeing up a space in the squad.}


11.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 10:58:44
Also, it means from showing up as an asset for let’s say $25M in the financials, that gets wiped out AND it takes away cash flow to pay him upfront: just not something that is going to happen.