25 Aug 2021 15:21:29
Hi Ed002,
Are United pricing out Lingard to WestHam or is he considered important squad player this season?
And Donny VDB being continually ignored, is there any chance the player and the club would part ways?
Thank you in advance.

{Ed002's Note - (a) West Ham value him less. (b) If a buyer could be found but the interest so far has been unacceptable to the club.}

1.) 26 Aug 2021
26 Aug 2021 12:22:13
Gents

A little info that may or may not be useful. Saul wants to play in an attacking midfield role yet we are seeking to strengthen ideally as a DM or CM. Background info sought by the club suggest that Saul is not great in the dressing room when he is playing out of his preferred position. Discussions held were around how satisfied he would be with the role we are looking for. Part of those discussions were that it is intended to allow Pogba to accept the new deal offered but that the club did not know if he would choose to renew dependent on his options in January or next summer. Hence the club could offer no assurances on either signing another midfielder in Jan or the summer.

Thats one issue. Atletico are being cute with Saul to force him out and off their books. They are currently playing him at left wing back, it is thought by some to be so that it focuses Saul on leaving and that beggars cannot be choosers, better to be somewhere in midfield elsewhere and with an opportunity to rotate the different roles and stake his claim as Ole has proven he will do from time to time.

Chelsea are in the mix because they can offer Saul a little more reassurance that he won't end up deep lying or in the CM role as they have players like Kante and Jorginho already for example, though he would still have to attempt to displace players like Havertz. Chelsea too need to move put a player if they were to recruit Saul.

There is strong harmony in the United dressing room which has taken 2 and a half seasons to achieve so Saul is a risk in that respect and the club first need to move another player and be sure Saul is up for the role we acknowledge we need.

Ole is not going to undermine the known weakness in midfield publicly, it would be bad management and very poor club politics to appear to be unhappy. He has said actually that he has had a few times when he asked for something and was told no, and that's business. This is true.

There is every chance Lingard may still go to West Ham or even Everton and Leicester if they continue poor form this weekend.

A lot of weird things can happen in early season form with owners.

Still on balance though I do not see it as likely we will do more business. Simply because there are so many dependencies relating to outgoings and negotiations that the time and pressure to do deals presents risk and a little bit of a gamble as opposed to holding firm and targeting your number one signing.

This has worked for United this summer where they could have signed Sarr Traore Rafinha or Richarlison last summer but held firm for Sancho. Same for Varane who has been hugely admired but genuinely seen as unattainable.

All clubs have struggled this summer in recruitment and sales, except the 3 sugar daddy clubs.

C.V. hasn't disappeared from the radar as yet and no one knows what winter will bring, with lower efficacy even for double vaccinated and also the issue over increasing daily deaths again continuing to rise. That is firmly in the mind of clubs who in normal circumstances may have bitten the bullet that it may be a risk too far as the trends have shown reasons to be more cautious than optimistic. New lockdowns are unlikely but fan safety and corporate responsibility remain a part of the thought process.

All in all, we have signed 2 top quality players and improved the squad, our younger players are a year older and it is also thought that it is possible players like Garner may do a job come January depending on how their loan moves progress.

All these considerations and careful balance mean that unless there is a no brainer opportunity where we have practically a nil net cost of parting with a player or two and getting the right signing with the right position and commercials then it simply isn't worth rolling the dice. Once the money is spent, it is gone. Next summer will see the push to overcome what some are calling the polo at United. We are mint in practically every area yet with a great hole in the middle.

2.) 26 Aug 2021
26 Aug 2021 23:08:07
Brilliant read, fella. Even if this is all made up, and absolutely none of it is true, you've convinced me 😁 Thanks for taking the time to put it on the page.

3.) 27 Aug 2021
27 Aug 2021 09:41:15
The polo! I love it.