27 Dec 2024 20:39:20
Rumours of United being interested in Daniel Olmo (if Barcelona lose their appeal about registration) and PSG’s Nuno Mendes.

Would certainly help sort out the left side if true and perhaps hasten the exits of Rashford and Garnacho.

1.) 27 Dec 2024
27 Dec 2024 22:07:50
They have lost it already.

2.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 10:38:20
If he were to come, Bruno would have to be sacrificed IMO.

Or, alternatively, him and Bruno as the 2 no.10s with Amad on one wing and a new LWB on the other. That may work.

3.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 11:09:54
I think there is some legs in the Nuno Mendes rumour.

He has the same agent as Ruben Amorim, has played in Amorim's system and been great in that role, while he probably suits playing as a wingback better than playing as a full back.

Add to that Theo Hernandez is refusing a new deal at AC Milan and is rumoured to be high on PSG's wanted list (they want more top level French players) .

I could easily see a situation where Hernandez joins PSG and we sign Nuno Mendes from them.

It makes a lot of sense. We get a young (22), top quality player who knows the manager and has excelled in the system we are trying to implement, who plays in a position of high priority in terms of need.

If I was a betting man I might have a flutter on Nuno Mendes to join us next summer.

As for Dani Olmo, he would be a bear perfect signing for a player in one of those inside forward/ wide No.10 roles that Amorim uses either side of the striker. While he could be available for well below his market value. Technically if Barcelona cannot register him by the 31st of December then his contract with them becomes null and void and he is a free agent, despite them still having to honour the €60m transfer fee they agreed with Red Bull Leipzig.

However, as this is a situation that has never happened before I would expect some kind of legal challenge from Barcelona to mitigate the financial loss they will have incurred. Which will probably lead to some out of court settlement between them and whoever signs Olmo if he becomes a free agent in January.

It's the kind of deal I'd normally suggest giving a bit of a wide berth to as it could become a bit of a headache and a distraction. However, given his quality, age and suitability to how we play, while also considering our current financial position (limited funds to reinvest in the squad, while also having a lot of investment needed to bring the squad up to standard), it seems like a deal the club should very much be keeping a close eye on and a player we should move for if he does become available at a below market value price (maybe even free) .

He's too good of a player, who also suits the current set up very well, to ignore and not have a go at trying to sign.

That said I expect there will be a lot of competition for his signature if he does become available. With teams in much better positions than us also competing for him. Which means our chances of getting him are probably very low.

Mendes I think will be a player who we could get in the summer rather than January. I'd actually like us to re-sign Alvaro Fernandez in January as he's available for a bargain buy back clause. I also think he'd slip straight into the team without much need to adjust to the team and the league having been here with us for so many years previously. However, I think we need two LWB's if I'm honest as neither Malacia or Shaw are suitable to that role and it's a very physically demanding position that requires regular rotation to avoid burnout and injury. So would also look to sign Nuno Mendes in the summer. Then next season have both Mendes and Fernandez rotating in that position.

Fernandez is available for 15m, while Mendes would likely cost 35-40m (given PSG could get Hernandez to replace him for very little given his contract situation) . That means we could have both Mendes and Fernandez at LWB for 50-55m. Which is the minimum amount we would probably have to pay for someone like Kerkez from Bournemouth.

I'd have a go for Olmo if he becomes available, but would also look at deals for either Sverre Nypan or Chris Rigg as other younger options who could be brought in instead of or as well as Olmo.

We are going to have to be savvy with our signings over the next few windows. I wouldn't be surprised if half the reason Rashford is being left out the squad currently is to force him out of the club, both reducing the wage bill and bringing in a profit on the books. From a financial perspective he is the most profitable player we can sell, while his loss would not be felt as much as some other players.

I expect to see us prioritise younger players who can be brought in for lower fees and players we can get for below their market value due to either a clause in their contract or because their contract is soon expiring. Along with some other more expensive signings for key positions. All signings however, will be on lower wages than we have previously handed out (or at least structured differently such as more wages based on performances and lower basic wages) .

4.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 11:24:59
Defo. I think a LWB is crucial in January for Amorim to play as he wants, and a creative/ goalscoring player would be amazing.

5.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 11:42:05
Ugh. A player used to playing in the manager’s system. I’ve learned to be traumatised by this sentance.

6.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 14:46:11
I would be very sceptical of bringing Dani Olmo in. His injury record is pretty scary, for seasons 21/ 22, 22/ 23 and 23/ 24 he missed 276 days and 66 games through injury. I think he was also out for a month recently with Barca.

Whilst there is no questioning his talent and ability, I would be concerned as to his reliability playing in a much tougher league such as the EPL. Too risky for me.

7.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 15:33:06
I’m at a point with the team where if they can make a 5m pass and actually try they’ll shine like a star next to these dossers, sign them up.

8.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 20:21:03
It does make you wonder what they do/ show in training Reez.

9.) 28 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024 20:33:11
Can't see Olmo coming to us when it's likely City or Arsenal might want him.

10.) 29 Dec 2024
29 Dec 2024 17:46:52
Good explanation Shappy.

11.) 29 Dec 2024
29 Dec 2024 17:54:15
Really wouldn’t surprise me if United:

Loaned out Rashford for the rest of the season and supplemented his wages by 50%.

(However the 50% saved could help bring in a first team player)

Sold Garnacho for £60m to Athletico, which might fund another couple of players (first team and youth prospect)

Do, while this will never probably happen as it’s United, available finds might allow us to bring in the following in January:

Nuno Mendes LWB

Sverre Nypan AM, LHS

Mastantuano (loan back to River Plate)

12.) 29 Dec 2024
29 Dec 2024 23:50:52
£60m for Garnacho?

13.) 03 Jan 2025
03 Jan 2025 11:03:21
They did spend £110m on Alvarez and Gallagher in the summer, so you never know.

14.) 03 Jan 2025
03 Jan 2025 23:25:35
Shappy why would PSG sell Nunes for £35-40m just because they could get Hernandez for that amount? Let’s say Real Madrid want to sell Vinicius Junior, do you think they’d sell him for £50m because that’s what his replacement would cost or do you think they’d sell him for £100m as his talent deserves? ?

I imagine if they were to sell Nunez it would likely be £50-60m. Bayern will likely need to replace Davies, City also need a LB, Chelsea will probably want to replace Chillwell so there’d definitely be enough interest to drive his price up.

15.) 05 Jan 2025
05 Jan 2025 09:39:29
Shappy i'm assuming all these signings are dependent on whether we are still in the premier league next season?