Manchester United banter 6

09 Jul 2026 08:32:12
Reports now Tchouameni looking at getting a longterm contract with Madrid, surprise surprise. The Rashford issue is also worrying, he will probably be sold in the cheap late in the window, but this will limit our options and time to get someone in. Really can't comment on Ederdon and Santos as I haven't really watched them, so it's a wait and see.

I know fans all want the big expensive siginings, but that doesn't alway work as well know all too well. One benifit though is hopefully they get some pre season in and are ready for the 1st game.

09 Jul 2026 09:03:33
I called it yesterday about Tchoumeni getting a new contract. It was the same with Ramos.

09 Jul 2026 10:08:52
Rashford will leave on loan to Villa or Spurs, or maybe someone else in Europe in the last day or two of the transfer window.

I doubt anybody would be interested in buying due to his crazy wages.

09 Jul 2026 05:52:26
I'll say it now, I have a feeling that Andrey Santos will end up being our best signing this summer.

I know a lot of fans are underwhelmed by his signing, they were also underwhelmed when we signed Senne Lammens instead of Emi Martinez last summer.

Andrey Santos for me is exactly the kind of player we should be signing. Strong, mobile, technically gifted midfielder who works incredibly hard both on and off the ball.

As as player you can place him in the same category as Anderson and Mateus Fernandes in terms of style of play.

As for the nonsense arguement about his limited game time at Chelsea. He had two 100m+ midfielders ahead of him in the pecking order in Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. While cost shouldn't dictate starting positions at a club, we all know that they do. The media fallout when a club picks another player to start regularly over a 100m player makes it almost impossible for a manager to do so. However, in the case of Santos one of the most surprising things is that the performance levels of that Chelsea midfield didn't drop off at all when the young Santos stepped in for either of those 100m players.

Effectively that means that despite his young age, he was matching the performance levels of more experienced and far more expensive players. That screams value for money in the transfer market. If Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are worth 100m and Santos is every bit as good as them when he plays then surely he's worth around the same (especially given his youth and the potential to improve and get even better), yet we are getting a potentially 100m player for 50m. That's an absolute bargain, especially in this current market.

Chelsea also weren't looking to sell him, and wanted to keep him, especially with Real Madrid lurking for Enzo Fernandez. Yet they agreed to let him leave as he asked to leave as he wanted to play regularly. He isn't the kind of young player who gets a big move and paid big wages and is happy to rest on his laurels, sit back and watch the money roll in. He has a hunger, a drive, a determination to play. He has the right attitude, and that is something that we have sorely needed in recent years.

I'm really happy with this signing, and I genuinely believe that in 6 months time we'll all be saying what a masterstroke this move was and how we pulled Chelsea's pants down.

09 Jul 2026 07:07:45
Honestly, Shappy, I can't believe some people are writing off our new signings without them even playing for the club.

09 Jul 2026 07:39:07
Mh, they are ignorant and don't have a clue what they're talking about.
The time to judge is in 6 months' time. Nobody knows how they will do.

09 Jul 2026 07:51:31
I'm actually pretty happy with this signing. He's young, he's got great technical ability, and he's got a great work rate. And I think he's really good value at that price. I'm also quite pleased that we've nicked a really talented player from a Premier League rival and weakened them for next season, since other teams around us will almost certainly be stronger.

I still think we will sign another midfielder this summer, probably Carlos Baleba, since he is clearly very talented despite a poor season just gone, but now that we have signed two midfielders, we can afford to play hard ball with Brighton over the fee. Maybe we really have got people in charge that know what they're doing.

Ederson, Santos and Baleba would be a pretty solid and comprehensive midfield rebuild. I still worry that we will struggle to close the gap on the top clubs next season, but there is certainly huge potential for these three players to keep getting better year after year.

Arsenal will obviously be strong again, especially if they add Guimaraes and Rogers this summer. City will certainly have a great squad, especially if they manage to keep Rodri, and I expect Maresca will be successful there, having worked there previously.



Liverpool will probably be stronger too, with Wirtz and Isak probably having a much greater impact, although their defense must be a concern. Spurs can't get any worse, otherwise Fernandes will be staring down a third relegation. But they have a talented and ambitious new coach, and they have added a genuinely top class midfielder in Tonali and another with incredibly high potential in Fernandes. That, along with Van Hecke, Senesi and Robertson, and any further signings they might make, combined with only having domestic football to focus on, will surely see them improve.

Overall, whilst it is very early doors, I think we might struggle to match a top 3 finish this season, but if we can finish top 4/5, whilst getting into the Champions League knockouts and competing in the cups, that would show that this United team is moving in the right direction. It will be a big change playing potentially 50-60 games in all comps next season for many players in that squad, so dealing with that and still finishing top 4/5 would be a real step forward.

09 Jul 2026 07:58:32
Depends whether Santos is the main signing for midfield tbh. A Chelsea reserve who we have been rumoured to have been interested in for a while. £50m seems a lot for his profile. Happy to see what he can do, but if he is the main signing, I will be underwhelmed.

He certainly is better than what we have in CM, but doesn't propel us up there. Decent and has potential. Guimaraes is listed at £60m, although he is 28.

I see that Touchameni was using us as expected for an improved contract.

I still hope we sign Alex Scott.

{Ed001's Note - you should go and read the Chelsea site, none of them are happy to lose Santos.}

09 Jul 2026 10:14:19
If 50m is a lot for his profile, then Fernandes is a complete rip off for his when Santos is the better player with the better profile and higher ceiling.
Big names fail sometimes. Sometimes potential is not reached.
We don't know how they will do, but Santos has every chance and as equal a chance of succeeding at United as Fernandes had.

09 Jul 2026 10:15:57
Thanks Ed
Haven't seen enough of him and hope he does well. Am not adverse at all to Santos but really think we also need someone who has done it more notably in a main league.
In terms of Chelsea fans, interesting, maybe indicates a good move, especially if Ederson deal has any doubt. There again. What were they like when they sold us Mason Mount?

Do you have any knowledge as yet on Ederson, are there any issues on the medical, given rumours there are?

{Ed001's Note - I have not heard of any issues, but I have not been about much at all the last few days as my godkids were in town.}

09 Jul 2026 10:22:20
Don't understand how anyone can objectively be against any signing until they pull on a shirt and play a few games.

They may (or may not) be setting the world alight at their current clubs and may (or may not) flourish in a new setting.

Give the poor kids a chance to prove themselves before dragging them down!

09 Jul 2026 10:29:17
Happy with the signing too, in the sense that what else can the club do if our main targets (Anderson/Fernandes) go elsewhere. They have to go down their list and sign someone else.

I think "this is exactly the type of signing we should be going for" is a bit of a stretch, lol.

2 days ago, no one was mentioning Santos as a target, lol.

I also slightly question the fee. Chelsea signed him for £17m, and after a couple of loans and a season understudying Caicedo, his value has trebled, lol, but it is what it is.

09 Jul 2026 12:54:23
Ed001, that tells me a lot more. I know quite a few Chelsea fans and none of them are happy that this guy has been sold. They all thought very highly of him.

I haven't watched much of him but as i said in a post earlier this week, 5/5 signings last year were very good and I trust the people at the top scouting and buying these players that they know what they are doing. Last summer's window has bought them that time and patience.

But many posters on here just want to moan all the time. They are like broken records

09 Jul 2026 05:31:51
For those doubting the Santos signing after we missed out last summer.

8/10 signing for me.

Captain of Brazil U23s.
Captain of Brazil U20s.
Wore the captain's armband for Strasbourg at just 21.
Only 22 years old.
Chelsea fans who actually watched him regularly are gutted to see him leave.
His defensive numbers in Ligue 1 ranked in the 98th percentile.

This could turn out to be a really shrewd bit of business. Leadership, quality, age and massive potential. Sometimes it's these signings that end up being the biggest bargains.

09 Jul 2026 12:39:16
Fred had an equally impressive CV. :D
A bit underwhelmed so far, but I agree with the general consensus that we need to give any new signings a chance. We're not at the top tier any more.

09 Jul 2026 00:50:38
No chew my nanny then, he has just signed a new deal with RM.

Surely we were not being used just to obtain a pay rise!

Can't believe someone would do something so cynical and self-serving!

08 Jul 2026 23:03:57
A lot of people worrying about us not getting a Casimiro replacement

I see it as are the club moving on from a CDM/ holding role type like cas and are looking at changing the structure of the midfield to one where all are technically good on the ball and all have to be able to get up and down the pitch and rotate constantly

Similar to psg and there 3 in the middle they never play a specific holding or sitting

All 3 do it throughout the game

For me we haven't had a dominant midfield in forever, technically good on the ball that can play in tight spaces and can play on the half turn not afraid to have it in areas that you need to be able to beat the press and importantly a midfield that knows how to keep hold of the ball and control games

I think we all need to relax and trust ineos to again get it right with signings as they did last season which turnt out to be a successful window

Personally I would like us to get Scott from Bournemouth if he is to be the 3rd and final midfielder to go along side santos and ederson

I can't say I've seen much of either of the later play much but I hope they can fit in and settle and improve the team

Let's be real if we was playing more than once a week last season Casemiro probably wouldn't have had as good of a season but the 1 game a week games played in his favour but he finished his last season with us in good form

And anyone we sign is better than Ugarte so already the two players we have agreed deals for improve us


I still think we might turn towards baleba but strange we went in for him last summer and in Jan and haven't gone back in yet

Another bonus is also santos and ederson are not on big wages something we've struggled with when it's not worked out and we can't sell players like your sancho and rashford

Get the 3 midfielders sorted then move onto another forward to support sesko a left sided winger and a full back

Still need to try and sell players

Rashford
Bayinder
Zirkzee
Ugarte (won't happen now)

Players like Martinez and de ligt who you can't trust to play consistently and mount will most likely be unable to get rid of

But 6 weeks or so till the season starts hopefully the club start moving a bit quicker now but we don't want to rush and pay over the odds and pay daft wages and then be stuck when trying to sell these players.

08 Jul 2026 20:52:28
At least we're not Newcastle. They sold Anderson, and this window have lost Gordon and Tonali, and Guimeres has asked to leave. Yikes.

08 Jul 2026 19:25:53
Santos and Ederson in the bag, wonder how things are going in Madrid?

08 Jul 2026 22:33:21
Ederson is not in the bag.

08 Jul 2026 18:25:20
To all saying wait and watch. Do we need to wait further or can we say it is underwhelming? Santos for 50m, yet we weren't willing to pay 85 for a much better player. Ridiculous now. Probably bid another 50m for Tchouameni's chef or driver.

08 Jul 2026 19:27:10
UA, have you ever watched Santos? My guess is no.

08 Jul 2026 19:41:57
I watched a handful of Chelsea games, and Santos perhaps came in a couple of those games towards the end, and hardly made a difference. The players that did stand out were Caicedo and Enzo. He isn't good enough to replace either of them, and that tells me all I need to know.

08 Jul 2026 19:51:23
I think you might have been watching something other than football if Santos came.

08 Jul 2026 20:00:30
Danny. ???

08 Jul 2026 20:03:59
UA, comparing anyone to the most influential player in the league (Caicedo) and a WC winner and player of the tournament, Enzo, is ridiculously unfair. I'm delighted with getting Andrey Santos. He's a 6, while Mateus Fernandes is more of an 8, but I don't see a huge difference in their potential.

Santos was ahead of Lavia and others at Chelsea. If we get Tchoumeni, or someone of that ilk, I think we'll have smashed it this summer. Honestly, some of the posts here are a mixture of entitled and delusional.

08 Jul 2026 21:53:38
There's more chance of me getting a call from United to play in midfield than Tchoumeniso being signed.

08 Jul 2026 23:19:04
Don't get the Fernandes love in. And for £85m. ????

Spurs have had their pants taken down.

08 Jul 2026 17:56:24
Ed001, permit me to jump the gun and ask what your take on Andrey Santos is please.

{Ed001's Note - was just discussing him on our podcast whatsapp group - both myself and Ed666 rate him, which worries me as he doesn't have the best track record! But I think Santos is a very good player, who should have left Chelsea last summer for his career, though he did gradually force his way into the team over the season. I like him a lot, he is a player I would have taken at Liverpool, as I think he is good at breaking up play and is decent on the ball too. I think you have done well with him and Ederson, especially when you consider the price would not be much more than Fernandez would have cost alone. Both of your signings I would take over him on merit, let alone at the price. Santos might be a bit too similar to Ederson though, that is the only worry I would have over them.}

08 Jul 2026 19:09:34
I think both are better than Fernandes, too. Both very mobile, with good tekkers.
Solid signings.

08 Jul 2026 19:14:03
Some rumours Edison has a problem with the medical, which might explain why Santos.
Also, rumours Chelsea will use the Santos money to go towards buying Scott.

Have you heard anything?

{Ed001's Note - I haven't heard that, but that would make a lot of sense, as they are similar types of mids, but I don't think that has happened. It seems more likely that you just want more than one midfielder.}

08 Jul 2026 19:28:12
Good to hear, Ken. 85m for 2 rather than 1 in Fernandes. Dare I say astute? ?

08 Jul 2026 20:34:45
Edersen brings experience as well. He isn't afraid of a battle as well.

08 Jul 2026 17:50:48
Santos and Ederson agreed. I still think we need one more to join Mainoo and we can have 4 players competing for 2 spots every game.
Mainoo can cover for Bruno too with Mount.
Personally I think Ederson will surprise a few people. Santos I've not really watched but wish him luck.


I'm looking forward to seeing both of them and how they settle in at United.
I think both are at least as good as Fernandes. Very mobile and technically sound.
1 more for cm please and we will have much more depth and quality in midfield than we did last season and for a long time.

08 Jul 2026 19:07:35
Who's the Casemiro replacement, Ken? Does this midfield now compete with City's, Arsenal's, Spurs', Chelsea's and Villa's if Enzo doesn't move? With 2 already in, I can only assume that we would sign one more, and that really has to be a top quality one because this current squad is just worse off from the season that ended with Casemiro gone, and we have Rashford back too.

I fail to see how I can be excited for next season.

08 Jul 2026 19:16:01
Casemiro, who had no legs, meaning there were gaps everywhere? That Casemiro?

08 Jul 2026 19:28:59
AJH scored some important goals, papered over a lot of cracks.

08 Jul 2026 19:45:37
Indeed he did, Angel, but let's not kid ourselves about his mobility.

08 Jul 2026 19:37:50
Yes, the very same. The one who brought the experience, several important goals, the shield in front of the defence. Legs or without legs, the team was much better with him in the team.

To replace him, we have just purchased a bench warmer from a team that finished 10th. I read what Ed001 has said about Santos but we are buying potential in a rebuild year. How are we going to compete in the CL with these players?

I read somewhere that we essentially bought 2 players in the price of Tonali. I can literally buy you a 100 players for that price but that doesn't mean the quality will be same. Have we compromised on quality over price?

08 Jul 2026 20:03:52
Probably UA, because we need bodies for the coming season. We can money hope the data guys have done their proper research, and believe we are buying what we need.

08 Jul 2026 21:44:26
A Casemiro with one leg is miles in front of these two. Let's not forget what experience counts for in this game. Running around like headless chickens are Ugarte and Fred. I would rather have one Casemiro than either of those two. But let's hope the two new ones can become half as good as Casemiro and we will be ok.