28 Dec 2019 17:00:33
Can the edits provide any update on targets for January, is there any potential players close.
{Ed002's Note - I cannot answer about the timings of transfers but can tel;l you where I know of some level of interest.
CB, DM, CM, CM/AM, W/F and S are needed over coming transfer windows
Benoit Badiashile (CB) interest in taking him in the future but also interest from elsewhere. He has signed a new contract so nothing will happen in the short term.
Kalidou Koulibaly (CB) ironically a Mourinho favourite and very, very expensive. Interest has likely gone at the asking price.
Eric Dier (DM) bereft of any ideas Manchester United have returned to another Mourinho target and made an enquiry to a third party about whether or not he would be open to a move as a replacement for Nemanja Matic. Now interest from another side and very likely won't happen.
Declan Rice (DM) could also look to him again but very unlikely in January.
Kalvin Phillips (CM) has been watched but I would not expect anything to come of it in the short term.
Emre Can (DM) scraping the bottom of the barrel but Juventus will offer Mario Mandzukic and Emre Can with some cash for Paul Pogba and Tahith Chong in January.
Denis Zakaria (CM) BM will sell in January but Spurs and Bayern Munich baulked at the €60M asking price - other clubs (Borussia Dortmund - as a Weigl replacement; Manchester United - but not unless they get a decent coach; and Inter Milan who won't be able to commit to the price and want Matic instead) have been looking at him.
James Maddison (AM)
Bruno Fernandes (AM) Manchester United remain keen on the player but not the price.
Christian Eriksen (AM) an approach by Manchester United may be viable in January – but the player wants Real Madrid and Real Madrid will look to him if space can be made available in the squad - and the preference will be for the summer (but it is something his agent is working on). Juventus also retain an interest but he is not first choice - and their first choice looks unlikely.
Hakon Evjen (RW/AM) signed for AZ after rejecting Manchester City - Manchester United were planning on a January off. Scratch him.
Jadon Sancho (RW) MU are keen.
Isaac Lihadji (RW) kiddie from Marseille who is attracting interest of several leading sides - will not be interested in joining MU but Arsenal and Spurs have spoken with his agent - much to the annoyance of Marseille. Common sense dictates he should sign a new contract and stay where he is.
Steven Bergwijn (LW/RW/F) has been watched by MU but there is interest from elsewhere including Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Spurs, Milan and Napoli - several of these sides are able to offer CL football which has always been an important point for the player.
Mario Mandzukic (S) showing signs of desperation if MU head down that route. Mandzukic had been working to agree a move to Qatari club Al-Duhail but struggled to agree three separate things with them - but he now has. SCcatch him.
Moussa Dembele (S) If the right offer is made he may be available – but interest from elsewhere and Lyon has an injury problem which means a January move is unlikely as he is required to stay.
Callum Wilson (S) Bournemouth will not be open to selling in January but he may well be a player Manchester United would look to.
Aleksandr Sobolev (S) makes little sense
Erling Haaland (S) There is significant interest in the player from a number of sides and there have been several discussions with one interested side already and one other side that could be offered him regardless of a lack of interest right now. Manchester United are interested and OGS knows him, but it would be a big step up with no guarantee of a starting place. The kid needs to consider any move carefully and not end up on the bench. A move to one of the other interested sides would work far better than a move to Manchester United. To RB Leipzig as a Timo Werner replacement with others there to ease him in to the first team, to Borussia Dortmund who need an out and out striker, or to Juventus as a replacement for Mario Mandzukic where he will have time to be eased in to the first team. The player has spoken with all interested sides but the price of the transfer is high and the price of the agent fees, particularly for Manchester United, is pretty extreme as well. Or he could wait out another year. RBL will not be in a position to afford the cost of the whole package even though Timo Werner will be sold. Borussia Dortmund will have the Sancho money but may not want such a large investment on what looks like a good prospect. For Juventus it is not a problem and they have an attractive wage package already on the table.}
29 Dec 2019 09:22:01
Cheers Ed, always appreciated. But now that top 4 is possible and with what seems to be a genuine move towards youth and developing players, will we be a more attractive option to some of these players than say 6 months / 1 year ago?
{Ed002's Note - I doubt it would make a difference. The club is still run on an amateur basis and has a coach who is nothing like good enough.}
29 Dec 2019 10:28:17
I've not seen a massive amount of Haaland but he undoubtedly looks like he could be a very good player, however, I've seen a lot more of Werner and he would be an excellent signing. I think I've even seen the ed say in the past that Werner has said he'd like to play for United. Most good German players end up at Bayern at some point so pretty sure he will end up there anyway.
Ed, it's interesting to see there are no full backs in the list above, does this mean United are happy with Shaw as LB for the foreseeable or is it that they are prioritising the multitude of other areas where we need quality?
Thanks as always.
{Ed002's Note - Manchester United have no interest in Werner. There are other priorities over FB.}
29 Dec 2019 14:55:58
We can now scratch haaland off, off to dortmund confirmed.
29 Dec 2019 14:54:30
Many thanks Ed for another great update. Happy New Year all.
{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}
29 Dec 2019 16:04:10
With Haaland signing for Dortmund and United having no interest in Werner I really hope we don't go anywhere near Callum Wilson.
29 Dec 2019 19:08:15
Thanks Ed002 for the update. The impression I got from it is that the club is not interested in Longstaff anymore and it s unlikely we ll sign someone in January.
30 Dec 2019 08:21:34
Hi Ed002, you previously said to rule out Maddison as he was due to sign a new contract. Has there been a change or still just interest in him? Also many thanks to you and all the Eds for their superb contributions and to the fellow posters for keeping me entertained. Happy New Year to you all!
{Ed002's Note - MU remain keen on James Maddison (AM) as he has not signed a new contract yet.}
30 Dec 2019 09:36:50
Kalvin Phillips rumours coming back around again. Is he any good?
{Ed025's Note - in the championship yes..
30 Dec 2019 09:58:14
Ed025's would he be good enough for Premier league?
{Ed025's Note - not in my opinion AGR, he decent but i would think united would be looking at better options mate..
30 Dec 2019 11:01:27
Thanks for the info Ed025's.
{Ed025's Note - no probs mate..
30 Dec 2019 12:06:31
doc, we have seen many times that players signing new contracts mean nothing.
31 Dec 2019 07:22:56
Hi Ed - you mentioned that the agent fees for the Haaland transfer to MU would have been pretty extreme. Can you provide any insight as to why the agent fees for a MU move would be higher relative to the other interested parties?
Thanks and happy new year!
{Ed002's Note - It is really not something worth getting in to.}