Manchester United rumours 3

10 Oct 2023 20:38:09
Hello Ed, progress with the sale?

{Ed002's Note - When someone makes an acceptable offer there will be.}

11 Oct 2023 09:53:20
Thanks for taking the time to reply Ed002, must get repetitive for you!

Thus, and really sorry if either you don’t know, are fed up with questions about it, or you’re not allowed to say, but any further information on how close interested parties might be regarding an acceptable offer, whether that be an acceptable monetary value, an acceptable structure - or a bit of both?

Thanks again for your time and patience!

{Ed002's Note - It is as I have explained.}

11 Oct 2023 14:08:02
Thanks again Ed002. Fingers crossed there’s some movement soon.

{Ed002's Note - That would be a need to change your diet.}

11 Oct 2023 15:02:31
Nice one, Ed, this whole takeover drama is such a strain!

11 Oct 2023 18:22:12
I was really bothered at first but after about 8 months I gave up and don’t even read anything about the takeover now. It was all far too frustrating and depressing.

If it happens and is an Improvement then that’s great, but we have zero control over any of it so it’s not worth the stress.

11 Oct 2023 18:34:40
Ed002, in your opinion do you think the the price the Glazers are asking for/ willing to accept is reasonable?

From the outside looking in it just seems like they want to have their cake and eat it. Surely they are aware that the club needs significant investment in facilities such as the training ground and stadium. While clearly time and money also need to be spent on getting the football side up to scratch, in the academy and the women's team as well as the first team.

They seem to ignore the fact that any buyer would need to either invest or find financial solutions to what will probably amount to the best part of 2bn or more to have any chance of getting the club close to the value the Glazers seemingly want right now.

{Ed002's Note - They will not be simply setting the price themselves - the banks will be heavily involved. Future investment was critical in the sale of Chelsea, but that is very unusual and typically the seller will not want to make such caveats.}

11 Oct 2023 18:39:05
Thanks Ed - who do you think will end up owning the club?

{Ed002's Note - Whoever makes an acceptable bid.}

12 Oct 2023 22:44:42
SJR bid values the club higher with the structure of the bid by all accounts, so I guess if Qatar want it they’ll have to match/ beat the SJR valuation is. Of course it could be that SJR bid is in the press so that Qatar will up their offer. As an above poster said tho it’s boring reading about it now, I don’t want the Glazers to remain in any capacity so I’m firmly behind Qatar.

13 Oct 2023 01:31:36
I don't have a preference, I don't for one minute thing Sir Jim will be mugged off nor do I think the Al Thani family are inevitably better, and I use the experience of Málaga who were bought by an Al Thani as an example by the same token it doesn'tean the annoyed bid will end up the same.

I guess what I am saying is if either wins I will judge them on what they do when in charge nothing else.

13 Oct 2023 07:54:36
Oakbark

Totally agree. As they say don't judge a book by its cover and read the content. I doubt SJR will just hand over a check to them even as a minority investor if that's the only route to dilute the glazers control and grip on the club and allow things to stay as they are. It makes zero sense for any investor to do that unless they operators were doing an incredible job which they are not.

14 Oct 2023 09:12:11
Oakbark

The difference is that Ratcliffe leave the Glazers involved and that is totally unacceptable. Ratcliffe claims to be a United fan, if he was he would want them 100% out. I do not want Ratcliffe at all on that basis. Also does he have to borrow to invest through his company? Qatar for me unless Elon Musk wakes up and jumps in.

14 Oct 2023 10:57:19
Totally unacceptable ?? to who?
I'm sure if you tell them you won't accept it redman and that it's simply not on that they will abandon the idea.
Totally unacceptable you make me laugh ???
It's the glazers club they will decide what is acceptable to them what you think is totally irrelevant your just a customer and a moaning one at that.
I hope they sell up and leave but it's in their hands to decide what's acceptable. Know your place. Your not in any sort of position to determine what is acceptable. If you want to discontinue your custom and support that's up to you if you don't like the owners decisions. You'll never be happy either way.

14 Oct 2023 11:35:18
Red Man, While my preference is for the Glazers to be 100% gone ASAP we have to accept that it might not be entirely possible.

Like it or not the Glazers are in control of this process, they will only sell if someone pays a price they are willing to accept. If that is more than anyone is willing to pay (because its well above the actual value of the club) then there isn't anything anyone other than the Glazers can do. Unless they are prepared to bring their demands down or come up with some sort of compromise then we are at a stalemate and stuck with the Glazers in sole charge of the club. And we know what that means.

It's not fair or realistic to expect someone to pay a massively inflated price out of their own pocket to buy the Glazers out of the club for us fans to be happy the Glazers have gone.

There is also a "better the devil you know" angle that we should at the very least be mindful of. There are no guarantees that any potential new owner will either have the clubs best interests at heart or actually run the club any better regardless of intentions. The club could be run just as poorly or even worse than it has been under the Glazer ownership regardless of the new owners intentions. Many a bad thing has been done with good intentions.

Whoever decides to spend 6-8bn of their own hard earned money on buying our club will have their own agenda and reasons for doing so and those may not align with the agenda of us supporters. Maybe they will build a new state of the art stadium, and maybe the price of your season ticket will double to help pay for it. Maybe they will rejuvenate the academy at the club, or maybe they will do a Brentford and disband the academy for a B team type set up. Losing a key part of the clubs identity in the process. Who knows. I think we have become so frustrated by the Glazer ownership that we have forgotten that previous owners made decisions we didn't agree with and future owners will as well.

That said I do feel like the club needs to move away from the Glazers and cut those ties as the whole situation has become too toxic between the fans and the owners and the club needs a fresh start. While fans need at least some hope that things will start to get better regardless of whether that becomes a reality.

Personally I'd prefer a clean break, for someone to come in and buy the club outright from the Glazers. For them to have a vision for the club to return to the pinnacle of world football once again. For them to hire the best people to put plans into place to create a footballing powerhouse, to sort the academy and the men and women's teams out. To revolutionise the scouting and recruitment and to put in place a solid structure of command and roles that can bridge managers without having to rip everything up and start again when inevitable manager changes happen. To find ways to invest in the club and build or renovate Old Trafford to make it the best stadium in the country once again, to bring Carrington into the 21st century with state of the art training facilities.

However, that is a dream, and probably not a realistic one. The realistic one is removing the Glazers stranglehold on the club is as likely to be as difficult as living with their ownership over the past 17 years. It'll be a drawn out and uncomfortable process. Maybe Ratcliffe is working on the only realistic way of wresting control away from them. Taking it bit by bit until they are gone, and gradually fading their influence on the club. If he can come in and just sort out the management structure and start getting the club to be run as a football club with more of a focus on developing and modernising our approach that would be a positive thing and start to move us forward. If then over time he can remove the Glazers and find ways for investment in the facilities then even better.

We all want a swift resolution, but that isn't going to happen, the clubs been up for sale for a year and we still aren't close to an agreement. What we want, will not be what we get. My advice is make peace with that now to avoid bitter disappointment further down the line.

14 Oct 2023 22:06:24
And so the nightmare continues if the reports are true and the Qataris have withdrawn. The Glazers will remain and probably pocket the SJR money for themselves.

Will SJR be taken for a ride by the Glazers like the rest of the United supporters, time will tell?

14 Oct 2023 22:34:34
If stories are true and it is Sir Jim then hopefully the club gives some clarity as to what this means in the short and long term. With all the silence the fans deserve to be informed.
Will he have any control immediately, will he look to bring in his own sporting people. Will funds be made available, what is the plan for the stadium, clearing of the debt. Most importantly what is the commitment for the Glazers full departure, 2/ 3/ 4 years etc.

14 Oct 2023 23:33:51
If this is the end of the Qatar interest, and if, remains the question, this is a disaster. I hope the club get relegated, take the glazers and Ratcliffe to the second division. Let their asset be worth half what they were trying to extract. Let Ratcliffe realise that keeping the leeches involved is unpalatable for a United fan. Ratcliffe out.

15 Oct 2023 00:13:45
Let the club get relegated - wow. Pick up your rattle Redman you seem to have dropped it. And who says relegation means the Glazers sell? If anything, it will mean we are stuck with them longer because they’ll want to get promoted to increase the value.

Talk of relegation is entitled. You want to speak to fans of Sheff Wednesday, Wigan, Bury, Macc and the growing list of football league clubs who have bad owners, but also have no trophies and no CL to show for it.

Yeah we all want the Glazers out but be careful what you wish for. SJR might be the only answer and spitting your dummy out because the Qataris pull out is a waste of time.

15 Oct 2023 00:32:43
Oh Red Man,

Stop spouting rubbish. Already reported that Ratcliffe will have control over the sporting side and will seek to invest in the club on top of his purchase.

You wanted Qatar based off a PR statement at the outset. Now they’ve failed to even entice the glazers and wasted everyone’s time, you’re throwing your toys out the pram. Pathetic.

15 Oct 2023 08:02:51
How does SJR having sporting control help Caolan. It probably means Brailsford being brought in and let's be honest, unless its cycling, the other sports, sailing and football he has been involved in haven't really been successful.

If you remember, SJR bought Nice saying he wanted to learn how to run a football club, he still has a lot to learn.

15 Oct 2023 09:56:37
The club will be a toxic mess. Most fans Caolan, want the club sold fully. I expect plenty of self serving announcements from Ratcliffe on how he will rescue the club. Like how he will have control over the sporting side. If his proposal goes through just expect to see more and growing protests in a very divided club. The same amateurs and the same leeches will remain. Would I take relegation to get rid of these leeches, yes I would.

If this is confirmed, it is a dark day for the club.

15 Oct 2023 10:42:51
Just another con from the Glazers, more money for them, and SJR walking away in a few years because he finally realised the Glazers never intended to sell and just wanted someone else to pay the bills for a while.

Let's remember that the Glazers have no interest in United, to them it is just a brand which they keep rinsing until there is nothing left.

15 Oct 2023 16:06:30
Grim,

There will be clauses and options legally drawn up about future acquisition of shares.

15 Oct 2023 16:32:43
Will they Caolan? We don't know that, and the Glazers aren't going to agree to future share prices now.
If the wanted the reported £6-£7bn now, how much will they want in a few years time and will SJR be willing to pay it.

Then you have the added issue of two owners trying to run the club, can only see issues and arguments going forward, and ultimately us supporters having to suffer.

15 Oct 2023 21:28:00
Grim

Inoes supposedly is big in Data Analytics and recruitment, sports science, structuring of our recruitment and a host of things we do very poorly. Read his interview from a few months ago and he talk about how poor our transfer business has been and a lot of what he says is not show boating and straight talk.

Can't buy into the evil glazers and evil SJR have teamed up to ruin and destroy the club. Its like a children story you tell kids to scare them.


personally, I don't care if they are in the background and can take their dividends as long as it is not to the detriment of investing in the facilities and the squad, eventual clearing of the debt, significantly improvement of how the club is ran and winning major trophies.

16 Oct 2023 10:55:41
Grim,

That is what is to be agreed now between the parties via different put and call options.

It’s very common in M&A.

16 Oct 2023 15:07:37
Caolan you're going to explain that simply for the financially ignorant like myself.

16 Oct 2023 19:08:11
Grim,

Basically trying to simplify it for myself (wasn’t my strongest subject in law school) . It’ll mean there are predetermined options which can be triggered on the stock- so he can buy more at certain times. There will likely be obligations placed on him if say the stock reaches a certain price, he has to buy more.

The could even be something as simple that each year he agrees to buy a set amount of shares at a premium price already agreed.

There’s a lot more complexities too it, but that’s as simple as I can break it down. If there’s anyone else who can offer a better explanation please feel free to add!

06 Oct 2023 16:13:31
Andy Mitten is reporting that he knows for a fact the players are not responding to the manager.

06 Oct 2023 17:38:46
Sell anyone who isn’t pulling their weight. None of them are any f*cking good anyway.

06 Oct 2023 18:02:20
Im so sick of this repeating bs. Who are these players? I can guess and I’m sure I’d be right. Embarrassment the lot of them.

06 Oct 2023 18:09:07
“ Andy Mitten is reporting that he knows for a fact the players are not responding to the manager. ”
They will likely be lazy, sulking and under achieving players that aren’t buying into the ‘process’. At least one of those is likely to be French. Ship them out and replace them. The more or less same group of players have chucked too many managers under the bus. Time they realised they are employees of one of the biggest clubs in the world and the manager is the boss. Don’t like it, then don’t down tools and blame others, have the courage to own up, put in a transfer request and move on.
Apart from that if Mitten knows this then he should prove it by naming and shaming.

06 Oct 2023 18:14:07
There's a reason the players are outlasting managers. Dressing room is toxic to the core with the exception of probably a few players.

06 Oct 2023 18:32:10
Like I said yesterday, only usually one outcome.
I hope the club stay strong with ten hag although he does need to improve in areas.
Time will tell.

06 Oct 2023 20:59:40
What’s puzzling is how a group of certain players can dictate a dressing room over and over. How are players coming in and letting it happen? Surely, one or two would have some bollocks and make a stand. All these players coming in, shouldn’t be letting a few rotten apples dictate the outcome of their United careers?
I honestly can’t get my head around it. We heard it was Pogba and Lingard. We heard it was Henderson. Who is it now? Reading between the lines, we’re probably looking at Rashford, Shaw and Martial? Or have I got that completely wrong?

06 Oct 2023 21:48:32
This group has seen off multiple managers. At some point the players need to have a look in the mirror. I agree with the above poster, anyone that’s not bought in, sell them. This will just keep repeating until they are binned off. I can guarantee there will be a small number of bad apples causing division and unrest. Root them out asap, get them out the squad and isolate them away from the group. A couple of toxic characters can destroy a group.

06 Oct 2023 21:53:18
2toms, established players especially those who have come through the club will have a lot of influence over many people across the clubs staff, cliques can easily form if a player is perceived to have power over the marketing department and director of football for instance. Human nature is to go with the tide, even if it’s toxic.

It would also explain why Ten Haag has targeted players he’s previously worked with.

06 Oct 2023 21:59:36
Players offer more commercial value than the managers. The club needs to back ETH but as we know we're a club where revenue is more important than football. We prefer shirt sales than players that fit the culture.

Shaw has been part of the club and backed for a while. He seems quite professional and down to earth to me so I'd like to think he isn't one of those involved. It's all mere speculation at this stage. Martial absolutely wouldn't surprise me though.

07 Oct 2023 13:23:41
They responded well last year. What's changed?

If Mitten is reporting this, it means its the English lads leaking this to him and with the likes of Maguire and Sancho on the outs, it wouldn't surprise me if it was coming from them.

As for what we watch each week, it's glaringly obvious that the players lack intensity from the start. We should almost start each game 1 down giving them something to chase.

The first team of Onana, Shaw (who has improved dramatically) Martinez, Varane, AWB (who's improved dramatically), Eriksen, Casemiro, Anthony, Bruno, Rashford and Hojlund along with the back up don't seem to have an issue with the manager, they're just out of form.

Although something isn't quite right at the club, I would stick with the manager over these players all day long.

07 Oct 2023 14:33:37
I’m calling it now. Ten Haag will be gone by Christmas and Sir Alex will come back as interim until the end of the season.

07 Oct 2023 16:54:06
Yeah it's not looking good for Erik. The Man Utd dressing room right now seems worse than PSG.

09 Oct 2023 09:00:37
I say ETH will be here and we will finish the squad overhaul next summer with a few niggly pieces remaining.

09 Oct 2023 10:25:02
A few Niggly bits are you sure!
Casermiro probably on his way needs replacing
Arambat loan ends
Still need a CB
Still need a RB
Still need a Striker
Still need a RW
If Rashford goes or form don’t pick up needs replacing
Shaw another year older
Onana just may not cut it in EPL

That’s more than a few niggly bits I’m afraid! More worryingly it’s virtually exactly what we needed this year!

09 Oct 2023 17:46:39
Andy Mitten wouldn't know good journalism even if he came home to find it screwing his wife.

10 Oct 2023 08:04:38
Realistically who can it be. If these stories are remotely true. Any of the rabble who have started the season really badly. The obvious sulky likely lads are:

- Rashford (blows more and hot than the wind)
- Bruno (always sulking)
- Casemiro (probably keen for some warm weather and Saudi dollars now)
- Sancho (we’ve all seen this)
- Varane (never fit, never seems too committed)
- Martial (tbf he’s done well under ETH on the rare occasions he stays fit)

And frankly, would not he sad to see all of them leave. We have a good, astute and modern coach. I don’t think he’s the main problem. He needs players with the right attitude to build from - McT, Licha, Shaw, wan Bissaka etc.

10 Oct 2023 08:57:15
They’ll all improve once the back four are back in place. Have you lot never played football?

05 Oct 2023 17:32:12
So miguel delaney reporting the dressing room is toxic. Is there a way back for ten hag? Normally only one outcome when manager looses the players.

05 Oct 2023 18:59:34
Rinse and repeat. So tedious, and if true, anyone not happy can leave in the winter transfer window.

05 Oct 2023 19:05:27
How would he know. another manager gone because of these players. All comes from top thou, until that changes utd will struggle.

05 Oct 2023 19:47:33
Aye Eric, rather just play young players who care instead of these horrible bunch of whinging softies.

06 Oct 2023 07:58:41
Why the surprise, it’s been clear for weeks, upsets too many people causes too many divisions, he thinks he is in the Ajax dressing room with bunch of kids, he needs to wake up and realise, he keeps spouting this is United, then goes in the changing room with his small club mentality.

Too stubborn for his own good, made some terrible mistakes and awful decisions. Coupled with the awful football and poor buys shows he is totally out of his depth, sooner or later you will realise.

06 Oct 2023 09:53:27
If Miguel Delaney told me the sun was shining I’d bring my raincoat.

06 Oct 2023 10:56:17
Don’t take Delaney to tell you this, anyone with an ounce of sense can see it themselves just listen if you can’t, how would you perform at work if the highest paid workers were in plumb jobs all the time no matter what you done, or even if they performed terribly…. even same at school, who actually liked the teachers pets! How can anyone in there right mind not see this causes bad feeling and friction, it’s a managers job to calm this situation not fuel it.

06 Oct 2023 12:13:40
If this is the case then at some point the club will have to make a stand.

These players have done this too many times.

Players don't have to like the manager, but they do have to give it their all, get on with the job they are being paid to do. They are adults in a professional environment.

Imagine if everyone in all fields of work didn't try or stopped doing their job if they didn't like their manager.

The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

The club have sacked managers and sided with the players.

That is a big part of the reason for why we find ourselves where we are now.

Either rinse and repeat or break the cycle.

Arsenal chose to break it with Arteta, they shipped out the bad eggs and backed the manager. Now look where they are and the progress they've made.

If the dressing room think they can oust another manager then we have again reached a key moment. Will the club continue down this broken path leading to nowhere, directionless and changing the plan with the wind. Or will they take decisive action and ship out the players who don't want to play for the club, that don't have the right attitude, that will never get us to where we want to be.

06 Oct 2023 12:23:37
I agree the club as to back a manager, but in this case I don't believe ETH is of the required ability to be the one backed, needs to be a manager who experienced big clubs winning big trophies dealing with players that have done the same.

It happens in any walk of life if people don’t like there manager whilst being a professional they will only give what’s required nothing more, but in professional sports that 5% can make a huge difference, as it is here, shows with just Casermiro, the drop of is huge but probably it’s only that extra 5% he is not giving but shows drastically you only need a few of them and your doomed.

06 Oct 2023 12:27:57
Who are these players?

06 Oct 2023 12:41:00
Sent before finished, yes also agreed ship out players but like I keep saying the players that come in have to be of a better standard, that’s where I also think ETH as fell well short, I would honestly say and you probably would too that forget the injuries forget the squad ETH first 11 is nowhere near the required standard to challenge certainly with the way he sets up the team.

Nowhere near enough goals in team

And with injuries his stubbornness is also cause for great concern, I say it over and over iMO ETH is nowhere near the required standard of a united manager and what he needs to be.

Sadly the only way it will change is if new owners do outright buyout and change the lot including ETH and all the coaches, sadly that’s a long way off, even if SJR gets his wish, nothing will change for years if he gets the 25% now he supposedly trying for, SJR will just use it to promote his own brands and along the same road we go.
It’s going to tough few years ahead, I would rather not do them with ETH. The football is dreadful.

06 Oct 2023 12:44:48
Strangeways, I disagree. EtH is an great manager.

I used Arsenal as the example, did Arteta have the required experience?

You back the manager, boot the players out. Set the precedent.

06 Oct 2023 12:50:00
Not sure I agree that EtH is a great manager, maybe more so in terms of what he's doing (or trying to do) behind the scenes.

06 Oct 2023 12:50:00
Not sure I agree that EtH is a great manager, maybe more so in terms of what he's doing (or trying to do) behind the scenes.

06 Oct 2023 13:37:39
What seriously denotes ETH as. Great manager, won some leagues in a league that is ruled by Ajax and there money and history, won carabao cup with us and finished 3rd in a season that Liverpool had a meltdown along with Chelsea, that in no way lifts you to Great manager!
Jose is a Great manager he done far better with an inferior team Pep is a great manager, Klopp is great manager, Carlo is great manager, ETH not in there league!
How can you call Arteta a great manager he won nothing how can you use him as measuring stick, when he won nothing….
I admire your loyalty but shocked at your lack of ability to see the bigger picture.
Did you see Zlaten interview? He got no axe to grind with ETH and played for both but virtually said same as Ronaldo ETH out of his depth….

06 Oct 2023 14:13:51
Strangeways you're either a troll or just strange but either way you keep banging on about getting rid of ETH so. who you going to replace him with? Come on big man give us your pearls of wisdom as to who you see as the man for the job who's available and will dig us out of the mess and fix everything.
It's no good repeating yourself endlessly without a plan. So please, enlighten us if you will.

06 Oct 2023 15:24:22
Fizz calm yourself down with the personal remarks! Why is it a troll because I don’t agree with remarks of some on here, you really need to get a grip with yourself, my view is ETH does not have the experience and every game that passes he back this up if you like it or not and everyday that passes another more educated in football then you comes out and agrees, that does not make us trolls or strange as you say, why does it not work the other way then, why are the people that keep banging on that ETH is great manager not make them a troll, so just get back in your box and wind your neck in, it’s my opinion like it or not!

06 Oct 2023 15:42:29
Strangeways, we all know it's your opinion because you never stop banging on about it. Your entitled to think what you want but you're just boring. A bit like a 4 year old stamping his feet. We know how you feel, you don't have to tell us 3 times every day.

06 Oct 2023 15:49:00
Strangeways, I'm not overly convinced by the manager myself but I am convinced that we've had so many managers since SFA, including some very successful ones, and every one of them has failed miserably. Each of them has been given huge budgets and bought players in their own vision (although arguable that none got their first choices) .
I am genuinely interested in who you believe would be a strong candidate to replace EtH as I don't honestly think anyone would succeed as things are. Sure, there's that new manager bounce where we'd win a few, but it would soon regress again.
I'm sure many would say de Zerbi, but I'm not convinced without his Brighton crew (including South/ Central American scouts in particular) he'd do very well at all. I think even Pep would be at a loss right now.

06 Oct 2023 15:56:33
Strangeways you are entitled to that somewhat boring opinion but YET AGAIN you fail to answer the question. Who do you propose to replace ETH with that is available? Very simple question that, given the number of times you have repeated your opinion, you should know the answer. Come on big man tell us.

06 Oct 2023 16:11:35
AJH is this not a site to discuss or we all got to have same opinion as you and praise the great work that’s going on! Who are you anyway to say who can say what and when.

Spenno I agree there is huge problems at the club and some good managers far better then ETH have come and gone, and some huge sums spent by most of them, ok none of them been backed as much as ETH with there first choices.

I would not think someone like Di Zerbi again no big club experience he is just flavour of the season much like Potter was, I think to be manager of a big club you need to gain players respect especially when your supposed to be talking of elite players that should be at an elite club, that’s totally different level then kids at Ajax.

My concern is what’s the point bringing in new manager if not everything swept clean, for a elite manager to work under for that it needs new owners which don’t look like forthcoming, so if I had to go for a new manager now who is available so would cost nothing and won everything it would be Hansi Flick, done fantastic with Bayern, played great football and won the lot, my opinion international management did not suit him, but club football a different animal, he would command respect got tactical know how and a winner with bucket loads of experience.

06 Oct 2023 16:23:54
So basically you 'suggest' replacing ETH who has only the experience of managing Ajax. A club in a weaker league in a one horse race. (your description) With Hansi Flick, a failed international manager who was also successful with a team, Bayern Munich, a team in a weaker league and also a one horse race. (my description) .
Excellent work. Personally I'd stop rinsing and repeating and stick with ETH. That's also an opinion whether you like it or not.

06 Oct 2023 16:35:59
Had anyone heard of Mourinho before his porto run.

I like so many things about this guy that i don't only think he will be successful, i think he will be scary successful to the detriment of everyone in Pl and Europe.

United and Real Madrid are the biggest management jobs in Football. Some might argue Barcelona is in there but i don't agree.

What he has achieved in his first season is remarkable. I was reading these same pages when people taught we were finishing 10th or worse last year.

The environment at united is not conducive to succeed imo. There is so much baggage with our club, frankly I am surprised why some want to even try it as a manager.

This season has been an utter disaster staring with greenwood, injuries, sancho, antony that you have to be delusional not to accept the issues we are facing. Give ETH a team of his players without the distractions, i think he will bore us with winning.

I rate this guy very highly and see what he is trying to build but needs time.

06 Oct 2023 16:53:44
Doesn’t matter whether it’s a football club or any other workplace, when employees can’t rule the roost and there’s actually a hierarchy put in place, it puts noses out of joint. The end result is always long term productivity as opposed to short term gains. There’ll always be rumours of a ‘toxic’ culture because the moaners won’t be able to run the show. To make an omelette you have to break a few eggs.

We were always going to have to take a step back at some point in order to move forward. Maybe this season is the one where we finish out of Europe but really allow Eric to stamp his authority on the football club.

Doesn’t feel like it, but in a weird way I think we are moving forward by backing the manager and believing in his ethos. There isn’t anyone out there who would come in and do a better job, we’ve been there and done it. And the notion that Hansi Flick could come in and instantly change our fortunes is quite frankly ludicrous!

06 Oct 2023 16:54:10
So let me get this straight, strangeways would want Hansi Flick as our new manager because of his experience and I'm assuming because he would demand respect (As that seems to be his biggest issue with EtH) .

Lets look at this rich an illustrious history of top level experience the soon to be 59 year old Hansi Flick has.

Got his first club, Victoria Bammental, relegated into non-league football.

Sacked from his second managerial job because he couldn't get Hoffenheim out of the THIRD division in Germany. Yes you heard that right couldn't get out of the German equivalent of our league one.

Next role was as the assistant manager at Red Bull Salzburg for a few months.

Then settled as the assistant manager to Joachim Loew for 8 years (clearly very ambitious) .

He then became Nico Kovac's assistant at Bayern Munich, baring in mind Kovac is nearly 8 years YOUNGER than Flick.

Kovac got sacked and really upset the dressing room. Flick was hired as a temporary manager who went on a madness and won the treble despite only being in charge from November. It was a phenomenal season. I take nothing away from that. The following season was slightly underwhelming only winning the league and with Flick leaving at the end of the season to take over the German national team job.
As a slight caveat to Flicks success with Bayern Munich, they are by far the biggest club in Germany and utterly dominate that league. They have won 11 straight titles regardless of who the manager is.

Flick has since been manager of the German national side and has presided over the worst form in their history, becoming the first manager to EVER be sacked from the national side.

His managerial statistics show that as manager of Victoria Bammental he has a win rate of 36%. At Hoffenheim it was 44%, while at Bayern that jumped to 81%, then dropped for the national team back to 48%.

This is a manager who apart from an 18 month spell at one of the best run, and most powerful clubs, in the world has a win rate sub 50% throughout the rest of his career; with the majority of that coming in the lower tiers of German football.

Yet despite all of that Strangeways feels that Flick is a manager who would "command respect" while also having "tactical know how and a winner with bucket loads of experience".

Seriously he might as well suggested Bobby Di Matteo.

06 Oct 2023 17:56:40
Good post Shappy. That should put Strangeways firmly back in his box winding his neck right in as he suggested I do. Funny old game. ?.

06 Oct 2023 18:26:09
Not quite fizz because what Shappy is saying we can’t judge flick in a inferior league even though he won champs league, there league and super cup and many other cups, but we can judge ETH on winning an even more inferior league that’s hypocritical at its highest

It further proves he is better at dealing with big egos and elite players much better then low level players and better at dealing with a club elite level, another thing ETH never experienced plus I was ask who is available at the moment so that was the answer.

Shappy as he won much more than ETH. ?
As he actually coached elite players?
As he coached at elite club?

All the above YES
Same questions for ETH. Answer NO.

06 Oct 2023 18:49:59
Strangeways ????????
That’s the best post I’ve read yet that, read in such a way it fits an agenda. i. e. your agenda. Honestly Strangeways that post properly made I laff.
Give up fella before you make a real nonsense of yourself.

07 Oct 2023 00:06:30
Fizz,

Strange troll is the answer to the original question you wondered.

07 Oct 2023 00:07:44
Has ETH won more than ETH? Good question, tricky to be a yes to that one.

05 Oct 2023 16:17:43
Ed02 - are we actively looking to appoint a DoF? I saw on the Liverpool page you mentioned a few names and that other clubs were showing interest so I wondered if we are one of them.

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - The club has a DoF.}

06 Oct 2023 09:54:11
No changes such as Director of Football would likely happen unless there was a major reshuffle- likely caused by a takeover.

27 Sep 2023 12:15:29
Good morning Ed002

Do we have an interest in Antony Nusa and where is the likely destination for him.

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Antonio Nusa (LW/RW) With Noa Lang departing and Skoras arriving the player has asked for confirmation from Della that he will be given playing time in exchange for staying and rejecting the interest of Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona where he would not be given first team opportunities in the short term. Chelsea remain keen after having a late bid rejected in the summer, and may well try to do something after losing out on another, but they are aware that Real Madrid are now also showing interest. Juventus and Arsenal have sent scouts. One to watch for the future.}

26 Sep 2023 16:56:36
Hello Ed, hope all is well with you.
Please could you provide an update on the sale process?
Thank you.

{Ed002's Note - The situation as I understand it is the owners want further offers but both parties, certinly Ineos, will look to perhaps some restructuring of the offer but that may not see additional funds.}

26 Sep 2023 23:36:42
will that restructuring involve Sir Jim giving them the voting rights that they want or something totally different.

{Ed002's Note - Not such they will have any significant control.}

27 Sep 2023 07:56:04
Thanks for update Ed002, always good to get some truth amid the social media speculation.

27 Sep 2023 20:18:38
Thank you Ed.

28 Sep 2023 10:51:30
Basically they want to sell enough for someone else to come in and heavily invest and try and make their leftover share worth more.

28 Sep 2023 20:07:53
We are basically at the point now where the vendor has been told by the estate agent that there are two offers on the table, and the vendor has asked the estate agent to try and shake them down or play them off against eachother to get the best deal they can.

I suspect if one of the buyers pulls out then a deal could be concluded fairly quickly. But the whole time there are two people fighting over it then the Glazers will see the dollar signs and keep stringing out the process to maximise their profit.

30 Sep 2023 19:48:56
It’s a multi billion pound deal not a 2 up 2 down in Manchester…

One thing is for sure when it gets done, it’s goodbye to ETH and whoebver buys bring in there own team, that’s what’s needed.

30 Sep 2023 21:41:00
Who do you think is the ‘right team’ then Maze?

01 Oct 2023 15:04:19
Not sure what Maze thinks but imo clearly the right team would be You and Shappy! As one

Just not sure what name you’re using this month, or we back to GDS2 now Giggs been retired! And here is you constantly going on about people using different names! Mind boggles.

01 Oct 2023 23:20:42
Maze / Trafford,

The difference is I made it clear I was GDS when I was posting as G2S, it was hardly difficult to work out was it? It’s practically the same! An Ed who isn’t on the site anymore blocked GDS so I was asked to create a different profile which I did.

I’ve no idea whether all of your previous incarnations have been banned or what but the fact people are immediately aware it’s you within 2 posts possibly suggests the same will just happen again. Everyone worked out Trafford was just a wind up merchant, possibly not even a United fan, and now back as Strangeways, just all a bit weird isn’t it?

02 Oct 2023 12:17:59
I can't believe people want ETH out already. He is clearly a talented coach. Has not has a settled defence since he started. Suffered significant squad injuries. Unable to get rid of players he clearly does not want due to previous management errors and hamstrung by FFP rules.

Give the guy time to rebuild the squad to how he wants and also have a full squad to pick from.

03 Oct 2023 08:51:08
Salford

I personally ignore it and most are never going to be happy, I am convinced of that.

He will get us going like a juggernaut once he has his full fingerprints on the club. We no longer enjoy a massive financial gap with other top teams and will not be able to buy our way out of this.

A revamp of the culture, players, academy and pretty much everything he is doing is needed and will take time. Going to tune in tonight and enjoy the game.

It will not be easy as they are in good form and have good players. A win is a must for CL qualifications.

16 Sep 2023 21:53:50
Hi Ed002

Hope you are good, who are the centre back targets for next summer?

{Ed002's Note - There will ne nothing firm now.}

17 Sep 2023 11:27:57
Utd will be after championship players as that's where utd will be.

17 Sep 2023 12:01:16
You're right Nick, we'll be re-signing Paddy McNair from Middlesbrough and it will be armageddon. Bookmark this.

17 Sep 2023 12:20:27
Well Jonny Evans is a start….

17 Sep 2023 16:27:07
?? if you don't laugh you'll just cry. I've gone past angry, just resigned to it and just fed up with it all. we need hope, a takeover news would give this club a huge boost. sadly its not happening.

17 Sep 2023 19:07:22
The thing is, if it carries on like this then the glazers will need to sell for a hell of a lot less than the £5bn being offered currently as the value will drop massively. We have a billion pounds worth of debt, infrastructure on its arse, results and team going south and there is no way they will get anywhere near £10bn with things going the way they are.

If I was them, I’d take the highest bid for a full takeover now and run very quickly.

Won’t happen though I am guessing as they are too pig headed.

17 Sep 2023 20:06:15
ESN,

I’m not sure if you’re joking, there are certainly people on here that thing we might get relegated, it’s hilarious.

18 Sep 2023 08:32:31
Brendan, I've no idea what they're at. Surely they are running the risk of losing out on some big money. Greed is an incredible thing.

18 Sep 2023 08:51:40
You’d think even the Greedy would know when to abandon a sinking ship.

I’m with Nick: moving beyond anger and despair to just becoming resigned at the utter incompetence of the way the club is run and how everything is now coming to a head:

1. Finance over football

2. Recruitment

3. Handling HR issues

4. No support for the manager from above

5. Rewarding a culture of mediocrity

6. Lack of investment and United being left behind (surely the stadium is now a metaphor for United: once the greatest, now a crumbling shadow of former glories)

7. Attitudes off the pitch seeping onto the pitch

8. And many more

Please please just sell the club to owners who want football success and jet them tear the fetid structures apart and establish new and football inspired foundations.

If you don’t sell now, you’ll never get such a good price again.

18 Sep 2023 12:56:01
CBS I think we should be looking at are, Silva, bastoni, inacio, scalvini.

18 Sep 2023 13:17:36
Giggs to Sheringham the rot has started, utd are in serious danger of going down as he club is so rotten it's use to losing. we are utter tripe. Can't defend and don't score. that's a team at the bottom. You know Burnley will win, we all know it. then it's panic time and ten hag will be sacked and the cycle continues. I've just lost all hope.

18 Sep 2023 13:38:56
East Stand Nick - going down. absolutely hilarious. Just stop it!

18 Sep 2023 16:36:36
ESN,

I’d suggest you go back and look at the posts after the Brentford 4-0 last season, it was all the same, we are going down, all of the players are useless, everyone needs to be sold, ETH is out his depth. We finished 3rd.

18 Sep 2023 18:35:07
ESN weren’t you saying the same things at this time last year?

I wouldn’t be surprised to see us win 7 of our next 8 league games, then all the doom merchants can take a back seat for a little while.

18 Sep 2023 22:14:34
No I wasn't as I wasn't posting on here this time last year so please don't make things up ?
Utd are in serious trouble, happened in 74 and that team was better than this sorry lot. The whole back line is championship level, its woeful. And if you think this utd side will win the next 7 games you're in la la land. were crap,

19 Sep 2023 07:19:16
The whole back line is championship level. Varane has won what, 5 champions leagues? Lisandro was arguably our best player last season in a side that finished 3rd and won a trophy. Shaw is decent, some were saying he was the best LB in the league last season. I don’t rate AWB or Dalot, but the former is supposedly the best tackler around and neither of them are championship level.

I get the pessimism I really do, but relegation and a championship level defence is bonkers. Maybe take a break from football for a little while if it’s getting you down so much!

19 Sep 2023 10:49:50
Personally, its a mix, underperforming, poor or not understanding the tactics and the massive feeling of apathy at the club.
Poor form is exactly what it is but not trying, giving up the chase and neglecting the role are inexcusable,
Tactical nouse? why did we constantly leave dalot isolated against two of their best in lamptey and mikado? Subs made late, no chance to rescue or impress and the set up in mid was again all over the place with casimero overun and isolated with a loss of form!
The sale of club saga is a point of ridicule now and frustrations are obvious. The players shouldn't be subjected to that side of club matters but due to the longevity and uncertainty they will be.
It can be said that we are missing players, injuries but Brighton changed out 6 regulars on saturday and still made it look like men against boys.
We need to back the manager but questions already starting to be asked and only hope is we can get back to winning our home games and picking up points on the road in all comps.

19 Sep 2023 13:53:59
Funky,

Men against boys? They put their chances away and once we were 2 down we collapsed but they literally scored with their 1st 2 shots, it was a pretty even game and we missed chances and had a goal disallowed by a millimetre.

ESN, I will bet you everything I own, my house, my car and all my belongings that we don’t get relegated. You need to step back as Wazza says because talk of relegation is crazy and juvenile.

19 Sep 2023 14:50:33
GTS - They did put their chances away. hold on that's what they were trying to and did it well! We were ok for 15-20 mins but although we had opportunity, we didn't make the keeper make a save! we had a goal disallowed because the ball was out -no argument there either. We still had players labour on the ball and they didn't learn anything from the fact that brighton were most threatening by their left sided players: surely that shouldve been identified as an area to plug? There was way too many schoolboy errors by most of the utd players and we simply got beat to what amounts to a well drilled more organised and enthusiastic bunch of players, a team which we werent. I agree we should and will improve but at this moment we are simply not at the races in terms of effort and/ or application.

20 Sep 2023 22:18:31
Well it us getting me down as I pay a friggin grand a year to watch it. but funnily enough, even another loss I feel a bit better tonight. There was fight and firepower upto, but my god need some players back in the defense. sort that out utd be fine.

20 Sep 2023 22:21:11
Gs fo you pay a grand year for players giving up. and its not juvenile, its a worry. Lose to Burnley, my god what happens then?

22 Sep 2023 09:20:10
I’d assume we win against Palace and move on. I hope we don’t lose to Burnley for your health, not sure you can take it. We lost at home for the first time in a year so your £1000 has seen us go unbeaten for 12 months, surely you don’t buy your season ticket expecting us to win every game? I know I don’t.

23 Sep 2023 09:05:12
Football is all about emotions, some people are just more emotional than others.

You have to remember that between Busby and Fergie, this is what United were like, an average team that won the occasional cup. We have now reverted to type.

We were spoilt for 26 years, it was never going to last.

14 Sep 2023 06:20:43
Hi Ed002,

Do United plan to move on Jadon Sancho?
Amid uncertainty around Antony, who would you think United are targeting for RW position?

{Ed002's Note - Jadon Sancho (W) Borussia Dortmund will take the player back but will not pay more than half they sold him for. Newcastle may provide an option but have signed an alternative already. Spurs may provide an option. Perhaps a loan to buy in January.

I would not expect a permanent deal for a RW in January and expect the club to make do until then and perhaps look to a loan then. Next summer will be a better time to buy. They have shown interest in Antonio Nusa (LW/RW) but likely heading elsewhere and Nico Williams (RW). There will be others looked at.}

14 Sep 2023 10:50:31
Sancho just hasn't worked out at all at United. It's a shame because he's a very talented player, but he seems to lack the mental fortitude needed to succeed at a club that has the kind of media attention that Manchester United gets.

Read a story this morning that he was apparently promised the No.7 shirt when Cavani would leave. But apparently got upset when it obviously went to Ronaldo when he rejoined the club instead. While he was further upset this summer when the shirt passed to Mason Mount instead of him.

Personally, given how he has struggled to live up to the expectations it's probably a good thing he never did get the No.7 shirt. While some people feel the shirt is a bit of a poison chalice with no one really living up to the expectations of it since Ronaldo left first time. Owen, Valencia, Di Maria, Depay and Sanchez all really disappointed in that shirt. While Cavani and Ronaldo himself didn't really hit the highs we wanted in the last few years, Cavani due to injuries and just not playing enough, Ronaldo just didn't work out second time around. Personally he did okay, but at the expense of the team, followed by a unsavoury exit.

Sancho would not have bucked that trend and would have drowned quicker than he has with the added expectations that the No.7 brings.

He needs to move on, the club will have to take a hit, but that's a recurring theme on pretty much every player signed during the Woodward era.

14 Sep 2023 11:35:50
After MG was suspended in early 2022, Sancho really should have had the sense to make that RW role his own but he's always seemed to prefer the LW role where our best attacker plays.

Since then he's lost out to Elanga and Antony in that RW role when he is much more talented than both.

He only has himself to blame.

14 Sep 2023 12:27:17
Shirt numbers 1-11 should be earned and not given as part of a buying tool. Sancho like Martial needs to move on over these pathetic excuses and realise the name on the front is more important than the one on the back.

14 Sep 2023 12:38:05
I read that too Shappy about Sancho and the number 7 shirt, we have no idea if it’s true.

However, if it is, the young man is even more cabbage-brained than I first thought. If he thinks he’s fit to follow the greats who have wore the number 7 shirt for Manchester United, he’s delusional beyond words.

The number 7 shirt being a poisoned chalice is nonsense. Quite simply the club’s standards have dropped so far, we haven’t managed to produce a player of the quality to carry that number. Other than Bruno, who has posted fantastic numbers for us, or arguably Rashford if he has another good season and sorts out his sulky demeanour. Those are the only two. In recent years.

Sancho isn’t fit to lace even Tony Valencia’s boots, let alone Best, Robson, Cantona, Beckham or Ronaldo.

Hopefully we see the end to the Sancho and Antony sagas by Christmas, so the manager can focus on what’s happening on the pitch towards the business end of the season.

14 Sep 2023 12:41:04
Maybe Fzzz but we have perspective of the real world where the number on your shirt makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. All these lads know is football and have been wrapped in cotton wool and so these things matter to them. Pathetic, but true.

14 Sep 2023 12:43:41
With Antony away, Sancho could have had an opportunity to show that he has what it takes to succeed at United, which makes his response to Ten Hag's mild public rebuke potentially even more damaging.

I don't know about shirt #s but Ronaldo's second coming per se (allusions intended), rather than inspire seems to have been seen by the players as a lack of confidence in their ability to rise to the occasion. Did anyone become a better player for having Ronaldo in the team? United have had an uncanny knack of late of buying good players and making them worse, but Ronaldo's arrival seemed to spread the malaise throughout the existing squad.

Question is, if Sancho continues to fail to endear himself to ETH, how will his reportedly extremely high wages affect the price. Does anyone at BD make anywhere near what Sancho makes at United?

14 Sep 2023 16:14:03
The biggest thing with this whole sancho saga is ultimately he’s nowhere near good enough and nowhere near professional enough! Simple!

14 Sep 2023 16:35:03
Soon to appear in the Utd bargain bin like so many expensive flops in recent times. Utd have paid double the value for so many failures in the last decade.

14 Sep 2023 17:06:04
Supposedly he was like this at Dortmund, too. Only our club would have signed him for that money without checking things like that first. Miki, Kagawa, Sancho. Dortmund must have had a right giggle at us over the last lot of years ?.

14 Sep 2023 18:14:59
I thought Kagawa was decent NC. Won a league title in his preferred position and would’ve kicked on if Fergie had stayed.

14 Sep 2023 18:47:31
Ironic that Sancho claimed he was a scapegoat at Dortmund as well, I fear he has cried wolf once too many times and has only himself to blame for his current situation.

I think he said in his social media post that he will continue to fight for the badge no matter what, he hasn't fort once for that badge in 2 years, why would he start now.

14 Sep 2023 19:03:05
Kagawa doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Sancho. Kagawa came in at a time we had Darren Gibson in midfield. I sometimes felt Kagawa was a step ahead of his team mates in his thinking, and came in at a time when we were going through too much of a transition for him to settle.

14 Sep 2023 19:14:47
I did like Kagawa. Just thought he was underwhelming compared to what I'd seen of him before. I much preferred Evil Kagawa ?.

15 Sep 2023 10:53:04
kagawa was a disappointment. was signed with big hype but a bit time player at united. P step up was too much for him.

15 Sep 2023 13:03:04
Ahmad, Kagawa was signed to replace Rooney at 10 which he did pretty well. Fergie was giving him a season to settle which he did very well winning a league title and making the game look simple in the process. Rooney would then be sold at the end of the season had Fergie stayed. Rooney was being bombed out.
Fergie had Thiago Alcantara ready to sign to replace Scholes.

Then Moyes came in and ruined literally every thing, and gave Rooney a 5 year contract and returned the number 10 position to him. Every multiple title winning player turned to rubbish so not just Kagawa. We signed Fellaini instead of Thiago ?.

17 Sep 2023 11:29:47
Shappy, lacking mental fortitude = lazy and soft.

17 Sep 2023 12:21:55
MancMan, Not quite, lacking mental fortitude is more a lack of resilience. Someone who has not been brought up in a way that enables them to deal well with external pressures.

That might be that they cannot handle criticism well, or struggle with how the world perceives them, or they cannot handle demands placed upon them.

This tends to stem from growing up in an environment where the person doesn't feel safe or cared for, or they are overly criticised leaving them feeling judged, undermining their self-esteem. Creating a fragile ego that perceives any sort of criticism as a personal attack often triggering the fight or flight response.

If you are a person who was lucky enough to have caring, engaged parents. Who brought you up to feel safe and secure in your environment, then from that perspective it might seem that the other person is "soft" or "lazy". However, that will often just come across as a personal attack to a person who struggles with handling such criticism because of their childhood.

If Sancho doesn't have the skills to handle the pressure that probably isn't his fault, as you develop those skills in early childhood (3-7 years old), with further reinforcement as you go through adolescence. If he wasn't given the tools or provided the environment needed to develop those skills at that age then I think its terribly unfair to blame him for not having learned those life skills.

Unfortunately it happens, far more now than it has ever happened in the past. Kids not given the care they need during their childhood to develop the life skills needed to navigate life successfully.

17 Sep 2023 19:54:03
Wow Shappy, I wasn't expecting such a full and interesting reply but thanks.

Although you're right I was trying to suggest how his lack of mental fortitude manifests itself on the pitch in the form of laziness and softness.

He doesn't exactly but a gut and when did you ever see him make a tackle?

Crap player, almost as bad as Pogcrap.

12 Sep 2023 07:40:05
Rumours of el ghazi as a free agent rw signing. Is there any truth to this ed? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Anwar El Ghazi (RW/LW) Free Agent after Kia Joorabchian was unable to find any takers in the Middle East or Turkey and he was released by PSV. Will wait until someone offers him a contract until the end of the season. I am not aware of any interest from Manchester UNited and it would be a kick in the gonads for the likes of Pellistri if there were.}

12 Sep 2023 10:31:43
Thanks ed I agree, give pellistri and amad when back a shot.

12 Sep 2023 16:42:55
Apparently him and his agent were at the last home match together.

12 Sep 2023 17:48:51
Bruno and Mount can be temporary cover also.

Plus - being creative - Wan Bissaka used to be a right winger and Dalot lives to get forward….

12 Sep 2023 21:49:29
Wan Bissaka as the creative winger, that’s a good one Wallace.

13 Sep 2023 10:17:50
I'd like to see Pellistri given a run of games, he's been bright in his cameos and probably deserves a run of games to see what he can do.

Beyond that I wouldn't be surprised to see Mount stake a claim as the starting RW this season once he is back from injury. He could be good to add balance to the attack and his crossing ability could prove very useful not just for Højlund but for Rashford who last season showed a greater ability to ghost in to the back post to nod home (probably something Benni McCarthy had worked on him with) . Højlund making a near post run and Rashford toward the back post from the LW position could create a lot of chances with good delivery which is something Mount has.

13 Sep 2023 13:07:49
Amad posted a picture apparently indicating surgery on his knee, I wouldn’t expect him back anytime soon.

13 Sep 2023 20:01:06
Yeah I see that redman. Expect him out for the season. This is pellestris time to take his chance. Rashford only got his chance because of injuries . Mad that he's played more times for his country than his club. Having bielsa as an international manager will help his massively.

07 Sep 2023 20:23:05
Ed would we look to bring mRcus Leonardo in january or the summer or is he moving elsewhere such as Roma?

{Ed002's Note - Marcos Leonardo (AM/F) With the books balanced after the sale of Deivid Washington and Angelo Gabriel Santos wish to keep hold of Leonardo. West Ham had an offer rejected in January and Roma are pushing hard to secure a deal now for this coming January. He was discussed with Chelsea who are now comfortable with Washington. Manchester United and Arsenal attended the U23 World Cup and have both declared an interest, as have Lazio.}