11 Aug 2022 09:43:17
Hi ed02

Any chance of providing a update on what's real and what's nouse with fdj situation

Thank you.

{Ed002's Note - Frenkie de Jong (CM) Barcelona don't really want to sell although if a significant offer (perhaps €80M) were made, their financial situation would mean they would have to consider it and the hierarchy except that removing his very significant wages from the books would free up space to register other players. He was seen as a Tolisso upgrade for Bayern Munich but they had already committed to another. During discussions between Barcelona and Chelsea options for a number of players were discussed but Chelsea do not again want protracted negotiations which led nowhere over another player last summer - they will make a take it or leave it offer perhaps even including a player, and that may suit Barcelona. Manchester City may provide another solution using Laporte or Silva as part of the deal - and don't be surprised if PSG switch their attention to him, but they have preferred targets. Manchester United did switch their attention to de Jong but have failed to persuade the player to join them - and it would be a hard sell for MU without Champions League, although no doubt having a coach he knows well will help. Manchester United agreed a fee with Barcelona for the player but will revert to other ideas as his "agent" has told Barcelona he will not be leaving to join Manchester United and they do not want to negotiate a new contract. His agent has spoken again with Chelsea and Manchester City and Barcelona are still talking to Chelsea about others, but difficulties are again arising. Therefore, he may well stay where he is - whoch will upset Barcelona - or he may opt to join Chelsea.}

1.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 11:21:35
Just baffles me why we are still trying to get him when he’s doesn’t want to join ? then signing more dead wood in rabiot on high wages when we have just got rid of players for the same reason.

2.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 11:41:20
Bolger, are we though? Two weeks ago it was FDJ or nothing.

Now we are in discussions to sign Rabiot. While we are linked with several other midfielders such as SMS.

That suggests that the club are exploring other options, something they seemingly weren't doing two weeks ago.

Just because publicly they haven't ended their pursuit of FDJ that does not mean privately they don't realise it's a longshot.

I wouldn't be surprised if United suddenly moved quickly in making an offer for someone like SMS or Tielemans just before or around the time of news breaking about FDJ either staying or moving to Chelsea.

3.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 12:00:38
Does this mean that if we don't get him it wasnt due to our incompetence in the market but rather the player just did not want to join?

{Ed002's Note - Read the numerous posts regarding that.}

4.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 12:21:33
This is the problem with people nowadays.

Just because Frenkie won't come to United you all think we should give up. If he carries on I say we kidnap him and make he come to Manchester.

5.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 12:29:05
Mbd i think its quite clear we are not an option for the player. Hopefully the club have moved on even if publicly they are not saying it and working on other options. Incompetence, ignorant or stupidly stubborn are a fine line.

Hopefully eth makes it work with other options available. He is a good player but no maradonna.

6.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 12:55:31
i don't trust what goes on anymore shappy. but the fact they have not retracted the bid we made 2 weeks ago suggests we are still trying to get him we haven't even bid for a replacement for de jong

rab is not the same type of player as de jong

its just gone past the point of being funny.

we knew what we needed 8 months ago, ralf told us publicly what was needed and he got the boot.

im not even blaming arnold and murtough its clearly someone above them making the final decisions, or why else would everything take an age.

7.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 12:57:25
I hope so to NC.

8.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 13:04:07
If we had a free run at him and after all the drama with Barcelona and the abhorrent behaviour from their fans towards him, maybe we could have been a solution for him.

With other clubs now looking at him we're more than likley out of the running.

9.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 13:32:31
Ed - are United out of the running then?

10.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 13:57:06
Let’s look at it from his perspective. He is at Barcelona and according to reports is happy and settled. He doesn’t want to leave, and he is also under no obligation to take a drop in wages. So if he is happy with being at Barcelona, will be getting his full wage and champions league football, why would he come to United?

We have been crap for years, beaten at home in the first game of the season, still can’t get transfers right and will be playing in Europe on Thursdays. What do we have to offer any of the better players currently?

Unless you are late in your career and looking for a final big pay day or supported United as a child etc then we aren’t an option currently. We all need to accept that.

There are at least 3 clubs in England, Spain, Germany and probably Italy that players would prefer to join career wise currently, plus PSG in France.

What we need to do is either blood the youngsters and hope that a good few can step up, or buy players who can be a team and are at a level to get us back fighting for top four again, and once that is cemented and we are going in the right direction then start trying for the players that the top clubs can and are signing.

11.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 17:26:54
Think its obvious we should just wait and see. Based on eds report the door is slightly ajar and we should hope and pray rather than get our panties in a twist, if it doesn't happen then so what we move on.