12 Jun 2022 00:17:35
There is a relatively short list of players Ten Hag could've been meeting Jorge Mendes about if indeed said meeting did take place recently. If not a last chance to sign Nunez then prospects of signing Ruben Neves would've surely been discussed.
De Jong would be a great signing for us. Barcelona need to sell, move to a better league, work with former manager, become key player team is built around, £400k pw wages - all elements that could mean its a go-er.
But. we are still woefully undermanned in midfield. Crying out for a Neves type. Appreciate Sangare linked with and sure Konrad Laimer would be on everyone's wishlist too.
Now that the window is open I'm hoping for a bumper transfer-packed week incoming.
(A man can dream)
12 Jun 2022 08:17:46
De Jong and neves coming in would be fantastic. United would have a midfield that can actually play. add Donny into the mix along side Bruno. We can hope anyway, still needs a solid centre half thou, Torres would be one I'd love at United. In reality can all that be done? It's United remember ?.
12 Jun 2022 09:44:26
Do not get the adulation for Neves He is a good player but I don't think he is a great player. No other top European team has made a move for him.
12 Jun 2022 10:53:34
Apart from Barcelona you mean Salford?
12 Jun 2022 13:50:27
couple of the more speculative football media outlets are sayign this morning we have made a bid for Neves yesterday -who knows. but I like him he is good at what he does as is FDJ but I maintain our recruitment team should be looking for a Bissouma-Ndidi-Kante (of 3 seasons ago) player if we want to get the best out of a Neves FDJ type of player.
12 Jun 2022 14:06:08
When Neves played against us (not saying much I know! ) he was immense. Totally bossed the midfield. I’d take a Neves/ FDJ midfield pairing every day of the week. And so would a lot of top sides.
12 Jun 2022 14:11:01
Neves/ FDJ is a quality base to work from with Bruno/ Donny beyond them.
Backed up by McFred and maybe Garner?
More than good enough to start the rebuild.
We also have Hannibal to add and that’ll be enough.
12 Jun 2022 14:17:10
Like Salford, I'm not sure what all the hype is about Neves. He's an average player and does not dominate games.
12 Jun 2022 14:22:05
He can pass and tackle. More than our current midfielders.
12 Jun 2022 14:31:42
He made his name off a few worldies a couple of seasons back. He’d be an upgrade but hopefully not high up the list for ne.
12 Jun 2022 14:39:03
If we can get De Jong over the line it will be the most important signing this window. But someone like Neves alongside him would be fantastic. The man would stroll into any iteration of our midfield now. He's a grafter, decent in and out of possession. On the edge of the box he's very dangerous, decent set pieces. Premier league proven. If the price is right he'd be an excellent addition.
12 Jun 2022 14:59:37
If he was meeting Jorge Mendes, would probably have been a long list of players considering Mendes represents every other professional football player in the world.
12 Jun 2022 15:12:39
I do rate Neves. Seemingly Barcelona do too.
If we were able to make two signings in midfield it would strengthen us massively.
First choice midfield 3 (assuming we adopt 433) of: Neves / De Jong / Fernandes would have some real quality to it I feel.
Upfront 3 of: Sancho / Ronaldo / Elanga lacks teeth and depth though. I don't see Rashford other than understudy for Sancho at LW or Ronaldo as CF. Having been without a RW for ages then converting Sancho to LW once we bought him, surely we are in for a RW again!
12 Jun 2022 15:15:31
Ed002 has already said Neves won't be moving to us.
12 Jun 2022 15:24:31
He played well against us but then again so many players have as we give them the freedom of the park with no pressing.
Barcas interest is pure press speculation so far. Liverpool moved for his team mate Jota and with Henderson getting on and Fabinho a little injury prone they could but didn't move for him.
City need to replace Fernandhino but have not chosen Neves.
Kante at Chelsea had an indifferent season and it is possible his hard work these past ten years are catching up with him but they didn't make a bid for Neves ad far as we know
Madrid haven't nor PSG nor other top European sides.
That's not to say he wouldn't be a bad signing for us but he hasn't got much competition in our squad has he? Will he raise our level. Yes. Will he raise it enough to compete against City and Liverpool. I doubt it.
12 Jun 2022 16:51:28
Neves isn’t a defensive midfielder though….
12 Jun 2022 17:26:57
We should be targetting Ndidi to add steel and mopping up to de Jong's craft and guile, and to Eriksen's passing and creativity.
{Ed077's Note - I am a bit worried by him missing games through injury. Ndidi that is.
12 Jun 2022 17:40:54
DSG - Mendes represents surprisingly few players when you consider those its highly unlikely would move to us such as Cancelo, Dias, Ederson, Silva (City) or Fabinho, Jota and now Nunez (Liverpool) . I am assuming Di Maria or Falcao won't be re-joining anytime soon either.
Possible players we could look at:
Diogo Costa - GK
Ruben Neves - DM
Renato Sanches - CM
Or perhaps a RB in either Ricardo Pereira or Nelson Semedo?
Seems likely that a discussion may have been a failed attempt to land Nunez, a midfielder such as Neves (who we have been linked with previously) or perhaps it was just Ronaldo's new 5-year deal ;)
Think its safe to assume though it wasn't about any of the 7 players now at City or Liverpool though.
12 Jun 2022 18:48:52
It's a rumour that EtH flew to Portugal to meet with Mendes. Does anyone have an image of them together in Portugal.
Hell can anyone even prove they were both in Portugal at the same time.
Mendes is a guy whose business takes him all over the world.
Also is EtH the guy to go and discuss a potential deal? Surely how much money would be on offer or anything like would need to be discussed by those responsible for such things.
The only reason for EtH to be involved is to talk directly with the player or their representative about how they fit into the club's project, and where the club is hopefully going.
Does he need to fly to Portugal to have those discussions? Or would a phone call be more appropriate.
Does that make sense, probably not but of course that doesn't make an interesting or cool story.
Maybe he did fly to Portugal to say to Mendes, I want to play Nunez as a striker and occasionally on the wing until Ronaldo leaves. Or maybe he didn't. It's all rumours.
12 Jun 2022 19:00:22
Eric's in Manchester, if I were him I would fly out to Portugal this team of year for those discussions too.
Especially if I could put it on expenses.