Manchester United Banter 4

23 Jul 2026 11:33:10
Another week goes by.
Not worried yet.
However, another week when we have not made an impression on a significant CM purchase, or a CF or a Left Back.
Another week when we still look to be Bargain hunting.
Another week when we give the impression we turning away from top players because we won’t pay.

Not paying is fine, but if it puts us in 7th next season is it a false economy?
Is it just the impression we want to give to get the price down?

On Scott, Chelsea wouldn’t bid unless there was some encouragement from the player. What are we doing?

What is going on with Rashford? Villa would rather risk Garnacho than England’s Rashford, who they had on loan.



Yes, plenty of time yet the noises are not good, and at a time when our main opponents are not being so reticent in spending to buy. We look a bit amateur right now. How does it fit with the club's avowed aim to win the league in 2028? Or has that now been changed?

We can judge in September, but I have to say the lack of visibility of real ambition is worrying. Great to sign kids for the future, but that is circa 5 years' investment.

23 Jul 2026 12:16:32
I saw the first line and knew exactly who it was. Hahaha. Noises are not good? One thing is for sure, you nor I, nor most of the media know anything of what noise is coming from the club. If we should have learned anything over the last summer window and this one, it's that no noise comes from the club and they go about their business.

5/5 last summer, remember.

Darlow, Tielemans, Santos, Thompson all signed for the first team already this window. I'm sure more to come.

A raft of younger individuals brought to strengthen the academy and ensure growth and future answers come from within.

But it wouldn't be a Red Man post if it wasn't a good old moan. 😉

23 Jul 2026 13:05:27
I like that he's said he's not worried yet, but the lack of visibility of real ambition is worrying. 😂

23 Jul 2026 13:05:59
Angel,

My follower, or more like a stalker.

My comments on young players are on rumours, inc the first info on the Spurs lad. They are for the future.

It's August next week. See above, it's a banter site, and luckily you are not the adjudicator on what we can post.

23 Jul 2026 13:24:31
Stalker? Jesus 😂

I mean, this is a forum and we share views and opinions, like you have many a time in reaction to my posts, don't flatter yourself, wrong gender and far too old red man haha.

I've never claimed to be the adjudicator red man. You keep moaning away! Must be an age thing.

23 Jul 2026 13:55:37
Angel,
You jump on nearly all my posts and are critical. I suspect you will be the first post after my post most times. That's stalking!

Actually, my background has been that of driving and ensuring the highest standards. So, whilst yes I am still old, I know what needs to happen to have those high standards in business.

Moaning, if that is what you want to call it, well, watching the club pull stunts in the market, like they did when Jose got 2nd, is knowing your history and flagging it.

Standards have slipped, and fans accepted 3rd. Aim should be first, and we won't do that with what we have.

23 Jul 2026 14:58:25
Red man, get down off yourself, honestly, that's pathetic.

All you do is moan, and when I point it out, you don't like it. Now you've just put a word on it.

The club showed last year that they were able to work it in the transfer market. I can not remember the last time we had 5/5 signings basically hit the spot. There were some incredible bits of business done. Wasn't lammens given the award of signing of the season.

Those that were driving the jose era and other eras post SAF are not the ones in full control now and there is an obvious different way of the club doing things. There's a lot that I don't agree with, and I am definitely not a fan of The Glazers of Ratcliffe. But the one thing I can't deny is the way in which they have moved in the transfer market and putting things in place that betters is from a footballing perspective.

I am certainly not accepting 3rd place and never had in life, but I am a realist. There are many cracks in this club and they can't wave a magic wand and make them all disappear. It's going to take time.

I'll stop commenting on your posts now mate, cause you're clearly a bit touchy over the internet.

23 Jul 2026 16:38:01
Angel

No problem with you commenting on my posts.

Where was the midfield player or second striker last summer?

I am expressing concern at what I see, so you call me a moaner, but dont give it if you cant take it back.

23 Jul 2026 19:52:13
I can take it back, not a problem, ever. You're the one getting upset, not me.

Not everyone that engages with your posts is a 'stalker', Red Man. Very OTT stuff.

23 Jul 2026 20:42:27
I love both of you, but you do jump on each other a lot. Just saying.

23 Jul 2026 20:43:30
When you two lovers have finished your little tiff, it's going to be great make up sex!

22 Jul 2026 21:14:35
One £65m+ midfielder to cap the rebuild.

Who and why?

Baleba?
Scott?
Tchouameni?
Camavinga?

Does anyone else realistically see it being anyone other than one of those four?

22 Jul 2026 22:18:40
Zaire Emery is strongly linked. After him, Manu Kone is stylistically very similar to Ederson, so he'd have to rank highly. Of your list, I think only Scott is someone we'd actually go for this summer. Too many doubts over Baleba and the Real duo; I'm not sure they were serious targets.

23 Jul 2026 09:09:45
Rumours are we don't want to pay big, so in any auction we will likely lose out. But then rumours say Scott prefers Arsenal, whilst other rumours say he prefers Chelsea. 🤷‍♂️

23 Jul 2026 09:11:22
I like Zaire Emery a lot, but I thought Camavinga would've been perfect for us.

23 Jul 2026 09:21:27
Agree, Angelred, I've always liked Camavinga but didn't think he'd be realistic. Things maybe, hopefully, have changed there. I like Zaire-Emery also.

With Arsenal strongly linked with Guimaraes, I wonder if Lewis-Skelly becomes an option again. We apparently were linked earlier in the year, but I thought he'd saved his Arsenal career with his performances in Europe for them.

If they are successful in getting Guimaraes, they have quite a few options in CM, and I'm not sure Arteta likes him at LB.

It would be a smart move, with his versatility to play LB but also move into CM.

23 Jul 2026 09:28:30
Ports, I think it's obvious we need a great engine/legs in there, but someone who can play.

Alex Scott is also an option, and it will be interesting to see what Bournemouth do, as he has seemingly said no to an extension. Do they cash in now?

Either way, I really really believe that the recruitment and transfer team are ready for all eventualities.

Santos and Tielemans were not on the list whatsoever, and they were done quickly.

I've also seen them make some interesting transfers at youth level. It bodes well for the future.

Another couple of good signings to bolster the first team squad, and it's going to be an eventful season.

23 Jul 2026 10:58:58
I definitely don't see it being a Real Madrid player, as things stand, although if they get Rodri or Ferndandez they may opt to sell one. Camavinga is useful to them, as he often fills in at the back.
I don't think we'll want to meet Bournemouth's price for Scott.

They don't want to sell him, and we won't overpay.
Baleba is still most likely from that list, but I hope not. The PSG guy would be awesome, and we've looked at him previously.

23 Jul 2026 15:58:52
Baleba or Kone are my preferences, wouldnt touch Scott for the money.

23 Jul 2026 17:47:09
My thoughts exactly, Ken.

23 Jul 2026 17:41:14
Spenno

Did I see something about Rodri having back issues? If so Madrid would be unlikely to buy him at vast cost and that could stop the sale of midfielders from them.

23 Jul 2026 17:51:55
I don't think it needs to be a big name expensive signing to finish off the midfield.

I mean, currently we have Tielemans, Mainoo, and Santos for two positions.

Tielemans will almost certainly be a regular starter. You don't join a club at 29 to sit on the bench.

Which means the other position will be fought for by Mainoo and Santos.

Looking at the options, the thing we are missing is physicality, a big, strong unit who can battle in midfield.

Tielemans is the playmaker, who can also win the ball back.

Mainoo is the dribbling, tight-space, press-resistant ball progressor.

Santos is a passing, ball-winner.

It's a real physical player that we are missing.

That could be Carlos Baleba, but you don't need to spend 65-80m for this kind of player, especially if you aren't signing them to build your team around.

We don't need this kind of player for every game, but we need them to be able to rotate in and out when needed.

Personally, I really like the idea of signing Sander Berge. He's EPL-proven, has great experience, and is exactly what we are looking for in terms of player profile.

He wouldn't cost more than 40m.

Having Tielemans, Berge, Mainoo, and Santos as the four options looks really nicely balanced, both in terms of profiles as well as age and experience.

Also, if we compare those midfield options to what we had last season, it's a massive improvement. And we could sign all three (Tielemans, Santos, and Berge) for around the same amount as Elliot Anderson did on his own.

If you're looking for a midfield rebuild, then signing those three over just Anderson is the right way to go.

With a bit of luck, that will also leave enough money in the kitty to improve in other positions.

LB and ST are the ones I think we need to focus on the most, followed by CB, and then LW if we can move on Rashford (although we have signed Thompson, who plays LW and could have a similar impact as Heaven, as, just like Heaven, he is also on the cusp of the first-team squad).

While we can't rule out Amass stepping up at LB either.

22 Jul 2026 18:16:35
Just wanted to start a new thread.

22 Jul 2026 19:39:43
Just wanted to highjack your new thread to ask the burning questions.

Was Rooney world class? Is he a club legend??

22 Jul 2026 21:53:32
What about Rashford chat?

23 Jul 2026 08:42:48
Order! Order!

23 Jul 2026 09:12:07
We should start a new thread about new threads.

23 Jul 2026 12:23:08
I used to sell thread back in the day! What shades/strength are we looking for?

23 Jul 2026 17:01:07
I'll get me coat!

22 Jul 2026 17:59:37
Outside of Warren Zaïre-Emery (who would be an incredible signing), why wouldn't United spend less to grab Berg and Lewis Hall?

22 Jul 2026 19:38:27
We could probably pick up 16 players for the same price from non-league Northern Conference.

22 Jul 2026 20:13:58
My grandchildren and their friends will pay to play with their pocket money.

23 Jul 2026 10:59:31
Because we'd be even more crud lol.

22 Jul 2026 14:11:04
I'm starting a new thread about the same subject because I believe people don't really read beyond the first few contributions and in any case, if I do add a comment at the end of a long line, I won't get any recommendations, which would be a shame because I'm sure my opinion about Rashford is completely original and absolutely on the mark.

22 Jul 2026 18:11:31
Everyone's starting to get a little punchy in here! A long way to go yet in the window yet, folks.

22 Jul 2026 10:30:16
Rumours of United being interested in Warren Zaire-Emery.
I can't see PSG letting him go and if they did he would cost a fair bit of money.

22 Jul 2026 01:33:49
AJH, I've noticed a pattern with your posts, and it's becoming tiresome.
You don't seem interested in contributing to discussions or creating them. Instead, you appear whenever someone starts a new thread so you can complain that there's already one open or have a dig at the person who started it.
As someone who visits this forum daily, I'd much rather see new topics than watch the same handful of posters recycle the same arguments in week-old threads.
Not everyone has seen every post or wants to trawl through pages of replies.

If someone starts a thread on current United news, either join the discussion or ignore it. Publicly ridiculing fellow supporters for trying to keep the forum active just comes across as petty and discourages people from posting.
A forum only stays alive because people create discussions. If everyone adopted your attitude, we'd have very few new conversations and an increasingly stale forum.
Maybe spend less time policing who starts threads and more time contributing something worthwhile to the football debate.

22 Jul 2026 06:52:42
'You don't seem interested in contributing to discussions or creating them.' I contribute and create a lot. If you read the site daily, you would know that.

As for your point, yesterday there was a great thread about Rashford and someone started a new thread about him immediately above it.

Not a few threads lower, immediately above it.

Of course people are free to do that, but why start another conversation instead of joining the one that is underway?

And it isn't 'posters', it's one poster.

I'm all for constructive feedback, but at least try and get facts right.

22 Jul 2026 08:27:02
I agree with AJH on this one. AJH stays plenty of debate and discussion, nobody was ridiculed. Dear oh dear.

22 Jul 2026 10:04:49
Maybe Reddevil has just got the names or posters mixed up... because he can't be talking about AJH.

22 Jul 2026 10:12:11
He does have 1 loose point. I have highlighted to 1 particular poster a few times that he never replies to posts; he just often starts a new thread on the same subject, as if he hasn't read the other posts.

I even suggested he would enjoy getting involved in the wider conversations, but it seems not.

Anyhoo, I must try and create or contribute more. 😬

22 Jul 2026 13:25:35
Jeez, of anyone I'd say AJH is one who gets involved in discussions both for and against his opinion. As Angel said, I can only imagine you've confused names somehow.

22 Jul 2026 16:25:48
There's already an AJH bashing thread further down the page. Instead of starting a new one, why don't you add to that?

22 Jul 2026 16:55:34
Yeah read the posts. 😂

21 Jul 2026 20:11:29
It seems Al-Hilal have agreed a £68m fee with West Ham for Crysencio Summerville.

That is a hell of a lot for someone who has been talked of as a £40m player. Suppose it will come down to whether he wants to go to Saudi.

Wonder if the wages on offer could influence his decision in any way. 😂😂

21 Jul 2026 21:30:34
£68m???? Madness. He's ok at best.

Does make sense why we've gone for the young lad at Spurs, and the likelihood of Rashford staying increases every day.

21 Jul 2026 23:55:58
Yep, that's right, Eric, it is madness. Thing is, though, this is becoming the new normal.

I posted some weeks past that last year's record fees would become this summer's usual, and regrettably, we are going to have to adapt to this.

This evening Bournemouth have rejected an offer of £64m from Chelsea for Alex Scott. I suspect Chelsea will go back with an offer of about £80m+ and get their man.



If we are genuinely interested in Manu Kone, I think we need to move fairly quickly. Further delay only gives the selling club reason to increase the fee requested.

Seemingly, we have decided against trying for Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba due to cost. Clearly, Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell are going to have to pull some rabbits out of the hat to fill the available spaces. I wish them luck!

22 Jul 2026 04:57:13
Imagine if we didn't pay so much for these players and they accepted realistic wages, how much cheaper a ticket would be! Well theoretically anyway. 😡

Sad times indeed when average players demand command such a fee.

22 Jul 2026 06:20:44
The management are facing a lose-lose position because of the stupid amounts being paid for players elsewhere. Selling clubs now are raising their prices to sell, based on the frankly idiotic prices paid by the likes of Chelsea for Rogers.

If he is worth 117m, then Scott of Bournemouth, who is probably at least 70% as good, logically is worth more than the £64m apparently rejected by Bournemouth.

Are Utd going to just pay ever-increasing, stupidly high prices, or be sensible and refuse, and try to find value in other places whilst accepting it's more than likely that the club will be handicapped in winning trophies and even finishing in the Champions League, thereby reducing future prospects and income to get better players? As fans, will we have the patience and willingness to be uncompetitive? Or will we urge Utd to spend, spend, spend, and yet complain at the ever-increasing ticket prices and commercial exploitation needed to fund the spending.



I would love us to be principled and blood a team of youngsters from the academy into a successful first team, but that's virtually impossible today while remaining competitive.

The Premier League needs to get a grip on this and find a way to really limit the absurd amounts being spent.

22 Jul 2026 08:28:52
It's not up to the EPL. It's up to responsible and effective leadership from company execs to not pay.

22 Jul 2026 11:01:48
Yes Ken, but the clubs' managements in general show little desire to control expenditure, and the game ultimately will be taken away from the most important element... us, the fans. And, if we can't afford to go, don't buy overpriced merchandise, don't pay ever-increasing TV subscriptions.

Then the clubs' incomes will fall, and the clubs' existence will be in jeopardy, so that the league structures fail. Therefore, its supposed guardians, the Premier League, need to reign in the overspending.

22 Jul 2026 11:08:06
Fees are out of control. Rogers is now the most expensive transfer ever, which is ridiculous. He's decent, but it's still a mad fee.

It seems we aren't getting involved in the madness, which is limiting our options.

I have mixed feelings about that. We don't have the funds to splurge £100M on a player without it massively impacting our ability to strengthen the squad, but it will mean we will likely miss out on first choices.

22 Jul 2026 11:37:33
Football was taken away from the fans long ago. It's just now a billion pound business. It's all got out of hand and will continue to go even further until the bubble bursts, which it will. The question is just when. Until then, you either move with it or fall by the wayside. It's very romantic thinking you can build a team these days on potential and cheap buys, but it's just that romance; it won't happen. Ex-players moan about players' salaries, but they did exactly the same; it's all relevant.

Let's be honest, clubs don't really care about the fans. They try to sing that tune, but get real: it's no longer about your local team, it's a billion pound industry and its supply and demand...
So players' fees will become extortionate like salaries they already are, but they will keep rising. You either move with it or don't. If you take the don't route, don't moan when you win FA.

21 Jul 2026 19:52:10
Summerville off to Al Hilal, bit of a strange one that.

21 Jul 2026 20:13:49
Some players choose money. Nothing strange about it.

22 Jul 2026 01:29:48
Fair play to him. He has the chance to acquire generational wealth by kicking a piece of leather around a patch of grass once or twice a week. I'm sure most people would seize that opportunity with both hands.

22 Jul 2026 11:41:47
Exactly, Redseven, although you will get the romantics on here who will say he should put the football first. Maybe, like so many, he don't even like football that much, he just happens to be given a talent and wants to milk it for all its worth.

That's the reality, and who are people on here to complain about that? He makes his choice.
Good luck to him. Move on, that's life. I never understand why a football fan moans about fees or salaries or moves of players.

21 Jul 2026 18:15:04
A little left-field, but if I were the powers that be, I'd be all over John Stones on a free, this summer.

An experienced head, a natural winner, Maguire, Martinez and De Ligt injuries.

I've just got major concerns about us having to go to PSG away with a CB pairing of Yoro and Heaven and a midfield of Tielemans and Mainoo. Shudder.

21 Jul 2026 19:04:53
I mean, I get the theory, but... doesn't he have more injury concerns than any of them lol.

21 Jul 2026 20:14:45
The last thing we need is another centre back that spends more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.

21 Jul 2026 20:36:51
I think the financial side of the deal would be something that would be a big stumbling block, and you could only offer him a one year deal, or you'd be stuck with him.

21 Jul 2026 23:08:57
I think, if there were no concerns over his fitness and injury record, he'd frankly have stayed at City beyond his current deal.

22 Jul 2026 11:43:56
Would be better than anything we have though, that's for sure. Yes, we need the experience, we need some more pace, but we certainly need a player who can be on the pitch 90% of the time... or at least not got a poor record like de Ligt, Martinez etc.