07 Jun 2019 08:18:19
Hope the heads not too muzzy this morning, Ed002? Cocktails at 3pm, for me, would be a very unproductive following day :)
Just a friendly reminder of your promise of a cheeky peek at your notes of wisdom, if you can find time today.
I wait in eager anticipation.
Many thanks.
{Ed002's Note - Players being looked at include:
RB, CB, CM, CM/AM, RW/F needed plus possibly a GK
Jasper Cillessen (G)
Ahmadou Dia (G) one for the future - there has been a meeting this week (Monday) but nothing came of it
Berke Ozer (G) one for the future
Kaylor Navas (G) now available but probably heading elsewhere
Mike Maignan (G) Manchester United asked for a price knowning that Lille have identified a replacement already
Andre Onana (G) will challenge Barcelona for a deal
Gianluigi Donnarumma (G) €75M asking price is seen as excessive and another English side walked away last year - interest from elsewhere
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) MU are interested and want to but AWB but the £70M asking price is well beyond what the value him at
Davide Calabria (RB) - has been watched by Manchester United, Lille, Spurs, Everton and Samporia but will certainly not be moving this summer
Thomas Meunier (RB) has been watched and an offer could be made - a safe solution
Mario Fernandes (RB) watched after being recommended by an ex player
Max Aarons (RB) seen as a viable option for the future but not one for the first team just yet - doubtful he would move
Joao Cancelo (RB) wanted by Mr Mourinho so probably a target again - but looks to be heading elsewhere
Kostas Manolas (CB) - expect his name to get some publicity but persuading him to leave Rome and move to the wastelands of northern England may not be easy - available to Italian sides at €36M but Roma are looking for €50M from English or Spanish sides. Strike him from the list.
Harry Maguire (CB) Leicester want him to stay but MU could return with a good offer - and he has the advantage of being home grown - but Manchester City are lurking
Matthijs de Ligt (CB) The club have been approached to say they can significantly increase the offer to the player and Barcelona will step back as they don't see the value - but the player will be told it is now or never for Barcelona as they will move on. Could be a very expensive mistake brining him to England and could cause a senior departure at the club. Very unlikely and another side have also put a very high offer on the table as well.
Kalidou Koulibaly (CB) ironically a Mourinho favourite and very, very expensive, so unlikely right now, particularly with discussions in hand with another club
Nikola Milenkovic (CB) a very good option
William Saliba (CB) a number of clubs are very keen on Saliba - particularly Arsenal who would like to strike a deal but want to do it without and auction that could push up the €30M starting price which they think is high for an 18 year old, particularly as they will only let him leave if they get an at least one year loan on the player immediately. This has removed the interest of Real Madrid. Manchester United see him as one for the future, but I would not be surprised to see MU look to an offer this summer. Benfica would also like to recruit him but I am not sure they are in the position to pay a significant sum and then loan him back for a year. Interest from Watford and Lille has become moot and if Southampton are keen on him, and there is no doubt he is a good player, they would need to negotiate an immediate move or end up in the same position as Benfica.
Raphael Varane (CB) was of prior interest of Mr Mourinho when at Manchester United and even if that interest were to return a discussion has already been held with another side - plus Madrid will try and tempt him to stay, although he wants out. I suspect he could easily be priced out of a move by RM looking to block the transfer. Juventus also had an enquiry rejected.
Niklas Sule (CB) watched by MU but Bayern Munich have no interest in selling - I would strike him from the list
Toby Alderweireld (CB) would be no more than a short-term solution and Spurs want him to stay and sign a new deal as they will already be losing one CB - I would strike him from the list
Milan Skriniar (CB) Financial demands of Inter are excessive (well over €100M) and will fend off interest with a new contract - strike him from the list
Ruban Dias (CB) - heading elsewhere according to Jorge Mendes but he was very much a target for Mr Mourinho and I would not strike him from the list yet - as the side he was due to join did not see the value in the asking price
Declan Rice (DM) has been watched, but no declared interest and I expect the club are resigned to nothing happening
Sean Longstaff (DM) has been identified by OGS and his folks as a target but the player has apparently some concerns about leaving the wastelands of the North East for the wasteland of the North West - this will likely be a worry about getting game time
Idrissa Gueye (CM/DM) seen by someone well placed as too old - won't happen
Ivan Rakitic (CM) some discussions with another side resulted in a tentative agreement for him to move elsewere - but only if Barcelona make him available which will only happen if they can secure the replacement they want and set a viable asking price for a 31 year old. But they asked for €75M so that ended the matter. Manchester United should step away from any interest in the player.
Rodrigo Hernandez (CM) I suspect he will either go to Manchester City instead of Saul who they consider too expensive or to Bayern Munich - strike him from the list
Carlos Rodriguez (CM) MU have been scouring the Liga MX and CR has caught they eye - hard to see how a WP could be obtained
Saul Niguez (CM) - If Pogba is to be replaced, a potentially expensive option that Manchester City have stepped back from
Youri Tielemans (CM) seen as a cheap CM option if Pogba leaves - a long term favourite of Mr Mourinho again
Bruno Fernandes (AM) has been of interest to Everton, Manchester United, Milan and Liverpool who have all looked at him on two or more occasions. Spurs maintain an interest but only if Christian Eriksen leaves. I am not aware of any interest at all from Inter who have been credited with looking at him and the situation at Milan has hit meltdown so they can be discounted. Asking price has more than doubled from what was already a high price in recent months and that has pushed aside interest from Juventus who don't see the value, Valencia and CSKA - and like priced him out of a move to all but a couple of the interested sides. Whilst Bayern Munich and Manchester City have looked as well, they don't have a declared interest and have other AM targets. Manchester United remain very keen.
Joao Felix (AM) I though interest may have left with Mr Mourinho and very expensive - in talks for a move elsewhere but Manchester United are still watching the player - could be used as a RW
Luciano Acosta (AM) has been watched by PSG, Manchester United, Genoa, Lyon and Newcastle but Fenerbahce have made an enquiry. A WP would be difficult for England unless paying well over the odds and DC United will look to renew his contract. Scratch him from the list.
Paulo Dybala (AM/RW/F) - Player wants elsewhere but could be one of a couple of players Juventus could offer for Pogba
Jadon Sancho (RW) BD have no interest in selling - scratch him off the list for now
Nicolas Pepe (RW) concerns over attitude and step up - MU cannot afford a potentially very expensive mistake - scratch him from the list
Samuel Kalu (RW) has been watched by MU but would be no more than cover - scratch him from the list
Douglas Costa (RW) price may well be an issue as asking price is €80M and player thinks he will stay with Allegri gone but he has been offered in a trade to another side - very unlikely
Wilfried Zaha (RW) another option
Steven Bergwijn (LW/RW/F) has been watched by MU but discussions are in hand for a move elsewhere - but he could resolve the RW issue looking very unlikely
Hirving Lozano (LW) - strike him from the list
Justin Kluivert (LW/RW) would be a OGS pick and after a poor season in Rome offers will certainly be listened to - unlikely
Daniel James (LW) transfer to Manchester United is going ahead
Ryan Sessegnon (LW/LM/LWB) Manchester United remain very keen but after signing James and serious interest (and an offer) from elsewhere it is looking less likely
Sebastien Haller (S) OGS has had SH watched as a potential replacement for Lukaku if he is not priced out of a move - it makes little sense to me.}
07 Jun 2019 12:29:04
Wow!
Very detailed report
Hats of to you Ed002
Keep up the good work:)
07 Jun 2019 12:46:03
Thank you very much, Ed! Really appreciated.
{Ed002's Note - No problem, you are welcome.}
07 Jun 2019 12:54:29
Great stuff Ed002.
If we're able to sign De Ligt i'll be impressed. He seems Barcelona bound and recently reports saying PSG are interested too.
Also really hope we push for Wan-Bissaka, not many good fullbacks around these days.
{Ed002's Note - You need to read again about de Ligt - I said it was very unikely.}
07 Jun 2019 13:04:29
That's a shame Ed, thought he'd do well in the prem.
We seem to be interested in a lot of CB options, do you know if the club are intending on bringing in only one CB in or could we see an already established CB arriving as well as a younger player for the future?
{Ed002's Note - Please read it.}
07 Jun 2019 13:33:41
Thanks Ed002, have a great weekend!
07 Jun 2019 13:51:09
I think last night showed that de Ligt struggles with pace. When Kane came on he looked far assured.
07 Jun 2019 14:13:06
Thanks, Ed. Who is the senior staff member who could leave if De Ligt was signed out of interest?
{Ed002's Note - It is unimportant.}
07 Jun 2019 14:17:30
Thanks Ed for all the details, this should hold this page for a while.
Thank you Southern Monkey for such a pleasantly put question and repeating it ever so casually as a reminder. Some of us can learn a thing or 2 from you.
07 Jun 2019 14:43:58
Thanks, mbd. For all those that want to know the secret. Its called manners, and they're free. ;)
07 Jun 2019 15:10:17
Great stuff Ed thanks.
07 Jun 2019 15:36:46
i hope we don't get HM.
We should have gone for TA last summer not looking promising in the defensive side of recruiting.
its going to be a long summer.
07 Jun 2019 15:45:03
Fantastic breakdown ed002. Many thanks. Very comprehensive. Lots of options there for United. It will be v interesting to see who they will look to pursue in the coming months.
07 Jun 2019 15:45:41
Thanks Ed. Great!
07 Jun 2019 16:15:14
Thanks for that 002, much appreciated.
07 Jun 2019 16:15:27
Ed can I ask why you think players should be ruled out because of cost.
Surely if English teams have to pay over the odds because of the premier league, so be it.
If they think they could be good enough for a position they need to fill, do i5.
Sure you never know how they will react to such a move, but that’s true of any player whatever the fee.
{Ed002's Note - Clubs need to be finacially responsible - if there is no value in a player the the club will move on.}
07 Jun 2019 16:20:21
Thanks ED002. Another fantastic update.
07 Jun 2019 16:24:29
Brilliant stuff, cheers Ed. I've been posting on this site for years and the work you guys do is tremendous.
Looks like the Rabiot rumours are rubbish as well.
07 Jun 2019 16:37:04
Fantastic breakdown Ed002, I take from this that the club doesn't hold an interest in James Maddison?
07 Jun 2019 22:27:30
Is a player not on the list, on the list?
*Ed002- facepalm
Sorry, Shappy. The monkey's made me do it.
08 Jun 2019 01:26:40
Appreciate this update. A little worried at the lack of strikers on this list considering there’s a possibility that Rashford and/ or Lukaku could leave. I appreciate there are quite a few goal scorers who play in other positions linked with us, but I was really hoping to see us sign a top striker this summer. To be fair though, we need players all over the pitch.
08 Jun 2019 07:51:46
Ed002, great review of the potential targets and possible movements.
Just a general question but Do you think it’s realistic that we could see up to 15 players going in and out in one window or do you think this will be a list that will move over the next 2/ 3 windows?
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a potential big turnaround and just wondered what your thoughts were on the feasibility of such a lot of movement?
{Ed002's Note - If you include youngsters leaving then ceratinly. From the first team squad it is less likely. The club need RB, CB, CM, CM/AM, RW/F needed plus possibly a GK and a S and I suspect that will remain the priority whilst adding a couple (like James) who can be considered to be players expected to come through for the future. Targets change and many of the targets the club has now were previously targets of Mr Mourinho - and now coaching staff have changed so it would be reasonable that at least some new targets will emerge.}
08 Jun 2019 08:08:38
Thanks for the summary Ed002 much appreciated.
So summarising the possibles from the ‘unlikely’, ‘for the future’ and ‘strike from the list’.
GK’s (if we replace a departing DDG) from
Jasper Cillessen
Mike Maignan
Andre Onana
FB’s
AWB very high price
Thomas Meunier
Mario Fernandes
CB’s
Harry Maguire expensive and wanted by city
Nikola Milenkovic
Ruben Diaz
DM’s
Sean Longstaff
CM/ DM’s
Saul Niguez
Yuri Tielemans
CAM’s
Bruno Fernandes
Joao Felix
Paolo Dybala (if part of a Pogba deal)
RW’s
Douglas Costa
Wilfried Zaha
LW/ RW/ FWD’s
Justin Kluivert
Daniel James
Rumoured but not on the list and therefore NOT of interest to United - Maddison, Trippier, Rabiot, Ramos, Collins, James, Pepe, Bale, Dier,