30 Jul 2024 23:52:55
Hey ed002,
Sorry to bother you, just saw on the everton page you mentioned everton have got a branthwaite replacement presumably jake o brien. (Great to see given i'm from cork myself) just wondering do you still see branthwaite leaving and united pushing with a 3rd bid? Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - There is every chance.}
31 Jul 2024 10:48:50
To be honest it is a move that makes a lot of sense even if they don't sell Branthwaite. They had 4 senior CB's on their books including Branthwaite, two of which (Tarkowski and Keane) are 31 years old, the other being Mason Holgate.
Signing another younger CB with potential was an obvious move.
That said Everton are now in a position where they probably need to sell to avoid administration by all accounts. If United make an acceptable offer I'm sure a deal will be done. The player wants the move, United want the player, and Everton, reluctantly, probably need to sell.
Personally I think a deal hinges on United being able to raise the funds and balance the books.
It looks like we've got a deal more or less lined up for MdL, but we seem to be delaying on pulling the trigger for that deal. That could be because we need to guarantee another sale or two first, or it could be that he is a fall back option to someone like Branthwaite who the club seemingly wants more.
They will know Branthwaite will be a higher fee and will require more of it paid up front than MdL. I'm sure if the club can raise funds and balance their books then they will move for Branthwaite again. If they can't raise enough funds then it'll probably be MdL they move for towards the end of the window.
It looks like they are trying to be clever with their dealings. Rumours of Ugarte on a loan with an obligation to buy would reduce the outgoings this summer leaving more cash to spend elsewhere this summer. While the sale of McTominay would raise more funds/ profit than the sale of anyone else in the squad who we could realistically sell. We've also been linked with Rabiot on a free again. AWB looks to be on his way out, but unfortunately he would need a direct replacement which means there isn't likely to be much net gain in his sale.
It looks like this summer will be about wheeling and dealing to try and build a more stable and balanced squad. While players like Casemiro, Antony and Sancho all need to leave for different reasons. The reality is that the club won't raise any funds from their sales, in fact they'd be lucky to break even.
It is players like Greenwood, Hannibal and McTominay where the club can raise the most useable funds to reinvest.
PSR and the frankly awful way we have been run has made this probably the most difficult transfer window for the club since the summer since the first summer after SAF retired.
If I was a betting man I'd expect we'll see a new RB coming in to replace AWB, most likely Mazraoui (although he isn't the player I'd go for) . Ugarte on a loan to buy deal, and one of Branthwaite or MdL depending on how much we can raise through sales.
In terms of players leaving, AWB and McTominay look like the most likely to leave next. Sancho I think will be a loan with an obligation to buy. Then we'll see a few others like Lindelof, Hannibal, Pellistri and Eriksen likely leave later in the window for smaller fees likely between 5-15m.
Antony I don't see leaving as I cannot see anyone paying what the club will need them to pay to avoid a massive loss on the books. Unfortunately every player the club sells at a loss reduces the potential funds to reinvest. Selling McTominay for 25m and selling Antony at a 25m loss means the club have lost two players and have raised nothing to bring in replacements.
Casemiro could leave, but it very much depends on a Saudi club coming in for him. Again, he is a player the club needs to sell for a certain fee to avoid a loss. If Casemiro leaves then I could see the club looking to bring in Rabiot as his replacement. He'd be on lower wages, have more impact in the team and bring vital experience that would be lost with Casemiro leaving.
31 Jul 2024 11:26:07
Shappy
Regards Mazraoui, I 100% feel the same. He's too similar to Dalot and is very injury-prone. It's an absolute no from me.
Personally, I'd like United to try the cheeky and go for Arnau Martinez at Girona who, despite being at a club under the City umbrella, has only a year left on his contract which has a bargain release clause of £17.5m.
I'd be gutted if we replaced Wan-Bissaka who, despite his weaknesses, is a hard-working player, with a player who will be injured regularly.
31 Jul 2024 13:39:36
Ork, it mazraoui stays fit, he is a very good player. that's the point too, being similar to dalot so when he plays, he slots into the system with ease.
AWB is not capable enough. One v one, probably no one better but he is so bad positionally speaking, he ends up sliding and make last ditch tackles way too often.
I want to see a more modern day full back in there who compliments the team more and can cover both left and right. Mazraoui ticks those boxes. I'm only guessing that the club have weighed up the pros and cons and believe that he is worth the risk. Plus, if he stays fit, we have a player.
31 Jul 2024 13:49:36
shappy
We are not selling mc for 15 or 17 mill. its a joke of fee to accept looking at what some players are going for and his wages are never an issue either. If he goes it will be for much higher than that and atm it seems we don't have an offer that matches our valuation.
Hannibal and Pellistri makes sense and both i suspect will go for their own development as both contribute very little and need to go play elsewhere and not going to make it at United.
31 Jul 2024 13:49:52
Ork, the fact that Mazraoui is similar to Dalot is a benefit in my opinion. If you want to see a consistent style, played to a high level then you can't have back up players who have a completely different skill set to your first choice option.
It means the team has to change the shape and tactics due to one injury or suspension.
If that is the case in 2 or 3 different positions and you have injuries in those positions the team changes beyond all recognition.
In terms of style Mazraoui is a very good fit, and if he's available for the prices being quoted then he also ticks the affordable box, he is also good enough.
The issue is that despite being a very good player who is a good stylistic fit, the reason he is available for a reasonable price is due to his pretty horrific injury record.
We have form for buying Bayern Munich players who turn out to be always injured (Hargreaves, Schweinsteiger) . Personally I'd like to avoid the hat-trick.
There are several other potential options out there, Dumfries and Kadioglu for example, along with Martinez that you point out.
All have plus points and areas of concern. I just don't think given the injury issues we had last season that we should be signing any player who has a dodgy injury record.
31 Jul 2024 13:59:23
The fact Mazraoui can cover both flanks is surely by far and away the biggest draw and elevates him above other RB alternatives, in my opinion. There'll be games where he replaces Dalot on the right but I suspect often they'll both play on either side.
31 Jul 2024 16:50:17
Not if he's crap on both sides.
31 Jul 2024 17:42:23
He's far from crap tony.
31 Jul 2024 19:52:03
Friend of mine saying the kid Bournemouth just signed Dean Huijsen is a real special talent and predicts that all the big clubs will be fighting for him next year. Reckons he is the best footballing CB he has ever seen, lad is 6'5".
Friends brother works in Southampton academy says they have known about him for a few years now and expect him to go right to the top.
04 Aug 2024 09:18:21
Bournemouth have made some really good signings recently, Kerkez at LB looks like he could become a top class player. They'll make a very healthy profit on him in a year or twos time.