13 Aug 2024 17:26:55
Rumours going around that United are looking at De Jong. Again.
Could be made up by lazy journalists or his agent.
Not sure he's the player we need anymore. With my amateur perspective he seems like he would suite a role where Mainoo plays. Rather than someone to do the dirty work in midfield.
13 Aug 2024 18:32:48
I mean, he's fantastic IMO. It would allow us to control more games, higher rate of possession. The need for someone to do the 'dirty work' doesn't become a necessity if we had De Jong.
But I fear this rumour is the work of 'journalists' or maybe his agent just doing his job.
It would have to be a huge reduction in wages for FDJ to even consider us.
13 Aug 2024 18:49:38
If you believe everything that's written, we are making a bid for Fofana, Ugarte is back on, even Branthwaite and now this. That's about 150 to 200 mill whichever way you cut it. not realistic and did not even go into the striker and winger rumours being written. They do this every window.
FDJ already said he does not want to come and wants to stay at Barcelona and I doubt we will chase a player who does not want to come.
Personally would be happy if we get a proper cdm and shift some guys and bleed in a couple of more youngsters.
13 Aug 2024 18:59:51
His wages do look ridiculous. But I read the other day they are artificially high at the moment as Barcelona are paying him back money owed due to covid through his weekly wage. So not sure what his true weekly wage is.
Currently say online he’s on £617k base salary a week with another £332k a week in potential bonuses. That is Saudi level money!
If true, signing him would probably be impossible like last time as Barcelona would have to pay all that is owed.
13 Aug 2024 20:35:43
Angel I agree with that outlook. De Jong and Mainoo allows us to play a different way in midfield. The only problem would be if one of them is injured / suspended, but they’d be box office together when they play.
13 Aug 2024 21:33:59
If we could find a way to make it work I’d happily take De Jong. Barcelona supposedly want rid (or a new contract on reduced wages), so there’s definitely a deal there to be done.
Who knows. He may see the appeal in reuniting with all of his old Ajax buddies in Manchester.
13 Aug 2024 22:07:35
De Jong didn’t want to come when ETH wanted him. We should not want him now.
13 Aug 2024 23:13:37
FDJ isn't some magical cheat code. In some leagues, that kind of possession might be possible without a player doing the dirty work in midfield, but not in this league. Even City don't try it outside the odd game here and there.
Now it doesn't have to be the number 6 doing it, or just one player, but would people really be ok with Mainoo losing his place to someone like McTominey just to fit FDJ in?
Tactically, FDJ just isn't the right fit for us in that position. He's an excellent player, but I feel the role he d full for us is too close to what Mainoo does, and I'd much rather we got a suitable partner for Mainoo than someone who'll push Mainoo out of the starting lineup.
14 Aug 2024 00:35:32
Didn't Frenkie agree that a large portion of his wages could be deferred to help Barcelona out of their financial plight.
Any transfer would require this to be resolved as well as the fact that Barcelona are for many Dutch players the dream club.
14 Aug 2024 04:06:25
We are putting a squad together of players who will be great in a season or two. We are not looking for a star player looking for their last big deal before saudi.
14 Aug 2024 07:02:12
“Staying at Barca? Yes, I’m very happy in Barcelona with my family, for sure, " De Jong said. "Hansi Flick wants me to be key. I talked to him. It was good. "
14 Aug 2024 07:29:46
RM,
I'm with you, leave FdJ alone. We messed around during EtH first summer when FdJ wasn't interested in joining.
I'd much prefer to focus on negotiating a deal for Ugarte.
14 Aug 2024 08:14:07
Mad Hatter
Yes, I don’t think we should go for DeJong, he can stay where he is happy, we have had enough mercenaries. Let’s get someone who wants to play for us.
I haven’t seen Ugarte but if he is the one they have identified, get him and don’t go for fourth on the list as they have done before.
14 Aug 2024 09:26:04
I can't see the new people in charge at the club going for FdJ.
They've done some really good business so far and are making good, sensible and intelligent decisions.
I doubt they are the kind of people to waste time, energy and money chasing a player who turned the club down flat after the club had agreed a deal with his club previously.
The guy doesn't want to come to Manchester, he's made that painfully clear. At best he'd reluctantly join the club if Barcelona forced him out.
The new guys in charge have stayed they won't keep anyone here who doesn't want to be here and they will sell anyone who wants to leave.
So it wouldn't make any sense for them to then actively sign a player who doesn't really want to be here.
I'd put this rumour down to either lazy journalism or down the Barcelona trying to tempt offers from other clubs knowing that they either need to sell the player or get him to agree to a new deal on a much lower wage.
With the emergence of Mainoo I don't see a player of FdJ's profile as being a vital signing. Both of them are technically gifted press resistant, ball carrying midfielders. There have been whispers and rumours over the past couple of days that the club don't want to sign a defensive midfielder in the same mould as Collyer because they don't want to block his pathway into the team. If that is true then I don't see them signing a player in a similar mould to Mainoo as they would block his pathway also.
I think it's pretty clear that Ugarte is the top target, and given that PSG want to sell him, and the player wants to join United and his agent has even agreed a package with the club for him then I still fully expect this transfer to go ahead. It's just a matter of wrangling the price to an acceptable amount for both clubs.
Which is exactly what happened with MdL and Mazraoui, Bayern demanded a certain figure, United thought that was too high and wouldn't pay it. The clubs had a little dance, United cooled interest and explored other options and started to line up other deals, Bayern realised that they wouldn't get the fee they initially wanted, then when United came back to the table a compromise deal was sorted.
I expect something similar with PSG for Ugarte. United have gone away, explored deals for players like Berge, Fofana, Gomes and Danilo along with a few others most likely.
While PSG have probably spoken with other clubs about Ugarte and no doubt found that no one else is biting at the figures they are proposing.
PSG and United will now sit back down and negotiate a deal somewhere in the middle, both in terms of total fee, how much is dependent on meeting certain success criteria, and the payment schedule. Gut feeling says this deal will be agreed early next week, and completed before the Brighton game.
Which will give us a week to finalise any remaining out goings. Players like Lindelof, Hannibal, Pellistri and Eriksen I think are all certain to leave. While Sancho and McTominay look likely if deals can be arranged. I also wouldn't be stunned to see Maguire leave. With Yoro and MdL signing along with Martinez already a head of him it will be becoming clear to him that he is down the pecking order. Evans might even be ahead of him.
I think any more in comings after Ugarte will depend on who leaves. If McTominay goes then I'd expect a cheaper midfielder along the lines of Berge or Fofana to join. If Sancho leaves then I could see the club looking at another forward player, maybe that's why the club continues to be linked with Ivan Toney. While if Maguire decides to leave then the club might go back in for Branthwaite, especially if Everton are prepared to come down on the price maybe to bring in the money needed to starve off administration (which comes with a hefty points deduction, probably along with another one for PSR breaches, if they get two big points deductions that would make staying in the EPL very difficult for them this season) .
It could be a busy final couple of weeks, but with more outgoings than incomings. At least 4 more to leave, potentially as many as 7, with one more to join, possibly a couple more depending on who leaves.
{Ed002's Note - There is certainly remaining interest in de Jong.}
14 Aug 2024 10:11:35
I'd want FdJ all day long. He dictates and controls the tempo, is the heartbeat of the midfield. Not had that since Scholes.
I don't see it though. Not that anyone is truly privy to the financials but they do seem rather hefty, and not many players leave Barca.
Ugarte seems the more likely, which I do find bizarre as the two players are like chalk and cheese. Ugarte is a no-thrills ball winner there to protect the back four. We need both!
14 Aug 2024 12:33:27
To be honest Shappy, I didn't see the new people in charge going for De Ligt.