Tag: Football

Image Credits: YouTube – Fabrizio Romano

Manchester United’s transfer season has been extremely up and down, with much more to be done before the window ends.

The Red Devils have made two major signing in the form of striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and centre-back Leny Yoro from LOSC Lille. Whilst Zirkzee is yet to make his debut for the club, Yoro has made a handful of appearances in the pre-season friendlies which has resulted now in injury.

The French defender was taken off early doors in the opening USA tour match against Arsenal and has since been announced he’s unlikely to play again before January.

With Rasmus Hojlund also out injured now, missing the start of the Premier League season, both of these injuries are going to need even more transfers in to cover the gaps.

Meanwhile on the outgoings side of transfer side, of the seven players initially highlighted as priority sales this summer, only Mason Greenwood has left the club moving to Marseille.

United have also invested a considerable amount of time pursuing deals which as still yet to reap rewards, with Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and PSG’s Manuel Ugarte having received a lot of attention and effort from United with both agreeing personal terms. In both instances, the Premier League club is not happy to meet the asking price from Bayern or PSG, causing the deals to stall.

Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has made his thoughts known on the signings that United need to complete before the end of deadline day.

Romano gives his thoughts on United’s much needed signings

Fabrizio Romano has taken to his YouTube channel to comment on the remaining three weeks of the transfer window and what United need to complete on.

The journalist commented that Manchester United want to bring in at least one centre back, one right-back, and maybe one left-back if needed. The club should also do something in midfield.

So, if United were to go ahead with each of these positions, who are the current front runners to fill in these positions?

Centre-back – Matthijs de Ligt

The favourite target to fill this position has to be Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt.

The deal for the Dutchman has significantly stalled over the recent weeks, with a reunion between the defender and Erik ten Hag wanted by both men.

Whilst in recent days it looked as though Bayern were going to sign Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen to replace de Ligt, this no longer appears to be on the cards. However, it’s still understood that de Ligt wants a move to Old Trafford and Romano has commented that de Ligt is still a priority for United.

Right-back – Noussair Mazraoui

Another one of United’s priority targets is Noussair Mazraoui again from Bayern Munich.

Over recent weeks United have submitted a double offer for the right-back and de Ligt, however this was rejected by the Bundesliga club.

It’s understood that United are just waiting to sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka in order to create space and generate the funds to sign Mazraoui, however West Ham appear to be pulling away from the deal, looking at other alternatives.

Again, much like with de Ligt, Romano has confirmed that United see Mazraoui as a priority for this summer.

Left-back – Ferdi Kadioglu

United have been looking at Kadioglu for some time now having already offered €25 million for the left-back. This offer was rejected with Fenerbahce looking for €35 million for their defender, with new manager Jose Mourinho not wanting to sell the Turkish star.

Despite the setback, it’s recently been reported that United have continued to keep tabs on the defender and have recently met with his representatives.

The purpose of the meet was to understand the personal terms that Kadioglu would want to sign to if an agreement with Fenerbahce can be reached.

Midfield – Manuel Ugarte, Sander Berge, Youssouf Fofana

Now we have three potential options for their midfield signing this summer.

Whilst Ugarte has been the top target and a priority of ten Hag’s side, the extent of the stalling of this deal means it’s anyone’s guess if it will make it across the line.

United and PSG were set to meet to discuss the potential transfers of Ugarte and Jadon Sancho. However following this it was reported that United were abandoning the Ugarte deal, with the Sancho one still going ahead.

Since this, it has been confirmed though that United are in fact still in contact with the French club trying to agree a deal for the Uruguay international.

Working proactively though, so they don’t miss out elsewhere, United have also begun focusing on Burnley’s Sander Berge and have renewed interest in AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.

The Red Devils have approached the representatives of Berge, with the midfielder wanting to move to Old Trafford.

Burnley are looking for £30 million for the Norwegian international, however at the moment United are looking at offering £20 million, so some negotiations will be needed to finalise a deal between the clubs.

Finally we have Fofana.

Until recently it was understood that Fofana to AC Milan was as good as done, with the Italian club leading the race for his signature. However, the disparity between the two clubs’ valuations have given enough stalling room for United to re-enter the ace once more.

The Red Devils have now been in contact with Monaco, with a “deal to be done” this summer adding a glimmer of hope for a United move.

Whether any or all of these deals will get across the line is unknown right now, however Romano predicts a very busy week ahead for the Red Devils.

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Tomorrow, 10th August sees the Manchester clubs face off for the FA Community Shield. Pep Guardiola booked City’s ticket to the final by winning the Premier League last season, with United winning the FA Cup against the citizens to book in the rematch between the squads.

United’s pre-season getting them ready for the match up has been a bit of a roller coaster. The Red Devils set off Stateside for their tour, then two loses, a win and seven injuries later and we’re bracing for the Community Shield.

Erik ten Hag’s men unfortunately lost to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool whilst getting a victory over Real Betis.

However, the real concern has been with the extensive and important injuries sustained.

New signing Leny Yoro has already been ruled out right the way through to the end of October, with Rasmus Hojlund out until late September, with both men taken off against Arsenal.

In the next game against Real Betis, Antony and Marcus Rashford were taken off as well. Both men appear to be ok though with Antony coming back on against Liverpool, and Rashford appearing to be moving ok on it in training.

The final game against Liverpool saw Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Will Fish all taken off, adding to United’s injury list.

Now, City manager Pep Guardiola has commented on his squad, with five players ruled out of tomorrow’s game.

Pep Guardiola announces his five missing men

Guardiola spoke to Beanyman Sports during a press conference, announcing some players who will be missing in the Community Shield final.

Speaking to the press, about the players who competed in the final of Euro 2024, the Spanish manager said: “We try to give them the best rest possible. As much (rest) as possible. We would like to give them more time but we gave them a lot,”

He added: “The England players and Rodri will come back next week.”

With this in mind, City will be without Rodri, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden.

The other star that City will not be able to field is striker Julian Alvarez.

The Argentina international is all set on a £80 million move to Atletico Madrid following his extremely busy summer representing Argentina in both the Copa America and the Olympics.

Speaking of his time working with Alvarez, Guardiola said: “It was a joy to work with him,”

He continued: “I learnt a lot from him and hopefully he can find what he was looking for.

“He believes his period here must be over so, okay, both clubs (City and Atletico) arrive to an agreement.”

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You wait for one bus and then several come along all at once.

For a number of years, the quality of Manchester United’s academy to regularly produce players for the first team had been questioned.

Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay have made it through the ranks, but the names are few and far between.

When you look at the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Southampton and Brighton, many clubs have been streets ahead of United when it comes to producing home grown talent.

That could all be about to change.

Following a breakthrough season for Kobbie Mainoo last campaign, this new season seems to indicate that more youngsters are set to breakthrough to the senior side.

Two such names are set to play in the Community Shield this weekend.

Harry Amass is expected to start the game, while Toby Collyer is set to make his debut at some point in the match also.

When you have talented players coming through the ranks, it’s important to tie them down as well.

Ethan Ennis, a promising midfielder, has already commented on his new deal at the club.

And now it seems that another talent is to tie himself to the club for a longer period as well.

Fabrizio Romano has tweeted the Manchester United under-21 captain is set to sign a new three-year contract at the club.

Sonny Aljofree has an agreement to stay at the club until 2027.

The talented centre-back is in the final stages of tying up the deal.

Aljofree spent time on loan at Altrincham Town this past season, but hasn’t made a senior start for his parent club just yet.

With United experiencing a defensive crisis at the moment, it will be interesting to see if the club green light another loan move or if they’ll keep him around and give him an opportunity in the senior side.

Still only 19, Sonny Aljofree has a long time to go in his career. Here’s hoping that it will be a successful one at Old Trafford.

Excl: Manchester United U21 captain Sonny Aljofree set to sign new deal at the club.

Agreement in place over deal valid until June 2027, three year contract.

Talks at final stages for the talented centre back. pic.twitter.com/vQe8nAY9yg

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 9, 2024

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Manchester United are set to feature a sponsor on the back of their shirts during competitive matches for the first time in the club’s history this season, as reported by The Athletic.

This sponsorship will be prominently visible during Saturday’s Community Shield match against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, with a Microsoft product taking center stage.

However, this new addition will reportedly not be seen in Premier League or UEFA Europa League fixtures throughout the season.

Instead, the sponsor will only appear on United’s jerseys during domestic cup competitions such as the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, as well as in Women’s Super League (WSL) matches, as per The Athletic.

According to the report, this move is part of a broader sponsorship strategy with Snapdragon, a subsidiary of the American technology firm Qualcomm.

Snapdragon’s three-year agreement to sponsor the front of United’s jerseys came into effect at the start of the current season and is valued at $75 million per year.

This sponsorship covers United’s men’s and women’s teams, along with the club’s academy kits.

Snapdragon’s deal with Manchester United reportedly includes a two-year extension option, which is expected to be activated following meetings between Snapdragon’s executives and United’s new chief executive, Omar Berrada, in San Diego this summer.

This meeting coincided with United’s match against Real Betis at the Snapdragon Stadium. If the extension is triggered, Snapdragon’s investment in United will total $375 million over a five-year period, the report reveals.

As part of Qualcomm’s sponsorship package, the company gained the rights to promote the hardware powered by Snapdragon processors, as well as other brands that collaborate with Snapdragon.

For the 2024-25 season, the first brand chosen to feature on the back of United’s shirt is Microsoft CoPilot+ PCs, a computer product powered by Snapdragon technology.

The logo will be positioned beneath the squad numbers and will also be visible in Women’s Super League matches, academy games, and United’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures.

While Microsoft’s logo will be showcased, it’s important to note that Microsoft itself will not become an official partner of Manchester United through this agreement, nor will it acquire any commercial rights from the club.

The decision to promote Microsoft CoPilot+ PCs was made by Qualcomm, emphasizing how football clubs are seeking innovative ways to add value for their key sponsors.

In this instance, it allows Qualcomm to strengthen its partnerships with brands like Microsoft.

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Manchester United, after securing the €62 million signing of Leny Yoro from Lille earlier in the transfer window, find themselves in a precarious position as they contend with the young defender’s long-term injury.

Yoro, who was expected to be a key part of Erik ten Hag’s plans, will be sidelined for over three months, forcing United to reconsider their defensive options as the new season looms.

In response to Yoro’s injury, United are now more keen than ever to bring in another centre-back to bolster their defensive line.

Erik ten Hag has identified Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt as a prime target, but negotiations have hit a snag.

Bayern Munich remains firm on their €50 million asking price, a figure United are reluctant to meet at this stage of the transfer window.

As United’s pursuit of de Ligt stalls, the club is exploring other potential signings to address their defensive needs.

One name that has emerged as a serious option for a while is Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

Despite Everton’s steep valuation of the young defender, United have not given up hope of securing his services.

According to the latest reports relayed by centredevils, citing The Sun, United are preparing to launch a fresh bid for Branthwaite as they seek to strengthen their backline.

United initiate contact with free agent, Mario Hermoso

In addition to Branthwaite, another potential solution has surfaced in the form of Mario Hermoso.

The former Atletico Madrid defender, who is available on a free transfer this summer, has reportedly caught the attention of Manchester United.

According to Spanish outlet El Sevillista, the Red Devils have initiated contact with Hermoso’s representatives to explore the possibility of a deal.

The report states negotiations between United and Hermoso’s camp are in the early stages, with both parties assessing the feasibility of a potential move.

The 29-year-old left Atletico Madrid at the end of last season after his contract expired and is currently seeking a three-year deal worth €6 million per season, as per the report.

Mario Hermoso has attracted interest from other clubs, but United’s involvement could see him make a return to the Premier League.

As Manchester United navigate the complexities of the transfer market, the club remains determined to secure the right defensive reinforcements before the window closes.

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Leny Yoro moved to Manchester United expecting to cement himself as the number one central defender this season.

Following Raphael Varane’s departure from the club, the French defender was seen as the natural replacement for his fellow countryman.

However, an injury suffered against Arsenal in pre-season has scuppered those plans.

It was initially believed that Yoro would be out for 3 months.

In more bad news, it seems that Leny Yoro will be out for even longer than the club originally suspected.

According to The Sun, Yoro is not expected to play again in this calendar year.

That means that the earliest he’d return is the new year.

If he returned in January, that would mean over 4 months that he’d be out of action.

This news will be a major blow for manager Erik ten Hag as well as the player himself.

With a number of other defenders also out of action right now, this may accelerate plans to bring in more defensive cover soon rather than later.

For now, it seems that Leny Yoro has a long way to go to recover and rehab from his injury.

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Manchester United confirm defenders Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are injury concerns for Saturday’s Community Shield match against Manchester City.

Both Maguire, 31, and Lindelof, 30, joined United’s pre-season tour in the United States but had limited involvement.

Harry Maguire has been recuperating from a calf injury that kept him out of England’s European Championship squad, while Lindelof has been nursing a minor knock.

Maguire featured for one half in the games against Real Betis and Arsenal but did not play in the defeat to Liverpool.

Lindelof also played one half in the matches against Betis and Liverpool. United have stated that both players are “doubts for Saturday’s game against City,” although Erik ten Hag is anticipated to provide an update during his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

Reflecting on his recent struggles, Maguire described missing out on United’s FA Cup victory against City in May and England’s run to the European Championship final as “the toughest moment of my career.”

Ten Hag’s squad heads into this weekend’s fixture at Wembley Stadium following a mixed pre-season, winning two out of their five pre-season matches and losing three.

Strengthening the defense has been a priority for United this summer. The club secured the signing of Leny Yoro from Lille for a fee potentially rising to €70 million.

However, a foot injury sustained against Arsenal has sidelined Yoro for up to three months.

The Athletic also reported that United made an initial double offer to Bayern Munich for defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, which was turned down. Despite the rejection, negotiations are still ongoing.

Maguire and Lindelof’s availability remains uncertain, and their potential absence could be a significant blow for United in their bid to secure the Community Shield.

United fans will be hoping for positive news from Ten Hag’s forthcoming update, as the team looks to build momentum ahead of the new season.

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Manchester United are still working on a number of deals to strengthen their side cross the pitch.

The Red Devils are still trying to secure the Bayern Munich defensive duo of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui with a double bid being recently rejected.

In midfield, following the cooling down of a pursuit for PSG’s Manuel Ugarte, United are now looking to Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, Youssof Fofana of AS Monaco and Burnley’s Sander Berge.

In attack, United are reportedly eyeing up a move for Brentford’s Ivan Toney after the stricken saw his price tag fall by £20 million.

With only Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee signed this summer and Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund now out through injury, United’s efforts in the transfer market need to start getting some results.

Now, The Red Devils are reportedly on the brink of signing a new goalkeeper too.

United’s new goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk

Reports from Polish publication WP SportoweFakty claim that young Polish goalkeeper, Hubert Graczyk, is set to move to Old Trafford.

Graczyk is a product of the Arsenal youth academy and was released by the London-based club at the start of July. Since then, the 21-year-old has been without a club, hoping for someone come knocking to start his senior career.

Whilst Graczyk began his footballing journey with Everton’s juniors, he moved to Arsenal at the age of 16 in 2019. There he played his way through each of the youth category, into the Arsenal reserves and also got himself a loan spell to Slough.

Although Graczyk was born in Skwierzyna, Poland, the 21-year-old has already represented England at various youth levels. However the goalkeeper has now decided to represent the Polish national team instead, waiting on his first senior call up.

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Manchester United face a challenging encounter against Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley this weekend, with up to four key defenders potentially sidelined.

Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Luke Shaw are all doubts for the match, although Lisandro Martinez is expected to participate after returning to training earlier this week.

Maguire was absent from United’s final pre-season match against Liverpool last weekend, while Lindelof was substituted at half-time during the defeat as a precautionary measure.

Wan-Bissaka was taken off in the closing minutes of the friendly, and Shaw has only recently resumed training following his participation in the European Championship.

In addition to these four players, it was previously confirmed that Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund will be sidelined for three months and six weeks, respectively. This brings the total to six players who will be unavailable for the Community Shield clash against Manchester City.

In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, manager Erik Ten Hag provided an update on the squad’s fitness: “Harry Maguire missed the game, was a precaution but is still a question mark for Saturday, so we have training, we have to see whether he is fit enough or not to be available.”

He further elaborated: “Victor played but also he’s a question mark and also Azza [Wan-Bissaka] and Luke Shaw are both question marks, we have to assess them tomorrow. We think about Licha to be involved in the game.”

These uncertainties may lead to a makeshift United side on Saturday afternoon, with Ten Hag carefully managing the return of players who participated in international tournaments over the summer.

Ten Hag emphasised that the return of these players would be evaluated individually: “That is individual based, everyone has a different background, we put them on off-season programmes but they have different starts while we were in USA, we will assess them, make a decision whether they start, come from the bench or whether they don’t play.”

Currently, United have only three fit senior defenders: Martinez, Jonny Evans, and Diogo Dalot. As a result, Harry Amass might be called upon to start at left-back.

With the significant defensive doubts, Ten Hag faces a tricky decision in assembling a competitive lineup for the Community Shield, underscoring the challenges of managing players’ fitness in the aftermath of a busy summer of international football.

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Tying a player down to a new contract shows trust in the club in that player’s ability and potential.

And Manchester United have shown that they’re not just handing contracts out left, right and centre any longer.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire are just some of the players going into the final year of their contracts.

Typically, the club would have extended their deals.

It seems that’s no longer the case.

Only those who are deemed good enough for the club are getting renewed deals.

One of the players who has signed a new contract is Ethan Ennis.

The 19-year-old Runcorn born lad has officially put pen to paper on a two year deal to stay at Old Trafford.

Ennis used to play for arch-rivals Liverpool, but moved to Manchester United in 2019.

He made headlines at the time for becoming the first player in 57 years to make a direct switch from Liverpool to United.

And now the youngster has shared some comments on his new deal.

Sharing a picture on his Instagram page, Ennis has written a message of appreciation.

“Proud feeling for me and my family to sign a new deal at Manchester United,” Ennis writes.

“Looking forward to the season ahead. The hard work continues!”

Fellow United youngster Ethan Wheatley and Jack Fletcher have commented to congratulate the youngster on his deal.

So it seems that MUFC fans should expect to see and hear more about Ethan Ennis in the not-so-distant future.

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