That explains part of it but you'd still expect a deal to be done, and it would be for a player you've identified and know you want. We're always going to get rinsed on the fee tbh whichever way we look at it. Also, we've now targetted Mane. Someone who hasnt agitated for a move. 13 days before the window closes which gives the impression they've decided on him now. Surely they had decided they wanted a pacey winger/forward earlier last season. Had we offered on him back at the beginning of July, I could well believe they had thought things through rather than it seeming now like an after thought. I honestly dont mean to sound negative but I cant help feeling it's the same thing, one transfer window after another for the last 3 years.
Turns out we have a net spend of just £8million this summer. Not that it particularly means anything. Obviously the Di Maria sale has skewed our figures but it does show there's plenty of money to spend. we can do better than Mane but if we were to go for someone in the Premier League, who's realistically available, he probably going to feature highly on most people's list. Anyone know of any other alternatives. Home or abroad? Muller - would be the ultimate signing in terms of statement. Possibly the least likely transfer in football though. Gotze - available for €40m but is he what we need? A number 10 who tbh, hasn't developed as well as hoped. Big game player mind but we do just fine in big games. Would he up for it away at some hell hole? Lewandowski - getting silly with all these Bayern stars but I am thinking of quality and keep getting drawn to them. A top drawer striker, the best in the world that we might be able to tempt. aguero is better but we ain't getting him. Issue here is, Rooney is going to be first choice and we are unlikely to play 2 strikers. Think he's actually too good. Couple to get us started, let's speculate!
It's hard to say we've not been organised this summer, at least we tried to be. Yes it's not gone to plan exactly but we did get some brilliant business done very early and that's already paid dividends when compared to the last 2 summers. With Mane, while not quite the star name we hoped for, we can in effect offer him far more than Saints ever will. That's no disrespect to them but we are a bigger club in every aspect. While Barcelona can mess us about and play games, Saints can't. There a figure that they simply won't be able to say no too. Whether we reach it or not is another story.
I'm not at all bothered Mane isnt a star name. But he does seem a spur of the moment target. He certainly isnt a backup transfer for Pedro. Don't forget Pedro wasnt planned, so the only conclusion is Mane was not on the radar otherwise they would have gone for him back in July.
Star names don't make champions. As a united fans we know this better than anyone. Mane would give us exactly what we need, pace and a goal threat. I can see why we would be interested but I would agree, I doubt he's planned. It could be that Schneiderlin has given him a good reference and the clubs decided that it's worth enquiring about. Mane would actually be very much an LVG signing. Not quite the superstar name but at an age where van gaal can mould him into a player he wants. Going after superstars was never really his MO but I can understand why it's been done. LVG likes players who can listen, work well as part of a team and know exactly what they have to do. Di Maria couldn't listen and was incapable of following instruction so was binned. Record transfer or not. Pedro would have been like Mane in that respect. so again, planned or not, I see the sense in why we pursued him.
If it's wide attacker who can finish with pace then my preferred option would be Marco Reus. Hardly likely to happen though.
Aye, another one who would fit the bill but as you say, unlikely. He's just signed a new deal. At least I think he has.
What does anyone know about Fillipe Anderson? Looking at a list of last seasons top 25 wingers, he is literally the only one I could say we wouldn't be pissing against a wall with. No idea who he is but it says Neymar is him pal and he scored 11 while assisting 9 last season. Also a nightmare for defenders. Anyone familiar?
Griezmann now being reported as our target. Interesting that Chelsea were interested in him before turning their attention back to Pedro. The telegraph also put Mane and Muller as targets, claiming all 3 are unlikely. Next up, the Express says we might want to sign Messi.
In all honestly I can let the Pedro fiasco go - he was always going to be surplus to requirements but was one of these quality players who you have to at least try for if ever they come on the transfer market. Missing out on the likes of Hummels and Otamendi really hisses me off as they were both available and we missed out for no other reason than we didn't press home on the deal quickly enough. Both were at the top of their game and were ideal players to fill obvious gaps in our squad. OK we have gone on in this window to resolve the midfield issue, but I can't believe we doidn't go for Otamendi - a class act and he has something of the Jaap Stam about him - just what we need at the moment
he is quality. But could he be another ADM: someone who's heart is in Paris and ends up in Lancashire
Thankfully hes a United fan. Seriously, look it up. Not that it mattees of course. Be a quality signing. Can play as a striker and a ten with very good numbers from both.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34002463 Manchester City have signed defender Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia on a five-year deal worth £32m. I Was he another United target?
Do you rate him? City already have Mangala and Kompany. Do you rate Stones btw? I haven't seen a lot of him but feel sure we could make do with Cahill Terry Zouma plus Iva can play CB
