Paul Robinson baffled by Marco Silva’s words on Yerry Mina

This article is part ofÂFootball FanCast’sÂPundit ViewÂseries, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former England international Paul Robinson says Marco Silva’s reveal on defender Yerry Mina’s injury was “strange” after he left the pitch against Watford.

What did he say?

Mina has been a mainstay in Silva’s Premier League side for the entire season, starting 9 out of 10 games. His injury against West Ham United forced him to miss the Brighton & Hove Albion fixture, but this was the first game he was absent in the top-flight so far.

The defender came back into the side in midweek but was once again replaced during the game through injury.

Robinson believes it was odd for Silva to suggest Mina was “fine” after the game, as he would not have known the extent of his injury.

He told Football Insider: “It was a strange one for the manager to say that he was fine at the full-time whistle. You don’t know the ins and outs, different players have different pain thresholds.

“I played with players who had to be 100 per cent – if you imagine a car or a machine, it has to be 100 per cent to go out, like an F1 car, to function. Me and other old-school players, 60, 70 per cent fit, have an injection in your foot if it’s sore and get out there and get on with it.

“A lot of players will not play unless they are spot on to play.”

Sign of naivety

It was a surprise to see Mina play against Watford. It was an EFL Cup fixture, meaning it was surely the perfect chance to rest him to ensure he was fit for the weekend.

Silva could have fielded Michael Keane alongside Mason Holgate, and it would not have been much of an issue. Now, Mina could be out for a prolonged period, when a rest midweek could have easily prevented this.

The Portuguese manager has since confirmed that there is a chance he will feature this weekend, but the fact his fitness is even in doubt underlines the naivety behind the decision to start him in midweek.

Another sign of naive management from an under-pressure leader.

Man Utd academy graduate: 3 realistic free agent signings for Birmingham

Birmingham City have already shown that money is no issue this summer, but with the free agent market still open after the transfer window closed, Football FanCast have looked into three possible free signings to further boost their squad after an impressive start to the campaign.

Birmingham see massive overhaul

Chris Davies and Birmingham are not messing around as they look to ensure instant promotion back to the Championship this season. After breaking the League One transfer record twice, they obliterated it on transfer deadline day to sign Jay Stansfield from Fulham in a deal worth £10m plus bonuses.

He was the last of 17 new faces at St Andrews over the summer, but that upheaval hasn't had a knock-on effect on their performances, with the Blues currently sitting third after four games with three wins and a draw, level on points with the two sides above them.

But despite their lavish spending, there are still a couple of holes in the squad that could do with plugging as they look to sustain their form across a gruelling 46 game season, and we have identified three potential cheap additions that could well make the difference.

Jack Cork

Burnley midfielder Jack Cork.

Birmingham already boast several midfielders in their squad, but the majority have much of their careers ahead of them, while there is a lack of experience in Davies' engine room.

That is an issue that Jack Cork would easily fix, with the now 35-year-old a free agent after being released by Burnley. Unlikely to be able to play twice a week all season given his age, the midfield man would bring plenty of experience at the top level, having represented the Clarets in both the Premier League and the Championship, totting up over 250 appearances for them in the process.

He drew high praise from Sean Dyche back during his time at Burnley, who revealed he thought Cork was a "very good player".

“I looked at him and thought, ‘Well if they don’t want him I certainly think he’s a very, very good player’. Corky wasn’t form related. I’ve always thought he was a very good player down many, many years", the now Everton boss explained.

Available for nothing, he could help guide Davies' young stars back into England's second tier.

Sheyi Ojo

Still just 27-years-old, Sheyi Ojo has not yet delivered on the talent promised during his time at Liverpool, and now finds himself without a club.

The right-winger was released by Cardiff City over the summer, but could be useful squad player for the Blues, with Scott Wright their only recognised right-winger as things stand.

Sheyi Ojo's Championship career

Appearances

145

Goals

12

Assists

14

Minutes per goal contribution

299

Ojo has made almost 150 Championship appearances during his career to date, alongside spells in Belgium and France, while he also spent a season playing Europa League football. Still in his prime, he could be a savvy pickup for a side in League One.

Brandon Williams

Former Norwich loanee Brandon Williams.

Perhaps something of a longshot, a move to sign former Manchester United academy star Brandon Williams would certainly be in line with Birmingham's recent audacious transfer policy, and could be a low-risk move with plenty of upside.

Comfortable playing at either left-back or right-back, the 24-year-old was released by the Red Devils this summer after failing to impress at either Ipswich Town or Norwich during loan spells.

During his time at Manchester United, he was highlighted for praise by manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, who dubbed him "brave as a lion".

"For me, Brandon was man of the match. He's been fantastic the few games he's played. The boy has no fear, he is as brave as a lion and he got us the win", he explained.

Now a free agent, a move to League One Birmingham could be the perfect place from which to relaunch his stalling career, though having played no lower than the Championship during his career to date it may be a difficult deal to complete.

Offer made: Man Utd want "world-class" £13m star who’d send Sancho packing

There are less than ten days to go until the transfer window slams shut, and while Manchester United have been busy this summer, there are still a few areas that could be addressed.

Erik ten Hag has already welcomed in the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co have yet to hand him a new winger.

Erik ten Hag

Fortunately for the Dutchman, that looks like it's about to change, as recent reports have touted a former European champion for a move to Old Trafford in the coming days, and his arrival could finally see Jadon Sancho's time at the club come to an end.

Manchester United transfer news

According to a recent report from Spanish newspaper Sport, United are interested in signing Juventus ace Federico Chiesa.

Federico Chiesa in Italy training

In fact, the report goes a step further than that, claiming that, alongside Chelsea, the Red Devils have already made an offer to the Italian international, who is widely reported to be surplus to requirements in Turin.

If Ratcliffe and Co push on with this deal, they could reportedly secure the winger's services for a fee as low as £13m, which could be a steal if he can get back to his best in England.

Juventus forward Federico Chiesa.

United might have to contend with more than just Chelsea to sign Chiesa, but given his raw talent and the low fee, he could be the perfect player to replace Sancho in the squad, even if he's just a stopgap until a superstar winger comes onto the market.

How Chiesa compares to Sancho

So, if United are to sign Chiesa for the cut-price fee being reported, he'd likely come in to play off the right, as while he's played on the left before, it's not his most played position, and he's just not going to displace Marcus Rashford, who has a lot to prove himself this year.

Therefore, one of his biggest rivals for game time could be Sancho, but how do the pair actually stack up to one another?

Well, when it comes to attacking players, one stat matters above all others: output. When we look at it over the last two seasons – as the United ace played half a campaign last year – there isn't much of a competition at all.

Appearances

33

41

Goals

4

7

Assists

6

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.30

0.24

Appearances

37

24

Goals

10

3

Assists

3

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

0.25

For example, in his 70 appearances for the Old Lady across the 22/23 and 23/24 campaigns, the "world-class" Genova-born ace, as described by journalist Zach Lowy, scored 14 goals and provided nine assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 3.04 games.

In contrast, the Englishman scored ten goals and provided six assists in 65 appearances, equating to an entirely mediocre average of a goal involvement once every 4.06 games.

It's not just about what's happening on the pitch, though, as the problems between the former Borussia Dortmund star and Ten Hag are well known at this point, and when you combine that off-field issue with his lacklustre form and the fact he's on a massive wage of £350k-per-week including bonuses, replacing him with Chiesa, even just for the short term, makes perfect sense.

Therefore, United should do what they can to bring the Italian wideman to Old Trafford this summer, as at his current price, he is a bargain and based on his form over the last two seasons, he would be more productive than the Englishman.

Forget Ugarte: Man Utd in contact over "engine" who'd be perfect for Mainoo

The hunt for a new midfield addition continues at Old Trafford…

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 20, 2024

Derby eye deadline move for "real handful" who has 3 goals against the Rams

Derby County are interested in signing a new forward before Friday’s 11 p.m. deadline who has scored three goals and never lost against the Rams, according to a new report.

The Rams have started life back in the Championship rather respectably, as they have secured one win in three games, and were perhaps unfortunate not to take something from Watford last weekend. The Rams have been busy this summer as manager Paul Warne hopes to have a squad that is good enough to remain in the second tier.

Derby could sign a new CF who'd be a "handful" next to Mendez-Laing

Derby County are looking to add even more firepower to their ranks this transfer window.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 15, 2024 Derby County transfer news

As stated, Derby and Warne have been very busy this summer, with the club bringing in 10 new players over the past few months. The club’s biggest arrival has been in the form of goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, who joined the club from Swedish side Djurgarden.

Jacob Widell Zetterstrom

Djurgarden

Ebou Adams

Cardiff

Kenzo Goudmijn

AZ Alkmaar

Ben Osborn

Sheff Utd

Corey Blackett-Taylor

Charlton

Kayden Jackson

Ipswich

Rohan Luthra

Cardiff

Jerry Yates (Loan)

Swansea

David Ozoh (Loan)

Crystal Palace

Tawanda Chirewa (Loan)

Wolves

It appears as though Derby are not stopping there however, as they still have their eye on a few players before the close of the window. It was reported earlier this month that the Rams were interested in signing Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison on loan.

Jebbison has only just joined the Cherries, but it appears that their plan is to send the striker out for more experience. However, the Rams do face stiff competition, with the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and many others also keen on signing the forward on loan.

Another player Derby have had their eye on in this transfer window is Leicester City goalkeeper Daniel Iversen. Warne has worked with the goalkeeper before during his time at Rotherham United, and despite them signing Zetterstrom, Derby were said to be still keen on signing Iversen.

However, this was reported back in July, and as of yet, there has been no suggestion that a deal could occur before tomorrow’s deadline. There is now a new name on Derby’s radar though, and he is a player who has a history against the club.

Derby eyeing deadline move for “real handful” striker

According to journalist Darren Witcoop, relayed by Derby County News, Derby are interested in signing Bolton Wanderers striker Victor Adeboyejo.

The 26-year-old has been with the Trotters since January 2023, after he joined the club from Burton Albion. Since joining the Lancashire side, Adeboyejo has scored 14 goals in 68 games in all competitions, with him netting once in three League One games this season.

The striker has a decent record when it comes to playing Derby – he has faced them five times in his career, winning three, drawing two and netting three goals against the Rams.

Witcoop says that Derby are definitely interested, and there is a “good chance” that the player leaves the League One side in what remains of this window. The journalist goes on to add that he thinks the striker is a “real handful” and would be a good addition for any Championship team.

Witcoop told talkSPORT 2: “There’s been interest this summer [in Adeboyejo]. I know that Plymouth were certainly interested in him. I know Oxford are big fans, Derby like him as well.

“I think there’s a good chance he’ll go this summer and he’s proven in League One that he can score goals and I think whether he can step up, we will soon see but he’s a real handful and I think it would be a good acquisition for a lot of teams in the Championship.”

Man United In The Race For "Dangerous" 24 y/o Defender

Manchester United are one of the clubs in the race for Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba, according to a report from 90min.

Which defenders are Man United signing?

As per Football Insider, Man United are set to pull out of the race for Napoli defender Kim Min-jae, amid growing interest from Bayern Munich, meaning Erik ten Hag may have to move on to other targets to bolster his backline.

The Red Devils "remain keen" on AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, who is reportedly set to be available for around €50m (£40m) this summer, while Juventus' Gleison Bremer is also an option following a scouting mission last season.

With Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly reportedly heading for the exit door, United may look at bringing in multiple new defenders this summer, and they have now emerged as potential suitors for Tapsoba – although there will be fierce competition.

According to 90min, Man United are in the race for the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back, though the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle United have also been informed about his situation.

Tottenham Hotspur are also progressing in talks with the 24-year-old and he would be willing to make the switch to north London, but there is still time for the Red Devils to hijack the move.

Who is Edmond Tapsoba?

The Burkina Faso international plays for Bayer Leverkusen at club level, joining the German side back in January 2020 after impressing the club's former sporting director, Rudi Voller, during his time with Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes.

Upon his arrival in the Bundesliga, Voller praised the centre-back for his defensive capabilities, while also adding that he is "dangerous" in front of goal and possesses "really big potential."

Hailed as "solid as a rock" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the 6 foot 4 colossus has certainly fulfilled some of that potential during his time in Germany, establishing himself as a key player for Leverkusen last season by making a total of 33 appearances in the Bundesliga.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba.

The former Guimaraes man averaged 1.1 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga last season, ranking him fourth in the squad. However, there are question marks about whether he would be a real upgrade to United's defence.

Despite his height, the centre-back is quite poor in the air, placing in just the 37th percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and he does not particularly impress on any defensive metric.

As such, Man United should perhaps avoid signing Tapsoba, as he is not yet at the level required for a club with aims of going far in the Champions League.

Leeds Could Sign "Terrific" £30k-p/w As Their Own Nick Pope

Leeds United seem set to add a new shot-stopper to their ranks, with a number of names touted to fill such a role…

What's the latest on Karl Darlow to Leeds United?

According to sources at Football League World, it is not just Rotherham United star Viktor Johansson who the 49ers have their eye on. With Illan Meslier seemingly heading for the exit door, finding their new No 1 has become a matter of priority – perhaps even more so than the head coach vacancy.

Fortunately for fans, this report details numerous options being considered, with Newcastle United's Karl Darlow someone who has been discussed by the hierarchy.

Given the immense success Nick Pope has enjoyed on Tyneside of late, the hope will be that his understudy can have a similarly revolutionary effect on the Whites' team, which has shipped goals for fun in recent years.

How good is Karl Darlow?

Just last term saw the West Yorkshire outfit concede 78 goals in the league, more than any other team. The season prior, 79 goals would soar into their net. Defensively inept does not even begin to describe the state of affairs at Elland Road, with a huge shift in mentality needed as much as the quality needs improving.

Meanwhile, Pope has been at the heart of a Magpies defence that recently conceded just 33 times, making them the joint-best defence in the division alongside champions Manchester City.

Nick Pope celebrates Newcastle United's Premier League victory over Brentford.

The English goalkeeper has overseen a meteoric rise from relegation with Burnley to Champions League qualification under Eddie Howe, and it is clear that the 49ers will be hoping that some of his quality will have rubbed off on his compatriot, Darlow.

After all, the 32-year-old did spend half a season with the hulking ace, before leaving on loan for the Championship. Across just 12 games at Hull City, he would remind everyone that he should not be forgotten, despite having had his spot stolen by Pope; he maintained a 7.08 average rating, buoyed by his 2.9 saves per game and five clean sheets, via Sofascore.

A 76% pass accuracy suggests he is capable with his feet, but similar to the 31-year-old, the priority remains mainly on goalkeeping rather than ball-playing. For the Toon Army, he too maintained 2.5 saves per game, yet his pass accuracy fell to 59%, via Sofascore.

The experience Darlow has earned in the top flight could be imperative in Leeds' speedy return there, too, as he has enjoyed three impressive stints during his time in Newcastle. Steve Bruce even sought to laud him for one such campaign, noting: "We've had to call on him a bit too much at times but there's no denying he's been terrific all season."

Should the 49ers neglect bolstering their defence, they could at least be safe in the knowledge that this £30k-per-week shot-stopper has a history of playing for the underdog and could thrive in a backline that is historically fragile.

Arsenal Could Sign Premier League "Monster" For £45m

Arsenal are reportedly interested in a Premier League whiz, as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad this summer.

The transfer window officially opened on Wednesday, with the Gunners providing a lot of talk in the ongoing saga regarding Declan Rice’s future.

The Englishman isn’t the only midfielder the north Londoners are chasing, if latest reports are to be believed.

What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia to Arsenal?

As reported by The Guardian writer Jacob Steinberg, Arsenal are interested in Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

The report suggests that the Gunners are ‘targeting’ the newly relegated ace with the belief that Arteta is wanting two midfielders this summer with Rice being the priority.

Despite suffering relegation to the Championship, Saints are expected to ask for £45m for the 19-year-old who only signed for the club last summer from Manchester City.

What could Romeo Lavia offer to Arsenal?

Arsenal fell just five points short of claiming their first league title since 2004 this season, with the squad’s lack of depth proving to be a damning weakness in the rear end of the campaign, as club legend Tony Adams explained.

Arteta will aim to challenge again next term, which he could do so should the Gunners add strengthening reinforcements to the side in the bid to close the gap on City.

Hailed as a “monster” by journalist Benjy Nurick, Lavia could be a valuable piece in completing the Spaniard's puzzle to Premier League stardom with strengths in areas critical to making Arsenal tick.

As per Sofascore, the teenager averaged 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League with an average win rate of 56% in his total duels, flexing his commanding influence defensively in the engine room.

martin-odegaard-arsenal

In being able to offer such protection to the defence, Arteta could sign the player as a significant upgrade to current options as well as a player that could excel in playing behind Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal’s captain was named the club’s player of the season for his contributions to 15 goals and seven assists in the dominant campaign, acting as his side’s key creator in the final third.

An area critical to allowing the Norwegian to impose his influence on a game is the protection and ball-playing ability of those behind him, which is something that the 24-year-old could be guaranteed in being teamed with Lavia.

Via FBref, the 19-year-old maintained a passing accuracy of 86.2% this season, making an average of 4.13 progressive passes per 90 to show his ability to distribute the ball tidily in midfield, making him an attractive asset to add behind Odegaard.

With all eyes on Rice, Arteta could take Arsenal to the next level in completing a double swoop for the two stars that shone brightly in the Premier League this season, only time will tell if the Spaniard can get the business over the line.

Chelsea Plotting Sensational £180m-Rated Double Swoop

Amid N'Golo Kante’s expected departure to the Saudi Arabian Super League, Chelsea have been linked with two Premier League superstar midfielders as the Blues look to strengthen in the middle of the park.

The west London club have been linked with both Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo and West Ham’s Declan Rice, per 90min.

Rice is valued in excess of £100m, while Brighton are expected to demand a £80m figure for their Ecuador international.

Chelsea transfer news – Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice

The midfielders are two of the most sought-after transfer targets of the summer with Arsenal also believed to be interested in them ahead of the window.

According to Tom Gott and Graeme Bailey, the Blues are well aware of interest in Caicedo and Rice elsewhere. Caicedo is a top target of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, while the Telegraph has also highlighted Rice as player of interest for the Premier League runners-up.

Ahead of Kante’s departure, Chelsea look set to sell midfielders Mateo Kovacic to champions Manchester City and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to Champions League semi-finalists AC Milan, while Chelsea declined to make the loan of Denis Zakaria from Juventus a permanent transfer.

Declan Rice of West Ham

Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are all reportedly interested in Rice, who lifted the Europa Conference League trophy on Wednesday night as West Ham captain in a dramatic 2-1 victory of Fiorentina.

Should Chelsea sign Moises Caicedo?

Caicedo could be an excellent option for Chelsea with Paris Saint-Germain set to beat them to the signature of Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

It has been reported this week that Chelsea has taken the lead in the race to sign Caicedo, moving slightly ahead of London rivals Arsenal.

Caicedo played a crucial role in Brighton’s success this season, playing in 37 of their 38 league games and featuring in 92% of the Seagulls Premier League minutes.

The Ecuador international who has 30 caps for his country, provided one assist and one goal for Brighton this campaign.

Can Chelsea sign Caicedo and Rice?

It may seem unlikely that Chelsea buy both Caicedo and Rice this summer, especially after spending a huge fee on the transfer of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica back in January.

However, Todd Boehly has shown his pockets are incredibly deep in his opening 12 months at Stamford Bridge.

Rice was asked about his future after West Ham’s victory in the Europa Conference Final but refused to be drawn into speculation about his future.

“There’s a lot of speculation going on about my future,” he said.

“There is interest from other clubs, but ultimately I’ve still got two years left at West Ham. I love this club. So, my focus is playing for West Ham, enjoying tonight and seeing what happens”.

Tottenham: Spurs Readying Salary Offer For "Top Class" Star

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension are readying a mammoth pay rise offer to tempt Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, according to journalist Wayne Veysey.

Who could Spurs sign this summer?

The Lilywhites, coming after they played their final Premier League game of 2022/2023 on Sunday, are now tasked with preparing sufficiently for next season – but there are currently a plethora of issues yet to be resolved.

Tottenham remain without a permanent manager and successor to Antonio Conte, despite the Italian parting company over two months ago, with former top target Arne Slot now staying at Feyenoord.

Spurs are also still without an out-and-out sporting director since Fabio Paratici was forced to resign earlier this year, even if talks have reportedly been held with candidates.

On top of all this, the north Londoners need to start laying the groundwork for transfer targets ahead of a looming summer window, with a new goalkeeper widely tipped to be on their agenda.

Long-term number one and club legend Hugo Lloris could well depart this year, with reports suggesting he has already received seismic offers from the Middle East.

Brentford's Raya is among the keepers who could replace Lloris, with reporter Veysey sharing an update on their links to Football Insider.

David-Raya

According to the journalist, Tottenham and Levy by extension are readying a "ready triple-your-money" offer to tempt with a move to N17.

Indeed, Spurs are apparently willing to table a salary proposal which will treble his current earnings under Thomas Frank, amounting to around £100,000-per-week.

Raya is expected to leave Brentford this summer and Frank faces a real battle to keep hold of his star shot-stopper, who has been shortlisted by Tottenham as a possible successor to Lloris.

Their recruitment staff have apparently followed the Spaniard all season, though Spurs may have to pay Brentford around £40 million for his services on top of their proposed wage increase.

Who is David Raya?

The 27-year-old was an ever-present between the sticks last season, featuring over more league minutes than any Brentford player and ranking among their top five best-performers per 90 (WhoScored).

Called a "top-class" player by Michael Owen on Premier League Productions, via HITC, Raya has also been praised by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for his excellent distribution.

Speaking on the former Blackburn star in 2021, after an encounter with Brentford, the Reds manager was effusive in his praise for Raya.

“The goalkeeper could have the shirt with No 10,” said Klopp.“He played a few incredible balls but it was the right thing to do against us today.”

Man Utd Ownership Battle Could Have Transfer Implications

Manchester United will 'fear' missing out on key targets this summer due to the ongoing battle for ownership at the club dragging on at Old Trafford, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving the ownership battle at Manchester United?

As per Sky Sports, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS remain the 'leading candidate' to gain control of Manchester United despite an 'inconclusive board meeting' that occurred last Thursday between the Glazer family and the Raine group alongside independent directors.

Ratcliffe's bid is said to be proposing assuming a majority stake in Manchester United that would see two of the Glazer family still involved with the club while his rival bidder, Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim, wants to buy the club outright with no external involvement.

ESPN reported earlier this month that there may be a delay in proceedings, which in turn may affect Erik Ten Hag's ability to conduct business in the initial part of the transfer window as the Dutchman eyes reinforcements to bolster his squad.

Ten Hag has indicated that the battle for ownership at Old Trafford won't have too much of a bearing on his recruitment plans, as per Sky Sports, stating: "I came in here [at the end of] last season and we talked about what can we do in the squad, what can we do in transfers. And last year, the club confirmed they can do. So, for me, I don't think anything changed and yeah, in this summer period we can do the same.

What has Ben Jacobs said about Manchester United's recruitment prospects?

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that there will be anxiety at Old Trafford over being able to secure important transfer targets if there is still complications in the ownership process once the window opens for business.

Jacobs told FFC: "It is really important to preface any Manchester United summer business in that context, that it isn't a routine window financially for Manchester United to navigate. I think that's been the frustration specifically with the recruitment team at Manchester United, that they've been operating with business as usual, trying to line up deals. Eventually, you can negotiate all you like, but if you get to the point where you're ready to complete a deal, somebody has to green light that and that either is going to be the Glazers, knowing they're going to stay or the Glazers knowing they're outgoing and maybe being reticent to spend or a new owner coming in. That first two or three weeks of the window is so crucial, because there's a range of players that obviously want to move quickly and early and have stability and walk in on day one of pre-season after a summer break. If the situation is resolved, with that kind of player looking for that kind of stability, should that player then have another option, Manchester United could find that they miss out on a certain target and I think that's always been the fear."

Who have Manchester United been linked with going into the summer?

Manchester United have been linked with several players as the forthcoming transfer window approaches as they look to build on a successful 2022/23 campaign that has yielded qualification for the Champions League.

Sky Sports report that Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane and West Ham United captain Declan Rice are all on a shortlist of potential targets at Old Trafford; however, it is unlikely that the Red Devils will sign all three players.

Out of the three, Mount looks to be the most realistic prospect at present to end up at the Premier League giants and is said to favour a move to Manchester United over other alternatives, according to journalist David Ornstein.

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, journalist Dean Jones has also suggested that Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is also on the radar for Ten Hag, though it will be interesting to see the direction the Red Devils go in when weighing up potential additions.

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