So we're at an impasse with PSG over Ugarte, who will not by himself fix our midfield issues but as far as a defensive midfield role is concerned he's ticking almost all the boxes and he's not sloppy with his passing either, the drawbacks are aerial ability and passing range. There's been absolutely nothing on Zubimendi for a while and that seemed quite unlikely anyway, if Arsenal failed to entice him with a PL challenging side and playing in the CL, it's a big ask to get him on board. Neves has unfortunately gone to PSG for much less than what every report out of Portugal kept stating, and we've seen recent reports of Barca wanting to offload astronomically high earner de Jong, with no serious links to United.
I admit that I was getting all muppety over the potential of Zubimendi and Ugarte both joining, and then only today I started dreaming for a while of getting Ugarte and de Jong, allowing some major tactical flexibility in midfield and upfront.
There have been tentative links to Sander Berge of the mighty Burnley, and we're stuck with past it players Eriksen (on 150K a week) and Casemiro (on 350K a week, maybe less with no CL) with the latter having two years left on his deal. McTominay can't play midfield, and we're somehow hoping Collyer is more than just an engine and physicality, but actual technical ability. Mejbri is completely out of the picture it seems and he's in his last year of contract so the club should do the only sensible thing for the club and player, and sell him with a sell-on and buy-back clauses included. Mount has looked sharp (albeit not in front of goal) this pre-season and wonderkid Mainoo is obviously back from a well deserved time off. Donny has finally gone, which was maybe the second best piece of business by the club this summer I guess.
Have we been linked with anyone else - are the Caf scouts dreaming of alternative targets yet? Oh, and Amrabat, he's obviously not the answer, but I'd rather have him as a shield in front of the back four than Casemiro, which is a very very low bar.
I admit that I was getting all muppety over the potential of Zubimendi and Ugarte both joining, and then only today I started dreaming for a while of getting Ugarte and de Jong, allowing some major tactical flexibility in midfield and upfront.
There have been tentative links to Sander Berge of the mighty Burnley, and we're stuck with past it players Eriksen (on 150K a week) and Casemiro (on 350K a week, maybe less with no CL) with the latter having two years left on his deal. McTominay can't play midfield, and we're somehow hoping Collyer is more than just an engine and physicality, but actual technical ability. Mejbri is completely out of the picture it seems and he's in his last year of contract so the club should do the only sensible thing for the club and player, and sell him with a sell-on and buy-back clauses included. Mount has looked sharp (albeit not in front of goal) this pre-season and wonderkid Mainoo is obviously back from a well deserved time off. Donny has finally gone, which was maybe the second best piece of business by the club this summer I guess.
Have we been linked with anyone else - are the Caf scouts dreaming of alternative targets yet? Oh, and Amrabat, he's obviously not the answer, but I'd rather have him as a shield in front of the back four than Casemiro, which is a very very low bar.
