Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

[groovyalbert]

Barca are pushing the Chelsea interest.

In other words they'd hoped we'd have forked up more for FDJ to cover what they're not willing to pay, and now they're hoping Chelsea will cover their own mismanagement/refusal to actually pay what FDJ is owed?

Seriously - I'm actually glad we're not caving in on this one, and don't think we've handled the saga badly in itself. The only frustration is not having moved sooner for the likes of Antony/other midfield options who've been hoovered up for next to nothing (Bissouma). Letting this drag on and not be more active is an absolute killer to our hopes for next season.

 

[Revaulx]

I’m not sure how it’s the Glazers’ fault if Frenkie prefers London to Manchester?

Loads of people are up in arms about the prospect of Old Trafford being rebuilt. How would they like it if the Glazers made United more attractive to glamour signings and their trophy WAGs by moving the club to Putney?

 

[AlexUTD]

Whoever this guy is, he is tier one to me.

Deffo

 

[Loony BoB]

Let's continue with extremely batshit crazy theories while we wait for actually useful information.

I reckon the agent isn't playing us, he's playing Barcelona. We're just going along for the ride and will back out at the last minute, de Jong just wants to get his wages in even faster. All the while, de Jong is secretly working on masterstroke deals for a few 30m younger players a la Malacia who are the next big thing.

...

Sigh.

I mean, it's not that I want to delude myself we're the best, nor is it that I want to convince myself de Jong is coming. I just want us to buy a midfielder and a right winger and perhaps a striker. I don't care if it's de Jong or someone else the manager believes in. Honestly, I always prefer buying up and coming rather than established players.

 

[TheReligion]

I don't get the bullshit that Barca has heightened talks with Chelsea as they expected the deal to be done by now.

We have done our part and agreed a fee. Personal terms won't be an issue. It's Barca and their stupid deferred wages is the reason for the hold up.

Possibly they have realised United won’t budge on paying the wage so are seeing what Chelsea will do?

 

[OrcaFat]

Because our manager is clearly telling his bosses that he does want to come.

This entire chase is on the manager.
It’s also the reason people like Dawson are reporting that United are still confident because the manager is clearly still confident.

Maybe ETH has been told “maybe” by FDJ. And maybe ETH has told the board “maybe”. Maybe this whole chase isn’t on anyone. As for being confident, that counts for roughly piss all.

 

[Berbaclass]

 

[RkkMan]

Last sentence

 

[Berbaclass]

 

[mu4c_20le]

This has to be the most complex transfer in the history of the sport.

 

[croadyman]

Usually a sure sign of being in for a player

 

[Berbaclass]

Usually a sure sign of being in for a player

Yeah

 

[pseudo_canadian]

This has to be the most complex transfer in the history of the sport.

I would say the most tedious.

 

[Loony BoB]

feck I love it whenever a manger says this. Ours or others, it's just good etiquette. Even if I don't like a manager of if they belong to a rival team I'll still give them serious respect whenever it's said.

 

[croadyman]

Last sentence

Bloody hell can see Law getting involved now, well Utd certainly can't just wait it out until Sept 1 anymore. They either take some action or risk losing him to a PL rival.

 

[Brownie85]

Usually a sure sign of being in for a player

We know we're in for him, we just don't know where we stand at the moment. I truly believe that we're going to go back with an offer to cover some of, if not all of the wages

 

[Wilt]

This has to be the most complex transfer in the history of the sport.

It’s embarassing …any other club going through this and we’d be laughing our bollocks off.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

And in his mind Ten Hag thought “….yet”

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Reminds me of what Ole used to say. I'm not implying anything before anyone comes for my head

 

[SATA]

Chelsea have only signed Sterling so far and soon the Brighton leftback yes?

 

[Berbaclass]

Bloody hell can see Law getting involved now, well Utd certainly can't just wait it out until Sept 1 anymore. They either take some action or risk losing him to a PL rival.

Very little information in that article though.

 

[Plant0x84]

Usually a sure sign of being in for a player

I don’t think that’s a secret is it?!

 

[Berbaclass]

Chelsea have only signed Sterling so far and soon the Brighton leftback yes?

Koulibally

 

[Castia]

I’m not sure how it’s the Glazers’ fault if Frenkie prefers London to Manchester?

Loads of people are up in arms about the prospect of Old Trafford being rebuilt. How would they like it if the Glazers made United more attractive to glamour signings and their trophy WAGs by moving the club to Putney?

It wouldn’t have mattered 2 months ago. It’s the fact we’ve chased him all summer and seeing how clueless we are I doubt we have a plan b to fall back on.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Maybe ETH has been told “maybe” by FDJ. And maybe ETH has told the board “maybe”. Maybe this whole chase isn’t on anyone. As for being confident, that counts for roughly piss all.

If the manager has sent his bosses on a three-month wild goose chase & even held off other actions in the transfer market until a few days before the season begins on a maybe then he is stark raving mental and the worries me big time.
To go this long, this far, this late, the manager better have had something more than a fecking maybe.

 

[Ole's screen]

Might be that despite us having his old coach here, he simply sees Chelsea to be a safer bet. They're in a better situation compared to us, already an established team with a winning (not taking anything away from ETH) coach that's competing on all levels, whilst on the other side were just getting started from the scratch (again...) and there's no telling how things will turn out.

Or maybe he doesn’t rate ETH as that good a manager as people here would like to believe?

 

[VP89]

Was there a presser today?

 

[BenitoSTARR]

I don’t think that’s a secret is it?!

Wait we are in for De Jong?

 

[Offside]

Delaney is just such a bullshitter. Annoys me every time.

 

[saik]

It’s embarassing …any other club going through this and we’d be laughing our bollocks off.

Spoiler

 

[SATA]

Koulibally

Oh yes i forgotten about him and potentially 50M for the Brighton leftback. Do they have 80M for Frenkie?

 

[Charlie Foley]

Spoiler

Thanks for specifying which one is Bart

 

[Woodzy]

Koulibally

Yep. And they have more pressing areas other than midfield which makes me think at 80m De Jong won’t be their priority.

Saying that I do think they are gonna be making a statement with their spending this summer despite how late in the window we are.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Or maybe he doesn’t rate ETH as that good a manager as people here would like to believe?

He's the only amanager who got the best out of him though

 

[Brophs]

Thanks for specifying which one is Bart

I thought it was Bort for a second.

 

[Loony BoB]

Thanks for specifying which one is Bart

idk I feel like they could have put red circles around both Bart and EMBARASSING just to be extra sure.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Thanks for specifying which one is Bart

The Michael Owen of memes

 

[Raiden Shogun]

In other words they'd hoped we'd have forked up more for FDJ to cover what they're not willing to pay, and now they're hoping Chelsea will cover their own mismanagement/refusal to actually pay what FDJ is owed?

Seriously - I'm actually glad we're not caving in on this one, and don't think we've handled the saga badly in itself. The only frustration is not having moved sooner for the likes of Antony/other midfield options who've been hoovered up for next to nothing (Bissouma). Letting this drag on and not be more active is an absolute killer to our hopes for next season.

No, it's more likely Frenkie wanted to wait for a CL club hence not mentioning anything publicly to keep his options open before deciding. Barca now see an exit as Chelsea will pay the fee, have 2 players we want and can offer the player what he wants. I doubt Chelsea will pay his deferred wages, Barca if legally required, will have no choice.

 

[saik]

Thanks for specifying which one is Bart

You're welcome.

 

[simonhch]

What I don’t like is the passiveness of it all. If this is dragging on because of the deferred wages, it is only doing so because Barca know we are desperate to sign him and will drag this out to the end, hoping something will crack.

United need to force the issue by agreeing a fee for their alternative and make it clear they are moving on. Worse case Barca or De Jong don’t crack, he stays there or goes to another club, and we end up with our alternative. In that instance, I think it’s fairly safe to say that he was never coming. Best case, Barca or De Jong crack, the deal gets the green light, and we move ahead. Either way, we’ve relinquished any control in this deal through our persistent desperation. It’s not too late to wrestle that back.