If I had time I'd look this up, but yeah it happens all the time - the question is what has it meant before? Should we expect this to drag on or would they make that press brief and then go on to sign the player not long after?
Agreed, it's probably very pointless. If I was in charge I'd put up loads of rumours about us being close to signing some other right winger like Zaha just to make it look more plausible. It's so obvious we're desperate for Sancho and we'll pay the 120 million euros sooner or later.
I never said he could get it done in a week but I'm also mature enough to realise brokering the largest transfer deal the club has ever done in a post COVID market, with no idea of how it will clearly affect our finances yet takes a little bit of time. It's not as literal as popping down to the shops and buying a loaf of bread at the asking price as you're casually putting it. Your posts in this thread have been absolutely horrendous, you should have some time off from this transfer, it's obviously getting to you at this point if you've got to target abuse at the man who's getting the deal done...Glad to see you think Woodward can get anything done in week... takes him longer to tie his shoe laces. And also pleased you think you know Dortmund better than Dortmund know Dortmund. Are you Ed, by any chance?
️Well, they do have a clue, they're also aware that they're a pawn in the transfer saga. They'll be fully aware of the situation but what they post is always going to be something beneficial for United and in return they'll get the scoops when he signs
Which is what the perception of Woodward is. It doesn’t help when some of the noises from our past managers are negative in regards to him. Personally, I don’t think he’s that bad. I just don’t see the need for him to try to rectify that perception. He’s missed out on Bellingham and Haaland which were always going to be hard to secure but other than that I’d say he has improved.
I think it's hard to blame him for the failure to land some of those players, all he can really do is offer a salary that fits in the squad and negotiate a transfer fee. For the two you mentioned he did his job but they were sold on the Dortmund project. It's the job of the manager, scouts and agents to sell the club and culture to the players we want to sign. Haaland and Bellingham believed Dortmund was a better option for them, not because we wouldn't pay them silly money but for career progression.
The problem is we have history for blowing deals of this nature where we overplay our hand and are left with an egg on our face. We have tried this haggling thing before and it didn't work so it's difficult to see us succeeding when we are basically cornered, we have made it clear for nearly two years that we want him and him only.
He gets the abuse ultimately though. We could have a DoF and Woodward would still get abuse. He can’t win but he should know that and it’s part of the parcel of football. What makes you good is winning. Levy was a genius when spurs had Poch, now he’s back to being an idiot.
️They're being briefed on what to write but they know the inner workings of the transfer, look at Stone's story yesterday on the BBC, the last line was: "Although very unlikely, United are willing to walk away and focus on other targets if needed".
I think this is the current sticking point. United want add-ons, Dortmund want installments
I think our proposal is the final 20m is add-ons. Dortmund want it guaranteed.
And yet, here we are, seeing people suggesting we 'just pay up.'
It's no different to what Dortmund are doing. In fact, Dortmund are significantly more obvious in their machinations than we ever are. Zorc comes out with the 'hes not for sale' malarky every window. We see posturing over transfers with every club.
