Matthijs De Ligt

Another Raiola player? People around here will love that.

I haven't really followed his development, I hear he's had a rough period of adaptation. Has he turned the corner? If he was available, which I don't believe he is, then that would be something worth pursuing but it would definitely not even be the second priority position for this club. With a possible Sancho transfer on the cards, De Ligt has to take a backseat.
 
Sayros said:
Another Raiola player? People around here will love that.

I haven't really followed his development, I hear he's had a rough period of adaptation. Has he turned the corner? If he was available, which I don't believe he is, then that would be something worth pursuing but it would definitely not even be the second priority position for this club. With a possible Sancho transfer on the cards, De Ligt has to take a backseat.
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Problem I have is that he's had a rough period of adaptation, in a league that is not known for its difficulty defending wise.

Smalling looks world class there ffs.

I hope that he lives up to his potential, but I dont think he will much like most of the Ajax crew that have left.
 
Maybe someone needs to tweet Romano or Stone about this one and see if either of them thinks there is anything to this story at all, certainly looks like a brief because there is so many different journalists talking about this in various papers tomorrow.
 
I feel like De Ligt is too slow to partner with Maguire. Obviously we've got Lindelof doing the job now so De Ligt is probably about the same speed as him, but I would think if we were going to go out and buy someone it would be someone with actual pace.

Maguire-De Ligt would be one of the most powerful centreback partnerships of all time though. Wouldn't have to worry about being physically dominated for a while :lol:
 
MadDogg said:
I feel like De Ligt is too slow to partner with Maguire. Obviously we've got Lindelof doing the job now so De Ligt is probably about the same speed as him, but I would think if we were going to go out and buy someone it would be someone with actual pace.

Maguire-De Ligt would be one of the most powerful centreback partnerships of all time though. Wouldn't have to worry about being physically dominated for a while :lol:
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Don't worry Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes would still find a way
 
RkkMan said:
The origin was actually Ogden and Chris Wheeler has reported it too, but I`m also a bit skeptical over how true the story is.
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Oh OK. Ogden is not the most reliable though to say the least.
I just can't see us bringing in another Raiola client, but if Juventus can't afford Pogba but are happy to trade players, then De Ligt and Ramsey in return would be best for both sides. I don't see Juventus giving up on him after 1 season. But they tend to prefer Italian defenders in Italy at the big clubs.
 
Don't see this happening. He's a very highly rated player and has already had a good taste of the biggest stages. Also, he seems to be quite an orthodox /clean defender. I'd prefer someone meaner and more brutal next to Maguire as I think he lacks a little in this department in addition to being slow.
 
AltiUn said:
Not to be too negative but can anyone really be arsed with another Raiola player? The second a half decent team shows interest in him we'll have the same circus all over again.
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Agreed. We cant complain about the hassle we are getting with Pogba but then want to sign De Ligt and risk the same issues a few years down the line. If we are out on Raiola players let's be out.
 
What's the deal with him suddenly being available? Is it Juventus pushing the idea as a possible way to attain Pogba or is it De Ligt and Raiola angling for a move now that paycuts are happening in Italy?

If it's the latter, it doesn't speak well of his leadership and commitment qualities. In general, the fact that he might be available so soon after making such a palaver about signing for Juve is a massive red flag for me. Along with the even bigger Raiola shaped flag already in place, we should avoid this transfer like the plague.
 
NoPace said:
Even with Ramsey's injury issues and age, we need a backup 10 so badly and could maybe keep him healthy and fresh and get a lot out of him as the main backup to Bruno and playing alongside him a fair amount too, though I'd just sign Grealish instead and pay for it by selling off Lingard and Pereira and getting the 20-30M from Juve instead of the Ramsey fee.

But yeah, even if we can do that and can then sign Sancho, a DM an LB that would be a great summer.

Martial-Greenwood
Sancho-Rashford-James
Bruno-Ramsey
Fred-DM-McTominay-Matic
Shaw-WanBissaka-LB-Dalot-Williams
Maguire-DeLigt-Lindelof-Bailly-Tuanzebe
DeGea-Romero

Honestly, unless we feck up this summer badly I'm optimistic about next year. Greenwood, Martial. James, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire and Fred have shown enough this year to feel good about them being in the 16-18 guys who play a ton list, and Bruno looks a star. Not a lot of duds on that list if we can sign the 3-5 guys we need.

But 2 for 1 swaps never happen. Also I assume the transfer market will be shaped by a few teams doing Monaco in 2017 or whenever style sell offs of their best players as a few millionaires look to raise 100-200M for other business quickly
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that would be a very strong squad and the onus would then shift back to the coaches to prove their mettle with such a squad
 
Perhaps it’s woodies way of firing back at all these rumours of Pogba to Juventus? Fine you can have him but it will cost you DeLigt in return
 
His agent is Raiola. Enough of a reason to not sign him. Even if we were interested and he was available, both scenarios I'm sure are untrue, he would begin agitating in a year or two for another move due to the scumbag. Best to stay away.
 
This is just the press being bored. No way are Juve selling him especially with their other aging CBs.
 
I wouldn't take a Raola's man at this point. The guy hates us. If Juventus want to do business then they pay us in full.
 
I would have loved him last summer but too many cons than pros that i can think of him right now.

1. Too similar to Maguire. Not the quickest and having 2 slow CB meant we could be exposed by a speed merchant.

2. His scumbag agent. If possible just try and avoid signing his players. He could initiated another move for his client within months after signing.

3. His agent

4. His agent

5. His agent
 
ricky-romeo said:
I would have loved him last summer but too many cons than pros that i can think of him right now.

1. Too similar to Maguire. Not the quickest and having 2 slow CB meant we could be exposed by a speed merchant.

2. His scumbag agent. If possible just try and avoid signing his players. He could initiated another move for his client within months after signing.

3. His agent

4. His agent

5. His agent
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We already have two ‘slow’ defenders. De Ligt is at least aerially dominant and not cowardly in duels.
 
I don't think theres a chance they sell after one season. Also doesn't strike me as the type to simply give up like that.
 
If you replace De Light with any other player's name in that article, the story would still make sense. It's the easiest thing to do to click bait.
 
Even if the story is 100% accurate, it still just amounts to us keeping an eye on him. So not much of a story really.
 
mu4c_20le said:
He isn't first choice and most likely won't be again once football resumes and that Turkish lad recovers from his knee injury. I don't really believe this either, but it's an interesting rumour.
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Yeah he was dropped around Christmas was he not, still with the ageing defenders they have, no way they would actively look to sell him unless finances, him saying he hates it or something drastic Occurs.

Most likely Journos need something to write and given a much sought after target last season has struggled this season only makes sense to bring up his name.
 
lsd said:
Are we ? He already rejected us and has shown little sign of wanting to fit in at Juventus
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Has he? Do you have direct quotes?

Pogba to me is more a disruptive figure, IF we are looking to get rid and no one wants him except for Juve then I'd take player plus cash deal
 
-Supreme- said:
Has he? Do you have direct quotes?

Pogba to me is more a disruptive figure, IF we are looking to get rid and no one wants him except for Juve then I'd take player plus cash deal
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I don’t think Pogba is necessarily disruptive to his teammates and manager. His agent seems ‘disruptive’, but swapping one of his clients for another won’t change that.

If De Ligt comes here for big money and 4 years later we can barely make the CL, do you think similar stories of considering options won’t emerge? Or does De Ligt just love Manchester United more than Pogba does?

Me personally, I’m not particularly bothered by Raiola, and I doubt the institution of Manchester United are anywhere as bothered by him than our fans and media probably are either. That said, I do think for any fans so concerned about Pogba disruptiveness, perhaps another Raiola client isn’t what they should want. At least if we continue to underperform. So far as that player’s individual stock is still high enough to attract interest from top clubs, we will naturally hear the same conversation. As we, and every other club should, for that matter. Star players should start agitating after a few years at a club if they are not competing. If they don’t then it only strengthens the question of them being mercenaries for me. The question marks over Aubameyang’s future at Arsenal (a huge club), and Sánchez, Persie and more before him. The questions of Kane at Spurs. Questions of Sterling when he left Liverpool, or when Walker left Spurs. They are natural, and will be the same questions of De Ligt in 4 years, or Rashford in 5 years if we haven’t improved. I don’t think it’s anything to avoid. It should be embraced. We want top players who want to win things, not just get paid.

If De Ligt buys into our project now, we should get him (if we want him) and not be worried about down the road. It’s not a marriage.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Don't see this happening. He's a very highly rated player and has already had a good taste of the biggest stages. Also, he seems to be quite an orthodox /clean defender. I'd prefer someone meaner and more brutal next to Maguire as I think he lacks a little in this department in addition to being slow.
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If you want pace and aggression next to Maguire would it be so bad to just stick with Bailly for another season? He's looked really good recently, and thoroughly ticks both of those boxes.
 
Signing De Ligt would mean we'll have 8 central defenders while losing one of the very few creative outlets in the team. I hope Ole won't even think about it, unless he already have offers on the table for at least 3 or 4 United's defenders and pole position in acquiring someone just as good as Pogba.
 
Seems no one's mentioned Demiral which could be the reason why Juve would want to offload De Ligt. He looked like a tank before his injury, many saying he's the better player.
 
DWelbz19 said:
Imagine trading Paul Pogba for Aaron fecking Ramsey. :lol:
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The Pogba who cant be arsed to play for us anymore, or when does plays soley for himself?

His social image creates this illusion of a very good player, while disguising his mental flaws such as application, team ethic the guys ego and agent arnt good for this club.

Id have Ramsey over Pogba any day. At least Ramsey will play and graft for the team, Ramsey also has very good end product would be interesting comparing his stats. Ramsey also isnt allergic to tracking runners from midfield .

https://www.premierleague.com/players/3548/Aaron-Ramsey/stats

https://www.premierleague.com/players/3920/Paul-Pogba/stats

A quick glance at those stats, tells me Ramseys alot more effective defensively , in 262 games he made 474 tackles compared to Pogbas 102 games 147 tackles

While Pogba does slightly better with Assists, interesting that Ramsey has better Through ball and big chances created percentages.

Bearing all that in mind, and we now have Fernandes providing alot of creativity, id much rather have Ramsey as our box to box midfield alongside Fernandes than Pogba , i think Ramsey is alot more what this team needs for balance in terms of how he plays the game and what he brings.
 
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Raoul said:
For all we know they're all creating content from a Mirror or Star piece.
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Because he doesn't state who his source is? That's probably highly unlikely given that 4-5 papers released the same news at about the same time - much more likely a briefing.
 
United Pro said:
Because he doesn't state who his source is? That's probably highly unlikely given that 4-5 papers released the same news at about the same time - much more likely a briefing.
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Which means little in the end. Let's see some actual quotes from club/player/manager/agent etc. Until then, its just self-quarantined journos under pressure to produce a bit of content while they're stuck at home.
 
Raoul said:
Which means little in the end. Let's see some actual quotes from club/player/manager/agent etc. Until then, its just self-quarantined journos under pressure to produce a bit of content while they're stuck at home.
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Well, it means that this is what the club want to be released. That doesn't necessarily mean we're actually after said players but at the very least it's probably the best indication of it not being made up by the journos bar direct quotes from a manager, player, etc - which very rarely happens before a transfer goes through.
 
Rozay said:
I don’t think Pogba is necessarily disruptive to his teammates and manager. His agent seems ‘disruptive’, but swapping one of his clients for another won’t change that.

If De Ligt comes here for big money and 4 years later we can barely make the CL, do you think similar stories of considering options won’t emerge? Or does De Ligt just love Manchester United more than Pogba does?

Me personally, I’m not particularly bothered by Raiola, and I doubt the institution of Manchester United are anywhere as bothered by him than our fans and media probably are either. That said, I do think for any fans so concerned about Pogba disruptiveness, perhaps another Raiola client isn’t what they should want. At least if we continue to underperform. So far as that player’s individual stock is still high enough to attract interest from top clubs, we will naturally hear the same conversation. As we, and every other club should, for that matter. Star players should start agitating after a few years at a club if they are not competing. If they don’t then it only strengthens the question of them being mercenaries for me. The question marks over Aubameyang’s future at Arsenal (a huge club), and Sánchez, Persie and more before him. The questions of Kane at Spurs. Questions of Sterling when he left Liverpool, or when Walker left Spurs. They are natural, and will be the same questions of De Ligt in 4 years, or Rashford in 5 years if we haven’t improved. I don’t think it’s anything to avoid. It should be embraced. We want top players who want to win things, not just get paid.

If De Ligt buys into our project now, we should get him (if we want him) and not be worried about down the road. It’s not a marriage.
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I think we would be naive to think that Raiola isn't Pogba's mouthpiece

He has 2 years left on his current deal, if no one else wants him then we simply cannot afford to lose him on a free transfer for the 2nd time
 
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