Barca would not be loaning him out can't see us getting him in and then Sancho. But if people think this is a good idea then who am I to go against that. But like I said Ole told us the changes he wanted to make with the culture and type of players we would need to sign. He is nothing if that sort.
Ousmane Dembele
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I very much favour that aspect of Ole's approach - to make sure he's not signing someone who's not mentally suited to play for this club and bring it forward. But given the context - presumably wasting months where we could have done great work in recruiting players - and due to the club's limited financial power and overall needs of improving the squad - this is quite good business. I've already suggested why I think motivation won't be a problem, he's not signing long-term, we're not rushing to buy a decent British player for far too much (Brooks) instead, but wait until next year. I think that's sensible.
Oh, and I think Barca may need to loan him out - they'd probably get a loan fee and his wages covered, which for a club in a "very, very, very" tough financial situation (Koeman), is a good option - not least loaning to a club who are desperate for someone in his position.
Too much of a risk for the money quoted. Sancho is a sure thing for the price.
I didn't realise FIFA 2020 was such a contact sport.
I'm a huge admirer of Dembele and his talents, but this stinks of a United briefing/ smokescreen - followed by a Dembele camp counterbriefing as it's clear he doesn't want to come here 
It would be an AdM scenario all over again, so we need to stay away. And that's without even looking at his injury record.
It would be an AdM scenario all over again, so we need to stay away. And that's without even looking at his injury record.
I'm a huge admirer of Dembele and his talents, but this stinks of a United briefing/ smokescreen - followed by a Dembele camp counterbriefing as it's clear he doesn't want to come here
It would be an AdM scenario all over again, so we need to stay away. And that's without even looking at his injury record.
It was reported by Spanish papers, not a single English paper said we are close to signing him.
Interesting. Could it be Barca putting the feelers out?
Or journalist pulling the trigger way too quickly.
It's MDs Aguilar who is probably the only Journo I take notice of from the outlet.
I just think we would be better off signing Brooks than him to be fair, but I get where you are coming from. Hope you are right but I fear the worst here.
If we were to sign Brooks for some silly amount 40-50m, on the back of being injured for a season, it not only puts a big dent in the money we have to play with now and next season, but also takes up a slot up in the team going forward. First of all we'd need to see he's shaken off that injury and then I'd still feel he'd be a good squad player to buy (seeing if he can develop into more) but for a squad player price.
Likewise, I'd rather not buy a not-top striker (unless he's a serious prospect) instead of just getting one on loan (Cavani rather than spunking 20m on King). Because the long-term purchases we should be making from here on out should be of a much higher standard than what we've done hitherto.
I think Oriol Domenech will settle this later one way or the other. But Dembele on loan along with Sancho would give us real fire power and options.
That would be an unreal strength in depth, along with Telles and potentially a new striker.
Sancho, Dembele on loan, Jovic on loan and Telles..
Don't. Don't give me hope.
Would only be interested in a loan if we had a decent price to buy him for at the end. 50m if he’s good and proves fitness.
It might be doable with a few coming in on loan but we'll need to make space. But if we pull that off then that's gonna be the best attack in the league on paper with added strength in depth.
This is your time to shine Ed...do it
Agreed. Not to buy, a loan will be a consideration. Barca will be happy to get rid of him, but would prefer a perm transfer.
He's certainly talented but a very frustrating player. He could beat 4 or 5 players, try to pass the ball 5 yards and hit it out of play. His injuries have already been talked about but what worries me is we could be bringing in a player who doesn't want to be here. The De Maria experience is still fresh in everyones mind. Big no no from me.
Still think this is an awful signing. Doesn’t want to come, can’t string 5 games together, seems to have lost interest in being a professional, will end up on 300k and impossible to shift for 5 years
It's a loan isn't it? I agree with everything except him being on 300k/week though. Doubt he's paid anywhere near that.
He pretty clearly doesn’t want to come here. I’d be against this for that reason most of all.
Wouldn't touch him with a barge pole.
No way to anyone who isn't itching to play for our club.
There are plenty of hugely talented players out there who'd kill for a shot at our RW. Let's not relive the Di Maria debacle..
There are plenty of hugely talented players out there who'd kill for a shot at our RW. Let's not relive the Di Maria debacle..
Bruno, Pogba, Martial, Sancho, Dembele, Rashford, Greenwood, Jovic
. Imagine those attacking options and not having live crowds allowed to see them
If Ed pulls that off, I think Im gonna barricade myself into Old Trafford next game and superglue myself to a seat
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100% agree.
Dembele has been a disaster for Barcelona. And most of it is due to his unprofessional, juvenile and lazy attitude. There's a good B/R article detailing a lot of it: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2806752-the-trouble-with-barcelonas-wayward-star-ousmane-dembele
Bottomline, he has been a disaster of the proportions of which Sanchez was for us. We just got out of our own disaster, we don't need to inherit Bartomeu's disaster. He would be completely toxic for our just-finally-forming team. We should not get him even if he was given for free.
Everything I have read about Dembele casts him as lazy and unprofessional. Allegedly unpopular with his team mentes for his lack of professionalism and work ethic. I think we should steer well clear.
I'd have to agree. Quality player. All the talent in the world but terrible attitude, allegedly. Probably wouldn't be a wise decision. That being said, a season long loan isn't too much of a risk, surely. He could see it as his last opportunity to make it big at Barca, by going out on loan and impressing. Sure if he did come on loan and act the prick, we could just send him back.
I'd be so on board for this. I'm in the camp that believes his muscular injuries are as a result of Barcelona's low intensity training regimen to accommodate their ageing stars. It's hard to justify it as a coincidence when you go from not having a single professional injury to being consistently crocked - most of which are muscular injuries.
I also think talk of his attitude is overblown. By most accounts, he's really improved in that regard. Not to add, he was young. Look at the behavioural issues that Greenwood, Sancho etc. have had.
The only concern for me would be whether or not he's genuinely lost half a yard due to the constant muscular injuries
I also think talk of his attitude is overblown. By most accounts, he's really improved in that regard. Not to add, he was young. Look at the behavioural issues that Greenwood, Sancho etc. have had.
The only concern for me would be whether or not he's genuinely lost half a yard due to the constant muscular injuries
Don’t mind him here if we fail to sign Sancho. Surely he isn’t perfect choice for us, with his reportedly lazy and unprofessional attitude, and injury. But, if he is perfect, there no chance we could loan him too. So it’s always a case of gamble for us anyway.
Or he got his first ever major hamstring injury at Barca and he has been injured regularly ever since. Played for only two years before his move, playing 58 games in total.
gets on bad injury and then was in out, got a run of 9 months free and then hadn’t played more than 6 games without being injured. I find it hard to believe Barca are so awful in training they can’t nurse him back.
you haveto think:
a) does he lack the mental strength to come back from injuries. People underestimate this, not only is their the recovery, but also how it affects you after you return
b) if training is not great can he not find it in himself to do more? I’m pretty sure if Ronaldo felt he was not getting the best, he would actively resolve.
c) not convinced he shows he is really up for the fight needed
Estimated wages of 230k at Barca
We can split that with Barca. Glazernomics
It's got nothing to do with if the training is 'good'. It's just a different approach. It's no secret that Barca both in training and on the pitch rely more on domination with the ball than constant high intensity, a lot of their ageing players, who are funnily enough, still their best players, are a result of that. You then have someone like Dembele who has a very explosive style. When you aren't regularly engaging in that kind of activity, it will lead to an increased chances of muscular injuries as you'd be putting your body through more shock than what you are accustomed to. Dortmund played a very high intensity style as a comparison, which would have been reflected in their training and you saw both how well he played there and how little he was out.
It may well be his fault, due to lifestyle etc. but it just seems too big of a coincidence for me. Barca seem to be more a dark hole for talent than we are these days, everyone there seems to be shite and has difficulty fitting in. Even if it was down to him or bad luck etc. You've seen players with a point to prove turn around in the past, especially as they've matured. Robben is a prime example of this.
It'd be a huge risk obviously, which is why I wouldn't agree with us paying a huge fee for him, but if he was available on loan, maybe with an option to buy, I wouldn't be shocked to see him completely surprise a lot of people. I'm not so sure Barca would be completely against that either. They are in desperate need of reinforcements but are strapped for cash, getting some of his wages off the books would be interesting for them. His talent is in the top tier, he's one of those kids who are just natural ballers. Whether or not he brings it all together, is another question though.
How does £3 million really help them though? That’s why I don’t believe there will be a “risk free” option. If it’s a loan we will probably have to pay 15-20 million loan deal plus wages. I’d be surprised if they are willing to sell for less than 70m given his cost and how their finances work
Makes me think about when we had Rooney, RvP, Falcao and Di Maria as our attacking options, and i almost had a stroke from excitement when LvG squeezed them all in the starting line up. We were obviously awful in attack but that build up of excitement is very niceBruno, Pogba, Martial, Sancho, Dembele, Rashford, Greenwood, Jovic
. Imagine those attacking options and not having live crowds allowed to see them
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