Manchester United have begun making plans for next season this week, confirming that Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard will leave the club later this month.
All trios are out of contract on June 30, and United have announced that none of them will have a resumption of their deals. They followed Lee Grant, Nemanja Matic and Edinson Cavani when they were shown the exit door this summer as new manager Eric ten Haag plans to see radical changes in his team.
Former interim manager Ralph Rangnik has also left Old Trafford, with the club announcing last Sunday that it would not move to its planned advisory position. This week, however, there was a new addition to the club in the form of Andy O’Boyle, who became the new deputy director of football for United.
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With the changes taking place on and off the field, United are now preparing for what it promises to be one of the busiest summer transfer windows they have faced in recent years. Ten Hag are expected to want to add a few new faces to their team, and with the window opening on June 10, excitement levels are starting to rise.
In Friday, MEN Sports United’s lead writer, Samuel Luckhurst, hosted a question-and-answer session in an attempt to answer as many questions as possible that United fans had about him, including the transfer window, the future of Frankie de Jong and much, much more.
Q: Given the number of departures this summer, it is more important than ever for United to start early. But the goals that have been linked are likely to be pulled scandals. Can you assure nervous fans that negotiations are actually underway and some deals are pending?
SL: It’s not my job to “reassure” the fans, because I’m not in the club’s salary, I’m not a mouthpiece or a cheerleader. United must reassure if they wish.
It was interesting that the President of the City this week specified how many more players will sign (I wrote a few weeks ago that they want a left back and midfielder). You don’t understand that from United, and when David Gill promised “two world-class players” in 2006, they got [Michael] Karik and [Tomasz] Kushchak. It was still going well in 2006-07.
United are in dialogue with various agents, but many, if not all, targets will be on international duty, key decision-makers at the club have recently left, the two top-profile scouts have left, and the manager said only last week that he would your own analysis.
United would never have a summer like 2007, when Nani, Anderson and [Owen] All Hargreaves were sewn before June.
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Question How is the deal with Frankie progressing and is it true that Xavi told him about the economy
SL: The Catalan economy? The Spanish economy? I’m not watching at all. If Barcelona finally decides to sell De Jong, he will not have the right to stay, is the last I heard.
United fans also need to tell their story. De Jong has made it clear that he wants to stay in Barcelona. Who else was sold by a Spanish club to United when he did not want to go to United? Angel Di Maria.
It would have been hypocritical for United to make any deal for De Jong when he publicly stated that he did not want a transfer and the reboot of the club focused mainly on goals invested in a game for United. Pogba has just left United and he has not been invested in playing for them for at least four and a half years. Be careful what you wish for.
Question Why are there no links to a defensive midfielder Our whole window seems to be focused on de Jong when we also need another CM. This is very worrying.
SL: I don’t think it’s “focused” on De Jong. Are the fans ignoring what he said at the Dutch camp this week? It is so pertinent that if United had been sensible, they would have looked at their list again.
If De Jong happens, it will only be because of Ten Haag’s persuasive abilities. Pogba wanted to join Real Madrid in 2016, but Mino Raiola persuaded him to rejoin United on the condition that he make a transfer to Real three years ago. Rayola tried, but failed.
Barcelona midfielder Frankie de Jong is in the sights of Manchester United. (Image: David S. Bustamante / Socrates / Getty Images.)
Q: Given that United are looking for CB, is there a chance they will get experienced Premier League players like Tyrone Mings?
SL: I don’t understand why some fans keep mentioning Tyrone Mings? He is 29, had a terrible season at Aston Villa and has just been sent off by England. Is it because he has a left foot? It is such a signature that you could imagine Ole Gunnar Solskjaer going.
Question Do you expect Andreas Pereira to be an integral part of the Ten Hag team
SL: In the name of United, you would hope not. I suspect that his camp is adorned with some feedback from United, and United must also be positive in order to keep its resale value in case the buyer comes this summer. He is a player from whom they must reduce their losses.
If United really appreciate it, then they are broken, irreparable. He had to be sold to Flamengo until the club’s financial problems. This summer feels like 2019 and it was the summer of Pereira received a new four-year contract and Solskjaer proposed he and [Scott] McTominey can replace [Ander] Herrera and [Marouane] Fellaini. Herrera and Fellaini symbolize intoxicating days compared to the last few years.
Question: Once the deputy director of football has already been confirmed, is there a possibility that we will finish some restructuring or something else is ahead – e.g. the role of Matt Judge, the left scouts, etc. In addition, is there any progress on potential inputs? At the moment, it felt pretty quiet, apart from naming the goals, and if we want to attract players for the pre-season training, ideally we should move on!
SL: The Scout Department is being streamlined and is likely to make key additions to fill the gaps left by [Marcel] Fight and [Jim] Loller. I’m not sure that the title of “head of global scouting” existed before Booth somehow received it in 2016 (he helped Luis Van Gaal with the signatures, United were not happy with the rate of Van Gaal’s shots, but kept Booth).
United were expecting a quiet start to June, so I’m not surprised it’s still quiet. Given the necessary recovery and an earlier start, they will almost certainly make deals in August.
I agree that they need a few key signatures by the end of this month so that these players can go on the pre-season tour. There is no way to have all bases covered in time for the first game of the season, nothing that Liverpool in Bangkok on July 12.
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Question: I noticed that you mentioned David Carmo the other day. Is there anything more about his potential transfer?
SL: Nothing more than what was announced the other day. There is a recognition from his camp that he is not the main goal of United as a central defender. Carmo would like to finish in the Premier League this summer.
Question: Is there an update for Dean Henderson? According to your story last week, it seemed likely that he would leave, but won’t Ten Hag want an opportunity to evaluate him first? He’s someone you’d think he’d like to be – an active cleaner and better at his feet, and I believe you said you wanted him while he was at Ajax!
SL: Really. But from everything they told me, he was allowed to rent (again). The “delay” for him is that United want guaranteed support, for which they have a form.
The goalkeeper’s situation may be reassessed (again) next year. De Gea figuratively stood still, and Henderson agreed with the “modern” goalkeepers. But if you need a “network guard” to stop Exocet, then De Gea is probably still the best. There was enough practice, keep in mind.
Question Do you think that Amad and Facundo Pelistri will get a chance this summer Also, for John Murtow, does it feel in the football world / Man United that he’s actually good enough to be a football director at Man United – is he good enough from what you hear?
SL: I think at least one will be on the team after the window closes. There was an offensive eviction, [Anthony] Martial can also go, [Marcus] Rashford is still unclear about his role, [Anthony] Elanga operates on her briefing, [Mason] Greenwood is unavailable indefinitely, etc. United are investing £ 46 million in Amad and Pellistri.
The manager has changed, but this manager hardly plays them. It summed it up at the Derby last July, when Pelistri and Solskjaer conducted interviews at the same time. Pelistri said he wanted to stay, and Solskjaer offered to rent again.
I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone say they’re “good enough” but have only recently gained autonomy. The club is eager to talk about his work with the academy, which has taken place in recent years, and he is as enthusiastic about this part of the club as anyone who works at United.
Eric ten Haag and Manchester United football director John Murtow (right) are looking forward to a great summer. (Image: Ash Donelon / Manchester United via Getty Images.)
He became a football director in part because of his work with the academy (which he briefly co-chaired with former Liverpool club secretary and Liverpool fan John) and the recruitment of the women’s team in 2018. Passing these skills to the first team is a huge leap, of course. He also sent some competitors (Nikki Butt) to achieve the role he now holds.
Murtow is a kind man, eager to improve United and is as busy as he needs to be. It is still too early to judge whether he is doing the job, but his first important decision was to hire Rangnik. If Ten Hag succeeds, then Murtough will too.
Question: Is there any real interest in Aaron One-Bissaka at the moment and what price would you accept? You mentioned shopping to get rid of AWB, Henderson and [Brandon] Williams so far, but who else is for sale?
SL: I suspect …
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