Still waiting for all that hype that entered this summer transfer window at Manchester United to get realized, but now it does look like a potential major overhaul could be in the works. If indeed Paul Pogba is given his wish and sent to another team, then we’ll have lots to talk about, as that enormous cash infusion will inevitably bring more signings between now and when the season starts.
Training camp is now open and the team is set to depart for their preseason overseas tour July 9, so with that mind here are some of the top trending news items and transfer narratives in the Manchester United online community on this Friday.
We start of course with Pogba, and news of his agent, Mino Raiola, saying he’s in the process of getting his client off the team for which he clearly does not want to be a part.
“Everyone knows the willingness of Paul to move on. We are in the process of doing that,” Raiola said to The Times
“Everyone knows what the feelings of Paul are… Everyone within the club, from the manager to the owner, knows Paul’s wishes.”
Pogba has been doing plenty of traveling this summer, spending a fair amount of time in the United States. He’s followed his brother, Florentin, who plays for Atlanta United in MLS a fair amount, as he’s been spotted at a few of the Major League Soccer champions’ games this season.
Will he be on the Red Devils team plane when it departs on Sunday? “I cannot tell you anything. I live day by day,” Raiola responded.
He’s been linked with a return to Juventus, and his “dream” move to Real Madrid. There aren’t many potential realistic landing spots for the Frenchman beyond that.
Elsewhere, we could have another United midfielder on the move this summer as Nemanja Matic, Jose Mourinho’s essential coach on the pitch, is set to have crunch talks with the club, according to ESPN.
Matic wants to discuss his future amidst learning of interest from both clubs in Milan. In the case of Inter, they are strongly interested in another United player- striker Romelu Lukaku. We have a month and change until the transfer window closes, so a lot could happen.
With Ander Herrera already gone to PSG, if Pogba and Matic leave, the entire starting midfield would have a complete revamp next season.
Finally, Friday saw United lock down two academy products to new long-term deals: Andreas Pereira and Axel Tuanzebe. NBC Sports has more on these developments.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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