The mid November international break is certainly the perfect time to talk some transfer rumors, as the January window will be here before you know it. In this article we focus on Manchester United, and we begin with, naturally, the never ending saga to find am upgrade at central defender.
Jose Mourinho was in the house to see Belgium’s UEFA Nations League win over Iceland this week, and when pressed on why he was in Brussels, the special one joked “for the weather.”
Of course he wasn’t in town on holiday, or to conduct a meteorological survey. He was in Brussels to scout Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld. This was a major transfer saga in the summer, and it appears that we’re headed for a revisit in January, even though the actual transaction might have to wait even further, until the summer of 2019.
There seems to be conflicting reports on why the deal wasn’t done in the summer, perhaps Mourinho didn’t get the funding sanctioned by his superior, CEO Ed Woodward. It’s possible that the deal might have a better chance of getting done this summer, because now the transfer fee will be reduced.
This was a narrative that had been reported by some outlets last summer.
The Evening Standard writes that: “Woodward is aware Alderweireld will be available for a significantly reduced price of £25.4 million next summer, which could pave the way to compromise in the New Year.”
So in other words, watch this space.
If not Alderweireld, then perhaps Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid will finally be the answer for United in the never ending quest to upgrade the position? With his contract winding down, Manchester Evening News wrote earlier this week that Old Trafford feel confident about getting this deal over the line.
And just yesterday the Daily Star reported that Godin is United’s primary target this January transfer window. The articles says that Woodward “held several rounds of talks with Atletico Madrid over a deal for the Uruguay star.” The 32-year-old would reportedly cost about £20 million.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.