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 there is a whole lot of ground to cover so let’s dive right in, starting with Alexis Sanchez, the massive bust in the forward position group.
The highest salaried player in United history, who moved over in January as part of a swap deal with Arsenal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, has been a total disaster signing for Old Trafford.
Despite being at the club of most of the calendar year 2018, he only has three goals and 21 appearances. In the 2018-19 season, manager Jose Mourinho has selected him to his starting XI just five times. According to Spanish publication AS, Real Madrid, certainly a club having a lot of issues of their own right now, could offer Alexis a lifeline, perhaps even in January.
The report describes Sanchez as being “lonely, bored and ignored” at Old Trafford.
Elsewhere, one player United reportedly don’t want to move out is defender Matteo Darmian. While the Italian is further down on the depth chart and he seeks a destination that could offer him full time first team football, the Evening Standard writes that Mourinho will not sanction his exit “on the cheap.”
-Elsewhere, Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is currently team captain, and he holds this status despite the fact he’s only made one appearance in the Premier League this season and it was off the bench no less. Cahill said in September that he will have to leave Stamford Bridge if his situation doesn’t change, and right now it appears that more playing time is not in the cards for the English international.
The Daily Express reports that a Cahill reunion with Jose Mourinho could potentially be in the works this January. Tony Banks writes that:
“Manchester United, Southampton, West Ham, his boyhood club Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday are all interested in the centre-back, who has been squeezed out by the form of Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz at Chelsea.”
Finally, both United and Chelsea are targeting Napoli right back Elseid Hysaj, but look set to miss out. His representation claims that talks with the Serie A club over a contract extension are moving along.
“His agent Mario Giuffredi confirmed negotiations with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis have been making progress,” reports the Daily Mail.
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.