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 Juventus left back Alex Sandro, a player who has been linked with the club, off and on, for quite some time.
In the run-up to tonight’s friendly against Cameroon, the Brazilian international made some comments that will put the three potential Premier League suitors (Chelsea and both Manchester clubs) on notice.
“I’d like to play in the Premier League one day,” Sandro is quoted by Football Italia. “However, I’m happy in Italy right now and I want to continue playing for Juventus.”
United’s interest was higher in the summer, before Luke Shaw revitalized his career. Meanwhile City sees the 27-year-old as potential injury cover for Benjamin Mendy.
As for Chelsea, the Blues community on SB Nation, We Ain’t Got No History, probably sums it up best: “Alex Sandro ’s price tag is expected to be eye-watering (£60-80m was the range in which this rumor was trading back in 2017), his Chelsea ship probably sailed some time ago.”
Speaking of Chelsea, when midfielder Juan Mata left Stamford Bridge to join United in January 2014, the £37.1 million transfer fee broke the club record. That record has been dwarfed multiple times since.
Mata’s next appearance at the club will be his 200th, but his long term future is in doubt. His contract expires at the end of the year, and though it’s thought he wants to stay, he’s in no rush to commit to that.
At least that’s the narrative according to ESPN, who say the Spaniard isn’t ready to sign the offer given to him by the club.
Mata’s stance is apparently worrying the club and their fans, and the same might be said soon in regards to Marcus Rashford. As we told you yesterday, Juventus are preparing a dossier on the young Englishman. And now it seems another European elite club has the forward in their cross-hairs.
According to the Mirror, Real Madrid are interested, and thus United will offer him a huge new contract in order to fend them off.
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.