The rebuild of Manchester United could definitely take some time, so get ready and dig your heels in for that. The upshot is that we’ll have a summer transfer window filled with many comings and goings.
And with Manchester United linked to approximately 97,324 players already, the time is right for some Red Devils transfer talk. In this edition, we’ll cover two defenders and one midfielder; all with a Madrid theme. As you may have heard, United need a lot of help in the back line. For the second edition of MUFC transfer talk today, go to this link.
Real Madrid captain and extremely polarizing figure Sergio Ramos is considering a move away from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, after 14 years with the Reyes Del Europa.
Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane wants him to stay, according to Marca, but reports indicate both United and Paris Saint-Germain are keen on Spanish centre half. He is public enemy #1, arguably, among the Liverpool supporter base, and that distinction is certainly well-deserved.
A move to United, Liverpool’s most hated of all rivals, definitely makes sense on this dimension (although obviously that is not even remotely close to a major criteria considered for getting a deal done).
As an aging, expensive superstar, he kind of fits the United transfer motif of recent years too. Notice I didn’t say United transfer modus operandi or strategy; because it doesn’t appear that Ed Woodward’s Manchester United actually have one.
Additionally, La Sexta reports that Ramos could possibly be off to China instead.
While Ramos is a defender only recently linked with United, Napoli man Kalidou Koulibaly is a very well known long time transfer target. If Ramos departs, could he be his replacement in the Spanish capital?
According to Football Italia, citing Corriere dello Sport, probably not. Napoli have rejected a €90m offer from Madrid, with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis claiming that he’s even turned down €100m proposals for the centre back.
It is believed that United is the club who made offers in that high of an amount for Koulibaly.
Finally, we stay in Madrid, but shift over to the city’s proverbial second club, Atletico. Midfielder Thomas Partey is a United target that we have covered on previous occasion, and he’s also reportedly sought after by Arsenal.
He discussed his club future with BBC Sport, playing it coy while also admitting an uncertain future.
“It’s hard for me to talk about transfers because the next minute it will be like ‘Thomas is trying to leave’ but for me playing football is what makes me happy,” Partey said
“I don’t know what the future holds for me but as long as I play and they are happy with me here then there is no need flirting with others.”
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.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.