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 should, at least in theory, have a blockbuster summer transfer window filled with many comings and goings.
With Manchester United linked to approximately 97,324 players already (although only one has actually been acquired), the time is right for some Red Devils transfer talk. In today’s first edition we begin with Paul Pogba, who told the media he wants to leave to Old Trafford while on a promotional tour in the Far East. (Go here for part two)
Today we learned, via Sky Sports that United don’t believe he’s going anywhere. And over at NBC they penned this piece about where United goes from here, now having to deal with extreme awkwardness surrounding their best and important player.
Staying with current United midfielders, Juan Mata has seen his current contract with the club expire, but according to multiple outlets, he’s edging closer to a new deal. According to The Mirror, his camp and the club are working on a new contract extension which could pay him £140,000 a week.
Mata is reportedly wanted by Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Newcastle.
Finally, the latest on United’s Quixotic quest for a central defender upgrade. The latest target that they’ll (at least it seems right now) miss out on is West Ham’s Issa Diop, who we profiled in detail yesterday.
According to Football London’s Irons correspondent Sam Inkersole, the east London club are not interested in selling him to anyone, at any price right now.
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.