We have less than a week left until the summer transfer window closes, so Manchester United are running out of time to add another player. When deadline days comes and goes, we may be looking at Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant as the only new arrivals of the summer.
Let’s take a spin through the latest transfer rumors and gossip making the rounds on the internet today. As always, until it’s actually an officially done deal, take the rumors with a grain of salt.
Central defender is the number one position of need at United, and if we are to see one more addition, it will most likely be at that position. The Red Devils have been heavily linked with Leicester City man Harry Maguire this summer, but he’s not going anywhere. Foxes manager Claude Puel continues to make that abundantly clear.
The other co-primary favorite target at the position is Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld, but that situation is problematic too. With Spurs reportedly asking £75 million for him, United just won’t bite. That would make him among the most expensive defenders in history, and at age 29, it’s just not going to happen.
Next summer though this deal could indeed be on. United may be able to land their long time target in 2019 due to the fact his contract is structured so favorably towards a transfer. His Tottenham deal expires next year, and if White Hart Lane exercise the one year option, he can be had for just £25 million. The Mirror explains it all here.
That’s the long game when it comes to upgrading the centre back position, the short game could be Barcelona man Yerry Mina, a name that has been popping up a lot the past few days.
Mundo Deportivo claims that United and Mina “have practically agreed on the terms of the contract,” but the two clubs haven’t reached an agreement as of yet. In other words, they haven’t reached an agreement on the price as of yet. United manager Jose Mourinho has found a way to complain about just about everything under the sun this preseason. If they don’t add another cnetral defender before the window closes, expect even more griping.
-Finally, and staying in the back line here, Matteo Darmian has made it known publicly that he wants out of United, but it looks like he’ll be staying. According to his agent, Mourinho hasn’t given up on him. This is certainly a plot twist, to say the least.
“There is hardly a possibility of Manchester United and Mourinho giving up Matteo,” agent Tullio Tinti said. (h/t Manchester Evening News)
“So most likely he won’t leave the Premier League and will stay there.”
Darmian, an Italian international, has been linked with a move back to a couple of Serie A teams in his home country.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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