You’d have thought at the end of the transfer window, I would be gone. But sorry folks, you are not getting of me this easily.
For a club of United’s size, speculation with players even when the transfer window closes is not uncommon and we already have players talking about how it would be difficult to reject advances from United. But speculation about incoming players is not the thing you read about in the back pages as players with scare game ‘demand’ meetings with the manager to express their concern with a lack of game time.
THOMAS LEMAR
The diamond in Monaco’s crown now that Kylian Mbappe has quit the Principality for the more spacious and wide avenues of Paris. Monaco did well to hold onto Thomas Lemar on deadline day. Well, Monaco accepted a £92m bid but the player rejected the move to North London.
Within a week of the window closing, Arsenal are back courting Lemar but United will not the Gunners’ sign him easily. We have reportedly decided to make our own bid in the same price range and remain prepared to outbid the Gunners and get the talented attacking midfielder. United are keeping a close eye on the situation and may make an effort to bring Lemar to the Premier League next summer.
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN
Another Frenchman linked with United. Griezmann was linked with a move to United for most of last season and it looks as if is going to linked for most of this season as well. Earlier this week, it emerged that Griezmann’s release clause which shot up to €200m in the summer window has been halved to its original value of €100m which is the same price or which United would have got the French superstar. A summer move is expected with odds of a transfer being completed slashed recently.
MAREK HAMSIK
While United did not try to sign Napoli’s Marek Hamsik this summer, the player rejected moves to some of the top clubs from England and Europe to extend his stay in Naples. But Hamsik admitted that it would not be easy for him to stay in Napoli if a club like Manchester United came calling. The 30-year-old Slovenian said: “That’s hard to say. It would surely be the hardest decision of my career. Maybe everyone wants to play at these clubs [Barcelona or Manchester United], but I can’t answer that. I think that Napoli is one of the top ten European teams in terms of gameplay and performance.”
ASHLEY YOUNG
The name closest to the Old Trafford exit door Englishman Ashley Young. Young has only just completed his return from a serious injury and it remains to be seen whether Mourinho has significant game time in store for Young. It emerged this week that Young has requested for meeting with Jose. He is expected to express his desire for more game time or demand a move next summer when his contract expires. Mourinho considers Young as a vital part of the team’s rotation.