Sport

Manchester United make ‘progress’ in talks with two defenders but only one is likely to be signed

But which one will it be?

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 16th July 2024

Manchester United look to be moving closer to sealing their next signing of the summer, as talks to sign two potential new defenders are said to be making “progress”, but it is thought only a deal for one is likely to be completed.

The Red Devils already completed their first signing of the INEOS era after securing the services of Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee over the weekend, another addition to Man United’s gradually shifting forward line, but are keen to bolster their defensive ranks given the slate of injury problems last season.

With the likes of Raphaël Varane, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez and more all injured at one point or another throughout the previous campaign, players such as Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat had to be deployed in defence – a situation they need to avoid this year.

As a result, two of the deals reported to be moving forward are for central defenders, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, though it seems the chances of United signing both are less probable.

According to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, “Progress has been achieved on each front recently, though the current expectation is they would recruit one or the other as opposed to both.”

De Ligt has been an on and off target at Old Trafford for a number of years already, having emerged as a breakthrough star at Ajax and even being once tipped to become “the world’s best defender” by his former manager, Erik ten Hag, so a reunion would make a lot of sense.

However, the 24-year-old hasn’t quite maintained his best form since leaving the Netherlands, first joining Juventus and then Bayern Munich, where he’s struggled to play his very best football.

LOSC Lille centre-back Yoro, on the other hand, looks to be a very promising teenage talent whose career is just getting underway and has already attracted interest from various clubs across Europe, though it looks to be less of a ‘back on track’ bit of match-making than his Dutch counterpart.

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As corroborated by fellow transfer source, Fabrizio Romano, despite a transfer fee between Lille and Man United having been agreed, the 18-year-old’s preference would be a move to Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of De Ligt would be ten Hag’s second signing of a former player and his second countryman following the £36.5 million deal for Zirkzee, who finished as the Italian side’s top attacking contributor last season, with 12 goals and seven assists in 37 games.

The 23-year-old also picked up the award for Serie A’s Young Player of the Year in just his second season with the club.

United are clearly looking to build a new team around the younger rising stars such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Ramsu Højlund, so players like Zirkzee, Yoro and indeed De Ligt all fit the recuitment strategy.

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Featured Images — Leny Yoro/LOSC Lille (via IG)/The Manc/Steffen Prößdorf (via Wiki Commons)

Sport

Benjamin Šeško quote resurfaces as Manchester United switch sole focus to pursuit of Slovenia star

Danny Jones Danny Jones Benjamin Sesko better than Haaland trainer quote

Slovenia striker Benjamin Šeško is now considered the primary transfer target for Manchester United for this summer window, as per multiple reports, and with the links only growing stronger as a quote relating to him and former RB Salzburg forward Erling Haaland has cropped back up.

Now on the books at the franchise club’s German counterpart in Leipzig, Šeško is one of the most highly sought-after talents in Europe at present, showing not only huge potential and a unique profile but already some impressive returns when it comes to goal contributions.

Although Haaland is ahead in terms of numbers, they do bear some resemblance in terms of height, physicality and speed for their size, and while they barely came across each other in the Red Bull setup – Šeško being loaned out to fellow Austrian side Liefering – they have drawn plenty of comparisons.

In fact, according to the 22-year-old himself, some feel he might just be “better” than the Norwegian phenomenon. At least that’s what some teammates and former colleagues are claimed to have said.

The pair may never have got to play together, but according to an old trainer who worked with both of them, each showed plenty of early promise.

Speaking to Sportsmail, ex-Salzburg coach Rene Aufhauser said, “Benjamin is maybe the better football player, better to play with the team, technically maybe better at the same age”.

The retired defensive midfielder elaborated that Šeško was arguably the more natural all-round athlete, detailing that he has always been “smooth with the ball, very good technique, good finishing, and he jumps so high; very, very good with the head – it’s unbelievable.”

Aufhauser went on to add, however: “Erling was mentally a monster and better at the same age. This is the last five, 10 per cent that Benji has to get.”

Šeško has said previously that he watched lots of clips of Haaland’s movements, specifically, when he first joined the RB football group.

It was also noted that while the emerging prospect may have just edged out the now fully-fledged Manchester City superstar in some departments at an early age, the big number nine always managed to find the back of the net more often.

He’s certainly kept that up in the years since then…

A 2022 quote from Šeško is all well and good, but Haaland has proved plenty of paper in just a few short years at the Etihad.

It’s also worth noting that the two attackers are not just pretty equally quick in a straight line, but both as tall as each other, clocking in at exactly 6ft 4in, with the Man City man barely three years his senior.

On the other hand, Šeško is known for keeping up multiple sports besides just football (basketball, in particular),

Besides their position, he told Amazon Prime Video Sport that he believes there is a lot of value not just in being sized up against the likes of Haaland but in trying to take cues from other pros in training, having also named a previous Red Devil himself as a key role model: one Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Most of this talk probably sounds all well and good to most United fans, but another key stumbling block in terms of a move for the budding young goalscorer is RB Leipzig’s supposed asking price, as the Bundesliga outfit is said to value him in the region of £70m.

Nevertheless, The Athletic now writes that INEOS and head coach Ruben Amorim are now solely focused on trying to sign Šeško, having previously narrowed it down to him and Premier League-proven Ollie Watkins.

Even if they get it done, the question is, will the confident forward suit English football as much as Watkins or dare we say Haaland – and furthermore, if they do, what might this mean for Manchester United’s current centre forwards?

Ruben Amorim and Rasmus Højlund both make stances clear on forward’s future at Man United
More MUFC arrivals are still said to be largely dependent on player sales.

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Featured Images — Werner100359/Roland Osbeck (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sport

Ruben Amorim and Rasmus Højlund both make stances clear on forward’s future at Man United

Danny Jones Danny Jones Ramsus Hojlund wants to stay at Man United

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim and striker Rasmus Højlund have both made their stances clear when it comes to the forward’s future, with question marks looming over whether or not he will stay at the club this season.

The Danish international opened the scoring in the Red Devils’ third pre-season fixture on their current US tour as they went on to beat Bournemouth 4-1 in their Premier League Summer Series clash.

Adding a glancing nod on the end of the man of the match, Patrick Dorgu’s cross, Højlund headed home the first, but also impressed with some key link-up play in transition, with Amorim arguing that Man United “are playing better because he’s playing better”, despite lingering links with a move away.

Speaking to various media outlets after the full-time whistle, the number nine made his feelings on the somewhat uncertain situation “very clear”, assuring that he wants to remain at Old Trafford and “fight for [his spot] whatever happens.”

Reiterating that he just wants to “keep working hard” and “stay focused” on the job at hand, the ex-Atalanta marksman admitted that the pressure of being the main and sometimes only goal threat when arriving at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

Speaking to the BBC’s Simon Stone, he said he “could have done with some help in terms of sharing the games a bit, especially in the beginning”, but went on to reinforce that he is more willing than ever to get stuck in, insisting: “Competition is fine with me, it sharpens me. I’m more than ready.”

The centre-forward, who is still just 22, also believes he’s still learning plenty about how to improve his game, adding, “I think you can see it in my game. I’m starting to develop and become even better in the basics” – something his manager also commented on in his own post-match duties.

Amorim, who is now eight months into the rather big job, told club media in the press conference following the promising victory over the Cherries that he was impressed with both his many others overall play compared to the previous campaign already.

Most importantly for the youngster, as well, although the Portuguese head coach wouldn’t be drawn into question regarding whether Højlund will stay at United or be sold to potentially fund a move for a new striker, he made it plain that he’s more than happy keeping him in his squad.

“For me, it’s more than a goal,” said the 40-year-old. “For him, it’s more important the goal, and for the fans maybe […] we need goals, but the way he’s linking the play in this moment, the way he’s fighting for the balls”, paying extra compliment to how he helped “connect” and “support” from midfield to attack.

Elsewhere, INEOS are reportedly looking to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, having reportedly honed their sights on either one of two main targets, both of whom could potentially lead the line ahead of Ramus and Joshua Zirkzee while the Dane continues to mature.

In fact, Højlund himself was keen to remind his critics that he’s “still very young”, stating: “People forget that sometimes. “I’m only 22. Not every striker scores 100 goals by that age.

You can hear what Amorim, Dorgu and others made of their outing in Chicago HERE and watch the full highlights down below.

Do you think Højlund should/will stay at Manchester United?

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Featured Images — The United Stand/MUTV (screenshots via YouTube)

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