Manchester United Seasonal Blog 2025/26 - Groundhog Day

[thebillfella]

Which is great if you can get two of say Tchouaméni / Scott / Stiller / Bouaddi / Wharton for less that they have spent...

However...

[thebillfella]

Eff me we're going to end up going back to Baleba at this rate, probably for more that they were originally willing to accept!

Sounds like we are back in for him

Why is no one showing an interest (at least as far as the red top rags are concerned) in Adam Wharton? I know a slightly different player but I'd put him on a par with Anderson and better than Fernandes and Baleba?

[thebillfella]

Latest news from Madrid is that they are seriously considering selling Tchouameni for 90m euros (@£77m) this summer. The bigger sticking point apparently is his salary and that United would need him to take a pay cut to join. And waiting for Madrid to give the green light to start negotiations (as if any other team including Madrid would play it so much by the book ).

For that price, cheaper than Fernandes and Tonali, we should snap their hand off. But we won't; we'll go for someone around £50m instead and then look to spend another £50m next season to replace them!!!

Apparently, this is all part of the new data-led recruitment approach having recruited Michael Sansoni to support Berrada / Wilcox / Vivell with an even-more moneyball approach to recruitment. Let's hope his spreadsheets are correct (with two of Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Felix Nmecha, Andrey Santos and Sander Berge being considered a successful window if the rumours are correct)...

[Dr. Giggles]

Sander Berge...

I'd rather have Sonny Barger.

Aurelien Tchouameni...

Probably the best of what's left.

Bournemouth want £80m+ for Scott

They're avin a Crouch

[thebillfella]

Aurelien Tchouameni...

Probably the best of what's left.

Real has suddenly decided he's now worth 100m euros now - United tax on show again!

[hancockjr]

Andrey Santos

[Dr. Giggles]

Not the worst signing... provided we still go and get Tchouameni...

[Darbyand]

Not the worst signing... provided we still go and get Tchouameni...

Extending his contract with Madrid apparently. An old classic to use United interest for a bit of extra leverage.

Alex Scott? Baleba maybe?

[Dr. Giggles]

Tchouameni...

Extending his contract with Madrid apparently. An old classic to use United interest for a bit of extra leverage.

Pity. Ah well, can't be worrying over spilt milk.

Alex Scott? Baleba maybe?

Alex Scott? Maybe? But not at £80m+!

Baleba No!!

[thebillfella]

I'm getting the word... underwhelmed

[thebillfella]

David Ornstein on Manchester United's transfer approach this summer:

"Manchester United are putting huge emphasis on being disciplined in the market. They are setting their own valuations for players and refusing to go beyond them.

If a fee rises above what they believe a player is worth, they are prepared to walk away. They also want players who are fully committed to joining the club.

That approach didn't work with Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, but there will be other opportunities in the market. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the coming weeks."

United outspending their rivals again I see! Sounds like we're buying cheap, buying twice to me.

[forestfan]

The Levy Spurs approach, in other words… walk away from competition for in-demand signings and then sign overpriced crap in desperation in the interests of “cost-saving”.

[thebillfella]

Oh joy

[thebillfella]

I guess we could argue that it worked out quite well last summer going for Cunha rather than Wirtz / Eze / Kudus, Mbeumo rather than Madueke / Simons / Elanga / Gittens, Sesko rather than Gyokeres / Woldemade / Delap / Wissa and Lammens rather than Donnarumma / Martinez?

Maybe we should trust the data-led approach a little more after last summer's transfer window success? But Santos to me feels more like a Norgaard to Arsenal rather than Rice to Arsenal type squad addition. Don't get me wrong, we need squad additions, but we're still waiting for the main addition to the central mid and not the support staff.

[thebillfella]

Karl Darlow gets the here we go as new backup keeper so hopefully we can get shot on Onana and Bayindir.

[thebillfella]

Not the worst signing... provided we still go and get Tchouameni...

Extending his contract with Madrid apparently. An old classic to use United interest for a bit of extra leverage.

Alex Scott? Baleba maybe?

I'm slightly surprised that no-one is mentioning Manu Kone tbh. Deschamps certainly rates him. Current market value 50m euros apparently, although I can't see it staying there in this current market.

[thebillfella]

On a completely separate note, Manzambi has also caught the eye as a more attacking midfield target if we are looking at strong squad growth. But no doubt everybody has known about him for years and I just need to catch up

[thebillfella]

I guess we could argue that it worked out quite well last summer going for Cunha rather than Wirtz / Eze / Kudus, Mbeumo rather than Madueke / Simons / Elanga / Gittens, Sesko rather than Gyokeres / Woldemade / Delap / Wissa and Lammens rather than Donnarumma / Martinez?

Maybe we should trust the data-led approach a little more after last summer's transfer window success? But Santos to me feels more like a Norgaard to Arsenal rather than Rice to Arsenal type squad addition. Don't get me wrong, we need squad additions, but we're still waiting for the main addition to the central mid and not the support staff.

I'm guessing this approach is essentially self-imposed "austerity" measures (dressed up as sensible data-led approach) while we look to fund the new stadium so may be the measure of things to come for the next few seasons until the new stadium and surrounding redevelopment is in place?

Or are these signings so far just squad additions with the big major signing in keeping with those of our rivals to come, and if so who? Here's hoping that they are keeping the next signings as under wraps as the Santos and Darlow ones were to mitigate the bidding war that will no doubt see us backing out.

[thebillfella]

Sounds like the Ederson deal has collapsed after failing a 2nd fitness test.

[Darbyand]

Not the worst signing... provided we still go and get Tchouameni...

Extending his contract with Madrid apparently. An old classic to use United interest for a bit of extra leverage.

Alex Scott? Baleba maybe?

I'm slightly surprised that no-one is mentioning Manu Kone tbh. Deschamps certainly rates him. Current market value 50m euros apparently, although I can't see it staying there in this current market.

Sorry Bill but I have seen a lot of people mentioning Kone

[Dr. Giggles]

Sounds like the Ederson deal has collapsed after failing a 2nd fitness test.

https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/10/man-utd- ... -29106554/

Yup. This summer's going to be another fiasco

Then again, with the only ownership group capable of matching Daniel Snyder for sheer awfulness, is anyone going to truly be surprised

[thebillfella]

Not the worst signing... provided we still go and get Tchouameni...

Extending his contract with Madrid apparently. An old classic to use United interest for a bit of extra leverage.

Alex Scott? Baleba maybe?

I'm slightly surprised that no-one is mentioning Manu Kone tbh. Deschamps certainly rates him. Current market value 50m euros apparently, although I can't see it staying there in this current market.

Sorry Bill but I have seen a lot of people mentioning Kone

They are now! Not 2 weeks ago when I first mentioned him! Happy they're finally listening to me!

In all seriousness I'd be far happier with Kone than I would with Emerson if I'm honest. We'll see...

[thebillfella]

Thread for the new season below is admin can lock this one please?

viewtopic.php?t=137597

Ta.