Oh yes, he will get two Golden Ball

Hmm, two golden balls....this must be an obscene looking trophy!

(http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Fo....aspx)

I don't like this and in the same time I wonder why didn't any Premier League club try to take Harrop.

I might have been "tricked" by his game against Palace at the end of the season, but he really seemed like an excellent young player, so I am quite surprised we let him go and, as I said, by the fact that his new club is not a bigger one.

I also thought we could have offered him a new contract and send him on loan to a EPL club. We probably did offer him a contract, but I guess he wanted to go somewhere and play in the first team. Best luck to him and I hope at least that we have some kind of agreement to buy him back.

On a positive note, the story about United signing Fabinho is on again, so I'm hopeful it will come true.

He's 21 and hasn't even been out on loan so far. This seems to suggest that he isn't THAT talented. He took his goal well against Palace, but didn't really excite me too much. He might be a good player, but at United that doesn't really mean too much. Considering that he would have to outplay Rashford, Martial(who are both younger than him!) or other players of that quality or if he plays in midfield, then compete with Pogba, Herrera and someone like Fabinho...

If other clubs haven't seen him as an exciting loan option so far and he hasn't featured at United, then there isn't a very high chance of him making it.

We should also consider that this was just one game at home against a team that had nothing to play for.

I think we didn't offer him a contract because of his age. Players should either make it or move on by that age. Even a late bloomer like Darren Fletcher made his debut when he was 19.

On a positive note, the story about United signing Fabinho is on again, so I'm hopeful it will come true.

Also read that Renato Sanches might be available and we might be looking at him. It begs some questions if Bayern are willing to let him go and he isn't exactly a DM, but.. I would be happy about that transfer.

I think we didn't offer him a contract because of his age. Players should either make it or move on by that age.

The player said that United did offer him a contract, but he chose to join Preston instead, as he was promised first team football there. I can understand that to some point, as he is 21 and needs to make a breakthrough. He cannot do that at United. What I don't know is whether there was a possibility to sign another contract with United and go somewhere on loan. Maybe if he waited a bit longer he could have got a better opportunity. I also read last week that some French clubs were interested in him. Well, anyway, I wish him all the best.

Also read that Renato Sanches might be available and we might be looking at him. It begs some questions if Bayern are willing to let him go and he isn't exactly a DM, but.. I would be happy about that transfer.

Yeah, when Bayern wants to sell a player there is always a doubt. Maybe Sanches has some issues with his behaviour or working habits? When it comes to talent, he seems really good, so I don't think that is his problem. I simply don't know why didn't he get to play more at Bayern, but Ancelotti probably has his reasons. Said that, I would definitely like us to buy him and I think Mourinho might be more successful than Ancelotti in making Renato Sanches progress into a world class player. If the price is about 30mil euro as reported by the media, it's worth trying.

I like the latest story that United are considering activating the release clause of £10-12mil for Marten De Roon of M'boro.

I liked this player, he's maybe the only one I'd took from Boro and Mourinho also had some very nice words after we played against them.

If he accepts to be a part of the rotation and if he doesn't pretend to be a starter week in week out, I'd be more than happy to get him.

The season will be long and we will need depth in every part of the team.

Of course, we will also need to sell several players, but that's another story.

I'm hearing Rooney has signed a two year contract with Everton.

Fantastic. Lovely to get that off the books.

I like this one. Much better than being held to ransom by Real for Morata. Maybe this will teach them a lesson -- they miss out on a payday, are unable to spend that money, and now have a pissed asset on their hands.

(http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40516483)

Just have to post this for shits & giggles. United inquired on a 16yo Canadian midfielder.

(https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2017/07....html)

I have my doubts with Lukaku, would have preferred Morata. But hope Lukaku proves me wrong.

Buggle wrote:

I like this one. Much better than being held to ransom by Real for Morata. Maybe this will teach them a lesson -- they miss out on a payday, are unable to spend that money, and now have a pissed asset on their hands.

(http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40516483)

I agree about refusing to being held to ransom by Real Madrid, but I have to say I'm a bit sorry for Morata, as the player seemed to be really willing to come to United and prove himself. Now he is the victim of Florentino Perez's games, unfortunately.
However, I like the fact Real are now in a situation they need to sell two attackers and not just one, if they want to purchase Mbappe. They already needed to sell one from Bale, Ronaldo or Benzema, but now they also must see what to do with Morata, who wants to play as a starter or to be sold. The problem is - who will pay then as much money as they wanted from United for Morata??? Maybe PSG, maybe City, maybe Chelsea...

If the choise was between Morata, Lukaku and Bellotti, then it's maybe the best to buy Lukaku, as he is already accustomed to playing in England.

However, I was hoping that we would invest more money in someone like Bale or Neymar, while trusting Martial and Rashford for the position of a number 9.
Anyway, I knew it was not really possible, as Mourinho prefers to have a Drogba type of player upfront.

I just know that Lukaku will score a load of goals next season.

Now let's take Fabinho and also a right winger, to solve our most pressing issues.

Afterwards, we would need to sell several players and maybe add one or two until the end of transfer window, depending on lots of factors.

Duncan1 wrote:

I'm hearing Rooney has signed a two year contract with Everton.

This is the best solution for everyone, as Rooney returns to his loving club, United takes his enormous wages off the bill and creates space for someone younger, while Everton gets a very experienced and an (still) excellent player for free. I think that in Everton, Rooney might again find some motivation to start hitting the net. Who knows, if he re-discovers that fire inside, he might still play a good season or two. Hopefully he will play as a starter, which is crucial for him to stay fit.

Anyway, he was not good enough for United, so it was a good move to send him back to Everton. Even better if this helps us to get Lukaku and make Chelsea and Conte quite pissed off :)

gerkop wrote:

I have my doubts with Lukaku, would have preferred Morata. But hope Lukaku proves me wrong.

The more I think about it the more I think I prefer Lukaku. He's proven, he's scored 20+ in the Premier League for the past 3 seasons for an average team, we might never know how Morata would have got on, you never know, he could have struggled.

Nemanja77 wrote:

United takes his enormous wages off the bill

I have my suspicions about that. He had a year left on his contract didn't he, I doubt he'd take a huge pay cut to leave. I bet we'll end up paying something like half his wages for the remaining year of his contract so that he's not out of pocket.

Duncan1 wrote:

gerkop wrote:

I have my doubts with Lukaku, would have preferred Morata. But hope Lukaku proves me wrong.

The more I think about it the more I think I prefer Lukaku. He's proven, he's scored 20+ in the Premier League for the past 3 seasons for an average team, we might never know how Morata would have got on, you never know, he could have struggled.

He's a good striker, but I'm not a fan. Everton is an above average team and he is good on the counter but maybe not so much connecting play during slower attacks. We don't counter nearly as much and I think he might not be that brilliant. Of the strikers we're linked with Lukaku is the most underwhelming one for me. Maybe because I don't know enough to compare him to Belotti for example, but for me Lukaku is a risk. I don't see him dominating the league, but I can see him fail.

I'd much rather see United spend another 60m and get Mbappe.

Duncan1 wrote:

Nemanja77 wrote:

United takes his enormous wages off the bill

I have my suspicions about that. He had a year left on his contract didn't he, I doubt he'd take a huge pay cut to leave. I bet we'll end up paying something like half his wages for the remaining year of his contract so that he's not out of pocket.

If that's the case, it would be too much from our side. I hope we are not that desperate to send him elsewhere just to get rid of half of his wages. Who knows, maybe it was among Everton's conditions in selling Lukaku.

He's a good striker, but I'm not a fan. Everton is an above average team and he is good on the counter but maybe not so much connecting play during slower attacks. We don't counter nearly as much and I think he might not be that brilliant. Of the strikers we're linked with Lukaku is the most underwhelming one for me. Maybe because I don't know enough to compare him to Belotti for example, but for me Lukaku is a risk. I don't see him dominating the league, but I can see him fail.

About Lukaku, I would firstly like to see some official news, as things might change overnight.

He is a type of striker that Mourinho likes, someone who is both strong and fast, someone with a brilliant sense for finishing who can score both with his feet and head, who can be a handful for defenders and receive/defend the ball well, therefore almost a complete package upfront.

Then, as you said he is good on a counter, while Mou likes to hit his opponents that way, so they fit each other quite well.

At the end, Lukaku is one of the few players who managed to score a hattrick against United, so gotta respect that (even if it was the last game of the season).

However, as I said, I would have preferred spending money on wingers and develop Martial and Rashford as strikers, but I guess that was never going to happen with Jose'.

I'd much rather see United spend another 60m and get Mbappe.

If Mbappe wanted to come to United, we would have already bought him, as money is not our problem.

2 years remaining

The thing is that I don't think Lukaku is that great overall. For me we have a forward line-up that is strong, but that could use improvement somewhere. Doesn't matter whether it's out wide or up top. I think Lukaku is one of those strikers who will get you 20-25 goals, but won't improve the rest of the team and create that much himself. The great thing about guys like Ronaldo and Messi is that they score a shitload and create as well. Both with their quality and their passing. Mbappe seems the same. Lukaku on the other hand.. I don't think he is capable of that.

I do hope that it's a plot by Everton to force Chelseas hand or smth and we're after Morata or someone else...

He would fit the Mourinho template, but I'm not a fan of that template. I would like him to change his template to be more like what we want/expect.

chuksi wrote:

The thing is that I don't think Lukaku is that great overall. For me we have a forward line-up that is strong, but that could use improvement somewhere. Doesn't matter whether it's out wide or up top. I think Lukaku is one of those strikers who will get you 20-25 goals, but won't improve the rest of the team and create that much himself. The great thing about guys like Ronaldo and Messi is that they score a shitload and create as well. Both with their quality and their passing. Mbappe seems the same. Lukaku on the other hand.. I don't think he is capable of that.

I do hope that it's a plot by Everton to force Chelseas hand or smth and we're after Morata or someone else...

He would fit the Mourinho template, but I'm not a fan of that template. I would like him to change his template to be more like what we want/expect.

I understand what you are saying and somewhat agree.

However, I am wondering whether Morata would be much better than Lukaku all-in-all, when you consider both creating and scoring.

I think Mourinho mainly wants his striker to be a scoring machine, yet someone who can draw two defenders with him and let the creative force of his team-mates do its part.

We have enough creative players already, but we need someone who can put the ball in the net, and/or to draw enough attention of the defenders, in order to make the job easier for the rest of our players when they find themselves in good positions.

I think/hope this can work well, either with Morata or Lukaku, with the latter being physically stronger and more accustomed to battling with EPL defenders, while the former is a bit more sophisticated and might bring more to team-play.

Of course I would also prefer Mbappe, but it seems impossible so we must choose from what is available. If Real Madrid want to play their games, then it's a good move to draw out of Morata talks and get Lukaku.