Manchester United Transfer Banter

13 Jan 2026 18:15:27
Looks like Barcelona are trying to negotiate either a lower fee or second loan with conditional obligation for Rashford.
We have got to hold ferm and say it's a sale at the agreed price or we sell him elsewhere. If Barcelona seriously can't afford him is there a player that would be worth a direct swap with.

14 Jan 2026 09:12:28
Barca taking the p as I’m sure most of us knew they would. They think they hold all the cards and like throwing their weight around. Stand firm, if they want him they pay if not then do one. I’m sure other teams will want him considering his relative decent form this season.

Problem might well be rashford himself, he wants Barcelona so could make life more difficult if that’s not seen as possible by United.

16 Jan 2026 19:37:06
Apparently PSG are ready to offer 50m for Rashford.

13 Jan 2026 17:42:29
So, the Bruno poll. 118 votes with 81% of people saying we should sell him.

I'm split on a Bruno, he's a big girl's blouse and he gives the ball away a lot, but his goals and assists numbers are staggering, if he goes he will leave a big creative gap to fill.

13 Jan 2026 18:00:01
This squad is in no position to let someone like Bruno go. He has his downsides but relying on the recruitment to replace someone that contributes as much as him is nearly impossible.

The majority would have choose Wirtz to replace Bruno last year if they could have cherry picked someone. Look at how poor he's been, albeit adapting to a new league. The numbers, work rate, heart and soul Bruno brings to the club can't be understated.

We all watch Lingard play behind the striker for a couple of years. No goals or assists in 18 months. That could be the alternative if we don't find a successor. Even players like Wharton or Anderson would improve our midfield but not as a replacement for a creative outlet like Bruno.

If we didn't need full backs, two centre midfielders and possibly a wide forward, I would say we could let him go. But the sheer amount of influence he has on the pitch and I'm sure off it too, is too valuable to roll the dice because people want a fresh face.

13 Jan 2026 18:07:45
If he stays, would have no qualms with that, quality player.

Just think the player and team are worlds apart in their ambitions at the moment. We need a pretty comprehensive rebuild and Bruno at 31/32 has a few years left at the top to win major honours.

Would expect him to move to a big club on the continent to try and win something substantial or just call it a day at top level football and move to Saudi Arabia for the money.

13 Jan 2026 18:31:28
81% of people are wrong then. Bruno owes the club nothing. If he decides to stay we should be thrilled. If he leaves we should use the money wisely. But he's the one player who consistently delivers.

The whole assumption that we need to sell Bruno in order to be able to invest doesn't have a basis. As such we should be looking to add to our group of good players, not lose any of them.

13 Jan 2026 19:00:44
Bruno has great numbers for sure. How have the team done.
No cf has excelled in front of him.
No cm has excelled alongside him
No wingers have done well outside of him.
Football is a team game.
4 or t managers
Over 20 players signed since him and still no telling with him.
Mctominay didn't excel alongside him.
So bruno has great numbers the team and nobody else has done well.
Its a weird one but Manchester united have never competed for the top prizes worth him in our team.
Normally world class players get more from those around them and help them lift their game but its never really happened for any player playing with bruno at united.
Cunha and mbeumo both not scoring more despite bruno being better than any individual at Brentford or wolves.
I think the question is a fair one.


Why has no other player or the team ever performed consistently well with bruno in it?
Im Just offering a different perspective.
Did salah replace the irreplaceable suarez?
Did dembele replace mbappe?
Cantona irreplaceable was replaced.
There is no player in the world irreplaceable never mind won that's never won a league as part of a team.
Google all the wc players to never win a league.
Greizman Gordon banks and booby Moore were the best of them.
He has been a shining light in a bad team for 7 years.
Id love to see him win the big trophies and how he would fit into a winning team and how he would have to adapt his game.
If he played in midfield for Madrid his numbers would not be what they are at united imo but he could be part of a winning team.

13 Jan 2026 20:30:15
Ken I agree to an extent. No player is bigger than the club. But we are in a fragile position and need our better players. If we qualify for CL and can get in the pick of midfielders then ok, but there are so many assumptions to the question. If Bruno wants to stay then I really don't think we should consider selling him.

13 Jan 2026 20:52:37
Liverpool were the same when Gerrard was leaving, how could they ever replace their talisman. Probably the best thing that could’ve happened to them.

13 Jan 2026 21:02:27
Don if he wants to stay and sign a contract I've no issue if he wants to stay to see out his contract then i'd rather sell.

14 Jan 2026 07:35:00
I think Booby Moore might be that drag queen you once met Ken.

15 Jan 2026 10:39:56
Good post Ken, Bruno is Juan Sebastian Veron. The only difference being that he couldn't displace Keane or Scholes nor replace our attackers or wingers so a world class talent moved on.

It's much easier for Bruno to look like a world ie when he's the only person receiving the ba as they expect him to do something g with it, but as per the stats that originally put United off signing him the summer before, he gives the ball away constantly and is a bad fit for a team structure in a team looking to rebuild rather than plug a hole.

13 Jan 2026 17:26:20
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 21 - Quick Round Up

13 Jan 2026 12:07:06
Just reading that Steve Holland has come in to assist Michael Carrick. I like the idea of having an older, experienced head supporting, think that will be important. Slight concern that Holland being involved lays some foundations for Southgate to come in, in the summer. Carrick hasn't worked with Holland previously so seems a out of no where appointment. Hope I am worrying about nothing.

13 Jan 2026 12:51:30
I’d tried to block those thoughts out of my head Ports too. But it is worrying, but also what Ashworth suggested right before he was sacked?

13 Jan 2026 12:54:41
Also read that Woodgate will be a coach, gulp.

13 Jan 2026 12:57:09
Furthermore, wasn’t he Ashworth’s choice ti succeed ETH? A view which got him sacked.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we do this.

13 Jan 2026 13:28:11
Woodgate worked with Carrick at Middlesbrough so not as surprised with that one.

13 Jan 2026 15:20:20
Surely if it was Southgate even the clowns would have just appointed him now.

. hopefully time to review the market reveals a plethora of managers better equipped than Southgate. Or, failing at Boro (Southgate and Carrick) is the main criteria?

13 Jan 2026 15:34:16
Ashworth had a few views which didn't align with the board. I think Southgate was a choice or Ratcliffes, going back to the late great ed002s posts here.

Ashworth didn't agree with the RA appointment and the redundancies.

Holland is a good shout though. Fantastic, well thought of and experienced guy in beside Carrick.

13 Jan 2026 15:39:35
I could never get behind Southgate as manager.
There is a reason he’s still unemployed since July 2024.

13 Jan 2026 16:55:47
I don't get the Southgate hate. He's the second most successful England Manager ever, a job that more experienced and revered crashes have failed at. He created a great culture and built England into a force.

Yes he was too conservative but hopefully he has learned some lessons. I'm not saying I want him as United Manager, but he gets a lot of unfair stick.

And twenty, the reason he is out of work is because he chose to be out of work. He's made that clear.

13 Jan 2026 17:06:23
AJH

How did Southgate do in club football? Do you really think his ethos fast attacking football?

No to Southgate, ever.

13 Jan 2026 17:37:29
I didn't say that Red Man, I just think his achievements are overlooked.

13 Jan 2026 17:40:38
AJH he was a crap England manager remind me what he won in all those years because that’s really what matters. He won’t cut it. He’s an average manager at best. This is Manchester United top 3 clubs in world football.
You weren’t happy with Amorim but Southgate would be ok? Are u ok? At this point you have to get someone in who mitigates a bit of risk someone’s who’s been there and done it.

That is not Southgate!
I’m starting to think you work on the board.

13 Jan 2026 18:01:05
Ajh, never really beat anyone that England weren't supposed to. Like England teams in recent years. Couldn't beat the big ones.

13 Jan 2026 19:17:57
Twenty, RTFP. I didn't say I want Southgate, he is too conservative. I was pointing out he doesn't get the respect he deserves for what he did with England.

And Angel, fair point, but that's more than pretty much every other England Manager achieved.

13 Jan 2026 19:32:13
Second best England manager is no big accolade.

13 Jan 2026 21:33:10
It’s a conversation about him possibly being the next manager? And you are saying he’s done well deserves respect for his achievements of nothing. Southgate did well at beating the likes of San Marino. i would say no top half club who have ambitions to win the league would be looking to employ him actually i don’t think anyone in the league would employ him I really don’t.

His level is championship and I’m not sure he would do great in that league.

13 Jan 2026 23:21:18
The fact the manager merry-go-round has been in full flow in the EPL and abroad and he is still out of a job speaks volumes! He has been a perennial underachiever as a player and a manager.
If we appoint Southgate, I will turn off from football altogether.
Eds, if we appoint Southgate, please terminate my account.

14 Jan 2026 13:06:49
Mine too.

13 Jan 2026 10:09:56
We are spending more on getting rid of Managers and their staff than on players lately ???.

13 Jan 2026 15:47:00
At this rate Jim will have gone through as many coaching staff as canteen staff.

14 Jan 2026 12:44:40
England never beat anyone they were not favourite to do.

13 Jan 2026 09:29:42
Carrick confirmed.

13 Jan 2026 10:08:32
Wishing him all the best. Hope he does well.

13 Jan 2026 11:09:41
I wish him all the best, but I have to say I'm somewhat underwhelmed.

13 Jan 2026 11:33:21
Very good call by Carrick to bring the experience of Steve Holland in alongside him.
Hope they do well.

13 Jan 2026 11:35:22
Holland to assist is a shrewd move to be fair.

13 Jan 2026 11:51:42
Whomever is the manager I will back. It's the least we as fans should do, and Carrick is coming in at a time when the club has committed a ridiculous act of self sabotage. The players most clearly are - by and large - still processing the whole thing. He has a lot of work to do.

13 Jan 2026 12:38:45
Very true Don. I’d be calling my agent every hour if I was a player there right now.

13 Jan 2026 12:40:26
Ken, that is a very underrated shout. Steve Holland has bags of experience. Very welcome appointment.

13 Jan 2026 13:55:21
Yes experience is good to have in the No2 role. SAF always had a good No2. As long as Holland doesn’t mean Southgate.

All the best to Carrick. However, really hope we don’t get the Carrick at the wheel, one of our own, must stay permanently nonsense.

Don, self sabotage is the correct description. Maybe given there is a little bit of certainty even only for a few months may help players focus better. Still there is no direction from up top. We have no idea on where they are going. That needs addressing.

13 Jan 2026 15:48:25
What if Carrick turns the ship around and we go on a run Red Man?

13 Jan 2026 17:09:06
Eric

What happened when we did that with Ole?

The club needs to define its path and what it wants, it needs a change manager, determined and with clear direction. Two so far since SaF and got rid of both. Carrick doesn’t appear a change manager to me.

13 Jan 2026 17:40:09
Again, Ole finished 3rd and 2nd with a bunch of players who didn't want to be here, in a very toxic environment. I'm not saying he's awesome, or that I wanted him back, but he's continually derided when for much of his time here, he did pretty well.

13 Jan 2026 17:43:16
Can anyone give some informations about Steve Holland?

13 Jan 2026 22:11:13
AJH

Part of the problem is that people only see the results in Ole coloured light, ignoring the run that got him sacked, they didn’t see the positive ethos building work SAF was doing behind the scenes between 86 to 90. Similarly they don’t see or don’t want to see the damage Ole did to the club, the psychology, the ethos was taken backwards. Ole did real damage.
Add to that it left fans utterly deluded, appointing him permanently with the main reason emotion. To be honest explained this time and again.

14 Jan 2026 12:47:39
Pretty well ??? the 1st manager since dave sexton to be here 2 full seasons and win nothing.
Big picture not the little picture ajh.
I still can't believe how the same people just look at part of the stats.

13 Jan 2026 07:39:05
{Ed's Note - Bolger3 has posted a new article entitled, Manchester United Still In A Cycle Of Poor Decision Making

12 Jan 2026 22:33:29
Well the good news is that Rooney said he would be happy to come back if asked by Carrick.
Carrick better be quick just in case Plymouth derby or Birmingham ask him back first ???.

12 Jan 2026 22:56:55
Why not Rooney as forwards coach, fletcher the midfielders, Neville in to coach the defence and van der sar as the new gk coach. And Mike plan as no2 ?.

13 Jan 2026 07:44:15
Here we go again. An ex-United legend with a woeful track record of coaching and management being touted for a job.

When will this fan base ever learn.

13 Jan 2026 09:34:07
Unless there is a specific manager they want that is not available until summer eg Tuchel, then what are we playing at? What other club appoints soft interim ex players to get fans back on side, basically rendering the season over? Are we a serious club or just a joke.

Answer, a Joke.
It’s not about Carrick but what are we doing? We went for a change manager twice in Rangnick and Amorim, then bottled it twice. Now we can’t decide what we want so sit on our hands with an interim until summer.
This is pathetic.

13 Jan 2026 10:49:12
Agreed Red Man. SJR playing Football Manager whilst Wilcox plays FIFA. It's an utter joke.

13 Jan 2026 12:19:07
Spot on RedMan, Fergie would have been gone by 1988 with these owns running the club and our history would have been vastly different now. This is not a flippant comment. Let it sink in and reflect on it. Go back and check out the history narrative of Fergie right up to 1992, so many times he was vilified in the media and tipped to be sacked.

The irony that part of his tenure pre successful league win was attribute to the removal of a toxic culture and poorly behaving or poor performing players. also with several signings that didn't work out and they themselves needed replacing.

So, reflect on this. Did we just throw away a similar chance for short term pressure in what we knew was always going to be an improvement year not a success year? Because I cannot possibly do another 25 years of watching diprubbish billionaires ruin the club. And it's the people not the riches. Jp macManus and John Magnier were also billionaires but they were owners and never got involved, unlike meddling Ratcliffe who should bhavan stuck to his 3 year plan and ignored all the others below him or maintained a united approach of yes we will not always agree or see eye to eye but actually that doesn't mean they were not the right people.

13 Jan 2026 12:44:01
What would you do red man in this situation?

13 Jan 2026 13:10:07
angel

Having fired Wilcox a couple of weeks ago I would be looking for his replacement.

12 Jan 2026 20:15:16
Good podcast again by The Athletics 'Talk of the Devils'.

Interesting from Andy Mitten on the players view on Amorims departure, Mitten of course a journalist well known for his close ties to past and present United players.

12 Jan 2026 21:45:50
Good lord man. "The players were annoyed after the Wolves game. " Is that the white hot evidence of dressing room turmoil you're looking for? Even the confirmation bias you've sought out is weak. In the last two games you've gone on about how much better we seem. Smh.

12 Jan 2026 22:09:29
If you have posted that no doubt it will say they all wanted rid. Amorim has gone, the club is a shambolic mess and the players look shell shocked. I asked Grok, “the outpouring of thanks post sacking suggests he was more liked personally than his results might suggest” . I posted Amads comment the other day.

I continue to see posts by people who have no idea what change management is about, what Amorim had to do to turn this mess around. Little hint, you can’t please all the people all the time.

13 Jan 2026 00:53:06
Caught a big one there donred ?.

13 Jan 2026 03:16:58
These journos are in utd's pocket these days. Never the fault of the Glazers or upper management. Lame duck identified and they all roll out the stories.

Regeneration money is getting so close they can all smell it now, one more interim and maybe a summer appointment and roll it out till then.

13 Jan 2026 08:58:51
The Athletic podcasts are OK, but they do seem to give the leadership a free pass.

13 Jan 2026 10:50:02
The athletic are a joke. Everytime the board make a dumb decision they are there to spin the truth into oblivion. Literally every time they come out with crap article that is the opposite of the truth. I can't believe they are still a thing.

13 Jan 2026 11:53:49
The Athletic has some good journalists and some mixed ones. Ornstein really knows his stuff. But since they were acquired by NYT they've dropped a lot of the standards that made them popular. That podcast is a good example. Really short on insider information, and lacking in any analysis of tactics etc. Basically just more of the same we get anywhere else.

13 Jan 2026 12:07:28
Look at their readership amd listenership tells you all you need to know.
I mean who could take any notice of anything they publish?

12 Jan 2026 18:40:47
Xabi alonso has obviously seen the bright lights of OT and thought, who needs Madrid and sunshine…take me home united road!

13 Jan 2026 08:08:46
???.