Manchester United Transfer Banter

02 Feb 2026 07:29:06
Seriously hope these rumours about Carrick wanting Rashford back are just that. Rumours.

02 Feb 2026 08:46:43
Personally do not think he fits into the model that we are moving towards wages/profile wise. I also think the decision has already been made for him to move on, he wants to stay where he is and we have to just make the deal happen without getting bent over by them.

02 Feb 2026 11:03:27
Wouldn't touch him.

02 Feb 2026 11:14:07
I love the story just to ensure Barcelona aren't still trying to take him on the cheap which they were angling for. This will shut them up and get them to pay up. I wouldn't let Rashford within 100 miles of our squad.

Once a player proves they're a toxic influence tk suit themselves they already showed they are deeply dangerous to the around. Its a firm Foxtrot Oscar from me.

02 Feb 2026 15:00:57
I'm not sure Rashford is looking at United and wanting to come back to be honest, the familiar faces he surrounded himself with have gone, he wouldn't be coming in as a starter and would be competing with Sesko, Mbuemo, Cunha, Dorgu and Diallo for 1 of the 3 positions and honestly, I think the majority would agree, at this point his is behind all 5.

Best for all parties that he stays away and shouldn't even be considered. Honestly, I hate Barcelona trying to get a cheap deal but for the sake of moving him on I'd take whatever they offer and just move on.

02 Feb 2026 17:50:48
No he shouldn’t come back, but to say in football ability he is behind that 5 is laughable…. Just lost his way for whatever reason. who knows.

02 Feb 2026 18:44:12
So at this point as I said, you’d have him in our team ahead of them?

02 Feb 2026 21:45:18
I’d have him in the squad 110%. Always maintained he should come back. Forgive and forget and move on. He’d complete our forward line as a right footed option who can play across the front 3 and has a goal in him.

Anyway won’t happen so a pointless debate.

02 Feb 2026 22:32:26
Forgive and forget what? That he put no effort in for 2 years after getting a huge new contract? I will not be forgiving or forgetting and do not want him back.

{Ed025's Note - i dont blame you GDS..

02 Feb 2026 23:57:25
Seconded GDS, I certainly won't be forgiving. That said I will wish him well in his next move and will always try to remember the highs more than the lows. He was always inconsistent but certainly produced some magic over the years. Shame since he has all the talent to be world class if he had the drive that others possess.

02 Feb 2026 07:39:04
{Ed's Note - LAUDRUPHAGI has posted a new article entitled, Why Rangers' Window Feels Like Proper Squad Building

01 Feb 2026 22:02:35
I was very much on the fence where Amorim was concerned. If I was pushed I would have said give him a little more time to show his ideas had some merit.

However it cannot be denied that he was killing Bruno positionally and that was clear to even the most ardent Ruben supporter. Mainoo was on the fringes and almost certainly gone. The mood around the club was one like I have rarely seen in nearly 60 years as a supporter. Possibly only matched to the relegation year.

Switch to the current day. Sure the result could have gone against us but the atmosphere is palpable and the exact opposite to the Amorim period, particularly the last few months. Bruno is back to his old self on the park, albeit still a whinger! Mainoo is all smiles and the team having fun it seems.

Early days I know. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and yes it’s a long term project as we are weekly reminded by the usual suspects.

But the question is…. Was Amorim actually hurting the club with his stubbornness as opposed to taking it in the right direction? In my opinion and in hindsight, yes.

Was he the right man longer term?
Personally I now don’t think he was and getting rid when they did was in the clubs best interest.

Hard to use the league position as a true measure. It’s a strange old season so far. But you can only beat what’s in front of you.

Going to be an interesting ride over the next 6 months! All aboard!

02 Feb 2026 03:51:26
It's certainly going to be a ride. There will be highs and lows I'm sure. The four first team players we brought in during the summer have levelled up our attack. I know the the jury is out for some on Sesko but I have faith in him. If we invest to the same level in midfield this summer then we will be in a good place next season.

Amorim has gone and hopefully the storm went with him. He said the good times are coming and now they're here. with Carrick, you knoooooowwwww!

02 Feb 2026 08:54:28
I was definitely an Amorim supporter, I agreed with a lot of what he said about the club/players etc. I also believe that if he had been given more time and another summer winder we would have seen further improvement and a champions leage run next year.
I do not believe he was given the best chance with the squad that we have for the style of play he wanted to play.

I think he would have been given at least a few more months has it not got so toxic relationship wise.

All that being said, I am not sure whether many clubs would have giben him as much time as we did and aside from the end the support. He also did not help himself with the lack of flexibility and any time he did and it looked like it would work then instantly flex back to his style to not allow for the alternative to work.

He will go on to be a success somewhere else and hopefully we will have that here too with whoever the next permanent is. The model is built to allow for these manager changes without too many issues.

02 Feb 2026 17:54:17
All he was good at is press conferences not one player in 14 months progressed, the results speak for themselves, very poor naive manager and probably the worst in game management I have seen in the EPL.

01 Feb 2026 20:22:34
What do you think of Lammens so far Ed001? Had someone say he hasn't kept many clean sheets but seems to concede some absolute screamers most week.

{Ed001's Note - he looks decent so far. Not done anything special yet but it is early days. He hasn't made any bad errors that I can think of either. Looks a good, solid all-round keeper.}

01 Feb 2026 21:14:43
I think he’s quietly been pretty good, hasn’t really made any errors leading to goals, has let a couple in that he maybe should have saved but that’s the same for all keepers. Compared to Onana he’s Schmeichel + Van Der Sar.

01 Feb 2026 22:10:36
The thing I’d like to see him work on is his aggression coming for crosses.

The goal against Arsenal was a classic example of a keeper being too meek. He tried to come for the ball, was bullied by opposition players in the box, and got nowhere near the corner, resulting in a goal. If you’re going to come for a cross, you need to drive through the mill of players and make sure you get it. There’s no point in half measures, you either use aggression to get to the ball, or stay on your line. He’s a big lad, he has the strength to push through players, but needs to use the force required to do it.

In general, I think more keepers need to do this against Arsenal. Their setpiece strategy is to put a wall of players in front of the keeper. Keepers can use their hands and shouldn’t be allowing anyone else to control the box. Maybe a few fist first charges for the ball might make Arsenal lads think twice about blocking off keepers.

01 Feb 2026 22:22:31
He is very solid. Some good reaction saves, good work on crosses - except when he is very badly crowded. Plays well from back generally except that one mistake when he made a recovery save.

What a difference he has made. Very happy with him as the choice. He will keep developing and looks like someone favel and co has got right.

02 Feb 2026 03:10:34
He is the signing of the summer IMO. He stabilises the back line, whatever the formation.

Imagine if we could have somehow let Ugarte go, and brought in say a Gallagher and Neves for a combined net outlay of circa 20m. we would have improved our midfield cattle, added another option and released the Bruno shackle to play him away from. the No8 role.

Our midfield is crap, even now. Watch against Fulham, we are tore to pieces too often.

02 Feb 2026 12:48:55
I think he’s an Ok keeper. He’s still young so plenty of room for growth. There’s been a few times he’s been beaten by curling shots from the corner of the box. He could either be unlucky or needs to work on his positioning, not sure which.

However, he can easily be classed as a great signing if for nothing else he’s stopped the constant worry and talk about a dodgy keeper that makes so many mistakes.

02 Feb 2026 17:56:22
He is Average EPL keeper we think he so good because look what he followed but TBF he handled the pressure well at a young age coming to United as number 1, so with some decent coaching and willing to learn he could progress rapidly but we seriously need a good number 2 to push him on.

02 Feb 2026 19:43:50
Hes been okay so far, haven't really made a mistake just feel a top keeper would save some of the goals he has conceded. Still youngish that he could improve.

01 Feb 2026 17:40:00
An almost all too familiar experience today, giving up a "safe" lead. But the reaction this time was to go down and score another.

Perhaps Villa are starting to feel the weight of being required to play so much football. All of a sudden they look within range of us, Chelsea and Liverpool, both of which looked very good this weekend, if only for the second half in Chelsea's case. So, let's hope we can keep it going. We need to beat Spurs next weekend. Watching them against City they look lifeless.

Back to today's game. Fulham played excellent football at times. I thought we were marginally the better side but also that we were lucky to not concede more. Lammens had another good game. No chance with either goal and had some excellent reaction saves. It brings up a question. If Carrick doesn't get the job would you consider Marco Silva as a good replacement?

01 Feb 2026 19:02:11
Some people just work in certain environments. I’m a huge fan of Silva’s work at Fulham, but he’s exactly where he should be and sign a new deal there.

01 Feb 2026 16:44:11
Another good battling win for Michael Carrick but our quality in midfield really drops off when casemiro goes off ugarte is way off it.

01 Feb 2026 17:34:19
Raging i missed it. saw we were 2 up then didn't see result till i got to car. Great finish to the game i'd say. Big will. Roll on next week.

01 Feb 2026 18:16:29
Conner Gallagher was the guy we needed this Jan to add to squad depth.

Firstly, I realize it was probably not an option. Because he possibly wanted guarantees to start. And we are not able to give him that guarantee.

But this guy has all the minerals we need as a casemiro replacement. He can play defensive, but also has legs, can pass. But also could come on for kobbie or wider on the wing. Very good player who was available who can impact the team in many ways as we hunt for UCL spot.

If we finish this window without a center mid signing it is madness. Kobbie not ready to guarantee 90 mins every game without injury or drop off. Casemiro is a 70 min player who will leave in the summer. Ugarte is way off the level required and not good enough to be a starter.

So we would need possibly 3 center mids this year, possibly even 4. Not sure anyone from youth is ready. Kobbie, whilst a good player, should not be 1 of 3 players. We need 4 strong center mids plus maybe Kone from youth to develop for future.

01 Feb 2026 19:05:45
I wonder if Mount could play that No8 role when Cas moves on? He’s got the engine for it (if fit), and technical nous to play it?

01 Feb 2026 19:44:48
Eric I think Mount could fill in as a sub option but he's not suited to no.8. He's the extra midfield support player. Maybe out left against big teams. But tbh I think pushing Bruno further up means we'll see very little of Mount. Mainoo's problem has become Mount's! If Bruno stays this summer, I wouldn't be surprised if we sell Mount.

01 Feb 2026 20:17:52
If mount can stay fit, he can grab a spot on the bench, that's it. Rather he got fit and was transferred.

01 Feb 2026 20:36:34
Mount was injured again today. Dorgu out injured and he has a chance to play and is unavailable.

Bruno was injured and mount was injured and unavailable.

The guy is just to fragile and can't be relied on. Can't build a team around players who can't stay fit. We have suffered at leftback because we think shaw will come back and play (keep buying cheap stop gaps) . I worry about Martinez, who is a baller on the ball, but injuries have been a problem for 2 seasons.

I don't think mount can play CM as he is made of glass but also doesn't have the physicality to win the fight in there. He is a good presser who tends to nick the ball away and closes from intelligent angles. But never struck me as a good 8.

01 Feb 2026 07:39:04
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, The Dalot Dilemma: Why United Should Keep Their Reliable Right-Back

01 Feb 2026 09:36:46
He is reliable alright. Reliably poor that is ;)

01 Feb 2026 09:44:26
I think his versatilty as either a back-up left or rightback makes him a useful option to keep around. But that's his only redeeming quality, he doesn't get anywhere near a starting XI IMO and a link to Real Madrid is amusing. I think if I was TTA I'd be quite offended.

01 Feb 2026 11:51:33
I've been exasperated like the rest of us with Dalot from time to time but unless it's a significant offer (i. e £30m+) I'd keep him. He's a decent FB, but he lacks the first touch, crossing capability and concentration to play the hybrid role Amorim was demanding of him. He's played really well in the last two games when his role has been restricted and the coaching instruction has been quite clear. His financial cost is modest, salary only.

Replacing him with the quality of left back that the critics would consider an improvement will result in a substantial yearly cost uplift from £3.5m to £10m+. Good back up/alternate to both Shaw and Mazraoui. United's priorities should be replacing Casemiro, Ugarte and Zirkzee. Only after that would I be looking to replace Dalot. If we get into the ECL we'll need a greater squad depth. even mope reason to keep him.

01 Feb 2026 13:56:08
Said it many times. He seems live a lovely lad, proper pro and you can tell he 'gets' Utd.

But I think it's a symbol of the club's decline over the years, that he's got so much game time.

01 Feb 2026 18:21:43
Shaw and dalot are both poor tbh. But both playing better last 3 games, particularly at passing in triangles on each side of pitch. This ball retention play has been a big part of how we have won 3 in a row.

If every year was a world cup year, imagine how good Luke Shaw would have been.

01 Feb 2026 19:31:53
NouCamp, absolutely agree with your first statement. He's been a top professional ever since he arrived, never once caused any controversy, he clearly loves the club, and he's also clearly a popular player in that squad. And having met him a couple times, he seems a really decent bloke too.

That said, I think your next statement is a touch harsh, he's a solid squad player, not spectacular, and makes the odd howler, but he's good enough to compete with first choice for that role with Mazraoui, another 'solid but not spectacular' player. Given how many players we have had in the last few years that have been leaking stuff to the press, complaining about the club or the coach, and generally not really giving a toss, Dalot wouldn't be anywhere near the chopping block this summer for my money.

31 Jan 2026 06:48:36
The good thing about our game against Fulham is that we will be unpredictable because our shape completely changes with the absence of dorgu. And if we were to use say Mount in that position it won't be the same tactics. Hopefully we can make that difference count. We need nothing less than a win against Fulham.

31 Jan 2026 09:35:36
Historically these are the games we have struggled in, Fulham are in good form, so I don’t expect us to walk over them.

31 Jan 2026 11:34:39
While it is never good to lose a player to injury, it does remove the temptation to stick with the same team.

You'd imagine Fulham will set up very differently to both City and Arsenal who due to them challenging for the title (and Arsenal playing at home) had to come out and try to beat us and play more on the front foot. Leaving more space in behind for a player like Dorgu to take advantage of it.

While Fulham will probably be more cautious, play a little deeper, with more men behind the ball and less space for a player like Dorgu to take advantage of. It actually looks like a game that would suit either Mount and his intelligent use of space and passing, or Cunha and his direct dribbling to break them down.

Personally I'd be inclined to start Mount if he's available then bring Cunha on in the second half against tiring legs where his direct running will cause more problems.

31 Jan 2026 17:41:17
I’m still recovering from Moyes vs Fulham.

31 Jan 2026 21:46:56
250 crosses into the box at last that game Utd Road!

31 Jan 2026 07:39:05
{Ed's Note - Madman has posted a new article entitled, Wolves January Window and Championship Planning Concerns

30 Jan 2026 17:46:26
Where to you begin to understand some of the transfer fees.
If wolves get 40/50 m for strand Larsen I think I'll go to the garage and get my old boots out ?
Im sure there are half a dozen players in the championship that could offer more for a while lot less.
On top of that the he cost of buying potential now is just insane.
50m plus on players that have not matured or developed yet is common place.
I understand the 'epl tax' but it really is bonkers.


Another thing I would like to understand is why centre forwards that do well in seria A rarely replicate their numbers in the premiership?
All through the history of the epl cf's coming from italy have not been as successful as those from France Spain or south America, i'm just not sure why that is.
Henry Bergkamp and zola i think are the major anomalies and had real longevity and none were strictly cf's and were not doing great in italy when they left.

30 Jan 2026 18:45:37
In addition to the epl tax, there is also a man utd tax, where the price mysteriously goes up 10-30 million as soon as we get involved. Almost impossible for us to pull a cheap gem from the Portuguese ligue 2. Suddenly they will be the most promising player in Europe and the club won't even listen to offers below $80m.

31 Jan 2026 11:42:21
EPL clubs are the most financially secure and have the least need to sell players, add the January tax and it starts to make sense.

Wolves didn't want to lose Strand Larsen, but they are almost certainly getting relegated, if they kept him until the summer then they'd be lucky to get 35m for him as a relegated team, maybe less if he has a relegation clause in his deal.

While for Palace they will definitely lose Mateta this summer if not sooner by the looks of it. They will also lose Glasner in the summer and they need to steady the ship.

Strand Larsen is a very good EPL striker, as seen last season. Unfortunately this season he has been feeding on literal scraps. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get 8-10 goals or more between now and the summer for Palace.

While I'm disappointed as a fan not seeing United spend in January to bring in a quality player who could be the difference between us getting UCL or not this year. I also understand why the club aren't prepared to pay over the odds for player who might not be their first choice this January. Keeping the powder dry for the summer and the next permanent manager.