Despite much fanfare, Sofyan Amrabat has had a mediocre start to life as a Manchester United player which has seen him drop down to the bench. Consequently, his spot in the team has been frequently taken by the much-maligned Scott McTominay.

It all started out so differently for the Moroccan World Cup hero. The midfield general was praised by United fans for his incredible patience to sign for the club despite the interest of many other teams including Premier League rivals Fulham. The player, who claimed to only have eyes for the Red Devils, finally got his dream move from Fiorentina on deadline day.

In fact, arch-rivals Liverpool were also rumoured to be close to securing the services of the World Cup semi-finalist, as a deal was said to be “only hours away”. However, once again Amrabat’s supposed desire for United kept the deal from happening. That is quite a way to endear yourself to Manchester United fans around the globe.

Anyone who was following the Red Devils’ transfer activity on social media during the dying embers of the window would have seen the name Amrabat trending everyday on X. Such a clamour for a player of the Moroccan’s stature is rare. You would have been excused for thinking United were chasing a world-class talent like Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham.

Man United fans got their wish and the man from Morocco was brought in on an initial €10m loan fee with the possibility of a permanent deal for €25m. The excitement probably mainly stemmed from the trending video of Amrabat heroically chasing down Mbappe at the World Cup and producing a monstrous sliding tackle to not only cleanly win the ball, but also continue to drive his team down the pitch by majestically carrying the ball downfield.

Secondly, the shambolic midfield performances versus Wolves on the opening day of the season also led many to doubt the wisdom of an aging Casemiro being the only defensive midfield option at the club.

So, the Moroccan made his much awaited debut vs Burnley in September and had fans excitedly chattering after a “stunning” full debut vs Crystal Palace at home in a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory.

Sadly, and this seems a recurring theme this season, things have only gone downhill since. The man from Huizen has failed to make any real lasting impression on the team. In fact, he has also put in some brutally poor performances. He was hooked at half-time in the Manchester derby and seems a regular candidate for the referee’s notebook. The pace of both the league and Champions League seems too much for the former Fiorentina man at present. Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton claimed the player looked like “a fish out of water” in the team’s 1-0 defeat vs Crystal Palace.

The Peoples Person recently labelled the signing a 1 out 10 so far stating that the midfielder has looked “overawed” and is yet to “find his feet” at the top level.

This lack of impact can be seen in the 10 games he has played in all competitions for the Mancunian side, he has failed to score or register an assist. In fact, the long-range pile driver that rattled the bar against Sheffield United is the only real chance he has had. To be fair, goals and assists should not be the marker of a defensive midfielder. So, let’s delve deeper.

According to Transfermarkt the player has only played more than 45 mins five times in his 10 appearances for the club. Hardly a ringing endorsement from the manager. The team have also lost five games and conceded 16 goals with the Moroccan picking up 3 yellow cards. Not great.

In Amrabat’s defence, it has not been plain sailing for him. The prolonged nature of the transfer meant that the midfielder had not been training with Fiorentina all summer, so effectively had no real pre-season. Furthermore, an injury crisis at his new club saw him play his first few games as a left-back, which is far from his natural position.

Additionally, he has had a revolving door of defensive and midfield partners in a club which is doused in uncertainty. Would anyone really be successful is the question. Lastly, to compound matters, the World Cup star picked up an injury while on international duty, so he has probably not been able to play to his maximum potential.

So what could have gone wrong, has gone wrong. This is the story of the Red Devils’ season. No matter what way you look at it, you cannot sugarcoat it. Amrabat has struggled and doesn’t look good enough. If the season ended tomorrow, the manager would be mad to sanction a permanent move. Luckily for the Moroccan, the season doesn’t end tomorrow. We are only in November and there is ample time to turn it around. Casemiro’s long term injury has also provided him a chance to nail down a more regular starting role in the defensive midfield department. Over to you Sofyan.

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Gonçalo Inácio is the latest name to come up in the raffle that is Manchester United transfer targets.

The Portuguese press has form for linking their league’s stars to United but there is also a good reason for that. The club have dipped into the Primeira Liga before. Current stars Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Victor Lindelof were all recruited from the division and there is already a sizeable Portuguese-speaking contingent at the club when you factor in the Brazilian players plying their trade at the Mancunian club.

Recently Correio da Manhã, the Portuguese newspaper, has joined others in linking Sporting Lisbon’s young starlet, Gonçalo Inácio, to the struggling English giants.

United’s interest has been mooted for some time, but the race is now hotting up as the January window approaches. The paper states that United, Liverpool and now Real Madrid are keeping a keen eye on the progress of the young star. It is reported that all three European giants are sending scouts to the forthcoming Lisbon derby on Sunday to watch the now full Portugal international against Sporting’s fiercest opposition.

According to the publication, “Manchester United are considering moving forward in January for the player, who has a release clause of 60 million euros.” It is believed that the Red Devils would not have much difficulty paying that type of fee and would be willing to put €45m up front and add the extra €15m in add-ons.

It is also stated by Correio da Manhã that the Red Devils would need to pay for the fee in instalments but would be happy to, to fend off arch-rivals Liverpool for the signature of the defender.

While it is exceedingly questionable as to whether United would be able to sanction such a move in the context of such a tumultuous takeover saga, it is obvious the team needs quality reinforcements in the defence. All season there has been ongoing injuries with numerous first team defenders, which has resulted in players like Jonny Evans playing extended minutes. Ironically, the Northern Irishman is now facing a possible extended period on the sidelines himself like fellow centre-back, Lisandro Martinez.

Clearly, the Red Devils need help defensively. The club’s woes can be seen in the fact that United have now conceded 30 goals in just 17 games. This is exactly double the number they had conceded in the same number of games by this time last season. So, the big question is whether Sporting Lisbon’s defensive jewel would help or not.

There is always a risk in bringing in young players but Manchester United have seen the benefit of doing so in recent years, especially as Rasmus Hojlund continues to be a rare bright spark in the season. According to Transfermarkt, the young centre-back has already played 15 times at the heart of the defence for the Portuguese giants this season.

The youngster has already played four times for the national team since making his debut in March of this year and has even found the back of the net twice for his country. Additionally, Sporting Lisbon currently sit at the summit of the Portuguese league and have only conceded 9 goals in 10 games. Evidently, the young central defender is making a positive contribution.

If the young defender does arrive to the club in the winter or summer window, he will have a long-standing admirer already in the dressing room. Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, claimed back in 2019 that “there is a player I like a lot from the under-23s, the left footed guy, Goncalo Inacio. I’ve spoken about him many times.” Inácio’s coach, Rúben Amorim, who has himself been recently linked with the Red Devils, was complimentary of the starlet’s speed and long-passing abilities.

With a host of top clubs circling over such a talent, it is yet to be seen whether the youngster would be interested in choosing the red side of Manchester or even if Erik ten Hag’s side would have the financial capability to sanction such a move. However, the side from Old Trafford will hope that their track record of playing youngsters, the obvious route into the first team as a centre-back and its Portuguese speaking group could entice the starlet to bring his talents to the Theatre of Dreams.

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Manchester United are pursuing Monaco defender, Vanderson, as a solution to ongoing doubts over the right-back situation.

The online outlet 90 Min states that despite the takeover drama surrounding the club, the Red Devils may decide to green light a move for the Brazilian youngster.

This is not the first time the club has been linked to the 22 year-old or in fact a new player to take over the role as starting right back for the 20 times champions of England.

The Monaco player has also been linked to numerous clubs including Barcelona, who have been credited with having a keen interest in the player. Although the club’s financial difficulties could see the English club jump to the head of the queue.

90 Min state that United’s management are unhappy with their two right sided full back options. The website asserts that despite giving Diogo Dalot a new five year contract in May, he has hardly set the world alight with his performances. This can be seen in the Portuguese’s frequent defensive lapses, most recently in the team’s chaotic defeat to Copenhagen in the Champions League.

The Portugese defender inexplicably switched off at the back post to allow Lukas Lerager to finish and undo the Red Devils’ good work to actually take a lead in spite of playing with ten men. The news outlet puts a slightly more positive spin on Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s place in the team, claiming that Ten Hag has rewarded his “solid application” with more game time but also casts doubt on whether the club will offer the Englishman a new contract.

That is where Vanderson may just come into frame. The promising star “is seen by some within the game as being the best young right back in Europe”. As previously mentioned, this has led to many top teams across Europe including Real Madrid desiring his signature. When Manchester United and the two Spanish giants want a player, you know he must have something about him.

Vanderson does seem to have the profile of defender that would interest the United manager. Theoretically, Ten Hag prefers attacking, more modern full-backs that are comfortable in attack and can bomb up and down the wing all game. This probably explains the former Ajax coach’s preference for Dalot when he first arrived to the club. However injury and irregular form put paid to the Portuguese’s efforts to be the undisputed first choice.

Transfermarkt.com reports that Vanderson has already scored one goal and has claimed one assist in just seven games for the French side in Ligue 1.

The Brazilian also logged five assists in total as the starting right-back for Monaco in the 2022/2023 season. Crucially he also played 39 times for the French side, proving he can handle starting minutes at such a young age. The youngster has already been awarded for his promising start to his career by being capped two times by the Brazilian national team.

The Ligue 1 website boldly asserts that the South American is “blessed with excellent technique. Vanderson’s speed and intelligence mean he can slot in at right-back, right wing or play in a more familiar midfield role.” This attacking prowess and versatility would surely appeal to Ten Hag.

The possible arrival of Paul Mitchell as sporting director when and if Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes control of football matters at United could be a reason why reports of this transfer are resurfacing. It was Mitchell who signed the Brazilian for Monaco when he was in the same post at the French club.

Certainly if the Red Devils pursue this deal, it would be intriguing to follow the talented player’s progression at the club. However, whilst players coming from the French league often adapt well to the Premier League, every transfer is a gamble, especially when it comes to Manchester United these days.

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Despite a costly defeat in the Danish capital, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was happy with how his players conducted themselves. However the officials on the night will not be on the Dutchman’s Christmas card list this year.

The man from the Netherlands praised the Red Devil’s contribution to the opening of match. He said “we scored two great goals” and claimed that his team “dictated” the game in parts.

The former Ajax man claimed that the team should “take that with them” but were bitterly disappointed to lose the game in the way they did.

Ten Hag asserted that even with 10 men, his team were largely in control. This point of view could be backed up by the fact the Red Devils had 48% possession and the same number of shots on target as the hosts despite playing well over half the game with 10 men.

The Dutchman’s view on the officiating in the game struck a contrasting picture. The coach was asked how he reflected on the game and he retorted if the interviewer had an hour. A rare bit of humour from the often serious character.

The manager bemoaned the referee’s role in the defeat. He claimed that not only tonight, but all season the decisions have been going against the Old Trafford side.

Once again he may have a point. VAR has been a thorny issue for many Man United supporters this season. The team have also made the wrong sort of history becoming the first team in competition history to concede four penalties in their first four group games.

The man from Haaksbergen claimed that “the red card changes everything and we concede two goals before half-time that should never have come. The first is offside, the second is a penalty… very debatable.”

It is safe to say who the Manchester United manager saw as the main culprit for the devastating loss in Copenhagen.

Ten Hag also took exception to how long the red card took to be given and claimed that the freezing of the image made the foul by Marcus Rashford look worse. To be fair, this has been a sentiment echoed by plenty of those involved in football.

The Red Devils coach also boldly asserted that the attitude of the team was great and “as a team, I can’t make any criticism.” The man in the Old Trafford hotseat also defiantly claimed “It will turn. It will turn. There will be one moment in our season…”.

While Ten Hag can take heart in the first half performance before the red card and the fight shown in the second half, it is clear that the attitude was not great. His side repeatedly display mental fragility in key moments and it has put a huge dent in their European hopes. If the Old Trafford outfit are to salvage anything from this season, they need to buck up their ideas quickly. The unforgiving atmosphere of Galatasaray’s RAMS park awaits.

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VAR, once again, has conspired against Manchester United and left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

TNT Sports pundit and former United midfielder, Owen Hargreaves, has claimed that “VAR is getting a bit out of control.” Hargreaves went on to mention that all the decisions being made on screens is not what we love about the game.

The former English international was of course referring to the decision to send Marcus Rashford off just before half-time.

The decision itself would prove to be absolutely catastrophic for the Red Devils. United had jumped into a 2-0 lead thanks to two goals by Rasmus Hojlund and seemed to be taking a significant step to second place in the group.

However, the decision to send off Rashford after a VAR check resulted in a United collapse and despite a brave fight in the second half with 10 men, the team from Old Trafford could not hold on for a valiant point.

Fellow TNT Sports pundit, Paul Scholes echoed Hargreaves’ perspective on the sending off.

They both agreed that it was never a penalty in “a million years”. The Champions League winners both questioned the referee’s understanding of the game as a consequence of the red card decision.

Scholes in particular was sympathetic to Ten Hag and United’s plight. The former midfield maestro stated that while 9 defeats in 17 is not good enough, the team did show a “little bit of fight” on the night.

The pundit went on to claim that the team was probably lacking the leadership skills of a Casemiro and this fact most certainly contributed to their nightmare in Denmark. The former player bemoaned the team’s inability to concentrate in defensive situations.

The side’s poor mentality when their backs are against the wall has been a constant theme of this disappointing season for the side from Manchester.

Scholes did assert though that the solution is not to sack the under-fire Dutch manager, claiming they cannot keep repeating the same cycle of sacking the coach every 2 or 3 years. He also asserted the Red Devils “can’t afford” to fire him.

"I don't think we can afford to do it anymore, I think we've got to let this fella go with it."

Has ten Hag's time run out? Paul Scholes doesn't think so following United's defeat against Copenhagen

@ReshminTV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/cDV4fhXjGv

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 8, 2023

It is unclear if the former England man was referring to the club’s finances or whether it was a show of support for Ten Hag. What is clear is that both the coach and the players have a heck of a job on their hands to salvage their European adventure. On to Turkey then.

The post Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves take swipe at VAR appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Numerous eyebrows were raised when it was announced that former defender, Jonny Evans, was returning to Manchester United to bolster the defensive department.

The Northern Irishman was a free agent after leaving Leicester City in the summer of 2023. The defender had an injury-ravaged 2022-2023 campaign and he disclosed in a recent interview with The Mirror that he was seriously contemplating retirement before he received the call from Erik ten Hag.

Many fans were astounded when they heard the news that the defender was training with the squad before pre-season to fill out the numbers for Ten Hag’s pre-season squad. The Northern Ireland international originally trained with the under-21s in their tour of America this summer and played in the defeat to Wrexham

Most fans assumed that this was some mutually beneficial agreement between the club and the player. Evans could train at a high level and get himself up to full fitness to secure a contract in the Championship and Manchester United got defensive cover and an experienced voice to help with the young players.

The arrangement was going well as the Dutch coach was full of praise for the defender and told the club’s official website that Evans is “a big personality, and I think he has big authority as well. He will help the young players especially.” It also mustn’t be forgotten that Evans enjoyed a trophy-laden time at the club between 2006-2015, playing 198 times and scoring 7 goals. He boasts a trophy cabinet many of the current United squad would kill for. Nonetheless, most assumed the short term deal would be over before the Premier League kick-off.

However, as the summer wore on, there was no defensive recruitment, Harry Maguire didn’t leave and Jonny Evans kept training at the club. The Red Devils were linked to numerous defenders such as Benjamin Pavard and Jean-Clair Todibo, however no move materialised. It always seemed such a move hinged on the sale of Maguire, which obviously never transpired.

So, the Northern Ireland international was the only centre-back recruit of the summer window. Many fans were critical and claimed it was yet another example of the Glazer family’s penny-pinching and lack of desire to back the manager in the market. Although, the defender was mainly brought in to add experience and cover. The defender himself must be taken aback by the amount of gametime he has received since rejoining the club where it all began.

The team from Old Trafford has faced a defensive crisis with all defenders in the squad missing crucial matches at some point this season due to injury or illness. Lisandro Martinez has been a long term absentee and Raphael Varane has had on and off knocks and fitness issues. Due to the scarcely believable simultaneous injuries to left-backs Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon, centre-back, Victor Lindelof, has been asked to deputise as a full-back.

Consequently, Evans and Maguire have been tasked to hold the defence together. This has had mixed results to say the least but also, it has probably gone better than expected. If you had told Man United fans at the start of the season that the Englishman and the Northern Irish man would be playing together regularly, it would have struck fear into their hearts. However, most would say whilst the arrangement is not perfect, it is far from the club’s most pressing issue.

Understandably for a player who is 35 years-old and in the twilight of his career, Evans suffered when asked to play against Arsenal and Manchester City. The defender on a couple of instances looked well-off the pace. Arguably Declan Rice’s crucial second goal at the Emirates Stadium was down to Evans’ slow reactions. However, to the defender’s credit, he has played quite well and been solid when asked to deal with mid-table and lower league attackers.

The Northern Irish international was outstanding against Burnley and not only in a defensive role. The Ulsterman scored a goal that was agonisingly ruled out for interference by Rasmus Houjlund and produced a Pirlo-esque wonder pass for Bruno Fernandes to volley in.

The performance was so commanding that Sky Sports pundit, and former teammate of Evans, Gary Neville, commented “I thought this would finish him” – that he felt the Burnley game would be a career ending game for the defender, where he would be brutally exposed at Premier League level. The former captain admitted his error and recognised the quality of the performance from the man from Belfast.

Nobody would sensibly argue that Evans is any more than defensive cover and if he hadn’t been a former player, he probably wouldn’t have been handed the opportunity to play at this level. However, the defender has been constantly praised throughout his career for his professionalism and leadership skills. Therefore, credit where credit is due that at the ripe old age of 35 instead of retiring, Jonny Evans remains an important player for not only United but also his country.

The post Jonny Evans’ surprising return analysed appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Mason Mount’s start to his Manchester United adventure has had as much colour as a typical Manchester November morning. For anyone who is not familiar with the city’s weather, that is not a lot.

The English midfielder has struggled to make any impact whatsoever and this has led to many fans questoning why on earth Erik ten Hag decided to splurge an initial £55m on the player, especially in the context that the club had a somewhat limited budget to spend in the summer due to the ongoing takeover drama.

The English midfielder had become disillusioned with life at Chelsea and wanted a new challenge. The Red Devils were not the only club who desired the England international’s signature. Liverpool and Arsenal were also seen as tough competition for the ex-Chelsea academy graduate. Luckily for Ten Hag, Mount opted for Old Trafford.

That is where the luck has ended so far. Mount arrived to the club on the back of a poor campaign at Chelsea but who didn’t struggle at The Blues last season? The West London based club finished an horrific 12th in the table with a paltry goal difference of -9. Not really a conducive environment for Mount to show off his talent.

We football fans also tend to suffer from short memories. The Englishman was instrumental in Chelsea’s Champions League win in 2021 and even finished 19th on the 2021 Ballon d’Or list, ahead of Bruno Fernandes.

Therefore, one could argue, the transfer made sense. But it hasn’t. The Dutch coach who brought him to the club seems completely clueless about where he wants to play him. The Englishman has already played as a number 8, number 10 and off the right.

Despite a positive start to pre-season for Mount, once the games got serious, he has looked short of confidence. The midfielder had positive scoring and assisting numbers for Chelsea, finding the back of the net 33 times for the London club. So, many United fans felt finally Bruno Fernandes had some help in that department but the two have looked incredibly incompatible when they have played together.

This is a problem for the man from Portsmouth, because Bruno always plays. The former Sporting Lisbon midfielder played more football than anyone in Europe’s top five leagues last season. Therefore, if the England international is to find success at the Red Devils he will need to find a way to play productively in the same team as the Portuguese club captain.

Pundits have also called out Mount for his passiveness and inability to get involved in the play. Former United striker, Louis Saha, lambasted Mount’s “shocking” side-stepping of responsibility on the pitch.

This can be seen in Mount’s statistics. In 10 games he has the record of 0 goals and 1 assist in the Carabao Cup. A “needs to do better” report card would be an understatement.

Although the former Chelsea player, like any new signing, requires time. The Champions League winner has been unlucky on two accounts. The first is, in only his second game, he suffered an injury that kept him out a few weeks at the start of the season. Getting injured is always misfortunate for players but especially in the context of being a new arrival looking to make their mark on a new team.

The second, is Mount probably thought he was leaving a toxic situation at Chelsea and finding a stable environment at a club on the up at Manchester United. The 2022/23 season would have suggested as much. Unfortunately for anyone connected with the club, this has not been the case.

Overall, the midfielder has had a terrible start, some of it on him, some of it on circumstances. It doesn’t look great but it would be premature to give up on a player after 10 games. Let’s make a judgement at the end of the season and hopefully there will be a few more things to get excited about in the spring weather.

The post Analysis: Why is Mason Mount struggling at Manchester United? appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

The arrival of Rasmus Hojlund has been an all too rare bright spot in an otherwise overcast season for Manchester United fans. Although, as always with this enormous club, things are not as clear-cut as they seem.

The young Dane was signed from Atalanta in the summer and tasked with the humongous opportunity but also intense pressure of leading Manchester United’s line at only 20 years old. Maybe that says more about where United’s recruitment has been over the last few years than it does for young Rasmus.

When the strapping 6ft 3 inch (1.91m) striker arrived, fan response was mixed to say the least. On the optimistic side, the Red Devils had finally brought in a number nine who could grow at the club and stay for many years. Hojlund himself grew up in Denmark idolising the club, which will always endear him to fans. His supposed loyalty to the club was demonstrated in his rejecting of PSG’s overtures in the summer in favour of joining the side from Manchester.

The Danish international has been described as a “huge talent” by opposition managers and also finished 10th in the recent European Golden Boy Award. He was in fact the only Premier League representative in the top 10.

Additionally, the striker position has been one of a few problem areas for the club of late. United fans had either got used to seeing sticking-plaster solutions like Edinson Cavani or Cristiano Ronaldo being brought to the club or players who just weren’t good enough like Wout Weghorst or Odion Ighalo. The other current striker option, Anthony Martial, lost his way somewhere back in 2020 and has never recovered.

However, despite the optimism, dissenting voices, most clearly in the British media, queried why United had not gone for Harry Kane. It was one of football’s worst kept secrets that Man United wanted Kane and Kane wanted to smash in goals under the Old Trafford lights. Peculiarly, the club from Manchester made a timid effort at the start of the summer to bring the English captain in but soon gave up when Daniel Levy made it clear that Spurs would not sell to a Premier League rival.

So, at the end of it all, Rasmus Hojlund is the solution the club and Erik ten Hag have gone for. So far, most United fans are happy with the start he has made. The young Scandanavian made his mark on the Champions League by scoring on his debut versus Bayern Munich and then scoring a brace against Galatasaray on his Old Trafford European debut.

The striker’s impressive returns for Denmark has also got United fans licking their lips at his potential. At the time of writing, the Dane has scored 7 goals in qualifying, ironically the same number as a certain Harry Kane.

Hojlund has also impressed fans with his tenacious work effort, holding the ball up and getting into goalscoring positions. His popularity with the fans can be seen every time the coach brings him off the pitch, boos ring around the stadium.

However, despite his tender age, the striker still hasn’t scored in domestic competition. As of the 7th November 2023, the Dane has played ten domestic games without finding the back of the net. It must be said that he did score on his debut vs Brighton but the goal was chalked off by VAR. However, the truth is, the longer he goes without scoring, the bigger the pressure will be from opposition fans and pundits alike.

Nonetheless, despite the mixed picture currently being presented, Hojlund needs time to adapt. He has had a meteoric rise from playing in Austria only last year to now being tasked to perform on one of the biggest stages in world football. Most Red Devils fans are sensible enough to know the striker position has been a bit of a graveyard shift of late due to the lack of service and fluid attacking football present at the club.

The kid is only 20 years old and has shown signs of his promise. The Manchester outfit did not sign Hojlund for this season alone but banking on his gigantic future potential. It is not his fault that Anthony Martial is his only competition up top.

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With the transfer window already less than two months away, rumours have already begun to swirl about where certain players will be off to next. As we all know, Manchester United are never too far away from the rumour mill and especially considering the start the club has made to the season.

Denzel Dumfries has been repeatedly linked to the Red Devils ever since Erik ten Hag became coach. Many fans must be wondering if Denzel is becoming the new Wesley Sneijder!

The transfer would make sense if you have followed Ten Hag’s recruitments. Rightly or wrongly, the Dutch coach has shown a clear preference to sign players who have Eredivisie experience, so perhaps the manager’s repeated interest in the former PSV full-back should surprise no one.

The football transfer website, fichajes.net has reported that both United and Chelsea are keen to secure the services of the 27 year-old right back.

The Spanish site claims that according to Italian publication La Gazzetta , Inter Milan are asking for a minimum of €50million to even begin negotiations with the English giants. You can hardly blame Inter for trying to milk as much money as possible when you take a look at the money both United and especially Chelsea have spent in recent transfer windows.

Fichajes.net asserts that Dumfries has won over Italian fans with his solid defensive actions and his ability to contribute in attacking moments. The article also states that the English clubs are both attracted to his versatility and quality.

However, whether I Nerazzurri will be able to command such a fee is questionable. The website claims that the Dutchman’s contract runs out in 2024 and the club are nervous as to whether or not he will decide to stay.

Also, after an exciting World Cup campaign with Holland and Inter’s arrival to the Champions League final out of memory, maybe the summer would have been the optimum moment to cash in on their star.

What is clear, at least from a Red Devils perspective, is neither Aaron Wan-Bisska nor Diogo Dalot has the right-back position nailed down. Wan-Bissaka has some obvious strengths like his tackling and willingness to learn. Nonetheless, the English defender also has some serious weaknesses to his game. Many fans and pundits alike doubt whether he will ever be able to attack at the level required or desired for a top-level team.

Dalot is another conundrum. The Portuguese defender did really well when Ten Hag first came to the club and had an impressive World Cup campaign for his national side in 2022. Sadly, the defender picked up an injury after the tournament and struggled to find his way back into the Dutch coach’s plans.

Both right-backs have played their parts this season and while they both add something different to the team, neither are incapable of being improved upon. The two players can’t be seriously talked about in the same breath as some of the top full-backs in the league for example.

Whether Dumfries is good enough for Man United or even if Ten Hag will sanction a move for his compatriot is up for debate. What is for sure though, is in the not too distant future, the club will have to delve into the market to find a top-class starting right back if they are to get back to the pinnacle of English and European football.

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Andre Onana’s start to life as a Red Devil has been eventful to say the least. The Cameroonian keeper has played the role of villian and hero numerous times already this season and most haven’t even got the Christmas decorations out yet.

The summer transfer window saw the sudden departure of legendary goalkeeper David De Gea when a new contract was seemingly agreed then apparently snatched away from under his nose before the start of July.

The Spaniard was a popular figure amongst fans although many had lost patience with him after a few high-profile major errors, including Manchester City’s winning goal in the FA Cup final in June.

Much excitement was generated when rumours began to swirl around the Spaniard’s possible successor as United’s number one. When the news emerged that manager Erik ten Hag had settled on his former keeper at Ajax, Andre Onana, that positive feeling went into overdrive.

De Gea was generally always accepted as an elite shot-stopper, or at least for most of his career at the club. However, his ball playing skills, so often sought after in the modern game, were seen as sorely lacking.

This is where Onana was supposed to step in and save the day as one of the game’s best ball-playing keepers. Portugal manager, Roberto Martinez, mused that the Cameroonian was “less a sweeper-keeper than a holding midfielder at times” during Inter Milan’s run to the Champions League final in 2023.

The keeper’s evident inner confidence and apparent dig at Erling Haaland already quickly endeared him to Man United fans. When asked if he was scared of facing the Norwegian in the Champions Legaue final, Onana exclaimed that no man should be afraid of another man and the video quickly went viral on social media.

So United had found their confident, modern, ball-playing keeper. Unfortunately, life does not always go to plan. It is not particularly clear to many Red Devils supporters if the club play out from the back better than they did when De Gea kept guard of the goal. Onana is clearly more comfortable on the ball and has played a few beautiful passes already, like the accurate long range missile to Alejandro Garnacho against Spurs. It is not his fault his teammates have been far from prolific in front of goal. Although, it is fair to say that Onana’s comfort on the ball has not translated to the team creating or scoring more goals.

This hasn’t really been the African keeper’s primary issue though. He has admitted that he has been much poorer than expected. The goalkeeper has already made a string of poor decisions and errors resulting in goals, most famously against Bayern Munich in the team’s opening Champions League group game defeat. Credit where credit’s due, the Cameroonian came out and explained to the press that the loss was on him and confessed that he needed to do better.

Onana’s league debut was hardly less controversial. He introduced himself to the Premier League by taking out Wolves striker, Sasa Kalajdzic, which many deemed should have been a penalty. The keeper went on to make crucial mistakes resulting in goals versus Nottingham Forest, Galatasaray and Brentford. This led to a barrage of criticism and many calling him a “downgrade” on De Gea. Naturally, the papers have been filled with stories about how the Red Devils are already out to replace the Cameroon international.

This is improbable though as Erik ten Hag is unlikely to bin off his former keeper so prematurely. Onana had successful trophy-laden stints at both Ajax and Inter Milan. The shotstopper was also recently ranked 23rd in the Ballon d’Or.

As mentioned before, Onana has also had his hero moment. The last-gasp penality save in the Champions League against Copenhagen proved to be match winning and could be pivotal in United’s qualification hopes. It was a heart-warming moment when the keeper was mobbed by his teammates in the backdrop of a thunderously loud Old Trafford. Many felt this was his arrival as a United player. The African born keeper has also kept three clean sheets in the league and made a string of good saves against Manchester City, Sheffield United and most recently at the weekend in a crucial win against Fulham.

Andre Onana has not had the start he would have wanted. He is brave and self-aware enough to admit it. Life as Manchester United’s goalkeeper is the hardest job in the sport according to ex-player turned Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville. However, he clearly has the talent and an intriguing enough skill set to persevere with him and make the number one shirt is own.

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