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Manchester United ‘open transfer talks’ with Velez Sarsfield for Thiago Almada – reports

6 June 2020 by

Manchester United could be about to beat Arsenal to Valez Sarsfield playmaker Thiago Almada, if reports are anything to go by. The Argentinian attacking midfielder has been dubbed the ‘new Lionel Messi’ and has seen the likes of United, Arsenal and Manchester City all interested in him ahead of the summer transfer window.

The playmaker, 19, predominantly plays in the central attacking midfield area, but has also played as a left-winger, a right-winger, as a centre-forward and as a central midfielder. It is said that City are eyeing the player as a potential replacement for David Silva, who is expected to leave the club as a free agent this summer.

In Spain, it is suggested that Atletico Madrid hold an interest in Almada, who has made a total of 25 appearances at the club this season, scoring five goals and two assists. It is stated that the player has a £19 million release clause, so could be a cheaper option this summer, although the player canoe close to joining City a year ago.

The 19-year-old holds compatriot Carlos Tevez, who played for both United and City, as his footballing idol and because of this, sources in South America seem to suggested the player is enthusiastic to join Pep Guardiola’s side. It is suggested that Tevez’s 58 goals for City in four seasons is behind the enthusiasm to join City.

However, if United, Arsenal, Atletico or any other club manager to get a deal done for the player, they could beat City to him this summer, which could be something that Guardiola regrets. However, they could have some kind of option with the Argentinian club that gives them an option if any other club activates the player’s release clause.

Almada’s pace, vision, and versatile playing style could make him a decent addition to United, or any other team this summer, and will fit in with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans to build a team around youth and talent, clearly building something at the club for the future. Before the transfer window opens though, United will need to finish the season.

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Manchester United have three options should the club fail to sign Jadon Sancho this summer – reports

3 June 2020 by

It has been said for some time that Manchester United will try to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund this summer. However, a fee of £100 million or more will be needed to pry the 20-year-old away from the German club, which may be more the United could spend on one player this summer in light of the financial problems caused by the coronavirus.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will obviously try to do all he can to get his number one target this summer but has options to take if the club are unable to get their man, which is a possibility. There are currently reports that link Real Madrid to the former Manchester City academy player, stating a £105 million feee for the player.

Many might suggest United would be frugal with the other options to Sancho but if a team is not able to get their number one target, there is little point in making do with what they have as that is the reason why the attack has not been effective, especially on the right-wing, which has been a problem position at the club for some time.

One of the players United have on their radar is Thiago Almada, a player who in his native Argentina is labelled at the next Lionel Messi, which might be going too far as he would need to be a generational talent. However, he is a player growing in stature and at just 19 has the world ahead of him. Almada plays for Velez Sarsfield.

This season, before the coronavirus pandemic suspended world football, the 19-year-old had made a total of 25 appearances for his club, scoring five goals and two assists. Granted it is nothing like the form of Sancho but he is a player growing in stature so could develop similarly to the England winger. He is wanted by several clubs though.

Another player on the radar is David Brooks, who currently plays for Bournemouth. Granted, because of an ankle injury, which resulted in ankle surgery, the Welshman has not played club football during the 2019/20 season and probably will not for the remainder of the season. There is a possibility that he injury could take him into next season too.

The third player on Solskjaer’s radar is Rabbi Matondo, who currently plays for Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga. The 19-year-old is a full international for Wales despite being born in Liverpool, making four caps for his country so far. The Bundesliga is now back in action, being the first top European league to return after the coronavirus pandemic.

This season, Matondo has made a total of 18 appearances for the club, scoring one goal. Schalke have fallen a long way this season, not winning a league match since earlier in the year, slipping into tenth place in the league after four match weeks since the return just over three weeks ago. Matondo has a lot of talent but may not be at the same level as Sancho.

It is clear that Solskjaer has other options – all clubs need other options if their first choice target cannot be attained. None of these names will be repped by Football Twitter, not that it is anything to suggest they are wrong for the club. Football Twitter, in most instances, is wrong for clubs as most of these fans knowledge comes from a computer game.

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19-year-old Argentinian midfielder has both Manchester United and Manchester City after him – reports

16 May 2020 by

Manchester United have reportedly been joined by Manchester City in the race to sign Velez Sarsfield midfielder Thiago Almada, according to reports. The player has been linked to City before with Pep Guardiola chasing the teenager in a bid to replace David Silva with him, which would be good for the bitter side of Manchester.

However, a year ago City failed to agree on a price for the midfielder meaning he remained at Velez Sarsfield and now has United interested in him, which could be the reason City have revisited their plans to sign the 19-year-old, stopping United from getting a young and exciting player which could help them start a new generation at the club.

It is suggested that the play could cost £15 million plus add-ons. City were not happy to agree to that fee last summer, which seems strange as they have spent more money on players who brought nothing to the club since they won the lottery. Sources in South America suggest that the player is keen on moving to City, which would leave United’s interest pointless.

Almada has made a total of 25 appearances during the 2019/20 season, up to the point in which the coronavirus pandemic suspended world football. He has scored five goals and two assists playing in the Superliga, the Copa Sudamericana, and the Copa Superliga. It may not seem much for some, but at his age, he seems to be doing something on the pitch.

It has been suggested that Almada once idolised Carlos Tevez and he was truly a great player in his time and spent two-years at United before signing for City. Tevez has been vilified by United supporters for his antics, the most unforgivable was the RIP Fergie tombstone sign he held up after City won the league during the 2011/12 season.

United have missed out one many players in the past and will still continue to do so in the future. It is good to see the club look at younger players with their futures ahead of them, rather than already established player, who will want a high wage and have a very little resale fee, which seems to be the way United played things until recently.

United have prioritised the signing of younger players, signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James last summer, the same summer Harry Maguire arrived. Maguire, despite being 26 at the time he signed for United, was slightly older as United needed an experienced central defender to reinforce the backlines, which is what he has done.

This summer, United have been linked to many names already this summer with Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, Jude Bellingham, among others with the likelihood that United, despite executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward suggesting that big money may not be spent, although confirming that the club will still be competitive in the market.

Almada has predominantly played as an attacking midfielder (eight appearances, one goal and one assist). He has also played as a left-winger (seven appearances and one goal), a right-winger (four appearances, two goals and one assist), a centre-forward (one appearance, one goal and one assist), and as a central midfielder (one appearance).

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copyright: JW