Sports
‘A Clear Idea’ – What Is Man Utd’s Transfer Strategy?
It’s been a busy few days at Manchester United.
From agreeing to sign Matheus Cunha, speaking with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, finding out Bruno Fernandes won’t be joining Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal and that Jadon Sancho will return from Chelsea, along with a £5m payment, it has been a whirlwind return from their troubled post-season tour of Asia.
So, where are they now and what is their transfer strategy moving forward?
What is Man Utd’s transfer strategy?
Fernandes took a bit of time mulling over the Al Hilal offer after United head coach Ruben Amorim said in Hong Kong on Friday he thought his captain would stay at the club.
The 30-year-old wanted to talk it through with his family as, after all, the sums being offered were truly staggering and could not just be dismissed out of hand.
At this point last week, many at United thought Fernandes would go. Now we know he won’t.
Lost amid his assertions about Fernandes, Amorim said something else that resonated.
Knowing nailing him down on individuals and specifics would be impossible, I asked Amorim if he knew what he wanted his squad to look like when pre-season training began at the start of July.
“Yes,” he said. “I have a clear idea what we want.
“As you know, we are bit limited and can’t do it all in one summer. But there is a clear picture for what we want.”
The initial approach – and as a guide it still holds – was to go for younger, hungry players, who can improve.
That is the basis on which 20-year-old Denmark international Patrick Dorgu arrived in a £25m deal from Serie A outfit Lecce in February to address the problematic left wing-back berth. It was the same with 18-year-old Arsenal central defender Ayden Heaven.
Both players made promising contributions, albeit in a struggling team.
However, some issues are so urgently in need of addressing, no time for development is available.
And, what Amorim wanted, as an absolute priority, was to reinforce his attack.
Time and again towards the end of the Premier League season, the United boss had lamented his side’s ability to make the most of the chances they were creating.
Between them, Wolves’ Cunha and Mbeumo scored 35 league goals last season. The campaign before, it was 21.
They are proven in England in a way Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were not before moving to United for a combined fee of almost £110m in the summers of 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Two signings alone is a bit early to confirm a significant shift away from buying in from overseas – and the arrival of Mason Mount from Chelsea in 2023 is proof United had not completely ignored the domestic market before.
But it does take out some of the risk when you buy players who know the challenges that lie ahead.
“I think they are players who can come in and hit the ground running,” former United skipper Gary Neville told Sky Sports.
“United has become a very difficult place for new signings to operate in the last 10 years. Cunha and Mbeumo have got Premier League experience and lots of games under their belt.
“When I watch Manchester United’s wide players, they have to be able to get from box to box quickly, and they have to be able to travel with the ball and without the ball. Mbeumo and Cunha can do that, they both run forward with real intent and purpose.
“The players who are going to leave are more jinkers and play in smaller spaces.”
The great unknown is whether Amorim would play Cunha and Mbeumo – if he signs and, as yet, United have not made contact with Brentford – behind a number nine in the two ’10’ slots, or if one of them will operate as a main striker, or they will swap.
Who could leave and what are the challenges ahead?
Rasmus Hojlund ended the 2024-25 season with two goals in his final 13 games after the March international break
Amorim was adamant in Hong Kong that United could work around Fernandes staying at Old Trafford from a financial point of view.
However, the situation is not straightforward.
With no European football of any sort next season, finances will be tight. Amorim has already said he can operate with a smaller squad given there are fewer matches, so sales are inevitable.
Broadly speaking, there are three categories.
Players Amorim just does not want – so the likes of Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Players who have struggled and it would make sense to sell – Hojlund and Zirkzee fit into this group, as does Casemiro.
Then, the bulk are players who have something to offer and United would be open to keeping but would let go if the right bid came in.
Yet the major issue around all of this is how long would it take to do a deal and how much would it cost?
Take Sancho for example.
It has been established Chelsea would have signed him on reduced terms, which he was not prepared to accept.
If a Premier League club that has just qualified for the Champions League are baulking at Sancho’s wages, it is fair to assume most other clubs will reach the same conclusion.
If Sancho refuses to drop his demands and Amorim wants him out, United will have to negotiate some kind of compromise.
This puts them back in the uncomfortable position of paying a player to play for a rival. It is the kind of situation minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe finds so irritating and wants to end.
Yet, when you take a realistic approach to Sancho, Antony and Rashford in particular, it is hard to see how that situation is avoided. The same could also be said of many United players who remained at the club last season.
The matches may have finished but for United technical director Jason Wilcox and chief negotiator Matt Hargreaves, the hard work is just beginning.
It is how well they do, getting players in and out, that will determine how much progress Amorim can be expected to make.
Bbc.com
Sports
“This Is Massive”: Fans React As Super Eagles Star Sadiq Umar, El-Rufai Acquire Football Club in Nigeria
Super Eagles forward Sadiq Umar has made a bold move by securing a football club in Nigeria, becoming the first active player to own a club
The former Nigeria U23 spent a significant part of his holidays in the country mingling with his childhood friends and teammates, including Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa.
Football fans have reacted positively to the acquisition of a local club by the former AS Roma forward…
Sadiq Umar is preparing for life after football, as he acquired a local football club in Nigeria.
The Olympic bronze medallist partnered with a current House of Representatives member to seal the move
The 28-year-old, who joined Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad in January 2025, was named La Liga Goal of the Month winner for March.
Umar buys football club
Super Eagles star Sadiq Umar, in partnership with a House of Representatives member (Kaduna North), Bello El-Rufai, has officially taken over the leadership of Ranchers Bees.
According to Punch, Umar revealed that the move aims to revive the old memories of the club for the people of Northern Nigeria.
The former Almería star explained that he grew up watching the team, which has produced numerous stars who have represented Nigeria at various continental and international competitions.
Umar said: “I and my current partner, Honourable Bello El-Rufai have a big dream of returning the club to it’s past glory days. “I grew up watching Ranchers Bees of Kaduna, a club that produced countless players, including Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi.”
Owners of Ranchers Bees have named former AS Roma defender, Nura Abdullahi, as their president. According to Sports Intel, Ranchers Bees will compete in the 2025/26 Nigeria National League (NNL), with the mandate of qualifying for the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Umar said the former defender has been given full operation and long-term strategy to revive the club. The Super Eagles star said: “The team is set to compete in the Nigeria National League (NNL) in the upcoming season. “Our target is to secure promotion to the NPFL. I’m elated by the feedback from Rancher Bees supporters and the people of Kaduna.”
Fans react
@Strydizzle said: “Finally, Ranchers Bees that I grew up knowing will be back 🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿.”
@ahmadatmos wrote: “Beautiful. I want all Nigerian football clubs to be fully privatized. The government should let go and you’ll see how quickly things change.”
@oil_shaeikh added: “I’m so happy about this acquisition, hopefully your leadership and passion of Sadık will give Arewa talents wasting away the necessary platform to shine in both the national league, national team and international competitions.” “Allah ya taimaka.”
@Abubakar_Mhmmad wrote: “This is truly a welcome development, we’ve been yearning for something of this magnitude. Kudos to the both of you and in Ranchers Bees 🐝 we’ve finally find something to hold onto and be proud of. Go #Ranchers.”
In preparation for the upcoming football season worldwide, Ventolite Marketing International has published the 17th edition of Sports Market International (SMI), the sole sports magazine in Nigeria.
Published quarterly, Sports Market International has established a noteworthy presence within the football media landscape, extending its reach to four African nations, namely Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana, and the Republic of Benin.
The magazine’s focused approach has contributed to its acceptance in these regions. Renowned for its innovative and insightful content, the magazine has featured elite global athletes, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses, Stephen Kesh, Victor Osimhen, Kylian Mbappe, Anthony Joshua, and Ademola Lookman.
The 17th edition includes a highlight of the top 100 footballers globally across various leagues, showcasing prominent players. Additionally, it covers Chelsea Football Club, recognized as a recent history-maker for their achievements in winning all UEFA club competitions, including the FIFA World Club Cup. The Super Falcons of Nigeria also garner attention after their dramatic victory against the host nation, Morocco, securing the 10th title at the Africa Women Championship.
Furthermore, the magazine’s scope extends to an in-depth analysis of the Nigeria Premier League, wherein football experts evaluate the league’s development and the international standard players it has produced over the years.
Through its comprehensive coverage, Sports Market International continues to engage football enthusiasts with thorough narratives and analytical pieces.
At a press conference held in Lagos, Sam Okata, the Business Development Manager of Ventolite Marketing International, stated, “As the football season commences with enthusiasm in many European countries, we remain committed to providing high-quality publications as we distribute our latest edition into the market.
Our objective is to establish ourselves as a leading sports marketing magazine on the continent. Numerous vendors have suggested that we transition to a weekly publication; however, we are strategically expanding to ensure market stability. We have successfully disseminated this edition in alignment with the resumption of the European Leagues.”
Former Manchester City right-back Micah Richards and ex-Barcelona striker Gary Lineker were left stunned by Victor Osimhen’s decision to join Galatasaray on a four-year deal, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles star spent the 2024/2025 season on loan with the Turkish Super Lig side, as Napoli’s €150m asking fee wasn’t matched by any club despite the striker’s insistence on leaving Naples.
The 26-year-old enjoyed his loan spell with the Turkish champions last season, scoring 37 goals and providing seven assists in 41 games.
Many expected Galatasaray to be Osimhen’s stepping-stone club that would open the path to the English Premier League, but it came as a surprise to see one of the best strikers in Europe moving to a club outside the top five leagues.
“Osimhen signed a deal for four years at Galatasaray in Turkey. I can’t believe it,” Micah Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.
“A top player like that should be playing. Galatasaray is a massive club but in terms of European football he could do better than that, in my opinion.
‘He’d be top a three No.9 in the Premier League. Fact. Joao Pedro is unbelievable, but you cannot say he’s better than Osimhen. Not a chance,” the CBS Sports Golazo pundit continued.
Lineker‘s thoughts on Osimhen‘s Galatasaray move
The former England striker was also left in awe by the striker’s decision to head to Turkey in the prime of his career, but had also heard a theory as to why there wasn’t much interest from top clubs in the player this summer, as there had been in the past.
“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester when they were in the Europa League,’ the former Leicester City forward added.
“He was so impressive and I’ve followed his career because of that. He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli. I mean, he was sensational.
“I do hear on the grapevine that a reason one or two of the clubs are a little bit nervous is that he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So, there’s apparently some kind of slight question mark as to his character in that sense,” Lineker concluded.
Former Napoli coach Francesco Calzona, recently mentioned that Osimhen doesn’t take kindly to criticism and urged the Nigerian forward to do better, as that’s his only flaw.
Osimhen is Galatasaray’s most expensive recruit in the club’s history, and he’ll be spending the next four years at RAMS Park creating memories with the Cim Bom Aslan
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