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Hello and welcome to the Manchester United Transfer News round-up for 26th June 2019. We bring you the top transfer stories of the day involving Manchester United and here are our top five picks for today.
Also Read: Manchester United News and Rumours: June 25, 2019
#5 United agree deal to sign Wan-Bissaka for £45m
Manchester United's transfer business has been slower than expected, with the club priced out of a move for many of their targets. The Red Devils had managed to bring in Daniel James from Swansea, but it was the only signing so far, a fact that had fans agitated. The season was simple - this was supposed to be United's biggest summer in the last few years, yet the inability of the club to bring in players had been the talk of the town.
Things were especially alarming because Solskjaer expected to have his transfer business wrapped by before pre-season and that had looked increasingly unlikely. To make matters worse, the club had been locked in negotiations with Crystal Palace for the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka for weeks but had been unable to reach an agreement. However, there has been a significant development in those negotiations on Wednesday.
The Guardian reports that Manchester United have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to bring Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Old Trafford. United's third bid of around £45m, with a further £5m in add ons, was accepted by Palace. We reported yesterday that Palace were looking to remove a "sell on" clause inserted in Wilfred Zaha's contract, but that has not happened. Neither have United allowed a "sell on" clause in Wan-Bissaka's contract.
The English right back is poised to have his medical this week and will become Solskjaer's second signing of the summer. He is expected to take over the right-back role and it will be for the first time since almost a decade that United have two specialist right-backs - Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot - in their squad. The Englishman's involvement in pre-season though, is doubtful, as he is currently with the England Under-21 squad at the Under-21 Euros, and as such, might need a few weeks of rest to prevent a burn-out.
#4 United willing to pay £65m for Harry Maguire
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are ready to pay Leicester City £65m for the services of Harry Maguire but face stiff competition from Manchester City, who are willing to match their offer.
A center back has been Solskjaer's priority this summer and even though Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly was his preferred first choice, the Norwegian is happy to settle for Maguire. However, Leicester City have proven to be tricky customers so far, as they are under no pressure to sell. The Foxes will only consider offers above £75m, which will invariably make Maguire the most expensive defender in the world, ahead of Virgil van Dijk.
It is understood that both Manchester clubs have been negotiating with Leicester City, but there have not been any fruitful developments so far. The player himself is happy at Leicester City, and will not force a move out of the club. However, Maguire does cultivate a desire to play for a top 6 club and as such, a move cannot be ruled out yet.
#3 United consider move for Lyon teenage sensation
According to the Telegraph, Manchester United have set their eyes on one of the brightest young prospects in European football right now. Lyon's French teenage sensation, Mathis Rayan Cherki, has attracted attention from almost all the big European powerhouses and United are one of them. Last September, he became the youngest goalscorer in the UEFA Youth League, when he scored Lyon's consolation goal in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. The Red Devils are closely monitoring the player, who is just 15 years old now, but will be eligible for a move within the European Union when he turns 16 on August 17.
Rayan Cherki has caught the eye with his brilliant performance in the Lyon under-19 team this season and has excelled in both the attacking midfield as well as the forward role. However, pricing him away from Lyon will not be easy.
Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has convinced Cherki to sign a deal with his boyhood club and any attempts from United to acquire the player would have to involve the biggest contract the Red Devils have offered to a scholarship-age player.
#2 Lukaku's agent has meeting with Inter Sporting Director
Here's some more news about Romelu Lukaku's transfer saga which has been hanging on the balance for quite some time now. The Belgian's agent has reportedly had a meeting with Inter Milan on Tuesday about the player's move to the Serie A side.
Federico Pastorello, the Belgian Striker's agent, traveled to Milan on Tuesday to talk with the club and find a breakthrough in negotiations. Inter's new coach Antonio Conte is reportedly keen on adding Lukaku to his squad, having narrowly missed securing his signature during his tenure as the Chelsea boss.
Pastorello publicly acknowledged that Inter Milan were trying to sign Lukaku, saying
Yes, he's publicly expressed his plans and desires. We'll see what happens.
Lukaku is a dream, a difficult one to make happen as such, but I believe nothing is impossible. It's not impossible and Inter is trying hard.
Inter Milan Chief Executive Beppe Marotta did not give a clear reply though. When asked about Lukaku, he had this to say
It's early
#1 Ed Woodward urged to sign a World Class Sporting Director
According to Andy Mitter, the Editor of the Manchester United club fanzine United We Stand, the Red Devils need a World Class Sporting Director to turn their fortunes around. United have been looking to make a few changes in the club hierarchy and the appointment of a Sporting Director was seen as a step in the right direction.
Sir Alex Ferguson had recommended Steve Walsh for the role, but Ed Woodward reportedly wants a former United footballer in the position. Mitten, though, believes that United need a champion Sporting Director immediately
It has to be an excellent sporting director - someone who knows how to do that job better than anyone else, a top-five person in the world.
These people tend to speak five languages. They tend to be football obsessives. They tend to know that there is a brilliant left-back at Palermo and know his agent and know a club has already been onto him. They have got a rich depth of knowledge.
There are a lot of talented people at Manchester United on the recruitment side. There are a lot of people with world-class CVs but the end result is that players are coming in and it is not gelling.
