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Hello and welcome to the Manchester United Transfer News round-up for 15th July 2019. We bring you the top transfer stories of the day involving Manchester United and here are our top picks for the day.
Also Read: Manchester United News and Rumours: July 14, 2019
#5 United preparing £80m bid to sign Harry Maguire
We start today's segment with some exciting news for United fans. The Premier League giants were largely frustrated in their pursuit of a new defender this summer. The Red Devils were reportedly interested in Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly but were priced out of the move. Ajax skipper Matthijs de Ligt was also on the club's radar, but the Dutchman's move to Juventus is all but confirmed. The Red Devils then turned their attention to Leicester City defender Harry Maguire, however, complications seemed to follow United once again.
United were willing to pay around £70m for the services of the Englishman, but the Foxes wanted a world record bid for a defender. Liverpool paid £75m for van Dijk in January 2018 and only a deal in excess of that amount would suffice. The Red Devils were initially reluctant to pay such an exorbitant amount for Maguire, however, Leicester City were adamant and perhaps United had a hand in that.
The Premier League giants had paid £50m for the services of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Leicester City saw this as an opportunity. Compared to Wan-Bissaka, Maguire was a more established figure for both club and country and as such, the Foxes wanted United to pay a lot more for the defender. It looked like United were about to lose out on another of their defensive targets, but recent rumours suggest otherwise.
Manchester United are reportedly preparing a world record £80m bid for Harry Maguire, which will make him the costliest defender in the world. The Englishman has his heart set on the move and there are even reports in some quarters that a deal between the two clubs is already in place. However, Maguire appeared relaxed during Leicester City's pre-season preparations. The Foxes are due to play Scunthorpe United on Tuesday and Maguire is set to be a part of the squad.
Leicester City have reportedly shortlisted Brighton's Lewis Dunk as the replacement should Maguire finally leave for United, however, there have been no bids placed for Dunk so far.
#4 Solskjaer wants a Bryan Robson type skipper in his team
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that he could use a Bryan Robson type leader in his team to help Manchester United return to their former glory. The Norwegian was speaking to fans at an event in Perth and had the legendary United skipper for company. The United boss had this to say:
We are on the way to building a new squad. We’ve got new staff in, coaching staff. I believe so much in this club and this project. To be manager of this club is fantastic. I’m standing next to the history of this club [Robson].
I never had the honour of playing with Robbo but we need a player like him in the team. We’re waiting for the young ones to come through because we’ve got so many exciting players and I’m sure we’ll see the best of them in the years to come.
There are some experienced ones as well that still have a few years left in them. We can get back to the level we were, definitely.
#3 Bryan Robson says Pogba is showing he cares about United
Bryan Robson was impressed by Pogba's contribution in the first game of preseason and even went on to claim that Pogba actually cares about United.
In an interview given to Perth Radio Station 6PR, this is what the United legend had to say:
No wonder [the fans] are going ‘please stay’ because the first-half was sort of like the first game of the season...a little bit stop start.
When Ole put on the players in the second-half all of a sudden it seemed to have freshened up, we played at a far better tempo and for me Paul Pogba was the case for that.
He never gave the ball away, he dominated the game and he played the forwards into the game and they responded. Paul’s a great player and that’s the type of player we want at this football club.
For me, Paul showed in the game against Perth that he cares, he wants to be a really top class player and he proved that by the way he performed.
#2 United urged to sign proper partners for Paul Pogba
Former Everton player Leon Osman has urged Manchester United to keep hold of Paul Pogba and said that Pogba needs better partners in the middle of the park. Osman even when on to claim that the current crop of midfielders in the United squad are not good enough and that the Red Devils should invest in the market for ideal partners for Pogba.
The standards that Manchester United had years ago when I was playing against them was incredible. There was five or six players and you couldn’t get them all in the team at the same time.
Nowadays I think it relatively picks itself with the strongest players that Manchester United have.
Let’s make no mistake, United are adrift. They’re getting worse season after season.
If you’re looking at bringing in better players to strengthen it, they’re gonna want to come and play with a Pogba, they’re gonna want to come and play with the best players.
#1 Wan-Bissaka reveals reason for joining United
Aaron Wan-Bissaka joined United this summer and has already been impressive in his first pre-season game for the Red Devils.
In an interview with the Telegraph, the Englishman revealed that he had joined United to push himself and take his performance to the next level.
I have settled in well, the boys have been great. I was surprised, literally from the moment when I walked in everyone has been talking to me, encouraging me with advice. That has helped me a lot.
I would say [the biggest change to Palace] has been the style of play, the way they work, the intensity. That is going to develop me as a player. I always want to be pushed to reach my potential.
There are many areas [where I can improve]. That is where I am looking to gain confidence in and take it to another level and this was the team where I thought I could do it.
