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Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! Despite the fact that the transfer window has shut down, it is quite astounding that the rumour mill has picked up the pieces so soon and began their life.
‘Began’ would be the wrong word to use since it never really stopped generating transfer-related stories at all. In the case of Manchester United, they are still the king of kings when it comes to the rumour-makers’ preference.
So, without further ado, we shall now look at what’s in store with regards to the Red Devils…
#5 Maguire opens up on the interest from clubs during the summer
Manchester United were linked with a number of defenders in the summer transfer window. However, in the end, they failed to bring in a single center-half to refurbish their backline that might have a lot in quantity but doesn’t have the quality that Mourinho wants.
Harry Maguire was among the defenders that the Red Devils had targeted but Leicester’s firm approach denied the Old Trafford outfit any chance of acquiring his signature.
According to the defender himself, he acquired the interest of some clubs after a great World Cup with England. However, the Foxes had no desire of selling him and he respected it.
“Obviously going into a World Cup there was always going to be if he were successful as we were there were always going to be players who came under interest that is part and parcel of the game,” he said.
“I spoke with Leicester after a bit of interest from clubs, and they reiterated that I wasn’t for sale and I respected that decision.”
Maguire further stated that he is grateful for what Leicester have done for his career and implied that his acceptance of their decision was a way of repaying the faith that they had shown in him.
“They gave me an opportunity to play in the Premier League when I had just been relegated with Hull. They gave me that opportunity and it is a club I am really enjoying my time at. I am playing week in and week out which is important to me.
“They have given me the platform to play at the World Cup so I feel I owe them and I respect that decision. Now I am looking forward to the season.”
#4 Luis Suarez heaps praise on Pogba
No, no, it is not what you think. Manchester United have NOT been linked with the Uruguayan. Instead, he has just spoken about one of the players that ply their trade at the Theatre of Dreams.
So, Barcelona were/are interested in Pogba and the rumour mill was all about it during the transfer window. In the end, the deal never happened but Luis Suarez took his time to not only praise the Frenchman but also inform him that he is always welcome at the Camp Nou.
"Pogba's an elite player who's won everything,” Suarez said. "He has a lot of quality and he's one of the references at United.
"I think he would like to be competing for more than he is at the moment. He's not a player that belongs to Barca, but he would always be welcome."
We all now know which Barcelona player Manchester United fans hate the most right now.
#3 John Terry is the answer
Trust me when I say you this: this is no joke, no satire. This is an actual assessment from TalkSPORT reporter Adrian Durham. According to him, the only way the Red Devils can improve their defence is by adding a free-agent.
So far, so good… so what?
The free agent that Durhman speaks of is none other than Chelsea’s former captain John Terry. According to Durham, the reason why the Red Devils should sign him is that he – a 37-year-old John Terry who just completed a season in the Championship – is better than most of the defenders that the Old Trafford outfit have in their ranks.
“All they can go with is free agents,” Durham said. “John Terry is exactly that.”
“John Terry would get into the Manchester United team ahead of Smalling, Jones, Rojo. I think he’d get in ahead of Lindelof.”
He then added that United are in a “crisis” and given how much Mourinho already knows about the Englishman from during their time in Chelsea, it only makes sense for the defender to join the Theatre of Dreams as Jose Mourinho has already given it a thought.
“So think this through. Think about the crisis Man United have got at the back. Think about how well Jose Mourinho knows John Terry. Think that one through.
“Free agent. It could happen. John Terry to Manchester United. You know what? If Jose Mourinho has thought about it, I can see that happening.”
#2 Pogba to move in January
Ever since the end of the World Cup, Paul Pogba has been in the news more for the transfer rumours than his performances with Manchester United. Over in Spain, Don Balon claim that Paul Pogba knew that Ronaldo wanted to come back to Manchester United but that Jose Mourinho declined the move.
Pogba, as a result, wanted to leave the club and while he couldn’t secure a move out of the Old Trafford in the summer, he has set his mind on leaving in January with Turin and Barcelona as possible destinations.
Meanwhile, The Sun report that Paul Pogba has a dream of playing under his icon Zinedine Zidane somewhere down the line. With Mourinho’s future still under scrutiny, Zidane has been linked with the hot-seat at the Old Trafford.
#1 Monchi chased by Barca and United
There is perhaps not a single director of football that is as celebrated as Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, who is also known as Monchi. After around 17 years at Sevilla, Monchi left the Spanish club to become the director of football with Roma.
His time in Spain was highly fruitful as he not only helped Sevilla, who got relegated to the second division when he arrived, become one of the best teams in Spain but also helped build a squad that won the Europa League three times in a row from 2014 to 2016.
Sevilla also won the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007 with him at the club. So it is safe to say that he is one of the greatest scouting minds in football, which is perhaps why Manchester United want him.
According to Don Balon, both Barcelona and Manchester United are set to lock horns in order to capture the Roma director as they are looking to build a squad capable fighting on all fronts not only now but in the future as well.
