The transfer merry-go-round continues without a pause. Manchester United will line up at the start of the season with Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. Fortunately for the Red Devils, AC Milan have reported their interest in United’s striker, Rasmus Hojlund and with Viktor Gyokores moving to the Emirates with Arsenal.
Benjamin Sesko and Nicolas Jackson are being carefully looked at by United’s recruitment department.
As reported, Chelsea have signed Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, who have already made their presence felt for the Blues. Jackson is now a third choice striker, but Coach Enzo Maresca believes he can still turn him into the £100 million player Chelsea thought they were buying. A move away with either a sale or loan is still possible and a bid by United would be seriously considered, but I think Nicolas could remain at Stamford Bridge from what I have been told.
Mbuemo will have a contract with United until June 2031, which includes a year’s option. United have a tough opening Premier League match on 17th August at home to Arsenal, which is a sell-out.
Nottingham Forest are about to help out United by moving for Jadon Sancho, who has no future at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim. Owner Evangelos Marinakis has agreed to make the money available to take Jadon to the City Ground, having lost Anthony Elanga to Newcastle.
Frank starts with winning ways at Tottenham
I seem to be writing a lot about Spurs this weekend, but with a new coach and experimenting with pre-season team line-ups, it seems a good place to start.
In a game against Reading, Thomas Frank played two teams, changing at half time. Here is an assessment of the new players and Frank’s style of management. Cristiano Romero lead the first half team with Rodrigo Bentacur, Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson all trying but failing to break through Reading’s defence. Captain Son Heung-min led the team out for the second half, and within four minutes, Spurs put the ball into the net.
The new signings and one academy graduate showed what they could do. Mohammed Kudus took a corner and placed it away from the goalkeeper, while Luka Vuskovic headed the ball on and Will Lankshear nodded in the goal. Nice work from the trio. Kudus and Vuskovic linked up again when the midfielder pushed the ball onto the advancing Vuskovic who slotted a perfect low shot into the corner of the net. Thomas Frank was pleased with his team’s first performance under his guidance and greeted his players when they came off with his usual big smile and charismatic father like arm around shoulders. He has already won the respect and approval of his players.
elax Magpie fans, Isak is going nowhere
Several readers of this column have asked me why Newcastle’s Alexander Isak has been training alone this week. Relax Magpie supporters, it is not because the Swedish international has been demanding a wage rise to £300k a week, which would bust Newcastle’s pay structure and nor is it because his head has been turned by interest from Liverpool and the Saudi Pro League.
Isak hurt his thigh in training after suffering with groin stress at the end of last season and it was painful enough for the club to send him for a scan, which fortunately did not reveal anything serious. Coach Eddie Howe decided that to protect his valuable striker he would not train with the other players, which could have put him at risk until the thigh is healed.
