Man Utd star refuses to accept pay-cut to leave club
Lindelof won’t accept pay-cut without pay-off
The Sweden international is currently one of the longest serving players at the club but his future is uncertain at the moment.
Lindelof has entered the final year of his contract and United’s hierarchy have decided against discussing a new long-term deal.
Hence, they are prepared to sanction his sale for the best price, but they face a hurdle as the centre-back has no plans to accept a pay-cut.
Fenerbahce are currently leading the race to sign the former Benfica man, but they are reluctant to offer him more than £70,000 a week.
There is presently a difference of £50,000 compared to his United salary and he may require a pay-off to move to Istanbul this summer.
United need to offer a compensation in the region of £2.5m and it remains to be seen whether they do so in order to part ways with Lindelof.
Fenerbahce are willing to pay around £10m for his transfer.
Harry Amass started against two of the Premier League’s top four in the United States and he will start against the top dogs this weekend.
Amass started all three games on tour
Amass started all three games on tour
The easiest decision Harry Amass gave Manchester United during their pre-season tour was to keep him with the first team. Now it is to put him in the first team.
Death, taxes and an injured Luke Shaw. The season has not started and Shaw, back at United for less than a week, is already a “question mark” for the Community Shield. There are cones on the pitch and on the roads at Carrington amid the £50million refurbishment to the first team base.
There must also be something in the water at the training ground as United defenders are dropping like flies again. Erik ten Hag could be without six defenders against Manchester City. The third-choice centre back as it stands is Rhys Bennett, who played once on loan at Stockport in League Two last season.
There is something particularly galling about Shaw succumbing to another injury. He played 15 times for United last season yet was gradually integrated into the England team during the European Championship, where he played 177 minutes across three knockout matches.
Shaw still took three weeks off, as he is entitled to, despite not playing for United since February 18. You can see it from both sides. Allow a brittle player ample recovery time for the start of the new season or insist he invests in his club as much as his country.
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United agreed to the former and Shaw has already broken down. He has not participated in a single full first team training session as United’s touring players were given Monday and Tuesday off. Shaw was not visible in training on Wednesday and described on Thursday as a doubt for the Community Shield.
Even if he trains on Friday, Shaw is not going to start at Wembley. One team training session before a game would be a risk for the durable Bruno Fernandes, never mind the injury-prone Shaw.
No matter. Amass, 17, has been building up to this moment. He started against Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool in the United States and improved with each performance. Mohamed Salah got the better of Toby Collyer but not Amass in South Carolina.
So whether it is Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden or someone else he is pitted against, Amass has had the perfect warm-up act. He has also been at Wembley with United on matchday – as a substitute in the FA Cup semi-final.
Amass was United’s best player against Liverpool
Amass was United’s best player against Liverpool
Amass was gutted he was unused on the seven occasions he was named in a matchday squad. Ten Hag was privately adamant he was not ready.
Only last week, Ten Hag suggested Amass required another three months to get up to speed. “We have to make progress, but we all see here a potential where we have seen in previous years, for instance two years ago, Garnacho last season.
“We had it during last season with Kobbie (Mainoo), but he is not that far now at this moment. But if we train him well, if we coach him well, then in three months it’s possible that he can be on that point.
“But in this moment, he (Amass) needs to catch up and he has to develop some skills already to play for Manchester United, competing for the highest positions in the league. But with big talent it can go up very quickly and that is very interesting to see if he is capable of doing this.”
Ten Hag discussed Amass last week
Ten Hag discussed Amass last week
Amass caught up with Salah more than once on Saturday. In the mixed zone in San Diego last week, Amass was in between Toby Collyer and Ethan Wheatley. Literally the centre of attention.
He had tallied an assist for Amad in the win against Betis and, with Tyrell Malacia still months away from a return and Shaw away on holiday, the conversation turned to a possible breakthrough for Amass.
“No conversations have been had yet but this pre-season is a chance to prove that if I am picked I can do it,” he said. “Obviously we’ll see what happens when Luke and Tyrell come back. My intention is to play first-team football at this club.”
He will be in the first team on Saturday.
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