Man Utd set for private talks with Real Madrid as £43m transfer target emerges
Manchester United officials, including John Murtough, have been conducting meetings in Spain as the club continue to plan ahead for the upcoming summer transfer window
Erik ten Hag and John Murtough
Manchester United football director John Murtough (R) has been conducting meetings in Spain.
Manchester United football director John Murtough and the club’s chief negotiator are set to meet with officials from Real Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils are expected to be busy once the current campaign ends now that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken charge of sporting operations. Ratcliffe, 71, and his Ineos team now have the final say over all football matters and have already started making significant changes to the club’s off-field structure.
United want Dan Ashworth to be their new sporting director, although they have yet to agree terms on a financial package for his services with Newcastle. Recruitment plans are continuing in the background, though, with Murtough and the club’s director of negotiations, Matt Hargreaves, currently in Spain.
A new report from ESPN has outlined that the duo have met with executives from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona already during their trip, with a further meeting with Real Madrid’s top brass pencilled in before their return. Murtough and Hargreaves are also planning to visit clubs in Italy and Portugal in a bid to put United into the best possible position ahead of a summer rebuild.
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Manchester United have money to spend in the summer, although the amount of business the club do will hinge on outgoings. A striker and a centre-back are believed to be at the top of the club’s agenda heading into the summer.
Intriguingly, Juventus defender Bremer has emerged as a target ahead of United’s planned meeting with club officials from Real Madrid. The Brazilian centre-back is also a target for the Spanish giants, per iNews, who claim the 26-year-old is available for reasonably modest sum due to a release clause in his contract.
It’s believed that Bremer, who only signed fresh terms late last year, would be available for €50m (£43m) in the summer. That deal would cost significantly less than the mooted £75m required to bring Jarrad Branthwaite, another target, to Old Trafford from Everton.
Reports in Italy claim Juventus are already considering potential replacements for Bremer, who is also attracting interest from elsewhere, including from Chelsea and Tottenham.
United could yet attempt to sign both Bremer and Branthwaite if the new regime can achieve success in offloading unwanted players. Ineos are aiming to raise around £100m in additional funds through player sales with a number of high-earners set for the axe.
Mason Greenwood is one player who is expected to be moved on at the end of the campaign. Other players who have been touted as being available include Jadon Sancho, Antony, Casemiro and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
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Man United fans can’t believe ‘CRAZY’ transfer fee they paid for Alejandro Garnacho, as they hail the winger as the ‘bargain of the century’ after he starred in 2-0 win against Everton
Manchester United fans have taken to social media in smug amazement on how much the club paid for Alejandro Garnacho after his performance at the weekend against Everton.
The Argentine starred in United’s 2-0 win over the Toffees on Saturday, and it was a timely reminder of just how little the club secured his services for.
Garnacho moved to Old Trafford in 2020 as part of a recruitment drive which saw the club sign three top players from Spain, with Marc Jurado also joining from Barcelona and Alvaro Fernandez from Real Madrid.
After his scintillating man of the match display at the weekend, fans took to social media to remind those of what a bargain the forward was.
We signed him for £400k..Bargain of the century’ one fan hailed. While another echoed the same sentiments by saying ‘It’s crazy how we ONLY paid £400k for Garnacho. The bargain of the century.’
Some even broke down his performance to hammer home the point, posting; ‘Garnacho vs Everton , 49 touches,10 in opposition box and 3 shots in the box…It’s crazy how we ONLY paid £400k for Garnacho. The bargain of the century.
Since making his debut in 2022, the 19-year-old had played 76 games for the club, scoring 13 goals.
The fans hail Garnacho the price tag they paid for the Argentine on social media
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