Huge boost for Manchester United as new owner is ready to splash the cash this season
Manchester United is keen on signing Viktor Gyokeres, the striker from Sporting CP, according to Fichajes. Since joining the Portuguese League, the 25-year-old has been performing exceptionally well, making him an excellent addition to the Red Devils.
Although Manchester United brought in Rasmus Hojlund at the start of the season to address their scoring issues, the talented young Danish player needs more support in the attack. Gyokeres could be the perfect solution. With 29 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, he has proven himself as a reliable goal-scorer who could greatly enhance Manchester United’s attacking prowess.
In recent years, Manchester United has struggled to compete for major trophies and they need high-quality players to challenge clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City. Bringing in a top-class striker could make a significant difference for them in the final third. However, it remains to be seen if they can successfully complete the deal.
Gyokeres has a release clause of €100 million in his contract, and Manchester United appears willing to pay such a sum. The chance to play for one of England’s biggest clubs is undoubtedly an enticing prospect for the striker, and he will surely hope that an agreement can be reached between the clubs soon.
Manchester United players with poor attitudes should be ‘looking over their shoulders’ this summer, warns former goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Manchester United are reeling from one of the worst performance of the 2024 so far, and certainly the worst result.
The defeat to Fulham came at the worst possible time, ahead of a week with a FA Cup tie followed by a trip to City.
New investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants United to take the fight to City in the seasons ahead, but that may be beyond the team this coming Sunday.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe visits Carrington Training Complex
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ben Foster warns overhaul is coming
A report last week via ESPN claimed 11 senior players could be sold this summer, and really, very few players should be assured of their futures.
Ineos will be assessing the squad and former star Ben Foster has warned that only players with the right characters will be kept on.
Foster told The United Stand: “Dan Ashworth, Berrada, Dave Brailsford and the new owner, they will know the players to get in, they know the characters within a team to make it successful, and they will be doing all their work now, between now and they end of the season they will be talking to everybody they possibly can.
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“They will be looking at everything, body language, what time they come in the morning, what time they leave, the extra work they do.
“They’ll talk to the staff members ‘he’s a great lad he works hard’, or ‘he’s a flash in the pan, his attitude stinks when it doesn’t quite go for him and he throws his toys out of the pram’.
“They’re the sort of players who should be looking over their shoulder, the new ownership the new model won’t stand for that.”
Foster says highly paid players are not United’s best characters
One player who has been out of form and is not always seen to react in the best way when the team lose is captain Bruno Fernandes, along with last season’s top scorer Marcus Rashford. Their body language has frequently been scrutinised.
While not name-checking them, Foster added that he regards the attitudes of certain big name stars as a far bigger problem than the managerial or tactical deficiencies.
He said: “The big problem is the individuals, the big name players, the highest paid players.
“They are individuals. It is simple as that. They are not the characters the leaders that you want within your team.”
Foster is talking long-term, and later added that right now, the best players often stay on the pitch due to their ability to contribute goals to the team, irrespective of wider concerns.
Until the end of the season, not a lot will change. When Ineos have their first attempt at re-shaping the squad in the summer, the dynamic of the squad could be re-balanced, and certain players could be shipped out.
Manchester United experienced a major setback in the team’s hunt for a Champions League place.
There are certain games you cannot afford to lose during a season, and a home fixture against Fulham is of them.
United were defeated 2-1 by Fulham after conceding an injury time winner, which really spiked the team’s positive momentum.
Many may argue the defeat was coming, with United riding their luck in recent games., but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
Manchester United v Fulham FC – Premier League
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Casemiro criticised
Casemiro was among United’s starters in the game and was substituted after 53 minutes after a clash of heads.
This might have thrown United off a little, but the Brazilian’s performance was criticised in the wake of United’s defeat.
NBC Sports’ Robbie Mustoe told the Two Robbies podcast he was not at all impressed with United’s display: “It was a shocker. It was an awful exhibit of where they’re at. to get outplayed by Fulham for large periods in midfield is a terrible look.”
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On Casemiro, he expressed concern the Brazilian lacks the fitness to excel in the Premier League.
He said: “Casemiro in midfield, and there’s no one with more respect for what he’s done and the medals he’s got than me, he just kind of jogs around.
“He hit a few little first time spinners in behind, first time for forwards, gets caught out, he doesn’t really run back, he hasn’t got the energy in there.”
Casemiro expected to return against Forest
Casemiro’s head injury is not expected to keep him out of Manchester United’s FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest in midweek, nor the league game against City.
He has been handed a fairly thankless task at times this season, overloaded due to United’s tactical approach.
But his own performances have not been without blame, and at 32, he clearly is not the long term answer at the position for the club.
Along with other players, Casemiro’s future will be assessed by Ineos leading into the summer, and if he does really want to stay, he will need to end his season strongly.
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