Man Utd surge towards £40m defensive signing as Ratcliffe cools interest in costly Everton man
Manchester United are going through a period of major change and are readying themselves for a new era under their new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The club is a hive of activity at the moment, with new staff taking up roles and the club readying for a big summer window when signing a centre-back will be a top priority.
TEAMtalk can exclusively confirm that one player Man Utd hold a serious interest in is Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
The French international has been the subject of multiple approaches in recent years but the Red Devil’s interest is described as “very very serious” by sources.
There have now been numerous conversations between the club and Todibo’s representatives and it’s understood that “everything has been positive and exciting.”
TEAMtalk can reveal that the former Barcelona man’s other suitors have backed off slightly, suggesting that the Old Trafford transfer is the preferred option for him at this time.
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Man Utd turn attention away from Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite
Todibo, 24, has been tracked by a number of Premier sides including Tottenham, who considered a bid for him in January but decided against it after signing Radu Dragusin from Bologna.
Spurs have now diverted towards other defensive targets for the summer, with an approach made to Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a pre-contract deal.
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This has left Man Utd in a very strong position in their pursuit of Todibo.
Nice’s asking price of £40 million is also a huge positive for the Red Devil’s bosses as they try to make the most of a budget expected to be around £150 million.
They also have eyes for Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite but his huge asking price is off-putting and he has the potential to cost double the amount of Todibo.
Ratcliffe is currently working on getting the man in position who will finalize these deals, taking a lead role in talks with Newcastle over their Sporting Director Dan Ashworth.
Ashworth is currently on gardening leave as he has made it clear he wants to move to the red side of Manchester and the Toon are holding out for a compensation fee of £15 million to allow him to break his contract early.
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Erik ten Hag will pay with Man Utd job as chumps repeatedly fail to get the message
After conceding 20 shots in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium – where they mustered only eight of their own – Manchester United have now allowed more opposition efforts on goal per game than any team in the Premier League this season.
They have a negative goal difference. The chances they have gifted amount to the fourth-highest expected goals against total in the division. And, sitting seventh in the table, a season that began with ambitions of Champions League qualification is culminating with the very real possibility of the club’s lowest-ever Premier League finish. Right now they’re not even in a Conference League spot.
Amid social media mutiny from some of the younger members of his squad and the worsening of already damning defensive statistics, the result and performance at Bournemouth have accelerated Erik ten Hag towards an Old Trafford exit that has come to feel inevitable. And more than anything else, his demise will be a consequence of inadequate instruction. It’s unforgivable.
An allegation consistently levelled at Ten Hag – even in periods of comparative success last season – is that he lacks charisma as a leader. This is something that was reportedly picked up by the powers-that-be at Tottenham when he unsuccessfully interviewed for the Spurs job. The strait-laced, monotone Dutchman does not possess Jurgen Klopp’s red-faced pitch-side passion; nor does his skin seem to itch with an all-consuming, insatiable obsession of the game’s minutiae, a la Pep Guardiola.Related video: Watch: Erik ten Hag storms out of Manchester United press conference and refuses to answer question (Dailymotion)
And that’s fine. A healthy helping of charisma can certainly go a long way towards encouraging players to buy into a manager’s methods and help a coach instil an overarching philosophy, the lack of which is another common criticism of Ten Hag’s United. But not every manager needs to be as cool as Carlo or as mischievous as Mourinho to succeed.
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An inability to deliver an identifiable, uniform style of play is one thing. But United’s deterioration this season is such that they are failing to execute universal basic principles. Ten Hag’s players too often don’t know where to be or what to do. There have been errors of positioning and an absence of coherence so evident in recent weeks that you don’t need a UEFA Pro Licence to diagnose them.
Ten Hag’s United downfall will not be due to a paucity of personality, but rather a failure of basic communication.
The latest example came at the Vitality stadium. The instant Marcos Sensei picked out Justin Kluivert in the inside-left channel so open it was as though the Dutch winger had a restraining order against every United defender, Diogo Dalot threw out his arms in exasperation. Whether it was Dalot himself, young centre-back Willy Kambwala or Casemiro – who, ambling back, could’ve been overtaken by a sloth on the back of a tortoise riding a snail – someone was not where he was supposed to be.
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There was more baffled gesticulation as United conspired to capitulate in stoppage time at Stamford Bridge two weeks earlier. Having already conceded a post-90th-minute Cole Palmer equaliser from the penalty spot, Ten Hag’s defenders neglected to step into the same postcode as the red-hot former Manchester City player at a corner kick. Enzo Fernandes rolled the ball to Palmer on the edge of the box and three United defenders all stood and pointed as he rifled in a deflected winner.
And there was more set-piece stupefaction in the subsequent 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford. When Andrew Robertson swung a corner into the United penalty area in the 23rd minute, the 5ft 9ins Kobbie Mainoo found himself the nearest defender to the 6ft 2ins super-athlete Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan is, to put it kindly, not the most refined forward in the Premier League, but he is capable of leaping like a spring-loaded salmon. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was his initial marker, but the ease with which Nunez was able to evade any close attention to win a flick-on that set up Luis Diaz to score once again highlighted the home side’s organisational woes.
“We are into the final stage of the season and this is not enough,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports after the Bournemouth draw. “But the truth is today, we didn’t deserve more.
“We lost the ball three times in the areas where we should not lose those balls. They [United’s players] were not always well-organised, especially on the right side where there came some gaps for the opposition to benefit from it. We should have done this better.”
If only Ten Hag could find the man responsible for organising his players.
Whatever his message is, it isn’t getting through. That’s been the case all season. And whether it’s a function of Ten Hag’s deficient delivery or a lack of receptiveness among his players, the outcome in such situations is as predictable as United getting outshot by their opponents – the manager pays with his job.
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Man Utd: Ratcliffe ‘eager’ for Ashworth to do ‘due diligence’ on new manager after fresh Newcastle ‘talks’
Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still pushing hard to bring in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle as the Red Devils new sporting director, according to reports.
The Red Devils are set for major changes after Ratcliffe and INEOS completed a deal to buy 27.7 per cent of Man Utd from the Glazer family earlier this year.
Ratcliffe ramping up efforts to get Ashworth deal over the line
As part of the agreement Ratcliffe was given control of the football operation with the British billionaire looking to overhaul the club’s recruitment and invest in infrastructure, including the stadium.
The new Man Utd co-owner has already moved to bring in Omar Berrada as the club’s new CEO from arch-rivals Man City, while he wants to appoint Newcastle’s Ashworth as sporting director and Southampton’s Jason Wilcox as technical director.
Man Utd and Newcastle have been in negotiations since Ashworth was placed on gardening leave over the interest from Old Trafford but now HITC are reporting that Ratcliffe has ‘taken things further in recent weeks’.
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HITC journalist Graeme Bailey wrote:
‘HITC can confirm that Ratcliffe has taken things further in recent weeks by holding talks with Newcastle director Amanda Staveley, as the club clubs try and thrash out terms. The North East club have been demanding £20million to release Ashworth from his contract.’
Erik ten Hag is coming under increasing pressure to show Ratcliffe and INEOS why he should be kept on for next season after their disappointing 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday.
That result means Man Utd have now won just one of their last seven Premier League matches and Champions League qualification for next season is now a distant dream.
Ratcliffe a ‘big fan’ of Ten Hag’s work with young talent
And Bailey adds that one of the main reasons Ratcliffe wants to appoint Ashworth quickly is so he can oversee the ‘due diligence on potential new bosses’ if Man Utd decide to sack Ten Hag.
‘HITC can confirm that Ratcliffe is a big fan of many aspects of the work done by current first-team boss Erik Ten Hag – particularly with the bringing through young talent.
‘However, sources have always insisted to HITC that the decisive factor would be the form of the team and despite reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, United’s league form in recent weeks has been worrying to many at the club. They have won just one Premier League game in their last seven matches – form which has seen them drop to seventh.
‘HITC understands that United have been doing their due diligence on potential new bosses, in case their was the need to replace Ten Hag – but Ratcliffe is eager to have Ashworth overseeing the process.’
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Jamie Carragher: Arsenal and Man Utd should steer clear of transfer bid for much-linked Everton star
One Onana is quite enough for Manchester United, Jamie Carragher believes, after expressing his doubts about Everton’s Amadou Onana’s ability to cut it at the top end of the Premier League.
The Belgium international arrived at Goodison Park to some hype in summer 2022 and has been repeatedly connected with a move away from the troubled club.
Carragher: ‘I don’t know what Amadou Onana is’
Onana being a footballer based in the northern hemisphere, Manchester United and Arsenal have inevitably been linked, making us wonder if there is room for a Scout badge-like system that players could implement for each major club their agents are successfully able to link them with.
But Carragher wouldn’t touch Onana with yours if he were one of the Premier League’s top clubs.
He told Sky Sports: “I must say this: Onana is a player who Everton may have to sell with the situation that they find themselves in financially.
“He came in with a huge reputation. Frank Lampard brought him in, he look[ed] the part; did really well, I think, for Belgium at Wembley; and there was talk of him going to other big clubs.
“[But] I don’t see it. I haven’t since he’s been there. I don’t know what he is. Is he a holding midfield player? Does he get forward? Does he get involved?Related video: Ranked! The 10 Best Manchester United Players Ever (FourFourTwo)
“The only thing I have seen him do is try to lift the crowd, that is all I ever see him do when he plays for Everton.”
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22-year-old Onana has made 32 appearances in all competitions for Everton this season, scoring three goals and making one assist.
Everton currently look like being some shade of screwed whether or not they survive the drop this season, although there is still hope that US investment firm 777 may be able to get a protracted takeover process over the line this summer.
Regardless, their ongoing financial difficulties may once again mean they need to make significant player sales this summer
Sean Dyche’s side currently sit 16th, just two points clear from the drop, following a six-goal defeat to Chelsea that has eradicated their goal difference advantage over 17th-placed Forest.
Everton are appealing their recent two-point deduction having had an earlier ten-point deduction reduced to six on appeal. They also hold a game in hand over all of the rest of the bottom six (except Sheffield United, but come on, not like that matters.)
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Man City ‘reject’ PSG offer for key star as Guardiola ‘gives the cross’ to five players
Man City have turned down a bid from Paris Saint-Germain for Bernardo Silva ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.
The Citizens are once again looking to win a Treble this season after moving to the top of the Premier League following slip-ups from both Arsenal and Liverpool over the weekend.
Man City are not keen on selling Bernardo Silva – but may have no choice
Pep Guardiola’s side are also in the FA Cup semi-finals and play Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday with the tie level at 3-3.
And the Man City boss is reluctant to lose one of his best players with Spanish publication Nacional insisting that the Citizens have ‘rejected’ a multi-million offer from French giants PSG.
The Parisiens are set to lose their best player in Kylian Mbappe with widespread reports insisting that the France international is set to sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer.
Man City actually ‘assume they will lose’ Silva this summer as his current contract contains a release clause of just €58m, ‘a price that deserves to be considered a real bargain’.
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However, PSG have failed to meet that figure by offering €50m with Barcelona also ‘very attentive’ to the 29-year-old Portugal international.
Nacional adds that Man City were ‘quick to reject the offer that PSG had presented for Bernardo, and they have warned that they have no intention of negotiating with anyone’.
But Guardiola is willing to offload some faces in the summer with Nacional adding that Guardiola ‘gives the cross’ to five players, meaning they will be up for sale this summer.
Man City ‘already know’ the five players Guardiola doesn’t want with Kalvin Phillips, Joao Cancelo, Kyle Walker, Matheus Nunes and Sergio Gomez all apparently allowed to leave.
The Citizens have also been linked with West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala in recent days and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has brought an update on Man City’s potential pursuit of the duo.
Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “Lucas Paqueta will be one to watch for the summer transfer window – we can confirm that his contract at West Ham, which runs until 2027 with the option of a further season, will this summer have a release clause of £85m. Let’s see who’s going to attack that release clause, because West Ham have no intention to negotiate, it will have to be the payment of that clause if Paqueta is to be sold.
“Manchester City still have an interest in Paqueta, he’s a player they appreciate, while the Brazilian midfielder would obviously also be super keen on the move. Paqueta was already keen on joining City last summer, but the crucial story is the betting allegations against him.
“City are waiting to see what happens with that story as they like the player, so let’s see what materialises there and how it affects a potential saga this summer.
Romano: Zero concrete interest from Man City in Jamal Musiala
“I’m also aware that there have been reports of Man City being in a strong position for Jamal Musiala this summer, but I’m told that at the moment there’s zero concrete into any Musiala story or deal. Bayern will push to extend his contract, there will be talks, they will make an important proposal and we will see how discussions will go. Until that moment, nothing will be serious.
“Of course top clubs are interested in Musiala, that’s absolutely normal, but no one has started concrete talks yet as it depends on Bayern.”
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