Today’s fluff is looking for its war chest
Only 18 months after Manchester United splurged (an initial) £82m on a left-footed right winger that has gone on to have all the productivity and end product of a fork in a soup restaurant, the club are ready to try their luck on another bright young prospect. Manchester United are a special club, in that rather than being punished for a seemingly endless list of transfer mistakes, they can just apparently summon another lorry full of cash, put everything on red, and give the wheel another spin.
Michael Olise’s left foot is the latest unfortunate limb to be linked with a move to Manchester United’s right flank, although there are apparently some club scouts that seem unconvinced of his outstanding talent, on account of him potentially arriving from the same club as Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all those years ago. That would be fine logic, if one had never seen Olise play for Crystal Palace. Rather, if there should be any concerns at all, it should be from the winger, who should have some reservations about wasting the best years of his life at Old Trafford when there are many more desirable options on the table. Namely Liverpool and Manchester City.
From Gareth Bale to Dele Alli to Djed Spence, Tottenham have a history of signing players from the Football League. Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe is the latest to catch the eye and the winger’s goal on Friday wouldn’t have hurt his chances of a move: a wonderful solo effort in which Rowe slalomed his way from near the halfway line to the edge of Hull’s penalty area, before a Quaresma-like trevala finish with the outside of his foot.
Renato Sanches can’t seem to find his level. Too good for Lille (2019-2022), not good enough for Paris Saint-Germain or Roma, apparently. Neither his parent club in the French capital nor the club in the Italian capital, where the 26-year-old is on loan, want him, with the latter trying to terminate the deal. Sanches’s career low was probably during another loan spell, at Swansea in 2017, when he was hooked at half-time by the manager, Paul Clement, after playing a pass into the advertising boards on the side of the pitch, believing it to be a teammate. This latest saga is threatening to overtake that incident at Stamford Bridge.
Scott Twine, one of the many players Burnley signed as part of Vincent Kompany’s brave promotion push in 2022-23, looks set to leave the club. Bristol City are reportedly close to a loan-to-buy deal, which would cut short Twine’s current loan at Hull.
Lucas Bergvall is the next big thing in Sweden. Aged only 17, the midfielder has already been capped internationally, with Djurgarden holding talks with Barcelona for a potential transfer. Newcastle are watching him too – perhaps his compatriots Alexander Isak and Emil Krafth will be put to good use by Eddie Howe and co.
The Magpies have decided against a loan deal for Kalvin Phillips due to Manchester City’s demands. Crystal Palace, West Ham and Everton retain an interest, although the latest Premier League charge for breaching profit and sustainability rules could count the Toffees out of the race.
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Elsewhere, Jesse Lingard is considering a move to MLS with Portland Timbers reportedly keen, while Aston Villa are in talks to sign the right-back and spelling enigma Kosta Nedeljkovic from Red Star Belgrade. The 18-year-old would cost around £8m.
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