Manchester United transfer roundup: United target offered to Madrid for cut-price €90 million, Barca president gives Pogba update and more – August 14, 2018

Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! The closing of the transfer window hasn’t really affected the stories surrounding the Red Devils all that much as there are still quite a few reports with regards to the Red Devils.

And we shall get to them without further ado!

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#5 Mourinho isn’t trusted

After a frustrating transfer window, where Jose Mourinho wasn’t able to sign most of the targets that he had listed out, former Chelsea forward Chris Sutton has stated that Manchester United board don’t trust the Portuguese enough to bow down to his requests.

Jose Mourinho’s team were linked with a plethora of center-backs but weren’t able to sign even one as the window slammed shut on August 9. As a result, Mourinho has the same set of centre-halves from last season and will have to make do with them for now.

And according to Sutton, it was the negativity of the former Real Madrid tactician that led to trust issues within the board.

“All the way throughout pre-season it’s been negative, negative, negative,” Sutton said.

“How do the Manchester United fans feel about that?

“Ed Woodward clearly doesn’t trust him [Mourinho] in the transfer market.’

Sutton’s thought process is that the former Inter boss has been at the Old Trafford for two seasons now and that is enough time to build a side – and yet, it is only excuses that the self-proclaimed Special One has come up with.

“And, do you know what, he’s been there a couple of years and he’s had time to mould the side.

“It’s excuses, excuses, excuses from Jose.’

Finally, he stated that there is some sort of jealousy in the former Porto manager regarding the playing style of Manchester City and Liverpool.

“He looks over to City and Liverpool and sees that style of football and is jealous.

“You see the way they play – United fans aren’t getting value for money. He knows this season that they’re not going to touch Liverpool or Manchester City.”

#4 De Gea

De Gea to sign a contract?

So there are two outlets basically reporting the same thing in this regard. According to ESPN, Real Madrid’s acquisition of Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has made Manchester United confident of David De Gea staying at the club for a long time.

After failing to make a move to Real Madrid in 2015 due to a fax machine issue, the Spaniard signed a deal with the Red Devils that expires next year but has a 12-month extension clause.

Manchester Evening News also report the same thing as United are growing confident that the Spain number one will sign a long-term contract that will keep him at the club in his 30s.

#3 Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo

To leave?

Manchester United might not have been able to sign any defender apart from Diogo Dalot but they might sell at least two of their defenders by the time the window officially closes around Europe.

According to Manchester Evening News, Matteo Darmian, who hasn't been able to make a place for himself in the first-team, is on standby to leave the Red Devils for the Serie A in this summer with Juventus, Napoli and Inter all behind his trail.

Meanwhile, according to Fanatik, Manchester United and Fenerbahce are currently negotiating a deal for Marcos Rojo to join the Turkish outfit.

#2 Paul Pogba

Pogba off to Barca?

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has refrained from ruling out a potential move for World Cup-winning Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in this window.

Bartomeu, who has already brought the likes of Malcom, Arturo Vidal and Clement Lenglet in this window, claimed that the club “will see” who they can sign and it is best if these matters are asked to Eric Abidal.

"As we have respect for other clubs and there are 20 days left [before the transfer window shuts]," he said when asked about Pogba.

"We will see which players become available and we are focused on the league, so it's best to ask [Director of Sport] Eric Abidal about players... There is still time to do business," he said.

#1 Milinkovic-Savic

Off to Madrid?

So Manchester United were linked with the Serbian, especially in the early stages of the transfer window. However, his asking price of €150 million put off the Red Devils and since then, Real Madrid have been the club most linked to him.

While AC Milan are also thought to be in the race for him, Real Madrid seem to have taken the lead here as according to Don Balon, Lazio are willing to sell the Serbian for only €90 million now but only to Real Madrid.