Manchester United finished sixth last season in the Premier League and also ended the season without silverware. New manager Erik ten Hag took over the team's charge this summer to help get them back to their glory days.
Meanwhile, former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Cristiano Ronaldo has no loyalty to the Red Devils. Elsewhere, former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has backed the Old Trafford outfit to sign a Lazio midfielder as an alternative to Frenkie de Jong.
On that note, here's a look at the key Manchester United transfer stories as of July 28, 2022:
Cristiano Ronaldo has no loyalty to Manchester United, says Gabriel Agbonlahor
Cristiano Ronaldo is not loyal to Manchester United, according to Gabriel Agbonlahor. The Portuguese forward is desperate to leave Old Trafford this summer in search of Champions League football and has offered his services to clubs around Europe.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, Agbonlahor said that the 37-year-old would go anywhere to add to his personal glory.
“Cristiano Ronaldo would join Liverpool this summer, if he could. They are big rivals of Man United, but it’s about Ronaldo. He will go anywhere he can still play Champions League football, add to his record and win titles. I don’t think Ronaldo has any loyalty to United, Real Madrid or Juventus,” said Agbonlahor.
Kevin Campbell tips Red Devils to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as Frenkie de Jong alternative
Kevin Campbell has backed Manchester United to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as an alternative to Frenkie de Jong. The Red Devils have been locked in talks with Barcelona for the Dutch midfielder for quite a while but are yet to strike a deal.
Speaking to Football Insider, Campbell said that Milinkovic-Savic would hit the ground running at Old Trafford.
“He’s a really top player. He has been linked with Arsenal and Newcastle as well. If Man United come into town and put the money down, I think Lazio’s ears will really prick up. Is it a risk? I don’t think so. I have watched him play. He is an exciting player. Yes, he has never played in the Premier League before. He might take a little bit of time to adapt, but I’m confident he could cut it here,” said Campbell.
He added:
“Frenkie de Jong is a player Ten Hag already knows. He knows what he brings and what he can get out of him, so I understand why he would be the preference. But if they cannot get De Jong, Milinkovic-Savic would be a great option.”
Milinkovic-Savic, 27, has two years left on his contract with Lazio. The Serb made 37 Serie A appearances for Lazio last season, scoring 11 goals and providing 11 assists.
Luke Chadwick backs Manchester United to finish third next season
Former Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick has backed the Red Devils to finish third in the Premier League next season. The Red Devils are looking to usher in a new era under Ten Hag.
Speaking to Caught Offside, Chadwick said that his former club have a massive opportunity to break into the top four next season.
“I would expect Manchester City to win the league again, then Liverpool in 2nd. In terms of just beneath those two, it’s harder to predict. I think with Ten Hag in at Man United now, it’s a massive opportunity for them. I think we’ll see them get stronger as the season goes on, and I could see them finishing in third place,” said Chadwick.
He continued:
“Obviously, I’d love to see them finish higher than that, but I think Liverpool and City still have too much for the rest of the league at the moment. Spurs and Arsenal have both recruited really well, and there won’t be much between them. Chelsea are struggling a bit in pre-season; they’ve signed some really good players but lost some really important players too.”
Chadwick added:
“So, I think, my overall prediction for the top four would be: City to win it, Liverpool 2nd, United third, and then I’d probably lean towards Arsenal in fourth. I like the recruitment they’ve made and rate Mikel Arteta. I think Spurs will just miss out and then Chelsea could slip away in a similar way to Man United last season.”