Finally some movement at Manchester United.
Even the most optimistic of Manchester United fans would admit that Donny van de Beek’s signing alone would not constitute a remotely adequate transfer window ahead of the new campaign. As welcome as the Dutch midfielder’s addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ranks may have been, there is a growing sense of déjà vu amongst the Old Trafford faithful that transfer activity at the club is moving at its useful glacial pace. Indeed it has become something of a meme that United are now more of an ‘expressing an interest’ club than one that moves decisively and actually signs their targets.
But there are signs of movement at last – even if that is in the shape of outgoings in the first instance. As the deathly dull Jadon Sancho saga rumbles on, it looks like United are clearing the decks – and their wage bill – for possible defensive additions. According to the Manchester Evening News, both Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo were made to train in their own ‘bubble’ apart from the rest of the squad at the club’s Carrington training complex. The pair arrived early and left before their colleagues got down to the serious business of preparing for a pre-season warm-up game against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Smalling is expected to get his wish and move to AS Roma, where he enjoyed a successful stint on loan last season. Negotiations have dragged on somewhat but the deal is expected to go through. The potential sale of Rojo is a bit more of a surprise, seeing as it was recently reported in the Athletic that Solskjaer had been impressed with the player’s performances in training of late. There is also the issue of the Argentine’s significant wages and whether that would make a transfer away from the club problematic. But the fact he was training separately alongside Smalling suggests there may be something in the pipeline. In terms of possible defensive recruits, both Sergio Reguilón and Dayot Upamecano have been strongly linked to the club.
