Regardless of the drop in success, Manchester United will always be an attractive club for top players.
Even when unable to offer up Champions League football to transfer targets, the reputation and aura of Manchester United is often enough to lure world-class stars to Old Trafford.
This summer’s window is evidence of that. Despite missing out on a top-four finish, United were able to beat Real Madrid to the signing of Leny Yoro.
The highly-rated centre-back has since been joined by Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who both swapped Bayern Munich for United this summer.
United are also working towards a deal for Manuel Ugarte, with Fabrizio Romano stating the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is “crazy” about joining Erik ten Hag’s side this summer.
If United are to add Premier League star Ivan Toney to their books this summer, they will have to convince the Brentford star to snub a move to Saudi Arabia.
Chris Sutton tells Ivan Toney to join Man United
It seems inevitable that Toney will leave after being left out of the squad for Brentford’s opening Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
United have been linked with Toney throughout the summer and reports suggest the Bees would be tempted to accept bids of around £40million.
Brentford rejected a £35m bid for the 28-year-old from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli last week.
Chris Sutton has now urged Toney to not “waste” his career at Saudi and instead join United.
“At this stage of his career, I think Saudi is a no-no,” said Sutton via BBC Sport.
“He has proven himself in the Premier League and he has all the attributes. His link up, his physicality, set-piece [ability] and his all-round play have developed really well.
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“You can have all the money in the world but this is Ivan Toney at his peak and I would like to see him stay in the Premier League. I would go to Saudi Arabia when I was 35 and past it.”
“This is such a waste for Ivan Toney. That doesn’t mean he can’t go to Saudi and then come back to the Premier League, but why doesn’t he just wait another season and then get a move? He’s 28, his career was flourishing, then he had the ban, but then he had the high of the Euros at the summer.
“He is in a really good place at the moment. From Brentford’s point of view, at £50million, you can understand why they would sell him for that amount with a year left on his contract. Purely from a footballing perspective, that would be such a waste of him going to Saudi. Manchester United are striker-less at this moment in time, he would be a good fit there.”
Manchester United could chase late deal
If a deal for Ugarte gets over the line, then United have essentially ticked every box that needed ticking this summer.
Defensive depth and a new midfield partner for Kobbie Mainoo has been addressed, as well as a new striker in the shape of Joshua Zirkzee.
United are certainly not desperate for another forward but if a bargain deal for Toney emerges late on in the window then a move cannot be ruled out.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/DjahEso