Then we are run by idiots.

Well, we know we are run by idiots. That's not really in question. But now we know we are run by massive idiots. It doesn't matter who is in charge. It's like they sniff the magic glue that makes you stupid when you sign on the dotted line to run this club.

Just stop for one year and break this insane cycle of continuously overpaying for the next shiny trinket you see. Just because someone else wants to overpay for it doesn't mean you have to.

The redemption arc here is pretty incredible.

🚨❌ JUST IN: Manchester United have rebuffed approaches from Premier League and Italian clubs for Harry Maguire.

Those interested have been told Maguire is likely to extend his contract and see out the rest of his career at Old Trafford 🔴

[@MikeKeegan_DM] #MUFC pic.twitter.com/RLrIsmfBUe

— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) August 5, 2025

Zirkzee is still recovering from the hammy towards the end of the year. I think he's supposed to be back pretty soon, but those do take a while.

Edit: sounds mostly precautionary: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy08l4p8ykpo

I'll never understand our recruitment and retention strategies

BTW, I'm not crazy go nuts for this deal, BUT… if they want to do it, I think they need to move Hojlund on. Like let's say hypothetically you could sell him to Leipzig for his remaining amortization value, that's likely going to make the cash flow hit fairly small (probably a lot smaller than Delap would have been because that was a release clause). You also have Hojlund's wages going off the books, which unless we pay stupid wages should cover most of Sesko's new wages. And you still have Zirkzee as a sub and Chido Obi as a youth option. (Or they could move Zirkzee, but it sounds like Leipzig might want Hojlund, and someone needs to go because three first team strikers in a one striker formation and no European games is a little overkill).

Thunder18 said:

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I'll never understand our recruitment and retention strategies

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It looks something like this.

"Gentlemen, I would like to go over the following targeted players and the maximum spending caps we should OH LOOK SQUIRREL!"

I would rather move Zirkzee on but indeed his injury likely makes that tough this window. I think he's a better player right now than Hojlund. Not even that close really. But he has a very low ceiling in an Amorim team I think. Just don't see how he fits into his tactics given his skillset and where he likes to play. Hojlund could easily never be even decent but he's still 22 and he actually plays a role that Amorim's tactics need. I'd rather have Hojlund and Sesko splitting time at the number 9. Biggest risk of either is that they can't carry the load/pressure of being "the guy" or don't have the mentality to perform day in and day out. Having the other guy there waiting to play should theoretically lessen the risk of both.

I largely agree; I think they both need to move on eventually, but it won't be this year. I'm not overly worried about who goes first. What I am worried about is making a bid so high that it has to work, which we've done a lot. I think we are doing it again. I'd prefer being in the "let's see if this works" price range, but if they are sure this one actually is it… well, I hope they are right because everyone probably gets fired if they are wrong.

Breaking news: United brass believe Sesko only has eyes for Old Trafford.

LOL. Same old sh

🚨💣 Benjamin Šeško has reached total agreement with Manchester United on personal terms. Contract until June 2030.

Šeško wants to join United, clear feeling revealed yesterday here. Never gave similar indication to other clubs.

🔛 Club to club talks with RB Leipzig continue. pic.twitter.com/Sy2WjzV6Hl

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2025

We have reached out to Brighton & Hove Albion about midfielder Carlos Baleba. Plays central or defensive midfielder. 21 years old. Brighton not keen to sell. Price would be high.

I'm not holding my breath (surely we are running out of money soon), but he did look good when I watched him.

Then again, when we play Brighton, their players have mostly looked pretty good… an unfortunate trend generally last year. (I'm kidding, I actually don't remember him too much in our games specifically, but I'm trying to block them out).

Word is Newcastle have backed out of Sesko. Deal with United expected to close early next week. Negotiating terms of fee payment structure.

I read the article and this barely seems like a story. Brighton made clear they don't want to sell for at least another year and "there is also a recognition on all sides that a switch now may be unrealistic, especially if United seal their proposed move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko."

Brighton aren't going to sell anyone they don't want to without a large premium and he would already have a large price tag to begin with. United don't have the money and likely still wouldn't even if they shifted 2-3 players. Feels like this is United establishing a foundation for a bid next summer when Casemiro likely leaves the club.

Sesko done.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United strike agreement in principle with RB Leipzig to sign Benjamin Sesko. Deal for 22yo #RBLeipzig striker €76.5m + €8.5m. Slovenia international given permission to fly & do medical before completing #MUFC move @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/mM9R0ipHZn

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 7, 2025

well, i am glad that it did not drag into next week.

Well, we have once again probably overpaid for a young, relatively unproven ST

Athletic reporting that Chelsea and United are beginning formal talks about Garnacho. United are said to value him at 70m. Napoli offered 40m for him in January.

This should be a good gauge of negotiation competence on the part of United's new decision makers. If you're going to sell him to a direct rival (well...in theory anyway if not in practice last season. Or this season.) you need tack on a premium. I don't expect them to get 70m for him let alone over 70m for him. But if they get something closer to 70m than 40m, I'll be moderately impressed. I'm not holding my breath.

If Garnacho were in incoming player that we wanted, how much would we pay for him?

Mathguy64 said:

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If Garnacho were in incoming player that we wanted, how much would we pay for him?

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200m

Interesting that United agreed to play a friendly at Leipzig as part of the terms of the Sesko deal (presumably Leipzing keeps all the gate receipts). I've never see that term in real life...only in Football Manager.

given the prices paid. i wouldn't sell for anything less than 50mm plus add ons especially to a club we are fighting against that has a major head start and economic advantage over us at the moment.

Dre_00 said:

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Interesting that United agreed to play a friendly at Leipzig as part of the terms of the Sesko deal (presumably Leipzing keeps all the gate receipts). I've never see that term in real life...only in Football Manager.

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as clubs parse the PSR rules, we will see more and more of this. a club like Chelsea run by a bunch of finance specialists will certainly be finding all kinds of creative ways to get deals done.

If we want to discuss seriously, his stats are VERY similar to Madueke (eerily so to be honest). You'd probably give a small edge to Madueke on stats, but Garnacho is two years and change younger. (Edit: Madueke is left footed, though, so bit of an advantage to him on foot since there are relatively fewer) (edit2: and Madueke sold for I believe around 50M pounds/55M euros this window within League, just to pin the data point).

https://fbref.com/tiny/PSNwd

People always seem to forget the most important thing about transfer fees when comparing similar players: time left in contract.

Madueke's Chelsea deal ran to 2030, a full 2 years longer than Garnacho. He'll absolutely go for less.

That's really only true in the last couple years. I don't think anyone will pay Chelsea more because they like handing out 8 and 10 year contracts.

Btw, the Telegraph is reporting the price quoted by United to now be 50M pounds.

Athletic had a really good breakdown of how United are able to sign Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko w/o any sales. The sell-on fees from the previously discussed players helped (they claim about 25m in total) but the payment terms they've negotiated has had a pretty big impact on their ability to adhere to PSR. So getting 50m in one up front payment can actually be better (at least in the short term) then say 60m in 3 payments over 3 years.

According to the article, United's real constraint in the short term is cash on hand...even with the credit revolver they can access. Which makes paying fees over the 3+ years doubly important in the short term. Thing is they really need to start hitting on these transfers or else each year gets tougher and tougher.

Dre_00 said:

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Interesting that United agreed to play a friendly at Leipzig as part of the terms of the Sesko deal (presumably Leipzing keeps all the gate receipts). I've never see that term in real life...only in Football Manager.

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FM actually added that AFTER United did this same thing with Chivas when we signed Chicharito. He played a half with each team

Regarding what Chelsea should pay us for Garnacho, if it's 50MM, we need to throw in some easily achievable add-ons and a sell-on %. You know those snakes will try to offload him in a few years

Can we do that with de Gea?

I kid, I kid…. Unless they said yes lol

I had forgotten about that but I do remember it now. I think they were christening a new stadium. An acquaintance of mine got arrested because he tried to break-in to the stadium the day before...to watch practice I think.

deadbq03 said:

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People always seem to forget the most important thing about transfer fees when comparing similar players: time left in contract.

Madueke's Chelsea deal ran to 2030, a full 2 years longer than Garnacho. He'll absolutely go for less.

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I think you're right to a degree but it's not a linear progression. Value drops off a cliff when players are in the last year of their contract. Two years out and you can retain a fair bit of value. But the difference in value between 3 years remaining and 4 years remaining is substantially less. No one is going to pay 30m less when 3 years remaining vs. 4 years. Clubs can absolutely pay 30m less when there is 1 year remaining vs. 2 years. And as previously stated, the 8 year contracts Chelsea sign are/were just PSR tricks. No one is going to add significant value to their offer just because a Chelsea player has 6 years remaining on their offer vs. 3 years remaining.

All of that said, he still could absolutely go for less than Madueke. This is United after all. But perfectly reasonable for a competent club to get at least as much for Garnacho.

Well, I can admit the difference between Madueke and Garnacho is that Maresca didn't tell Madueke that he had better pray that he could get a move, then not let him train with the first team, and then not take him on the preseason tour (which I don't think they had one anyway because of the club World Cup, but regatdless, we had one and we left him off). So we can't just make him a depth option that we might be interested in selling for the right price. He either goes or we pay him to train individually until January. But I'd still want about 45M pounds with 5M+ realistic add ons or a sell on clause. But I'm a hot head and would pay him for nothing for 4 months. Chelsea sold Dewsbury-Hall for 25M, and what's he done in the past year? Can't hurt his value that much.