Can't see them buying a Championship player now in his mid 20's, especially if they intend to follow through with the purchase of Tyler Adams. The latter seems much more likely.
They would not be buying him. Powell's current contract runs out at the end of the season. By signing him to a pre contract after the winter transfer window closes, they're simply guaranteeing he'll join them (on a free) once his deal with Wigan runs out in the summer... It's the exact same thing we did with Liam Miller for instance, when we got him in the summer of 2004 on a free transfer. United signed a pre contract with him the previous February, as he was running his contract down with Celtic.
I don't know if they are legit interested, but Powell is precisely their type of player. If one of Kampl or Forsberg were moving on, I could see a role for him.
Forsberg is such an odd player. He doesn't do anything particularly well but he doesn't have any glaring weaknesses either. He looks involved on the pitch and relatively dangerous but it hasn't showed much in his stats.
🗣 “He left Manchester United at the age of whatever he was, 35, he said he was retiring, basically to go abroad. At the time when he came back, he played for City. You can't play for City.”- Gary Neville on refusing to acknowledge Peter Schmeichel. pic.twitter.com/61nJHwyDJ9— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 16, 2018
What's wrong with playing for Leeds? 🗣 “I'm a United fan and I can't play for Manchester City, I can't play for Leeds and I can't play for Liverpool. That's just written in stone. You just don't play for those clubs, irrespective of what happens.”- Gary Neville. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/PDYDIQReFA— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 16, 2018
I still don't think he's good enough, but did we out a buyback clause in when we sold Depay? I know there was rumors of one for Januzaj but I don't remember about Memphis .
It was confirmed apparently a while back that there is a buyback clause for Memphis of €25mil. At that price, I'd have him back at the club without hesitation: he's a better, more mature player than when he was with us. Would have him mainly as a squad guy, being a backup up top (something we need badly) and for the left side forward spot. He's the textbook definition of a confidence player, but when he's on his game he's capable of some pretty incredible things. Our attack could use someone like him. www.beinsports.com/us/soccer/news/jose-mourinho-happy-to-bring-memphis-depay-ba/427950
Not so sure Memphis would make it at United as a squad player. He has the talent (to be a squadie) but as you said he is a confidence player. Players like that need to play week in week out. Martial is similar and always gets into aa vein of form after a few games in a row.
He’s also meant to be an utter dick to his teammates at Lyon. I wouldn’t touch him even if he was good enough.
He always struck me as a guy that thought he was the shit. His time at United seemed to knock him down a peg but padding stats in that Mickey Mouse league has inflated his ego again. Whenever he doesn't start a game he bitches about it to the media.
Aside from anything else, we are over-loaded with options at LWF. We desperately need a natural RWF (pref a leftie) which Memphis aint.
I hope Rio one day chooses to try his hand at mgmt. Maybe when his kids grow up and dont need him as much. I happen to think hes got all the attributes a current day leader needs. He would be relatable for the players, and yet, inspiring enough to do it as a manager, not friend. Hes got more potential imo than any other player who worked under fergie.
Always believed Rio has what it takes to potentially make a good coach. I think he understands the modern player and everything that goes along with it (especially the social media presence/personality), so he would know how to deal with them better in that aspect alone. And yes, he can be playful but he's no clown either and he can be all business and serious about the game and winning when he has to (something that was pretty obvious in his playing career and even as a pundit IMO). There is no question about it. I understand why in studio gigs are more appealing to him at this time, but I hope that one day he'll try his hands at coaching. He looks like he could bring a lot to the table there and I think he could be very successful.
I think he'd be a relationship based coach, not an authoritarian. More in the mold of an Ancelotti or Klopp than Pep or Jose. I'm sure he could be firm enough when required. But, hes got to want it obviously, which I'm not sure he does really.