Understood. Are you saying this more because its Woodward and thr Glazers not spending, or more because of the depth chart?
Spending. I can’t imagine with how tight they’ve been that they would spend on a backup 9, starting RW, and possible starting 9 along with our midfield and defensive reinforcements in the next year or two.
Makes for grim (and annoying) reading in terms of the lack of competence/foresight from the board... #MUFC striker timelineApr: Solskjaer resolves he doesn't want Lukaku & Sanchez Aug 8: Lukaku joins Inter for £74m; PL summer window closes. Rashford, Martial & 18yo Greenwood the only strikersAug 29: Sanchez joins Inter on loanJan 3: Top target Erling Haaland joins Dortmund— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) January 31, 2020 Jan 15: Rashford suffers double stress fracture to backAt some pt this month: Enquire about Danny Ings. Offered a pile of other strikers, including ex Watford man Odion Ighalo. Slimani & Cavani given some thought.This week: Offered Josh King. Approach BournemouthJan 31: ???— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) January 31, 2020 Putting all else aside, we still had 2 full weeks to close on a striker once it was revealed that Rashford was going to be out for a long stretch. There are no excuses, any way you look at it.
Stone says King isn’t happening. Bournemouth wanted 50 mil and we rightfully told them to ******** off. Says were still trying for something and that Ighalo links are true.
On Josh King, #MUFC certainly had encouragement a loan would be possible, but a permanent bid was discussed once it became clear that was Bournemouth's preference. Those numbers have been described to me as a "fair price". But here we are.https://t.co/Qoa1SIUDwE @TheAthleticUK— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) January 31, 2020 Can't say for sure when talks between both clubs really started re King, but it stands to reason that had they've taken place earlier, Bournemouth probably would have had time to identify and close on a replacement. And therefore would have made negotiations for King easier and more straightforward in the process. They're worried about staying up: can't really fault them for wanting to hold onto to him. at this point. Am told Odion Ighalo was a loan option this morning for @manutd but this, too, may be fading...— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) January 31, 2020 No major surprise either with the guy still in China as of this morning...
i rather we sign no one in a "throw away" season and focus on a proper long term target than get a loan or short term deal and hear "oh just loan again if you need" or "see, now you have 4 forwards now so no more"
United 50/50 on signing Ighalo. https://www.skysports.com/football/...o-man-utd-in-talks-to-sign-ex-watford-striker
Stone reporting getting "optimistic" reports from United about getting a striker in before the deadline. Doesnt mention who.
Man United have reached an agreement with Odion Ighalo on personal terms and salary. Now Man Utd are in contact with Shanghai Shenhua to find an agreement - possible loan + buy option. But just 2.30 hours left before the window will be closed... time is key ⌛️⏳ #MUFC #ManUnited— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2020
6 month loan for Ighalo with an option is a great stop gap move...as long as we dont trigger the option in the summer and find an actual long term backup/competitor to Martial.
You don't think Ighalo would be a good back up striker? I ask because obviously were not gonna get a striker with the profile of Haaland (young promising, but ready to play now) to wait for his turn. Another profile is an older striker, who wouldnt care too much about rotation. So like Giroud. Id rather have Ighalo Ighalo than him personally. Competitor? Anyone who is good enough to compete with Tony probably wont be happy being back up for 6 months.
He is currently in China, hope he doesnt have a runny nose. Presumably would have to be quarantined from squad for a week or so if he flew in.
Hard to say. He’s 30 I think and hasn’t been playing real football since he moves from Watford. I’d rather we go for a Haaland type that is young with potential to usurp Martial if he reaches his ceiling.
No. Prefer King. To borrow a Charles Barkley term "it doesn't feel like we are agg-ressing enough, you know the opposite of regressing"
If Bournemouth's asking price for King drops in the summer to around 30mil max, then he becomes an option we could pursue in the summer. And it's possible it could, especially if they go down. But if they remain stuck on their current valuation, there are other (younger) options worth pursuing then. Bottom line is, United left it too late and have to make due with what they can: Ighalo is a throw of the dice but at least, he has Prem experience and he even was decent enough with Watford, being one of the league's top scorers over one season. Definitely a temporary option until the summer, nothing more and if we're lucky, he should be able to score a few, which is what we need badly right now. In the meantime, United need to do their job and work on identifying potential candidates in the next few months, so we can move swiftly once the summer window opens. Guys like Werner or Dembele, just make those 2 are potential targets we should be monitoring.
Odion Ighalo scheduled to fly to England tomorrow ahead of loan to #ManUtd from Shanghai Shenhua. Deal in place for him to play at Old Trafford until the end of the season but aspects need to be completed #MUFC— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) January 31, 2020 Apparently, it's just about making sure that the paperwork is filed by the deadline, but it looks to be a go.
I don't see a downside to Ighalo.... He's potentially a very serviceable backup. He maintains our pecking order and won't feck with Tony's confidence, but he's experienced enough to step in when called upon. He's a more mature player than many of our players. And, well shit, if he's thorough garbage, who cares. It's a freaking loan.
if anyone cares to follow the chaos of the last hour the Sky Sports youtube channel has free live coverage world wide