285: Price AGREED! Gallagher, Zirkzee and Rashford LATEST!

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2:36In fact, four out of five employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Fantastic. So whether you need to hire four, 40 or 400 people, get ready to meet first rate talent. Just go to ZipRecruiter.com slash zip to try ZipRecruiter for free. Don't forget, that's ZipRecruiter.com slash zip. Finally, that's ZipRecruiter.com slash zip. Hello everybody, good morning. Welcome to the United Stands. I'm Mark Goldbridge and this is your latest Manchester United news and transfer news this Monday, the 29th of December. Almost need a reminder there what bloody day it is in this Christmas week.

3:14They call it Twixmas and we've got our tree up. Unlike others, we're not miserable Scroogers. We keep the festive spirit going till January the 6th here because it's the 12 days of Christmas, your miserable gits. Anyway, let's get into it. Lots to get into on the show this morning. Price set for Conor Gallagher. Price set for Joshua Xerxi. Barcelona don't want Rashford again. Also, what's happening with Kobi Maynou and a few other bits to get into this morning in our news show. Make sure you smash a like. Let's get a thousand likes on the video and subscribe if you haven't done already. Look, lots to get into on the show this morning, but I want to start off talking with a bit of an exclusive again around Conor Gallagher.

3:53You might remember a couple of weeks before Christmas, our source told us that Manchester United had held intermediary talks again with Conor Gallagher's representative. So this is a player that we went for in the summer. We didn't follow through on that. And again, we have had intermediary talks just before Christmas with Conor Gallagher. So where are we at with that, considering on Friday, in three days' time, actually, Thursday, the transfer window opens. The transfer window opens. You think about all those videos we've done over transfers over the last 10 years where we've gone this week could be a big week.

4:32Well, this week is when the January transfer window opens, my friends. Thursday, one o 'clock Thursday the 1st the transfer window opens are Manchester United lining up any deals are there or are they sat with a finger up their arse as usual thinking what are we supposed to do here well the answer is probably more nuanced and niche and layered than we would like it to be but look Aditya says are we getting Conor Gallagher get your comments in we'll read out your super chats as well if and when they come in But with relation to Conor Gallagher, the situation is this. Fabrizio Romano himself reported this a couple of days ago, that Atletico Madrid want£25 million for Conor Gallagher.

5:20They are not looking at a loan deal. So this is pretty much the situation that was there in the summer. So what is the latest from Manchester United? Manchester United like Conor Gallagher. They've tried twice now to get him in the last six months. The last summer transfer window and a couple of weeks ago, they've had conversations again. What they don't like is spending money on a player like this. They don't want to spend the 15 million on Ruben Neves when he's going to be 29 next year. They don't want to spend£25 million on Conor Gallagher because they think it impacts them going for Elliot Anderson or Carlos Belaiba or Adam Wharton.

6:00Now, look, we can debate that. We can discuss that. We can be confused by that. We can ridicule that. But that's the situation with Manchester United. This is a player that they like. This is a player that Ruben Amrim would welcome to Manchester United. But this is a player that for some reason they will not pay the£25 million for. So one of two things needs to happen here. Atletico Madrid need to soften. And when I say soften, it's not even about cheap. You know, I don't try to negotiate this price down. This is not about taking it down to£20 million or£15 million. They don't want to pay money for Conor Gallagher in January.

6:36They want a loan. Whereas Atletico Madrid are saying, well, you know, we want money for this player because, you know, we're not a Premier League club. And we don't have the funds that you have. And if we're letting Conor Gallagher go, who we do sometimes pick and is always on our bench, then we want some recompense for it. So you can understand Atletico Madrid's position and it's been the same since the summer. I find it a little bit weird. In essence, you can almost write Conor Gallagher off with Joshua Zerksi because Roma are willing to pay£25 million for Joshua Zerksi. So you can literally almost say Xerxes goes and Gallagher comes in, which, to be honest with you, I'd be happier with that.

7:19I mean, I look at the number 10 options. You've got Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Ahmad, Embermo, Kenya, Lacey. you know you've got six good well six options at number 10 in the midfield we've got Agate, Casemiro, Maynou, Bruno so Xerxe leaving and Conor Gallagher coming in actually doesn't bother me that much because it strengthens our midfield and I don't see Xerxe as a striker anyway and I certainly don't think he's going to get much game time as a 10 so Roma are looking to give us 25 million pounds for Joshua Xerxi in the summer they when they're not going to give it as now they'll give it as in the summer obligation to buy loan obligation to buy which is about as good as it's going to get for Xerxi in January but Man United don't want to give that 25 million which they do have anyway to Atletico Madrid they want to do a loan deal so look that's where we are it's a player that we want and I think what's really interesting is we were talking last night about man united being ready to go on opportunities we know they've got the 65 million that they were going to spend on some menu we know they've got the 60 million that they were going to spend on belaber got a bit of interesting stuff on belaber actually so we've got the money but we don't want to spend it um in january it's it's a weird thing i think if elliot anderson was available for 60 million pounds they'd spend it by the way i think if belaber was available for 60 million pounds they'd spend it but they don't want to spend 15 million on nevej They don't want to spend£25 million on Conor Gallagher.

8:59And I think the reason for that is, well, it's alarming, really, because I don't think we're necessarily signing two midfielders. I think there is a theory that we will sign two midfielders, but I think there is a reality where we only sign one. We go for the big shirt seller. I mean, we're all talking about get Ruben Neves or Conor Gallagher or Manu Kone or Stiller in January and then go for an Anderson or a Belaba or a Wharton in the summer. But that's a two-midfield theory. And whilst it's been discussed by Romano and Ornstein and Ben Jacobs and others, do you trust Manchester United to do that?

9:35Do you trust the fact that we'll sign two midfielders in the summer? I don't necessarily... I can see a world where it doesn't happen. I can see a world where Agathe is going to stay, where Mainu stays. I can see a world where Bruno stays. So Casemiro goes and one midfielder comes in. and then you start talking about younger players. So I can see a world where we're actually going to buy one midfielder because I think there's a lot of you quite rightly going, I don't understand why we don't just get Ruben Neves in January and then try and get a good midfielder in the summer. And I don't understand it either.

10:09We are desperate, desperate for midfielders right here today, but we're kicking it into the summer. And I think the theory that we're only signing one sort of explains that confusion. Well, why would you not just go for a cheap midfielder in January and then an expensive one in the summer? You know, it's cheaper for you. It solves the problem this season and you get your big signing in the summer. It's just logical. Instead of trying to buy two worldies in the summer, which is going to be virtually impossible. And the theory is, well, we're clearly only going to sign one. Otherwise, why wouldn't you get the cheap one and the expensive one?

10:45Because we're only going for one. And I think that might be what United are looking to do. It might be that we don't want to buy a midfielder in January because we're going to try and get the star midfielder in the summer. And if we don't get the star midfielder in the summer, we'll just get some other midfielder anyway. It could be that we're only going for one midfielder. And that's why people are confused. because another thing to factor in is that you don't just walk into the January transfer window like you walk into the sales on Boxing Day and go, I don't know why I'm here. Let's have a look what bargains there are.

11:17You've got to go in there prepared. You know, they open the shops at 9am on Boxing Day morning. There's queues. You can't just have a little wander around. You've got to run to the electric section or the lingerie section or whatever it is you're looking to get and get your bargains. are United walking into this January transfer window with a plan or are they dithering going, well, we'll just see what happens because I don't know. What I do know is they've held talks with Conor Gallagher. What I don't know is whether they're willing to move on that. And look, there's a lot of people in the chat saying they wouldn't sign Conor Gallagher.

11:55I mean, I can run the poll again. It's absolutely fine. Someone said, can you run the poll? I like him. I've always liked him. I liked him at Chelsea. I like him for England. I'm not saying he's a world beater, but I'm not going to be inconsistent and say that I don't like him when I do. Do I see him in a Man United shirt? I don't see him in a Man United shirt, but I never saw Mason Mount in a Man United shirt, so that doesn't mean anything. I've always liked the player I'm not pretending that he's Prime Declan Rice Or prime Elliot Anderson But what I do think he is Is James Garner Palinja Sander Berg I think Jordan Henderson I think he's a midfielder That is better than what we've got That gives us a player That can start a game for an hour Or come on for half an hour And there's not a drop off I think people have forgotten what it's like to have a first 11 and a bench.

12:54We haven't got a first 11 and we haven't got a bench. I think players like this give us what Chelsea have, what Newcastle have. You know, like Newcastle, they can play Jacob Ramsey and not play Joel Linton, or they can play Joe Willock and not play Tonali. That's really important. Now, of course, Jacob Ramsey is not as good as Joel Linton and Willock's not as good as Tonali, but it gives them options. If a player is tired or injured, it gives them options. We don't have that. So I'm not, look, I'm not saying that Conor Gallagher is the solution to our midfield problems, but I think he's a solution to our midfield squad.

13:29And I think at£25 million for a 25-year-old, it's an absolute bargain. And what I don't want to see happen with this is that we do nothing and he goes to Crystal Palace or he goes to Brighton and he's absolutely brilliant. And you go, well, there we go again. Clubs behaving in a way we should behaving who aren't as big as us. So look, and also I'm very locked in on the point that United have spoken to him twice now. And effectively, you can want him, you can not want him. I can want him, I can not want him. But the reality is the club factually spoke to him in the summer and tried to do a deal with Atletico Madrid.

14:12And the club factually have spoken to his intermediaries in the last two weeks and are looking to do a deal again. And I just think sometimes as a fan, you can disagree with the deal, but you can also look at it and go, we clearly like this player. It's in a position we're desperate. Why are we talking to him when we clearly want him, but not pushing forward on the deal? And look, you know what? £25 million, it's not a release clause. So you could even give them£10 million now and£15 million next season. It's such a low amount. We're talking Dan James money here, 15 million. It's such a small amount for a guy who has played Champions League football, has been an England international and is 25.

15:02And I'm not saying it's going to be the next De Litt. but we brought De Litter to similar age profile and look at how he's doing. I think these types of players are worth their weight in gold and I look at Chelsea who are crying out for experience and I see United potentially buying a player that's 25 and I go, we need more players like this. We actually do. So look, it could be a Darren Fletcher, says Inu. Well, exactly. And those sort of players are worth their weight in gold. Look, let's imagine a dream scenario, right? Next summer, our midfield is Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Conor Calaga and Maney.

15:49I'd be very happy with that. And you get rid of Agate, you get rid of Casemiro and Bruno Leaves. You know, I'd be very happy with that. So even if you had Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba as your starting midfield next season, They can't play every single game in Europe and every single game in the Premier League. And they can't play 90 minutes all the time. Sometimes you have to bring them off. Now, do you want it to be Agathe? And do you want it to be Bruno? Or would you like it to be Conor Gallagher? And I'm like, I think there's an arrogance in our fan base. And there's a lack of reality that realises we can't just buy Elliot Anderson, Angelo Stilla, Carlos Balaba and Adam Wharton.

16:26And that's our midfield four. Even if we get two of them, we still need another two to be part of the squad. rotate etc and I think Conor Gallagher's better than everything we've got I do I think he's better than Agate I think he's better than Casemiro and I don't think Bruno and Manu are really midfield two players and but I would also agree about Ruben Neves as well I mean look Conor Gallagher's a player that we're looking at 77 % of you would go for him Ruben Neves I would sign him as well I would sign him as well you know I find it incredible Chelsea are gonna never win a Premier League title because their policy is to buy players under 24.

17:06What chance of us winning a title if our policy is not to buy players over 25? It's not going to work. As I said yesterday, Real Madrid bought Luka Modric at 27. I can't believe we're not looking at people who are 26, 27, 28, 29, because a couple of those into our team would take us to the next level. You look at Lissandro Martinez. He's literally like a new signing because he's been injured for two years. Now he's back fit. What's Martinez? 28, 27? He comes into the team. We don't have Bruno. And look at the way they're responding to him. Now, I know Lissandro Martinez isn't a new signing, but effectively for Amirim, he is.

17:53Amirim's not had really any opportunity to use Martinez. Martinez comes into the team. He's 27, 28. And imagine if that's Yoro and Heaven at the back. They're going to make mistakes. They're good, honest young kids, but they're going to make mistakes. You bring Lissandro Martinez in, you know, it makes a big difference. I'll tell you what, you put Lissandro Martinez at centre-back for Chelsea, let's see how Chelsea start doing. These players are worth their weight in gold. These players between 25 and 29 are worth their weight in gold if you get the right ones because they've got experience. It's their final contract.

18:36They are worth their weight in gold and we've seen it with De Ligt and we've seen it with Masraoui as well. They are worth their weight in gold and I don't know why other than financial why Chelsea and Man United are obsessed with buying players under 25. It's resale value. That's all it is. You buy a 25-year-old, there's no resale value because by the time they've completed their contract, they're 30. You buy a player that's 20, you've got resale value. I mean, what sort of mindset is that? If I buy a 20-year-old, I don't want to sell them anyway. If I buy a 20-year-old at Man United and they do well, I don't want to sell them.

19:10Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, you don't want to sell them. You want them here for their career. So I don't get it. I don't get it. But look, let's wait and see what happens with it. I think the most important message this morning is that we have held talks with Conor Gallagher. The price has been set by Atletico Madrid at 25 million. And when you're talking about what we're going to do walking into this January transfer window, he's the player we've spoken to the most other than Semenyu, who's chosen Man City. So as we walk into the start of January transfer window, there are only two players that we've really negotiated with, and that's Conor Gallagher and Samenu.

19:49Anything else, we're not doing. Any other story people want to talk about, we're not doing it. We're not actually in conversation. So what that says to me is that as of the 29th of December this morning, the most likely signing in January is Conor Gallagher if we're willing to pay. If we're not, any other deal we're going to do is going to be what's going to have an element of panic to it because we're not actually in talks. Martinez and Dillet, better captains than Bruno, says Rajaf. What are you bringing Bruno into it, Rajaf, for? Have you got an agenda? You're a Bruno hater, you are. What about some deal with Roma Xerxi for Kone, says Alex.

20:33Look, Manu Kone is really interesting. I knew somebody would mention it and I appreciate that this morning. Manu Kone is really interesting in the summer i said there is a midfielder that no one's talking about that i can't really talk about because who i'm getting the information from it'll become very obvious if i put it out there to the player and his agent and i don't want to do that i don't want to expose um you know friends and um colleagues etc but in october i gave the name because i was allowed to do it then i wasn't allowed to do it in the summer transfer window and it was manu kone and we were in talks of manu kone over the summer and he is a target that we really like so it is intriguing that there's a lot of stories coming out from italy that were signing him in the summer and he's coming to manchester united now the interesting thing about manu kone is that um he was a very interesting profile player at munch and gladbach um where he spent i think three three years or something like that he then moved to Roma but he moved to Roma in 2025 um and he was he'd been there on loan for a year but he only signed for them permanently in 2025 um I think it was an obligation to buy um and it was about eight about 15 million now he's done quite well

22:07but he shouldn't cost that much. United do like him. He's definitely an all-action midfielder. The only thing I'd say about Manu Kone is I don't always trust Italian reports and most of these are Italian reports and also he is coming in from the Italian league which, as we know, is slower. So in fact, remind me a little bit later in the show, I want to talk to you about what Antonio Conte said about Rasmus because I think it's really interesting. But the interesting thing about Kone is if it did work, by the time he signs for Manchester United, he'll be 25 because he's May birthday and he's 24.

22:50So it's the sort of signing that increasingly, and I don't know what you lot think, increasingly I'm becoming more attracted to signings that are 25 and above I think Kunia and Embermo fit that profile and it suits us and we've mentioned Conor Gallagher and Ruben Neves and I think Manu Kone at 25 makes a lot of sense but he's got to be scouted ridiculously well because he's coming in from the Italian league. He won't be cheap. However, I think you make a very good point about the Roma-Zerksi thing because if we can build a good relationship with Roma, like we have with Napoli, like we have with Atalanta, then it could benefit us if we wanted to do this deal.

23:39And what I know for a fact is that we've been considering Manu Kone since last summer. It's not new. We were definitely looking at him last summer. So it is one to keep an eye on. However, it's not going to be for January, I don't think. I mean, you'd question why it can't be for January. If we give them Xerxe and they give us Kone, it's the same theory I was talking about with Conor Gallagher. I don't know about you, but I would let Xerxe go to bring a midfielder in. Now, some people would say if Xerxi goes, you've got to bring an attacker in. And whilst I do agree with that, if it's Xerxi out for a midfielder or Xerxi out for an attacker, I actually would go with a midfielder because I still believe in Obi.

24:19I still believe if you're chucking him in last season, you can chuck him in this season. And also, Embermo can play up front. Cunha can play up front and I'm still very much of a mindset that if we're playing the 3-4-3 I wouldn't mind seeing Bruno Cunha and Mbemo up front I really wouldn't I also think Ahmad can play as a false nine or as a forward as well I mean he's got two goals in two games for the Ivory Coast so I would let Xerxi go to bring in Cone I don't know whether that can happen I don't know whether I trust the Italian reports but I certainly know he's a player that we're looking at so you know that's where we are with Kone and as I said we were very aware of the Kone information towards the end of the transfer window and that's why we mentioned it in October Conor Gallagher could be the perfect player to help the team experience wants to play for England so we'll hit the ground running I'd buy him sustain in I think it's a very intelligent assessment as well um I can't get my hat on look I can understand why people want I can understand why Man United want Conor Gallagher on loan.

25:26I understand it because he's going to come in with a point to prove and he wants to go to the World Cup. So you could get four really good months and then make your mind up. But on the other hand, if the only way you can get him is by paying 25 million, well, if you want to loan him, then why wouldn't you pay the 25 million pounds anyway? But this season is really interesting because, I mean, look at Luke Shaw. It makes no sense. No sense at all. Luke Shaw has basically been injured for two years yeah you couldn't get him on the pitch he was he's been injured for two years and he's 30 so you're like he ain't never going to be able to play for six months in a row again and then this season he's been fit for six months and you're sort of like all right you know I watch Netflix you know sometimes it's fantasy sometimes it's reality but this is not a Hollywood movie this is real life how is he not fit for two years and now he's been fit for six months it's incredible and then you look at Luke Shaw as we did a few weeks ago and when you look at Luke Shaw when there's not an international tournament in that season he's injured a lot and when there is an international tournament the amount of games he plays goes up.

26:42So look at Rhys James at Chelsea, been injured for ages, fit. I was going to say Mason Mount, but somebody made a very good comment in the watch along. Mason Mount's had five injuries this season already. He has, he's had five knocks already this season. So you can't really say that Mason Mount's staying fit because he has had a few, there'd not been long injuries, but he has had a few knocks but there are a few players this season that are just totally motivated and ready to go because they you know they want to go for the world cup so you know conor gallagher could work really well slow sports news says give a 25 million pound player to prove themselves and they will shine brighter than somebody who's already there look at masrawi great point slow sports news hope you're doing well uh what about some deal with roma for xerxi that was alex anderson will likely go to city says john united thank you very much for your super chat we do need alternatives signing Neves or Gallagher could help secure Champions League bring revenue and allow a proper reassessment in the summer window says John well yeah I mean look my interpretation of what you're saying there is you spend 25 million pounds on Conor Gallagher or you spend 15 million pounds on Ruben Neves you get Champions League football which gives you 100 million pounds which you can then spend on a midfielder you don't buy Conor Gallagher or you don't buy Ruben Neves you don't get Champions League football you don't get the 100 million pounds but you're still going going to try and sign Elliot Anderson.

28:02It's just so logical. But I do feel like, you know, deja vu, because we've said this so many times and it's something United never figure out. You know, you spend 25 million in January, you earn 100 million pounds in May. You don't spend the 25 million pounds in January, you don't earn the 100 million pounds in May. And also on top of that, the target that you don't sign in January because you want a different target in the summer, well, the target in the summer doesn't come because you didn't get Champions League football. So it's just so logical to bring in a cheaper midfielder to help you get Champions League football, to get you the 100 million, which makes you more attractive to the player you really want.

28:41And also you've got the money to do it as well. This feels similar to the window in January when we finished second, where we could have strengthened the squad for a title. We need midfielders, says Rajaf. It feels similar to many midfielders. Sorry, it feels similar to many transfer windows, Rajaf. I mean, we've seen it year after year after year, even last season. Last season, we bought a 20-year-old left wing-back in Dorgou who wasn't ready to go. That was our business. But we let Rashford go. We let Anthony go. Sancho was out on loan as well. Ahmad got injured for a long time the first week of February.

29:16And we had no wingers.

29:20And the midfield was still weak. So we've got form of doing this. I mean, I'm still very much lost on the fact that Ineos are meant to be new and they do exactly the same thing. Not buying a decent midfielder in January. Well, here we go from Pete Phillips. He says not buying a decent midfielder in January will cost us 100 million pounds in losses because we won't be in the Champions League. Still a robust for me. Gallagher is a Maynew replacement. Well, just on Maynew for a moment. Marlow says Merry Christmas, Mark. Mark, the Telegraph ranks every signing post Sir Alex, some crazy takes. Could the United stand do the same?

29:59I think we have done it before. Now it's time for a little word from today's podcast sponsor. And as a preview, they have a great discount for you. It's been a long season so far. And after a year of grinding, you've earned a little something special for yourself. This upcoming festive season is all about taking a break, recharging and actually enjoying the things you want. And that's where Air Up comes in. Air Up lets you drink plain water that tastes full of flavour through scents alone. No sugar, no additives, just simple hydration made better. And for someone who spends as much time talking football as I do, it's been a great addition to the routine.

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31:04I tell you what, Marlow, I'm not going to do a video on it because we've got too much content to talk about. But if you give me 10 minutes to get through everything else, I'll give you my top five signings post Sir Alex Ferguson. At the end, and Merry Christmas to you. It is still bloody Christmas. I'm so, so big on Christmas being the 12 days of Christmas. And, you know, well, I'm not one for social media campaigns, but I think it's moronic to be taking your Christmas tree down after Boxing Day. I really do. I don't know who you're trying to kid. I don't know whether you're sponsored by shark hoovers or something.

31:40But, you know, Christmas runs until January the 6th. At least get to New Year before you take your tree down. and it's always the same Prats. It's the Prats who've had their tree up since November the 1st. Christmas doesn't start on November the 1st. Christmas minimum, you've got to get to the middle of November before you put your tree up. But to take your Christmas tree down the day after Boxing Day is moronic. And if you've got kids, it's actually quite horrible to do that to them, I think, as well. I think it's horrible that you basically just celebrate Christmas for two days. Terrible. Terrible.

32:15at the end of the day if he gets his Champions League he's worth the punt says Luke Schofield about Connor Gallagher Robert McCormack says maybe they want players that will start next season

32:28but what does that do for this season Robert are you on board with writing a season off then I mean I'm sort of I mean I don't think you're wrong I do think you're wrong but I don't think you're unique in the sense that you've probably become indoctrinated to the glazer way where they write off seasons. They've wrote off loads of seasons. And if we're going to ignore the January transfer window, we're basically writing this season off as well. We won't get Neves as Ineos only signed players with salon value, says Dazzo. Morning, morning, says Tom Grant. Barcelona not wanting Rashford. We sell him for more elsewhere.

33:0325 million instead of 40 for Gallagher equals definite maybe. Beliba's former AFCON is odd also, says Tom. I don't know how Belaba played in the AFCON yesterday I got mixed reviews but at the end of the day it is the AFCON with all due respect if Declan Rice plays really well in the World Cup against you know teams that aren't France and Brazil well I'm sorry it's a different kettle of fish when you're playing in the Premier League compared to playing national teams so honestly if Balaba's played well for Cameroon and I didn't watch the game again I think you need to educate yourself on football because international football is shit compared to domestic football it's slower and the quality's not as good so I mean Balaba needs to play well in the Premier League I don't give a toss what he does for Cameroon I don't I really don't I don't I don't know how people can watch Belaber play for his national team and say he's back.

34:07No, he's crap. And he needs to play well in a Brighton shirt, which he's not doing. Emily Derry says it's not even just about the Xerxi fee covering the Gallagher fee. The additional revenue from qualifying for Europe would be more than enough to cover it. Absolutely, exactly. Emily, absolutely spot on. And Paolo says 25 million is for nothing these days. And for a proven Premier League player, no brainer. let's we can't dither around again on this and rob mccormack's come back he says we can get it without backups not slash not get it with them i don't know what that means um emily derry says we go into a spin when players like bruno or cuny or casimiro are unavailable because we don't build out a balance squad and we end up with a bunch of raw academy prospects this but this is a great point from Emily.

34:59This is exactly why I think people like Ruben Neves and Conor Gallagher would be really intelligent because listening to Ruben Amrim over the last week, and I like listening to Ruben Amrim and he is doing a press conference again today. Listening to Ruben Amrim over the last week, even I was getting fed up with it because he just doesn't shut up about not having Bruno available. Oh, without Bruno, without Bruno. I know. And we won without Bruno. And it's like, hold on a minute mate how long have you been in football you can't moan about a player being injured Arteta's got Declan Rice playing at right back he hasn't had Gabriel for three months his best player like you're gonna get injuries in football the fact that Bruno Fernandes is almost a robot when it comes to injuries is just look you can't be there going oh without player without this without that that that look at Arsenal this year Calafiore Timber didn't even play at the weekend.

35:52So you get injuries. And that's why players like Ruben Neves would be really important because you could have somebody that comes in that isn't Agate and Casemiro. And if one of them get injured, who's playing in the midfield? So these players are very, very important. Manu Kone seems more like a belabor alternative to me. We keep getting linked to all these all action midfielders, but they wouldn't work well together, says Chip. Could be a good point. could be a good point One and Only says we need midfielders with the mentality and work ethic like Roy Keane and Gattuso yeah but where are they where are they and Damien says Connor Gallagher could be the perfect player to help the team done that one as well 12 days mark Christmas isn't for another year and people have already have people already have their trees up I don't know what that means it's still Christmas why are we going for Connor Gallagher when Chelsea sold him and Atletico were letting him go just because it's a cheap deal, says Keith.

36:51I mean, that's one way of looking at it, Keith, of course. Chelsea let him go because he was homegrown and they needed the money. A lot of Chelsea fans were very unhappy about him leaving. So that was why Chelsea let him go. Why he's not worked out at Atletico Madrid, you know, I'd have to listen to people who watch the La Liga, I suppose, on that one. And just very quickly on Marcus Rashford, another story coming out of Spain that they're not willing to take his release clause and are looking to send him back in the summer. I mean, look, all I would say about this is if we were that interested, we'd be doing a show every day about it because one day they're really happy with Rashford and they want him to stay.

37:39And then the next day they don't want Rashford to stay and they don't want to pay the£25 million. pounds I think in relation to Rashford um it's a name I don't want to see back at Manchester United I think we've got to start moving forward and I think going back it's just the sort of thing Everton would do you know we need to move forward we can't be bringing players back if he doesn't go to Barcelona for 25 million pounds there will be plenty of other clubs that want him because what he's proven is that he can still be a decent left winger um in a top European league and i think if you buy in munich or your psg at that price with the brandification that comes with him then i think there would be people willing to look at him and there might even be premier league clubs looking to willing to look at him so i'm not that bothered about whether barcelona wants to keep him or not i think the problem would be that i think marcus rashford really wants to stay at barcelona so the the only issue will be is if barcelona try to lower the price because 25 million pounds for marcus rashford is is a very good price really i know he's on big wages but it's a very good price and the only reason by select barcelona won't want to sign him is because of financials because they're always in bloody trouble financially aren't they so um i i would lean towards the fact that they do want to keep him but it might be some sort of negotiation but to be honest with you it's not it's not really worth talking about is it you know So as Fabrizio reported last night, it's over with Sancho and Man United.

39:06He's out of contract in the summer. United have finally figured out that they're not going to extend that contract and he's certainly not going to come back. So ultimately, the loss on Jadon Sancho is going to run into about 120 million quid when you take into account wages and transfer fee. And he's going to walk out of United at 25, a free agent. It's an absolute disaster. but you know we've been saying for years we need to cut our losses on these players so you know you just got to try and not make these mistakes again haven't you you've got to try and not buy players with questionable attitudes for big money and put them on big wages and big contracts because you can't sell them um and that's another sort of example of why i think we should buy more players who are 25 and above because if you buy a player that's 25 and above they do tend to come with a track record and you know what they're all about.

40:02Whereas if you buy a 20-year-old or a 21-year-old or a 22-year-old, you've got to develop them. You don't know what their attitude's going to be like. You can lock yourself in on big mistakes, which we've done numerous times. Anthony, he's another one we locked in on. So Chelsea have Enzo and the Demon in midfield, says Rajaf. And Vincent says, dear Sir Jim, if you want us to be like Chelsea, go get Gallagher and then we'll have Mountain Gallagher and then get unhappy Palmer in the summer. Champers, says Vincent. Average players are not going to be the difference, says Robert McCormack. Well, I disagree with you, Robert.

40:34I disagree with you and I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't say that. I literally said after the Bournemouth game, if you put James Garner and Sam de Bourgh in our midfield and play them every week until the summer, I think we'd get top four. I think we're crying out for a midfield with some stability and discipline. And did we not see that against Newcastle in the first half. I don't think Casemiro and Agate are anything other than average. And yet we looked better than we have done in a long time. So I disagree, Robert. I do. I really do. I think Conor Gallagher, Ruben Neves improve us. And I don't think people really think about how weak we are in the midfield.

41:13I'm not asking Conor Gallagher and Ruben Neves to be the players that are going to take us to a Premier League title. I'm asking them to come in and build our midfield. so I bring one of them in in January and then bring try and bring in an Elliott Anderson or you know whoever in the summer and I start to try and build my midfield but you're not in the minority Robert because I think there are people out there I don't want Conor Gunnlager I don't want Ruben Neves I just want Elliott Anderson and then Elliott Anderson comes in we blow all our money and then he's one player surrounded by the shit that we've already got and we need to rebuild the midfield and we're not going to buy four 80 million pound midfielders so the bargain players like Ruben Neves and Conor Gallagher help us to build the midfield so that next season you could have a midfield for like I say of Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba or Manu Kone, Conor Gallagher or Ruben Neves and then you keep either one of Mainu or Agate and I'm quite happy with that compared to what we've got at the moment I don't want one midfielder I want three and I want one coming in in January and two coming in in the summer because that midfield has been shit for two years this midfield of Bruno Casemiro and Maynou was getting run through like a hot knife through butter under 10-arg and we've only we've only added a Garte to it who most people don't rate either so that midfield has needed rebuilding for two years and it's not one player it's three so one coming in now makes total sense and you can call them average but they'd be better than what we've got in my opinion.

42:45Let me talk to you. I want to answer this question from Marlow. We've got 10 ,000 watching this morning. It's going to get busy in January. Lots and lots to discuss. So make sure you've subscribed to the channel and smash a like on the video. Also, lots of football going on. I've got Premier League predictions going up with me and Robbie in about an hour on That's Football. But remember, we're playing tomorrow against Wolves, previewed tonight at 8. We've got Leeds on Sunday and then we've got Burnley the following Wednesday. So we've got three games coming up in the next, what, week and a half?

43:17And then we've got Brighton in the Cup. So there's lots of games going on at the moment as well as lots of conversation around what Man United will and won't do in the January transfer window. But look, one thing did catch my eye and it sort of fits in with the nurturing thing. What about Semenya? Oh, mate, the Smenu stuff's laughable. Some people still think he's going to choose Man United. He's chosen Manchester City. It's just about when they pay that deal, but good signing for them, of course. So this is what Antonio Conte has had to say in relation to Rasmus Hoyland. Now, as far as I'm aware, I think that there is...

44:03Let me just double-check this. Let me just double-check. I need to be right. I know the Bundesliga is shut down for the moment.

44:16I think the Bundesliga... No, the Italian league does keep playing. I thought the Italian league had a winter break as well, but apparently they don't. Rasmus Hoyland scored two goals for Cremines, for Napoli last night. So, yeah, I wondered why. I thought they were on a winter break. two points off the top Napoli Rasmus with another two goals

44:46which means that he has

45:00six goals in 12 games I think I might be wrong on that But he's doing reasonably well at Napoli. And this is what Antonio Conte had to say after the game. He said, no one expected this. I remember he faced a lot of criticism when he came to Napoli. There are always extremes. I see certain definite qualities in the player, but to say he has fully arrived as a player is not true. He's 22 and has potential, which he's demonstrating. and it's up to us as coaches and staff to improve him. So what Conte is basically saying is that I think a lot of people had written him off. I saw the qualities in him.

45:46He's nowhere near the finished article. He's got huge potential, which he is demonstrating and it's up to us to take him to the next level. And as far as I'm concerned, I think he's actually benching Lukaku now. I think Lukaku is actually back. so look this is in in no way shape or form is this uh we made a mistake or or anything like that i i firmly believe that amram must be allowed to do the things that he wants to do um and then he gets judged on that there is a debate of course that we shouldn't have bought sesco and we should have kept Rasmussen. That's not where I'm going with this. Where I'm going with this is I look at what Conte keeps doing and I look at what we're not capable of doing.

46:36And I'm not saying we should get Conte either, but I'm just saying people think there is, and Scott McTominay called it a myth, funnily enough, people think that players leave Man United and do well because it's not Man United. in a way there is an element of truth to that but the real truth is we can't develop players we just can't develop players we just we just don't and can't do it um and somebody said last night who's amrin made better well who did ten hog make better who did ollie make better we're not very good at developing players and is that because the pressure's too much at man united is it because the policy at man united is not good enough i guarantee you at napoli rasmus has probably got four or five experienced players around him who know what they're doing in that league um scott mctomedy certainly did but at man united he's playing up front with selfish ganacho selfish anthony you know it's it's not like it's not conducive you know aiden heaven had his best game for Man United against Newcastle with Lissandro Martinez next to him.

47:49Not a surprise. And whatever you think about Deleuze, he's over 25. Whatever you think about Luke Shaw, he's over 25. So he's playing in a back four with three senior players next to him and Casemiro in front of him. That's what nurturing talent's all about. It's not about surrounding them with inexperienced players who were you know not very good um so the Conte thing did catch my eye because I'm like well ultimately ultimately we don't know we don't nurture players because we don't provide the the the surroundings for it do we um do I think we should have kept Rasmus and spent the money on a midfielder I mean I've never really thought about it um I think he needed to go in hindsight because I think the fan base had made their mind up and I think those people saying well yeah we should have done that will probably be the same people that were saying sell him in the summer and what you got to remember is momentum builds so I don't think there would have been a lot of patience for that to be honest with you I think people demanded a striker in the summer and I think it needed to happen so I wouldn't have not bought sesco to keep rasmus i can see the theory but i think the reality would have been a mass moan about not signing a striker in hindsight i'd rather that 70 million or 68 million went on a midfielder because i think that was a priority we didn't we didn't deal with but we did need to buy uh um uh we did need to buy um a striker but we desperately needed a midfielder

49:36100 % um let me just have a quick look here um amg says sorry mark maybe one for the 8 p.m completely off topic i'm am i'm in still but if united were a serious club we'd go for emery from villa i you know what amg i i mean look i don't even think we can talk about it at eight o 'clock without people losing their shit um but i i was thinking about emery at the weekend and whether he'd be a good fit for Man United. So I'd be lying if I didn't answer this honestly. Look, Amrim should be given the season and hopefully he'll be here for a few more. We have Ruben Amrim, he's the manager. However, if the stars aligned and Unai Emery was given the Man United job, would I be happy with that?

50:22I think that when you look at the way he sets his team up, he plays with wingers. and he plays a back four. He plays out from the back, which is progressive. He always seems to have a really good midfield. And he's big on flair. So there are a few things there that would be quite nice. He plays with a back four. He plays quite progressive football. He prioritises his midfield and he likes flair so you know it i definitely if ruben amram wasn't here he probably would be one of my top considerations i don't know whether we take the man united job though he strikes me as a little bit like jürgen klopp where it's like he's got to he's got to be he's got to have certain things in place above him and i don't think he'd like united structure united structure above the manager is shit really you know you've got this board that has a lot of control.

51:22So I don't know whether he'd take it anyway. But then again, it's Man United. Happy birthday to my best friend, Damian, says Assad. Happy birthday, Damian. Hope you have a good day. Chelsea, there we go. Right. OK. Marlo has asked me. Oh, latest on Maynou. OK. Somebody just said you were going to talk about Maynou. Maynou. Maynou. Look, with Xerxes, if United keep him, I think it's a joke. He wants to go. Roma want him. We need to be active in the window. And I'm actually more focused on Xerxe than I thought I would be because that offer's on the table. We know it can be done really quickly. We should do it.

52:00And if we do it, we've got to be active in January. So I'm looking at the Xerxe deal. I'm going, if we don't let him go, it's a disgrace. He wants to go. And if he does go, we need to replace him. So I'm all about the Xerxe deal at the moment. And Roma are willing to take him on loan with an obligation of 25 million. That could help us get Manu Kone at some point as well. so we need Xerxes to be allowed to leave and if he does go we've got to bring someone in in January so you know it all feeds into positivity in relation to Mainu um I don't even know if Mainu's back for the Wolves game tomorrow um I'm hopeful that he will be because he needs to be fit regardless you know whether he's staying or whether he's going he needs to be fit I don't think Maynou will leave but I think he's walking into a trap Abdel Akbar it's a trap I think he's going to get fit and he's going to get game time because we don't have Bruno and we probably don't have Mount now, I think we haven't had an update on Mason Mount, let's see and also Mason Mount's always a minute away from an injury so I think he's going to get some minutes and that's going to make him feel more settled.

53:12But when Ahmad and Mbamo and Bruno are back in the middle of the month and the games dry up because it's not Christmas anymore, so it'll be one game a week, he's going to find himself in exactly the same position he was in September, October, November and December. So I think he's going to get drawn in by minutes in early January and then by February, he'll be back on the bench again, not playing. So I think he's going to stay, but I don't think things are going to get any better for him but I don't think United are going to let him go and I don't think Amrim will let him go unless he gets a replacement so unless we go back to the start and do what we were talking about there with Conor Gallagher I think that that would be probably the way to go but we'll have to wait and see how it works out I want to answer this question from Marlo in a minute But I just want to make sure that we Catch up On Everything

54:23Let's have a look at the chat

54:33God, Marlo I'm sort of freestyling on this it's really difficult um and it's probably going to create a lot of debate so marlo said can you give us your top 10 signings since sir alex ferguson left for manchester united and there i would i would need an hour and a cup of tea and a pen and paper to do this but i'm going to just freestyle it and go off the top of my head um wow top five signings since sir alex Ferguson left Manchester United okay um right I'm gonna put Edison Cabani in at number five because I as much I hated that signing I was like this is stupid he's really injury prone uh as far as I remember he was a free signing um and even with his injuries I actually really liked Cabani and um it's a shame we didn't get him earlier in his career so I really liked Cabani um number four I'm gonna go Ander Herrera um I think he was a bit misused at the club but for what we paid and what he gave to the club.

55:36I really liked Ander Herrera and it was a shame, again, on the Glazers' part that they let him run his contract down and he went for free. So I would go with him. Number three, I'm going to go with De Ligt. I know it's still relatively early, but I think for what we paid,£40 million for a 24-year-old who's got the experience that he's got, I think, still a little bit early, but we are nearly, well, we're 18 months into signing him. And I think every day he's looked like a bargain to me. So a modern one, De Ligt, I think is a fantastic signing. Number two, I'll go Cristiano Ronaldo. A lot of emotion in that one.

56:26A lot of red tinted glasses. I never thought I'd see him play for Man United again. arguably one of the greatest players we've ever had so many rumours that he was going to come back over the years that we never believed and then when he did sign it was magical and I think when we're talking about top five signings it's also about how you felt about a signing and you know that goal against Newcastle when he came back 18 Premier League goals in a shit United side as well I just think you know with Ronaldo though, there's definitely some romanticism there. But, you know, we had that year. He did come back and it was magical to have him back in a Man United shirt.

57:04And then number one, it's got to be Bruno Fernandes. It has to be Bruno Fernandes. I was so desperate for us to sign Bruno. We didn't get him in the summer. I thought we'd missed the boat, literally. And then we brought him in in the January, hit the ground running. He was a breath of fresh air. And look, despite the fact that we destroy every player and despite the fact that we ruin every player's mentality and consistency he still manages look we haven't had that many good signings since ralice ferguson left so i'm not saying bruno's a legend i certainly don't think that i don't think he's even a great but i think he's been a i think we've had value for money out of him um and it's not his fault he's now playing as a midfielder which is a bit like putting erling harland as a number 10 um so yeah it would be bruno fernandez few people we're talking about Casemiro.

57:53We spent 350 grand a week and 60 million pounds on him. I don't think we've had value for money from Casemiro at all. Some people are saying Luke Shaw. I mean, Bruno's played more games in five years than Luke Shaw's played in 10 years. And you think about the money he's earned as well. No. Ahmad is a good shout. Ahmad is a good shout. We paid a lot of money for Ahmad. I did like Anthony Martial, but again, a bit like Ahmad, we've paid a lot of money on that. So yeah, look, some people are saying Zlatan as well. I liked Zlatan, worth a mention, but I probably preferred Cavani more than Zlatan, if I'm being completely honest.

58:34Varane was... Look, I'm doing it off the top of my head as well. There might be one or two that I might want to revise with a bit more time but you know me i freestyle it uh alexi sanchez definitely not in there no absolutely not uh oh look i was very excited about schweinsteiger i really did like schweinsteiger but it didn't work to be honest did it it didn't um anyway good little bit of a good little bit of a conversation at the end there i'm sure many of you can put your top five in as well would love to see that in the comments because that's gonna crack off uh we are back just after half one because there is an amarin press conference and i will be with you at eight o 'clock keep an eye out on that's football as well we've got our prebi league predictions coming up it's getting really close between me and robbie heading into the new year fantastic show this morning uh over 10 000 watching which is incredible for a morning show then again things are starting to hot up for january now um so look if you haven't subscribed please do if you haven't smashed a like please do and please do leave as your top five man united signings since january That's all on Marlo, but I'm interested to read some of those as well.

59:38Take care. Stay safe. I'll speak to you on the next one.

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