Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

I’ll edit to make it clearer but this is exactly what was said:

“Villa privately insist Watkins is not for sale, but there is a belief at Old Trafford that a deal can potentially be done. United would not countenance the £60 million Villa demanded from Arsenal in January, given Watkins is 29, but they might look to find an agreement at £40m to £45m.”

“The cost of recruiting Sesko would be higher. When he signed his new contract in 2024, it came with the understanding that if an elite club — by his definition — offered in the region of €80m-€90m (£69m to £78m), Leipzig would allow him to leave. Arsenal ended up walking away from a deal after finding talks difficult and the overall expense too great.”

Its the price range for Watkins and Sesko. At least we are not picking another Chelsea reject in jackson

Cheers, figured that would make more sense.

Tough call, Sesko could be immense, or he could be a bust. If we were a title challenging side with no money worries you'd take him all day long.

But we're a fairly crap team hoping to stabilise and establish ourselves as a top 6 side for now, and we're skint.

So a deal around £45m for an established Premier league striker rather than £80m for a promising 22 year old who's never played in England likely makes more sense right now, even if it's not the sexy option.

I can't see Watkins going that cheap. He averages 15 league goals a season and it's going to cost a lot for Villa to replace those goals.

I know they've had money issues but have done a Chelsea (as have Everton lately) with the women's team and looking at naming rights for Villa Park. But still might have to sell a player or two before next July. Think they'd try to move on others before letting Watkins go cheap.

Needs to get some serious minutes under his belt, especially having missed a lot of time through injury during his development years. Also I'd say a loan this season would also be to try and boost his transfer value.

He's down the pecking and come next season he'll have to be officially registered as he'll be over 21. Unless we're stuck for homegrown players to register it could be seen as a waste to register him if he's behind Ugarte and whichever CM they bring in this summer or next.

👍🏻

Whitwell has also ruled out a move for Emi Martinez as the cost is too high to sign him.

Watkins over Sesko would probably leave us with 30 mill to put towards CM / GK

Surely we must have a few back-up plans for a keeper?

It can be that we don't get our first or second or even third choice. But to go through the transfer window without being able to sign any competent goalkeeper would be damning.

Probably we will at least start the season with Onana or Bayindir but interesting to see who is in goals for us after September.

I'd even throw Arsenal in there as Gyokeres would have also been a big risk for us. And if a CF comes in I can't see Hojlund wanting to stay. WC is next summer and his starting place or even squad spot would be under threat. So it could be a new CF and Chido as our only natural 9s this season.

Fair enough there's also Cunha, Mbeumo, and Zirkzee but wouldn't really want to be moving Cunha or Mbeumo to CF for long periods.

If Watkins or Sesko come I still think Vardy would be a smart signing to add more experienced depth at CF. Would be hard to see where the club could find another experienced CF to act as cover for new CF and Chido.

I'd rather take the risk on Sesko but that's just me.

I can see the attraction and red flags on both of them.

With Watkins, you know what you are going to get. However, Villa wanted to keep Duran ahead of him and then dropped him for a number of games in favour of Rashford. The fact they would even entertain selling him when they have no back up and in a difficult market would be a worry.

Sesko could be anything. Every top club has been looking at him but as yet nobody has taken the risk which is the worry you have with him. Physically he is everything you'd want and he looks to have very good technique. I've watched him a few times and been underwhelmed on at least one of those games but he clearly has something.

Hard to call when I write it down.

The Watkins & Sesko article also mentioned that bringing in either would be contingent on revenue being made available from sales, so that potentially is a stumbling block to either.

If Lammens hypothetically had the potential to become a great keeper, would a year of sitting on the bench really help his career ?

He'd be better off where he is.

Whoever we sign needs to be made number 1.

Any keeper signed should immediately be first choice. If they aren't better than Onana then why the hell waste limited money them.