Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 12.02.26

I hope that's two for CM and two for CB. The spine of the team is so weak that they could do with buying two starters for CB next year. Especially because I think one of our starting CMs will still be Bruno. So CBs that better suit what Amorim wants should be bought along with trying to break the bank for Anderson.

Though hard to see them bring in a LCB unless they can move on Shaw or Licha. Both have 18mths left on their contracts but Licha has a plus one option. Of the two I'd rather keep Licha.

Don't think they bench De Ligt by bringing in a new CCB. Maybe new RCB with Maz as back up and Yoro replaces Maguire as back up to De Ligt. Can rotate both of them to manage De Ligts minutes.

Probably not but he is certainly a profile of player that their manager would like in terms of ability on the ball, it's a brave new world in football only premier league clubs can rally afford other higher valued premier league players.

I reckon we would only get 60 mil max for Mainoo.

Seen a snippet of an interview from mct, where the interviewer was essentially pressing the point that players succeed when they leave united.

And him saying That's not really the case it's just an easy excuse for players and the media essentially focus on the best stories and forget the rest.

And said united as a club did everything for him that gets done at other clubs.

Very different to other players who have left and a breath of fresh air.

**** it bring him home,.maybe we can swap mainoo for him :)

Amorim is completely right about the entitlement of players and he has made Mainoo and others look proper socially inadequate fools there.

Yeah I was thinking between £40M and £50M will be the realistic fee for Mainoo which is why I think they should loan him out. Get him out playing regularly to see if you can get a better fee for him in the summer.

While Garnacho was a goal scoring attacker he also had a poor attitude and was told to find a new club. Fingers crossed it doesn't end that way for Mainoo. Think he's got the versatility needed to slot in anywhere of a midfield trio.

But the club should definitely be looking for a loan. Try to create some buzz surrounding his time playing between now and the summer. If he flops it's going to be similar as just staying here and not doing much. If he goes and absolutely smashes it can help boost the few or changes the managers thoughts about the lad.

Could also see Bruno running down his contract. He's not gonna go to Saudi. They threw boat loads of cash at him and he said no. Can't see him going to Saudi and clubs in Italy or Spain aren't paying big money for him. So the club need to do something to help protect Mainoo's fee or develop him into a starter because I don't see the Saudi dollars rolling in to help overhaul the squad.

I don’t agree, as someone said earlier, it was time for this rotten culture of going around as if the whole world owes them something was called out.

I also agree with Amorim when it comes to former greats like Scholes not helping matters.

You earned everything you got on the teams he played in.

I really like the fact that Amorim seems to want to base everything on standards, workrate and earning your place, no shortcuts, no reputation’s carrying you. That’s exactly what we’ve been missing for years.

It’s frustrating hearing former legends saying young players like Mainoo should be looking to leave if they’re not starting games. That mentality helps no one and fair play to Keane for encouraging him to work hard , improve and fight for his place in the team.

No toom for entitlement here, minutes on the pitch are earned and not owed to anyone.

It is easy to build narratives in hindsight though. The reality is it was fairly widely reported at various stages that Amad was looking to leave under ETH.

It’s not like he miraculously worked hard, Rocky style, and won ETH over. ETH got sacked. It worked out for Amad. If ETH was still in charge Amad would (correctly) have forced an exit to save his career.

If Amorim gets sacked and the new manager plays 433 and makes Mainoo a starter. He too will be happy and we’ll write about his determination to stay. If Amorim stays, he will (correctly) leave to save his career.

So if a young player is not getting minutes he should look for a transfer?

At this club nobody should be guaranteed anything, especially young players that are still developing. The best United sides were built on competition, hunger and players proving themselves every day in training.

If Amorim comes in and sets that tone , ex players should be backing it , not undermining it with advice that weakens the culture we’re supposed to be rebuilding.

Fernandes could leave this summer. He could stay another 2+ years. Amorim could be sacked next month. He could be here another 5+ years.

While both of those are here Mainoo has no chance for the reasons you state. I’m skeptical whether Mainoo’s profile ever fits an Amorim 2. So he’s potentially just waiting for the manager to be sacked if so.

People who are absolutely elite at anything in life generally won’t be happy to wait for events totally out of their control to happen.

A football career is short. Add in that just 18 months ago, Mainoo was one of the most talked about players in the world, it’s really not surprising he’s not guna just chill for 2+ years and see what happens with Amorim. It’s difficult to comprehend how difficult a fall that far after a rise so fast would be.

He should definitely leave. That’s fine. Sometimes managers and players just aren’t compatible. That’s life. United is just 1 of many big clubs.

Amorim is stubborn - absolutely no doubt about that and often to his detriment, but I find it very hard to believe he wouldn't give a player more chances if he was doing everything required in training. The man clearly prides hard work, professionalism, attitude, tenacity and application above everything else.

Do people really think Mainoo has been incredible in training and should be starting? I can't imagine he has been, otherwise he would be getting at least some gametime instead of Bruno or maybe Mount. Ask yourself, what is the biggest difference between Mount/Bruno and Mainoo? The answer is clearly workrate, physicality, tenacity presence on the pitch. Almost anytime I've seen Mainoo play this season he has been severely lacking in these areas compared to the other two.

He is only 20 years old and although I think he is an incredibly talented footballer in so many ways he is no where near ready to be a starter in an Amorim team. As for people saying he would be of interest to Liverpool? The lad does not play with the intensity required, at least not yet.

Amorim may not be the man to get Utd back to where we all want them to be but he is most certainly instilling values and expectations that have been missing for far too long. I sincerely hope the next manager insists on the same.

I'd have more of an issue about him having a dig at players on loan, or who are playing with the Under 21's. Those lads could and possibly should consider looking for a move.

Then again, I doubt Amorim will be around in the long term. And for that reason, more than any other, the likes of Mainoo should keep the head down and work hard. But it also has to be incredibly frustrating after playing in a Euros final, knowing that you're going to miss out on being part of a world cup squad.

That's a fair enough point about Casemiro. He did play in a lot of games last season, but not too many of them were starts. But there's also very little options in terms of proper DMF in the team. Fernandes is playing out of position there. And even if he did decide to play Mainoo deeper, it's not his best position. And let's face it, Ugarte was a shocking signing.

A half few decent international games with declan rice beside him absolutely lording it.

Yeah I agree with this, no offence DataDude but I also thought that was a terrible analogy. And if a 20 year old hit Alex Ferguson with a “raw emotional response “ his feet wouldn’t touch the ground on his way out the door.