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

Also looks like Mourinho wants Fernades so another player to possibly mark off the list.

I’m assuming Anderson preference is City and we’ll use ‘not overpaying’ line as cover.

From a value perspective I would be far far more comfortable paying £120m for Anderson than £70m for the likes of Baleba and Alex Scott or £100m for Tonali.

The level of inflation in football finances at the minute makes every summer feel a bit insane, but relative to all the other asking prices being quoted (if legit), Anderson looks the best value of the bunch.

Interesting news about McKenna stepping down at Ipswich.

Off to Fulham I expect.

I reckon Scott can be gotten for 60m, the original price was like 30-40m, the 80m asking price is just them pushing up the price, Baleba will go for around 50m-60m but apprently we've cooled on him, Fernandes for 60m-65m....Now whether we get him is another story.

We got Ederson for 35m, if we fail to get a prem proven CM they have back ups in mind.

Think we will get either Fernandes or Tchouameni. If Fernandes goes to Madrid there probably will be a good chance to get Tchouameni.

Lewis Hall has gone up to 70m too 😂 I get they want to look like hard negotiators but cmon West Ham, ye got relegated and your owner is dodge!

There was a little bit of noise earlier in the week that United were ready to bid following Citys initial 80m offer. If true, I guess that was the club doing as much as they were prepared to do (in that, at around 80m they were prepared to get involved), but with City subsequently dipping into the oil money, United have sensibly backed off. They done the right thing so in trying up to their set limit and then walking away.

As much as I would have liked Anderson at United, the cost and his preference for City meant the deal was always unlikely.

The reported fees for other targets are currently off the wall as well, I hope the club take a hard line on those as well.

How much would we be willing to pay for Fernandes in a potential bidding war?

Anderson News is disappointing but not surprising.

It illustrates how tough United will have it to get back genuinely competing for the top titles.

City are already stronger and are adding to an already strong midfield. The benefit of signing someone like Anderson is it also weakens your rivals who might want him. City are moving further ahead of United with his signing.

Hopefully there are some strong alternatives the club are looking at because the midfield badly needs genuine top quality.

I do genuinely wonder about what's going on behind the scenes with City and player transfers. The decision is expected this Summer and if found guilty they are likely to relegated at the least and are facing massive litigation from other clubs.

Are players writing clauses into contracts or do they know something we all don't?

It's also no guarantee with Pep gone that City are going to remain at the very top. Things can go badly very quickly at this level.

It's disappointing as I think Anderson is similar level to Rice and Arsenal fans are not complaining about the fee they spent on him. I would have paid it but I'd want him to want us too.

If he's choosing City at this stage, then it's for the bonus salary into a foreign bank account. There's very little attraction about City post Pep. Relatively small club, small fanbase, not respected, facing unknown punishments on charges, English players eventually end up on their curb...

If he ends up there then it's hard to believe that City are spending this sort of money without having a very good idea of the outcome of charges against them. My guess is they know what's happening and they're letting the players agent know on the QT that it's safe to join.

I'd also have doubts about a meaningful punishment, but there is still the unknown of post Pep. Anyway, he's not worth that type of money, especially when less would get Tchouameni who is more the "profile" (little bit of sick there) we need.