If Ed Woodward pulls this off, they may need to rename the Alex Ferguson Stand at Old Trafford.
What a difference a year makes. Around this time in the 2015/16 season, Woodward was scrambling to get any sort of quality in the door and getting blanked by a host of top clubs.
United’s deadline day transfers were Reagan Poole (Newport) and Anthony Martial (Monaco), who signed for £36m but with a fee that could rise to £57m depending on performances, achievements and feats.
This time around, Woodward has ticked off all four items on Jose Mourinho’s shopping list.
There are reports linking United to a £30m move for Brazilian striker Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa but we would not be surprised to see Mourinho further strengthen his defence. That inkling ties in perfectly with reports of an audacious United move for Southampton and Portugal centre-back Jose Fonte.
According to The Mirror, not only do United want to bring in the 32-year-old, they want to send Marcos Rojo in the opposite direction.
One player has come on a fantastic journey (in 2009) from League One to the Premiership, has only missed six league games over the last three seasons, is a genuine threat from set-pieces, an assured presence at the back, a tidy passer and was a European Championship winner this summer. The other is Marcos Rojo.
There are two impediments to the United bid. Southampton are prepared to up Fonte’s weekly wage from £45,000 to £70,000, and Arsenal are absolutely desperate to get in a competent centre back before the season starts.
Marcos Rojo though…
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour Hurling Show Wooly and the lads reflect on a monumental weekend of action. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes
