Reports have surfaced that 15 players are ready to leave Manchester United and follow Cristiano Ronaldo to the exit. With only one year remaining on his current contract, Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford looks increasingly uncertain. Only Ronaldo is reported to have reported to training camp and this comes after he missed the club’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. Meanwhile, fellow stars Paul Pogba and Juan Mata are expected to move on. Other players linked with exits are Lee Grant and Jesse Lingard.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Man Utd in doubt
There are reports that Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United is in doubt after he was granted extra time off for a family issue. He has not been training with Manchester United this week and is set to miss more of the club’s training sessions this week. United are not keen on selling the Portuguese star, but they have made it clear that they do not want to sell him. He still has a year left on his contract at the club, and he can opt out of it if he so desires. Chelsea and Napoli are also thought to be interested in signing Ronaldo.
The team has been struggling to make it into the top four this season, and many are questioning the future of the Portuguese international. Man Utd currently sit fourth in the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal both having games in hand. While it may seem strange at first glance, the current situation has many United supporters wondering if Ronaldo is set to stay or leave. Obviously, he’s done his part, but at this point, it seems that it is too early to panic.
Some close to the club claim that the timing of Ronaldo’s announcement was ‘awful’. The Portugal international knew that United would not qualify for the Champions League last season, but waited until July to make his intentions clear. It is unknown whether he will join the squad for the club’s pre-season tour, in which United are due to face Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
Raheem Sterling set to join Chelsea
A deal has been reached between Manchester City and Chelsea, with the former signing transferring to the Blues with one year to run on his contract. Sterling is rumoured to have spoken with Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel, and was impressed with the club’s vision for the future. If he joins the Blues, Sterling could be a significant addition to the squad. Sterling has a record of more than 100 Premier League goals, and is England’s best attacking player.
The 27-year-old forward will sign a five-year deal with the Blues, with an option to extend it for a further year. Sterling has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea, and will earn over PS300,000 a week. Sterling will miss Manchester City’s pre-season tour in the United States, but could make a big impact against Arsenal. Sterling is expected to sign a five-year contract with Chelsea, and the club has indicated that Sterling will miss their match in Club America in order to get his medical.
Manchester City supporters have a positive outlook for Sterling’s future at City. Sterling has averaged 22 goals per season for City over the past five seasons, behind only Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero. The news has raised eyebrows among Chelsea supporters, but the 27-year-old has a proven record of success and has already won the PFA Young Player of the Year award and FWA Footballer of the Year in the past two seasons.
Frenkie de Jong on his way to Old Trafford
After failing to qualify for the Champions League last season, it is likely that Frenkie de Jong will now be heading to Manchester United. However, there is a big question mark over whether he will be able to wear the number 14 shirt at Manchester United. That is down to the fact that United have the option to let a new signing choose his shirt number.
The saga surrounding the De Jong transfer has dragged on for months. United initially agreed to pay PS63m plus add-ons for the player. However, the club were still owed PS17 million in deferred salary payments. A potential alternative was Chelsea. The latter were contacted by United’s chairman Todd Boehly after meeting with Barca.
Manchester United have been linked with the signing of Frenkie de Jong, but are reluctant to meet Barcelona’s demands. The club are willing to pay up to EUR75 million for the Dutch winger, though they may end up paying more if they can secure add-ons worth EUR10m. But the main hurdle remains the deferred salary payment, which is currently holding up negotiations.
United have always wanted a deal that reflects Barcelona’s desire to sell De Jong. Having recently voted to sell part of their retail arm, they need cash from player sales to meet their demands. United are therefore primed to make a bid of around PS86m. The club may also pursue deals for Bernardo Silva and Lewandowski.
Brian Brobbey set for move to Ajax
The 20-year-old Dutch striker is set to join Ajax permanently from RB Leipzig after spending the second half of last season on loan. While the club would like to keep Brobbey, RB Leipzig have set their price at EUR15 million. Ajax are keen to keep him and will pay EUR17 million for his services. Manchester United never submitted a bid for Brobbey but have not ruled him out.
In a bid to lure Brobbey from Leipzig, the Dutch club are reportedly interested in signing him. Ajax have already lost Sebastian Haller to Borussia Dortmund, which leaves them in a good position to land Brobbey. The transfer fee for Brobbey could hurt the Dutch club, but the Dutch side are confident of recouping some of the money.
The Dutch club are hoping to attract a top Premier League club in return for Brobbey’s services. The club are aware of Brobbey’s impressive form. He has scored 13 goals in 32 matches, created three more, and played 163 minutes under former manager Jesse Marsch. In Germany, he failed to score in three games under Domenico Tedesco.
Ajax are also in the process of bringing in Brazilian striker Francisco Conceicao. The striker is currently out injured with a thigh injury and is expected to be out for 10 to 14 days. Due to the glut of fixtures, he will miss two matches. However, he is expected to return for the final match of the season against Greuther Furth. Despite the injury, Brobbey’s recovery from the injury should make it easy for him to get ready for the regular season. Despite his injury, he will still miss part of the preseason training, so he should get plenty of starts.
Raheem Sterling has undergone a medical with Chelsea
After agreeing personal terms with Chelsea, Raheem Sterling is set to complete his medical with the club on Sunday. The striker has already agreed personal terms with the club and is set to sign a five-year contract. The transfer could be worth PS50 million and Sterling will be joining the Blues after less than 12 months at Manchester City. Sterling’s move is the latest in the long list of moves made by City.
Speaking of Sterling, the English club have made it clear they are keen to get him on board as quickly as possible so he can start fitting in with his new team-mates. Sterling has recently been photographed having a haircut and it is likely that he will be unveiled very soon. Chelsea are hoping he will help their offensive reform. Chelsea’s plans for Sterling’s future also include bringing in a defender, who could potentially boost their defence.
Although Sterling is still a teenager, he has been in talks with Thomas Tuchel personally. It’s believed his desire to play every week and win the Champions League were factors in his decision to leave City. Sterling’s move to Chelsea is the latest example of the remit of new owner Todd Boehly. The club has made the bold move to strengthen their squad. Apart from Sterling, the Blues have also been linked with several players including Raphinha and Nathan Ake.
Phil Jones has a problem with Cristiano Ronaldo
Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Man United last summer after a 12-year absence, Phil Jones has been praised for his performance as a player and as a person. However, there is a problem with the Portugal captain, who he says has “an unorthodox style of play” at Old Trafford. The England defender feels that Ronaldo should not be allowed to play at his level, and is looking to find another club in Europe that can provide the player he needs.
The Portuguese international has become a thorn in the side of manager Phil Jones, who wants to keep Ronaldo at the club until he is ready to make his exit. Jones has a problem with the Portuguese’s style and has said he won’t let him go as long as he is not “surplus to requirements”.
A year ago, Jones was labelled as the best player Sir Alex Ferguson had ever seen train. However, he failed to convince the manager, as he was subbed onto the left wing for the first leg of the round of 16 against Real Madrid. Despite his injury problems, he still won a trophy with Man Utd. And he is still one of the few players who has tasted Premier League glory.
