Crystal Palace defender on Manchester United’s shortlist to replace Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire looks set to be leaving the club after months of speculation – and embarrassing jeers.
West Ham have agreed a £30 million deal in principle with United to sign Maguire. Now, the Hammers must find a way to agree personal terms with the former United skipper, who is on a big salary at Old Trafford.
The Daily Mail now report that Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi is one of four names on United’s shortlist to replace Maguire.
The report does suggest that United could be priced out of a move for Guehi, with Palace wanting £50m for the centre-back, as per the London Evening Standard.
Of course, Stretty News ran a report five months ago when United initially held talks with Guehi’s
I would find it hard to imagine Ten Hag signing a new centre-back to sit on the bench when we all know Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez is his preferred defensive pairing.
The other names on United’s wishlist, as per the Mail, include OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard.
Todibo and Pavard are the cheapest options, therefore, we can presume one of them is more likely to join than Guehi or Tapsoba.
I also think all options would be an upgrade on Maguire for what Ten Hag wants going forward. That is not to disrespect our former captain, who I think will do very well at West Ham.
READ ORE
Sheffield United are working to ensure new signing Vinicius Souza receives visa clearance in time to make his debut for his new club against Crystal Palace this weekend. The Brazilian’s move to Bramall Lane was completed yesterday, after a deal was struck with Belgian second-tier side Lommel.
Souza, who impressed last season in La Liga despite Espanyol’s relegation, had been a target of boss Paul Heckingbottom for some time before a “complicated” deal, in the manager’s words, was tied up earlier this week. Despite suggestions that Souza has been signed as Sander Berge’s replacement, Heckingbottom insisted that the plan was to play him alongside the now-Burnley midfielder – and that United must now “start again” in their recruitment drive in midfield.
United boss answers Doyle question amid pre-Palace transfer hope
“With Vini it depends on his visa, we’re on that process,” Heckingbottom confirmed. “Vini was coming in to play with Sander and the rest of the midfield boys, so we’re starting again now in that position with Sander going.
“You’ve got to prepare for it all – so, in the back of my mind, I was preparing for what if Sander leaves or Iliman – but as time goes on, plans change because of what’s happening in the market elsewhere. We’ve got the opener in two days and we’re light, that’s the problem.
“Vinicius was desperate to come here, I’ve been speaking to him more than my wife in the last couple of months to try and get him here. Manchester City have been great with their help and everyone wanted to make it happen. Some transfers are more complicated than others and we’re happy. When it all got signed we could breathe a sigh of relief.”
Asked if Souza was at a physical level of playing Premier League football, Heckingbottom smiled: “He’d have no choice, he’d be in. We’ve got no players. He’s not where he wants to be, he knows that.
“He’s not played football for a long time, he’s been doing some training but no 11v11 and no game stuff. We’re looking over his data for the last few weeks and months and he’s way behind because he hasn’t had the match exposure. So we’re conscious of that and probably he’s going to have to get that with us as we’re playing when the season starts.”
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