The Premier League is, like practically every other sports league and tournament, in a strange state of suspended animation at present. However, there’s plenty going on behind the scenes as clubs ready themselves to be a step ahead of their rivals when footy resumes.
This is ordinarily the time of the year when the season is reaching its climax, and after that, the discussion turns to the transfer window. This year however, everything has been turned on its head, and with no games to play, the transfer rumour mill is already working overtime. Manchester United have been linked with several players as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sets about rebuilding at Old Trafford. Their signing of Bruno in January appears to be a success by all means, and there could be many more to arrive in the summer.
Sancho to United
United are predicted to be this year’s top spender in the Premiership. Practically every big name you can think of has been connected with the Red Devils over the past month, but when it comes to Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jadon Sancho, media reports suggest the deal is all but signed.
The 20 year old is arguably English football’s most exciting young talent of his generation, and PL clubs have been racing to reach an agreement with the forward. At his age, he could essentially be United’s next big poster boy- the next Cristiano Ronaldo/Wayne Rooney for the decade to come.
Kane to follow?
If Sancho represents the future, the man who represents the here and now is Harry Kane. He seems to have been the talismanic frontman for England and Tottenham for so long, it’s hard to believe he is still only 26. Every transfer window, the rumours start up that Kane will be on the move, but this year, some high profile names are weighing in with an opinion.
None other than Wayne Rooney said at the weekend that Kane could be heading for United, where he could form the nucleus of a new revitalised United team that could topple Manchester City and Liverpool from the top next year. A glance at Legalbetting.com suggests the bookmakers agree. Most are offering odds of around 6/4 on a move to United or 13/2 on him going to Real Madrid.
Havertz on the radar
Leverkusen’s star midfielder holds the record as the youngest ever player to score in the Bundesliga and to reach the 100 appearances landmark. Still just 20, he is on the wish list for many of Europe’s biggest teams, having been linked with both Liverpool and Bayern Munich as well as United.
Havertz has hinted that he sees an overseas move as the next logical career step, and Manchester United’s deep pockets could make Old Trafford an obvious destination.
Pogba heading for the exit
If all these big names are really heading for Old Trafford, who is going to make room? The most obvious candidate is Paul Pogba. When the Frenchman arrived in 2016 on a record fee deal, he was on top of the world. Yet this season, he has barely been seen out in the middle- even before he was ruled out through injury.
PL record goal scorer Alan Shearer said in his weekly newspaper column that he thinks Solskjaer has “already made up his mind” that United will be seeking a buyer for Pogba. The question is whether they will find any takers given that the the French star only has a year left on his contract and could leave for nothing in 2021.