Manchester United supporters in the Transfer Tavern are somewhat looking forward to the start of the 2018/19 Premier League season, which for their team gets underway at Old Trafford this evening.
Jose Mourinho’s men finished as runners-up to champions Manchester City last time round but ended up a staggering 19 points adrift of Pep Guardiola’s side, thus leaving them with a mountain to climb this term if they are to win their first title in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Yet the Red Devils have endured a frustrating summer and a very difficult pre-season, thus not giving them the ideal preparation to open the Premier League against Claude Puel’s Leicester City this evening.
And one man who won’t be turning out in the red of United tonight is defender Toby Alderweireld, as reports on Deadline Day on Thursday confirmed that the North West giants didn’t even make a move for the 29-year-old over the summer.
The future of the Tottenham centre back has been subject of speculation for a while now given his current contract situation, what with his deal set to expire in the summer of 2019, and while Spurs have an option of a one-year extension, it would bring a £25 million release clause into play.
And having opted against agreeing a new deal, it looked as though Alderweireld would indeed leave the club this summer, yet reports suggest that United went against the wishes of manager Mourinho to go after the centre back, with just ‘one conversation’ reportedly taking place between chief executive Ed Woodward and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
And news that Woodward dashed Mourinho’s hopes of luring the Belgium international to Old Trafford hasn’t gone down particularly well with plenty of Manchester United supporters on Twitter…
So the experts at board level and Woodward reckon what we have (Smalling & Jones) are better than Alderweireld…. that proves how much they know about Football! #MUFC
— PJ (@Red_Devil87) August 10, 2018
Bit of a disappointing transfer window really. Only first team addition for this season is Fred and I feel we needed a lot more to get closer to City and challenge. Frustrating how we couldn’t get players such as Alderweireld over the line. #MUFC
— James (@JamesHooper__) August 9, 2018
Still can’t get my head around United’s transfer window…
However much Spurs wanted for Alderweireld, we should have just paid it. He’d be absolutelyperfect for us #mufc #Alderweireld #thfc
— Ed Lawrence (@ed90law) August 9, 2018
Fully behind jose mourinho. Ed Woodward has completely let jose down in the transfer market, jose wanted a CB, alderweireld was ready to come. Jose wanted 3 at the back and Toby is best suited for the system. Get behind jose and the team. Come on united. #ggmu #mufc
— Red Devil Army (@wickedchandy) August 10, 2018
So our board apparently deemed Toby Alderweireld & Harry Maguire not good enough to spend money on but going into the season with tweedledum & tweedledee (Jones & Smalling) in defence is fine by them. If true I’m a bit surprised Mourinho hasn’t walked already #ridiculous #mufc
— Man Utd News (@RooVanMataZaj) August 9, 2018
If this was really the board’s mindset to the Alderweireld deal, then they’re bigger idiots than I thought. #mufc pic.twitter.com/eKwmeyvg2J
— Reginaldo Rosario (@Regi1700) August 10, 2018
I still find the fact they don’t rate Alderweireld concerning though – injuries aside he’s one of the best CB’s in the league – possibly even in Europe – and that makes me concerned about who makes decisions at #mufc
— Dipak (@dipaksiyani) August 9, 2018
United fans… what do you think? Let us know!
