Man Utd: Pundit accuses Ed Woodward of lying about transfers
Manchester United are unlikely to sign Saul Niguez and Moussa Dembele, reports say. Ed Woodward announced and opened up on the club’s financial results for Q3 earlier on Thursday. And while the Red Devils believe they’re well-equipped heading into the summer transfer window, it seems like they won’t get all of their targets.
United have admired Saul and Dembele for a number of years.
They first expressed interest in signing Atletico Madrid star Saul in 2015 back when Louis van Gaal was manager, only for the club to focus on other players instead.
United have watched Dembele’s career with great interest, seeing the player sparkle at Fulham and then Celtic and Lyon in the years since.
On Thursday, Woodward opened up on the club’s financial situation - giving an insight into how the Red Devils are faring behind the scenes.
It was announced that the Red Devils’ debt had soared a gigantic 42 per cent to £429.1million, with losses for the last financial quarter amounting to £7.3m.
Revenue dropped 19 per cent year on year, too, while United’s expenditures remained high as a result of the club not using the UK Government's furlough scheme throughout this time.
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They’re still relaxed about the situation, however.
The gross debt of the club is actually unchanged, not rising for the last five years, while cash reserves are lower due to the fact they’re still paying off deals for Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire.
Yet The Athletic say it’s unlikely that United will be signing Saul and Dembele as things stand.
Atletico want any clubs interested in signing Saul to pay the midfielder’s full release clause of £135million.
That would make him the Red Devils’ most-expensive signing of all time - overtaking Paul Pogba in the process.
Lyon have quoted parties £60m for Dembele but he, too, seems to be out of reach at the current time.
But, while both players have been ruled out, United are still likely to pursue deals for Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham.
The Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa and Birmingham City midfielders have all been impressive this season.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be delighted if the trio were to touch down at Old Trafford come the end of the season.
Meanwhile, speaking to Sky Sports recently, Solskjaer admitted United were braced for a ‘new world’ in the transfer market due to the coronavirus crisis.