Manchester United started their preparations for the resumption of the domestic season later this month with a 4-2 defeat to Cadiz CF in a friendly in Spain on Wednesday evening.
Fielding two different groups of outfield players, United produced an underwhelming performance at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla, although getting fitness into the legs of those who featured was the main priority. Anthony Martial and youngster Kobbie Mainoo got themselves on the scoresheet either side of the half-time interval.
United, who will resume their campaign on December 21 at home to Burnley in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, will play one more friendly in Spain ahead of returning to England. They are scheduled to face Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin Stadium on Saturday evening.
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The clash with the La Liga outfit will allow the group of players manager Erik ten Hag took to Spain with him to get more minutes into their legs ahead of the campaign getting back under way. The resumption of the season will tie in with the run up to the opening of the January transfer window, which is bound to generate plenty of intrigue and excitement.
On Thursday, in the aftermath of the defeat to Cadiz, our chief United writer Samuel Luckhurst, hosted a Q&A in an attempt to try and answer as many questions as possible that United's fans had for him. The questions covered several topics, including the possibility of signing Cody Gakpo, the prospect of a takeover and David de Gea's future.
Q: Could we see Cody Gakpo at old Trafford this January?
SL: It's not beyond the realms of possibility. Although it's inadvisable to sign a player on the back of a tournament, United can always play the summer card, as they did hold informal discussions then about Gakpo. John Murtough has a relationship with Gakpo's agent as he is also, conveniently, Ten Hag's agent.
Ten Hag's hit-rate with transfers so far has been excellent and Bruno Fernandes (a January addition) was the difference in United qualifying for the Champions League in 2020. So there is a compelling case to sign a forward. And that is without factoring in Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. United needed an attacker if he was still lingering as last season was Ronaldo's last hurrah. He was dreadful for United in his last month or so - on and off the pitch.
The word of warning is, as Eredivisie-centric as United's summer window was, their weakest outfield signing has been the only Dutchman (not that Malacia is anywhere near a write-off). This is not a vintage Netherlands team. They are punching above their weight again thanks to Louis van Gaal (as they did in 2014) and, as good as Gakpo looks, my personal feeling is United need someone with greater pedigree and who is also left-footed.
Also: guess where Gakpo has started every game for PSV this season? The left wing (yes, he can/does play centrally for the Netherlands). So United would be contradicting themselves, as Ten Hag concluded they had too many right-footed forwards.
Q: Which players do you see leaving in the upcoming winter and summer windows?
SL: Without specifically surmising when, it would be a surprise if Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe were all still at the club beyond next summer.
Fortunately for United, the squad rebuild is at a decent point, so there is not much to clear out in attack and midfield. Both areas need enhancing, but there is not an obvious player to jettison apart from maybe Donny van de Beek.
With certain others, it's pointless to surmise at this stage as there is so much football to be played. If Van de Beek continues to ghost through games then, after three years, there is no point persevering. Ajax banked a lot of money from United in the summer and they should try recouping some of it by selling Van de Beek back to them.
Q: Could you please let us know about the emphasis behind the scenes for United to sign a striker, following the Ronaldo debacle? I'm worried that with the loss of Mason Greenwood and now Ronaldo, we are seriously light up front. Are there any potential targets behind the scenes being spoken about? I'm shocked we've not heard more about it, to be honest. Hilariously, we could do with Edinson Cavani right about now...
SL: United are light - they conceded that in the summer and only signed one forward. So, in some ways, they are back to square one.
They are 'active' to an extent. They won't rule out moving for a forward but there are reservations about recruiting in January for the usual reasons. With Gakpo, at least, United have already made contact, he is attainable and aligned with what Ten Hag wants from a forward. There are still caveats, as listed in a previous reply. Cavani? He worked from home more than I have since the pandemic!
Q: What are the positions United are looking at strengthening, and what names for these positions have you heard?
SL: Names always go into stories. There might be a bit on that next week. United will want an attacker and a right-back next year, possibly a midfielder and a goalie as well. There's uncertainty over the futures of just about every goalkeeper at the club:
De Gea: out of contract in the summer. Martin Dubravka: on loan until the summer. Tom Heaton: out of contract in the summer. Dean Henderson: possibly burnt his bridges.
Q: Are Dubai interested in buying United? Do you know any parties/groups who are in the running to acquire the club? Lastly, will the takeover be likely to be by middle Eastern or Americans?
SL: Almost everyone who could afford United is bound to be interested. The deniability, publicly or privately, from some groups/companies is inevitable because they milk the attention for a while and then stop. With United, them going up for sale is like an opulent transfer window.
Q: Could you, please, give us an insight to what it's like being a journalist following United? How much contact do you have with players and staff? What's your relationship like with them? Do you travel on the same planes?
SL: An engaging question. It's a privilege covering United as they are consistently the biggest story in football, you get to attend all of their games and travel to beautiful places you would otherwise never consider visiting.
United are a more approachable club this season and the players were more accessible on the pre-season tour, albeit under media settings (ie. a mixed zone). We're still a way off from being on first-name terms with all of the players or having a pint with them, but Juan Mata knew me by name and some of the current squad members do. Some others do for the wrong reasons!
We obviously have an audience with Ten Hag once or twice a week and he does know us by name, as the previous United managers did. The human touch does help. I think one of the issues Solskjaer had was he conducted most of his press conferences on Zoom and it was not ideal for communicating and acknowledging that, no, we're not a pack of wolves ready to pounce. Solskjaer was a good guy and - I say it completely professionally - it wasn't pleasant writing about the end because he is likeable. But you have to echo matchgoers and have conviction with your opinion.
I don't think journalists have travelled with the team since 2011. It would be easier to sometimes but you have to keep a professional distance and it would be unprofessional to be in the pocket of the club.
Q: Is Joao Felix loan a viable option in the winter?
SL: It would be remiss of United not to explore the possibility but, again, he's playing well at a World Cup. Signing players on the back of a tournament is a trap you don't want to fall in.
One player excelling at the World Cup was of interest to United in the summer but the feedback they received is he is "lazy" and difficult to manage at his club. In Qatar, he is working like a demon.
Q: Were you aware before the announcement that the Glazers were open to selling? For me, any prospective buyer has a real opportunity to get the United fans onside by committing to these infrastructure projects quickly and outlining their vision for the club, along with United fans in the owning part of club. You also spoke on a recent podcast about an upgrade to Old Trafford that would take ten years. If that's the case, surely a new stadium that would be build adjacent to Old Trafford is the answer?
SL: Nobody was until Mark Kleinmann's excellent exclusive but I did write in August the family would have to seek investment sooner rather than later to improve cash flows. But being receptive to a sale was a huge story.
From what I've been told, the findings United have done from looking at a stadium upgrade or a new stadium could take that long (although it should be stressed it is an estimate). That timeframe includes planning permissions, council meetings, speaking to residents etc. A lot of red tape.
I personally think they should do what Tottenham did and build a completely new stadium, making the most of the space behind the Stretford End, but then the question is where would United play? City? I know some at the club wouldn't want that. But that is the only nearby stadium that fits the criteria. Unless United look beyond Greater Manchester, which would risk alienating the Mancunian fanbase, which is what happened with MK Dons.
Q: How likely is it that United will extended De Gea's contract? Will Ten Hag be looking to bring in a new first-team, ball-playing 'keeper who fits in more with his philosophy?
SL: That United still haven't extended his deal tells its own story. I asked Ten Hag outright if he wanted to keep De Gea in October and he didn't say "yes" but gave a very complimentary answer.
There are a lot of nuances to the matter. De Gea cannot get a wage hike. He's already on £375,000-a-week and United need to trim their wage bill. If De Gea was to be removed, with Ronaldo already gone, United are saving nearly £1m in weekly wages, going off last season's salary (the players were hit with a 25% reduction for failing to qualify for the Champions League). There are incentives to keep De Gea and to let him go. I'm not convinced United know for definite what they want to do with him. He's still on trial.
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