Manchester United’s quest to strengthen over the summer has centred around one man: Barcelona’s holding midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
The Premier League club has had the outline of a deal agreed with the Blaugrana, with a price of £72m agreed between the clubs and now it depends on the player. United head coach Erik ten Hag would have liked this piece of business to be concluded by now, but with his club in the midst of a pre-season tour, he is beginning his preparations for the 2022/23 campaign without the Dutch maestro.
De Jong is still waiting to sort out the money he’s owed by Barcelona for deferred wages during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and questions have also been raised whether he is happy to drop down to the Europa League with the Red Devils, and that rumour has aroused the interest of Chelsea and FC Bayern.
The Red Devils coach has said that if he fails to get the deal over the line, he will go with what he’s got, having already signed free agent Christian Eriksen and Ajax’s combative defender Lisandro Martinez, who can also play in midfield. But he is also preparing for the potential departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, another player who believes (rightly) he is too good for the Europa League, and the latest club linked with CR7 is Atletico Madrid.
It would be a fascinating move if Los Rojiblancos’ head coach Diego Simeone brought CR7 to the Wanda Metropolitan after he spent the best years of his career across the road at Real Madrid.
United beat Liverpool 4-0 in their pre-season tour in Bangkok and Ten Hag has seen enough that he can work with, without the Portuguese star…and De Jong if need be.
Hammers strengthening in attack
One player on his way out of Old Trafford, Jesse Lingard, has dropped a big hint on social media that he is about to rejoin West Ham United. The 29-year-old England star isn’t part of Ten Hag’s plans and he enjoyed his best period in years during a loan spell with the Hammers in 2021, when he scored nine goals in 15 appearances.
He became a big favourite at the London Stadium and West Ham fans will be delighted to see Lingard back in the Claret and Blue.
And he looks likely to be joined by Chelsea striker Armando Broja, whom Hammers head coach David Moyes is close to signing, with personal terms agreed with the player. He may have to settle for a loan deal as the Blues might want to keep tabs on the young Albanian striker after he starred for Southampton on loan last season.
Magpies in for Paqueta?
In other Premier League 2022 news Newcastle United are preparing for their assault on the top eight, and head coach Eddie Howe has been busy in the transfer market, bringing in keeper Nick Pope from Burnley and defender Sven Botman from Lille.
And his attention has turned to the 2021 Ligue 1 champions again where the news that midfield ace Lucas Paqueta could be available at a cut price deal has been reported in the French press.
Money is no object for Newcastle but Howe is still looking for value in the market and the reports that Lyon are now prepared to accept £35m for their Brazilian star will have caught his attention. The midfield ace has three years left to run on his contract in Lyon but Newcastle have been tracking the player, who is a mate of the Magpies’ midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
The price for Paqueta is now half of the £68m demanded at the start of the window and that might be too much of a temptation for Newcastle to resist.
Mount beauty gives Chelsea a win
The pre-season Premier League 2022 betting odds here at SBOTOP reckon this could be the most competitive race for a top-four place in years, with the title odds of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at 14.00, 15.00 and 17.00 respectively.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues finished third last season and fans at Stamford Bridge will expect no less for the coming campaign. With the signings of forward Raheem Sterling and centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly they have strengthened at both ends of the pitch.
But it is homegrown talent Mason Mount who was Chelsea’s best player last season and he has started the pre-season in scintillating form, scoring a stunning curler into the corner of the net to give the Blues a 2-1 victory over Club America.
Striker Timo Werner was also on target in Las Vegas and Tuchel will hope to see much more from his German star in the 2022/23 campaign.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
