TERMS AGREED: Man United agree transfer fee to sign sign £40million player after Ugarte- HERE WE GO
One would think that Man Utd would have wrapped up their transfer business for the summer once they make the acquisition of Manuel Ugarte from PSG official. That is expected to happen later today once the 23-year-old signs his contract at Old Trafford.
Once they wrap up this deal for Ugarte, the Red Devils will have signed most of their preferred transfer targets this summer. Ugarte has always been viewed as the succession plan to Casemiro and Man Utd can be happy with the business they have done this summer window.
However, it looks like there might just be time for one more piece of high-profile business. As per The Standard, Man Utd have started negotiations to agree a deal to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
The Bees striker is keen on securing a high-profile transfer before the deadline and is also in talks with Chelsea. The player’s priority continues to be the Blues but Man Utd have entered preliminary talks with Brentford in the hope of convincing him.
The report adds that negotiations are still in the formative stages. Brentford are hoping Man Utd can come in with a concrete offer to kickstart a bidding war with Chelsea for Toney as the Bees are expecting around £40m to sell him this summer.
Brentford were once asking for £100m to part ways with the player but are now willing to settle for half of that. They are aware that with less than 12 months left on his contract, the risk losing Toney for free should they fail to sell him this summer.
Thomas Frank has left the 28-year-old penalty expert out of his matchday squads for two successive Premier League games. Chelsea are the only club that looks to be in advanced negotiations at the moment but things could change quickly.
As good as Ivan Toney can be at Old Trafford, Man Utd already have Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee for the position. Although the latter can play in multiple positions, spending £40m on the Englishman after an already exorbitant window is something that can be avoided.
Until now, Dan Ashworth has made all the right calls for Man Utd this transfer window. He has given us no reason to doubt his judgement and the next few hours could make it evident if the Red Devils will at all pursue Toney this summer.
