We were hoping Ineos were preparing to race out of the blocks this summer.
And as June turned to July, bringing with it the start of a new financial year, Manchester United’s new decision makers appear to have been as good as their word.
After months of drawn out negotiations and no shortage of barbs aimed from Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Newcastle’s direction, Dan Ashworth should finally begin in his role as United’s sporting director imminently.
Deals for Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, appear to be progressing nicely.
An elite footballing operator being brought in behind the scenes? Work on multiple deals being done at the same time? If this is Manchester United under Ineos, then let’s just hope its a sign of things to come.
In a further boost to the club’s hopes of pulling off a dramatic summer overhaul, talks over a departure that would work wonders for Man United’s Financial Fair Play status is also ongoing.
Manchester United hope to sell Mason Greenwood
Manchester United turned down Lazio’s opening £20 million bid for Mason Greenwood last month, via Gianluca di Marzio. But the Serie A giants are not giving up just yet, president Claudio Lotito a huge fan of the forward he tried to sign before Greenwood moved to Spain for a loan spell at Getafe.
Corriere dello Sport say that Man United are holding out for £30 million. Lazio will hold a new round talks in the coming 48 hours in an attempt to reach a breakthrough.
Lotito, meanwhile, is confident that an agreement can be secured despite rival interest from Juventus and a Marseille side who opened talks last week, per The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
Marseille, one of European football’s sleeping giants, are looking to make a statement signing after the eye-opening appointment of former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi as their new head coach.
Lazio face Marseille battle
Lazio have already snapped up Tijjani Noslin. The former Hellas Verona winger reunites with his former coach Marco Baroni at the Stadio Olimpico, opting to stay in Italy despite claims from Tuttomercatoweb that Man United were also on his heels.
United reportedly held talks last Wednesday before submitting a £17 million bid. It is believed, however, that the deal for Noslin – another right-sided attacker – will not prevent Lazio from going all-in on Greenwood over the coming days.
The Carrington graduate has no future at Old Trafford. He has not featured in Man United red since being suspended by the club in January 2022.
Greenwood’s departure, meanwhile, would represent Pure Profit in a Financial Fair Play sense, freeing up further funds for United to bring in a host of new faces. The right-wing spot, meanwhile, is starting to look like a position of strength for Erik ten Hag presuming that Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo can kick on again at the start of next term.
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