Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

Frenkie to United?


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Brownie85

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He's stupid enough to accept a massive cut. Stupidly in love with Barcelona.
I seriously doubt it. You don't honestly think we're staying in negotiations with Barca with no assurances from de Jong or his agent that he's willing to come?
 

golden_blunder

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“Walk away” by Jaae


And so Frenkie can wait
He knows it's too late
As we're walking on by
His soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say
 

BusbyMalone

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Is the signing of Lewandowski dependent on the sale of De Jong? Because I was listening to Raphael Hohenstein and he was saying that Bayern and Lewandowski would like this to be wrapped up by the 12th if it is going to happen.
 

Rolaholic

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On the flipside, their PR attempts don't change their dire financial reality and everyone knows it...


Wouldn't shed a single tear if that dumpster club were liquidated due to their own incredible incompetence
 

Brownie85

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Is the signing of Lewandowski dependent on the sale of De Jong? Because I was listening to Raphael Hohenstein and he was saying that Bayern and Lewandowski would like this to be wrapped up by the 12th if it is going to happen.
Not too sure but I'd say it's somewhat related. Barca are in advanced talks with Raphinha too. I know they have a big cash influx coming soon from their "lever" but that could be weeks away
 

Brownie85

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On the flipside, their PR attempts don't change their dire financial reality and everyone knows it...


Wouldn't shed a single tear if that dumpster club were liquidated due to their own incredible incompetence
I wonder if that's why Barca want €75m fixed now instead of €65m fixed. Would make sense to be fair
 

Ali Dia

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I said it before, but why do we always seem to get involved in these weird difficult deals? Griezeman was another one.
Kimmich, Ramos and so on. It’s like we are recruiting for a company in the business world instead of entertainment and instead of trying to find the next big thing we are going on reputation and past work. It’s almost like the more wages we have to pay the better we think the deal is.
 

Unam333

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I seriously doubt it. You don't honestly think we're staying in negotiations with Barca with no assurances from de Jong or his agent that he's willing to come?
According to reports, the two clubs have a broad agreement. The negotiations between United and Barca are too advanced right now for us to back down. We're now waiting for de Jong's and his agent's belated response.

De Jong obviously had talks with Laporta. I'm betting they are trying to restructure his contract. We are de Jong's plan B if the restructuring happens to fall through.
 

Adisa

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I think that's just being petty. The probability Barca won't exist in two years is nill.
 

Brownie85

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According to reports, the two clubs have a broad agreement. The negotiations between United and Barca are too advanced right now for us to back down. We're now waiting for de Jong's and his agent's belated response.

De Jong obviously had talks with Laporta. I'm betting they are trying to restructure his contract. We are de Jong's plan B if the restructuring happens to fall through.
Restructure it how? He has to take a pay cut, they can't defer his wages anymore. If anything they'll likely ask him to waive some of his deferred pay because they can't pay it.

We're not a plan B, we're Barcas plan A and they're doing all they can to force him out. They tell the media they want him to stay but I bet they go to him and offer him something they know he won't take. It's plain sailing from there. He'll be told to go.

Barca will spin it as they did all they could to keep him, and that they offered him a reasonable salary reduction but it wasn't good enough and he clearly prefers the money to playing for Barca
 

Unam333

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Restructure it how? He has to take a pay cut, they can't defer his wages anymore. If anything they'll likely ask him to waive some of his deferred pay because they can't pay it.

We're not a plan B, we're Barcas plan A and they're doing all they can to force him out. They tell the media they want him to stay but I bet they go to him and offer him something they know he won't take. It's plain sailing from there. He'll be told to go.

Barca will spin it as they did all they could to keep him, and that they offered him a reasonable salary reduction but it wasn't good enough and he clearly prefers the money to playing for Barca
I hope you're right Brownie. I really hope so. I agree, Barcelona is just a despicable, manipulative football club.
 

groovyalbert

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You think he'd have wanted out if we scraped CL qualification, the only reason he wants to leave is because of CL qualification, it was being reported as such all the way back in November/December that he'd leave if this wasnt reached.

all this transfer business is a smoke screen, also he has 1 year left on his contract you think even with lots of transfers we are going to go from 7th to 1st using one window and a new coach.
Not so sure. He has spoken favourably of ETH and the project since the end of the season, no CL is nothing new. It's only since our dry June/other clubs making big inroads in the market that he's come out publicly. I'm still not convinced by his wanting-out yet. I see it as much as a call to action for the board to spend more on the first team this window, and quickly. He knows he's a major part of financially offsetting lack of CL football for the board, so could be testing their hand here.

So what should we focus on sorting out in the meantime do you reckon
Since the window opened, there have been loads of players moving who would have instantly improved out first XI. And I'm not talking about the likes of Haaland, Philips and Nunez who were realistically never choosing us over their new clubs.

But look at Bissouma going to Spurs. Botman to Newcastle. Kamara to Villa. These players would have started for us, and shouldn't be the types of signings we're not prepared to do whilst working out if and when we're getting de Jong. Not only that, we've basically been priced out for Antony due to Ajax picking up fees through other transfers.

I'm not saying we're wrong to be playing the long game for FdJ, it's probably the only way it gets done. But we should be prepared to spend more on the squad this summer. Right now, we've brought in a back-up LB, and are close to a free back-up CAM. And the season starts in month. It's not dynamic enough to keep up with our rivals.
 

House Mkhitaryan

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I 100% want us to sign De Jong, but just once I'd like to see United pull the rug on clubs like this. How many times have United been jerked around by other clubs, players looking for a bigger contract, agents, etc.? I would love nothing more than for United to announce they just signed some similar player and aren't interested in De Jong anymore. Would leave Barca in a terrible situation. Unfortunately, it looks like we've got all our eggs in this basket and will once again have to put up with this BS.
 

L1nk

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I've watched him a a lot over the last couple of years. He's OK. Nothing special, it's all dragging on a bit, not too bothered if he comes or not. I think Eriksen is a better player,happier with that one.
They don't play anywhere near the same position though, if we dont get FDJ or an alternative we're just going to be seeing McFred in midfield all season again...
 

Judas

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I 100% want us to sign De Jong, but just once I'd like to see United pull the rug on clubs like this. How many times have United been jerked around by other clubs, players looking for a bigger contract, agents, etc.? I would love nothing more than for United to announce they just signed some similar player and aren't interested in De Jong anymore. Would leave Barca in a terrible situation. Unfortunately, it looks like we've got all our eggs in this basket and will once again have to put up with this BS.
Long winded way of saying “we should walk away”.

WalkAwayCafe
 

Bosws87

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I 100% want us to sign De Jong, but just once I'd like to see United pull the rug on clubs like this. How many times have United been jerked around by other clubs, players looking for a bigger contract, agents, etc.? I would love nothing more than for United to announce they just signed some similar player and aren't interested in De Jong anymore. Would leave Barca in a terrible situation. Unfortunately, it looks like we've got all our eggs in this basket and will once again have to put up with this BS.
Yeh lets buy a not so good replacement for similar money that will show them :lol:

I mean come on you guys are hilarious.
 

Brownie85

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Long winded way of saying “we should walk away”.

WalkAwayCafe
As soon as anything negative comes out, that's the first reaction... walk away and get someone else.

I'm certain a lot of people either don't quite understand what's happening or think that Laporta is the pinnacle of truth and honesty
 

Berbaclass

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As soon as anything negative comes out, that's the first reaction... walk away and get someone else.

I'm certain a lot of people either don't quite understand what's happening or think that Laporta is the pinnacle of truth and honesty
If this was a dealbreaker I’m sure we would have had the club brief something by now.

Instead they continue to negotiate because they want the player and he is key.
 

Stadjer

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That would be stupid as we would be paying off Barcelona's loan for them. They owe him they pay up, it's that simple.
Yes but it would also be stupid to start the season with McT as a starter. Barcelona could also demand more money for the transfer and use that extra money to pay off the loan to him. Yes it doesnt sound right that Manchester United has to pay for Barcelona their mismanagement but in the end getting a quality midfielder is what counts.
 

bond19821982

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I 100% want us to sign De Jong, but just once I'd like to see United pull the rug on clubs like this. How many times have United been jerked around by other clubs, players looking for a bigger contract, agents, etc.? I would love nothing more than for United to announce they just signed some similar player and aren't interested in De Jong anymore. Would leave Barca in a terrible situation. Unfortunately, it looks like we've got all our eggs in this basket and will once again have to put up with this BS.
What exactly would we achieve by that?
 

Bosws87

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Is that what you think my post says? :rolleyes:
Pretty much read it, walking away won't teach barca anything they will just sell to someone else planet cuckoo land.

In the process we let down our brand new coach his one key signing, but Barca will suddenly self combust and will never bully united again :lol:
 

pocco

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I think that's just being petty. The probability Barca won't exist in two years is nill.
Some oil tycoon or Saudi would make it rain cash to buy them, if they had the chance. Not sure if it's allowed in La Liga though, but I'm sure they'd rewrite the rules as opposed to letting a club like Barca disappear. Not in their interests at all.
 

Darlington Padgett

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Some oil tycoon or Saudi would make it rain cash to buy them, if they had the chance. Not sure if it's allowed in La Liga though, but I'm sure they'd rewrite the rules as opposed to letting a club like Barca disappear. Not in their interests at all.
I think some oil tycoon bought Malaga a while ago and left them in a bad financial situation.
 

Brownie85

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If this was a dealbreaker I’m sure we would have had the club brief something by now.

Instead they continue to negotiate because they want the player and he is key.
If it was a deal breaker we'd have briefed after the Saturday comments. We didn't and we've continued. What we're people expecting Laporta to say if asked about de Jong today? He said he wasn't for sale Saturday, he couldn't turn around today and say "actually, yeah he can do one"

It's the typical though, we have positive reports this morning, people are like meh... Laporta, a known liar, comes out and says again he's not for sale and the place melts down.

On the other hand, it's now gone from "he's not for sale and I'll do everything in my power to make sure he stays" to "he's not for sale unless we absolutely need too"

Guess what's coming next? "We absolutely had to sell him, his reluctance to lower his salary means we were in a very difficult situation"
 

cyberman

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If this was a dealbreaker I’m sure we would have had the club brief something by now.

Instead they continue to negotiate because they want the player and he is key.
I’m not sure the board wants to brief these days. All seems to be in house.
 

sglowrider

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I 100% want us to sign De Jong, but just once I'd like to see United pull the rug on clubs like this. How many times have United been jerked around by other clubs, players looking for a bigger contract, agents, etc.? I would love nothing more than for United to announce they just signed some similar player and aren't interested in De Jong anymore. Would leave Barca in a terrible situation. Unfortunately, it looks like we've got all our eggs in this basket and will once again have to put up with this BS.
If we were like in the past under Judge/Woodward, we would have panicked and paid what Barca asked for in one lump sum.
 

Hernandez - BFA

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Let this simmer I think. Tell Barca to take it or leave it. Leave them to their own devices for a couple of weeks and see them squirm because they have to sell him.
 

OpenIntrovert

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On the flipside, their PR attempts don't change their dire financial reality and everyone knows it...


Wouldn't shed a single tear if that dumpster club were liquidated due to their own incredible incompetence
That tweet is just overexaggerating on Barcelona's situation.

Bayern know that Barca owe debts to players and clubs they bought the players from, which is why they want a higher upfront payment in case it gets delayed for too long. Just normal business transaction safeguards by the seller.
 

Bosws87

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Isnt their a saying for that? Cut of the nose to spite the face? :lol:
Exactly.

United are actually playing this perfectly they know Barca are in serious trouble have a deal laid out and are just staying quiet in the background and if it all goes to plan they get an incredibly gifted footballer that would never be available for such a price without the problems Barcelona have.

I know it’s cool to hate on our club for everything and anything and it’s all a shambles, but in this case they are doing exactly what they should be doing.
 

House Mkhitaryan

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Pretty much read it, walking away won't teach barca anything they will just sell to someone else planet cuckoo land.

In the process we let down our brand new coach his one key signing, but Barca will suddenly self combust and will never bully united again :lol:
The post starts "I 100% want us to sign De Jong"... but my point is that we always seem to be in positions where we are getting jerked around by other clubs, players looking for better deals, agents, etc. Just once, I'd like us to have a plan B so we could walk away and not have to put up with this crap. Maybe if we did that once in a while, clubs would think twice before pulling this crap on us. You think Bayern get jerked around like this as much as we do? No, because they don't stand for it and always have an alternative plan.
 

dannyrhinos89

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What a boring transfer saga this has been.

I know he's a good player but he really isn't worth all this fuss. If barca want to play Billy Big bollocks just tell them to feck off and we will walk away.
 

sglowrider

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Let this simmer I think. Tell Barca to take it or leave it. Leave them to their own devices for a couple of weeks and see them squirm because they have to sell him.
When negotiation in most cases the people who have the money have most of the leverage.

You pull that stunt when you really have few choices left. If they read your faces/eyes and then call our bluff early then we have no negotiation leverage later. We just need to remain calm and relaxed.

We still have some runway in this deal. All the histrionics by Laporte tells me that there is some runway.

Otherwise, the United team must as well pack their bags up and fly home today. The only thing that they have leverage on us is that they know ETH is dying to have FdJ. And the VD express tour to Bangkok starts this Friday.
 
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