And that is?
Declan Rice | signs for arsenal
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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Why go to Arsenal then? They had their once a decade title “challenge” this season and they still fell well short. They’ll be more likely to be challenging for top 4 than the title next season. Last year was about as good as Arsenal will be and it still wasn’t good enough. United are in a much better position to succeed over the next few years.
Alvarez isn't a Bellingham replacement.
Did we choke massively because we led the league for 243 days or whatever silly stat it was, or did we revert to being average as soon as the World Cup was over? It can't be both.
Our points average over the past two seasons is 77 (rounded up) and that'd be a good baseline expectation for coming seasons, with a good season being a repeat of last (84) and a poor season being seven points in the other direction (70) is roughly what I'd say.
I'd say that's plenty enough of a 'challenge' and step up for a player like Declan Rice. Man City are a clear level above everyone else at present but out of the chasing pack we're as good a bet as any looking at the stats of our current trajectory.
Both of these statements are 100% wrong.
Yeah both are gone
Man, Declan Rice for 92 million British Pounds Sterling!
That’s fine but they did challenge this past season and footballers have aspirations to improve the teams they move to. What should he do - retire if he can’t move to City?
It's a decade since we had a title challenge so what makes United a better bet than Arsenal?
Arsenal have a good young core of players and seem to be intent on improving their squad, to suggest they aren't likely to be challenging is utter nonsense
I highly doubt any club outside of EPL will pay 100m for his service.
Come on, someone snap him up. Never being linked with Declan Rice again is pure sex 
Imagine spending £90m+ on Rice and then watching as Madrid snap up Kane for less. Would be brutal to be honest.
Out of Urgate, Rice, and Caicedo, I wonder which one is better. They are all combative midfielder, with various skillset. Rice seems to be the most expensive of the lot, but that may have to do with British tax. However, I have watched rice as well and I believe he is the better player. As such, I do not believe that price tag of £92m is that bad. I am quite confident that United is not interested in him because we have casemiro and want mount (unless our interest in mount is no longer there). So that only leave Arsenal, Chelsea and perhaps Bayern as possible destination. I feel that whoever between Arsenal or Chelsea gets Caicedo, the opposite will get Rice.
92M of the Kings finest...good luck Gunners
English rice is expensive and overrated.
Is it that brutal?
The nature of those deals is completely different. Yeah Kane's a better footballer in his position but Rice will have 8, 9, 10 years to potentially offer a club.
With Kane the length of time he's going to be at this level is very hard to predict with any certainty. Probably 3-4 at the top level, but it could be 2-3 then a noticeable drop off. Who knows. Point is he won't be the same type of investment.
I do like him as a player but £92m is an insane fee. That said, while I'd prefer Caicedo, £80m plus for him also seems a bit bonkers.
I think around £65m max for either of the two is probably fair, but this isn't a 'fair' market.
The market is a bit crazy and think he'd be a good signing for Arsenal so can't knock the fee too much.
I think around £65m max for either of the two is probably fair, but this isn't a 'fair' market.
The market is a bit crazy and think he'd be a good signing for Arsenal so can't knock the fee too much.
Also kanes wages will be far higher than Rice
When was the last time a player plus money was excepted in the transfer market ?
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Edson Alvarez from Ajax?
That's the one.
Suspect West Ham are being used to drive up the price from Dortmund by Ajax, but you never know.
I think he's better than Mount, but not 92 million better
£6m plus Gillespie for Andy Cole comes to mind. Maybe not the last time though.
Pretty sure Inter pocketed 45m when they swapped Ibrahimovic for Eto'o. They are exceedingly rare though
There was the weird pjanic for Arthur one between Juve and Barca. Also Danilo and cancelo. Those were part of Juve cooking the books though
That only really works if your getting Mount for nothing, no? Will be more like is he 40 million better? Plus Mount is in his last year, Rice technically is not.
There's no way that is happening.
Osimhen for cash plus some duds, but that was another really dodgy "creative accounting" deal.
Yeah you aren't getting either for £65m
Based on what reality? In what world should Arsenal fans be resigned to United finishing above us?
The only team in this league we recognize as better than us, is Man City. But Chelsea, United, Liverpool - we reject outright the notion you are better positioned us to compete with Man City.
Given Brighton turned down 70 mill in Jan they aren't letting him go for less
You don't think that was more to do with the fact they didn't want to sell him mid season
Maybe but financially they have no need to sell, he's under contract so I don't see him going unless it's silly money
Too expensive but he is my preferred midfield buy because I want to see what he can become under a good coach.
Arsenal are the only club below even odds to land Rice with the bookmakers. Not even that, we are well under even odds. The smart money is Rice to Arsenal, betting on anyone else would be taking a distant punt.
It comes down to this. He is our number one target, he wants to remain in London, he wants CL football, and he has been sold the idea of Arsenal. If he joins Arsenal would have a core of Rice 24, Odegaard 24, Saka, 21, Martinelli, 21, Saliba 21. These are 5 serious quality players you can build around. Good players move the needle, and Rice knows he can help take Arsenal up a level. I laugh at the notion we peaked last year. We will be better this year than we were last season especially if Rice joins.
He is such a perfect fit for us and he knows it.
It comes down to this. He is our number one target, he wants to remain in London, he wants CL football, and he has been sold the idea of Arsenal. If he joins Arsenal would have a core of Rice 24, Odegaard 24, Saka, 21, Martinelli, 21, Saliba 21. These are 5 serious quality players you can build around. Good players move the needle, and Rice knows he can help take Arsenal up a level. I laugh at the notion we peaked last year. We will be better this year than we were last season especially if Rice joins.
He is such a perfect fit for us and he knows it.
You may be correct, but don't forget you didn't play as many games and twice a week etc this season which helped you to get your high league position, while us and others had two games a week non stop and loads of injuries.
Lets see how you deal with the extra games, tiredness, injuries and niggles that come with that and the extra pressure on you to repeat this seasons position of second in the league. And remember that most teams will be improving and recruiting better players too, not just Arsenal.
You think extra rest is why we scored 88 leagues goals and you scored 58?
People have this weird idea that we cant back up midweek games, but other clubs can. Why would your players be able to handle a midweek game better than ours?
Saka cant back up a midweek game, but Antony can? Odegaard cant play two games in a week, but Bruno can? What makes you think this?
That comes down to management more than anything. Knowing when to rest and rotate players so the whole squad has got enough left/is ready to go at the business end of the season.
But our team and players didn't handle the non stop two games a week though, they were visibly tired and below par in loads of games and the injuries we had. And it will be the same for you now too unless you exit things early again.
As you say that only City are a better team than you, you need to now prove that you are a consistent top two level team as you say you are and go deep in all other competitions.
Shouldn't be that hard should it?
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