Category: Sports

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Manchester United are very interested in defensive duo Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) and Gleison Bremer (Juventus) with a move for both reportedly on the cards.

The defensive department is an area of the pitch United are thought to be keen on reinforcing ahead of the summer transfer window.

There is uncertainty over the future of multiple first-team stars like Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans.

Evans and Varane’s respective contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. Maguire and Lindelof are both attracting overtures from suitors and if United were to receive enticing offers, would almost certainly let them go.

There are also huge concerns about the fitness of Lisandro Martinez, who has missed a large part of the campaign with two different physical setbacks.

United have been linked to multiple defensive targets but it seems like Bremer and Branthwaite are the leading candidates to arrive at Old Trafford.

A recent report covered by The Peoples suggested that the Red Devils are preparing their first big offer for Bremer.

The 20-time English champions are also continuing to monitor Branthwaite as they aim to obtain a cut-price deal for him when the transfer window opens.

In an update provided by i, United could move in for both stars, especially if INEOS decide that multiple players currently on the club’s payroll need to go.

Bremer in particular is understood to be an attractive option as he is available for a reduced fee.

The Brazilian has a €50m (around £43m) release clause that was included in the new deal he signed at Juventus late last year.

“United are set to face stern competition for the former Torino defender. Real Madrid are keeping tabs on his impressive form at Juventus, sources said, with Chelsea and Tottenham also considering a move, even though the latter may be put off by Bremer’s wage demands.”

“Signing both [Bremer and Brainthwaite] has not been ruled out by insiders, especially if Ineos go ahead with their plan to clear the decks when they get to grips with an underperforming United squad.”

The newspaper adds that additional United players who could be sold to make transfer funds available include Scott McTominay, Jadon Sancho, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Donny van de Beek and Antony.

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Manchester United are expected to pay a premium asking price for OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo despite INEOS owning the Ligue 1 side.

90Min reported that Nice are demanding a fee between €55 million and €60 million for Todibo, with INEOS showing no signs of stepping in to engineer a discount for United.

According to the publication, clubs linked with the player believe that he should be available for €40 million.

United’s interest in the French defender began even before Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS purchased a 27.7% stake in the club.

While fans were disappointed to learn that the club would not sign Todibo last summer, it appeared as if United would have another go during the January transfer window.

Although no transfer materialized, United’s interest in the centre-back has sustained, particularly with Raphael Varane potentially departing the club at the end of the season.

This, together with Lisandro Martinez’s injury and United’s reliance on an ageing Jonny Evans, has made it imperative for Erik ten Hag to rebuild the club’s defence.

It appears that the 24-year-old is edging closer to a departure from Nice.

Keeping an impressive 11 clean sheets in 21 Ligue 1 appearances with 57% duels won and 67% dribbling (Sofascore), Todibo has been instrumental in lifting Nice to sixth position in the league, putting them within touching distance of UEFA Champions League qualification.

Unfortunately, the club’s recent drop in form has shaken Todibo’s relationship with the club, particularly its disgruntled fanbase.

On Sunday, Todibo was involved in a bust-up with fans after Nice slumped to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at home to Montpellier.

Following the full-time whistle, the centre-back berated fans after they chanted “If you’re not happy, leave the club.” He subsequently had to be pulled away and escorted to the locker room by teammates.

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🥶 Ça chauffe à Nice entre joueurs et supporters après la défaite !

😳 @jctodibo était très remonté ! #OGCNMHSC pic.twitter.com/YhC7VAmzrr

— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) March 8, 2024

Some fans reportedly attempted to climb over a fence to confront Todibo on the pitch, showing that tensions have simmered to boiling point.

While Nice’s asking price for Todibo may be viewed as overinflated, United would do well to thoroughly consider a potential move before dismissing it in favour of other targets.

After all, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, who is also on United’s radar, is expected to command an asking price of £75 million; a significantly higher asking price than that of Todibo.

Still, United will need to act fast if they hope to sign the French defender, especially as interest in him from other clubs such as Chelsea continues to rise.

Even if United fail to leverage their INEOS connections to get an affordable deal for Todibo, it’s worth considering a bid given the dire defensive situation at Old Trafford as well as the high relative cost of alternative transfer options.

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Manchester United and other English teams’ attempts to sign Italian wonderkid, Francesco Camarda, have suffered a major setback due to complications caused by post-Brexit rules.

The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in June 2016 and this began a process that would be infamously dubbed “Brexit”.

One of the rules that affected British clubs was “Brexit prevents English clubs from signing foreign players until they are 18 and led to a points-based government body endorsement (GBE) system from 1 January 2021”.

In a rare moment of smart planning by United under the Glazers, this sparked the signings of Alejandro Garnacho, Willy Kambwala, Marc Jurado and Alvaro Fernandez Carreras before the 2021 rules came into effect.

However, it has been reported that the Red Devils and other English teams could now see their efforts to sign Italian 16 year old Camarda scuppered due to the legislation.

HITC report that “sources have told HITC that Camarda has offers from a host of clubs to leave Milan, and that includes Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United – all of whom want him”.

However, HITC explain that “the Premier League clubs must wait for Camarda to turn 18” before snapping him up.

“This means that if Camarda accepted an offer from England, then he could not move until 2026”.

“That is a boost to Milan’s hopes, however, Camarda can move within the European Union – which is where his other suitors come in, namely Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who are all keen on securing his services”.

The Peoples Person has already relayed that the 20 time English champions are one of numerous clubs keeping a watchful eye on the player, but AC Milan believe they have done enough to tie down their starlet for the foreseeable future.

United and other English team’s best hope for the player is probably him signing a short term deal at Milan and waiting a couple more years to try and prise the forward away from the Italian giants when he legally becomes an adult and the legal obstacle is removed.

Furthermore, he would stay out of the clutches of other European powerhouses, who could sign him right now.

The Italian Under 17 international has played two senior games for AC Milan despite only turning 16 at the weekend and appears to have a very bright future in the game.