Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward claims that Manchester United can break the world transfer record for player, with manager Louis van Gaal working under no fixed budget. Speaking during United’s tour of the USA, Woodward echoed previous sentiments about United’s financial muscle.
“It is in our capabilities to spend £60m, £70m, £80m on a player – and we would not be afraid to do that,” said Woodward.
“There is no budget. We are in a very strong financial position. We can make big signings Whether it’s a record or not doesn’t really resonate with us. What resonates is a top, top elite player that the manager wants that is going to be a star for Manchester United.I get pointed in the direction of a target that the manager wants and there is an assessment of what that might cost and I’ll negotiate hard to do the best I can on the trade.”
The former banker took the top job from David Gill a little over 12 months ago. During Woodward’s time in charge the 42-year-old has overseen the transfers of Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera for fees totalling almost £120 million. Yet, in that period, European rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona have spent £86 million on Gareth Bale, £75 million on Luis Suárez, £63 million on James Rodríguez and £56 million on Neymar.
Woodward’s record signing is yet to materialise; it may never, cynics will add. But if you had the choice, which star from The Football Observatory’s list of the world’s top 25 “most valuable” (expensive) players would you sign? United players have been removed. Choose your top 3 or add a missing player in the comments. There are some very good players absent, particularly defenders…
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Rues is not a world star? He wont be injured like for ever
Vidal
I’d love to see Schweinsteiger in a United shirt, even just for 1 day!
Sturridge? is that a wind up?
And hummels
No Reus?
be realistic and stop dreaming
What Clown whoever made this silly article. James has just signed for Real, Saurez for Barcelona, while Ronaldo renewed his contract at Real last summer, Bale only just joined Real last summer, the likes of Messi and Neymar are most probably staying at Barcelona for life. Just to point out that Muller only just renewed his contract at Bayern. I am also amazed how the ‘clown’ rates Barkley world class already, Sturridge and Cazorla aswell, but has has no space to add the likes of Marco Reus, Vidal, Gundogan, Strootman and Arjen Robben! What a joker your a proper mug!
Imran – you see the bit where it says “The Football Observatory’s list…”
It’s a fantasy piece you silly boy. Now get back to bed and don’t let your folks find out you’re still up.
So where is Hummels or any other defenders?
Would bring back Pogba, along with Hummels, Vidal, di Maria, Cuadrado and Cavani. I’ve got my left and right winger.
Would sell young, Cleverly, Nani, Fellani, Anderson, Powell and Wellbeck.
Would bring in Strootman in the January transfer window.
Where is reus?
Isco would do it for me i.e. from this list
Di mar.
There is no budget. We are in a very strong financial position. We can make big signings Whether it’s a record or not doesn’t really resonate with us. What resonates is a top, top elite player that the manager wants that is going to be a star for Manchester United.I get pointed in the direction of a target that the manager wants and there is an assessment of what that might cost and I’ll negotiate hard to do the best I can on the trade.”
These are the most empty words to ever come out a Man united executive . So suddenly ed woodward is starting to talk like the presidents of barcelona & Real Madrid? Haven’t you realized that Ed woodward is making these boastful statements just after the Adidas & other lucrative deals have been secured?
Does anyone think that Man united will start spending competitively to get the right players just because there’s more funds?
Have we forgotten that ed woodward works for the glazers rather than man united as a club & his loyalty is to the former? Haven’t we forgotten that it was Ed woodward, while at JP Morgan, was the one who brought the glazers to united?
Lets not lie to ourselves that man united will even ever get close to making top player signings this or any other summer. I will be blasted for being negative but i don’t think that suddenly there’s a change of heart within the top officials at united.
The glazers have put Giggs(a club legend) in that position to soften the disappointment that the fans have towards them.
Wow Edwoodward , the man who speaks for the glazers has suddenly have a change of heart. Suddenly united will start signing in top players for competitive prices.
To be fair lets look at our signings:
1. Luke shaw: Other than chelsea expressing little
interest in the player, man united is the only team that placed a bid for him & despite that we were mugged for the exorbitant fee we paid. Mourinho didn’t have real interest in the player as he doesn’t work with young players well, he prefers finished products.
2. Hererra: Good player with a young xabi alonso type of game. But again its so ironical that we were the only club interested in signing him.
These 2 players see united as step up in their careers but for Man united these 2 players are not a step up .
The 70-75 million players are all sold out unfortuntely. Anyone else around that price range would be grossly overpriced. A cheeky bid for Illaramendi on loan would do United well.
Also concerns about the 3-5-2 being found out sooner or later.
Feeling quite smug about choosing (what is currently) the most popular three selections.
Well, Liverpool have put in a bid of 42 million for Vidal as Rogers said, United are dragging their feet so they will keep pressing to sign Vidal. Woodward is an asshole if we lose out on Vidal to Liverpool.
In my opinion the bigger problem here is that Utd have never been an attractive proposition to South American or European players at there peak for some reason, from my recollection the only player to come to Utd at his peak was veron and we all know how that turned out! Generally we can attract the cream of English talent or foreign players already playing here. Otherwise we tend to get them before they are stars, which I generally prefer. So I’m not holding my breath for the vidals and di marias of this world!
Götze
sack woodward overpaid muppet couldnt do a deal with local drug dealer