Manchester United fans cannot believe which Premier League star the club are weighing up a move for this summer.
Now that the future of Erik ten Hag has been resolved – the one-year extension in the manager’s contract was activated last week – the wheels on a squad overhaul are setting in motion.
The result of a thorough squad audit conducted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, head of United’s new minority owners Ineos, concluded that United need reinforcements in most areas.
According to Mail Sport, a recruitment meeting was held on Monday to assess the current state of transfer negotiations and discuss other potential deals.
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United are reportedly closing in on deals for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, who are both currently preparing for the Netherland’s Euro 2024 semi-final clash with England.
Club bosses will also decide whether to make another bid for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, after an opening offer of around £35 million was rejected earlier this summer.
According to Mail Sport, a surprise transfer target will also be discussed. United are reportedly weighing up a move for Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, who missed much of last season with hamstring and knee injuries.
The 27-year-old made just 13 Premier League appearances and ended up missing out on England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Given the injury issues suffered by Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia last season, it’s understandable that United want to sign a new left-back.
Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell has emerged as a surprise target for Man United (Getty)
However, fans just can’t understand why the club view Chilwell as the solution.
“Chilwell? For what??” one stunned fan commented on X. Another United supporter wrote: “This is hilarious. How the mighty have fallen.”
A third said: “How does Chelsea always end up managing to clear their deadwood so easily?”
Fans didn’t miss the opportunity to mock their United counterparts.
“Chilwell to United? I never want this version of the simulation to end,” one fan tweeted, while another joked: “Why have one injury prone English left-back when you can have two!”
An Arsenal fan commented: “Maybe they can buy Chilwell and [Kieran] Tierney and try and combine them into one left-back who can play a whole season.”
BBC panel leaves the whole of England in disbelief after praising one player during Switzerland game (an)
Fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing
Fans have been left baffled while watching the BBC’s coverage of England vs Switzerland.
The Three Lions struggled in the quarter-final clash and fell behind after 75 minutes when Breel Embolo bundled home before Bukayo Saka levelled the score five minutes later with a stunning effort from distance.
Gareth Southgate made just one change to the team that beat Slovakia, with Ezri Konsa replacing the suspended Marc Guehi, with a slight change of system to allow Phil Foden to play more centrally.
Various reports in the media suggested Southgate would start with a three-man defence, with Saka playing at left wing-back, but it was Kieran Trippier who retained his place on the left of defence.
While the change to accommodate Foden led to the Man City man getting on the ball more, he was unable to make a significant difference to proceedings.
Nevertheless, the entire BBC panel of Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Micah Richards enthused over his first-half showing.
England fans however had other ideas and claimed the panellists must have be watching a different game, not at all impressed with Foden’s showing.
Here is how they reacted on social media:
Thoughts on Phil Foden's first half? 🤔#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/5nWJSJrqqG
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2024
One fan said: “Not impressive at all.”
Another said: “Baffled by the praise at half time, he’s done nothing.”
A third added: “These 4 are watching a different game. It’s been awful.”
A fourth said: “He’s done about as much as me in that first half, and I’m sat at home.”
Roy Keane’s reaction to Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick vs Slovakia has gone viral (an)
Finally, a fifth fan added: “He’s been ok but that was bizarre coverage of him at half time.”
Phil Foden playing for England (Getty)
Commentating on the slight formation change, Foden admitted it would help bring the best out of his game.
He told the BBC before the game: “We changed formation to match what they do and get pressure up the field and to try retain the ball – let’s see if it works, I am looking forward to it.
“For me it will be I’ll be more centrally and staying inside. I think it will suit me a little bit better today.
“If we get the formation right and press right it will give us a lot of confidence.”
What Jordan Pickford had on his water bottle during England vs Switzerland penalty shootout spotted (an)
Jordan Pickford made a crucial save in the penalty shootout.
An image of Jordan Pickford’s water bottle has emerged online following England’s incredible penalty shootout victory against Switzerland at Euro 2024.
England booked their spot in the next round of the tournament following their 5-3 penalty shootout victory.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored from the spot.
Alexander-Arnold was snubbed of a spot in the starting XI but gave a mature post-match interview following his winning penalty.
Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s penalty, and a picture of his water bottle shows he brilliantly executed his instructions.
A close-up shot of the England goalkeeper’s water bottle shows where to dive for each Switzerland player.
And it had ‘dive left’ for Akanji, which the Everton star did to save the penalty.
Jordan Pickord had instructions written on his water bottle. Image: Getty
Pickford has once again come to England’s rescue in a penalty shootout following his heroics against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.
He has now saved four of the 14 penalties he has faced in shootouts at major tournaments, twice as many as all the other England goalkeepers combined saved between 1990 and 2012 (2 out of 26).
The Three Lions resume their campaign next Wednesday when they play the winner of the Netherlands vs. Turkey.
