Feb 18
United on their own in race for summer target
There was no shortage of Man Utd transfer news and gossip this January and, despite the window shutting until the summer, February is proving no different.
More and more news stories appear to suggest United’s possible summer transfer target, Robert Lewandowski of Borrussia Dortmund, is NOT a target for apparent rival pursuers, Bayern Munich. Great news for United who may not be willing to enter a bidding war for a player entering the final year of his contract.
Dortmund general manager Aki Watzke has revealed his frustration at speculation linking Robert Lewandowski with a summer move to rivals Bayern Munich.
Lewandowski, 24, has 18 months to run on his current contract with the Bundesliga champions but his continued excellent form for Dortmund has attracted interest, reportedly from Manchester United and more recently from Bayern.
But as the speculation about a possible switch for the Polish striker grows stronger, with several German newspapers and television channels claiming a deal has already been struck between Lewandowski and Bayern, Watzke has reacted angrily to the situation.
“The whole issue is really getting on my nerves,” he said. “There are two scenarios: the first is that Bayern have no interest in Robert, in which case it’s all a load of rubbish.
“The other scenario is that they are interested, and then they have got to lift their cover at some stage and come to us with an enquiry.
“Bayern are usually correct and if they have any interest in a player, they will make contact.
“When they do that, they will get an answer. Maybe that would even surprise them, but as long as they carry on saying they have no interest or for as long as they don’t do anything, then we don’t care. Robert is playing here, playing very well too, and there is nothing more to say.”Due to Lewandowski’s failure to sign a contract extension at Dortmund, Watzke is realistic about the chance of the club retaining the services of a player who has been at the forefront of their domestic and European success in the last three seasons.
“He has had the chance (to extend) and we have got to be realistic and if he has not taken that chance up to now, then the probability of him doing so is not getting any higher,”Watzke told Sky television.
“But that has nothing to do with whether he plays for us next season or not. That is entirely dependent on us, considering the contractual situation, which is why we are pretty relaxed about the whole thing.”
Bayern director of sport Matthias Sammer has maintained the club’s stance and played down the speculation.
“We’ve not said anything about it in the past and we are not going to say anything now, and not tomorrow either,” he said.
“There is absolutely nothing to say about the issue from our side. I have said what I wanted to say and what had to be said.”
How highly do you rate Lewandowski? Will he join United in the summer or is this a whole load of paper-talk?
Related items from Red Rants:
Tags: Manchester United · Transfer Rumours
The_Philosopher (408)
Redrich (225)
Opti (210)
Stephen (152)
Moscow (147)
I have no beef with Lewandoski. From everything I’ve seen he’s an excellent player, but I’d love to hear news that Fergie is lining up a defensive stalwart – a strong defensive midfielder or another central defender to take the load off of overaged Rio and Vidic (surgery hasn’t been kind to him), and under-experienced Jones and Smalling. Jonny Evans is on an island!
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@Bishopville Red: Johny Evans is excellent!
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Ian, there’s too many articles, I feel… it’s hard to get a discussion going.
PS: What kind of daily/hour hit rates do you have for this site? It does seem more quiet than usual on the comment-side of things…
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It used to be ‘more comments/less traffic’. Now it’s ‘more traffic/less comments’. I wish I could find a happy medium mate, I’ve tried creating a regulars section where you just chat in one place for as long as you like but no one ever took to it. Unfortunately mate the powers that be need traffic over comments. It’s the same people commenting most of the time that’s why I’ve always wanted a chatroom/forum of some sort. If you have any ideas how you want that to look let me know I’ll try to sort it out.
Sorry mate.
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@Ian: I understand. This requires a possibly new solution. The chat-room, if I recall, would erase past conversations upon login, which meant that as you enter you have no clue what was last discussed.
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should be a match day discussions page that could be as simple as a team sheet list then comments on the match.
cheers i miss the match banter
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@gator: i havent been on this in awhile, but i completely agree with that, would help if there was a focus for matchdays, no article needed, just a comments section pls.
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Nani has always had it. Pleased for him today, a world class player who has been misused.
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@Moscow: … and abused, and his decision making is controlled by forces outside of his control, … and his temperament is the result of a rough childhood.
I know, he is another victim of Uniteds’ harsh philosophy of holding all players to a team ethic.
Some nice efforts on goal today by Luis, against Reading, lets see if he has the courage to show us more of that against the like of RM or Citeh, or maybe Barca.
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@Moscow: Yeah Nani is one of the most talented players in our squad.
Ferguson should play him more often.
He is devastating when he’s in form.
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That game livened up in the last 30 minutes when RvP came on.
Difference between Welbeck and Chicharito is so large and was exemplified by the similar chance they had. Welbeck was 1-on-1 with defender and his “2nd-touch” lets him down as he stumbles over the ball and chance fizzles out. Chicharito in a similar position gets ball down and hits a sweets shot that strains Reading GK to save it. Similar chance, different output.
Welbeck is still “Welbeck”. He has strengths but he crumbles when he gets a clear chance. Good to see them both play today and Chicharito and Nani score.
Per JayWire’s comment yesterday/2 days ago, Vidic is indeed poor on ball.
Bring on Chelsea/Middlesbrough! Let’s win this FA Cup!!
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@Opti: welbwck + chicarito = rvp
if welbeck can develop chicha’s scoring, he will be the be among top 3 strikers in the world.
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@jos:
Kinda true. If we combined the best parts of Welbeck with best part of Chicharito, it would be the worlds best striker. Raid0 array
If Chicharito improves his dribbling ability / on-ball skills, he will be the new (Fat) Ronaldo
For Welbecks to score more is pretty complication as he has to improve mentally and finishing
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@Opti: I saw the complete opposite. Hernandez was completely useless for most of the first half and Welbeck adding to our efforts but without scoring (unluckily, though). All Hernandez could do was an extremely poor job of holding the ball, with desperate fouling to help his cause.
But he did score and Danny didn’t so I guess in a way you have a point.
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@Redrich: Yeah playing football isn’t Hernandez’s strength.
His strength is scoring goals.
Since his first season at United I saw that his build up play isn’t very good. But his finishing is world class.
Thats why I would call him a super sub. When we need a goal we can just put Chicha on. ANd more often than not he will get us one.
Welbeck on the other hand isn’t the go-to guy when we’re down in a game and we need some goals.
I’m fine with Hernandez playing that goal poaching role.
As long as he keeps scoring goals on the regular as he has done he is more valuable than welbeck.
Goals win games. Points win championships. Welbecks hardwork as valuable as it is will not impact the points tables. Chicha’s goals do.
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@Opti: Chicharito is a born goal scorer.
He is absolutely lethal.
He is the perfect super sub.
He doesn’t do too much when he’s on the pitch.
But when it comes to the business end of things this kid scores goals!
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I would welcome Lewandowski. If there’s any truth to the rumours that he’s United bound I would be very happy. He would be a great addition to our squad regardless of whether we got another midfielder or defender or left-footed left winger.
We would just have to turn Welbeck into a permanent left wing in that case however, because RVP, Rooney, Chicha and Lewandowski would be the perfect strike unit.
Bring on the Lewandowski. I’m with it.
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