Here are the Manchester United evening headlines on Wednesday 23rd September.
Financial report delayed until after transfer window
Manchester United have revealed that their latest financial accounts will be released in October – a month later than scheduled – in order to provide investors with a better picture once the transfer window has closed.
This season’s delayed and prolonged window runs until October 5, meaning United could still do business which would affect their financial reporting up until that deadline.
Chief Executive Ed Woodward is also set to meet with United’s investors in order to go over the report, explaining the impact of COVID-19 on club finances and United’s financial performance.
Woodward has opted to delay the report until after the window has closed, amid rising anti-boardroom sentiments concerning United’s inability to snare top target Jadon Sancho and other high-profile targets.
The club’s solitary summer addition so far has been Donny van de Beek from AFC Ajax. The 23-year-old comes into a team where he is not guaranteed a starting place, having to compete with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes for game-time.
Sancho alone won’t bridge gap to top two, says ex-United midfielder
Former Manchester United player and Scotland international Darren Fletcher believes more needs to be done to challenge for the Premier League title at Old Trafford, beyond the signing of Jadon Sancho.
Following the club’s Carabao Cup win over Luton Town, Fletcher explained that he felt many supporters were disappointed at the lack of movement on Sancho’s potential transfer, because to them it would mean the team would be incapable of challenging Liverpool and Manchester City.
Fletcher rejects this claim, arguing that more needs to be done than simply signing one player.
"I still think you’ve got to bridge a gap between Liverpool and Man City first before you overtake them. I think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the club are willing to be patient.”
Fletcher also stated that if Sancho remains a top priority, United must be persistent in their pursuit, not settling for second best and acquiring a “stop-gap” in his place.
For Fletcher’s full comments, read the article here.
New defensive partnership on horizon for United
A recall to the first-team setup for Ivorian defender Eric Bailly could signal the beginning of a new centre-back pairing at Old Trafford.
Bailly and captain Harry Maguire made it four wins from four for United whenever they start together, following their 3-0 victory over Luton Town last night.
Maguire and Victor Lindelöf has been the preferred pairing under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, but after last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, the Norwegian may be open to trying something different.
It could be Bailly’s last chance in a United shirt if Solskjær trusts him from the start at Brighton this weekend, the MEN's Samuel Luckhurst points out. Last season, the 26-year-old was at fault for all three goals at the Amex Stadium and will hope to set the record straight with two clean sheets in a week alongside Harry Maguire.
It is a big ask for Solskjær to drop Lindelöf, who for the most part has not disappointed. Bailly’s contract expires in 2022 indicating this could well be his final year at Old Trafford if United wish to receive a fee for their £30 million signing, before his deal runs out.
