DuncanRG

Beautiful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How's that for communication? Good stuff Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ha, I suppose you've got a point there. If the player knew he was forcing it for his own gain, I mean. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Terrific news. Those quotes are about as good as you'll get from a player. We'll keep him. Highly unlikely. It'll come from United's side unless 1. Adam himself would entertain a move or 2. The agent doesn't mind getting fired for brokering a transfer his client doesn't want just because he wants a 'payday' Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not one to be beaten by that other fella's claim that we intentionally lost games to stay in 8th... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's all going to go horribly wrong, then. Just as well it won't happen! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How many players? I'd lose one or two big ones (but not Lallana) to keep Pochettino, not least because his work with the players partly accounts for why we value them so highly. He's brought out the best in so many of them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There's no replacement for his influence. £40m would buy someone to eclipse his skill but not the part he plays at the club. I really can't see him leaving us, not yet. I don't think he'd go unless he could walk into a trophy winning side. At least we have two or three ready made captains in the team if he does, though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Even if this ludicrous claim were true, you'd have to think about why he was offered a bonus. Might it be that his employers valued a top eight finish over a cup run and incentivised that with a bonus?

Journalists are told about injury news, sometimes off the record.

The club, and Pochettino, are planning for next season. Regardless of whether he stays or not, he will be doing his job right now. He probably went into work today, and before/after training may have looked at player tapes, heard scouting reports, etc. That's what professional managers do whether they're leaving in the summer or signing a new 60 year contract. It seems like contract talks will wait til the end of the season. That's not unreasonable - that's when most clubs conduct that sort of business. Doesn't mean there isn't work going on before then. Of course it's important to get him tied down early, so the players know he's staying and potential transfer targets know who they'd be working under... but who would sign a contract before he knows what his options are? It's far too early to be worrying, let's see where we are in a month's time.

Kane and Dawson we might be able to get, but the whole of Tottenham? Where would the tea lady fit in our fluid front four?

The Guardian story says that Chelsea pulled out of the race when they saw what United were prepared to pay. They may have bags of money but that's not unreasonable. The benefit from Shaw's perspective is that he would go to United as their long-term starting left-back - either straight into the team or integrated over a season with Evra as his mentor. Not sure Chelsea could guarantee him that with Azpilicueta and the other boy they've got.

I think they'd take the chance because one eye-catching run, assist or even goal at the World Cup and his price goes up again. If anything really special happens you might even get foreign clubs involved.

That's one line I'd be particularly wary of. You can see why Shaw might feel that way (so he can focus on England) but there are all kinds of reasons United would plant that line without a modicum of truth. They'll want it done early not only to appease the fans but because a good World Cup drives Shaw's price up even further.

Having their first choice partnership out is a boost but Stones and Alcaraz are both decent players. Stones has been remarkably good since he's come into the side.

It'll be United doing the work at the moment. They'll have been preparing offers, putting calls in and planting stories in the press for a while without much involvement on our end.

Shaw's value is partly to do with how the full-back role is changing, as well. They are increasingly important attacking players - Everton wouldn't be challenging for the Champions League without theirs and teams are only going to attack more with them as time goes on. By the time Shaw hits his peak I expect the best teams will be relying on them for a good handful of goals and assists. The price is also heavily influenced by age - having any top class player who can fill a position for 10+ years is worth a lot of money.

Essex Chronicle, eh? Wonder if they've got that from someone at Chelmsford...

You're right that the story would be more rounded with a Southampton perspective, though it does say that we are demanding £30m. Previous Guardian articles have referenced our desire and ability to hold onto players, but Jamie Jackson is their Manchester football correspondent so he's going to have contacts at United and may not have been able to get a line from Saints. If the paper had the time or resources to assign a second reporter (someone with Saints contacts, like Dominic Fifield) to the story then they might have written something which incorporates both sides. Sadly, that's not often how it works, but the story is pretty transparent. It makes clear that it's reporting the United perspective. The bulk of that story has clearly come from people at United; all I'm saying is that the Guardian won't have printed it without standing it up. They're wise to the possible motives of people who supply information to the press and take decisions on what to publish with that in mind.

Good post.

Note that it's reported they will offer Shaw a five year deal, not that they have. That kind of whispering is done through agents and other representatives now, as are other bits of relevant information like Evra's intention to stay at United. It basically amounts to tapping up but it's what happens. We all knew how much Gareth Bale was going to be getting before Real Madrid accepted a bid, for example. Interestingly, that information is sometimes put across to the player by planting stories in the press. It's entirely possible that Shaw might find out how much they'll offer him from that story. What is certainly true is that the Guardian won't have made the figure up, and when it's been put to them they'll try to corroborate sources and stand it up. Tabloids like the Sun, Mirror, Star etc are more likely to put the information they're given in the paper without much scrutiny. The placating fans theory is an option but risks a backlash if/when it doesn't happen. Suppose they can cover for that when they give the new manager and first big signing a song and dance though.

Fair to say it's still one of the best jobs in world football. I bet more managers want to replace Moyes than wanted to replace Ferguson! The language from United in that article is very strong - 'convinced', 'virtually complete' etc. You can't imagine Luke turning that offer down, so any barriers are likely to be put up by the club. It might be that the United source(s) are convinced because Southampton surely can't turn £30m down, not because we've indicated we'll accept it. May also have been planted to put pressure on us when negotiations get rolling - if Shaw and his people hears there's £100k a week in it for him he might start to start pushing for it himself. Wrong to assume it's all over but it's definitely leaning that way now. The Guardian really aren't in that business. Broadsheet reporters break their backs to stand things like this up, especially when the language is that assertive.

Yeah. Money couldn't buy us anyone as good as Shaw, but I think most fans would be reasonably content if we could get someone at around Clyne's level to play left back. Depending on how much of the £30m would go on a replacement (not more than £8-10m, you'd assume) we might get someone better. The biggest concern for the team would be the effect on morale among Shaw's peers. Pochettino (and potentially others) would have to handle that very carefully, but we can definitely survive one departure from that academy group.

God, £100,000 a week is a gross amount of money to be paying a teenager. You have to worry that half the agents who work with talented young lads would be able to point to that and demand more from clubs. Looks like it will probably go ahead though. A terrible shame but a very good price that we're commanding.