Sancho finally done... Varane next?
The Jadon Sancho deal is done - medical permitting - and Manchester United have moved on to Raphael Varane, who has had enough of Real Madrid after 10-years.
By Dale O'Donnell, Editor @ODonnellDale
Gary Neville gave a damning view of Manchester United’s new signing Jadon Sancho last week. It was based on the fact it can be hard to build excitement around a deal which has felt ‘done’ all summer.
United made their intentions clear last summer, but they weren’t prepared to meet Borussia Dortmund’s asking price of £108 million. The German club confirmed on Friday that the Reds will pay £73 million to secure the deal — saving £35m because his contract was set to expire next year.
But who will be next to arrive after Sancho, now that we are simply waiting on the England international to undergo a medical to fully complete his transfer?
What we know is, Manchester United are trying to do deal to bring Raphael Varane to Old Trafford and, as revealed in a Stretty News exclusive on Friday morning, reports of Paul Pogba being part of the deal are complete gobbledegook.
I’m delighted Sancho will be joining United.
Last season he contributed 16 goals and 20 assists for Borussia Dortmund, and was seen as one of the best players in the Bundesliga. If you didn’t know that, and went on Gareth Southgate’s judgement, you could be forgiven for thinking United have spunked a lot of money away.
That is not the case, though. With Sancho we have another genuine star for the future. He comes with a big price tag and a lot to prove, but I trust Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be a good guardian for the foreseeable future. He’s building a nice team but it still lacks defensively.
Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News suggest United are targeting two centre-back arrivals, despite the club recently giving Eric Bailly a new contract. We’ll believe it when we see it, but having Sancho almost over the line gives the board a chance to get more work done.
Replacing one of either Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly in the starting XI is a must this summer. We’ve seen how good Harry Maguire can be this summer alongside John Stones, and it would be some coup if Varane signed before pre-season preparations begin.
We were told in early March that Varane was open to leaving Real Madrid. Nothing has changed.
United have confirmed that goalkeeper Tom Heaton has re-signed for the club, 11 years after departing and leaving Aston Villa once his contract expired. The 35-year-old began his career at United and it remains to be seen what role he will have after it was announced that Lee Grant is getting a new deal…
Sergio Romero is off but it just isn’t sustainable keeping two goalies like Dean Henderson and David de Gea for another full season. I hope Solskjaer makes a call on that front. The right one, obviously.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the first Stretty Newsletter, all ad-free, and feel free to let other Reds know so they too can join the community. Insider information and more straight to your inbox.
Editor, Dale O’Donnell
Meet Arvin - Stretty News announce summer signing 🇸🇪
We all have our favourite footballer initiation songs -- Scott McTominay’s take on Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine was a classic, but this is our way of welcoming a new member of staff.
Arvin Amin joined us at the beginning of June from Utd Report and you will hear him on the Strettycast soon. I’ve enjoyed soaking the emotions from working with a Swede during the Euros and he doesn’t have a ridiculous bias for Victor Lindelof even after an impressive campaign. He also nodded in agreement after I suggested Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the dog’s bollocks, so all is good.
However, when I asked if he was up for a feature on the Stretty Newsletter, I know he thought ‘sure, a few opinions on United. Piece of piss’ but he wasn’t aware that I had someone else lined up to interview him, who really couldn’t care less if Arvin prefers a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Questions from Brian Murphy.
Let’s discuss one of the most important things people want to know about Arvin, what are your favourite pizza toppings and do people who have pineapple on pizza deserve the death penalty?
Arvin: “Pizza is for weak people with no self-respect. With that being said, pepperoni twice a week without fail. And yes, of course, they must all be abolished from existence.”
To compliment any pizza, a man needs a beverage. Are you a full sugar Coke kind of guy, or a modern man who doesn’t believe in that and only drinks “lite sodas”? (We are judging you here, be careful)
Arvin: “Which one compliments self-destructive behaviour best? I’ll go with that one.”
Ali G once was once famously quoted as saying “big up yourself Sweden, the country that brought us Abba, Volvo and two blondes sucking off a donkey.” What else can we thank Sweden for bringing us?
Arvin: “Roy Hodgson (both Swedish and British royalty) aside, we are responsible for the single biggest threat to the human race - Pewdiepie. He's not our proudest export but clearly we didn't have the means to stop it happening.”
If you could only bring one CD to listen to on a 6 month holiday, which one of the Stone Roses albums is it?
Arvin: “The real question is: who is this old fart asking me to bring CD's on a holiday? I must've missed the part where I traveled 15 years back in time.”
Obviously, being a normal human being without a questionable behavioural past, you hate Fancams. Which fancammer in particular would you enjoy seeing being sat on by an elephant?
Arvin: “My first instinct was to go with Goldbridge but upon reflection, I suspect that's his extracurricular activity of choice so I'll go with Runts'n'cunts (rants).”
Swedish footballers through the ages have mostly been tough, semi psychotic tough bastards. How did you feel when you saw Victor Lindelof wearing his wife’s sparkly dress?
Arvin: “A homage to the true Swede - fantastic.”
Apart from ABBA (who’s everyone is well sick of at this stage), any other decent Swedish musicians, or is it a nation of ABBA tribute acts?
Arvin: “Ah yes - our fine portfolio from ABBA to Avicii and now Eurovision Song Content supremo Måns Zelmerlöw. A sad but very fair fall from grace. Fully deserved.”
Have you ever been in an ABBA tribute band?
Arvin: “Due to contractual obligations, I'm not at liberty to speak of my involvement in such bands.”
You look like a bit of a tough guy, but is it just a facade? Are you more into horror movies or cuddling up with a packet of maltesers and a romcom?
Arvin: “Have you ever met a scary looking guy who actually turned out to be tough? I haven't. Scary movies is the most pointless movie genre. The world already scares me enough. That CGI demon, or whatever, is no match for me.”
Who would you rather fight: Zlatan or 100 geese?
Arvin: “Zlatan. I'd distract him with my shiniest coin before headbutting him in the crown jewels. Research says that headbutting is the most efficient tactic. Easy win.”
Brian Kidd leaves City
🕵🏻♂️📱 The Digger
Jack Grealish to Man City has been ‘done’ since the end of the season - with parties choosing to hold fire on any announcement until England’s Euro 2020 campaign comes to an end. Last summer, it was no secret he wanted to join United, but the push wasn’t there. Ole’s prime target was Sancho and he’s got him this summer. 🚨
Borussia Dortmund were predictable with their leaks during the Jadon Sancho saga. They were quick to run to their favourite paper boys with developments — obviously dropping only what they wanted to drop. Coronation Street for football fans and journalists. It got annoying to the point that every Tom, Dick and Harry with a blue tick on Twitter felt any word they got from an ‘inside source’ was an ‘exclusive’. I couldn’t take another week of that. 📰
One of the more established Fan Channels won’t be doing fancams next season. A sigh of relief for any sane individual who has had enough of these opportunist clowns. But watch out, a new channel or splinter group — seemingly backed by Robbie’s crew at AFTV — has emerged. Wonder where they plan to “fan cam”? 🎥
AS are a pretty credible source but their claims about Paul Pogba’s name being put on the table as a negotiation tactic are well off the mark, as United attempt to lure Raphael Varane away from Real Madrid. In an ideal world for Real Madrid maybe. 🇫🇷
Has anyone checked on Phil Jones lately? Last we heard he was part of a PR joke that nobody found funny. ❌
We’re all ears if you have a story. Simply email: dale@strettynews.com
📺 Song of the week (potential Sancho chant)
New podcast - Fabrizio Romano
Fabrizio Romano about Cristiano Ronaldo, Eduardo Camavinga, Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho, Kieran Trippier and more.
More special guests coming up!
Subscribe to the Strettycast on Apple Podcasts, Acast and Spotify.
Until next week, look after yourself and keep the red flag flying high.
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