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Too poor to buy Kane but rich enough for Mbappe?

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United at crossroads as takeover drags on.

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It only makes sense if Manchester United have just sold one red devil of a dummy.

But it’s a dream some fans are desperately clinging to.

Having decided that it would be too costly to sign Harry Kane from Spurs, United are being linked to Kylian Mbappe!

The rumour was sparked by Sheikh Jassim, one of two bidders for the club, saying the French superstar “belongs at Manchester United”.

This came after the Glazers had asked the Sheikh’s compatriots, Qatari Sports Investments (QSI), who own Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), to persuade him to increase his offer.

It was blatant greed from the Glazers, while any collusion between the two Qatari groups would raise doubts that they really are separate entities.

In this scenario, withdrawing interest in Kane is seen as opening the way for Mbappe and throwing others off the scent.

Such a deal would only be possible if sanctioned by a rich new owner.

It still sounds like a very long shot – the Frenchman has never expressed any affinity for United or for the EPL – but if the state of Qatar is behind it, it can’t be ruled out.

And there would be no better way to announce it had bought the club than signing one of the game’s biggest stars.

A true blockbuster deal that would win over the fans.

And, in the world of soft power, it would be a massive counterpunch to Saudi Arabia buying up golf.

Mbappe stunned PSG this week by saying he would not renew his contract after next season, but that would mean a €200m asset walking away for zilch.

PSG are loath to let that happen and the most likely outcome appeared to be – and probably still is – that he’ll go to Real Madrid, his boyhood favourite club.

But Real have just spent circa £100m on Jude Bellingham and have Financial Fair Play (FFP) to worry about.

They can’t get on a high horse about Manchester City if they’re breaking the rules as well.

And they haven’t got the money anyway, being mired in debt with the expensive revamp of the Bernabeu.

Usually, Real find a way. But for once this may be beyond them and they could just wait a year or so until Mbappe gets fed up with the Manchester rain.

But that sort of money would not be beyond Qatar, especially if some of it is going from one member of the ruling elite to the other.

They will pull off yet another sensational football coup by getting the world’s most sought-after club and keeping the best player in the fold.

That would surely trump acquiring the PGA Tour.

It’s more than enough for some Devils fans to dare to dream. Especially as the alternative is a cold dose of reality.

After a fine season with a trophy, a place in the Champions League and having reached two finals, things have fallen flat.

There was the FA Cup final loss to City, then the Blues matching their treble achievement and all the eulogies about Pep’s genius that accompanied it.

And still the takeover drags on.

The nightmare scenario of the Glazers staying on in some capacity if Jim Ratcliffe ends up buying the club still looms.

Already there’s not enough cash even for Mason Mount let alone Kane, a £40m offer for the midfielder having been given short shrift by Chelsea.

So Erik ten Hag’s rebuilding plans have already been stymied.

On the other hand, Mbappe would steal a sizable chunk of City’s current thunder. And he would certainly be an upgrade on Anthony Martial.

There’s also the mouthwatering wow factor: Mbappe v Haaland, the two top strikers in the world going head-to-head in the same city.

And for Gulf bragging rights, it would be Qatar challenging UAE as well as Saudi.

As it is, another big target man, Victor Osimhen of Napoli, valued at £120m, is also way beyond the pre-sale budget so sights have been set much lower.

Two from the coming generation are on the list. Atalanta’s promising Rasmus Hojland is one although the £50m asking price may be too steep.

Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos is another in that price bracket, having stepped up since the departure of Darwin Nunez with 19 goals in 30 games.

And they have to sort out the goalkeeping situation. David de Gea remains a fine shot-stopper and won the Golden Gloves award yet again.

But Ten Hag is not happy with his distribution and could just do what Pep did with Joe Hart – and cut him loose.

Dean Henderson, meanwhile, looks set to make his loan spell at Forest a permanent move.

With Liverpool and Chelsea likely to be resurgent and Arsenal and Newcastle strengthening, United will find a top four place a lot harder to secure next season.

Quality acquisitions are essential but it seems that only a fantasy outcome from the takeover looks capable of delivering them.

It’s still hard to see Mbappe in Manchester but we said the same about Pep.

Toffees still stuck in the mire

If you thought Everton’s troubles were over when they survived the relegation scrap, think again.

Half the hated board of directors have quit and long-time ex-chairman Bill Kenwright is set to join them.

But today came news that the club is facing a multi-million-pound legal bill from the three relegated clubs plus Burnley who went down in the previous season.

They allege that Everton broke FFP rules in scraping to safety in the last two seasons.

The loss to a club relegated from the EPL is estimated at £100m so this unprecedented joint-action is playing hardball.

It could deter a proposed takeover as well as delay completion of the new stadium.

And on top of that, ex-boss Carlo Ancelotti is also suing over ‘general commercial contracts and arrangements.” The FFP hearing is set for October 25.

 

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

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