The United Resurgence: The Keane Story

Gary Neville (in response to Jamie Carragher's question) Yes I think United were right to get rid of Ole however I do not think for a second that Roy Keane is the right choice. If you look at his record! he's managed two clubs in Ipswich Town and Sunderland and has not got a win rate of over 45%


Neville and Carragher talking about Roy Keane's appointment as United Manager



He managed 100 games at Sunderland and only just won more games than he lost and at Ipswich he did not manage this so who the United hierarchy seem to think he will be an improvement on Ole is a myth and I do not expect United to improve.

The United Resergence: The Keane Story

Keane Speaks

On Roy Keanes first official day in office he today spoke exclusively to Sky Sports. The former Uniter and Rep. Ireland midfielder spoke on various subjects which also including selling some quite big players so we are going to go over the important issues that were bought up.

1. On Gary Neville Gary was a brilliant player but he did go to manage Valencia and that is why he is back in the sky sports studio now so it obviously didn't go very well. I think that he will change his mind by the end of the season.

2.On expectations I expect us to get into the Champions League and we must be challenging for the Premier League title! This is Manchester United for goodness sake and we must be in the hunt for the title. It will be difficult with Liverpool and Them (meaning Man City but not wanting to say the name) but we can absolutely do it!

3.On players who might leave and arrive Paul (Pogba) will leave as he hasnt shown anything in the time at United and I only want players that will die for the badge because this is Manchester United! There are a few other players that will be making way and I am considering the future of David De Gea due to wanting Dean (Henderson) to be the number one.
I am going to be looking at the possibility of bringing in some English players but they need to be young hungry English players. I am intrigued about Jack Grealish and also I like the look of Todd Cantwell but we will see.

1

The United Resurgence: The Keane Story

The Meeting with Chairman Ed Woodward

Keane talks to Ed Woodward

Hi Roy thanks for coming in with such short notice, the board would like to know who you want to sell and identify the targets to buy. Did you bring the proposed team sheet with the players that you ideally want and how they would fit in?

Yes I did and I need to make sure these players are bought because I want to challenge for the title. Please do not be concerned if there are players on the bench, we are in Europe and there will be a lot of rotation needed. I am very happy with most of this squad.

OK Roy, I appreciate that so lets start with the players that you do not want?

I expect my decisions to be honoured because if they are not then I will leave out of that door and you will be managerless OK?

OK Roy loud and clear.


Pogba and De Gea's days are numbered at United

I want to sell Paul Pogba, I believe he is lazy and bone idle unless there is a contract to play for. I also want to sell David de Gea due to wanting Dean Henderson to be my number one keeper. I feel he has a lot going for him and was excellent on loan at Sheffield United last season. I also think that Victor Lindelof needs to be sold too, I just don't like him and he doesn't play for the badge! I believe we can easily get £100,000,000 in transfer fees for these players.

So basically you want to rebuild the squad? Can I ask about who you would like to bring in or would you like to show me the squad that you would want?

Yes I would (Roy hands Ed a mock formation) this is of course a work in progress


So as you can see I want to change the formation that we play! This includes Henderson in goal and a back three that includes Issa Diop, he's strong and consistent and would compliment Tuanzebe and Maguire well. I would need back ups and even though he gets injured a fair bit I would want to keep Jones and Bailly. This of course means the likes on Alex (Telles), Aaron (Wan-Bisaka), Luke (Shaw) and Brandon (Williams) would need to wait, although I want Brandon out on loan. There will be chances for these as I will not play this formation all the time.


Grealish (pictured here) skinning Diop might find themselves on the same team if Keane gets his way

In midfield I would keep Mctominay, Donny and Bruno, I would like Jack Grealish bought and this would need to be at any cost, I feel with him in and attacking midfield role he would compliment the front three of Greenwood, Martial and Rashford. There might well be a couple more players I want but the squad is good enough in my view!

(At this point Roy is obviously bored and just gets up and leaves, leaving a bemused Ed Woodward at the table!)

The United Resurgence: The Keane Story

Transfer Issues and Alternatives

Roy Keane has been dealt a double transfer blow today as Manchester United had a £45,000,000 bid accepted (£15m upfront and rest in installments and performance related add-ons) only for Grealish to declare that at least for this season he is staying at Aston Villa.


Grealish has turned down Manchester United for now
It is understood that Roy Keane is now looking into alternatives and it is understood that Keane is considering three players and we are going to look at these players in a bit more detail now.

Dele Alli

Spurs
Est Cost - £50m to £66m


To steal Alli away from spurs would be some coup for Roy Keane, but with the player at times lacking in work rate (according to Jose Mourinho) might not be what Keane is looking for in regards to an attacking midfielder. Alli has scored 50 times in the premier league and it is clear he would add something to the United squad but he is not a Grealish in regards to the amount of ground that Grealish can cover.

Likelihood: Outside Chance

Nathan Redmund

Southampton
Est Cost - £19m - £28m


This move would be a bit of a shock but when you look at the way Redmond plays it is easy to see why Roy Keane would want him. He is proven in the Premier League and has been on the fringes of a 'big move' before. Would he suit United's play style? Well he is quick and has a good turn of pace. He can also score goals averaging 8 a season which if you look at the players that United already have that would be a good return. He also has the ability to draw defenders away making space for the likes of Rashford and Martial to exploit. Is he worth over £20m that is the real question?

Likelihood: 50/50

Ollie Mcburnie

Sheffield United
Est Cost - £14.5m - £19.5m


This move is being hotly tipped. McBurnie is a Scottish international who scored 6 goals last season in Sheffield United's stand out debut season but has gone on record to say he feels like he could play at a higher level. He does not have pace to burn but is a lot more technical and works his socks off which is what Roy Keane is looking for. He can still improve and is the youngest of the targets that United are looking at.

Likelihood - Based on Media Quite Likely

In other news West Ham put a £89m price tag on Issa Diop's head pricing him out of a move to Man Utd so United have acted quickly and bid for German centre back Niklas Sule.



The defender valued at £46m has said that he wants to leave FC Bayern and despite Liverpool being interested, United are hoping as they have bid first and quick it might sway him to move to Manchester.

The United Resurgence: The Keane Story

Redmond: Dream Come True

Manchester United today signed Nathan Redmond from Southampton for a fee that could rise to £24,000,000. United will pay £8,000,000 upfront with £14,000,000 in installments over three years and if he scored 20 goals a further £2,000,000.

Redmond started his career at Birmingham City and played his first senior game in the Carabao Cup against Rochdale in August 2010. It took Redmond almost a year to score his first senior goal, netting in the Europa League against Nacional da Madeira. Redmond went on to make 62 appearances for City scoring 7 league goals for the club.

After Birmingham's relegation to the Championship he bagged a move to new boys Norwich City for £3.9m, where he made 112 appearances over 3 years scoring 11 goals. Norwich then decided to cash in on the attacking midfielder due to being on the fringes of Gareth Southgates England squad.

Southampton were the side that got Redmond after Liverpool were interested but decided against the then 22 year old and paid a bargain £8,000,000. Redmond made 138 appearances and scored 18 goals. Manchester United then came calling and has paid up to £24,000,000 for the attacking midfielder.

When I was told that Roy (Keane) wanted me to move to United, I new that I had to go and try. Manchester United are a absolutely massive club and I hope to repay the faith that Roy has shown in paying this much money to bring me to the theatre of dreams and I can not wait to play in the Red of Man Utd.

The United Resurgence: The Keane Story

Pogba Sold and Sule In

Paul Pogba

has today been sold to PSG for a reported fee of £54,000,000. Roy Keane has made it perfectly clear that he did not want the world class midfielder for being too lazy. Pogba now moves to France to play for the French Champions and had some pretty harsh words about Roy Keane when he departed at his unveiling at PSG. Pogba made a point of talking in French.
Je suis extrêmement ravi et fier de signer pour le Paris Saint Germain. C'est sans aucun doute le meilleur club de France et l'un des meilleurs clubs du football mondial. J'ai passé un moment torride à Manchester United où je ne me sens pas aimé par le conseil d'administration, la direction ou les fans. Roy Keane a décidé que je n'étais pas assez bon pour son équipe mais vous regardez le joueur qu'il a signé avant mon départ à Nathan Redmond et je ris parce que je suis l'article fini et je m'attends à ce que Manchester United s'écrase et brûle cette saison. Le PSG est maintenant chez moi et je promets que je donnerai à 100% à chaque match.

Translation:
I am extremely delighted and proud to be signing for Paris Saint Germain. It is undoubtedly the best club in France and one of the best clubs in world football. I had a torrid time at Manchester United where I do not feel I was loved by the board, the management or the fans. Roy Keane decided I was not good enough for his team but you look at the player he has signed before I left in Nathan Redmond and I laugh because I am the finished article and I expect Manchester United to crash and burn this season. PSG are now my home and I promise that I will give 100% every game.

There is now going to be a lot of pressure on Roy Keane to prove that letting Pogba leave was not a mistake.

Sule Signs

Manchester United have completed the signing of Niklas Sule and there is reports coming out that Jason Denayer is also on the verge of signing which could spell the end to the likes of Lindelof and Phil Jones.

Sule has signed a 5-year-deal worth £120,000 a week and despite Liverpool making a last ditch effort to sign Niklas Sule he chose Manchester United.

As for Jason Denayer, he is a fast centre back who can play out of his own area very confidently but obviously if Keane is going to play three at the back you have to wonder what will happen with Alex Telles and Aaron Bin-Wasaka?

The United Resurgence: The Keane Story

Man Utd Sign Former City Defender

Manchester United today announced the signing of 25-year-old Belgian international Jason Denayer. Denayer, capped 25 times by world number one country Belgium has signed for an initial £5,500,000 but could raise to £15,000,000 and is being seen as a great bit of business by United.

It doesn't matter that he played for Man City before Lyon but I believe we have got an all round defender which now gives us 5 options for centre back (Sule, Denayer, Tuanzebe, Maguire and Bailly) which for me is a great selection of top class centre backs. Jason knows he is coming in to fight for his place and I beleive he will be a complete success here at United.

United have certainly improved there centre back but what of the wing back they had? This question was asked to Keane in the press conference


'Telles will get a chance' says Keane

Well I will not use this formation at all times, Alex and Aaron will get chances throughout the season and I expect them to remain happy here at Man Utd. I am pleased with the business that we have done this window and I would not rule out more incomings and out goings this season. I can confirm we have accepted a bid of £15m for Jesse Lingard from Lyon and he is now in advanced talks with them.


Lingard is subject to a Lyon bid

Manchester United kick off there Premier League campaign against Wolves away from home, followed by a match at home against Fulham.