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Manchester United have got their man... again! Benjamin Sesko (pronounced Ben-ya-min Sheshko) met the Old Trafford crowd before the final pre-season game against Fiorentina (featuring David de Gea) and United's £200m revamp of their frontline is now complete.
It's not just the frontline that's had a lick of paint. The rejuvenated training facilities at Carrington were unveiled on Friday and, despite holidays for the whole podcast team, we had boots on the ground in the shape of Mark Critchley.
So, is that it for renovations? Well, maybe not! Brighton's Carlos Baleba has been heavily linked to provide a shot in the arm of United's midfield, and rumours of a move for a goalkeeper won't quite disappear either. With time running out before the new Premier League season, there could yet be a twist or two in this transfer window.
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Ruben Amorim met with the press pack at the end of the Premier League's US Summer Series for a wide-ranging discussion encompassing his tenure so far, how things are progressing ahead of the new season, his relationship with the owner, and more.
United actually won the Summer Series trophy but their faces didn't seem to know after a slightly underwhelming performance against Everton. Captain Bruno Fernandes spoke out after the game, asking for reinforcements to provide competition and combat laziness.
Will Benjamin Sesko be just that? The situation is no clearer than it was a few days ago with Newcastle bidding for the player but no tangible move yet from the hierarchy at Old Trafford.
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Manchester United's pursuit of a centre forward, to complete a brand new front three, stepped up a notch this week with the news that Benjamin Sesko is their prime target. We mull over what might have triggered that acceleration, whether his form stacks up, and how they might be able to afford him at his 2025 price.
Over in Chicago, the lads are cuddled up in the Felix Hotel business suite having savoured the sights and sounds of the Windy City. Ruben Amorim's squad are also enjoying America with another good pre-season showing and Bryan Mbeumo getting closer to some action for Manchester. Even Rasmus Hojlund seems energised and unworried about incoming transfers.
It's all a far cry from the aftermath of Bilbao, the end of a season that everyone knew couldn't be allowed to happen again. Luke Shaw let his hot temper out on a hot mic that night but while he doesn't regret his words, he's much happier about things now and feels ready to get back to his best.
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A victory over West Ham in the first game of the US tour, and a very encouraging performance from Amorim's developing squad. We were impressed by the interplay and structure, the partnerships showing promise, and the warm familiarity of Bruno bagging a brace.
Having played 70 minutes in New Jersey's Metlife Stadium, we're now wondering how close that starting eleven will be to the one that faces Arsenal on the opening day of the Premier League season... Might the bomb squad return to the fold? Amorim says they could, but do we really believe that?
Bryan Mbeumo is getting up to speed, so he could feature soon, but Diego Cunha looks nailed on for the left-side ten role and we have the most spectacular name to drop in our research on the lively, talented Brazilian.
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It's time for the pre-season tour and we're delighted that Andy and Laurie will both be in attendance; as will Manchester United's newest signing, Bryan Mbeumo! It wasn't quite on the B of the bang but United got their man in the end and he will be able to acclimatise with his new teammates in the USA.
Marcus Rashford won't be there. He is the first member of "the bomb squad' to agree a deal to leave the club, and it's his dream destination. But beware; settling in Barcelona has proven tricky for some great footballers, so how can he make the loan a successful one?
We also pick out a few clues from the game against Leeds in Sweden and consider whether there can be any more incoming transfers before another significant departure.
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Pre-season is here which can only mean one thing... injury disruption. Yes, ahead of the first game (against Leeds in Solna) the news broke that Andre Onana has suffered a hamstring strain. But will he be back in time for the Arsenal game, and what does it mean for the 'keeping department?
The podcast team have been putting their last football-free weekend to good use, but what (and who) are they most looking forward to seeing now that it has returned. How will this pre-season measure up to some of the more enjoyable, and interesting, in years gone by.
There may be some clues in the shirt numbers on show. How much does it matter what number each player gets, when might it become a problem, and who have been the biggest sellers in the club shop?
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Pre-season is here and Ruben Amorim has his work cut out after his disastrous first few months in charge, but what, precisely, does he need to achieve before the Premier League resumes in mid-August?
The training squad is five lighter after Rashford, Sancho, Garnacho, Antony, and Malacia were given extra time away to find new clubs, so where does new no. 10 Cunha fit and how strong is each department looking?
There's no doubting the anxiety after Bilbao and bust, so what are we hoping for this term? Is top half good enough, or is a higher target required? With no European football, what about the cups? And who, from our team, has the wildest take on the coming season?
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Manchester United's pre-season training starts this Monday, but it will begin without five players. Five players with different profiles, salaries, and ages, but with one thing in common; they are considered surplus to requirements by Ruben Amorim.
We take a look at each individual case, their personal circumstances, who might be interested in buying them, and whether it was a good idea for the club to make such a bold statement at this time.
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Exciting times at TotD Towers as we launch on not one but three social media platforms. Some listeners have been asking to see us on Youtube for a while, well now you can... and we're on Instagram and TikTok to boot.
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On today's show, the Bryan Mbeumo transfer negotiation is in danger of becoming a saga, but what's true and what's bluster? Plus, what is the nature of Manchester United's interest in Ollie Watkins?
With pre-season starting next week, we also get into the details of Darren Fletcher's new job and why he might be choosing to take it now.
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The longest day has come and gone but we are now deep into silly season, the transfer-rumour-ridden hinterland that chases the end of the previous season out of town.
Manchester United may or may not have made an improved bid for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, and may or may not have had a discussion with the representatives of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez. After Mbeumo, the plan is to sell before buying, but it has been an 'interesting' few days for the players expected to leave the club.
We also dig into the mailbag where there was a powerful response to the ticket price hikes and categorisation of league matches and take on the tricky task of mapping out the women's team's route through European qualifying.
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It's a midsummer special on the week of the longest day of the year (if only there was a proper name for it...)
It's also pretty much square in the middle of Manchester United's summer break, with a month gone since last season and a month until the first pre-season fixture. The Premier League fixtures were announced this morning and we react to a tough start!
Andy has been speaking to Omar Berrada, at great length, about his plans for the club and we consider his performance, both in the interview and in the job.
Finally, sort of, there's a glimpse into Carl's breakdown of Ruben Amorim's ideal striker and whether he can buy one who matches up in reality. The "sort of" is because we have an extra bit with Ian and Andy reacting to the news that ticket prices for individual fixtures will go up next season.
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We made it to the end... a season that will be remembered for many years to come, for all the wrong reasons, is finally over.
But who actually deserves some credit for sticking to their task, inspiring their teammates, and just generally defying the general trend of underperformance?
We choose our player of the season (who isn't Bruno), the goal that moved us, the standout moment, the podcast highlight, and mint a special award for a very special man. All with the help of your suggestions.
Hasta luego!
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In your podcatchers a day earlier than planned, it's a transfer junkie special (especially for Andy) with news that Bruno has decided to stay at Old Trafford top of the shop.
Meanwhile, the Matheus Cunha deal is done and another right-sided forward impressing in the Premier League, Bryan Mbeumo, also wants to join the club (that's according to our colleague David Ornstein).
The price tags on those two forwards presumably requires some transfer income. We have a think about all the candidates but especially Jadon Sancho after Chelsea decided to take a £5m hit rather than progress his loan deal to a permanent transfer.
Send us your nominations for "Player of the season who isn't Bruno", "Goal that got you", "Standout moment", and "Podcast highlight of the season". devilspod@theathletic.com.
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After a few extra days, the season we all want to forget is finally over. Not that that means there's no news.
Matheus Cunha looks poised to become a Manchester United player, but might it be one Portuguese speaker for another with Bruno Fernandes apparently giving consideration to a hefty contract offer from Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.
And, while the post-season tour wasn't the most eventful in the club's history, there was certainly plenty to pick through. Luckily for us, Laurie has been on location to report on a defeat and a late rally on the field as well as some interesting extracurricular happenings.
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It's our first podcast since the calamities of Bilbao, and we're not just talking about the football. Who is responsible for the series of events which led to leaving hundreds, maybe thousands, of fans stranded in a city that had essentially closed for business?
Ruben Amorim's future had even seemed up in the air after that game, but it seems he has been reassured of his future by Manchester United's execs. He used the authority lent him by this vote of confidence to give Alejandro Garnacho marching orders. The Argentinian winger, and his entourage, were publicly critical of the head coach, which appears to have crossed a line. Fan reaction was mixed.
The team went on to play Champions League chasers Aston Villa on Sunday before jetting off to Asia. The clean sheet and comfortable victory at Old Trafford was met with raised eyebrows as much as anything else, but Amorim addressed the crowd to a positive reaction... Now for the difficult part.
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It was supposed to be party time; 24 hours in a cultural and culinary paradise, taking the edge off an awful season. Instead we're left wondering what happens next... for the team, the players, even the manager.
Ange Postecoglu's Spurs are the Europa League champions, they will play Champions League football next season and represent the Premier League in the European Super Cup... Manchester United will have to come to terms with the sporting, commercial, and financial, realities of a 40-game diet of domestic football.
Although there is one more game, one we're now dreading against a very good Villa side, the loss in Bilbao feels like a line drawn under a dreadful season. It may yet lead to lines drawn under some tenures at the club.
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You asked for it; here it is. We manifested a dramatic European night at Old Trafford and a monumental victory away from home against Athletic Club.
Now, as the team (and the fans) return to Bilbao for the Europa League final, we're going back through history to catalogue the eight previous showpiece games.
Featuring the most famous Champions League final of all time, bar none, here are the highs and occasional lows of Man United's history in Euro finals.
1991 Rotterdam Revisited is available to watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKyw2-fCeFU&pp=ygUPMTk5MSByZXZpc2l0aWVk
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Here it is, then: the match that will define the season, even if it's impossible to save. It's the match that could well dictate the future of Ruben Amorim at United and the next chapter of the club's history.
If that makes you nervous, you're not alone.
The team's performance at Chelsea on Friday night has us worried about all sorts of things, from personnel to tactics, to Ange. Still, at least Spurs have just as many worries.
One thing we are absolutely definitely looking forward to is visiting the great city of Bilbao and there's nobody better to show us around than Basque geographer and historian, Andreu Mittxen.
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This is the second of a two-part Talk of the Devils Extra, a detailed history of the controversial purchase and subsequent ownership of Manchester United by American investor Malcolm Glazer and his six children.
Part one, referenced heavily in this conversation, tells the story of the Glazer takeover in 2005 with contributions from three key perspectives; fan activist Andy Walsh, former Labour Minister for Sport Richard Caborn, and ex-United board member, economist Jim O'Neill.
Now we will bring the story up to the present day, analyse the impact of the Glazer era, the relationship between the Glazers and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, get a glimpse of the Glazers in Tampa Bay, and try to forecast the future of United's ownership.
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Welcome to this special two-part Talk of the Devils Extra, a detailed history of the controversial purchase and subsequent ownership of Manchester United by American investor Malcolm Glazer and his six children.
This first part will recount the events leading up to the Glazer takeover in 2005 with contributions from three key perspectives; fan activist Andy Walsh, former Labour Minister for Sport Richard Caborn, and United board member, economist Jim O'Neill.
In part two to follow 24 hours later we will bring the story up to the present day, analyse the relationship between the Glazers and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and try to forecast the future of United's ownership.
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