Man Utd backing Amorim despite struggles
Manchester United are looking to the example set by Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth as a reason to back Ruben Amorim.
The club thinks that because the Spaniard overcame a difficult start at The Cherries, Amorim could benefit in the same way despite recent results.
“Amorim is closing in on his one-year anniversary at Old Trafford, but he has struggled to have a meaningful impact. He’s largely taken the team backwards and presided over their lowest ever Premier League finish last season when they ended in 15th.
“Despite that, the Old Trafford hierarchy believe Amorim is still the right man – and feel that his improvements are backed up by the stats and metrics.
“A positive change from last term is that United are creating far more chances with the highest xG in the Premier League.”
United priced out of Donnarumma transfer
Manchester United were reportedly given the opportunity to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the summer.
However, a transfer fee of £35 million and almost half that in yearly wages was a prohibitive valuation.
“The finances are the main reason why United did not pursue a deal. They simply could not afford him, which may frustrate their fans but United were quoted a transfer fee of up to £35m and wage demands of about £17.4m a year (£330,000 a week).
“It meant the total cost over a five or six-year deal would have been in excess of £130m which was beyond what United wanted to commit to one player who would have immediately become the highest-paid on their books.”
Arteta loses ally in reshuffle
Arsenal executive vice-chair Tim Lewis has left the club, with The Sun painting the development as a potential blow to Mikel Arteta.
Lewis had been at the Emirates for five years, and had been key in bringing Andrea Berta to the club to replace Edu.
“Lewis ends a five-year spell at The Gunners, where he acted as a key middle-man between boss Arteta and owners Stan and Josh Kroenke.
“Most recently, he played a pivotal role in hiring new sporting director Andrea Berta earlier this year after Edu’s shock departure last November for Nottingham Forest.
“Alongside Berta and Arteta, he also made up the club’s recruitment trio for one of the most successful and fruitful transfer windows in their history, spending around £250m on eight different players.
“Arteta has now lost three major figures of support above him in quick succession with Lewis, Edu and also assistant sporting director Jason Ayto – now at Brighton – moving on.”
