Two Manchester United transfer choices revealed by merciless Nottingham Forest after baffling £90m decisions

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Manchester United’s decision to sell Anthony Elanga for £15m while rating Alejandro Garnacho at £70m illustrates the kind of errors that define their transfer missteps.  Manchester United are terrible at signings. That is no surprise. Their terrible history of post-Ferguson acquisitions is painfully familiar. However, they are arguably inferior in every facet of player sales, and insufficient emphasis is placed on how that disastrous failure has been more persistently harmful than subpar recruitment to their prospects for a significant rebuild.  They have never earned over £100m in a single season from player sales (four Premier League teams achieved this in just one season). They are the sole Premier League club whose highest sale happened prior to 2011. They still consider David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid in 2003 as their fourth-biggest sale ever, and two players ahead of him – Angel Di Maria and Romelu Lukaku – were sold at a loss compared to their initial signing fe...

Barcelona player reacts to transfer interest from Man Utd and Aston Villa

• Fermin Lopez was associated with leaving Barcelona in January. 

• Man Utd and Aston Villa were said to be prepared to pay €70m for the 21-year-old. 

• Lopez has shared his opinion on those speculations. 

Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez disclosed that he had no knowledge of other clubs' interest during the January transfer window, affirming that his goal has consistently been to stay in Catalonia. 

Lopez has needed to battle for his position in Barcelona's main squad. As recently as 2023, the lively Spaniard was competing in the third division of his country's football structure while on loan with Linares. 

Xavi Hernandez selected Lopez for Barcelona's pre-season roster that summer, where he made a strong impression to secure a competitive debut the previous season. He hasn't revisited the past since. 

A peripheral member of the Spain squad that clinched Euro 2024, Lopez netted eight league goals last season and has already tallied five in total under Hansi Flick's management. Skilled at making runs into the box from midfield, the 21-year-old is said to have drawn attention from Manchester United and Aston Villa during this winter's transfer window. 

Both Premier League clubs were believed to be prepared to offer approximately €70m (£58m) for Lopez, only to be firmly rejected. 

Lopez found out about interest from any teams. "I didn’t know about the offers," he said to SPORT this week. "I was certain I wanted to be here, but it is reassuring that the club chose not to heed them and desired my presence in the new project." 

Barcelona could have realized pure profit from any sale of Fermin due to his status as an academy graduate - a financial uplift that would have benefited a club with known economic challenges. However, the authorities in Catalonia evidently trust Lopez, who does not take this for granted. 

"I’m not sure what to say," the attacking midfielder exclaimed. "I work diligently, I'm consistently available for the team, and Xavi, [sporting director] Deco, and now Hansi are supporting me and providing confidence to display my football." "I truly appreciate them." 




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