Manchester United have been hot on the summer transfer market having already secured the services of Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee. They reportedly remain locked into Jarrad Branthwaite, Matthias de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Noussair Mazraoui. We spoke to former Liverpool legend John Barnes about United’s pursuit of Branthwaite as well as the future of winger Jadon Sancho.
United must address harmony issues before Sancho can be a success
Jadon Sancho made his return to the Manchester United side against Rangers which was followed up by his appearance off the bench against Arsenal at the weekend. Sancho and manager Erik ten Hag have resolved their differences during a meeting at Manchester United’s training ground and at least for now it is in ten Hag’s plans. Barnes claims that if Sancho is to revive his career at United, the harmony throughout the club has to be better than it has been.
“I would like to see Sancho forge a career at United but it depends on the harmony at United. The harmony for the whole club is what’s going to determine that. If United still have the issues that they had last year, which is not to do with Jadon Sancho, it’s just the club itself. I don’t think Jadon Sancho will be a success.”
United have made attempts to address the harmony issues by changing the hierarchy at the club. Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada, and Dan Ashworth whilst also adding to the coaching staff Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake. However, another issue at the club could be the fans and their response to Sancho which Barnes warns will be another potential problem to deal with.
“I don’t think anybody will be a success if they are still going through the problems. They have uncertainty about the quality of the manager and blame the manager when the players don’t perform. United have to come together as a club. The upheaval at the club doesn’t bode well for any of the players and the fans have to be willing to welcome Sancho back if he’s going to be a success.”
Young players like Branthwaite should be wary of moving to United
Meanwhile, United are known to be interested in Everton and England Jarrad Branthwaite. United are said to be unwilling to meet the reported £70m+ fee. Branthwaite is said to be demanding £160,000-a-week to sign a new contract at Everton which is the offer said to be on the table from United. Barnes again feels as though harmony will be big issues for Braithwaite if he were to make a move to the club.
“Going to a club like United with the disunity, the harmony not being right in the collective and the spirit within the club won’t be a good move for anybody at this moment in time. Particularly if he’s now getting into the England squad. He’s not going to go there and automatically change things at United. If they’re going to be a unit and they’re going to be playing well in the harmony and everybody together then he would be an excellent signing but it’s hard for a young player to go there as it was for Jadon Sancho.”
One of the other warnings from Barnes is that it could be a bad time to join United despite the prestige of the club. With the current restructure alongside a turbulent last season, the former Liverpool winger says young players like Brainthwaite should be wary of joining United as things currently stand.
“So what United have to do is to get that right before they’re talking about signing players for £70 million and young players who are inexperienced. He can’t go to United like Jadon Sancho went there for a big fee and the harmony isn’t right. So yeah, I think that for any player they have to think hard, hard about going to United. Particularly young players who are inexperienced. They have to think about whether they’re going to United at the wrong time. It’s a great club, but it just may be the wrong time. And if they’re looking for young players to come here to change that situation, that’s not what’s going to happen. The unity within the club from top to bottom has to change, fans included.”
Branthwaite is priced as short as 1/3 on Sky Bet to move to Manchester United this summer. Be sure to check out the Sky Bet sign up offer if you’re not signed up with them already, as they have an eye-catching amount in free bets on offer.
Manchester United are set to take on Fulham at Old Trafford on the opening day of the Premier League season, which is a game they’ll be favourites to make a winning start to the 2024/25 campaign in.
