Ed Woodward's travails in the transfer market continue. Arguably as great a blow as losing Alex Ferguson in 2013 was the departure of CEO David Gill, which has left United largely rudderless in the transfer market. Woodward clearly does not trust himself to negotiate transfers - he refused to deal directly with Chelsea over the transfer of Juan Mata for fear that the Blues would prise Wayne Rooney from Old Trafford - and so has seemingly ceded control to agent Jorge Mendes, leading to the multimillion arrivals of Angel Di Maria and, most puzzlingly, uber-crock Falcao.
That strategy of relying on Mendes now appears to be failing United, as they have missed out on the Mendes-represented midfielder Renato Sanches. The Guardian reported last week that United had opened negotiations with Benfica to sign Sanches for an eye-watering €60 million. A figure even more staggering considering that Sanches is only 18, and this has been his first season playing regularly in the Benfica first team.
Sanches is a midfielder who mixes deft skill with strength and pace and has been likened to Yaya Toure and Paul Pogba. He could have proved the long-term replacement for Paul Scholes, but, despite willing to pay over the odds for their man, however, United have now missed out on Sanches. Bayern Munich have confirmed in the last few minutes that they have completed the signing of Sanches for a more modest for €35 million.
DONE DEAL! 18-year-old Renato #Sanches will join from Benfica this summer. Welcome to #FCBayern! pic.twitter.com/r9Xu7vOZOA
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) May 10, 2016
#Rummenigge: "Renato #Sanches is a dynamic, technically-gifted midfielder who is strong in the tackle and will strengthen our squad."
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) May 10, 2016
Bayern's succession plan for Xabi Alonso is in place, but it is a further indictment of United's floundering under Van Gaal and Woodward. Despite close ties to Mendes, and a willingness to pay Benfica far more money, the player has chosen Bayern. The pressure on Woodward heats up.
UPDATE: Bayern really don't mess about, as they have also confirmed the signing of Mats Hummels this morning. The fee is believed to be around €38 million, despite the fact Hummels is entering the final year of his Dortmund contract.
Hummels deal (without € details) confirmed by @BVB: https://t.co/dqgdCB7ozu
— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) May 10, 2016
Hummels began his career with Bayern, but failed to make an impact upon the first team and joined Borussia Dortmund in 2008 on loan, making the deal permanent the following year.His leaving Dortmund has further infuriated supporters who have become accustomed to having their best players gobbled up by Bayern, and Hummels follows the path tread by Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze.
Hummels' departure is all the more galling given his perceived loyalty to Dortmund, saying upon Gotze's departure in 2013 that "there is no footballing reason to leave Dortmund. I don't feel I have to play at the biggest club in the world in order to win titles. He appears to have gone back on his word.
