Manchester United are in crisis mode after another horror defeat this time against Burnley at Old Trafford, and pressure is building on the owners, the Glazers.
Manchester United’s owners have been warned they only have eight days to save the club. United were beaten 2-0 by Burnley on Wednesday night and are yet to make a signing during the January transfer window.
The Red Devils are running the risk of ending the transfer window without making a signing.
Their chase of Erling Braut Haaland failed as the striker opted for Borussia Dortmund, before Mario Mandzukic snubbed them for a switch to Dubai.
Now, their attention is focused on Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, though it appears a deal could fall through.
The two clubs are at a disagreement over how much United will pay for the central playmaker.
Express Sport understands Sporting want closer to £70million for Fernandes, but the Premier League outfit will not pay that much having sought to agree a deal in the region of £50m.
If they fail to bring in the 25-year-old, they could go through the entire window without making any signings.
And pundit Andy Goldstein slammed United officials for failing to improve the team during January, despite results on the pitch suggesting they need reinforcements.
The Red Devils are 30 points behind table-topping Liverpool, and are at risk of failing to qualify for European football next season.
After 24 games, they are only four points above tenth-placed Arsenal, and level on points with Tottenham and Wolves, while being one point above Sheffield United.
Wolves have a game in hand, so could realistically find themselves above Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side after the transfer window ends.
And Goldstein urged board members at United to take action and do whatever they can to improve the squad over the next week, warning that otherwise it could be years before they challenge for European football again.
“Manchester United as a club have nine days to save themselves. That’s how long the transfer window is open for,” he said on TalkSPORT.
“I look at the starting 11 tonight, I’ve said before about the midfield, Fred Pereira, Matic, they’re just not good enough.
“That squad is depleted, we haven’t had any significant backing for ages.
“The club is dying before my eyes, and before the eyes of every Manchester United fan.
“One player is not the answer, Bruno Fernandes is not the answer, you need three, four our even five players to give United a chance of getting into the top four. It’s all about getting into the top four now.
“If they don’t get into the top four, the gap will get bigger and bigger and bigger, more difficult and impossible to attract the biggest players to Manchester United.
“Nine days to save the club. Whoever is responsible, the Glazers, Woodward, Ole Gunnar – they’ve got nine days to save the club.
“One player comes in, the club will continue to die – it’s as simple as that.”
Source:www.express.co.uk