Top Stories

Tuesday Kickoff: Man United miss out on Coentrao; Bayern’s Martinez to have surgery; and more

FabioCoentraoRealMadrid1 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

It’s safe to say that if given a second chance, David Moyes may have conducted his first transfer window as Manchester United manager differently.

Moyes acquired only one player, Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini for a fee of £27.5 million ($43 million) just moments before the end of the summer transfer window closed, but his legacy in this window will be remembered more for the linked players that he failed to sign.

The latest report is that Man United had submitted a season-long loan move with Real Madrid want-away left back Fabio Coentrao just before the deadline ended. However, due to Real Madrid missing out on signing left back Guilherme Siqueira from Granada, the Spanish club pulled out of the deal, leaving Moyes without a left back that he desired.

Man United’s failure to acquire the Portuguese international Coentrao only adds to the frustration of a summer that included failed attempts to sign three Spanish midfielders; Thiago Alcantara, who went to Bayern Munich, Cesc Fabregas, who stayed at Barcelona, and Ander Herrera, who Man United couldn’t agree a fee with his club, Athletic Bilbao.

Here are some more stories to get your Tuesday started:

MARTINEZ SET FOR SPELL ON BAYERN SIDELINES

Despite playing in and scoring the tying goal in extra time of the UEFA Super Cup, during Bayern Munich’s victory in penalty kicks against Chelsea, Javi Martinez will be missing the international break and potentially more time due to a groin injury.

The midfielder has decided to have an operation on Tuesday in Munich to take care of the issue, which according to reports in Spain, is affecting a nerve. A report in Marca specifically says that Martinez suffered the injury during Spain’s match against Ecuador in mid-August.

Since joining Bayern last season, Martinez has been one of the key members, helping the side to the treble last season with 43 appearances in defensive midfield and even center back. In addition to Martinez’s injury, Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has pulled out of the Germany squad for their World Cup qualifiers to rest his ailing ankle.

PODOLSKI RULED OUT FOR THREE MONTHS

Although Arsenal fans are celebrating the signing of Mesut Özil around the world, the club has been given a shock that will surely send them back to earth.

Winger Lukas Podolski, who has scored two goals already in the young season, was ruled out for at least three months, after a hamstring tear was confirmed. The German international traveled to Munich to meet up with the international squad, even though he was already ruled out with the injury, and the national team doctors confirmed the worse diagnosis.

Podolski was forced off just four minutes into Arsenal’s second-leg Champions League play-off round match against Fenerbahce, initially being ruled out for three weeks and then later eight to ten weeks.

QUICK KICKS

A Saudi prince, Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has bought a 50 percent stake in English League One club Sheffield United. (REPORT)

Holland National Team head coach Louis Van Gaal has had to call in Adam Maher to replace Rafael Van der Vaart, who suffered a torn muscle in training on Tuesday. (REPORT)

Osasuna have sacked coach Jose Luis Mendilibar just three months after giving him an extension due to no points in three games in La Liga. Mendilibar is the first La Liga coach fired in the young season. (REPORT)

Tottenham midfielder Etienne Capoue has been ruled out of action for four weeks due to an ankle sprain suffered in Spurs defeat to rivals Arsenal. (REPORT)

Atletico Madrid announced that talented youngsters Koke, Oliver, and Manquillo have all signed new contracts through 2018. (REPORT)

————

What do you think of these reports? Do you feel that United needed Coentrao? Do you see Martinez returning in time for Bayern’s next match? How big of a loss is Podolski to Arsenal?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Not sure why the Podolski thing is a shock, it was reported last week that it would be at least 10 weeks, the jump from that to two months (13ish weeks) isnt that massive.

    Reply
  2. As a United fan, it wasn’t just Moyes’ inability to bring people in, it was his gross negligence when it came to his intended targets. Why did he let Fellaini’s buyout clause expire then pay more money for him? Was it to line Everton’s pockets with more money? If that’s the case, we aren’t a charity.

    As for his other targets: laughable. When were we ever getting Fabregas? If he ever returns to the BPL, it’s to Arsenal. Herrera isn’t leaving any time soon. And then we’re so desperate we actually have to get loaned players in? This is why Fergie tried to wrap up signings in July.

    Moyes was cocky. He thought just because he manages United, players will beg to play for us. Not so. Hopefully he’s learned his lesson come January.

    Let’s also hope he learns that Kagawa is on the bench and when we can’t make two forward passes in a row and we’re hurting creatively, Kagawa is ready to make a difference. Shocking treatment of a world class talent given the circumstances.

    Rant over.

    Reply
    • Interesting comment. I am not a Man U fan, but enjoy following the team. My feeling is that Moyes’s incompetence was not designed to line Everton’s pockets, but on the contrary, that he thought he was going to be able to short-change Everton for Fellaini and Baines and it blew up in his face. And then I am wondering if maybe it didn’t get personal and he was going to try show the sly old guy at Everton and leave him stuck with an angry Fellaini by trying instead for Thiago and Fabregas and then getting desperate and on the last day trying for Herrera and Khedira and then finally in the end having to go back and pay out the nose for Fellaini.

      I am also wondering if Sir Alex might not be having a nice laugh about the whole mess, because it certainly makes Moyes’s disastrous performance thus far make Fergie look like an even bigger genius. And, actually, Fergie should have been consulting on this. Strange that he wasn’t.

      Reply
      • I think Fergie is too smart to want to be consulted. As long as he’s in any way in the picture, this will never be Moyes’ team. It’s not always easy being rich suddenly, and obviously Moyes is on a steep learning curve. There will be money in January, and money next summer. The one lesson Moyes can learn from Sit Alex is to play the long game. Barring a shocking failure, like missing the top four, Moyes has several years. Spend your money to build, not buy for now (until you have a shot at that one player to put you over the top) he’ll learn.

  3. Quick note—Sheffield United is currently in League 1, having been relegated there in (I believe) 2010-11. Finished 5th last season, but nearly returned to the Championship the previous year but got beaten in that insane Huddlersfield Town match at Wembley.

    Reply

Leave a Comment