Progress made in Man United sales - just not the sale of the club

The Independent’s football newsletter [SUBSCRIBE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( August 04, 2023 [View in browser](   [The Independent]( [The Independent]( Progress made in Manchester United sales - but not for the sale of the club United aiming to offload five as talks go on Erik ten Hag is again pressing for Manchester United to make sales [so he can bring in a defensive midfielder](, most likely Sofyan Amrabat. It is in-keeping with this entire window, though, that a lot of interest has so far only been exploratory or in order to potentially set things up. The huge influx of Saudi Pro League money has been one factor that has meant so many clubs are waiting on something else to make their move. So it is that Leeds United have [been considering Brandon Williams](, West Ham United have [been mulling a £30m bid for Harry Maguire](, or another for Scott McTominay, Ajax have pondered a loan for Donny van de Beek and Nottingham Forest are waiting on a potential permanent move for Dean Henderson. As you can read, a lot of thinking and considering. This is because of a lack of concrete action to get things going. Until then, United themselves have to wait, as Ten Hag needs to raise money from sales to go for the next signing. Concerns grow Glazers will stay As regards a lack of concrete action, that is also how to describe the takeover process. It is still ongoing but numerous sources talk of how “nothing’s happened for a while”. Nobody has been told to increase offers. The sense is of the [relevant parties just waiting to be told a decision](, and that it may well be the Glazers deciding to stay. This isn’t to say that is definitely happening, it’s more that nobody truly knows what the inner circle is thinking, and that the longer it goes on the more it seems that’s the likely process. It is known that the bids have been nowhere near the £6bn wanted. It is equally known Avram and Joel Glazer would prefer to stay. This has been raised as a huge complication for the whole process since the start and - in the words of one well-placed source - “potentially unresolvable”. The counter-argument is that they would need to raise funding to redevelop Old Trafford, which is [why they’re even in this process](in the first place. If they were to take one of the equity options to do that, it would mean “a material implication on future revenue and therefore the potential increase of the club’s valuation”. On it goes. Prominent deals still see no compromise Alexis Mac Allister’s physical issue in [the friendly against Bayern Munich](has only sharpened Jurgen Klopp’s urgency to get a deal done for a midfielder, and really two. Liverpool are really short in that area, even though the manager [now has his first team fixed again](. They have been frustrated [by negotiations with Southampton over Romeo Lavia](, but the recently relegated club have no inclination to drop their £50m value - especially not in this inflated market. It has led to Liverpool looking elsewhere, including to Fluminense’s Andre. Bayern Munich have not been put off by Tottenham Hotspur’s similar intransigence. They firmly believe they will get Harry Kane. Belief, however, still needs to [match the reality that Daniel Levy wants an extra £15m](on their bid at least. Mbappe no interest in even considering Saudi Arabia Kylian Mbappe has so far [shown no willingness to even discuss a prospective move](to Saudi Arabia, although the offer will always remain there. His thinking so far has been much the same as everybody else’s. He doesn’t want to spend a year of his prime out of the Champions League. It currently isn’t seen as realistic that Paris Saint-Germain freeze him out for the entire season, either. The French club are still [looking for alternative options, though, including loans](to the Premier League. So far there hasn’t been much serious response. English squad as stunned as everyone by World Cup shocks While Sarina Wiegman is adept at keeping her players focused and with everything in check, the England squad have naturally been [struck by how open the World Cup draw now is](. Many were stunned watching the other games this week, as the group gathered around big TVs. A path has cleared. Before the tournament, after all, the route to the final had been seen as one of many elements going against England - including those injuries. They were on the tougher side of the draw, and one potential route to the semi-final was resurgent Olympic champions Canada, Germany and favourites France, a burgeoning Brazil or hosts Australia. It looked unforgiving. That has changed, as many of the better-fancied sides have [suffered real struggles, not least the United States](. Even if England get that far, and it is Australia in the semi-finals, there remain real doubts about Sam Kerr’s ability to participate in this World Cup at all, while each of Canada, Brazil, Italy and [now Germany have already exited](at the group stage. Wiegman has just to ensure the players’ response to this is one of resolve rather than complacency. That has to start with a thrilling Nigeria, who have already shocked the game by beating the hosts and eliminating Canada. They still haven't been [as much of a revelation, however, as Lauren James](.   Top stories How the Women’s World Cup delivered its greatest ever group stage — against all the odds]( [Liverpool left with midfield muddle – but Reds handed reason for optimism](     Miguel's Dispatches I finally fly into the Women’s World Cup this weekend, and it feels like it’s just at the point where the competition is soaring. The expectation had been that the opening stage would be just a glorified preparation camp, with some of the bigger games just deciding first and second in some groups. Not a bit of it. It has been sensational with some big names going out in Brazil and Germany, and even bigger names - especially the United States - coming so close to being eliminated altogether. There has been so much drama, principally from many of the debutants and developing teams stepping up superbly. It has been a huge vindication of the decision to expand the World Cup. First for me is a match that brings a few elements together, the European champions against the African champions, one of the favourites against a team who caused a surprise in getting this by far by knocking out Canada and shocking Australia. England-Nigeria will hopefully keep up the mood of the tournament so far. That, however, has also seen England gradually growing into it more and more.       QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Nobody besides maybe City can have the real target to become champions again this year." Jurgen Klopp echoes Erik ten Hag and strikes a particularly downbeat tone before the new season   Reading the game quiz Reading the game quiz If Romeo Lavia goes to a major club he could become the sixth player to get relegated from the Premier League, only to win it the next season. Name the five who have gone through this. Note: loans count. ([You can find out the answers here](. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too) Enjoy a year of unlimited digital access for just £99 £20 ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   [INDYBEST]( /BEST BUYS]( [Best men’s summer shoes and sandals, for holidays, weddings and more]( From [sandals]( and [slides]( to [clogs]( and [trainers](, we’ve tested the [best men’s summer shoes](. [Shop now]( Trending: [Amazon Prime Day deals](     Essential reading //link.e.independent.co.uk/click/32295500.39160/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvam9yZGFuLWhlbmRlcnNvbi1saXZlcnBvb2wtc2F1ZGktYXJhYmlhLWFsLWV0dGlmYXEtYjIzODI5NTIuaHRtbA/64c10d26314b145aeb06720bBb7e37439[Bayern Munich need much-improved Harry Kane offer after Tottenham reject second bid](   West Ham given two key transfer targets by David Moyes](     OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [Sports Brief] Sports Brief Every Monday, 6pm (UK time) Written by Karl Matchett [Join now]( [Climate News] Climate News Every Friday, 12pm (UK time) Written by Louise Boyle [Join now](   The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge]( and the [National Domestic Abuse Helpline](: 0808 2000 247 If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's football newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's football newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Football_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.