Player ‘thought’ he was joining Man Utd, Details emerge of ‘£43m’ midfielder agreement

Manchester United ended the transfer market on a high note, sealing a big money move to bring in Brazilian winger Antony from Ajax in the closing stages of the window.

For the most part, however, the Red Devils had to endure a mixed summer, with a number of protracted and frustrating transfer sagas to contend with.

But as the dust settles on months of wheeling and dealing, details continue to emerge about the deals that did go through, and the ones that might have been.

With that in mind, here is Saturday’s United-related transfer speculation...

Details of Eriksen deal revealed

United secured a deal to sign free agent Christian Eriksen by offering him a contract worth £200,000-a-week, as well as a £12million signing-on fee, according to Football Insider.

The Denmark international left Brentford upon the expiration of his short term agreement with the Bees earlier this summer, and became the second signing of Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford.

And while the Red Devils didn’t have to pay a transfer fee to secure his signature, they did reportedly stump up a considerable amount of cash to get the deal over the line.

Both Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur were keen on signing the 30-year-old, but ultimately neither were able to match the three-year offer United tabled, which will pay out around £43 million over the course of it’s duration.

Board vetoed Ziyech

United chiefs denied Ten Hag the opportunity to sign Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech this summer, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The former Ajax attacker was heavily linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge, and at one stage was touted as a potential target for the Red Devils.

But an update from the MEN’s chief football writer Samuel Luckhurst has suggested that the board at Old Trafford put pay to any aspirations of luring the 29-year-old north.

He said: “Apart from the United board vetoing an approach for the Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech (only regarded as a back-up option), Ten Hag enjoyed a near-fully supportive first window as the club broke the £200m barrier in a summer for the first time.”

Gakpo expected United move

Cody Gakpo “thought” he was going to sign for United at one stage this summer, according to the player himself.

As quoted by The Athletic, the PSV Eindhoven winger admitted that a move to Old Trafford looked as if it was on the cards before ulitmately falling through.

He said: “Last week I thought I would go to Manchester and then you may have to choose another club in a week.

“That’s not nice for me and PSV, it feels a bit rushed. Ultimately, the choice fell on PSV.”

The Telegraph reported in mid-August that United “expected” to complete a £34 million deal for the 23-year-old.