Robin van Persie is edging closer to a move to Fenerbahce after reaching an agreement in principle with the Super Lig side.
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Notts County have signed Togo global Mawouna Amevor on a two-year deal. The Dutchman released a statement saying that he didn’t agree with the direction Arsenal was going. A month before his 32nd birthday and what was probably his worst season in a very long time, the way back to once more being considered an elite striker is blocked for good.
Thirdly, of course, there is the chance that last season was not a blip and that Angel Di Maria is not well suited for one or more of United, Van Gaal or the Premier League.
The world witnessed glimpses of his outrageous talent earlier this year after Manchester United uploaded a video clip of the teenager humiliating a host of Aston Villa defenders during an Under-18 game.
More fundamentally, he’s a player who understands United and its culture – a breed slowly dying out in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. While he did manage 12 goals he only made 21 appearances and his lack of fitness contributed to his team’s failure.
So a season being used as an impact substitute by Van Gaal is not an option for him. Eventually they did find their feet and climbed up the table.
That trio could cost City – who failed to put up a strong defence of their league title and ended up without a trophy last season – an estimated £150 million.
Van Persie has just entered the final year of his Red Devils contract so it is the last chance United would get to secure a fee for his signature.
United’s summer rebuilding is continuing as they pursue a deal with Torino for Italy global right-back Matteo Darmian, which could mean Rafael da Silva is then allowed to leave Old Trafford.
“Van Persie is in a hard situation”.
However, his preferred destination is not where he should go, according to a ex- team-mate.
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Van Gaal has already pledged to take lots of his up-and-coming players out to the United States, where United are set to play three fixtures on the west coast and a fourth in Chicago before the end of July. He’ll always wonder what could have happened had he stayed at the Emirates.
