Jordan Pickford’s inconsistency between the sticks led to Everton stepping up their pursuit of a replacement and Sergio Romero was one goalkeeper on our shortlist. We failed to agree a deal with Manchester United for the 33-year-old, however, and Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic has revealed why.
Romero was denied a move
Romero is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after Ole Gunnar Solksjaer named David De Gea, Dean Henderson and Lee Grant in United’s Champions League squad for the season. The Argentine international is in the last year of his deal with United and looks on his way out either this year or next.
The Athletic say we made a deadline day proposal to sign Romero on loan that included a £2m fee and us covering the entirety of his £100k-per-week/£5.2m-a-year wages but United still rejected us. The Red Devils wanted to sell Romero permanently instead.
Romero’s relationship with Solskjaer is reportedly poor too. The 33-year-old wasn’t told that Henderson would be promoted to the No.2 role this season and he’s been training away from the first-team.
Our approach was welcomed by the player, but we ended up signing Robin Olsen on loan from AS Roma as United were unwilling to do business.
Man Utd have screwed themselves
United need to cash in on Romero as they risk losing him for nothing next year, but they turned down £2m and will miss out on £5.2m that would have been saved in wages, so where do they go next?
There’s little chance he’ll play for the Red Devils again and Romero isn’t likely to join a Championship club before the Football League transfer window shuts, so he’ll be stuck in Manchester until January.
United could have made £7m, but their decision to reject our loan bid may cost them money now. It’s hard to see Romero being sold for a lot of money when the winter transfer window opens, so why did the Red Devils accept our offer on deadline day? No other side made a move.