UNITED RUSH FOR REINFORCEMENTS
MANCHESTER United brought in some desperately needed reinforcements on deadline day, strengthening their defensive options with Alex Telles and landing striker Edinson Cavani.
A day after their humiliating 6-1 Premier League thrashing at home by Tottenham, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed Brazilian left-back Telles from Porto on a four-year deal.
United also tied up a move for prolific Uruguayan striker Cavani, who said: ‘ Manchester United is one of the greatest clubs in the world. It’s a real honour to be here.’ The 34-year-old joins on a one-year deal, with the option to extend for a further year, having left Paris Saint-Germain this summer when his contract expired.
Having only brought in one player in the close season – midfielder Donny van de Beek from Ajax last month – chief executive Ed Woodward has faced mounting pressure to make signings, particularly with United having lost two out of three league games and shipping 11 goals.
With United’s hope of securing long-term target Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in this window over, they are believed to have turned their attention to Barcelona’s France international Ousmane Dembele and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr.
As the clock ticked down, any deal for either player appeared unlikely but United did invest in the future by signing Uruguayan Facundo Pellistri from Penarol and reaching an agreement with Atalanta ‘for the future transfer’ of a second 18year-old winger, Amad Diallo, subject to a medical, personal terms and a work permit.
While United did bring in one defender, another departed Old Trafford as Chris Smalling joined Roma on a permanent deal having spent last season on loan at the Serie A side.
United will pay a fee of £13.5million, plus £1.8m in potential add-ons, for 27-year-old Telles, who scored 26 goals after joining Porto from Galatasaray four years ago.
Solskjaer hailed his new recruit, saying: ‘He is a player we have been tracking for some time and his performances over the past few years are exactly what we are looking for.
‘Alex is a fighter and a winner and will add real determination and competition to the squad.’