Chong and Rojo Set to Leave
Tahith Chong and Marcos Rojo have previously expressed their desire to move away from Old Trafford sooner rather than later, and reports today claim potential suitors for a January move. Juventus are rumored to be getting a proposal ready for Chong, while Fenerbahce is set to move on Rojo.
Chong’s proposal appears to be along the lines of a £35,000-per-week offer and a £2 million signing bonus if the young Dutchman stays at Manchester United until the summer and then leaves on a free transfer.
As of now, Chong has six months left on his United contract and is therefore free to talk to other European teams, but United remain hopeful to resign the young midfielder who is coming off a start last weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 3rd round FA Cup match.
United are set to meet with Chong and his representatives next week and when asked about a potential move, a United source said “the club hasn’t given up hope. Tahith knows how highly we rate him. Juventus are apparently pushing quite hard, so it must be quite a difficult time for him,” adding, “United have consistently shown that young players here don’t need to chase the money elsewhere.”
Meanwhile, Marcos Rojo, United’s forgotten man, appears to be getting an offer from Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce who unsuccessfully tried to sign him last summer.
Rojo has 18 months on his United contract but expressed his desire to move back in September, citing the desire to play first team games and increased competition in the center-back position.
Signed for £16million in 2014, Rojo’s current contract is around £160,000-a-week at United and the Argentinian has featured in 123 United games out of a possible 305. It is rumored that he is seeking a £3.5m-a-season deal.
Fenerbahce team officials claim United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given Rojo the green light to leave in January.
Can and Rabiot not leaving Juventus
Two players on United’s wish list, Emre Can and Adrien Rabiot, will not be coming to Old Trafford this January.
Juventus club director Fabio Paratici, who handles Juventus’ transfer negotiations, recently told Sport Italia that the duo will not be leaving anytime soon. “I can exclude Emre Can leaving, as he will certainly remain with us. On Rabiot, he said, “We are confident. Rabiot is an important player and a guarantee for Juve, not a question mark or a doubt.”
Earlier in the season, the Sun reported that Can, an ex-Liverpool player, was growing unhappy at Juventus despite only joining the Italian team in 2018. He was left out of the Champions League squad and has started just twice all season under head coach Maurizio Sarri, and was linked to a potential trade with United to get Paul Pogba back to the Turin side.
Rabiot, who joined Juventus from PSG after rejecting offers from United, Arsenal, and Tottenham last transfer window, is finally seeing his playing time in Sarri’s lineup increase after a slow start with his new team.
Paratici added this about the 24-year-old Frenchman, “Rabiot arrived here after not playing for eight months. It’s only natural on a physical level he should take time to adapt. He paid the price for that, but he has done well when used.”