Werner and five stars to reject Man Utd this summer
FT Desk
- Updated: 10 Aug 2022 19:57 BST
- 3 min read
While Manchester United have worked tirelessly to strengthen, no is the word they seem to have heard more often than not this summer.
The Red Devils have missed out on many of their top targets, leading to a transfer window that has been far less busy than most might have imagined.
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Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez have arrived, but they are outnumbered by the stars who have replied to United's interest with little more than a polite refusal.
Timo Werner
Werner endured two unhappy seasons at Chelsea, failing to reproduce the spark he enjoyed while starring for RB Leipzig.
Now the striker has chosen to return to his former club, ignoring United's overtures in the process.
Reports suggest that Erik ten Hag was enthused by the prospect of working with Werner and negotiations were opened over a move, but he preferred instead to go back to the Bundesliga.
Darwin Nunez
Nunez is one of the biggest transfers of the entire window to date, costing Liverpool a reported €100 million to take him from Benfica in July.
But he could have ended up at United instead, after both clubs pursued the Uruguayan earlier in the year.
United may have fallen victims to fate: according to the Athletic, a bout of food poisoning laid Benfica president Rui Costa low during negotiations with the Red Devils and by the time he regained full health, the club had lowered their interest and Liverpool took the lead.
Frenkie de Jong
The Barcelona midfielder was one of United's top targets throughout the window, but the club's insistence in chasing him was only matched by his own stubborn refusal to move to Old Trafford.
De Jong held out the entire summer for Champions League football, a wish he may now receive at none other than United's Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Ryan Gravenberch
In Gravenberch's case, as with De Jong, the influence of former Ajax boss Ten Hag could only go so far.
Ten Hag was keen to bring the talented young midfielder aboard at Old Trafford, but he could only look on as Gravenberch chose a different destination.<
“Manchester United is a very big and beautiful club. But I already had such a good feeling at Bayern Munich and I had given my word," Gravenberch told De Telegraaf after completing his move to the Bundesliga.
Benjamin Sesko
RB Salzburg wonderkid Sesko emerged as a strong choice for United at the end of July, as the club began to doubt their depth in attack amid the continued exit rumours that surround Cristiano Ronaldo.
But the 19-year-old had other ideas, and opted to stay within the Red Bull family with Leipzig - leaving United still scrambling for more alternatives up front.
Read more about: Premier League, Man Utd
