Fabrizio Romano transfer news: Ten Hag sack update, Chelsea want Osimhen, De Bruyne to Saudi bomb

Robin Bairner

4 Sept 2024 10:38 BST
4 min read

Fabrizio Romano, the football transfer news expert, has given his take on the latest gossip and rumours, including Erik ten Hag’s position at Manchester United, Chelsea’s ongoing interest in Victor Osimhen and Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne.

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Will Man Utd sack Ten Hag?

Romano explained that Man Utd are willing to be patient with Erik ten Hag amid suggestions that he is already under pressure after a slow start to the season from the Old Trafford side.

“It’s been a complicated start to the season for Manchester United. Brighton and Liverpool were a poor, poor couple of games. Zero points for United and also a big defeat against the Reds. It’s making people think about his future,” he explained on his YouTube channel.

“The position of the club is very, very clear. The CEO and sporting director are both supporting Ten Hag. They’re saying they decided to work together in the transfer market. Ten Hag was absolutely involved in the building of the squad. Manchester United want to involve the manager and they trust the manager. They also believe he’s the right man for this project. To see the CEO Omar Berrada and the CEO Dan Ashworth take that stance was a strong statement from Man Utd. The position internally is that it’s important to see what happens when all the new signings are playing and settled.

“Ten Hag is saying it will take Ugarte weeks or months to get really fit because he didn’t play in pre-season and so his physical condition is a topic. And then Leny Yoro. He was probably the most important signing of the summer for Man Utd. They want to wait for all the players to be fit and to be in condition.

“It’s a very clear position at Manchester United over Ten Hag.”

© IMAGO - Manuel Ugarte in Uruguay action

Osimhen to Chelsea is still on

Chelsea are ready to make another move for Victor Osimhen in the future after failing to agree terms with the Napoli ace this season.

“The appreciation in Osimhen from top clubs around Europe remains. Galatasaray will cover his salary so for Napoli this loan is a good solution, but the appreciation of several clubs, especially Chelsea, remains,” Romano says.

“Chelsea, in the final hour of the summer transfer window, tried to make something happen. The appreciation remains. Let’s see what happens with this option. But what I can tell you for sure is that their appreciation in Osimhen as a player remains.

“There are going to be a few strikers in 2025 to watch. Joao Pedro at Brighton is already appreciated by some top clubs, Benjamin Sesko was already appreciated this summer but at the end of the day stayed with RB Leipzig. And of course the situation of Osimhen is a really interesting one.”

Truth behind De Bruyne to Saudi links

Romano also lifted the lid on the truth on rumours linking Kevin De Bruyne to Saudi Arabia, stating that any talks with the Manchester City star are old news.

“Kevin De Bruyne is waiting to have talks with Manchester City over his future,” Romano said regarding the Belgium star’s contract, which is up next summer.

Current ETV

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

ETV Range

€27.9M - €46.5M

“It’s very important to touch on one point. Remember over the summer transfer window, many people were saying that De Bruyne was going to Saudi. There were no talks and no negotiations. Pep Guardiola said that in pre-season and today [Tuesday] De Bruyne has confirmed that he never held talks over Saudi.

“The only really strong contract took place before the Champions League final against Inter in 2023, when he told them he wanted to continue in Europe and with Manchester City. Maybe there will be something next seasons. But no negotiation was made.”