READING HAVE SIGNED defender Tyler Blackett from Manchester United on a three-year deal, while Cameron Borthwick-Jackson will spend the 2016-17 season on loan at Championship side Wolves.
Blackett was handed a surprise debut in Louis van Gaal’s first Premier League game in charge of United in August 2014, a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City, and went on to make 12 first-team appearances that season.
The 22-year-old spent last term on loan with Celtic, but only played eight times for the Scottish champions and, with a route into Jose Mourinho’s first-team plans appearing unlikely, he will continue his career under former United fans’ favourite Jaap Stam in the Championship.
“As we know, Tyler is a talented defender who has played for United’s first team,” said Reading boss Stam.
“He can play as a left-back or a left-sided centre-back; he has got great potential in the sense that he is quick and athletic, defensively he is strong and he is good at set-pieces.
As a defender he can go and play high up the pitch as well and that is what we need in the squad.”
Blackett is the latest defensive United academy product to leave the club during the current transfer window after Paddy McNair and Donald Love — both of whom also made debuts under Van Gaal — moved to Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Borthwick-Jackson broke into the United team under Louis van Gaal last season as injuries left them without a number of key players at the full-back position.
The 19-year-old, who signed a new contract in May which will tie him to Old Trafford until 2020, made 10 Premier League appearances as his side finished fifth in the table.
However, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia have been first choice full-backs for new manager Jose Mourinho in the early games of this campaign, leaving Borthwick-Jackson on the sidelines.
In addition, Stoke City are interested in Manchester United defender Phil Jones as assistant Mark Bowen said “something may happen”.
Jones, 24, has been riddled by injuries throughout his career and appears set for a battle to earn a regular place at United.
Mark Hughes is believed to be keen to bring Jones to the club and Bowen confirmed there was a level of interest.
I remember Sam Allardyce talking about him when he broke through and said he was the new Duncan Edwards,” he told the Stoke Sentinel.
“He did well as a youngster, got the big move, but it hasn’t worked out for him there. I don’t know how close we are or how far down the line it’s gone.
“He’s played the majority of his career at centre half, but in his younger days he went into midfield as well.
“I don’t know what’s gone wrong, but he’s gone from even a player Fergie [Alex Ferguson] was talking about as being someone who could have been one of the greats.
But we have a bit of reputation for bringing players like that into this set up and then thriving. Fingers crossed, something may happen.”
Jones managed just 10 Premier League appearances last season and was left out of the squad for United’s two opening wins of this campaign.
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Said it on the betting article yesterday it would be 3-1 so no surprises. Congrats to Bayern well deserved but its clear to see they are within touching distance every season. The 3 frogs at the back for them did a fantastic job milking every contact and rolling about. Other than that no complaints. Sad to say but I think Zagadou will be shown the door after that first half. Much better in the 2nd by the whole team however.
Back to the drawing board for next season – Haaland out funding Adeyemi and another no.9… Akanji off to the Prem (United probably) and Schlotterbeck in for a €20mil replacement to play with Süle. Hazard/Schulz/Bürki/Witsel/Zagadou etc out and see what we can do with the spare change. Hope Can is kept and maybe give Brandt another season but who knows.
@Ultan Corcoran: you have a keen interest in german football so can i ask how do Bayern have such an advantage over all the other sides and can sweep up all the best opposition players when they are under the same 50+1 ownership structure?.
@dublindamo: Guessing it’s a financial sponsorship advantage plus huge captive audience? Also bringing through youth like Musiala would get in any PL team right now.
@dublindamo: Yeah love it to bits. Basically a lot of what Dan said below. So they do follow the 50+1 rule which is great but along with being a hugely supported club their shareholders can provide massive investment relative to Dortmund/Leipzig and the rest. 75% of the club is fan owned (nonetheless some of these shareholders are extremely wealthy) and the remaining 25% is equally shared (3 × 8.33% splits) between the brand Adidas, Allianz insurance, and Audi Car Co from Bavaria.
Even tho they are minted, they’re nowhere near the other European giants for example they can’t enter the Haaland race because of his wages..currently struggling to hold onto Gnabry and Lewa as we speak!
Some defending there today that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the U8s. Dortmund are stuck in a perpetual rebuild and Bayern are getting an easy run on the back of their Stability. Right now though, Dortmund are probably 5 signings off competing next year – do they have the finances to do that? Probably not.
@Jakim Berndsen: Totally agree hahaha Zaga had another clanger. Thank god Hitz is only a back up too I’ve seen milk turn faster than that man. I think we’re gradually getting better but it’s about striking the balance with no injuries… Haaland/Akanji/Hazard/Witsel/Zaga + 1 or 2 more is about €120 mil… put about €60 of that into Adayemi & Schlotterbeck, + another 1 or 2 with the remaining 30 or 40mil and who knows.
Bayern will be doing well just to resign key contracts too this year.
Yawn…that is all!