Latest news with #MarkOgden
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Long-term Sesko or short-term Watkins?
Manchester United "can't keep taking punts" on young players with potential, says ESPN senior writer Mark Red Devils have invested in talented forward prospects like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in recent seasons, but these players are yet to show significant returns for the appear to be approaching this transfer window differently with the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo who both already have Premier League question is whether they will continue this through pursuing experience in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins or if they will opt to move for 22-year-old Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig."United over recent years have taken too many gambles on young players," Ogden told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. Rasmus Hojlund being one and Joshua Zirkzee being another. They had a very, very young strike force last year and it could barely score a goal."It is a dilemma, though. They go for a guy [Watkins] who is 29, you probably get a season or two out of him, but if he has a good season and gets them back in the Champions League then it is a return on the investment, however, I think United's view is they would rather play the long game."They have signed two players in their mid-20s in Cunha and Mbeumo and I think with Sesko, the worry is that he could be another Rasmus Hojlund. Although, I feel Sesko is more developed and he has had more time in a top league than Hojlund. He basically had one season at Atalanta, whereas Sesko has had a couple of years in the Bundesliga, plus Champions League experience when playing for Salzburg, so he is the better option."What I think United need is a proven, seasoned goalscorer, but their view is that the investment in Sesko is a better, more long-term option. However, you need to win today and tomorrow rather than just the long-term and United can't keep taking punts for four or five years down the line, they need to be winning now."Listen to the full discussion on BBC SoundsFind your club and sign up for news alerts
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I don't see a down side to this from United's perspective'
ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden says Marcus Rashford's expected move to Barcelona "suits everybody".Rashford has passed a medical before an initial 12-month loan, which includes an option to buy for £30.3m (35m euros).The 27-year-old has not played for United since being dropped by Ruben Amorim for the Manchester derby on 15 December last year, and spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa."I thought at the outset that this is the one club Marcus Rashford would be prepared to take a pay cut to join because it's Barcelona and a dream move for him," Ogden told BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast."I know he's Barcelona's third choice because they missed out on Nico Williams and Luis Diaz - but he's still a player with a big reputation."United fans have fallen out of love with Rashford and this is long overdue him leaving. It's a matter of time before it is done and it suits everybody."Barcelona have agreed to cover Rashford's wages for the duration of his loan after he accepted a 25% pay cut, saving United about £14m."It gets him off the wage bill and might free up some money for United to get another player in," Ogden added."From United's perspective, even if he goes there and has a decent season but they don't sign him, he will come back as a Barcelona player. His value and reputation will remain unless he has an absolute shocker, which I don't think he will."I don't really see a down side to this from United's perspective."Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
🎧 Mbeumo in and Rashford out?
A new episode of The Devils' Advocate is available to listen to and download now on BBC and Joe are joined by ESPN's Mark Ogden to discuss Marcus Rashford's impending move to Barcelona, plus hear from former Brentford defender Ben Mee on Bryan Mbeumo's move to Old to the full episode on BBC Sounds
The Sun
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Man Utd tipped for audacious Caoimhin Kelleher transfer from arch-rivals Liverpool to replace Andre Onana
LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been tipped for a shock move to fierce rivals Manchester United. United's goalkeeper crisis means they could look to sell Andre Onana Altay Bayindir and release Tom Heaton this summer. 1 Onana and No 2 stopper Bayindir are both prone to howlers, with United eyeing a complete reset. Meanwhile Kelleher, capped 22 times for Ireland already, is understood to want to compete for regular minutes. Kelleher secured his second Premier League title with Liverpool this season but only started 10 games with Alisson ahead of him in the pecking order. Prominent United reporter at ESPN Mark Ogden has put Kelleher on his shortlist of potential goalkeepers to replace Onana. Ogden said: "Kelleher wants to move, he wants to play football. "It would be good deal at such a low price to get someone with proven experience in English football." Liverpool value the 26-year-old in excess of £20million, with Brentford also interested. The champions have only been open to selling him since securing Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia last summer. Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford Meanwhile, Aston Villa No 1 Emi Martinez is the bookie's favourite to replace Onana at Old Trafford. SunSport exclusively revealed that Martinez, twice voted Best Goalkeeper in the world, is reportedly up for the challenge. Martinez, 32, fuelled speculation when he broke down in tears and took a bow in front of the Holte End after Villa's final home game of the season. The World Cup winner's contract runs until 2029 but a bid of £40million or more would ease Villa's PSR concerns.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Could Europa League final defeat 'be good in long run' for Man Utd?
Mark Ogden, senior writer for ESPN, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live after Manchester United's loss to Tottenham:"Manchester United is not a happy place on or off the pitch right now."They have just lost a major European final, there's job cuts, the fans are unhappy with the ticket prices, there's the situation with the ownership."This is a massive blow financially. Without the Champions League, they don't have European football next season, so it is a big hit."But in many ways when the dust settles it might be a good thing in the long run."It might make them do things better, recruit better and offload players that have hung around too long that bit quicker."
