Time is money when a transfer window deadline is approaching and Ed Woodward set an unusual limit on deliberations as negotiations with Bournemouth over Josh King reached a climax, Laurie Whitwell reports.
Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman spoke directly with Neill Blake, ringing Bournemouth’s chief executive and making a final £25 million bid. “You have 15 minutes to tell us whether you accept, or we’ll be signing a player from China,” Woodward is said to have told Blake.
It was certainly one way to apply pressure but Bournemouth were not sure whether this briefest of deadlines was serious and let the 15 minutes elapse as they weighed up the proposal. Sources say it also indicates a certain reticence from Old Trafford to actually complete the deal.
Amid the silence, United, of course, moved on to Odion Ighalo, who had been an initial target when the final week of the winter window opened, and a loan deal for the 30-year-old Shanghai Shenhua striker was wrapped up relatively quickly.