Where Manchester United go, Chelsea tend to follow.
It has become something of a social media conspiracy in some quarters. Is Todd Boehly simply glancing at the gossip column every morning, noting which players are being targeted by Chelsea’s Premier League rivals, and then going for him themselves?
Of course, not even Clearlake operate so naively. But you can see where the idea comes from.
It was a conspiracy sparked by Chelsea’s hi-jacking of Arsenal’s move for Mykhaylo Mudryk at the start of 2023. The sight of Chelsea outbidding Liverpool for Moises Caicedo last summer only added weight to the argument.
And, 12 months on, Manchester United supporters may be tempted to buy into the theory themselves. The Red Devils scouted Aaron Anselmino but the Boca Juniors defender is now on his way to Stamford Bridge, HITC understands.
Jonathan David and Nico Williams, to name but two, have also been linked with big-money moves to Chelsea after reportedly catching Man United’s eye.
And, according to Fabrizio Romano, all the signs are now pointing to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall following in the footsteps of Enzo Maresca from Championship champions Leicester City to South London.
Manchester United were linked with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Romano, writing on X, reports that Dewsbury-Hall has given the ‘green light’ to Chelsea after a potential swap deal involving Brighton and Hove Albion’s Jakub Moder broke down.
The expectation is that Leicester, who are under pressure from Financial Fair Play, will not stand in Dewsbury-Hall’s way.
Now, this is not another dramatic, eleventh-hour hi-jacking from a club who have made that something of a personal trademark. This is not another Mudryk, Willian or John Obi Mikel situation.
Dewsbury-Hall was on Man United’s radar at the end of last season, per 90Min. But with the Red Devils prioritising a more deep-lying, defensively-minded midfield option, there was never really a particularly high chance that the Nottingham-born 25-year-old would have ended up at Old Trafford.
Paris Saint-Germain enforcer Manuel Ugarte is emerging as Man United’s leading midfield target. The typically tough-tackling Uruguayan is a bonafide, ball-winning monster. Potentially the ideal successor for Casemiro, and maybe the perfect foil for Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes while putting out blazes like Fireman Sam powered by a two-litre bottle of Red Bull.
According to reporter Ben Jacobs, speaking on the MufcMFB YouTube channel, Man United saw an opening bid of £25 million rejected by PSG this week.
From Leicester City to Chelsea
Dewsbury-Hall, in contrast, is more home in a roving number eight role. The type of which Kobbie Mainoo made his own after Christmas. The role Man United also have earmarked for Mason Mount when the £55 million acquisition finally puts those injury issues behind him.
90Min add that Dan Ashworth, who is stil expected to be appointed at Man United at some point despite an ongoing saga with Newcastle, is a big fan of Dewsbury-Hall. The former FA chief attempted to bring the Leicester academy graduate to The Magpies during his time on Tyneside.
But with Man United now focusing their attention elsewhere, and with Brighton now out of the picture, Dewsbury-Hall looks likely to be the latest in a remarkable series of big-money acquisitions made by a Chelsea side who, despite all those millions spent, still look none the wiser about how to translate their potency in the transfer market into points earned on the pitch.