Tuesday was Andreas Granqvist day.
FotbollDirekt reported the 33 year old Helsingborg defender is an option for Manchester United in January, according to ‘several secure sources’, in a transfer which could be on a loan basis.
Making the whole thing much stronger, FotbollDirekt quoted Granqvist as saying: “I know that there is a lot of interest for me. United is incredibly flattering but I have not heard anything concrete yet.”
Aftonbladet got Helsingborg’s take, with president Krister Azelius said: “If Andreas and his family would like to move, we cannot close the door for a good deal. I have received the news about interest from Manchester United for Granqvist through the media. Contacts haven’t been brought to the club.
“Several of the younger players in Manchester United’s defence may be better footballers than Andreas, but they lack his managerial skills, routine and attitude.”
Today there hasn’t been a great deal added to the claims, but the Sweden squad has been named and that’s given the media a chance to ask manager Janne Andersson what he thinks.
Andersson has plans to speak to his defender about the whole thing, but didn’t want to be drawn too much into things.
Aftonbladet quote him as saying: “I never react to rumours. There are many others who are good at it. I have not talked to Granqvist, we will see what he says on Monday when we meet, if there is anything in it.”
What Andersson did say is that the veteran defender is likely to be tired after the World Cup. If Manchester United do sign him in January, they’d hope he’s fully refreshed by then.
