Your Hidden Gems or under the radar - Wanted Signings

[JakeTheRed]

I actually think its more like 7 we need based on the likely outgoings: 1 x top striker, 2 x wingbacks, 1 x CM, 1 x AM, 1 x CB and 1 x GK.

Based on yesterday I wouldnt be surprised if Zirkzee starts playing as an AM regularly. I also think we need two wingbacks unless we see the Paraguayan kid coming in straight away, and another AM as I see us parting ways with Garnacho in the summer.

Cheap / Free signings we can look at across those positions:

ST - Jonathan David (I personally think we need better but he's an option)
WB - Lamptey, Reguilon, Walker-Peters (all quite underwhelming but no worse than Dalot)
CM - Angel Gomes, Anguissa, Norgaard
AM - Angel Gomes, Nypan (10-15m), Bardghji (10m)
CB - Ola Aina (could play as a wide CB), Jonathan Tah, Boscagli
GK - Kovar (buy-back)

If we can get at least 3 out of the 7 signings needed from this pile, with the other 4 ranging between £30-60m we can certainly do the necessary business IMO.

My personal picks would be Lamptey or Reguilon for WB, Anguissa or Angel Gomes at CM, Boscagli at CB (as Tah feels unrealistic) and Nypan or Bardghji as AMs

Lamptey would partner Mount perfectly, as a crock.

 

[Giggsy13]

While I like the youth movement and finding signings off the radar, this squad clearly needs some proven talent: Kerkez, Mbuemo and Cunha would be a fantastic start imo, and if it requires selling off Garnacho we should absolutely do it.

 

[Ali Dia]

While I like the youth movement and finding signings off the radar, this squad clearly needs some proven talent: Kerkez, Mbuemo and Cunha would be a fantastic start imo, and if it requires selling off Garnacho we should absolutely do it.

It feels to me to be extreme cost cutting first and foremost given all that's happening with INEOS. Let's see what they actually do in the summer regarding senior players. If this is the new way I can see us struggling for a few years as we search for new stars. I would really like to hear that we've upped our game majorly with data asap. I don't know why we've let that slide so badly

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

It feels to me to be extreme cost cutting first and foremost given all that's happening with INEOS. Let's see what they actually do in the summer regarding senior players. If this is the new way I can see us struggling for a few years as we search for new stars. I would really like to hear that we've upped our game majorly with data asap. I don't know why we've let that slide so badly

I don't even think we've let anything slip. We just came to it about 10/15 years behind the smart clubs. Remember hearing Ted Knutsen from Statsbomb talking about how far behind United were in data about five years ago on his podcast and him saying that it was going to be very difficult to ever catch up with the liverpools, City's and Brightons even back then. It's kind of nuts because these guys compared to players are so cheap but they pay for themselves if they're really good.

 

[FlawlessVictory88]

I don't even think we've let anything slip. We just came to it about 10/15 years behind the smart clubs. Remember hearing Ted Knutsen from Statsbomb talking about how far behind United were in data about five years ago on his podcast and him saying that it was going to be very difficult to ever catch up with the liverpools, City's and Brightons even back then. It's kind of nuts because these guys compared to players are so cheap but they pay for themselves if they're really good.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment it's not that difficult to catch up since United can simply offer the data teams at clubs like Brighton/Brentford more money than they're currently getting paid and accelerate the process.

United shouldn't be starting from scratch they should just be poaching top talent from elsewhere.

 

[stefan92]

Whilst I agree with the sentiment it's not that difficult to catch up since United can simply offer the data teams at clubs like Brighton/Brentford more money than they're currently getting paid and accelerate the process.

United shouldn't be starting from scratch they should just be poaching top talent from elsewhere.

"should" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in this post. So far we see no movement that looks like it should.

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

Whilst I agree with the sentiment it's not that difficult to catch up since United can simply offer the data teams at clubs like Brighton/Brentford more money than they're currently getting paid and accelerate the process.

United shouldn't be starting from scratch they should just be poaching top talent from elsewhere.

Well Ted Knutsen who literally founded statsbomb disagrees with you and try poaching the billionaire owners of Brighton and Brentford because it’s them and their professional gambling models that are behind their success.

 

[FlawlessVictory88]

"should" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in this post. So far we see no movement that looks like it should.

Mark Critchley of the Athletic wrote a piece recently about this subject and there is a team in place now.

Well Ted Knutsen who literally founded statsbomb disagrees with you and try poaching the billionaire owners of Brighton and Brentford because it’s them and their professional gambling models that are behind their success.

Where does he disagree with me?

The billionaire owners aren't processing the data or writing the algorithms, they hire staff for this and those members of staff are very gettable.

 

[Marwood]

You don't need data to sign players. You don't need a team of blokes in a room crunching stats. We know this because great teams were constructed without it for decades.

We also knows this because your average fan could have put together a better team than United's recruitment had over the last decade.

 

[pascell]

Lamptey would partner Mount perfectly, as a crock.

He's also only just moved to Ajax, his body can't keep up with the physical demands of the PL.

 

[FlawlessVictory88]

You don't need data to sign players. You don't need a team of blokes in a room crunching stats. We know this because great teams were constructed without it for decades.

We also knows this because your average fan could have put together a better team than United's recruitment had over the last decade.

Those teams weren't competing against sides who had access to such data.

United are competing against teams who have access to incredibly powerful data which is being used very effectively by our main rivals, namely Liverpool.

This is like saying we don't need computer simulations or data to design our Formula 1 cars and we know this because great cars that won titles were constructed with it for decades.

It's sheer ignorance to think that data isn't incredibly important.

 

[bgoodall]

How much would it cost us to get Patrik Schick?

 

[Marwood]

Those teams weren't competing against sides who had access to such data.

United are competing against teams who have access to incredibly powerful data which is being used very effectively by our main rivals, namely Liverpool.

This is like saying we don't need computer simulations or data to design our Formula 1 cars and we know this because great cars that won titles were constructed with it for decades.

It's sheer ignorance to think that data isn't incredibly important.

Have the data I'm just saying there's no panic because we apparently behind on that. You can still put together a very good team with general scouting.

Look at the talent identified from guys on here over and over again.

I barely watch football and couldn't believe the club didn't move for Dembele, Mané or Van Dijk. Same with Haaland.

 

[Kingslayer18]

Ayyoub Bouaddi - another young diamond that is coming out of the Lille academy. Youngest player to feature in Champions league and second youngest player to record an assist in Ligue 1. Held his own against the Madrid midfield when they played Lille in the group stages. He's only 17 but tall, so will grow into his body as he gets older. He's a good dribbler, physical, good passing ability and is already showing strong defensive characteristics. He could play as a DM or B2B midfielder but I think he will develop as a deep lying playmaker. While I don't think we should be chasing a lot of really young players, when good young players with world class ability pop up, you have to back the talent and go for them. We have a talent deficit at the club, so we need to get more players with potential world class ability into the squad. A lot of big clubs are shadowing him, so if we have the budget in the summer, I would buy him and keep him at Lille on loan for another season or send him to Nice. He would be the long term Erikksen replacement and he would be a good long term partner for Ugarte, Mainoo or Kone such is his skillset. A bit like Warren Zaire Emery who can play with any midfield partner.

 

[LukeTheRed]

What about Damsgaard?

He’s been in great form this season. He’s pretty versatile to.

 

[Yoro]

Been impressed with Ryan Flamingo last couple of times I've seen PSV.

 

[Solius]

Been impressed with Ryan Flamingo last couple of times I've seen PSV.

What a name.

 

[NoPace]

Been impressed with Ryan Flamingo last couple of times I've seen PSV.

I don't remember seeing him the one other time I've caught a PSV game this year, but obviously he stood out last night. Roulette in the 119th minute or whatever was a real "well I guess this guy isn't as tired mentally or physically as the other guys out there" moment.

Boscagli looked good in a Brighton CB sort of "very comfortable on the ball, good decisions defensively, is he strong or fast enough to be a top defender?" sort of way. Should be a genuine bidding war for him on a free, since he's left-footed. If the wages aren't crazy, that would save us some money we could then use elsewhere, and he might be a fairly strong option at either CCB or LCB since he looks like he can pass and read play, which we aren't exactly stocked with in the middle, so if 2 of Mazroaui/Yoro/Lisandro are the wide CBs he could still start.

 

[Tallis]

I don't remember seeing him the one other time I've caught a PSV game this year, but obviously he stood out last night. Roulette in the 119th minute or whatever was a real "well I guess this guy isn't as tired mentally or physically as the other guys out there" moment.

Boscagli looked good in a Brighton CB sort of "very comfortable on the ball, good decisions defensively, is he strong or fast enough to be a top defender?" sort of way. Should be a genuine bidding war for him on a free, since he's left-footed. If the wages aren't crazy, that would save us some money we could then use elsewhere, and he might be a fairly strong option at either CCB or LCB since he looks like he can pass and read play, which we aren't exactly stocked with in the middle, so if 2 of Mazroaui/Yoro/Lisandro are the wide CBs he could still start.

Given he is on a free and his age (experienced but not too old), he could be a sensible signing. Somehow, we never actually make these type of free transfer signings though. Italian clubs do quite well in making this type of signing - I think Inter have done a few like this.

 

[thefrenchy]

Ayyoub Bouaddi - another young diamond that is coming out of the Lille academy. Youngest player to feature in Champions league and second youngest player to record an assist in Ligue 1. Held his own against the Madrid midfield when they played Lille in the group stages. He's only 17 but tall, so will grow into his body as he gets older. He's a good dribbler, physical, good passing ability and is already showing strong defensive characteristics. He could play as a DM or B2B midfielder but I think he will develop as a deep lying playmaker. While I don't think we should be chasing a lot of really young players, when good young players with world class ability pop up, you have to back the talent and go for them. We have a talent deficit at the club, so we need to get more players with potential world class ability into the squad. A lot of big clubs are shadowing him, so if we have the budget in the summer, I would buy him and keep him at Lille on loan for another season or send him to Nice. He would be the long term Erikksen replacement and he would be a good long term partner for Ugarte, Mainoo or Kone such is his skillset. A bit like Warren Zaire Emery who can play with any midfield partner.

Very good player , and if I remember correctly i think that he is a United fan .

 

[Kingslayer18]

Very good player , and if I remember correctly i think that he is a United fan .

I didn't know this, this gives me hope. We need to get Agent Yoro involved but he may be scarred after the dumpster of a season we're having. I think if we're smart and get someone like Ederson who will go straight in the starting lineup and partner Ugarte, then we can take a gamble and get a young player like Bouaddi. A midfield quartet of Ederson, Ugarte, Mainoo and Bouaddi is extremely promising. The right blend of talent, age, athleticism and quality, with Kone and Collyer to back them up. Collyer could even go on loan and get more minutes.

 

[Katy Cat]

Nicolas Kühn? Looks a good player at Celtic, has stood-out in their CL campaign and looks like he could step-up.

 

[AjaxCunian]

Nicolas Kühn? Looks a good player at Celtic, has stood-out in their CL campaign and looks like he could step-up.

Was quite a good player in the Ajax academy, good to see him fulfill his potential.

Having Kuhn and Cico ball out in Europe is a bit side considering the right wing problems at Ajax the last few years.

 

[Sea-Cow]

What about Damsgaard?

He’s been in great form this season. He’s pretty versatile to.

Hes an excellent player and I would love to watch him week in and week out for the lads. The only worry I have is his knee injury could be a problem down the line.

 

[Giggsy13]

Where’s the Paul Pogba thread? Under the radar nuclear missile Pogback 2.0 on its way!?

 

[NoPace]

Given he is on a free and his age (experienced but not too old), he could be a sensible signing. Somehow, we never actually make these type of free transfer signings though. Italian clubs do quite well in making this type of signing - I think Inter have done a few like this.

Probably will happen again and is the right move. Prem can be tougher on CBs without great physical attributes than Serie A.

 

[Malkovich]

There is a kid from ecuador who is looking insane, Edwin Quintero 16 year old. I advise the club to sign him.

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

There is a kid from ecuador who is looking insane, Edwin Quintero 16 year old. I advise the club to sign him.

He's a twin so would keep up a tradition of twins at the club if we signed him and his bro.

 

[SER19]

Omari Hutchinson looks to have real talent. would be a big upgrade on the sancho/rashford shaped germs in our squad

 

[DJ_21]

Omari Hutchinson looks to have real talent. would be a big upgrade on the sancho/rashford shaped germs in our squad

I mentioned him a few days ago on another thread. I like the look of him too. I’d also be looking at Mbuemo, an improvement on Antony/Rashford by a mile.

 

[userman]

I've been saying that we should consider Johnny Cardoso for a while, and I still think he would be a reasonable CM-option this summer with a nice upside/potential to develop.
This season I've also been impressed by his CM-partner Sergi Altimira. For Betis, Cardoso is more the holding mid while Altimira is perhaps the more box-to-box and the passer of the two. Both offers physicality, technique and passing range, and would be fine options to have for our midfield. I know it's unrealistic to sign both, so I would say that one of them would prove be a smart (whichever gap we need to close, holding vs. b2b).

Signing Hayden Hackney from Middlebrough plus Cardoso/Altimira from Betis would be my "hidden gem route" to solve our central mid. For now at least.

 

[elmo]

Mark Critchley of the Athletic wrote a piece recently about this subject and there is a team in place now.


Where does he disagree with me?

The billionaire owners aren't processing the data or writing the algorithms, they hire staff for this and those members of staff are very gettable.

The hard part is in getting the algorithms and data.

 

[aeh1991]

I've been saying that we should consider Johnny Cardoso for a while, and I still think he would be a reasonable CM-option this summer with a nice upside/potential to develop.
This season I've also been impressed by his CM-partner Sergi Altimira. For Betis, Cardoso is more the holding mid while Altimira is perhaps the more box-to-box and the passer of the two. Both offers physicality, technique and passing range, and would be fine options to have for our midfield. I know it's unrealistic to sign both, so I would say that one of them would prove be a smart (whichever gap we need to close, holding vs. b2b).

Signing Hayden Hackney from Middlebrough plus Cardoso/Altimira from Betis would be my "hidden gem route" to solve our central mid. For now at least.

Hackney + Cardoso are good shouts. I just worry that Spurs will make use of their clause to get Cardoso.

 

[userman]

Hackney + Cardoso are good shouts. I just worry that Spurs will make use of their clause to get Cardoso.

Well that option is “just” an option at a set price and/or matching rights, so whatever they decide doesn’t rule out other buyers. It’s basically up to the player to decide.

That option could also be used in our favor though: We already know what they are obligated to accept as Betis have agreed a sale option of €25m with Spurs. Any bids higher than that are in Betis’ best interest to accept. (On the premise that Spurs actually triggers the option)

 

[golden_blunder]

Lewis Ferguson?

 

[bucky]

Lewis Ferguson?

Looked solid before his injury. He just came back from his ACL rupture though. Don't think we need to take the risk.

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

Jhon Solis at Girona. Haven't seen a huge amount of him but have seen him spoken of as playing identical to Carlos Baleba, which is music to my ears and at 20, he'd presumably be cheaper than the 120 trillion Brighton will likely ask for Baleba.

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

Mika “hattrick hero” Biereth

 

[vva]

All players below are pretty good both physical & technical aspect, no weakness on aerial duel and
have bit of good dribbling.

MC
1. Shea Charles - Age 21 Sheffield Wednesday
2. Nectarios Triantis - Age 21 Hibernian

FWL, AMC
1. Malik Tillman - Age 22 PSV

DC
1. Jérémy Jacquet - Age 19 Rennes

 

[daba]

Anyone watch much Ligue 1 and can share any insight about Lamine Camara and Amadou Kone (or any other promising CM/DMs)?