Amorim's Rebuild

[gajender]

I don’t think we get top 4/6 without another quality CM either ANd if we show the effort we’ve shown in the last two games. so let’s see how the rest of this season pans out before getting carried away (only to I be ultra frustrated again after)

Re the new signings needed that list is possibly £200-£250m which I’d be surprised if we spend even half of that in the summer.

Main thing next season is to see consistent effort + players fully adopting Amorim’s ideas. I’m not concerned if we don’t get top 4 as long as we see substantial improvement and then next season after let’s see!

Then prepared to be surprised because United's Gross spend would definitely be in and around £200 m or even higher depending on outgoings .

 

[DJ_21]

I don’t think we get top 4/6 without another quality CM either ANd if we show the effort we’ve shown in the last two games. so let’s see how the rest of this season pans out before getting carried away (only to I be ultra frustrated again after)

Re the new signings needed that list is possibly £200-£250m which I’d be surprised if we spend even half of that in the summer.

Main thing next season is to see consistent effort + players fully adopting Amorim’s ideas. I’m not concerned if we don’t get top 4 as long as we see substantial improvement and then next season after let’s see!

The effort part is obviously the main thing to get us high up the table. Our squad is better than forest yet there sitting in 2nd. So I don’t believe it’s all about quality but more so about effort. Put in 100% every week and anything’s possible. With a few additions we will finish top 6. Very important to get a ST. We need a 15+ goals a season ST to help us over the line in some games where we’ll only get few chances.

 

[Gambit]

So other than a youth player, looks like the only business we'll be doing this transfer window is outgoings.

 

[Buster15]

So other than a youth player, looks like the only business we'll be doing this transfer window is outgoings.

The outgoings are really important though. Rashford as a minimum.

 

[DevilRed]

The outgoings are really important though. Rashford as a minimum.

Got to get rid of him and case. Both aren’t used at all. Both aren’t needed.

Would be a priority to get a proper left back in. It feels like his system would work 10x better if we had a functioning competent left sided wing back.

 

[Gambit]

The outgoings are really important though. Rashford as a minimum.

They are but so is getting a striker in.

 

[Buster15]

Got to get rid of him and case. Both aren’t used at all. Both aren’t needed.

Would be a priority to get a proper left back in. It feels like his system would work 10x better if we had a functioning competent left sided wing back.

What did you think of Malacia because I thought he did pretty well when he came on on Sunday.

 

[DevilRed]

What did you think of Malacia because I thought he did pretty well when he came on on Sunday.

I think he’s finished. Never was that good to begin with and he has issues with keeping his fitness at this level/in the prem.

Same with Shaw. We’ve really got to move on from both and bring in players who are more reliable.

 

[Walrus]

I really rate Chukwuemeka at Chelsea. Completely frozen out by Maresca but there is a gem of a player in there. Had a few injury issues but nothing on the level of a Mount or Shaw.

Do a double deal on him and Nkunku - loan with options or obligations to buy, and include something with the Sancho deal the other way to help with the PSR numbers.

 

[Wrecking ralf]

First 3 signings for me need to be Striker, LWB and a CM.

Gyokeres (or someone of similar quality)

Nuno Mendes

Angelo Stiller

3 signings that would improve our team by a few levels and should be under the £200mil limit that I keep seeing mentioned

 

[Telsim]

Yep. For me, it's Gyokeres and Nuno Mendes.

 

[Redfrog]

We need to get ride of a lot of players. Not counting the ones who will leave this summer (Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans ?, Heaton)

Rashford : 300k per week (until 2028)
Casemiro : 350k per week (until 2026)
Antony : 200k per week (until 2027)
Mount : 250 k per week (until 2028)
Shaw : 150 k per week (until 2027)
Malacia : 75 k per week (until 2026)

That’s the minimum we have to get ride for now. Most of them will be very difficult to move.

That shows his much of a shamble we are. We are spending more then a million pounds per week to players who have no contribution at all to the team.

Then we need to buy as a minimum a striker, a right wing-back, a midfielder and a attacking midfielder to even speak about rebuild.

 

[cirilus]

We need to get ride of a lot of players. Not counting the ones who will leave this summer (Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans ?, Heaton)

Rashford : 300k per week (until 2028)
Casemiro : 350k per week (until 2026)
Antony : 200k per week (until 2027)
Mount : 250 k per week (until 2028)
Shaw : 150 k per week (until 2027)
Malacia : 75 k per week (until 2026)

That’s the minimum we have to get ride for now. Most of them will be very difficult to move.

That shows his much of a shamble we are. We are spending more then a million points per week to players who have no contribution at all to the team.

Then we need to buy as a minimum a striker, a right wing-back, a midfielder and a attacking midfielder to even speak about rebuild.

Sometimes you have to add the numbers to have a full notion of the damage done by bad management.

60m a year in salaries for players that dont even enter the squad rotation.

 

[userman]

Considering where we're at both financially and on the football side of things, I wouldn't say that six windows is unrealistic in terms of moving the squad to "where he wants it to be". I assume that is back at the very top. That also aligns with the aim to win the PL by 2028, as communicated by Berrada.

To get there I believe our/Amorims rebuild in terms of transfers must be focused on recruitng young and optimally also PL-proven talent if possible. And I would also add that we shouldn't buy any player above 25y, perhaps with the exception of a striker in his prime if the package is right (haven't had that for years now), to keep any success sustainable and not having to embark on another rebuild in 2029..

I would claim that there is a lot of young and proven talent to pursue in the PL now also among the teams fighting to avoid relegation, with the stand out for me being; Hutchinson and Delap at Ipswich, Fernandes and Dibling at Southampton. Perhaps also Leif Davis who just turned 25. I'd say that all these should be considered as good options and potential steals if their clubs do get relegated.
You could also add the likes of Kerkez, Wharton, and Duran as young potential world class players in the future playing for clubs where they could be attainable for us.

Obviously our priorities in the rebuild should be on LWB, AM and ST, and then on two CM's to rotate Ugarte and Mainoo.
LWB; Mendes, alternatively Kerkez or even Leif Davis (I consider Alphonso Davies to be completely unrealistic).
AM; Hutchinson (if/when Ipswich gets relegated), alternatively Dibling.
ST; Gyokeres/Osimhen (whichever is the more reasonable in terms of fee + wages), alternatively Sesko, Jhon Duran or Delap.
CM's; Wharton if he has a good and injury-free second half, plus Mateus Fernandes.

I'd say that these will provide an improved starting 11, better rotational options, and a more balanced squad. And they are all long term signings that can develop into 2028 title winners.

 

[Adisa]

This one is a write-off, as it seems our hands are tied.

 

[croadyman]

This one is a write-off, as it seems our hands are tied.

They will remain tied until we get some of those high earners off that wage bill

 

[MCDC]

Xavi Simons has 2 years left on his deal in the summer, could he not be looked at for the LAM role? Meaning we could move Bruno further back in CM to provide more competition.

 

[mitchmouse]

I know I'm awful at finance but still don't understand how possibly the biggest name in world football is struggling to buy when Chelsea, and City bung money all over the place - even Arsenal have spent a fortune recently. Yes I know we've got vampires as owners but even so...

 

[RORY65]

I know I'm awful at finance but still don't understand how possibly the biggest name in world football is struggling to buy when Chelsea, and City bung money all over the place - even Arsenal have spent a fortune recently. Yes I know we've got vampires as owners but even so...

We're the 3rd highest spenders and the 5th highest net spenders in the world on transfers this year, we have spent and continue to spend a fortune. The problem is that we have mostly bought shit on huge wages so we can't move any of these players to bring in new ones currently.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

no shocker that the players who clearly should be shipped out care too much about their wages to have the professional decency to care about playing at all

 

[Shabby as she goes]

Who should we target for those positions?

Xavi Simons has 2 years left on his deal in the summer, could he not be looked at for the LAM role? Meaning we could move Bruno further back in CM to provide more competition.

We need LWB, St, CM and AM

AM: we should go for Xavi indeed. Watched his game yesterday and he’s basically responsible for setting up almost every attack for Leipzig. He’s technical, can dribble, has a killer pass. Apart from that, he has an insane work-rate.
Besides that, he’s only 21. Value won’t decrease and can be part of our core team for many years.
Alternatives: Cunha, Kudus.

Striker: considering that Jonathan David is available on a free that’s kind of a no brainer. There’s no proof Gyokeres is any better (he plays in a terrible league) and he’ll cost €80M. Seems like an easy choice to me.
Otherwise, still Gyokeres or Osimhen

LWB: I’d say Nuno Mendes or Kerkez

CM: I’d go for Ederson. Can play CM and DM, so can replace both Mainoo and Ungarte when needed (just like Collyer I guess)

Cost, Xavi €70M, David €10M signing fee, Mendes €40M (?), Ederson €50M. Would make for a good summer

 

[MCDC]

Tyler Dibling - He was absolutely brilliant last night, watched it first hand, just oozed class and could of scored.

I hope Wilcox, has rung up Southampton and said what is your relegation price and already arranged it with his contacts.

I would also enquire about that Mateus Fernandes as well, former Sporting youth product and played brilliantly against us both times this season.

 

[Lennon7]

It might sound daft, but unless it’s for an absolute world beater we should avoid spending over £50/60m on one player

We’ve spunked huge amounts on players we all just knew wouldn’t work out, and it’s a continuing trend for each manager

Sign more players with a similar profile to say Ugarte, Diallo even Hojlund and maybe go all out for someone everyone else wants too. No one wanted Antony or Mount.

 

[tidraKS]

Cunha or Eze would be great shouts for the LW/AM position. If Rashford goes, we absolutely need to find someone to replace him. Our squad is very very thin in attacking positions.

 

[userman]

Considering where we're at both financially and on the football side of things, I wouldn't say that six windows is unrealistic in terms of moving the squad to "where he wants it to be". I assume that is back at the very top. That also aligns with the aim to win the PL by 2028, as communicated by Berrada.

To get there I believe our/Amorims rebuild in terms of transfers must be focused on recruitng young and optimally also PL-proven talent if possible. And I would also add that we shouldn't buy any player above 25y, perhaps with the exception of a striker in his prime if the package is right (haven't had that for years now), to keep any success sustainable and not having to embark on another rebuild in 2029..

I would claim that there is a lot of young and proven talent to pursue in the PL now also among the teams fighting to avoid relegation, with the stand out for me being; Hutchinson and Delap at Ipswich, Fernandes and Dibling at Southampton. Perhaps also Leif Davis who just turned 25. I'd say that all these should be considered as good options and potential steals if their clubs do get relegated.
You could also add the likes of Kerkez, Wharton, and Duran as young potential world class players in the future playing for clubs where they could be attainable for us.

Obviously our priorities in the rebuild should be on LWB, AM and ST, and then on two CM's to rotate Ugarte and Mainoo.
LWB; Mendes, alternatively Kerkez or even Leif Davis (I consider Alphonso Davies to be completely unrealistic).
AM; Hutchinson (if/when Ipswich gets relegated), alternatively Dibling.
ST; Gyokeres/Osimhen (whichever is the more reasonable in terms of fee + wages), alternatively Sesko, Jhon Duran or Delap.
CM's; Wharton if he has a good and injury-free second half, plus Mateus Fernandes.

I'd say that these will provide an improved starting 11, better rotational options, and a more balanced squad. And they are all long term signings that can develop into 2028 title winners.

I terms of potential outgoings I would put our team into these four categories.
Unsellable: Shaw and Mount (due to their injuries)
Must sells: Rashford, Casemiro, Malacia and Antony (for whatever we can get for them).
Expiring contracts: Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans and Heaton.
The rest: More or less everybody is for sale if the price is right, some more than others.

From the “must sells” I would estimate transfer fees in total of around £40m, but almost as important would be getting their wages of the books.

Those with expiring contracts would obviously also cut our wage-costs. Almost all would need replacing though, but by lower paid players.

Among “the rest” of our squad I’d say that there aren’t really that many that would give us a somewhat high-value-sale while at the same time not being crucial to the team.
The stand outs are perhaps Dalot and Garnacho (maybe also one of our strikers since we’re, hopefully, buying a new ST).
I’d argue that Dalot serves a good purpose on the WBs, especially as a viable squad option, and that selling him would force us to also recruit an additional WB on top of the new LWB that we must sign already (a new RWB could wait until next winter/summer).
Despite of being a great talent and a homegrown player I would, with a heavy hart, consider selling Garnacho for £50m+. He’s just not a natural fit in the new system, and a sale would potentially allow us to close several gaps in our squad with players that are better suited.
As for the strikers, Hojlund or Zirkzee, I have a feeling that there’s more of a market for Zirkzee right now. Potentially a very good player but I’m really struggling to see how he’ll fit into Amorims system. And I do also think that Hojlunds could be the better fit long-term of the two, even though he’s completely shot at the moment. .

Say we do sell the “must sells” for £40m + Garnacho for £50m + as well as Zirkzee for £25m = £115m, that gives us a bit of war chest to improve the squad this summer. In combination with what we save in reduced wages, I do think we could have some room for maneuvering this summer.

That said, we need to buy smart, buy young, and don’t give out stupid wages.

 

[Dans]

I know I'm awful at finance but still don't understand how possibly the biggest name in world football is struggling to buy when Chelsea, and City bung money all over the place - even Arsenal have spent a fortune recently. Yes I know we've got vampires as owners but even so...

Both Chelsea and City sell academy graduates for good money. We don't.

 

[ManUnitedCanuck]

We need to get ride of a lot of players. Not counting the ones who will leave this summer (Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans ?, Heaton)

Rashford : 300k per week (until 2028)
Casemiro : 350k per week (until 2026)
Antony : 200k per week (until 2027)
Mount : 250 k per week (until 2028)
Shaw : 150 k per week (until 2027)
Malacia : 75 k per week (until 2026)

That’s the minimum we have to get ride for now. Most of them will be very difficult to move.

That shows his much of a shamble we are. We are spending more then a million pounds per week to players who have no contribution at all to the team.

Then we need to buy as a minimum a striker, a right wing-back, a midfielder and a attacking midfielder to even speak about rebuild.

You get rid of all those players, you will need to buy a lot more than three players. We will be thin in many areas, few injuries and that will be it.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

I terms of potential outgoings I would put our team into these four categories.
Unsellable: Shaw and Mount (due to their injuries)
Must sells: Rashford, Casemiro, Malacia and Antony (for whatever we can get for them).
Expiring contracts: Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans and Heaton.
The rest: More or less everybody is for sale if the price is right, some more than others.

From the “must sells” I would estimate transfer fees in total of around £40m, but almost as important would be getting their wages of the books.

Those with expiring contracts would obviously also cut our wage-costs. Almost all would need replacing though, but by lower paid players.

Among “the rest” of our squad I’d say that there aren’t really that many that would give us a somewhat high-value-sale while at the same time not being crucial to the team.
The stand outs are perhaps Dalot and Garnacho (maybe also one of our strikers since we’re, hopefully, buying a new ST).
I’d argue that Dalot serves a good purpose on the WBs, especially as a viable squad option, and that selling him would force us to also recruit an additional WB on top of the new LWB that we must sign already (a new RWB could wait until next winter/summer).
Despite of being a great talent and a homegrown player I would, with a heavy hart, consider selling Garnacho for £50m+. He’s just not a natural fit in the new system, and a sale would potentially allow us to close several gaps in our squad with players that are better suited.
As for the strikers, Hojlund or Zirkzee, I have a feeling that there’s more of a market for Zirkzee right now. Potentially a very good player but I’m really struggling to see how he’ll fit into Amorims system. And I do also think that Hojlunds could be the better fit long-term of the two, even though he’s completely shot at the moment. .

Say we do sell the “must sells” for £40m + Garnacho for £50m + as well as Zirkzee for £25m = £115m, that gives us a bit of war chest to improve the squad this summer. In combination with what we save in reduced wages, I do think we could have some room for maneuvering this summer.

That said, we need to buy smart, buy young, and don’t give out stupid wages.

Agree with the names you have at the top. Almost certain I’d say that none of the four with contracts expiring will get a new deal. Unfortunately I could see all bar Casemiro on the must sells there only attracting loan bids at the moment. And Casemiro to Saudi seems to have gone quiet again. None of which is ideal.

 

[aeh1991]

I know LCB is not top priority right now, and I'm not talking about this window, but a player I would love us to sign is Jorrel Hato. With him and Yoro we would have two of the biggest CB prospects on the LCB and RCB positions. I'm still a bit angry about missing out on Gvardiol and I have the feeling Vuskovic (young CB talent at Westerlo, moving to Spurs in 2026) will be another missed opportunity. Hato would cost quite a lot, but I'd rather spend that money on him than on Branthwaite or Inacio. He's the perfect player to replace Martinez. Despite also being only 1.82, he is rapidly fast which is a huge contrast to Licha.

 

[Top_Bins]

Tyler Dibling - He was absolutely brilliant last night, watched it first hand, just oozed class and could of scored.

I hope Wilcox, has rung up Southampton and said what is your relegation price and already arranged it with his contacts.

I would also enquire about that Mateus Fernandes as well, former Sporting youth product and played brilliantly against us both times this season.

This. Fernandez is going to be a real steal for a club if Southampton go down.
Their winger was rapid but has no end product, sadly. Poor Man's Mane.
Dibling looks good but I feel he's very similar to Smith-Rowe, but younger.
Gonna be interesting to see how he develops.

 

[Redfrog]

You get rid of all those players, you will need to buy a lot more than three players. We will be thin in many areas, few injuries and that will be it.

They don’t play at all. I don’t see why to keep underperforming, overpaid players who don’t play.

 

[MadDogg]

Back when we had the DOF debate many good points were made of buying system.splayers that would fit different managers long term, so we didnt have to but a set of distinct players for Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjær, etc.

Now we need to buy a dedicated wingback only for Amorim’s system even if we dont know if Amorim will turn it around. Ultimately we’re forced to back him and get the player(s) for his system. A system few teams play, where said wingback will have little suitors when Amorim’s gone.

Therefore, I’m a bit against splashing 40-60m on a guy like that + We have one of the biggest talents in Garnacho going to waste mostly because he doesnt fit the system.

Therefore, I’d be cool with a Chilwell loan if he has maintained his form. He has the attacking qualities we lack. Can cross and has a good talent for positioning himself in attack.

It's fine to have a couple of players who are mostly suited to the specific style of the manager. The key is that it's only a couple, so it's still relatively easy to switch to something different. Most managers will have particular positions that they want specific traits in that might not line up with what the next guy wants even if they play the same formation in theory. As long as most of the team is made up of players that have the basics of technical ability, athleticism and work rate then most will be able to fit in just about any formation with some training and time to get used to it.

 

[userman]

Agree with the names you have at the top. Almost certain I’d say that none of the four with contracts expiring will get a new deal. Unfortunately I could see all bar Casemiro on the must sells there only attracting loan bids at the moment. And Casemiro to Saudi seems to have gone quiet again. None of which is ideal.

You might just be correct, especially at the moment, but hopefully something materializes in the summer with all of them. A good loan spell from now until summer will hopefully help with a Rashford-sale. The timing of a Casemiro sale would be better for all parties in the summer (lower price/book value etc.). Fingers crossed Malacia shows just enough improvements in the second half of the season for someone to cough up £5m to get him permanent in the summer. Antony will probably just be a loan no matter what, unless we're willing to take the hit on his remaining book value...which wouldn't really make sence given the PSR-situation we find ourselves in.

 

[MCDC]

This. Fernandez is going to be a real steal for a club if Southampton go down.
Their winger was rapid but has no end product, sadly. Poor Man's Mane.
Dibling looks good but I feel he's very similar to Smith-Rowe, but younger.
Gonna be interesting to see how he develops.

I think for the price of what Mbeumo is rumoured at, you could probably sign both of these, not that i am against Mbeumo just we have to be savy in the market.

Fernandez ticks all the boxes for that midfield, Dibling just cut us apart with his dribbling, something we truly lack.

 

[croadyman]

no shocker that the players who clearly should be shipped out care too much about their wages to have the professional decency to care about playing at all

Yeah they are happy to sit it out on bench

 

[sullydnl]

Two thoughts:

1) Our CEO reportedly said at the start of the season that our "ambitious" aim was to win the title again by 2028. Six transfer windows from now is indeed the start of the 27/28 season. So assuming "win the title" is an approximation for where we want to be, six transfer windows is if anything an overly optimistic timeframe. It could easily be longer.

2) At the same time, there are other key markers of progress and ambition before you reach that point. In Liverpool's case for example, they appeared in two CL finals before they actually won a league title. "Where we want to be" isn't necessarily the same as "where we're very happy to be relative to previous years".

 

[ManUnitedCanuck]

They don’t play at all. I don’t see why to keep underperforming, overpaid players who don’t play.

I'm not saying keep them all, but if you get rid of them, they will need replacing. You can't have a small squad with matches every three days and considering injuries.

 

[UpWithRivers]

I'm not saying keep them all, but if you get rid of them, they will need replacing. You can't have a small squad with matches every three days and considering injuries.

Just get free transfers.
Casemiro - Anguissa
Malacia - Tyrich Mitchell
Rashford - Jonathan David
Antony - Angel Gomez
Mount / Shaw - Replaced with first teamers - Davies free but unlikely. Else Nuno Mendez etc and Ederson

 

[Roboc7]

We have to get a LWB, I’d be happy with Ait Noiri, Kerkez or Robinson, maybe Dorgu as a cheaper option.

I’d also bring in Cunha, Jobe Bellingham and Dibling to inject some pace and physicality into the team. Maybe a cheap option like Essugo to bulk up the midfield and just make do in defence for a year.

The big one left is of course a striker, it’s slim pickings and even spending a fortune doesn’t buy you a lot. I suppose it’s either take a big gamble on Gyokeres or take a punt on someone like Delap.

I think a younger, up and coming team that can buy into, and has the physical ability to do what the manager wants to do is the first step forward, then and the add top quality over time. We need to spread our money around rather than throw it all at a couple of players, especially as big money, highly paid players that fail just halt any progress when you can’t offload them.

 

[Baneofthegame]

Surprised Caqueret went for only 15 million euros, would of liked him here.