Bernardo Silva | Bouhafsi - 70m Euros, 5 year contract. Going to City CONFIRMED

[DWelbz19]

"They also do not exclude the possibility the Premier League club have also sorted out a first refusal option, which would force Monaco to notify the Red Devils if someone were to bid for Silva to allow them to match the offer."

... How would we have that in place?

 

[3KDré]

I don't think United want to develop players. After his injury Bernardo struggled last season and I'm pretty sure that he would have been sold if he was playing for a club like United.

I don't think we do either, just my preference.

 

[Adam-Utd]

"They also do not exclude the possibility the Premier League club have also sorted out a first refusal option, which would force Monaco to notify the Red Devils if someone were to bid for Silva to allow them to match the offer."

... How would we have that in place?

Maybe part of the Martial deal? it's probably rubbish anyway. We just asked mendes to let us know of any series interest before it goes too far.

 

[NYAS]

We're not getting both him and Griezmann. Let's assume our most attacking line-up next season consists of the striker and 3 behind him (not a 4-3-3). Zlatan will still be the main man up front and that would leave 3 places. We could probably agree that the likes of Rashford, Mata, Rooney, Lingard and Young will be used as squad options (if none leave) based on their relative qualities and the levels we want to reach regarding our starting 11. That leaves Martial on the left and Mkhitaryan either on the right or through the middle. One place would remain which would probably go to Griezmann.

Now if Tony leaves, I could see us getting Bernardo but honestly, even in that case, if we had to replace him I would much rather a traditional winger with flair, pace and star quality to give us an option outside the full-back. We're already low on numbers regarding such players and no matter how well Silva has played wide in Monaco's 4-4-2 system this season, he always cuts in and their system is usually reliant on the full-backs providing the width.

 

[Adam-Utd]

We're not getting both him and Griezmann. Let's assume our most attacking line-up next season consists of the striker and 3 behind him (not a 4-3-3). Zlatan will still be the main man up front and that would leave 3 places. We could probably agree that the likes of Rashford, Mata, Rooney, Lingard and Young will be used as squad options (if none leave) based on their relative qualities and the levels we want to reach regarding our starting 11. That leaves Martial on the left and Mkhitaryan either on the right or through the middle. One place would remain which would probably go to Griezmann.

Now if Tony leaves, I could see us getting Bernardo but honestly, even in that case, if we had to replace him I would much rather a traditional winger with flair, pace and star quality to give us an option outside the full-back. We're already low on numbers regarding such players and no matter how well Silva has played wide in Monaco's 4-4-2 system this season, he always cuts in and their system is usually reliant on the full-backs providing the width.

Why not? We need another wide player and a striker. Mourinho has stated that already.

 

[NYAS]

Why not? We need another wide player and a striker. Mourinho has stated that already.

Where did he state that? And I mentioned why in my post; unless we're selling two of Martial, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rooney and Lingard, we'll be overloaded with Griezmann and Bernardo Silva. Tell me, how would you fit Zlatan, Bernardo Silva, Griezmann, Martial and Mkhitaryan into a front 4 without selling Martial?

 

[pocco]

I'd love to see him playing for us. He's just one of those supremely talented players that wouldn't look out of place at any of the top teams, and he's only 22.

I'm not a big fan of going all out and spending loads of money all the time, but if we brought in him and Griezmann we'd have a mouthwatering attack. I'm starting to think more and more that Griezmann will be deployed as a striker, so there is room for him in the team. It'll probably spell the end for Mata but i think he's off in the summer anyway.

 

[Nick.]

Where did he state that? And I mentioned why in my post; unless we're selling two of Martial, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rooney and Lingard, we'll be overloaded with Griezmann and Bernardo Silva. Tell me, how would you fit Zlatan, Bernardo Silva, Griezmann, Martial and Mkhitaryan into a front 4 without selling Martial?

You can't. So if you're Mourinho you might just sell Martial, or Zlatan if those reports about Napoli are true. I know Martial said on Twitter not to listen to the papers but the fact is he's not playing and tracking back also isn't a big part of his game. Mourinho wanted Eden Hazard to track back, that's how important the defensive work rate is to him. So maybe he's thinking sell Martial for £50-60m and buy Bernardo since he needs results next season.

I guess the obvious alternative is to rotate a lot but Mourinho isn't known for doing that to be fair.

 

[izec]

Yes please, get him in. Him and Mkhitaryan together will be

 

[Adam-Utd]

Where did he state that? And I mentioned why in my post; unless we're selling two of Martial, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rooney and Lingard, we'll be overloaded with Griezmann and Bernardo Silva. Tell me, how would you fit Zlatan, Bernardo Silva, Griezmann, Martial and Mkhitaryan into a front 4 without selling Martial?

Zlatan and rooney won't be here still in 2 years. If they have to rotate for a couple of seasons then so be it.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

"They also do not exclude the possibility the Premier League club have also sorted out a first refusal option, which would force Monaco to notify the Red Devils if someone were to bid for Silva to allow them to match the offer."

... How would we have that in place?

Pay them for the "option" perhaps?

 

[cyberman]

Where did he state that? And I mentioned why in my post; unless we're selling two of Martial, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rooney and Lingard, we'll be overloaded with Griezmann and Bernardo Silva. Tell me, how would you fit Zlatan, Bernardo Silva, Griezmann, Martial and Mkhitaryan into a front 4 without selling Martial?

I honestly don't think Zlatan will be here next season but you've just mentioned 5 names for 4 positions which isn't a problem.

 

[Peyroteo]

I've watched him for years. Big big talent. Should be a starter in our national team.

How do you think our front 6 will look like in the next qualifier? And how would you like it to be?

 

[Nick.]

Really like the look of this guy but how can we afford Griezmann + Silva + Carrick replacement + possibly left-back (and optional right-back like Semedo too)??

I know we're rich but players don't come cheap, we'd be spending probably £200m+... probably not happening.

 

[Womp]

Really like the look of this guy but how can we afford Griezmann + Silva + Carrick replacement + possibly left-back (and optional right-back like Semedo too)??

I know we're rich but players don't come cheap, we'd be spending probably £200m+... probably not happening.

We have 50 million from Morgan and Memphis, we'd be selling Rooney, Young, Darmian, Schweinsteiger. Shaw, Fellaini and Smalling might leave as well. That'd get us around at least another 50+ whilst clearing some huge wages.

We could afford it easily.

 

[NYAS]

I honestly don't think Zlatan will be here next season but you've just mentioned 5 names for 4 positions which isn't a problem.

5 names for 4 positions isn't a problem, but when you put it into context those are 5 players who expect to be starting and who's quality/potential demand it. In reality it's about double that amount of players when you count the back-ups.

I'm all for adding top quality talents to our team but I'd like it to be done in a more structured way.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

We have 50 million from Morgan and Memphis, we'd be selling Rooney, Young, Darmian, Schweinsteiger. Shaw, Fellaini and Smalling might leave as well. That'd get us around at least another 50+ whilst clearing some huge wages.

We could afford it easily.

An overhaul like that would be pure insanity IMO.

 

[Damien]

Really like the look of this guy but how can we afford Griezmann + Silva + Carrick replacement + possibly left-back (and optional right-back like Semedo too)??

I know we're rich but players don't come cheap, we'd be spending probably £200m+... probably not happening.

If we're getting both Griezmann and Silva then Martial will be on the way out which should recoup a fair bit of the money.

 

[AndyJ1985]

An overhaul like that would be pure insanity IMO.

Yeah definitely, bringing in several brilliant players and getting rid of dross would be mental.

 

[Womp]

An overhaul like that would be pure insanity IMO.

Hardly, the first 4 mentioned names are deadwood/past it. We'd most likely either have the money to buy replacements or we'd give chances to Periera/Tuanzebe/TFM etc; in the games that aren't as important.

The ones mentioned have barely featured this season because it's obvious they're just not up for it anymore. Still not sure on Shaw, Smalling and Fellaini because I think they can still do a job for us but not sure if they'd want to stay.

 

[Womp]

---------Griezmann
Martial------MickyT---------Silva
--------Pogba---------(New destroyer CM)

 

[bosnian_red]

Why not? We need another wide player and a striker. Mourinho has stated that already.

We need a different type of player to Bernardo Silva... Ideally a pacier, proper winger type player. Griezmann isn't that either but he's a goalscorer and would probably play up top for us or just off the main striker. Silva would basically be like Mata here at United, it's just a bit of a pointless signing though he is class. We have Mkhitaryan and Mata, two potential top class #10's, what we need is the tricky, pacy wingers to play on the right or the left wing. Martial will hopefully lock down the left, but really, nobody else is good enough for either wing (Miki on the right but he's better in the middle).

 

[cyberman]

5 names for 4 positions isn't a problem, but when you put it into context those are 5 players who expect to be starting and who's quality/potential demand it. In reality it's about double that amount of players when you count the back-ups.

I'm all for adding top quality talents to our team but I'd like it to be done in a more structured way.

Not signing a 22 year old because a 36 year old will be upset is madness though.
Take out Ibra and everyone fits.

 

[Eckers99]

An overhaul like that would be pure insanity IMO.

It would, which is why it won't happen. Woodward himself has said there won't be anything like the churn of recent seasons. We'll be looking at 2/3 coming in and the same going.

 

[NYAS]

Not signing a 22 year old because a 36 year old will be upset is madness though.
Take out Ibra and everyone fits.

I know, but I can't see Griezmann being Ibra's direct replacement so I would guess that if the big man leaves, another striker will come in.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

Yeah definitely, bringing in several brilliant players and getting rid of dross would be mental.

Surely you can see that such a turnover in such a short time would be a bad idea. I was very much against Fergies 'value' policies, but buying players for 200 million £ in one single window while throwing out decent squad players in Rooney, Fellaini, Smalling, Shaw and Darmian would be pure stupidity, as replacing them will cost a fortune with no guarantee of an improvement. It's just a horrible way of building a team. How much money have we spent over the last years to be behind Spurs for the 3rd time in 4 seasons, a team who's probably not spent a third of what we have in transfer fees.

 

[Womp]

It would, which is why it won't happen. Woodward himself has said there won't be anything like the churn of recent seasons. We'll be looking at 2/3 coming in and the same going.

How exactly is keeping players who have barely featured and are obviously past it the wrong decision, if I may ask? They can barely get a sniff in this current team, they'd be even less relevant if we were to further improve the squad which we will most likely end up doing. They are all on very high wages yet offer nothing to the team.

I'd argue if we were to keep them around that would be the wrong decision.

Surely you can see that such a turnover in such a short time would be a bad idea. I was very much against Fergies 'value' policies, but buying players for 200 million £ in one single window while throwing out decent squad players in Rooney, Fellaini, Smalling, Shaw and Darmian would be pure stupidity, as replacing them will cost a fortune with no guarantee of an improvement. It's just a horrible way of building a team. How much money have we spent over the last years to be behind Spurs for the 3rd time in 4 seasons, a team who's probably not spent a third of what we have in transfer fees.

Rooney is barely featuring and is on 300k a week, Darmian isn't good enough and as I've said Fellaini, Smalling and Shaw is purely down to whether or not they'd want to leave as they can still do a job.

Spurs haven't gotten to where they are by hanging onto has been players. That's the opposite of what we've done. Rooney is no longer good enough and when we further strengthen next season he's going to be even less relevant, Schweinsteiger is already half way out the door, Young just isn't good enough anymore and Darmian is average at best. Not improving on dross because you're worried the improvements might be worse is the worst possible decision we can make. Lets basically stay stagnant and keep players on high wages who don't offer anything to the team because the replacements might be just as bad (which I find very hard to believe mind, especially given Jose's record with transfers with us).

 

[broccoli]

How do you think our front 6 will look like in the next qualifier? And how would you like it to be?

CR7
Silva Gelson
Gomes Adrian/Moutinho
Danilo

João Moutinho is in good shape but Adrian offers more going forward.

 

[Adnan]

Le10 Sport is as bad as it gets as far as reliability goes in France. They must be the equivalent of the Daily Star with all the bullcrap they print.

 

[Raees]

Surely you can see that such a turnover in such a short time would be a bad idea. I was very much against Fergies 'value' policies, but buying players for 200 million £ in one single window while throwing out decent squad players in Rooney, Fellaini, Smalling, Shaw and Darmian would be pure stupidity, as replacing them will cost a fortune with no guarantee of an improvement. It's just a horrible way of building a team. How much money have we spent over the last years to be behind Spurs for the 3rd time in 4 seasons, a team who's probably not spent a third of what we have in transfer fees.

It's served us so well keeping that dross hasn't it.

Chelsea revamped their side in 03/04 and City did it too.

As long as you spend well it's the best way of making an instant impact.

No point holding on to shit players for the sake of it. We've finished 7th, 4th, 5th and now we're 6th. Wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

It's served us so well keeping that dross hasn't it.

Chelsea revamped their side in 03/04 and City did it too.

As long as you spend well it's the best way of making an instant impact.

No point holding on to shit players for the sake of it. We've finished 7th, 4th, 5th and now we're 6th. Wake up and smell the coffee.

We've been throwing ridiculous money at the problem for three consecutive seasons and it's gotten us nowhere. City have done the same and find themselves in a similar position. Arsenal, Tottenham have been the most stable clubs and it's not due to spending a shitload of money at the problem. How many of the players in their squads have not been deemed worthless and laughed at in recent years? Walker, Lamela, Cahill, Luiz, Moses, Giroud etc are now important players for teams better than ours.

Who are these shit players we're holding on to? I'm not asking for us to keep shit players, players like Schweinsteiger and Young are not contributing anything and are free to leave in my book. But this forum is generally fecking shit at identifying these 'useless' players and it's not about having a galactico starting eleven, we already have that. There are more important things to building a successful team than that.

 

[Raees]

We've been throwing ridiculous money at the problem for three consecutive seasons and it's gotten us nowhere. City have done the same and find themselves in a similar position. Arsenal, Tottenham have been the most stable clubs and it's not due to spending a shitload of money at the problem. How many of the players in their squads have not been deemed worthless and laughed at in recent years? Walker, Lamela, Cahill, Luiz, Moses, Giroud etc are now important players for teams better than ours.

Who are these shit players we're holding on to? I'm not asking for us to keep shit players, players like Schweinsteiger and Young are not contributing anything and are free to leave in my book. But this forum is generally fecking shit at identifying these 'useless' players and it's not about having a galactico starting eleven, we already have that. There are more important things to building a successful team than that.

The likes of Barca, Real, Bayern.. they make their big signings and for the most part pull it off quite well. United have been notoriously wasteful in the money we have spent. Nevertheless if you look at our team this season, who have been the best players? Bailly has been our best defender pre injury, Mkhi has been our most electric attacker and looks like the key man right now and Zlatan has scored all our goals. Pogba has been poor, but is still a key component of the side.. so tell me, has that money not helped this side in a huge way? Would spending money on another 5 players of that quality across the side, not massively improve our fortunes on the pitch.. imagine a new full back, a CB partner for Bailly, a proper CDM/CM, a proper wide player, and a genuine at his peak CF. If you ask me we're still about 7 players short of a top side, which I doubt can get rectified in one window but a left back, CDM, wide man and a CF should be priorities this summer.

Throwing money at shit players is of course silly.. but the money in of itself isn't the issue. It is the scouting that goes with it and the lack of due diligence of what you're getting.

Shit player list

• Damian
• Rooney
• Schweinsteiger
• Young
• Fellaini
• Wilson
• Depay

Offering nothing to the side right now

• Shaw

Players who aren't good enough for our long term first XI (need to be sold or made squad players going forwards)

• Smalling
• Jones
• Carrick
• Blind

Lots of dross there IMO. Half the squad there is not really what I'd call a player who can genuinely push for a starting berth for a title challenging club.

 

[Eckers99]

How exactly is keeping players who have barely featured and are obviously past it the wrong decision, if I may ask? They can barely get a sniff in this current team, they'd be even less relevant if we were to further improve the squad which we will most likely end up doing. They are all on very high wages yet offer nothing to the team.

I'd argue if we were to keep them around that would be the wrong decision.



Rooney is barely featuring and is on 300k a week, Darmian isn't good enough and as I've said Fellaini, Smalling and Shaw is purely down to whether or not they'd want to leave as they can still do a job.

Spurs haven't gotten to where they are by hanging onto has been players. That's the opposite of what we've done. Rooney is no longer good enough and when we further strengthen next season he's going to be even less relevant, Schweinsteiger is already half way out the door, Young just isn't good enough anymore and Darmian is average at best. Not improving on dross because you're worried the improvements might be worse is the worst possible decision we can make. Lets basically stay stagnant and keep players on high wages who don't offer anything to the team because the replacements might be just as bad (which I find very hard to believe mind, especially given Jose's record with transfers with us).

We're not bringing in 4/5 players. The first eleven needs tweaking not another complete fecking overhaul. Just read Woodward's quotes from today. It isn't happening.

 

[Womp]

We're not bringing in 4/5 players. The first eleven needs tweaking not another complete fecking overhaul. Just read Woodward's quotes from today. It isn't happening.

How is getting rid of deadwood an overhaul? These players barely even play. We aren't replacing the whole team, we're replacing players who are surplus to requirements on high wages. Woodward being an accountant surely knows the importance of a past it Rooney sapping 300k a week from the club when he offers little to nothing. No longer even the most marketable player in our squad.

 

[Eckers99]

How is getting rid of deadwood an overhaul? These players barely even play. We aren't replacing the whole team, we're replacing players who are surplus to requirements on high wages. Woodward being an accountant surely knows the importance of a past it Rooney sapping 300k a week from the club when he offers little to nothing. No longer even the most marketable player in our squad.

---------Griezmann
Martial------MickyT---------Silva
--------Pogba---------(New destroyer CM)

You're not just talking about getting rid of deadwood. You're changing half of our front 6. I take it we're signing a lb and cb too? That's half of the team. Which isn't happening.

 

[Sarni]

"They also do not exclude the possibility the Premier League club have also sorted out a first refusal option, which would force Monaco to notify the Red Devils if someone were to bid for Silva to allow them to match the offer."

... How would we have that in place?

I don't think it's possible unless we paid them but that would be strange too. We haven't sold them anybody so couldn't insert it this way which is common.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

The likes of Barca, Real, Bayern.. they make their big signings and for the most part pull it off quite well. United have been notoriously wasteful in the money we have spent. Nevertheless if you look at our team this season, who have been the best players? Bailly has been our best defender pre injury, Mkhi has been our most electric attacker and looks like the key man right now and Zlatan has scored all our goals. Pogba has been poor, but is still a key component of the side.. so tell me, has that money not helped this side in a huge way? Would spending money on another 5 players of that quality across the side, not massively improve our fortunes on the pitch.. imagine a new full back, a CB partner for Bailly, a proper CDM/CM, a proper wide player, and a genuine at his peak CF. If you ask me we're still about 7 players short of a top side, which I doubt can get rectified in one window but a left back, CDM, wide man and a CF should be priorities this summer.

Throwing money at shit players is of course silly.. but the money in of itself isn't the issue. It is the scouting that goes with it and the lack of due diligence of what you're getting.

Shit player list

• Damian
• Rooney
• Schweinsteiger
• Young
• Fellaini
• Wilson
• Depay

Offering nothing to the side right now

• Shaw

Players who aren't good enough for our long term first XI (need to be sold or made squad players going forwards)

• Smalling
• Jones
• Carrick
• Blind

Lots of dross there IMO. Half the squad there is not really what I'd call a player who can genuinely push for a starting berth for a title challenging club.

They do because they have stability, we do not. That's not all down to us of course but also the competition that we find ourselves in. Bailly has been one of our best but so have Rojo and Jones, two key defenders for us this season who'd have been labeled as disposable dross by fans last summer and we wouldn't have got a penny for. Mkhi has been good but has he been better than Martial was for us last season before he too became disposable in some fans eyes after seemingly falling out of favour with the manager? Pogba has barely been better than Herrera if we're being honest although he'll take more of the headlines being the flashier player. Zlatan really didn't have any competition so that one was a given. Alot of the players on your shitlist were world class talents when they signed for us but it hasn't turned out that way has it, you can't just say "well, we have to make better decisions" like that. 'Rojo for 15 million + Nani was fecking awful business' has been the narrative of the last few seasons on here while City season after season spectacularly vacuumed up all the CBs that fans on here actually wanted in Otamendi, Stones and even Mangala for 120 million pounds. All of whom have proven none the better.

 

[Eckers99]

They do because they have stability, we do not. That's not all down to us of course but also the competition that we find ourselves in. Bailly has been one of our best but so have Rojo and Jones, two key defenders for us this season who'd have been labeled as disposable dross by fans last summer and we wouldn't have got a penny for. Mkhi has been good but has he been better than Martial was for us last season before he too became disposable in some fans eyes after seemingly falling out of favour with the manager? Pogba has barely been better than Herrera if we're being honest although he'll take more of the headlines being the flashier player. Zlatan really didn't have any competition so that one was a given. Alot of the players on your shitlist were world class talents when they signed for us but it hasn't turned out that way has it, you can't just say "well, we have to make better decisions" like that. 'Rojo for 15 million + Nani was fecking awful business' has been the narrative of the last few seasons on here while City season after season spectacularly vacuumed up all the CBs that fans on here actually wanted in Otamendi, Stones and even Mangala for 120 million pounds. All of whom have proven none the better.

For the first time in a few seasons we look like we're fairly close to having a very good side. The answer? 5 new players and another season of transition. Wtf?

 

[Womp]

You're not just talking about getting rid of deadwood. You're changing half of our front 6. I take it we're signing a lb and cb too? That's half of the team. Which isn't happening.

Rooney, Young, Darmian, Schweinsteiger, is changing half our front 6? They simply aren't good enough, which is illustrated by their game time this season. I mentioned Smalling, Shaw and Fellaini as I see them staying but moving for more money/more game time is a possibility.

 

[Eckers99]

Anyway. That Bernardo Silva looks alright doesn't he?