Centre Back... Who do we go for?

UNITED ACADEMY said:
You’re not reading mate! Even Jose Mourinho admitted Lindelof isn’t good in the air.
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And why should I care about what he said?

Yeah, he ain't great in the air, but he is okay. What pisses me off is when people who say that Lindelof is not good, then suggest Nathan Ake from all people, who makes Lindelof look like a God when it comes to aerial duels, or mention AWB as possible solution who is even worse than Ake (on thirties when it comes to duels won).
 
Revan said:
And why should I care about what he said?

Yeah, he ain't great in the air, but he is okay. What pisses me off is when people who say that Lindelof is not good, then suggest Nathan Ake from all people, who makes Lindelof look like a God when it comes to aerial duels, or mention AWB as possible solution who is even worse than Ake (on thirties when it comes to duels won).
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Having one weakness is one thing, having too many is something else. If Lindelof has only one weakness which is he’s not good in the air only then those people won’t moan about it.
 
For me, whoever is bought at cb needs to be a starter. The club may want to wait 1 more season to scout some upcoming talents like upamecano and I am fine with that. In that case, keeping smalling for one more season is not a bad option. Just don't want the club to spend 50m on a cb who turns out to be another average addition.
 
I don't think we need a starter per se. We had a defensive record almost as good as the champions (yuck!!).

Though we do need someone reliable enough to step in when needed as well as occasionally challenge.

Was really hoping that Axel and Bailey would step up this year. Oh well.
 
If we are targeting a left footed CB...has Maguire ever even played as a right sided CB? That seems weird.
 
zenith said:
I don't think we need a starter per se. We had a defensive record almost as good as the champions (yuck!!).

Though we do need someone reliable enough to step in when needed as well as occasionally challenge.

Was really hoping that Axel and Bailey would step up this year. Oh well.
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It's possible to improve defensively by having the ball more and scoring more goals. Since Bruno signed we actually kept a lot more clean sheets. Not because the defenders themselves got better but because the opposition spent more time defending and had to attack more cautiously because we were more dangerous.
 
David Alaba. He’s proven this year that he is a very good LCB and he could provide cover at LB and maybe DM (where he plays for his national team). Transfer price is not an issue and in terms of the wage bill, he’d slot in slightly below the soon to be vacated Sánchez slot.

He won’t offer any resale value, but he value to the current team could be impressive.
 
seegoblu said:
David Alaba. He’s proven this year that he is a very good LCB and he could provide cover at LB and maybe DM (where he plays for his national team). Transfer price is not an issue and in terms of the wage bill, he’d slot in slightly below the soon to be vacated Sánchez slot.

He won’t offer any resale value, but he value to the current team could be impressive.
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From what I've gathered from the people here, the notion is that he isn't all that keen on playing as a CB. One of the reasons as to why he's leaving Bayern is because he isn't playing as a MF.
 
Fracture90 said:
From what I've gathered from the people here, the notion is that he isn't all that keen on playing as a CB. One of the reasons as to why he's leaving Bayern is because he isn't playing as a MF.
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Even still, guy would be a great signing for us. Ideal in a back 3 if needed, instant starter at left back ahead of Shaw/Williams, instant starter at defensive mid ahead of matic.
 
bosnian_red said:
Even still, guy would be a great signing for us. Ideal in a back 3 if needed, instant starter at left back ahead of Shaw/Williams, instant starter at defensive mid ahead of matic.
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Why would he come? If this was possible I'd like to think it would get done.
 
sherrinford said:
Why would he come? If this was possible I'd like to think it would get done.
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A lot of talk he wants to leave Bayern, so past that it's down to our management to negotiate with him and sell him our project/ambitions. We are Man United after all. "Why would he come" shouldn't be a question ever asked pretty much, if a player is looking to leave their current club.
 
bosnian_red said:
Even still, guy would be a great signing for us. Ideal in a back 3 if needed, instant starter at left back ahead of Shaw/Williams, instant starter at defensive mid ahead of matic.
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I'd very much love to have him here, I'd make him a DMF or play along side Pogba in a MF duo right away.
 
The only solid available options now are Koulibaly, Diego Carlos, Torres, Skriniar Kabak, Gabriel and Upamecano. I'd rule out Koulibaly since City are after him and they don't feck around
 
I’m still in the Konaté is who we need but anyone seen much of Pau Torres? Looked at a few videos the other day and saw someone mentioned he was like a young Laporte. If that’s remotely true then sounds like he’d be worth the invesment.

Always wanted Laporte and gutted he’s now across the road.

edit: I’ve just seen Goldbridge say he reminds him of Laporte, so given Goldbridge sucks I figure he’s probably more like Mangala.
 
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Fracture90 said:
I'd very much love to have him here, I'd make him a DMF or play along side Pogba in a MF duo right away.
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Has he ever shown that he is even competent in midfield let alone being capable of playing there for team serious about challenging for top honours.
 
Fracture90 said:
I'd very much love to have him here, I'd make him a DMF or play along side Pogba in a MF duo right away.
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Ive only seen him in midfield for Austria and he was a disaster
 
I think we'll go for a CB who is out of the blue.

Some young CB from Brazil who is talented with the ball at his feet.
 
gorky_utd said:
For me, whoever is bought at cb needs to be a starter. The club may want to wait 1 more season to scout some upcoming talents like upamecano and I am fine with that. In that case, keeping smalling for one more season is not a bad option. Just don't want the club to spend 50m on a cb who turns out to be another average addition.
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This 100%!!!

Or sign anyone who we would be laughing at if they played for one of our competitors, instead of playing for United.
 
ghagua said:
This 100%!!!

Or sign anyone who we would be laughing at if they played for one of our competitors, instead of playing for United.
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The problem with signing a CB that is very likely to bench our starting CBs is that they will cost a lot(60m upwards). These are the likes of Romagnoli, Koulibaly, Gimenez, Skriniar and Diego Carlos. They are the only CBs I can think of that have a high chance of starting for us and they are costly. Given the amount we want to spend on Sancho, how much we've already spent on Maguire and how we still have other holes in the team I don't think we plan to spend much on a CB.

Even if the CB is not a starter we still need squad depth. Jones Tuanzebe and Bailly are all unreliable. So at the very least a CB that's good cover is needed in the team. If we can find the right one, then he could also be good enough to compete for a starting place
 
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Reported fee for Magalhães resonates with pretty much everything Ed Woodward said about being careful on the market.
 
For purposes of references, we conceded only three more goals than Liverpool this season and we know that De Gea was entirely responsible for at least three of those goals, and possibly three or four more.

Given that we are likely to spend close to 100m for Sancho it’s not realistic to believe that we’ll be able to spend the 60-70m required to bring in one of the top CBs in the game today. We can definitely shore up depth at the position as we certainly seem to be ready to offload Jones, Rojo and possibly more, but we should prepare ourselves for the prospect of Lindelof seeing a lot of first team action until Tuanzebe or maybe Bailly claim the job sometime next season — if they can overcome their susceptibility to injuries.
 
Wonder who we would go for as CB

Are we willing to spend big:
Koulibaly available for 65m +
Diego Carlos release clause of 63m
Pau Torres available for 60m
Upamecano release clause of 55m

Or go for low risk high reward(30m below):
Joe Rodon
Gabriel
Kabak
Ajer
 
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lex talionis said:
For purposes of references, we conceded only three more goals than Liverpool this season and we know that De Gea was entirely responsible for at least three of those goals, and possibly three or four more.

Given that we are likely to spend close to 100m for Sancho it’s not realistic to believe that we’ll be able to spend the 60-70m required to bring in one of the top CBs in the game today. We can definitely shore up depth at the position as we certainly seem to be ready to offload Jones, Rojo and possibly more, but we should prepare ourselves for the prospect of Lindelof seeing a lot of first team action until Tuanzebe or maybe Bailly claim the job sometime next season — if they can overcome their susceptibility to injuries.
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Bailly will never be a first team CB.

Tuanzebe is a big risk.

Jones and Rojo need to go, I see no one arguing anything else. Smalling is likely to be sold, as he will actually bring in some funds. Bailly might get another year, but really needs to be offloaded.
 
Adnan said:
Upamecano hasn't been linked to us thus far from my recollection. I think the 4 CBs are Torres, Ake, Koulibaly and Gabrielle who are all left footed.
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Koulibaly is right-footed.

By the way mate, can you quench my Konate thirst? Any new links? Reports? I know he’s switched to Barnett as his agent and apparently wants to play in England but anything else?

To me it seems the conditions for this transfer are so favourable to us, and he is by far the best option on the market and would fit our needs extremely well. The only thing that I could see stopping it happening is that we don’t want him for some weird reason, which would be extremely annoying given all the above.
 
Highfather_24 said:
If we are targeting a left footed CB...has Maguire ever even played as a right sided CB? That seems weird.
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Yeah, that's my concern with the links to left-footed CBs. I have never seen Maguire play on the right side of defence. He is effectively a left-sided CB, and there are much more right-footed players out there. We'd simply be reducing our options if we exclusively target left-footers.
 
NYAS said:
Koulibaly is right-footed.

By the way mate, can you quench my Konate thirst? Any new links? Reports? I know he’s switched to Barnett as his agent and apparently wants to play in England but anything else?

To me it seems the conditions for this transfer are so favourable to us, and he is by far the best option on the market and would fit our needs extremely well. The only thing that I could see stopping it happening is that we don’t want him for some weird reason, which would be extremely annoying given all the above.
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Thanks for correcting me. I thought Koulibaly was left footed for some reason.

Konate is still feeling the effects of the injury that kept him out for most of the season just gone by. It's been reported that Konate will undergo surgery to rectify the problem once and for all and he will be available for the start of the new season.

The potential is huge. I've never been as impressed with a young CB over the course of the season as I was with Konate in the 2018/19 season. He was so impressive in that season that German outlet 'Deutsche Welle' voted him their player of the season.

Konate joining Barnett's agency does give credence to reports that he wants to move to the EPL. I would personally wait on Konate rather than sign the likes of Ake, Gabrielle etc.
 
ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
Bailly will never be a first team CB.

Tuanzebe is a big risk.

Jones and Rojo need to go, I see no one arguing anything else. Smalling is likely to be sold, as he will actually bring in some funds. Bailly might get another year, but really needs to be offloaded.
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"Never" is a strong word, but it is fair to acknowledge that he's injury prone. Yet Bailly has played well when fit, and we can't really say that a head injury is proof of anything. I wouldn't close the door on him just yet, but at the same we can't bank on him being fit for an entire season.

You're spot on that Tuanzebe is a big risk, yet we can see fantastic potential and after double-checking just now he's still only 22. Big risks can yield big rewards.

After we do offload Jones and Rojo -- not really sure yet what to do about Smalling, who might be agreeable to being a squad man for one of the biggest clubs on the planet -- what we're left with is the decision to spend a modest 20-30 for a decent CB and allow Bailly and Tuanzebe to progress or to spend 60-70m within a 150m budget for a truly top CB that only allows one other significant purchase. Easy call -- spend the more modest sum on a solid but not top class CB so that we can bring in another midfielder to replace any one or two of Lingard, Mata or Pereira; or for me, a successor to Matic, who just can't deliver top performances next season for more 30-35 matches in all competitions.

If we had 200-250m to spend, then by all means bring in the biggest names we can find for all positions of great need -- RW, DM, CB and backup AM -- but I seriously doubt we'll have that kind of cash to spend in this transfer window.
 
We just need to find someone who is pacy and they don't have to cost the earth either
 
zenith said:
I don't think we need a starter per se. We had a defensive record almost as good as the champions (yuck!!).

Though we do need someone reliable enough to step in when needed as well as occasionally challenge.

Was really hoping that Axel and Bailey would step up this year. Oh well.
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Whoever that we bring in, if not better than Lindelof, what is the point?

Being better doesn't mean he needs to start every game straightaway. Half a season to adapt and progress slowly for sure, but he must offer something substantially better than Lindelof. If you need someone reliable and occasionally, Smalling is good enough, and good old Jones might be available every 2 months .
 
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