Competition for players this summer

KingMinger22

City >>> United. Moaning twat
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Looks like there is going to be above nor.all activity in the transfer market this summer, certainly for the big PL clubs.

Seems like this a surplus of cash and a scarcity of available quality players also.

United clearly need to add a lot of numbers and quality straight into the first 11. I'm certain we will spend big but I'm not sure if it will be enough. Hopefully, we can get a squad that is strong enough to puts us in the favourites pot for the top 4.

City, I fully expect, will let break a few transfer records this summer - maybe the Bale fee for Pogba. Perhaps also most spent by a PL team in a summer. They finally have Pep and FFP is seemingly finished.

Chelsea will surely be looking to strengthen after this year's disastrous campaign. A lot will depend on what Abramovich'so appetite is for spending. History suggests that he will invest in a couple of players at least.

I don't see much competition from abroad.

Barca aren't going to do much. They are basically perfect.

Real - will probably spend big unless the ban holds up. I hope it does.

PSG, Bayern - I have no clue.

How do you see things playing out this summer?
 
United, City and Chelsea simply have to. Real probably will as well in response to losing la liga. PSG will want to replace Zlatan but they, Barca and Bayern are quite well settled teams.

There aren't many huge players up for grabs as of now. Griezmann stands out as a big name that could move soon. Surprised there isn't more speculation of us signing him. Seems so obvious to sign a top player like him when Madrid and Barca are disinterested.
 
Imo United need a big player this summer, and depending on who manager is I think we'll get it done.

We have a good number of pacey young attackers going forward but the players supposed to take responsibility and win us games, mata and rooney, haven't done so, and we need a new big hitter, the long awaited di maria replacement.

I think whoever is competing for the players won't be able to beat us to that player if we want him badly enough. City look to have already tabled about 100m for players without adding to their front line so doubt they'll put up another big figure when they spend 100m on KDB and Sterling last year on 30m on bony etc.

Hoping for a griezmann or an even bigger name to take some responsibility
 
I hope we think outside the box this summer and bring in the next Payet, Kante, Mahrez rather than the so called big name players.
 
There are more good players than spots in the top teams. It's basically down to what kind of timing you have when signing a player. Who would have thought Mata would turn out to be such an average signing for example? It will be an interesting summer, a summer where we just CAN'T sit and wait. We need to build big.
 
Crashoutcassius said:
Imo United need a big player this summer, and depending on who manager is I think we'll get it done.
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We need more than one big addition. We need a few.

We should be all over Griezmann this summer. His release clause is very reasonable.

People question why he would leave a better team. We are, however, a step up, career-wise and he will get a massive payday increase.

I expect a PL team to activate that clause this summer. I hope it is us.

Adding Ibra, Griezmann and, say, Mahrez. Would be a great improvement. Add in a midfielder and a defender (both must be top class), and we have a proper team. Still far from a great one though.

Crashoutcassius said:
City look to have already tabled about 100m for players without adding to their front line so doubt they'll put up another big figure when they spend 100m on KDB and Sterling last year on 30m on bony etc.
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Why on earth do you think City won't spend big on their frontline because they already have? City's owners are gonna throw the bank at the team. They have "unlimited resources" this summer according to the press. I believe it./
 
KingMinger22 said:
Why on earth do you think City won't spend big on their frontline because they already have? City's owners are gonna throw the bank at the team. They have "unlimited resources" this summer according to the press. I believe it./
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They are pretty nuts but I don't think they are quite at the level of spending 40m on sterling and then signing another 40m left winger the following summer, I'd say the focus will be on CM which need a revamp and defence which needs an overhaul. I'd be surprised if they threw out 200m or something mad this summer. That's the kind of figure it would have to be if they were to bring in the signings they're talking about eg gundogan, laporte, ter stegen etc and then launch into a bidding war for a 60+m winger
 
Regarding PSG:

Scenario A: Ibra leaves so Cavani stays
Scenario B: Ibra stays so Cavani leaves

Top priorities from a PSG perspective:

1. A big name to be part of the attack line: in the past we had Di Maria in 2015 / Cavani in 2013 / Ibra in 2012.
2. A midfielder to oxygenate the squad like Lo Celso or Diarra

Other considerations

3. A new left-back if Maxwell leaves (end of contract next summer) ? Digne (on loan in Roma) is an option
4. A new right-back if Van der Wiel leaves (end of contract next summer) ? Georgen (from the academy) is an option
5. Lavezzi left the club last February. Will he be replaced by a young or someone else?

I see between 2 and 4 acquisitions
 
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I'm not so sure about the impending City transfer festival that everyone is betting on. Sure I can see them going big for a couple of players in key positions - midfield and a winger come to mind - but they also have some very promising youth prospects like Iheanacho, Denayer and Garcia who will be pushing for more gametime next season.
 
Real might be banned and only see Barca buying a CM, but with those 2 you can never rule out a random muppet buy.

Bayern aren't muppets and already have an excellent squad, I think a CB will be their priority.

I can see PSG bringing in Ronaldo to replace Ibra.

Our competition for players will rest mainly on our own shore, especially with City likely to spend enormously under Guardiola as he's only used to squads filled with the highest caliber of players, so I expect a whole new midfield there.
 
Crashoutcassius said:
They are pretty nuts but I don't think they are quite at the level of spending 40m on sterling and then signing another 40m left winger the following summer, I'd say the focus will be on CM which need a revamp and defence which needs an overhaul. I'd be surprised if they threw out 200m or something mad this summer. That's the kind of figure it would have to be if they were to bring in the signings they're talking about eg gundogan, laporte, ter stegen etc and then launch into a bidding war for a 60+m winger
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Not quite "on the level"of spending £140m on three players last season and doing it again? Now they don't have FFP and they have Pep. Of course they are on that level.
 
Downcast said:
Regarding PSG:

Scenario A: Ibra leaves so Cavani stays
Scenario B: Ibra stays so Cavani leaves

Top priorities from a PSG perspective:

1. A big name to be part of the attack line: in the past we had Di Maria in 2015 / Cavani in 2013 / Ibra in 2012.
2. A midfielder to oxygenate the squad like Lo Celso or Diarra

Other considerations

3. A new left-back if Maxwell leaves (end of contract next summer) ? Digne (on loan in Roma) is an option
4. A new right-back if Van der Wiel leaves (end of contract next summer) ? Georgen (from the academy) is an option
5. Lavezzi left the club last February. Will he be replaced by a young or someone else?

I see between 2 and 4 acquisitions
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Do you think they might be in for Griezmann?

On the whole I think this is going to be a massive transfer window.I think City, Chelsea, Real and ourselves are going to spend massive amounts of money.Adding to that all the extra TV money Prem clubs have, I can easily see all kinds of records being broken.
 
Danny Boi said:
Do you think they might be in for Griezmann?

On the whole I think this is going to be a massive transfer window.I think City, Chelsea, Real and ourselves are going to spend massive amounts of money.Adding to that all the extra TV money Prem clubs have, I can easily see all kinds of records being broken.
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In theory, it is possible but I am not sure he is interested in playing in the French league.
 
I look at it this way. We need a 9, RW, CM and CB.

9 - Arsenal might look there again. Liverpool to replace Benteke. Atletico for sure. PSG if Ibra goes, as seems likely. Madrid with Benzema in jail.
RW - Man City and Arsenal need one. Barca might want cover there, too.
CM - Madrid need a DM, Bayern might want one with a more conventional manager coming in, Arsenal maybe, Man City definitely and likely 2 if Yaya leaves. Liverpool too. Dortmund if Gundogan goes, as seems likely. Chelsea unless Loftus-Cheek is seen as ready. Juventus maybe too.
CB - Liverpool, Man City if Guardiola wants a passer there, Chelsea if Terry does leave. Bayern if Benatia goes back to Italy as rumoured. Juventus are said to want one with Barzagli turning 62 or whatever.

So, 3-4 competitors from the top buying clubs (5 English sides, 3 big Spanish ones, Dortmund, Bayern, Juve and PSG) in each position. Teams like Tottenham, Leicester and a couple of Italian sides, a Spanish one and the other big-ish teams around Europe, we should be able to beat out but will have the CL to offer, which we are unlikely to have.
 
Madrid, City, PSG and possibly Bayern will basically have their pick of players and will have to fight among themselves for the top tier talents. I don't see Barca buying many new players.

Chelsea, Arsenal Juve and Liverpool will all be looking to improve a lot. I think the Klopp effect might see certain players who wouldn't usually look twice at Liverpool, heading there, Juve always seem to do well, and the London effect will help the other two. They'll not beat the clubs above them to any big players, but I imagine they'll splash the cash on at least a couple of big names. Chelsea in particular.

Tottenham and Leicester, regardless of this season and Europe, won't be signing anyone big, and I expect they'll each lose at least a top player or two.

As far as we go, I'm concerned. There are a lot of clubs who'll look like better bets for tier one, or even tier two players, and many of them will be having extensive rebuilds. Even if we scrape into Europe, convincing players to come here with Van Gaal in charge won't be easy. His tactics seem to drain the fun out of football and he's come across as a clown often this season. Add to this Woodward's reputation with transfer dealings, our dithering nature and the chance of no Europe to boot, and we might struggle. If DDG sees an opportunity to leave too, we could be in some real trouble having to put much of our effort into replacing him.
 
Chelsea with his new coach Conte will probably focus recruitments on the Italian market: I guess they would be happy to have Higuain and sell Diego Costa.

The top priority of PSG seems to be Neymar.
 
Neymar open to 'dream' PSG move - agent

Brazilian superstar Neymar could join Paris Saint Germain, if the French giants pay his huge 193 million euros ($220 million) get out clause, his agent said Monday.

"Neymar has a contract with Barca until 2018," Wayne Ribeiro told French sports daily L'Equipe.

"But the prospect of living in a city like Paris, and to play for a club like PSG is also a dream for every player.

"That's to say if PSG showed interest in Neymar we could talk about it."

PSG have dominated Ligue 1 since the Qatari takeover of the French capital club in 2011.

Laurent Blanc's men wrapped up their fourth successive league title in record time in March, and face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

And with talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, courted by some of Europe's top clubs, in possibly his last season in France, PSG have reportedly identified Neymar as their number one target before the new season starts in August.

Ribeiro added: "A contract can also be dissolved on condition of paying the release clause. It's huge - 193 million euros.

"But I don't think that would be an insurmountable problem for PSG."

Ribeiro's comments caused a stir in Spain, with Barcelona defender Gerard Pique suggesting he could never envisage Neymar leaving the European champions.

"Neymar's not going to leave Barca, I'm certain of that, I know him and I know he won't be leaving," the Spanish international told a press conference ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Atletico Madrid.

"We're at Barca, nobody wants to leave here! People are thrilled to be at the club, it's total good fortune to play for this side, in this city, with these fans.

"We have everything, what more could you want? I'm convinced that all the players will stay."
 
Bundesliga

Real Madrid seems to be very interested in the signing of Aubameyang.

Lewandowski is apparently about to sign a new contract with Bayern.

Goetze is likely to move.

Benatia could be a smart acquisition

Liverpool (Klopp) is likely to make smart acquisitions there.
 
Is this summer really that different from prior summers? It seems I read something like this every year, that we are in for steep competition to sign players because Clubs X, Y and Z are going to spend big. There are only X number of players at some key position available. and so on.
 
@NoPace
I don't think that Dortmund will compete for a CM that United, City or Chelsea deem appropriate. We bought Castro last summer and will if Ilkay leaves (what I fully expect) buy another youngster.
 
Crossie said:
@NoPace
I don't think that Dortmund will compete for a CM that United, City or Chelsea deem appropriate. We bought Castro last summer and will if Ilkay leaves (what I fully expect) buy another youngster.
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That youngster might be someone United, City or Chelsea want. For example, Guardiola is rumoured to want Dahoud and he fits the profile of a productive young Bundesliga player Dortmund sometimes buy.
 
Damien said:
You also bought Mikel Merino in February.
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True but he was a cheapie (including bonus payments maximum of €5m) and Tuchel appears to plan with him in a more defensive role. What I was trying to say is that I don't think we'll reach for a household name, no competition from us on that front.
 
Crossie said:
True but he was a cheapie (including bonus payments maximum of €5m) and Tuchel appears to plan with him in a more defensive role. What I was trying to say is that I don't think we'll reach for a household name, no competition from us on that front.
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How do you see the future of Aubamayeng?
 
NoPace said:
That youngster might be someone United, City or Chelsea want. For example, Guardiola is rumoured to want Dahoud and he fits the profile of a productive young Bundesliga player Dortmund sometimes buy.
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If Dahoud was available we possibly would but he isn't. I suspect though that we'll go for a lower profile solution. It's possible that we need to throw money at a new creative CB if I may characterize Hummels' profile as such, and for a Mkhitaryan successor (which I don't see in Götze).
 
Downcast said:
How do you see the future of Aubamayeng?
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I personally think it's rather likely that we keep him for another season - unless somebody offers more than €100m but even then I'm not sure. It may also depend on how many players will leave: Gündogan for sure, Hummels and Mkhitaryan possible. If all three leave, I can't see us selling Auba at all.
 
Crossie said:
I personally think it's rather likely that we keep him for another season - unless somebody offers more than €100m but even then I'm not sure. It may also depend on how many players will leave: Gündogan for sure, Hummels and Mkhitaryan possible. If all three leave, I can't see us selling Auba at all.
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Thanks
 
My only reason for wanting Mourihno here would be his close link to that super agent cnut. Would work out well should we want to sign some big players. But I'd not want any of the breakthrough players this season to get pushed aside. I'd rather LvG stay than to lose these kids.
 
Crashoutcassius said:
Imo United need a big player this summer, and depending on who manager is I think we'll get it done.
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If LVG stays (which I don't think he will, but if he does), why would any big player want to join MUFC?
We tried offering huge sums of money to clubs and players last season and LVG stated clearly that he cant get any Galactico class players to join.
Last year we had 2 Galactico class players in our squad and both of them wanted to leave last Summer.

While LVG is here, I don't see any big names joining us. LVG does not know how to manage those types of players.
 
sunama said:
I have a question for you.
Are PSG genuinely thinking of letting Ibra leave?
I mean, he is the best striker in France and is he not PSG's best player?
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PSG probably anticipated a decline from Zlatan and refused to extend him last summer, but him having maybe his best season ever even at 34 changes things.

PSG have been working on the highest profiles to replace him like Ronaldo or Neymar but if these don't go through it will be especially important to extend him.

He's indeed the best striker in L1, one of the world's best and a key PSG player (difficult to compare with players in other positions).
 
Barca will be in the market for a CB or 2. A centre forward may be on the cards if the opportunity arises. Other than that, I can only see Denis Suarez being recalled after the end of his loan spell with Villarreal.
 
Crossie said:
If Dahoud was available we possibly would but he isn't. I suspect though that we'll go for a lower profile solution. It's possible that we need to throw money at a new creative CB if I may characterize Hummels' profile as such, and for a Mkhitaryan successor (which I don't see in Götze).
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1. Can Dahoud's club really keep him if theres big offers? They claim they can keep Xhaka too but nobody believes them on that score.

2. Hummels is definitely a creative CB. Not a lot out there, for sure.

3. Do you believe the Mkhitaryan rumours? Arsenal signing him would be odd since with Ozil as a 10 he's either fighting with Ramsey to be the 8 or playing out right. I think he'd actually be a good signing for United, playing with Herrera and Schneiderlin in our trio, if we play on the counter under Mourinho. Schweinsteiger could get time when we want a calmer player but that's an athletic and energetic trio to start most games.
 
sunama said:
If LVG stays (which I don't think he will, but if he does), why would any big player want to join MUFC?
We tried offering huge sums of money to clubs and players last season and LVG stated clearly that he cant get any Galactico class players to join.
Last year we had 2 Galactico class players in our squad and both of them wanted to leave last Summer.

While LVG is here, I don't see any big names joining us. LVG does not know how to manage those types of players.
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Also, it's quite clear that his tactics and ideas are poor, as well as stifling to players. Nobody is going to sign up for the kind of football Van Gaal wants to play. I'd be unsurprised if some current players are considering looking to leave.

I am still sure that LVG will be here next season, if I'm correct then he at least needs to get much more realistic with his targets. No player will choose to come play under a clown for an underperforming team which is regarded to be on the downward spiral when they could go to a club with real ambition.
 
I still think our priorirty should be scouting and purchasing the best young players between 19-26 who are ready to either make the mid-sized contract step up or that are virtually unknowns on a minimum contract to enter the club. We can't get drawn into signing young players on massive contracts for their big pay-day. I think that is high risk. We need to be looking at getting guys ready to step up and aren't going to fleece the club for wages. More step into the club because they are ready and salivating to wear the shirt.
 
Steven Seagull said:
I don't think it's quite that easy
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It's not but in recent times we've generally paid a big premium on fairly expected signings, with little intelligent transfer activity that truly delivers a big bang for every buck. Blind is the only one I can think of that's been a relative bargain, and that too was another fairly obvious one given LVG was his NT manager. A club that's genuinely good in the transfer market has the ability to spring up surprise signings that deliver and that aren't fancied too much before-hand.
 
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