Need to build towards a 4-2-3-1 IMO given our players and having 2 per position, starter and a backup with a good blend of young and experienced players, and the right level or squad depth for competition but also players content in squad roles. It's a hard balance.
Onana, Altay, Heaton is a good three for GK.
Dalot and Wan Bissaka is a good two at RB.
Martinez as LCB starter and Lindelof as RCB backup is fine. Need someone younger like Todibo as RCB starter and probably a new LCB as backup.
Shaw and Malacia, with Fernandez competing to be the backup is a good group at LB. Eventually will need to make a decision to reduce that 3 to 2 main guys but ages work out for that to be smooth transitions. We'll see if Malacia or Fernandez are good enough to eventually be 1st choice like Shaw is now.
Casemiro, McTominay as the physical/ball winning type needs serious addressing. Casemiro is good but might be leaving, might be declining, might have injury issues. McTominay isn't good enough and isn't good at that role. If Casemiro can have a renaissance, find a new life in a double pivot with Mainoo for example, could be great and we just get a younger backup to eventually take over from him.
Mainoo and Eriksen as the deep playmakers is not ideal given where both are in their careers, but not an urgent need to address due to mainoos rise. If Mainoo can keep it up and actually be a regular starter minutes, Eriksen can stay as a depth guy for him, and between Casemiro and a new DM it'd be a good group. If Casemiro leaves then we'd need 2 new DMs anyway.
Bruno, Mount and Hannibal is overloaded at #10. Mount is on starter wages and big signing, but not Bruno level. Bruno is captain and our most productive and best player. Hannibal fine as backup given Bruno's fitness is immaculate. Mount extra here.
Rashford and Garnacho, good on paper but given Rashfords inconsistencies and wages, a decision might need to be made in the next 2 years. Fine for now. Sancho to be binned regardless.
Antony and Amad is mediocre, but probably not an urgent need. Antony I don't rate but isn't the worst option, and we spent so much that he'll be given time. Amad as well will get his chances and needs to show if he's good enough. Pellistri I'm not sure is the right level for us. Not urgent need here given needs elsewhere, but summer 2025 should be a ton of attention on RW. If possible to sell Antony and replace with a top RW in 2024 then do it for sure. But needs the right target.
CF, Hojlund is the long term guy, Martial will leave this summer. Makes sense to get someone like Guirassy on a cheaper deal who can be a good experienced goalscorer and compete with Hojlund til he develops.
So if I'm making a transfer list, I'm going:
- Todibo
- LCB (depth level)
- 2x DM (Andre possibly as one, depends on Casemiro)
- Guirassy at CF
- If money there, a RW, no idea who
Deal with the sales, clean up the squad, get a young core group, implement the system and then work on serious strengthening with bigger players as the next step. You need the base and consistent performance levels to attract the right players, we need the younger guys to realistically develop and so we build around that. Our FFP situation needs fixing before we can start flexing our financial strength again, so a smart window is needed.
The next step I'd put the transition of Bruno and Eriksen. Eriksen will leave, Bruno i think can be a squad player between that deep playmaker and #10 where he still plays plenty, but maybe not the 1st choice in either. If Wirtz is still available at that point, then I'd go big for him. But that's a 2025/2026 thing.