Importance of the January 2020 Transfer Window

Despite Ole looking like he isn't keen on signing any players in January we simply have to bring in a creative midfielder and striker, ideally we could do with a different sort of option up front to Martial & Rashford but does seem the only player who falls into that category is Mandzukic.
 
Dr. StrangeHate said:
Woodward and Ole have convinced people that this is a long term build and they will only go after people who are right for the club. So there is going to be no unrest. Did you not see what happened with Eriksen, Dyabala in the summer.
Ole has worked out exactly as Woodward planned. Our fanbase wouldn't believe this long term build stuff coming out of any other manager than a former legend.
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I could buy into this long term rebuild more if Ole was showing us something and there wasn't such an obsession with just bringing in young british players when there are plenty of talented options on the continent who won't take up the majority of our budget.
 
A quality CM, whatever the money, push Pogba into the position behind the front 3 and we could really start to improve. I understand the need/push for a striker but I doubt we will get 2 players in and, for me, the CM is our biggest weak link at the moment. You could argue that we need 2 x CM before any other position.
I don't think Pogba is half as effective when played deeper, so he has to play further up and be our creative force.
If the club try to tell us that there isn't a quality CM that could be bought in January then I would have to doubt the 'money is there' quote.
 
theklr said:
You must be kidding. As the squad is what it is bringing in almost anyone would be an improvement.
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The squad is what it is, precisely because of this sort of attitude towards recruitment.
 
It is imperative that we sign a creative midfielder who can distribute play to our 3 forwards.
As we saw yesterday they all have the ability to score goals.
Fernandes??
 
diarm said:
The squad is what it is, precisely because of this sort of attitude towards recruitment.
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True enough, but saying as the previous poster did, that he wouldnt take Bale or Eriksen here would be ludicrous.
 
soapythecat said:
A quality CM, whatever the money, push Pogba into the position behind the front 3 and we could really start to improve. I understand the need/push for a striker but I doubt we will get 2 players in and, for me, the CM is our biggest weak link at the moment. You could argue that we need 2 x CM before any other position.
I don't think Pogba is half as effective when played deeper, so he has to play further up and be our creative force.
If the club try to tell us that there isn't a quality CM that could be bought in January then I would have to doubt the 'money is there' quote.
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Others on here will argue that there is no one of any good to be got in January. I would say that there is plenty that would improve us greatly that we could get.
Any of:- Soumare, Eriksen, Can. Would improve our midfield.
Any of:- Mandzukic, Dembele, Haaland. Would improve our forward line.
Most of these players could be available in January.
 
theklr said:
True enough, but saying as the previous poster did, that he wouldnt take Bale or Eriksen here would be ludicrous.
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They are both formerly excellent players going through a spectacular dip in form with question marks surrounding their focus and professionalism.

With our track record over the past 5 years, I wouldn't criticise any United fan for wanting to stay clear.

We need to have more faith and patience in the new direction the club is taking
 
diarm said:
They are both formerly excellent players going through a spectacular dip in form with question marks surrounding their focus and professionalism.

With our track record over the past 5 years, I wouldn't criticise any United fan for wanting to stay clear.

We need to have more faith and patience in the new direction the club is taking
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The one thing that would worry me with those two is that they give the impression that they don't want to come to us. I am not sure I want us to be the last resort for them just so Spurs and Real can make a bit of money. Eriksen's attitude has really surprised me. I didn't realise he could sulk like that.
 
Jed I. Knight said:
Exactly.

We'll end up somewhere above relegation and below top four regardless of what happens on the transfer front in January.
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Yup. We'll finish 6th to 8th. We'll have some bright moments where people get hope. It'll keep returning to shit. Eventually Ole will get sacked. Best I'm expecting from the winter is no signings that the next manager won't throw out.
 
romufc said:
Why not? it is clear to see that the club needs reinforcements.
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They won't amount to anything this season anyway. We need our team to be sorted next season for hopefully a season of progress under the next manager. Would be happy if we added a very good footballer or two but it's important they're useful beyond Ole.
 
romufc said:
Why not? it is clear to see that the club needs reinforcements.
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We need to finish as high as we can otherwise it could also impact on the summer window. If we then sign players who will make us better or ones who will just keep us where we are. If a couple of signing help us achieve something then make them. Not sure we will though.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
They won't amount to anything this season anyway. We need our team to be sorted next season for hopefully a season of progress under the next manager. Would be happy if we added a very good footballer or two but it's important they're useful beyond Ole.
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DomesticTadpole said:
We need to finish as high as we can otherwise it could also impact on the summer window. If we then sign players who will make us better or ones who will just keep us where we are. If a couple of signing help us achieve something then make them. Not sure we will though.
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Isn't the bolded point exactly why the January transfer is important?

If we end up signing someone for short term gain, we will have another player or two to the deadwood list in 6 months time come the summer.

But if we add quality based on how we want to play, they would be a good addition.

This highlights how important this window will be because we cant just sign anyone for Ole to succeed considering he might not even last the season.
 
romufc said:
Isn't the bolded point exactly why the January transfer is important?

If we end up signing someone for short term gain, we will have another player or two to the deadwood list in 6 months time come the summer.

But if we add quality based on how we want to play, they would be a good addition.

This highlights how important this window will be because we cant just sign anyone for Ole to succeed considering he might not even last the season.
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They have to be quality signings, but that is my worry, that the quality signing will not be available so we will sign stop gaps who as you say will be deadwood come the summer. I definitely agree with that point.
 
romufc said:
Isn't the bolded point exactly why the January transfer is important?

If we end up signing someone for short term gain, we will have another player or two to the deadwood list in 6 months time come the summer.

But if we add quality based on how we want to play, they would be a good addition.

This highlights how important this window will be because we cant just sign anyone for Ole to succeed considering he might not even last the season.
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I mean, it's important like any window is important. Except lesser so given its not a summer window and few players of genuine quality are available. So yeah, don't see the big deal. Even our manager isn't going to lash long so it even further lessens the urgency and importance.
 
DomesticTadpole said:
They have to be quality signings, but that is my worry, that the quality signing will not be available so we will sign stop gaps who as you say will be deadwood come the summer. I definitely agree with that point.
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If we were to spend small on short term fixes, rather than waste money on someone like we did on Sanchez, it wouldn't hurt us that much in the end.
Mandzukic would help us in the forward area, and if we could add a midfielder that would still be part of our plan it would be a good January window.
 
Bestietom said:
If we were to spend small on short term fixes, rather than waste money on someone like we did on Sanchez, it wouldn't hurt us that much in the end.
Mandzukic would help us in the forward area, and if we could add a midfielder that would still be part of our plan it would be a good January window.
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I am hoping Ole is nagging them to make signings and stating how important it is. I would hate it if they sell him short again and we get another injury crisis.
 
DomesticTadpole said:
They have to be quality signings, but that is my worry, that the quality signing will not be available so we will sign stop gaps who as you say will be deadwood come the summer
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Bestietom said:
If we were to spend small on short term fixes, rather than waste money on someone like we did on Sanchez, it wouldn't hurt us that much in the end.
Mandzukic would help us in the forward area, and if we could add a midfielder that would still be part of our plan it would be a good January window
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We cannot wasnt money that is for sure but to say there is no quality signings available is not exactly true.

Liverpool signed VVD in Jan
Arsenal signed Auby in Jan

It is a different issue that our board cannot negotiate well and us as fans keep buying the narrative that there is no value in the Jan market.

This is true but not to the extent people think.
 
Watched Utd live for the first time under Ole last night and I can now see the glaring problem. The midfield there is a massive gap between them at the attack and we have no one who plug that gap. Mata legs have gone the brain is still there but no longer the creative 10 he was at Chelsea. Lingard is championship player at best. We need someone who can link the two sitting players to the front 3. For me a Bruno Fernades would be a good January signing. He is available and can create and score goals.
 
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If the club doesn't spend serious dosh in January then Ole is good as gone. Having said that I do think we can buy some decent players on relatively reasonable prices during this transfer window. My choice would be Milik, Dani Olmo and Emre Can. The former is a goal machine whose heading to his last year of contract. Dani can play comfortably both as RW and as a AMC while Can is a decent box 2 box player we really need
 
romufc said:
We cannot wasnt money that is for sure but to say there is no quality signings available is not exactly true.

Liverpool signed VVD in Jan
Arsenal signed Auby in Jan

It is a different issue that our board cannot negotiate well and us as fans keep buying the narrative that there is no value in the Jan market.

This is true but not to the extent people think.
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I think both were identified as targets long before they joined in Jan.

It would be like us securing Maddison or Sancho in Jan (...haha)

devilish said:
If the club doesn't spend serious dosh in January then Ole is good as gone. Having said that I do think we can buy some decent players on relatively reasonable prices during this transfer window. My choice would be Milik, Dani Olmo and Emre Can. The former is a goal machine whose heading to his last year of contract. Dani can play comfortably both as RW and as a AMC while Can is a decent box 2 box player we really need
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Milik - value £40m + £10m because its the EPL + £10m because we're desperate + £10m because he's about to renew + £10m because they'll be in the last 16 in CL
Dani Olmo - value £30m + £10m because its the EPL + £10m because we're desperate + £10m because he's young + £10m because he's on form
Emre Can - value £30m + £10m because its the EPL + £10m because we're desperate + £10m because it's Juve and they're bastards

I honestly think you're asking for £200m in players there mate...in January...whilst we're midtable.

You're setting yourself up for a miserable end of Jan if you think thats remotely possible.
 
Buying their no target in January is going to be very difficult although if United were interested in the likes of John McGinn it will be easier to prise him away. Would the likes of Emre Can be available for loan? I recall hearing he'd been left out of Juve's CL squad, would sound like a move might suit both parties
 
Lynty said:
Milik - value £40m + £10m because its the EPL + £10m because we're desperate + £10m because he's about to renew + £10m because they'll be in the last 16 in CL
Dani Olmo - value £30m + £10m because its the EPL + £10m because we're desperate + £10m because he's young + £10m because he's on form
Emre Can - value £30m + £10m because its the EPL + £10m because we're desperate + £10m because it's Juve and they're bastards

I honestly think you're asking for £200m in players there mate...in January...whilst we're midtable.

You're setting yourself up for a miserable end of Jan if you think thats remotely possible.
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I think this obsession we've got about clubs trying to screw us on money is pure paranoia. Sure, clubs tend to try and make as much money as possible out of their players. Since there aren't many suckers in football when a sucker does appear then word tend to spread like wildfire. In fact that's why well run clubs tend to employ shrewd negotiators who knows their way in football.

Having said that well run clubs also know when they are an inch away from getting screwed. Therefore if you think that they will allow themselves to get screwed just to spite Manchester United then you're wrong. Now lets take the names I've mentioned shall we?

Milik is a goal machine. Unfortunately for Napoli he picked an injury right before contract renewal negotiations started which means everything was postponed until Milik could get back to his own feet. This dragged on and on that at one point Napoli was considering cutting their losses. It turned out that Milik did return to his best just 1 year before his contract ended. Now one might think that Napoli were unlucky here and that this issue will be sorted by them throwing money at him to sign that new contract. Well, things got slightly complicated lately. De Laurentiis (controversial fellow, a bit loony and a dictator at times) had just bit more then he could chew by ordering Napoli squad to go for a ritiro (aka punishment) even though the manager himself thought that it was way overkill as they didn't deserve such treatment. Well the squad had basically rebelled against it and De Laurentiis own son nearly ended up in a fight with the players because of it. De Laurentiis being De Laurentiis decided to double down by sending a juridical letter to the players while concurrently trying to push Ancelotti out. So you see. Players like Milik who are at the end of their contract will probably not sign a new contract now. If United came to the negotiation table then the guy would be very wise to negotiate unless of course De Laurentiis want to risk seeing Milik joining his much hated Juventus. Same can be said about Callejon, Mertens and Allan (the latter is the guy who nearly fought with the owner's son). Ole would love Allan. He's a hardworking defensive midfielder with decent technique

Emre Can's case is in similar lines. An Allegri pupil, Sarri wanted him out without barely having a glimpse at him. Turned out that someone at Juventus didn't agree with that assessment and he persuaded Emre Can to stay with Juve promising him a decent shot in exchange. The Turk went on refusing PSG to stay with Juventus because of it. Well, Sarri couldn't be moved and he basically froze Can out. Emre went public and Juventus seem to have promised him to have him shipped out as soon as possible as long as he shuts his gob. Clubs like Juve hates airing their dirty laundry especially when they cocked up. He will leave on reasonable fees

Olmo might be slightly more difficult. However we're talking about signing a player from Dinamo Zagreb here not Real Madrid. The guy is already pissed off that his club didn't allowed him to leave in Summer and according to rumours, Dinamo had promised to let him go as long as 40m euros are paid to them.

You see, not every transfer is meant to be difficult and opportunities will arise. The big question is whether our little Ole knows that Milik and Olmo even exist.
 
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croadyman said:
I could buy into this long term rebuild more if Ole was showing us something and there wasn't such an obsession with just bringing in young british players when there are plenty of talented options on the continent who won't take up the majority of our budget.
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To be fair to Ole, he went out and got the best right back in the league bar probably TAA last year, a top centre half who knows the league and can build a defence around and a lad from Swansea who so far is looking a great bit of business.

Just because these 3 are British does not mean (hopefully) that every signing will be British. I don't think anyone would mind us going after Maddison or Sancho.

Personally think he knows the type he wants and those 3 just happened to be British, not sure he is as British obsession as all the #OleOut and #BrexitFC brigade will have you believe.

Saying that if we sign Rice for 80M in January I will gladly eat my words haha
 
amolbhatia50k said:
They won't amount to anything this season anyway. We need our team to be sorted next season for hopefully a season of progress under the next manager. Would be happy if we added a very good footballer or two but it's important they're useful beyond Ole.
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I understand where you are coming from, but that be sabotaging the season purposely. Since we all know neither Ole is good enough nor the squad is. Atleast with better players we might have an outside shot at top4 or win the Europa league.

Tbf with you, i just really want us to sign Ragnick or whatever his name is, it appears he is perfect for us. Plus he will sign bargains from German league, which are normally very handy technically and cheaper than overhyped english players i am looking at Rice and Longstaff etc.

Lastly are not we all just desperate to see Utd in the champions league. So knowingly not even trying for top 4 would be extremely stupid by us.

A Cm and a striker or a Rw and a striker is must for us. Plus there are so many bargains out there. Cavani, Haland, Emre Can, Dani Olmo, Dembele etc.
 
StrettyEnder07 said:
To be fair to Ole, he went out and got the best right back in the league bar probably TAA last year, a top centre half who knows the league and can build a defence around and a lad from Swansea who so far is looking a great bit of business.

Just because these 3 are British does not mean (hopefully) that every signing will be British. I don't think anyone would mind us going after Maddison or Sancho.

Personally think he knows the type he wants and those 3 just happened to be British, not sure he is as British obsession as all the #OleOut and #BrexitFC brigade will have you believe.

Saying that if we sign Rice for 80M in January I will gladly eat my words haha
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I don't mind Maddison or Sancho they are assist machines and can score as well, but like you what planet is Declan Rice worth 80m. Planet Dildo?
 
DomesticTadpole said:
I don't mind Maddison or Sancho they are assist machines and can score as well, but like you what planet is Declan Rice worth 80m. Planet Dildo?
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God only knows mate, if we sign Rice for 70/80M which is what is being touted, jesus mate we need hung drawn and quartered.

Either play McT as a 6 and go and buy two elite passing midfielders (assuming Pogba goes of course) or keep him as an 8, go and get Allan or Partey or someone plus Pogba or his replacement if he goes.

Personally would like to see McT as a 6 with Pogba and take your pick from Fernandes/Maddison/Harvetz/Van Der Beek etc.
 
StrettyEnder07 said:
God only knows mate, if we sign Rice for 70/80M which is what is being touted, jesus mate we need hung drawn and quartered.

Either play McT as a 6 and go and buy two elite passing midfielders (assuming Pogba goes of course) or keep him as an 8, go and get Allan or Partey or someone plus Pogba or his replacement if he goes.

Personally would like to see McT as a 6 with Pogba and take your pick from Fernandes/Maddison/Harvetz/Van Der Beek etc.
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Yes. If Pogba stays he needs to be allowed freedom. He is no use having to track back, let him do his own thing. If he goes as you say we need two midfielders as Fred is too careless and Pereira is just not good enough.
 
StrettyEnder07 said:
To be fair to Ole, he went out and got the best right back in the league bar probably TAA last year, a top centre half who knows the league and can build a defence around and a lad from Swansea who so far is looking a great bit of business.

Just because these 3 are British does not mean (hopefully) that every signing will be British. I don't think anyone would mind us going after Maddison or Sancho.

Personally think he knows the type he wants and those 3 just happened to be British, not sure he is as British obsession as all the #OleOut and #BrexitFC brigade will have you believe.

Saying that if we sign Rice for 80M in January I will gladly eat my words haha
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I would very much welcome Maddison & Sancho but why not look elsewhere for a DM and striker which we still badly need in my opinion.
 
We need to sign a top no 10 role if we are still insist sticking with 4231. We can't have Pereira, Mata & Lingard playing the role, they are just not good enough & lack quality of end product & creativity.

A must signing in January. There are some no 10 available out there right now so speaking about the target isn't available in the market is totally BS.

I would like us to sign Bruno Fernandes. He has shown himself in his last two seasons including this season in Portugese League of how good he is for the league and need to play in tougher league. He's also an international footballer. A hungrier footballer who is looking for new challenge in a higher tier league. Unlike Sanchez & Ozil who has lost their hunger, I think he can be a very good signing and also the final pieces for us to come back in the route of top 4. He can score, can create chances, creative, can take set pieces & he likes to press opposition players. Can't find any better criteria to suit what Ole is looking for.
 
DomesticTadpole said:
I am hoping Ole is nagging them to make signings and stating how important it is. I would hate it if they sell him short again and we get another injury crisis.
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Yes, me too. It's only fair that Woody backs him as he let him down in the summer when not replacing Lukaku and Herrera.
 
If we would be able to sign in January at least Haland and Eriksen it would be a big improvement, we could have a lineup like this:

-------------------Haland--------------------
---Rashford-----------------------James----
------------Pogba--------Eriksen------------
-----------------McTominay------------------
Shaw-----Maguire-----Lindelof------Bissaka
-----------------De Gea----------------------


Then during the summer if Pogba goes we can sign Maddison, and search for other improvements.
 
leges said:
If we would be able to sign in January at least Haland and Eriksen it would be a big improvement, we could have a lineup like this:

-------------------Haland--------------------
---Rashford-----------------------James----
------------Pogba--------Eriksen------------
-----------------McTominay------------------
Shaw-----Maguire-----Lindelof------Bissaka
-----------------De Gea----------------------


Then during the summer if Pogba goes we can sign Maddison, and search for other improvements.
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Where would Martial play.
 
The one great positive since Ole became manager (maybe the only one) is his vision of the type of player that’s needed at our club! Mentality and professionalism are high on the list and I’ve been pleased to see all the summer signings doing well and looking top four quality! I’m confident that will continue in January and the summer! We won’t be purchasing the Di Maria, Sanchez, Schneiderlin types; if the right player isn’t available then we won’t be in the market- this is a big step forward from previous managers
 
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