Manchester United - January 2018 Ins and Outs

Mourinho have been very clear; if a player want's to leave, he will not stand in his way. The only player I think could be looking for a change early 2018 is Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

If Mkhitaryan doesn't want to stay and Dortmund is willing to spend £20-30 millions to bring Henrikh back to Bundesliga, the Armenian will leave this January. I would be OK with that to be honest. He was supposed to be a star player, but unfortunately he is not a player we can rely on. Dortmund is not having good season and could need reinforcements. With Miki knowing the league, the club and his former team mates, he would probably be the best signing they could do right now.

Matteo Darmian could also be looking for a change. He's not getting any game time unless he is absolutely needed, and his performances are rarely ever up the the standards Manchester United demands. With Young stepping up this season I don't even think we would need a replacement for the Italian. Tuanzebe can probably do the same job.
 
Jose said a few months back that he wouldn't need to buy a striker in January because Ibra was coming back....that return doesn't look like panning out as he hoped, so I wonder if a new striker is back on the table this window?
 
Smores said:
I've never got this. I'd be happy if we signed better players but actively wanting someone sold is odd under normal circumstances.
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Thinking he’s meaning to free up wages and numbers.
 
Could be a January without any signings, but it could also be a busier Januzary window for United than usually, I think.
Lots of question-marks for us fans, like
- What is the status of Michael Carrick and his fitness / health?
- What about Marouane Fellaini and his contract situation, will he renew or not?
- Luke Shaw, is he back for good, or is it just to get clubs interested in him?
- Will Mkhitaryan ask to leave or stay?

So, I think United will sign at least one player in January. Who and what position ?? We will see :)
 
I really think we need to use the January window with a WC summer and a shortened summer window, it will be hard to get what we need in one window.
 
I think we're 4-5 players short yet again. Ideally we'd sign 2 this window, say a LB and RW, and then use the summer window to sign the rest, a CM, CAM and RB. Based on recent rumours something like Alex Sandro + Malcom in January, one of Kovacic/Goretzka/SMS, one of Ozil/Griezmann and Meunier in the summer.
 
Does anyone see a possibility that we could be signing a new left back and keeping shaw as back up? Blind is being linked with a few clubs and young could switch to right back to cover valencia, which would allow for darmian to be sold to generate more funds for the new LB. Both blind and darmian seem to be surplus to requirements now.

Attack is the problem area. We can't challenge city until we can come close to scoring as many. If we could get ozil for mkhitaryan either in a straight swap or otherwise then we can really focus on the right wing/inside right in the summer which is a virtual empty space for us at times. Don't see us getting a real quality player on the right in January unfortunately.
 
I think we'll definitely get one player in possibly even two. Either a left back, winger or centre midfielder. Ideally bring back Andreas Pereira from his loan but unfortunately I can't see him ever breaking into the first team now.

In terms of outs, I think Darmian will and should go and possibly Mkhitaryan if the right offer comes in. Maybe loan out McTominay to a Championship club.
 
It was interesting to see the sudden deluge of wide options we are supposedly looking at pop over the last 24 hours or so, Malcom, Pulisic, Kluivert and of course the residiual Bale and Willian stories. it's less relevant in a 3-4-3 but if Jose wants to deploy 4-3-3 or the somewhat rigid 4-2-3-1 it's no surprise he wants a RW in January as that side of the pitch is regularly a dead zone for us.
 
If we sign someone I'm most interested to see how the process goes. If we get them in as soon as the window opens out of nowhere, it'll earn some respect for big Ed.

If it's with 2 minutes left on the 31st and at double the price quoted...that'll be more what we're accustomed to.

If it's a proven prem player (unlikely) getting them in early could be valuable given the ridiculous schedule we have too.
 
I know we've not been linked with any strikers but with the chances we are still missing and Ibrahimovic's fitness being an issue, maybe we should look at trying to get Hernandez back. I know he's not really been pulling trees up at West Ham but he could do a job for us coming off the bench and some of the chances our players are missing you would fancy him to put a few of those away.
 
Acole9 said:
I know we've not been linked with any strikers but with the chances we are still missing and Ibrahimovic's fitness being an issue, maybe we should look at trying to get Hernandez back. I know he's not really been pulling trees up at West Ham but he could do a job for us coming off the bench and some of the chances our players are missing you would fancy him to put a few of those away.
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He didn’t wanna sit on the bench last time. We don’t need him sulking again and stinking up the place.

He didn’t cause a fuss under Ferguson. But once he left he started moaning and posting petty tweets. I rather give Ibra a chance to regain fitness as even as a 37 year old he’s better than Hernandez.
 
Acole9 said:
I know we've not been linked with any strikers but with the chances we are still missing and Ibrahimovic's fitness being an issue, maybe we should look at trying to get Hernandez back. I know he's not really been pulling trees up at West Ham but he could do a job for us coming off the bench and some of the chances our players are missing you would fancy him to put a few of those away.
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I’d take Chicharito back in a heartbeat.
 
I would certainly recall Fosu who can play in a few positions. I just cannot wait to see who we will bring in, but we certainly need a winger and a playmaker.
 
My ideal signings would be Dybala and Sandro and then Lemar but they aren't coming in January. It's a tough one. Darmian and perhaps Mkhi will go definitely.
 
Ignoring the likelihood of it actually happening, if you gave me one guaranteed pick who I think could make the biggest impact I'd say Sanchez from Arsenal would be the best option.

He clearly wants to leave arsenal and city really don't need him. I'd not even mind if arsenal rinsed us a bit on price and we had to go as high as 45-50 million.

Fella is absolute quality and needs a new challenge.
 
I genuinely think (or maybe it's blind hope) that we'll sign a player or two in January.

But I can't for the life of me guess who it could be. January is always a nothing window. I'd be pleased if we can bring 1 or 2 solid squad players to replace a couple of players Mourinho has given up on to keep us consistent till the summer.

It's rare to find a player available in January who can properly propel you to a new level, but we definitely need an addition or two.
 
Hope we'll sign someone but I think we all know that no one come in or go but for a few kids going out on loan....
 
Darmian seems to be dead wood, he is heading for the exit for sure.

Blind/Fellaini could be sold if they do not renew contracts (I'd happily let Fellaini leave for nothing, sooner he is out the better)

Miki/Shaw are not to jose's liking so are also potential exits. If we sign a RW, then I struggle to find a use for Mata also.

Unlikely we see this many leave in January, most likely Darmian if any.

I'd avoid signing a LB and use Shaw more.

In January, I'd love to see 2 players come in. A CM and a RW.

I'd opt for Mahrez for RW. CM is trickier, as the links with Ozil seem credible and he would be an upgrade in the AM slot for sure but we need someone more like Pogba, to either replace him or play alongside him. Fabinho possible, as he provides the RB cover as well.

Goretzka and Ozil signing pre contracts for free moves in the summer would be ideal
 
Sparky Rhiwabon said:
Jose said a few months back that he wouldn't need to buy a striker in January because Ibra was coming back....that return doesn't look like panning out as he hoped, so I wonder if a new striker is back on the table this window?
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We have 2 strikers already in Rashford and Martial that we continually play out of position out wide. I don't think we need to sign a ST, even next summer when Ibra is off.

What we need is some talent on both wings, but especially RW, in addition to some actual FB's. Midfield needs help too, we have no back up for Matic, but I think that will wait until this summer.
 
shaky said:
Just "a bit toxic" would probably be a significant improvement on the current toxicity.
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I'm not talking about the Caf, I think Jose will be even more irritable if he's not given the supply to boost this flat team.
 
We've had since August to get plans in place. If nothing happens early January i don't expect us to sign anyone.
 
For the next 2 windows, would probably do something like... (half realistic what I think will happen, half hoping). Also assuming we have about 150m to spend before sales.
Sell:
  • Fellaini - 10m in Jan or free in the summer
  • Darmian - 15m
  • Rojo - 20m
  • Blind - 25m
  • Smalling/Jones (one of them. They've done well but won't ever be someone we settle on so better to cut and build someone we can rely on) - 20m
  • Carrick (retire)
  • Mkhitaryan - 25m
120m or so.

Incomings:
Dream/unlikely scenario
  • Sanchez - free
  • Lemar - 70m
  • Goretzka - free
  • Dybala - 100m
  • Alex Sandro - 60m
  • Center back - 30m
De gea
Valencia Bailly ??? Sandro
Matic
Pogba Lemar
Dybala Sanchez Martial
​
2nd 11: Romero, young, Jones, lindelof, Shaw, Herrera, goretzka, Mata, lingard, rashford, lukaku

More realistic
  • Milinkovic Savic - 70m
  • Alex Sandro - 60m
  • Malcom - 40m
  • A reliable, preferably experienced center back - 25m
  • Ozil - free
De gea
Valencia Bailly ??? Sandro
Matic
Savic Pogba
Ozil Lukaku Martial
​
Romero, young, Jones, lindelof, Shaw, Herrera, TFM?, Malcom, Mata, Lingard, Rashford

Obviously this is all going in FM mode, but the outgoings are all players who I really think we would do better with just selling and replacing. Incomings, most important style wise are IMO:
  • Lemar - a creative, nimble midfielder who can dribble with it and also deliver reliably. Would play that similar role to David Silva, eriksen, coutinho, etc. As the midfielder next to pogba
  • Goretzka - pogba back up but also good enough to play alongside and become a top player
  • World class front 3 player (Sanchez, Dybala, ozil at a stretch) - Martial has potential but we need a top player to help the young players get there. Lukaku isn't that and won't ever be. Nobody really plays the right wing so that would be perfect. But this one is hard to see other then Ozil who would still be good.
If we sort those 3 out, then it'll go way further to our development as a team then signing any defensive player. There's obviously issues there, but we can get by with what we have.
 
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Heardy said:
Christ lad were not going to have Lukaku as a back up striker having paid 75m for him.
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Hence that being in my dream/unrealistic scenario. Lukaku isn't someone who will ever be good enough to give us that step up. If we somehow in some dream world signed Dybala and Sanchez, I sure fecking hope that Mourinho would be smart enough to drop Lukaku and use those 2 in their best positions, and a team like that would be personnel wise good enough to compete with any team around. Lukaku in the side up front won't ever give us a side like that where we can go toe to toe with anyone. He's a good striker and can score regularly for us, but will always be limited.

That dream scenario is looking at everyone as if they've been here for ages and didn't have a transfer fee/reputation, and just basing things purely off if they're good enough or not for what role they should have for the side we want to be. Lukaku in that situation, not the main #9, but an excellent back up who could rotate in and start but not an automatic choice. Also a side note - Aguero isn't even an automatic choice for Man City. With Fergie here the likes of Berbatov or Tevez weren't automatic choices. They're all far better players then Lukaku can dream to be. It's important to have a lot of quality options everywhere for competition, not buying 1 player and having his back up be a u21 player who will never actually start in front of him, regardless of underperforming.
 
I know what you're saying - but Lukaku whilst not hitting numbers of Kane has hardly flopped. We're not going to get rid like that.

with Rashford and Martial in the squad we may be in for a new striker to replace Satan bit no way will we go for two.
 
Lukaku's the least of our problems - it's the wide attacking players and the full backs not providing any width or unpredictability that's our issue. 90% of the time Martial and Rashford will cut in, and 90% of the time they don't make any forward runs. Mata and Mikhi on the right are even worse - Mata will pass to the wing and run into the box 95% of the time. Too predictable and why we end up crossing it all the time. Our full backs too have offered little as late, Young is really the only one that tries to do something different.

Ideally I'd bring in Mahrez and/or another winger, and either a full back or a top CM (ideally both).
 
if we ade talking dream signings, I would love to see us get Mahrez and said Arsenal for Ozil and Sanchez - the latter two you' normally say are unrealistic but with contracts within down, could be worth a punt.
 
Some people needs to put down the controller and stop playing football manager.

Anyway, I believe Mourinho will buy two or three players this January. He already made that ridiculous statement about not spending enough. Malcom and perhaps a left back is what I think our ins will be. That would be good enough to put in a fight for the champion league and fa cup.
 
Amadaeus said:
Some people needs to put down the controller and stop playing football manager.

Anyway, I believe Mourinho will buy two or three players this January. He already made that ridiculous statement about not spending enough. Malcom and perhaps a left back is what I think our ins will be. That would be good enough to put in a fight for the champion league and fa cup.
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It's not so much about the FM type players, more just saying the type we ideally need and are potentially available and might move somewhere. Obviously we won't get Sanchez. Probably won't get dybala or Lemar. The 3 of them would all be brilliant signings for us though, and 2 of them are definitely going somewhere, probably all 3 within the next few windows.
 
On the striker front, we shouldn't be beholding to Lukaku, just giving him a free run at the #9 spot, Ibra will surely head off to the US next year and we shouldn't miss out on Timo Werner if possible.
 
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