Name four players you think we'll buy in the summer

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Sparky Rhiwabon said:
So, what players have we been consistently linked with so far this summer?

CB - Lindelof, Keane
DCM - Fabinho, Matic, Dier
AM - Perisic, James
Str - Morata, Mbappe, Lacazette

Do we think our signings will come from this pool? Have I missed anyone?
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you missed Lukaku from the strikers. Nainggolan from the midfielders. Mertens was linked at one point as well. varane (seems unlikely) and bakayoko have been linked as well. Other than that it looks good.
Im a little suspicious of the lindelof links. Benfica circulate this crap about us on a regular basis to raise the value of their players. Gaitan was 'on the verge' of signing for us for about four years.
 
Andycoleno9 said:
After ajax game i was in full muppet mode and i thought:
Griezmann, lukaku, varane and bakayoko. It would be perfect muppet summer.
Now i am in full pessimist mode ( yes, yes , i know it is only june) so we will end with 3 not united level and expensive players plus one galactico who we don't even need.
James, keane, lacazzete and one truly average midfielder.
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Fellaini's got a identical twin. ;)
 
It's funny the way people only put players we have been 'linked' with this window. Obviously they are the easier ones to predict, but I'd bet any money that our first or second signing is a player completely out the blue. The media haven't got a clue.
 
Offside said:
It's funny the way people only put players we have been 'linked' with this window. Obviously they are the easier ones to predict, but I'd bet any money that our first or second signing is a player completely out the blue. The media haven't got a clue.
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Agreed. Out of the players we're most linked with, I think only Morata and Fabinho are likely to be serious targets.
 
An Irish Red said:
I don't know why as we would have failed to improve our attack; with the strikers not improving on Ibra and Perisic being completely average and all.
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Because we've already missed out on griezmann and lukaku and perisic are better than some on here seem to think. We do need to sign SOMEBODY before next season and a lot of the players people are suggesting just won't come here ie bale, Kane etc.
 
Scholsey2004 said:
Because we've already missed out on griezmann and lukaku and perisic are better than some on here seem to think. We do need to sign SOMEBODY before next season and a lot of the players people are suggesting just won't come here ie bale, Kane etc.
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I'd have to agree with the latter part of this. Kane, Bale etc are not coming here. I think we could definitely improve our attack more than just Perisic and Lukaku or lacazette though. A combo of Douglas Costa or Bernardeschi and Aubameyang or Morata would be cheaper for a start and far superior.
 
This list for me changes every week, for now I would guess Lindelof, Sanches, Rodriquez, and Morata. Will likely be a completely different list in a couple of weeks.
 
Canuckred64 said:
This list for me changes every week, for now I would guess Lindelof, Sanches, Rodriquez, and Morata. Will likely be a completely different list in a couple of weeks.
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As long as we are not still trying to name four players at the end of August. Then I would be slightly worried.
 
Von Mistelroum said:
I'd have to agree with the latter part of this. Kane, Bale etc are not coming here. I think we could definitely improve our attack more than just Perisic and Lukaku or lacazette though. A combo of Douglas Costa or Bernardeschi and Aubameyang or Morata would be cheaper for a start and far superior.
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Aubemayang's going to PSG. Morata's good but if he goes on the market i'd expect conte to be all over it. Douglas Costa i'm so-so about. I'd be happy if we signed him but only really because we need a player there. He was meant to be the next big thing at one point but doesnt really seem to have improved.
 
An Irish Red said:
I don't know why as we would have failed to improve our attack; with the strikers not improving on Ibra and Perisic being completely average and all.
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We aren't going to sign a better 9 than Ibra this summer. I think probably only Suarez and maybe Lewandowski are significant improvements at that spot anyways. Ibra's lack of pace was a problem, and he was a little less consistent than in the past couple years, but I don't think there's much between him and the next best guys like Higuain, Cavani, Aubameyang, Benzema, Kane or Diego Costa, never mind the young strikers we've been linked with like Lukaku, Belotti and Morata.

Our attack was bad this year because we didn't create enough good chances and when we did we didn't finish well either. The 2nd problem will somewhat take care of itself via regression (Pogba will finish some of those chances he missed, for instance) and hopefully Martial and Rashford improving as young attackers tend to do.

But the first problem, I think will be tougher. Mourinho's style will make it tougher, though obviously you don't need 100 goals to year in and year out win the Prem if you're only conceding 25, you can win it with 80. I think our best best to do that is to sign a 3rd quality CM, an LB who can run and stay healthy, an CB who can pass the ball rather than just hoof it.
 
Want:

Mendy, Fabinho, Alexis Sanchez and one of Morata, Lacazette or Aubameyang.

Expect:

Keane, Matic, Perisic and a striker but not sure who.
 
JoaquinJoaquin said:
I think this is the most likely outcome. Can't say i'll be jumping for joy though.
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There just isn't the quality about and not everyone wants to come to the PL. Barca and Madrid will always be the big draws. PSG are getting Auba. If he does well he will be hankering for a move to Real. If he does well Real might be ready to sign a new forward.
 
I am feeling quite depressed this morning so my four will be

Overpriced
Overhyped
Over the Hill
Overawed
 
The problem now is that bar Griezmann, who is the 'star player' that we could get that is so much better than the likes of Morata, James, Perisic, Lindelof etc? I can't really see to think of anyone who is readily available, unless you are talking about the insane figures like 130m pounds or more for players like Mbappe or Neymar.

1. Morata
2. Fabinho
3. Lindelof
4. Perisic/James
5. Mendy

I think would be an excellent summer and will improve our team a great deal. Zlatan will only be back late in the year if he stays, Rooney is on the way out, Carrick should only be backup, Rojo is out for a long time too, and Jose does not seem to trust all our LB options completely. I won't be surprised to see both James and Perisic arrive to make it 6 signings, especially if we raise some funds from some player sales like Rooney, Januzaj, one of Smalling/Jones. We need to improve the amount of quality in our squad this season.
 
DomesticTadpole said:
There just isn't the quality about and not everyone wants to come to the PL. Barca and Madrid will always be the big draws. PSG are getting Auba. If he does well he will be hankering for a move to Real. If he does well Real might be ready to sign a new forward.
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I do agree there is a real lack of actual star quality available in this window, But those names just don't excite and apart from Fabinho i'm not actually sure they are huge imrpovements on what we have. Lindelof is slightly better than Jones and Smalling, but still not as good as Bailly or even this seasons version of Rojo. Perisic is better than Lingard but that's not hard, He isn't better than Martial, Mata or Mkhi though IMO. I'm not convinced Morata will get 20+ goals for us either.

There are better options available, But we haven't been linked with them..
 
JoaquinJoaquin said:
I do agree there is a real lack of actual star quality available in this window, But those names just don't excite and apart from Fabinho i'm not actually sure they are huge imrpovements on what we have. Lindelof is slightly better than Jones and Smalling, but still not as good as Bailly or even this seasons version of Rojo. Perisic is better than Lingard but that's not hard, He isn't better than Martial, Mata or Mkhi though IMO. I'm not convinced Morata will get 20+ goals for us either.

There are better options available, But we haven't been linked with them..
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Who are the better options thought? Auba and Lacazette are not the kind of strikers that Jose usually builds his attack around, and we already have Rashford and Martial who fill the space of speedy striker upfront for us. Lindelof may not be better as Rojo now, but he is only 22, and it be really exciting if he and Bailly can develop a class CB pairing for the next 10 years for us. Perisic offers us something different on the left with the width he provides, and I am pretty sure that Morata will hit 20 goals for us if he joins. Getting these players will allows us to change our playing style and tactics when needed, and while they are not world-class options, which to be fair are not really in the market at the moment, they are still quality additions who will only improve the team. Whoever it is that we buy, I am sure that Jose has already considered them carefully over the past few months.
 
gr3yham3 said:
Who are the better options thought? Auba and Lacazette are not the kind of strikers that Jose usually builds his attack around, and we already have Rashford and Martial who fill the space of speedy striker upfront for us. Lindelof may not be better as Rojo now, but he is only 22, and it be really exciting if he and Bailly can develop a class CB pairing for the next 10 years for us. Perisic offers us something different on the left with the width he provides, and I am pretty sure that Morata will hit 20 goals for us if he joins. Getting these players will allows us to change our playing style and tactics when needed, and while they are not world-class options, which to be fair are not really in the market at the moment, they are still quality additions who will only improve the team. Whoever it is that we buy, I am sure that Jose has already considered them carefully over the past few months.
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What we really need is for players like Martial, Mhki and Rashford to do better than last season. If they can up their game then we should be in for a good season.
 
gr3yham3 said:
Who are the better options thought? Auba and Lacazette are not the kind of strikers that Jose usually builds his attack around, and we already have Rashford and Martial who fill the space of speedy striker upfront for us. Lindelof may not be better as Rojo now, but he is only 22, and it be really exciting if he and Bailly can develop a class CB pairing for the next 10 years for us. Perisic offers us something different on the left with the width he provides, and I am pretty sure that Morata will hit 20 goals for us if he joins. Getting these players will allows us to change our playing style and tactics when needed, and while they are not world-class options, which to be fair are not really in the market at the moment, they are still quality additions who will only improve the team. Whoever it is that we buy, I am sure that Jose has already considered them carefully over the past few months.
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Striker wise I would be going for Icardi. Like you have pointed out Auba is probably the best striker available but that is against Jose's policy so that won't be a goer. Icardi is dealy in the box and would get a shed load of goals for us with the right service. Hopefully i'll be wrong on this prediction (and feel free to quote me on this if I am) but I just don't think Morata will be a success at this club should he join. Nothing i've seen of him at Juventus or Real suggests to me that he will score more than 20+ goals in this team. Hell i've been against the signing of Lukaku but at least with him you know he will put goals away against the riff-raff of the league. Problem with him is he can't do it against the top teams.

Lindelof has potential, there is no doubt. But there are players like Laporte that could be got (with a real serious push) who have even more potential and are more experienced.

I'm not sold on Perisic at all tbh. I don't think he is as bad as some of the kneejerkers on here make out, but I fail to see how he improves our attack aside from possibly keeping Lingard out of the first 11. Add to the fact he will be 29 at the midpoint of the season. Definetly not worth the €50 that Inter want.
 
These Nainggolan rumours make a lot of sense for a Mourinho midfield. I would still get Fabinho as well so those two, Herrera and Valencia can rotate or take up different honfigurations subject to oppo. 90M there.

Now I'll go on a limb and say with that midfield José can stop faffing with his lop-sided formations and defensive leftback. Mendy-type (not Shaw) 40M.

We would still need the #9 and I'd go with Lacazette now Auba seems gone. I think José may well go for Cavani instead, particularly if Real keep taking the piss over Morata. It will end up being one of those two I think. 35-70M depending on who.

Then Lindelof as a CB option. 30M.

So 200-230M, 150M net

UNITED-XI-formation-tactics.png
 
KN5 said:
Griezmann not happening really destroyed people's chances at the juicer!
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To be honest, I was one of those happy to sign obvious world class quality but not sure how it would work out.
 
Get Naingollan, Fabinho, Mendy and one good striker (Lacazette/Morata).

De Gea
Valencia Bailly Rojo Mendy
Herrera/Fabinho
Naingollan Pogba
Mkhi Lacazette Rashford​
 
Ousmane Dembele
Fabinho
Nainggolan
Mendy

Sell Mata to help balance the books.

Hold off on the number 9 unless someone better than Morata, Lakaku, lacazette is available!
 
Raoul said:
Morata
Nainggolan
Fabinho
Perisic
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I'd go with that maintaining José's preference for a defensive fullback + winger combo. Add Lindelof rotating at CB.

But with THAT midfield surely we can get an attacking leftback and get Martial back into top form. It's not like he won't have Darmian to stick on either side as and when needed.

Would make us more adaptable and far less predictable.
 
antohan said:
I'd go with that maintaining José's preference for a defensive fullback + winger combo. Add Lindelof rotating at CB.

But with THAT midfield surely we can get an attacking leftback and get Martial back into top form. It's not like he won't have Darmian to stick on either side as and when needed.

Would make us more adaptable and far less predictable.
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Yeah that would be ideal.
 
I'd love to see us end the summer with:

De Gea
Valencia - Bailly - Rojo - Mendy
Fabinho
Herrera - Pogba
Mkhitaryan --------- A.Sanchez
Morata

Romero, Darmian, Shaw, Blind, Fellaini, Martial, Rashford
​
But I think the 4 we're more likely to end up signing are Keane, Matic, Perisic and Morata to be honest.
 
I look at my original four from less than two weeks ago; Keane, Fabinho, Perisic and Griezmann and am now longer sure we're signing any of them!

Shows how quickly things can change for those concerned by the lack of business so far. Hopefully we'll have at least one or two in by the end of the month at the latest.
 
A week ago I thought it's Perisic, Griezmann, Lindelof and Fabinho.
I don't trust links any more. So I'm going for players we're not linked with.
Geis of Schalke. Backup for Herrera #6.
Naby Keita of Leipzig. Alternative attacking mid.
Belotti to lead the attack.
 
NoPace said:
We aren't going to sign a better 9 than Ibra this summer. I think probably only Suarez and maybe Lewandowski are significant improvements at that spot anyways. Ibra's lack of pace was a problem, and he was a little less consistent than in the past couple years, but I don't think there's much between him and the next best guys like Higuain, Cavani, Aubameyang, Benzema, Kane or Diego Costa, never mind the young strikers we've been linked with like Lukaku, Belotti and Morata.

Our attack was bad this year because we didn't create enough good chances and when we did we didn't finish well either. The 2nd problem will somewhat take care of itself via regression (Pogba will finish some of those chances he missed, for instance) and hopefully Martial and Rashford improving as young attackers tend to do.

But the first problem, I think will be tougher. Mourinho's style will make it tougher, though obviously you don't need 100 goals to year in and year out win the Prem if you're only conceding 25, you can win it with 80. I think our best best to do that is to sign a 3rd quality CM, an LB who can run and stay healthy, an CB who can pass the ball rather than just hoof it.
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I don't know where you're getting the notion that we didn't create enough. I feel like people have really selective memories, and are thinking only of the last 10 or so games of the season when we had a bunch of players out and Mourinho basically threw the league. Pogba, Mata, and Mikhi are all very creative; our primary problem was and is finishing. If you're concerned that the players we've been linked to probably aren't prolific enough to make a difference I'm inclined to agree, but I don't buy into this lack of creativity nonsense.
 
Mr Smith said:
I don't know where you're getting the notion that we didn't create enough. I feel like people have really selective memories, and are thinking only of the last 10 or so games of the season when we had a bunch of players out and Mourinho basically threw the league. Pogba, Mata, and Mikhi are all very creative; our primary problem was and is finishing. If you're concerned that the players we've been linked to probably aren't prolific enough to make a difference I'm inclined to agree, but I don't buy into this lack of creativity nonsense.
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We scored between 14-19 goals less than any of the other top 6 teams with a game in hand after 28 weeks. I don't think that was all finishing. Every team misses chances. We probably missed a few more than normal, but not enough to explain the 25-30 goals we finished behind the rest of the top 6.

In theory, a lineup with Pogba, Mata and Mkhitaryan should be able to create a fair bit, but that's not how I felt during our games most of the time.

https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/big_chance_missed?se=54 The prem has us missing 50 big chances, City 48, Arsenal and Spurs 41, Liverpool 35 and Chelsea 32. So, if we were average for a top 5 club and had missed 40 chances, we'd have had 10 more goals, 64 total and so still scored 13-22 less the other top 6 teams.

I don't think this is unsolvable. We got little from our LBs going forward and it looks like we should be getting a better passer to take some of Smalling, Rojo and Jones' minutes. Fellaini + Carrick played 3200 minutes and we might well sign a better CM who can help us create more chances to attack with that time. Lingard and Rooney combined for 2900 minutes and you have to think that if we sign James, Perisic, Douglas Costa or whoever they will be more dangerous. On the other hand, we might get less from our 9 with Zlatan having played well.

But we're probably still a good bet to finish no higher than 4th or 5th out of the top 6 in goals next year, which means we'll have to be incredible defensively (like 20 goals conceded) to win the title.
 
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