Number 1 priority... Central midfielder!

JPRouve said:
Because he wasn't for sale and as far as I know he had no intention to move yet.
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Surely only a matter of time before Aulas releases a sound Bite saying he wouldn’t sell him for anything less than 200mil and it would take an army to get him out of Lyon, then sell him for like 70 mil or something 4 months later.

Fecking love that guy.

I see we are supposedly linked with Gedson Fernandes on a loan with option to buy. But hes a Be fica player so fully expect him to now sign somewhere else but think that would be a decent deal to tide us over to the summer. Do think we need someone who can hold the midfield. Ole so far seems determined to just have energy and runners in there.
 
Andersons Dietician said:
Surely only a matter of time before Aulas releases a sound Bite saying he wouldn’t sell him for anything less than 200mil and it would take an army to get him out of Lyon, then sell him for like 70 mil or something 4 months later.

Fecking love that guy.

I see we are supposedly linked with Gedson Fernandes on a loan with option to buy. But hes a Be fica player so fully expect him to now sign somewhere else but think that would be a decent deal to tide us over to the summer. Do think we need someone who can hold the midfield. Ole so far seems determined to just have energy and runners in there.
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It depends on the player, it's generally where it starts with Aulas talking. I don't know what Aouar wants to do in the near future.
 
andersj said:
Ok. Who?
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Million dollar question. I could name plenty I think we should look at but my earlier post was just putting forward my opinion we should add a CM now McT has been injured

There’s no guarantee McT will be back 100% in 8 weeks, no guarantee Matic will be able to carry the can in McTs absence. Pogba cannot be relied on full stop. Fred cannot play every minute of every match at the tempo he plays and if we’re not careful he could pick up an injury also if overplayed. Lingard and Pereira aren’t quitgood enough.

We should push for 4th, that means strengthening now.
 
My issue with central midfield is that I can’t really think of any (potentially available) players who would guarantee the quality we clearly need. I mean, there will be lots, and this view point is born out of not really watching too much football, but off-hand, who is that guaranteed performer?

Our current options wouldn’t look out of place in the bottom half - Pogba apart. It’s a glaring issue and it’s nice to hear that Ole reportedly wants to bring in two more.
 
It’s a difficult one this because I like pogba however he seems injury prone.
Fred mctominay pogba Madison garner

I dont think we can buy two unless pogba goes, I’m not saying the above is good enough but it will just upset the chemistry of the team ideally I’d like the below

fred mctominay Maddison garner New 6/8

and then buy a player like Sancho who could fill in the 10 position.
 
Even with Pogba I'd say we're 2 short in midfield, a destroyer and another creative player.

Add Matic who's likely to leave either Jan or summer and that makes 3.
 
Kag said:
My issue with central midfield is that I can’t really think of any (potentially available) players who would guarantee the quality we clearly need. I mean, there will be lots, and this view point is born out of not really watching too much football, but off-hand, who is that guaranteed performer?

Our current options wouldn’t look out of place in the bottom half - Pogba apart. It’s a glaring issue and it’s nice to hear that Ole reportedly wants to bring in two more.
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I think there are a lot of young CMs within the age group of 21-25 plying their trades on the continent that would see Old Trafford as a move to make and would be desperate to complete such a move. Vidic, Evra and James are examples of well scouted players that can be picked up from unexpected sources and come in to make a difference. Currently we have maybe the 6th best team in the league, bringing in a holding midfielder and an attacking one/No.10 could give us the impetus we need to push for a top 4 finish. Achieve that and we suddenly are in contention for players like Sancho etc. Ignoring our midfield shortcomings again this winter will be extremely reckless particularly considering how we have found ourselves in a promising position at the halfway stage of the season.
 
If Pogba goes we would need a top player plus depth in midfield. Not sure guys like Maddison is the answer as a 10.
I like Van de Beak, but he is not at that level even if he could be a good addition.
Sabitzer for Leipzig is often looking good when I watch them, but he is more of a winger.

If Real wants Pogba we could maybe ask for something back like Ödegaard, Isco, Kroos, James or something.
Same with PSG. They could let us bring back Di Maria or Herrera ;) (not sure they want to comeback).
 
Is there any indication that the club is looking to sign a midfielder?
The main rumours are that we're looking for an attacker, which should be the least of our priorities.
 
Le Red said:
Is there any indication that the club is looking to sign a midfielder?
The main rumours are that we're looking for an attacker, which should be the least of our priorities.
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We need a striker as well. An attacker that can play both as a 10 and on the wing would be great though.
 
NewGlory said:
What do people think of Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo for ACM / #10 role?



For me it is amazing that somebody this tall is so good on the ball. Nice combination. He's also very young, which is great because adapting to EPL will be easier, and it's quite impressive he already made the national team.
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Impressive compilation. Looks like Michu Mk. II.
 
RedWat said:
Yep I agree if we replaced Lukaku with say Bruno Fernandes we would have a number 10 that can score goals and make goals. It makes you wonder where we would be now if we had Fernandes in the number 10 rather than Jesse “zero goals, zero assists” Lingard..
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Or he could just be rubbish like so many others that leave Portugal for a serious league
 
Crashoutcassius said:
Or he could just be rubbish like so many others that leave Portugal for a serious league
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Normally I would agree with your doubts, but then I look at how we are playing fecking Lingard every week and – there's no way Bruno would not have been a major improvement over Lingard. So there's that
 
They really need to sign a midfielder in January but it's looking unlikely. I really don't get the obsession with Rice, massively over rated. There is surely players out there that are just as good but a tenth of the stupid price they'd pay for Rice. Look at the Dan James signing, you really don't need to spend massive amounts to get young talent.
 
talking robot said:
I wonder if Fosu Mensah or Tuenzebe could play as a DM as a stop gap solution until the summer?
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I knew that suggestion was coming and wouldn't be surprised if Utd did it because I think deep down Ole knows we aren't buying a midfielder in January.

I understand why Utd are looking at proven PL players over european talent,however sometimes these players can just hit the ground running.
 
McT is out for weeks yet Pogba seems to have already downed tools. We have only one able midfielder left and that's Fred who barely just few weeks ago was still deemed to never ever play football before.

I'm so fecking amazed and depressed at the recruitment department of our club tbh.

Feck us, feck feck feck.
 
Strelok said:
McT is out for weeks yet Pogba seems to have already downed tools. We have only one able midfielder left and that's Fred who barely just few weeks ago was still deemed to never ever play football before.

I'm so fecking amazed and depressed at the recruitment department of our club tbh.

Feck us, feck feck feck.
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Well, when the same person has been overseeing recruitment for the past 6 years and has no interest In relinquishing control, why should we expect anything different. Also, love Ole, but he seems so compliant on transfer matter for someone who has the support of almost everyone, yet he stubbornly refuses to make a statement on what is needed to get the team to the next required level. A sad state of affairs indeed
 
bonothom said:
They really need to sign a midfielder in January but it's looking unlikely. I really don't get the obsession with Rice, massively over rated. There is surely players out there that are just as good but a tenth of the stupid price they'd pay for Rice. Look at the Dan James signing, you really don't need to spend massive amounts to get young talent.
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Think I'd cry if we get Rice, will cost the world and doesn't even make our current best 11.
 
Why are people putting out options like Odegaard and Hakim Zeyich, these are attacking players.
The main reason we concede goals is because of lack of support in defence from our Midfielders.
Fred does a phenomenal job but he can't do it all by himself.
We need a Midfielder who is a bit defence minded and can provide support in attack occasionally.
It would help us a great deal if we can get a player like Fabinho.
Knowing Woody, I know he will ignore this and buy a player in a position in which we are already stocked.

Edit: We need at least 2 new Midfielders, proper Midfielders or else we can forget about challenging for anything.
 
I think with Pogba missing tonight’s game as well as the Burnley one it’s clear he’s off so we need to use that money wisely and on players that fit the system, I think Saul Niguez is perfect as a partner for McTominay and I think we could also bring Eriksen in too.

If we’re able to get £120-£140 million for Pogba that pays for both Niguez and Eriksen which with McTominay, Fred, Garner, Pereira and Lingard gives depth for the rest of the season although we’d still be short of a midfielder destroyer in my opinion.
 
AmanNits04 said:
Why are people putting out options like Odegaard and Hakim Zeyich, these are attacking players.
The main reason we concede goals is because of lack of support in defence from our Midfielders.
Fred does a phenomenal job but he can't do it all by himself.
We need a Midfielder who is a bit defence minded and can provide support in attack occasionally.
It would help us a great deal if we can get a player like Fabinho.
Knowing Woody, I know he will ignore this and buy a player in a position in which we are already stocked.

Edit: We need at least 2 new Midfielders, proper Midfielders or else we can forget about challenging for anything.
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I mentioned Hakim Ziyech as I was responding to poster who mentioned we should sign someone who can cover number 10 and also on the wing, he's also has 6 assists from 4 games playing in centre midfield. I think we need at least 1 midfielder. I would like to get a defensive minded midfielder and would really like to get someone like Fabinho as I wanted him from Monaco.
 
Ive said it a dozen times before. In McTominay and Fred, we have runners. Players that will get around the pitch and break up play. What we haven't got is that calming influence on the pitch, apart from when Pogba plays, and even at times, he can be a bit erratic.

Ole always talks about us not being able to keep control of a game. Hopefully, he will see that we are desperate for a midfielder dictator. De Jong, Jorginho, Kroos, Thiago, Verratti, etc. You know, players of that ilk.

I like Fabian Ruiz of Napoli. Good allround midfielder, who would be our calming influence on the ball. Normally plays in a pivot with Allan, who is more of the ball winner.

Attacking Midfielder
Ruiz Fred/McTominay​
 
Holding midfielder and number 10 desperately needed. Mr Riola’s comments regarding the state of our club won’t help with recruitment though!!
 
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No Pogba in squad for tonight and i reckon he is done at Utd. This Arsenal team is ripe for a roasting and yet hes nowhere to be seen?

something going on behind the scenes
 
If you want PL proven then it should be one of Tielemans, Ruben Neves or Maddison. Pretty sure they will all cost between 60 and 100 mill and don't want to leave mid season.
Unless we're going for someone lesser known I think Ziyech is our only realistic option. But he is more of a #10 or RM than a CM.
 
AneRu said:
I think there are a lot of young CMs within the age group of 21-25 plying their trades on the continent that would see Old Trafford as a move to make and would be desperate to complete such a move. Vidic, Evra and James are examples of well scouted players that can be picked up from unexpected sources and come in to make a difference. Currently we have maybe the 6th best team in the league, bringing in a holding midfielder and an attacking one/No.10 could give us the impetus we need to push for a top 4 finish. Achieve that and we suddenly are in contention for players like Sancho etc. Ignoring our midfield shortcomings again this winter will be extremely reckless particularly considering how we have found ourselves in a promising position at the halfway stage of the season.
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Every top team in Europe is looking for the same players. Teams which are in a far better position than us currently. And teams don’t need to sell anymore or simply won’t sell mid-season. Anyone we buy in Jan is more likely to be not Ole’s first or second choice but likely just all we could bring in. Doesn’t bode at all well for a top 4 push!
 
What about that young lad in Italy that I know nothing about beyond that he's good in Fifa and has beautiful hair?
 
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