Cucurella had a good season and is starting for Spain. Not worth 60mill but he's not a flop.
Option/replacement for Casemiro
- Thread starter andersj
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Fair point. I’d say 25s a good age to sign a DM. We could do with a bit of experience in that position since we’re chasing younger CBs
Seen that we have supposedly placed a bid for Zubimendi today. Somewhat short of his release clause. Surprised there isn’t a thread for him.
I have read it. Is he any good?
He's Rodri's backup for the national team. Rumoured to not want to leave Spain but Barca have no money and Madrid have DMs. Not so much pace and power, but everything else really good.
From what I've seen, he might struggle a bit with Ten Hag's system of giant gaps, but if we were a normal team he'd help us control games.
Made a few posts about him as he would be my dream signing for this summer. However, Arsenal have been linked with him for a while and yet every few weeks we hear that he doesn't want to leave Spain. I believe he even expressed a little desire to stay at his club.
Barca were linked with him when Xavi was coach but those rumours have died down.
Sounds interesting as a player but if a player is so keen to be in Spain, I have doubts whether it works in case he moves abroad
I'd get rid of McT and then bring in Zubimendi + Fofana
Another Ajax guy
He was CB, moved into a DM position. This is a hard pass for me.
Totally uninspiring.
Makes no sense, really. He's a useful player, but Prem tax would be huge and there's not really much upside there.
On the other hand, I checked the West Ham forum and they love him.
On the other hand, I checked the West Ham forum and they love him.
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He is a very very good player. But the cost to get him out of West Ham would just be too much.
I had a feeling we would go for Edson Alvarez.
We are looking at a CDM that can drop down to the CB position as we transition from a defensive team to an attacking team. The role is similar to stones at City, but Stones is a CB that moves to a CDM position instead, whilst ours will be a CDM that drops down to a CB position. A CDM dropping deep and protect the central defenders almost in line is how Amrabat played in his last few games for us.
Amrabat wasn't a CDM in his final games he was a third CB playing just in front of the central defenders to provide protection to them depending on the attack. He would almost play as the first defender to go in and tackle to get the ball back sitting just in front of the other defenders. Its why he looked so different, useful and good compared to his other performances.
People will be worried that we would play a deep defensive line - but this is why we are getting 2 new CB's this year - to play a higher line with the protection of someone like Alvarez as our first line of defence.
Players like Mainoo & others will be the players receiving the ball from Alvarez to start the attack - transitioning from defence to attack very quickly.
We are looking at a CDM that can drop down to the CB position as we transition from a defensive team to an attacking team. The role is similar to stones at City, but Stones is a CB that moves to a CDM position instead, whilst ours will be a CDM that drops down to a CB position. A CDM dropping deep and protect the central defenders almost in line is how Amrabat played in his last few games for us.
Amrabat wasn't a CDM in his final games he was a third CB playing just in front of the central defenders to provide protection to them depending on the attack. He would almost play as the first defender to go in and tackle to get the ball back sitting just in front of the other defenders. Its why he looked so different, useful and good compared to his other performances.
People will be worried that we would play a deep defensive line - but this is why we are getting 2 new CB's this year - to play a higher line with the protection of someone like Alvarez as our first line of defence.
Players like Mainoo & others will be the players receiving the ball from Alvarez to start the attack - transitioning from defence to attack very quickly.
Why didn't we sign him last year then? Signing playing with often long contracts from midtable EPL clubs like West Ham or Wolves only makes it more expensive. Get those players before they move to these teams.
We're not going for Alvarez. We could do a lot worse, but West Ham paid a fair bit for him just last year.
I very much think this is his agent leaking stories to try and get him a new deal, and journos running with it because he's another ex-Ten Haag player and they know it'll gain lots of interaction from all the Utd fans gnashing their teeth.
Be smarter.
So was Rice
How's that Zubimendi been getting on at Sociedad? What sort of fee would they be looking at for him?
Good luck dealing with WHU who just signed the player and by all accounts - he's been decent/good for them.
He has a reasonable release clause. But from what I have read he doesn't want to leave Spain.
Aaargh that sucks. He'd have been a very good signing and see us move to a more controlled game plan.
I can see a lot of talent in both Samuele Ricci and Mandela Keyta. If I had to choose I would go for Ricci, seems to have a bigger ceiling for improvement.
Will be interesting to see if Utd go back in for Neves (Benfica) towards the end of the window and pay Benfica's asking price €100mil. I do not see INEOS doing that.
If Casemiro doesn't leave this summer I can see Utd waiting till next summer to try again to get Neves. By all accounts he's a helluva player already. Aggressive, huge work rate, very tactically smart and club captain material. Sounds like the sort of personality and player Utd are looking to attract going forwards
If Casemiro doesn't leave this summer I can see Utd waiting till next summer to try again to get Neves. By all accounts he's a helluva player already. Aggressive, huge work rate, very tactically smart and club captain material. Sounds like the sort of personality and player Utd are looking to attract going forwards
Have a feeling we will try and do this deal, too
But only so long as we succeed in getting our list of players out the door for 75-90mil And get our RCB and ST for figures that leave the remaining budget to pay his exit clause.
Then next season will be a total mess again.
Started last night for Spain and did his usual good job of controlling the tempo from deep and positioning himself well to block off counter attacks.. He's a bit of a Carrick clone in some ways although in terms of United, I suppose he might lack a bit of physical presence for a team that is already sorely lacking in that regard. He'd definitely be a decent option for us, though, if he was prepared to leave Spain (and we could beat his other suitors - Arteta is reportedly a big fan).
Amadou Onana would probably be my first choice - he has all the attributes to become a really good Premier League #6 and still only 22. If we are looking for a more budget-friendly option, Anton Stach might fit the bill - Newcastle are apparently interested and Hoffenheim are reportedly only asking for €15m.
I think a lot of people on here need to accept that. INEOS have already said it's going to take a few years, and that was before the delays in getting people appointed, which was already compounded by the fact the takeover took so long to get all the Glazers and shareholders on board.
We're still going to be fielding a lot of players next season who shouldn't be at the club, but will be because we either can't get rid of them or can't replace them.
Seriously injured at Copa America, Alvarez not going anywhere this Summer
Isn't Casemiro on a reduced wage now we've failed to reach the CL? Am sure he's not exactly on minimum wage but might make it less of a hit to keep him around for the coming season?
25% off of 350k is still 260k+ for a player who looks like his legs have gone, we should sell him
I am still hopeful that he'd leave. Not making the squad for Copa must have hurt and from the events post the FA cup final it didn't look like he has the best relationship with ETH. Then there were reports of Varane and him questioning his methods.
I hope we can get 30m-40m from the Saudis and move him on.
I hope we can get 30m-40m from the Saudis and move him on.
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I think we should focus on stability though, central midfield and defence.
Yeah, I get the same/similar feeling about Zubimendi - on the ball would be a fantastic option for us to help us control the game alongside Mainoo, but off the ball we probably need someone a lot more physical, mobile and aggressive - like Onana.
Though from a personal preference, I really like Zubimendi (& players of his type) but it would mean that we'd need to be pretty fantastic at controlling possession of/dominating the ball as we might be a bit susceptible to fast counter attacks with such a midfield duo.
Sky Sports saying we are interested in Ugarte (sorry can't post the link).
Anyone have any solid opinions on him?
I see PSG paid around £50m themselves so can't imagine them letting him leave much cheaper.
Anyone have any solid opinions on him?
I see PSG paid around £50m themselves so can't imagine them letting him leave much cheaper.
Walks into our midfield, still only 23 aswell. Decent player and attainable. Physically he would suit the PL.
Would be a no-brainer. Absolute great DM. But if it means that PSG can get Joao Neves instead, that would suck..
Ugarte reminds me of younger Palhinha
Well Palhinha is a threat in the air - Ugarte is only a threat to opponents ankles. He is possibly the least attack-minded midfielder in world football. Has he ever scored a goal ?
Well Palhinha is a threat in the air - Ugarte is only a threat to opponents ankles. He is possibly the least attack-minded midfielder in world football. Has he ever scored a goal ?
He averages a goal or an assist every 22 games. I can live with that if he’s a good enough defensive mid to allow out more attacking options to attack with freedom.
4 goals and 9 assists in 189 games.
I thought it was just me. I've been saying he has a touch of Carrick for about 5 years now.
I think if we were seriously interested in Onana, we'd know by now given how public the Branthwaite pursuit has been. Honestly, I think there's disagreement between decisions makers at the club as to what profile of midfielder is actually required, but I'm going off third-hand stories there.