Potential CB Options

Man City had a similar issue, they splurged £60million on Dias and that will be the catalyst to winning them the league this season. Liverpool did the same with VVD and that was the catalyst for their league title. We did it with Maguire but.... well.... erm

We had a chance to sign Dias for 50M in 2019 but we went for Maguire .
 
What are Nikola Milenkovics weaknesses?

Nothing major. He's comfortable bringing the ball out of defence, but his passing could be better. Occasional lapses in concentration that you'd expect with a younger player.

He's excellent and would pair nicely with either Maguire or Lindelof. The only potential issue is that he's not left footed (and neither are any of our other CBs), but that's probably less of a concern for Solskjaer than some other managers.
 
Nothing major. He's comfortable bringing the ball out of defence, but his passing could be better. Occasional lapses in concentration that you'd expect with a younger player.

He's excellent and would pair nicely with either Maguire or Lindelof. The only potential issue is that he's not left footed (and neither are any of our other CBs), but that's probably less of a concern for Solskjaer than some other managers.

Cheers
 
Nothing major. He's comfortable bringing the ball out of defence, but his passing could be better. Occasional lapses in concentration that you'd expect with a younger player.

He's excellent and would pair nicely with either Maguire or Lindelof. The only potential issue is that he's not left footed (and neither are any of our other CBs), but that's probably less of a concern for Solskjaer than some other managers.

Could definitely get on board with signing him if it meant we could spend more on a CDM
 
https://weallfollowunited.com/2021/...-run-at-sven-botman-as-liverpool-end-pursuit/

So Sven Botman then.. 20 year old left footed central defender.

Was a promising talent at Ajax, loaned out at age 19 to Heerenveen where he did quite well for a year. Ajax wanted to bring him back, but when Lille came Botman requested Overmars to allow him to go as he had Daley Blind in front of him. Overmars relucantly agreed and sold Botman to Lille for 8 million euro's. Now appearently there he is crushing it. Playing always, impressed in the bigger games as well. In the revelation lists of both the EL and L1. Was also on the bench for the first time at the Dutch national team in November.

Havent seen him play this year so cannot give any info on that.. In NL we consider him a non-Dutch defender he has more of a no-nonsense type of defensive, quite hard and to the point style of play. Therefore is was doubted whether he was really a Ajax fit in the first place (we are used to Daley Blind now haha). However, given he came through the Ajax academy, surely he can pass a ball and has control with the ball on his feet.

Personally Im really curious how he has developed and how his development will continue...

Sven Botman is a terrific defender but lacks pace. I don't think he'd be suited to the high line Ole seems to want to play.
No idea how he got into the Ajax academy, but it's no suprise they underrated him. He makes Maguire look like Beckenbauer. Every time he passes you're not quite sure if it'll arrive.
I'm not buying that they sold him because he was 2nd choice behind Blind. Blind plays 4 different positions and they have 4 different options for RCB.
No shame in getting it wrong though. The Dutch are notoriously bad at rating good defenders. See Virgil Van Dijk & Marten de Roon.

Anyone who has seen Pau Torres could share his thoughts? What are his weaknesses? His release clause of 45 mil seems a steal based on compilations.
 


Was this the guy who used to be at City a few years back, would be happy with any of the below this summer

Konate

Kounde

Milenkovic

Ramos

Varane


I am so intrigued to know who is on this shortlist for the summer but really hope some of those names are
 
I still fail to see the value in Konate and why he's suggested so often. He's a good prospect and I think he's more defensively astute than Upamecano but if the biggest concern is his injuries we are basically spending a release clause on another Bailey. He's spent 405 days injured (overall) since 2017.

We should be signing Kounde. One of the best defenders in La Liga but will likely have much interest in the summer.
 
I still fail to see the value in Konate and why he's suggested so often. He's a good prospect and I think he's more defensively astute than Upamecano but if the biggest concern is his injuries we are basically spending a release clause on another Bailey. He's spent 405 days injured (overall) since 2017.

We should be signing Kounde. One of the best defenders in La Liga but will likely have much interest in the summer.

Look, I hate fantasising about Bailly getting 13k a day to sit on a bosu ball, pull some elastic bands, receive a massage and watch our games privately as much as the next guy, but signing a midget he'll confuse for a ball boy as his partner won't dissuade him from signing the improved contract Woodward is invariably going to offer.
 
Seen we've been linked to Koulibaly, Mings and Kounde by ESPN.
 
I'm not saying these two are good enough - but I wouldnt be surprised if we went for Lisandro Martinez or Koopmeiners.

Going for one basically leaves us with a LCB that is versatile enough to play CDM as well.

Lisandro Martinez is the ball winning midfielder from what I have seen whilst Koopmeiners is more a deep lying playmaker.

This leaves us the ability to go for a new RCB without feeling like we bought 2 CBs.
 
I'm not saying these two are good enough - but I wouldnt be surprised if we went for Lisandro Martinez or Koopmeiners.

Going for one basically leaves us with a LCB that is versatile enough to play CDM as well.

Lisandro Martinez is the ball winning midfielder from what I have seen whilst Koopmeiners is more a deep lying playmaker.

This leaves us the ability to go for a new RCB without feeling like we bought 2 CBs.

Koopmeiners is a big talent for sure. Reads the game well, has an incredible left foot, knows how to defend and unlike other eredivisie hypes isn't invisible in big games. Free kick specialist but his penalties look shaky.

He seems like a player that would need to go to a bigger league first to get used to dictating games at a higher tempo.
His current club isn't even a title contender in the eredivisie.
He'd be a gamble I wouldn't mind taking if the price was right.

He plays as a sweeper type CB from time to time, but lacks both pace and agility to ever be able to do it at an EPL level. His competition for LCB is Bruno Martins Indi (that Dutch LCB at the 2014 world cup that looked like an accident waiting to happen)

Koopmeiners is one of four eredivisie talents I rate highly along with Malen, Gravenberch and Onana.

Martinez is woeful. He's like Ndidi but unproven in the EPL. Won't ever be good enough.
 
Seen we've been linked to Koulibaly, Mings and Kounde by ESPN.

Anyone but Mings.

The list also includes Varane, which I never see happening and seems to be a Woodward obsession. Kounde should be the top target.
 
If we sign Mings I will go into full, unashamed meltdown.

Horrible, horrible footballer, even worse person.
I genuinely think I’d piss myself laughing at the absurdity.
 
Anyone but Mings.

The list also includes Varane, which I never see happening and seems to be a Woodward obsession. Kounde should be the top target.
Normally I'd say there's no chance with Varane, but he's in the last 18 months of his contract and (reportedly) isn't signing a new deal. Funnily enough, we have our own Frenchman in an almost identical situation, who has been a long-standing target in Madrid. If there was ever a chance for a Pogba-Varane swap deal, this would be it. Whether it's an option we should take is another matter entirely (I'm not 100% sold on Varane).

Agree about Mings, he's a staggeringly overrated player.

One player I haven't seen us linked to but would like to is Jannik Vestergaard of Southampton. @LuckyScout78 provided an excellent analysis of him in this very thread several pages back, and I was very impressed.
 
If the shortlist is correct, it's clear what profile of player Ole wants, who would compliment both Maguire and Lindelof.

I have been very impressed with Kounde every time I have watched him play. Admittedly, that's not a lot of times but he does seem to be a top centre back in the making.

There has been some debate about his height. At 5ft11, he's quite small for the average defender and the aerial bombardment that he could face in the EPL could be a potential problem.

Varane's an interesting one. Not seen him this season but went through a bit of a rocky spell. That said, when he form, he's a rolls royce of a defender and if he could find that form, he'd be a fantastic addition. A player who has performed at the highest level, too.

Mings is just a joke. He's not even the best defender at his club, in my opinion.

Not too sure about Konate so can't comment.

Not on the shortlist but I remember watching Tapsoba when the Bundesliga was to first to start back following the pandemic. I was impressed in the games I watched him. Any watched much of him this season? If so, how has he been?


I think, if the shortlist is to be believed, my top two targets would be:

1. Varane
2. Kounde

Varane edges it for me because of experience but I think based on Ole's new transfer strategy, and the fact that Maguire, Bailly, and Lindelof are all above 25, it would possibly make sense to bring a younger player like Kounde.
 
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Is Fofana on the shortlist?

What's in the water in France for the CB? They're the best batch I've seen in a long time.

The biggest downside with Kounde is his height. Fofana is truly outstanding.
 
Torres to Real, Ramos stays and Varane to us?

(Pure speculation on my part)
 
In an ideal world we sign two central defenders with the ability shift both Maguire and lindelof out of the first 11 but will probably have to make do with us signing just 1 and hold out for the unthinkable that bailly stays fit next season and forms a great partnership with any new potential first team cb addition
 
Mings is very very underwhelming to say the least, it would only fit "lack of nasty bastard" bill. he may be in the list but i suspect may be #4 or 5 option
 
Varane would be incredible and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility considering his current situation at Real.

After that I like the look of Kounde, Konate and Pau Torres. I don’t want us to go anywhere near Tyrone bloody Mings but you just know that screams us all over - spend the summer chasing our no.1/2/3 targets then end up vastly over paying for Mings. I mean the writing is on the wall
 
Swapping Pogba for Varane without instalments would be fair and a win-win for both parts.

CB problem solved and closed the next five years.

Then we only need to buy a world class CM.
 
Who the hell's suggesting Tyrone Mings?

didn’t he cost £25m... Villa would be looking for £50m for him. No thank you at that price. No thank you at any price.
 
To move to the next level, we need to be far better defensively, improving the defence should be the 1st priority. The best options are Pau Torres, Kounte, White and Konate.
Torres looks idea technically and is left-footed, some people question his speed, but he's a great reader of the game.
Konate looks to have potential, and I would rate better than Upanceano, his primary issue is his injury record.
White looks idea as well but not sure if he's more suited to a back 5, could end up as a DM.
Kounte is on top form, looks like he could the next great CH. He has the lot, not very tall but looks to be great in the air. It crucial that whoever we get is better than what we have at present. I had to laugh when I saw someone had suggested Tyrone Mings; he's way off been good enough. Bailly would be the answer if he could be relied on to stay fit.
 
To move to the next level, we need to be far better defensively, improving the defence should be the 1st priority. The best options are Pau Torres, Kounte, White and Konate.
Torres looks idea technically and is left-footed, some people question his speed, but he's a great reader of the game.
Konate looks to have potential, and I would rate better than Upanceano, his primary issue is his injury record.
White looks idea as well but not sure if he's more suited to a back 5, could end up as a DM.
Kounte is on top form, looks like he could the next great CH. He has the lot, not very tall but looks to be great in the air. It crucial that whoever we get is better than what we have at present. I had to laugh when I saw someone had suggested Tyrone Mings; he's way off been good enough. Bailly would be the answer if he could be relied on to stay fit.
What’s wrong with Varane? Isn’t he a better player than all options you mention?
 
What’s wrong with Varane? Isn’t he a better player than all options you mention?

Bad form and potential high costs I guess might put people off.

I do think you have to worry a bit when players move from a side like Real, no offence but I think it's fair to say most would agree Utd would be perceived as a step down? In that case you have to ask why the club were prepared to let the player leave, or what the players motive is.
 
Bad form and potential high costs I guess might put people off.

I do think you have to worry a bit when players move from a side like Real, no offence but I think it's fair to say most would agree Utd would be perceived as a step down? In that case you have to ask why the club were prepared to let the player leave, or what the players motive is.
There's plenty of examples of Real making poor decisions in letting people go, even very recently in Llorente. After you've won everything with them and now not what they were, change of scenery might what some players need/want.
 
Varane has played 200 matches for RM since 2011 (when he was 18ish years). He is 27/28 y and have many years left. I suppose he needs a new challenge and want to do one final thing before he cools down. Varane would be the perfect CB, especially considering the Pogba swap.

Varane on a five year contract with United would be perfect for both Varane and United. The problem is that he possibly plays hard ball with RM, but want to stay. At the same time I guess he is curious what PL is all about and want to try another league while he still is in his prime.
 
Varane has played 200 matches for RM since 2011 (when he was 18ish years). He is 27/28 y and have many years left. I suppose he needs a new challenge and want to do one final thing before he cools down. Varane would be the perfect CB, especially considering the Pogba swap.

Varane on a five year contract with United would be perfect for both Varane and United. The problem is that he possibly plays hard ball with RM, but want to stay. At the same time I guess he is curious what PL is all about and want to try another league while he still is in his prime.

200 matches is 10 years? That either can’t be right, or one hell of a red flag.
 
200 matches is 10 years? That either can’t be right, or one hell of a red flag.
Definitely incorrect; he's played 347 matches for Real. Having said that, his injury record isn't great; he's only played 30 or more league matches in a season twice in his career. On the other hand, those two were his last two seasons, and he has definitely had less injury issues in the last few years than he had when he was younger.