Raphaël Varane

[Nozzy]

They are a club who have let go players like Makelele and Ozil who were excellent for them.

Ozil? How long did it take him to look remotely like a £40M player & he still looks fecked after an hour - something very wrong with his stamina levels IMO.

 

[Nozzy]

We can sign both Varane and Otamendi.

Yes, £60M+ on 2x CB's
£25M on a CM
£15-20M on a RB
£30-50M on a striker
£20-25M on a keeper
on top of £25-30M for Depay.

Sorry, we can't afford x 2 CB's this summer, without cutting back in other areas or, selling some marquee names (ADM?)

 

[cyberman]

Yes, £60M+ on 2x CB's
£25M on a CM
£15-20M on a RB
£30-50M on a striker
£20-25M on a keeper
on top of £25-30M for Depay.

Sorry, we can't afford x 2 CB's this summer, without cutting back in other areas or, selling some marquee names (ADM?)

They'll Definetly be a few big name players could be facing the exit.
IMO the likes of Mata and Jones could be on the way out. Evans / Rafael going we could use 2 centre backs.
The way I see it working is Otamendi as a primary target and Varane being too good to pass up if he becomes available. Could spell trouble for Rojo if it were to happen

 

[amolbhatia50k]

We actually don't need two centre backs. Smalling is absolutely fine as a first choice defender and Jones as backup/second choice (for now). We just need someone to partner Smalling.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

I don't think we'll find it easy to flog Evans, and Jones/Smalling could both get injured fairly easily still, despite the latters progress..
I don't think it would cost £60m at all though, Otamendi would be around €40m I thought, which is around £28m(?) and a squad/young player for CB, someone like Lovren perhaps.

 

[Nozzy]

I don't think we'll find it easy to flog Evans, and Jones/Smalling could both get injured fairly easily still, despite the latters progress..
I don't think it would cost £60m at all though, Otamendi would be around €40m I thought, which is around £28m(?) and a squad/young player for CB, someone like Lovren perhaps.

We have McNair, the player who stood out as complete class in the making at Stamford Bridge, as our 4th young CB - why spend money?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

We have McNair, the player who stood out as complete class in the making at Stamford Bridge, as our 4th young CB - why spend money?

Varane is the most complete young defender around. If we have a chance to sign him we really shouldn't stop because McNair played a few good games.

 

[Nozzy]

They'll Definetly be a few big name players could be facing the exit.
IMO the likes of Mata and Jones could be on the way out. Evans / Rafael going we could use 2 centre backs.
The way I see it working is Otamendi as a primary target and Varane being too good to pass up if he becomes available. Could spell trouble for Rojo if it were to happen

I think Mata could get squeezed out too, if Herrera moves up, following the signing of a good CM.

As for defence, we need 8 players Otimendi, with Smalling, Jones (both injury prone) & McNair should be as good as any (when fit). Rojo & Shaw (Blind) on the left & Valencia, backing up a new RB (Fabinho).

Jones gets another year, as a supporting CB - no big improvement & it's bye bye time in 12 months.

Evans & Rafael to to go (if he's ever fit enough to sell).

 

[Nozzy]

Varane is the most complete young defender around. If we have a chance to sign him we really shouldn't stop because McNair played a few good games.

At the risk of repeating myself, I agree we should sign Varane IF, that older head to play alongside Smalling, is unavailable (Otemendi). Varane & Smalling can both be guilty of lapses of concentration, expensive lapses & together we'd be having kittens in every big game.

Can't see us signing 2 CB's, so Varane wouldn't be the no.1 choice IMO

 

[Devil may care]

Yes, £60M+ on 2x CB's
£25M on a CM
£15-20M on a RB
£30-50M on a striker
£20-25M on a keeper
on top of £25-30M for Depay.

Sorry, we can't afford x 2 CB's this summer, without cutting back in other areas or, selling some marquee names (ADM?)

Varane shouldn't cost us anything if he is part of the De Gea deal. I'm also not convinced we'll be dropping that kind of money on a striker while Rooney is here and I am starting to question if we'll even go for a RB.

 

[Nozzy]

Varane shouldn't cost us anything if he is part of the De Gea deal. I'm also not convinced we'll be dropping that kind of money on a striker while Rooney is here and I am starting to question if we'll even go for a RB.

We've supposedly been offered £13M for DDG. Say we settle on £20M. Varane, according to many, is among the very best in the world & has years left on his contract. Basically, he's a £40M+ player. (Rio cost around £30M, god knows how long ago).

Consensus is that RVP is going (because he's fallen off the edge) & Hernandez too. Have a look at the fixture schedule - it's frightening. Asking Rooney to play every game is a nonsense. He 30 this season. Please don't come back with Wilson - he's simply not as advance/physically ready, as Kane for example (similar age).

 

[Devil may care]

We've supposedly been offered £13M for DDG. Say we settle on £20M. Varane, according to many, is among the very best in the world & has years left on his contract. Basically, he's a £40M+ player. (Rio cost around £30M, god knows how long ago).

Consensus is that RVP is going (because he's fallen off the edge) & Hernandez too. Have a look at the fixture schedule - it's frightening. Asking Rooney to play every game is a nonsense. He 30 this season. Please don't come back with Wilson - he's simply not as advance/physically ready, as Kane for example (similar age).

Real are playing funny buggers if that is true which I doubt it is. I think if they could do close to a swap deal with Varane they might well be inclined, he doesn't play in a glamour position, he didn't cost them much and he's not a galactico, so I doubt they value him as highly as most do.

Have we seen any evidence that the captain wont play every game if fit? Also there simply isn't any striker remotely worth the kind of money you quoted in the post, players like Benteke and Jackson Martinez are not good enough and certainly not worth over £30M to sit on the bench.

 

[Loublaze]

I'm guessing this is attempt number 3 from Woody to get a player in the De Gea deal.

Bale
Benzema
Varane

We've also been linked with Sergio Ramos

 

[Getsme]

I don't think we'll find it easy to flog Evans, and Jones/Smalling could both get injured fairly easily still, despite the latters progress..
I don't think it would cost £60m at all though, Otamendi would be around €40m I thought, which is around £28m(?) and a squad/young player for CB, someone like Lovren perhaps.

Evans will be easy to sell, and Jones and Smalling will undoubtedly get injured. I agree we need two CBs

 

[devilish]

Yes, £60M+ on 2x CB's
£25M on a CM
£15-20M on a RB
£30-50M on a striker
£20-25M on a keeper
on top of £25-30M for Depay.

Sorry, we can't afford x 2 CB's this summer, without cutting back in other areas or, selling some marquee names (ADM?)

Chicarito hasn't been scoring as many goals as he did in his first year, which is only fair considering that he's a one season wonder. Same with Rooney and RVP who haven't scored as many goals as they did in the past. That's only fair because they are 'old' (one is 30 the other is 31, they are ancient i guess). We also had Falcao for a year, one of the most reputable finishers in his generation. He also didn't scored many goals, but surely its because of his injuries. Not to forget Welbeck (ok he's not very good in scoring goals) and Wilson (he's green as grass). Surely its all co-incidence that so many strikers have seen their goal ratio decline throughout the years

Which makes me think? I know that it may sound ridiculous but could it be possible that if we truly restrengthen the defense and add quality in midfield and flanks our strikers may rediscover their form? Id say add 2 CB, a RB, a CM or two and lets see if this 'miracle' can happen.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

They are a club who have let go players like Makelele and Ozil who were excellent for them.

Both of those players left because they could not agree to new contracts. Varane has a contract until 2020.

 

[Red Hand Devil]

I think Smalling has done enough to prove his worth and should be starting for us, Otamendi would compliment him well IMO.
Jones, Evans, Mcnair etc are good enough to be backups...ok maybe not Evans anymore.

I cannot see us buying 2 CB's, however I can see us buying 2 midfielders (Schneiderlin and either Gundogan or Bastian)

Smalling's been injured more than enough since he joined - same as Jones. How long do we have to keep playin players out of position to fill the gaps i.e. Carrick at CB & previously Fletch aswell. Our defence has cost us this season & it needs massive upgrading this summer.

2 new CB's arent a luxury & neither is 2 CM's - they're a necessity & the club are blind as f*ck if they dont see that!

 

[Devil may care]

We've also been linked with Sergio Ramos

I thought that as just a one off piece of silliness though, our interest in the other 3 has been a lot more persistent and long term.

 

[Loublaze]

Smalling's been injured more than enough since he joined - same as Jones. How long do we have to keep playin players out of position to fill the gaps i.e. Carrick at CB & previously Fletch aswell. Our defence has cost us this season & it needs massive upgrading this summer.

2 new CB's arent a luxury & neither is 2 CM's - they're a necessity & the club are blind as f*ck if they dont see that!

Smalling hasn't been injured as much as Jones lately. I think he only had two injuries all season and they were short lay offs. At the beginning and I think after we beat Southampton late 2014.

 

[ravi2]

Smalling's been injured more than enough since he joined - same as Jones. How long do we have to keep playin players out of position to fill the gaps i.e. Carrick at CB & previously Fletch aswell. Our defence has cost us this season & it needs massive upgrading this summer.

2 new CB's arent a luxury & neither is 2 CM's - they're a necessity & the club are blind as f*ck if they dont see that!

Smalling hasn't been injured as much as Jones lately. I think he only had two injuries all season and they were short lay offs. At the beginning and I think after we beat Southampton late 2014.

I think Smalling's injury record is better than Jones and IMO he is ready for the first team...he just needs an experienced top tier CB beside him in the mould of Vidic. I dont think we need 2 top CB's, one would do.
We do need 2 midfielders though.

 

[KingMinger22]

Isn't it amazing that seven years ago, we probably wouldn't have been interested in any of Real's players and they would have wanted most of ours. Now its completely the other way round.

Anyways, this one would be bizarre if it actually happened.

 

[Nozzy]

Real are playing funny buggers if that is true which I doubt it is. I think if they

could do close to a swap deal with Varane they might well be inclined, he doesn't play in a glamour position, he didn't cost them much and he's not a galactico, so I doubt they value him as highly as most do.

Have we seen any evidence that the captain wont play every game if fit? Also there simply isn't any striker remotely worth the kind of money you quoted in the post, players like Benteke and Jackson Martinez are not good enough and certainly not worth over £30M to sit on the bench.

'Worth' as opposed to actual 'cost' can be two very different figures. I can't see LVG taking us into the season with just Rooney & Wilson, that would be insane - take another look at the fixture list - Rooney would be burnt out by January, playing three times, virtually every 7 or 8 days. Were he to get an injury we would be screwed. Kane would cost us around £40 million to prise him away from Mr Levy, maybe even £50M. Benzema the same. You want Ronaldo - find £100M, Aguero, around £70-80M. Benteke & Martinez - not interested personally.

Varane is a top CB & how old, 23? You think Real Madrid are going to give him away? He's a financial asset for goodness sake. DDG has a lot less value, due to being a free agent, in 6 months. Ho much would Varane cost without a player swap in your opinion? Not a glamour position? So why did we pay £30M for Rio, 10+ years ago?

 

[Nozzy]

Chicarito hasn't been scoring as many goals as he did in his first year, which is only fair considering that he's a one season wonder. Same with Rooney and RVP who haven't scored as many goals as they did in the past. That's only fair because they are 'old' (one is 30 the other is 31, they are ancient i guess). We also had Falcao for a year, one of the most reputable finishers in his generation. He also didn't scored many goals, but surely its because of his injuries. Not to forget Welbeck (ok he's not very good in scoring goals) and Wilson (he's green as grass). Surely its all co-incidence that so many strikers have seen their goal ratio decline throughout the years

Which makes me think? I know that it may sound ridiculous but could it be possible that if we truly restrengthen the defense and add quality in midfield and flanks our strikers may rediscover their form? Id say add 2 CB, a RB, a CM or two and lets see if this 'miracle' can happen.

I go along with strengthening the team of course & supply has been appalling. However, it doesn't take a genius to see our forwards are over the crest & in decline & can RVP stay fit? - his last two seasons have been full of injuries, as was his Arsenal career.

 

[Red Hand Devil]

Why, because they're willing to let him go?

Sorry, but that club has a reputation for allowing top class players to leave.

Given his natural ability, age and the experience he has under his belt, I'd be absolutely ecstatic to get him in at United.

Bang on man!

 

[Nozzy]

Smalling's been injured more than enough since he joined - same as Jones. How long do we have to keep playin players out of position to fill the gaps i.e. Carrick at CB & previously Fletch aswell. Our defence has cost us this season & it needs massive upgrading this summer.

2 new CB's arent a luxury & neither is 2 CM's - they're a necessity & the club are blind as f*ck if they dont see that!

Are the board more likely to sanction a second CB purchase, at £30M (ie, £60M+ for two) or, are they likely to sanction one CB purchase & rely on one of Jones, Smalling or McNair to be fit at any one time, to play alongside the new top class CB?

One classy CB & one classy CM in front, will stiffen things up dramatically.

 

[Offside]

Isn't it amazing that seven years ago, we probably wouldn't have been interested in any of Real's players and they would have wanted most of ours. Now its completely the other way round.

Anyways, this one would be bizarre if it actually happened.

7 years ago we had a much better team.

 

[Nozzy]

Bang on man!

Recall his performances in the Champions League, in the 4-3 defeat to Schalke & the Semi against Juve - he was Smalling two years ago.

 

[Red Hand Devil]

Smalling hasn't been injured as much as Jones lately. I think he only had two injuries all season and they were short lay offs. At the beginning and I think after we beat Southampton late 2014.

I think Smalling's injury record is better than Jones and IMO he is ready for the first team...he just needs an experienced top tier CB beside him in the mould of Vidic. I dont think we need 2 top CB's, one would do.
We do need 2 midfielders though.

Smalling is injury-prone though & that's been a constant problem for us since he signed. If we want to win things, we need upgrades & quality replacements when one of the spine of the team is out. Otherwise, it'll be top-4 ambitions once again & that's not what we're about..

Obvious question is - are there CB's out there better than Smalling & Jones?

If the answer is a yes - go get them right now!

 

[Nozzy]

Smalling is injury-prone though & that's been a constant problem for us since he signed. If we want to win things, we need upgrades & quality replacements when one of the spine of the team is out. Otherwise, it'll be top-4 ambitions once again & that's not what we're about..

Obvious question is - are there CB's out there better than Smalling & Jones?

If the answer is a yes - go get them right now!

Nothing wrong with that but I think Madrid need Varane, more than they need DDG right now, particularly as he's their's in a year anyway - so why give up a 'world class' young CB? - they can wait.

 

[Red Hand Devil]

Recall his performances in the Champions League, in the 4-3 defeat to Schalke & the Semi against Juve - he was Smalling two years ago.

Nevermind 2 years ago. What about Smalling a short number of months ago - gettin f*ckin stupidly sent off at City!

 

[Distracted Steward]

Varane is the most complete young defender around. If we have a chance to sign him we really shouldn't stop because McNair played a few good games.

Agreed. If he were to come available, I would love it if the club signed him. I'm not sure he'd be as instant an impact as people think, but I think he'd become a massive player at United.

Varane shouldn't cost us anything if he is part of the De Gea deal.

It'd just about be a coup to sign him without de Gea going the other way.

 

[Nozzy]

Nevermind 2 years ago. What about Smalling a short number of months ago - gettin f*ckin stupidly sent off at City!

He did turn his season around after that brain fart - his best season yet by a mile, really stepped into the hole left by Rio - still plenty to learn I grant you.

 

[Red Hand Devil]

Are the board more likely to sanction a second CB purchase, at £30M (ie, £60M+ for two) or, are they likely to sanction one CB purchase & rely on one of Jones, Smalling or McNair to be fit at any one time, to play alongside the new top class CB?

One classy CB & one classy CM in front, will stiffen things up dramatically.

So you're telling me we have a Rio / Vida or a Brucie / Pally partnership in place, if we just buy one CB?

 

[Red Hand Devil]

He did turn his season around after that brain fart - his best season yet by a mile, really stepped into the hole left by Rio - still plenty to learn I grant you.

Totally agree man, but him being injured as much as he is - deems him unreliable & will never progress as we all hope he would..

 

[Nozzy]

So you're telling me we have a Rio / Vida or a Brucie / Pally partnership in place, if we just buy one CB?

No, just that to expect us to spend £60M+ on 2 CB's this summer going to leave you frustrated.

 

[Nozzy]

Totally agree man, but him being injured as much as he is - deems him unreliable & will never progress as we all hope he would..

Quite & that's why we'll keep Jones, as cover (with McNair)

 

[Loublaze]

I think Smalling's injury record is better than Jones and IMO he is ready for the first team...he just needs an experienced top tier CB beside him in the mould of Vidic. I dont think we need 2 top CB's, one would do.
We do need 2 midfielders though.

I agree

 

[Bwuk]

We need two first choice defenders in an ideal world. Varane is miles ahead of Smalling and Jones.

Look how many goals we concede. Look how often De Gea has had to save us, and he'll be gone soon. We won't get away with such a poor defense.

Shaw, Blind, Rojo fine for left back. Sell Evans. Loan McNair. Get two CBs in in an ideal world. New right back as well.

 

[sullydnl]

Two CBs this summer would definitely be overkill unless one of Smalling/Jones are leaving.

Is Varane the guy we need? Right now, probably not. However, he's also probably too big a talent to pass up if we're thinking long term.

He isn't the experienced CB we need atm but I'd be willing to go without that if it meant signing someone who is potentially the outstanding CB of his generation.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

We need two first choice defenders in an ideal world. Varane is miles ahead of Smalling and Jones.

Look how many goals we concede. Look how often De Gea has had to save us, and he'll be gone soon. We won't get away with such a poor defense.

Shaw, Blind, Rojo fine for left back. Sell Evans. Loan McNair. Get two CBs in in an ideal world. New right back as well.

We conceded less than Real and had the fourth best defensive record in the league.