Why not Willian himself?
Summer Transfer Window 2017
- Thread starter AgentP
- Start date
Why not Willian himself?
I doubt Jose would rely on Shaw for this season, he see him bit of liability in defense plus he can't take further risk with his PL ambition neither the club, his signings need to fill those loopholes.
We should have never let Michael Keane go in first place,that was an blunder.
Left Back, CB, CDM, RW and LW, CF.... at a minimum, we need all those players. By CF, I inlcude Griezmann as a CF (False 9).
This transfer window is more murky than the last one,we have no idea on whom club/Jose would go after other than that obvious one.
Isn't that a bit much! You want to change the whole forward line plus half the midfield and defense.
In addition to a wide forward/SS (which looks likely to be Griezmann) we need a tall, ball-playing centre-back, a left back, a #6, a #8, a creative attacking midfielder/winger and a #9.
That would be a total of 7 players, one of which will cost a world record fee. That's obviously too much for a single window. I'd probably prioritise the LB, #6, wide forward and #9.
That would be a total of 7 players, one of which will cost a world record fee. That's obviously too much for a single window. I'd probably prioritise the LB, #6, wide forward and #9.
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Its nice this way. More thrilling for the muppets
Yes. If you think our team is ready for a title challenge and CL competition, you're in for a rude awakening. This team has been squeezed to its max, and thankfully we have got back into CL football but that is as far as the current XI can go. Major revamp is in order to the first XI to get this team to the standard which Mourinho needs to compete with the Real's and Bayerns of this world.
Take Rashford's performance for example last night, it was incredibly poor and this will get overlooked because we won.. but you can't carry a raw young striker like that all season and expect to win EPL or get into latter stages of CL.. he can pull off good performances here and there but Chelsea aside this season, how many memorable 90 minutes has he put in up front where he was top class all game.
Fellaini can't be a starter next year, neither can Mkhi or Mata.
At left back, you can't pick Darmian as starter LB against top top sides, so there is alot of weaknesses in the first XI which need to be rectified this summer.
ExactlyIts nice this way. More thrilling for the muppets
This is exactly what most would have said about Rojo, Romero, Darmian and Herrera last season but guess what? Players have poor seasons, shit happens but if you add 7 starters the team is bound to have a poor season because you will spend half the season with strangers stepping on each other's toes.
I would give Martial and Mkhi one more season but look to sign a wide player in case both continue to disappoint. We are signing Griezmann and he comes in to take care of one thing thats hurt us the most - another goals scorer to help kill of games against fodder. In midfield we have seen possibly the best midfield from United since Scholes declined and Jose might decide to keep it that way. Left back is a must. So I think a striker, Griezmann, LB, wide forward and DM (if we can sell players for good fees) will be enough. Thats a total of five players with the first three designated as automatic starter quality and the other two could be youngsters in the Bailly mould (incredible potential and ability to contribute immediately) and price range.
Players don't just have poor seasons, for some it is a quality issue. Even to their maximum potential, they won't ever be good enough for what we need going forwards.. and remember this is Mourinho we are talking about, who wants instant success.. he isn't going to dilly dally around like Wenger hoping after 5 years someone becomes good ala Walcott.
Mourinho added 6 starters to a serie A winning Inter side and won the CL, he added huge numbers to Porto and Chelsea sides and they won titles. He can build teams out of nothing and win, so there isn't a huge transitional period needed with Jose.. he can put together winning sides very quickly especially in the second season when he is fully aware of what players he needs for which positions.
You can't gamble on Martial and Mkhi as your starting wingers next year.. one he doesn't quite fancy Martial, secondly one could question just how effective he is as a pure winger in a Mourinho side, but if you are going to gamble on one of the two remaining as a starter, you definitely need one world class wideman on one of the flanks who you can trust to do the business. You can't have two question marks out wide, it isn't good enough. Mkhi is far too hit and miss to be starter material in a title challenging side, he can produce good moments but over 90 minutes is too inconsistent with his decision making to be relied upon to lead a team to trophies. He's a support act who can be the occasional matchwinner, not a Hazard level player. We need a proper wide forward who can constantly turn the game in our favour and take it to the opposition.
No chance Jose goes into next season with Herrera, Pogba and Fellaini as his trio. We have struggled in the big games all season to be on the front foot and we'd get torn apart in the Champions League with that midfield. We 100% need a quality CDM to give Herrera and Pogba more licence to focus on dictating the play and freeing them up abit.
Centre back wise, we need another one here no question.. I don't think Keane alone is enough as we don't know how Rojo will be post injury, and for a title challenge we need a top class CB to lead the line.
Now that we are in the champions league, the prospect of Griezmann feels real and I am allowing myself to get excited. Before I was unsure of him and then I thought "WTF am I crazy?" I feel he should play RWF so he can cut in on his left and BANG! 15-20 league goals. When Zlatan is injured, he can go up top. Pretty much what we hoped Martial would do, score goals from wide and fill in upfront on occasions, in many ways what Hazard does for Chelsea. He will be the missing piece to our attack. We could even play Griezmann - RWF Martial - LWF Mata/Miki - Amc and Zlatan - CF
As much as I agree with the Rashford's part I can't agree at all about Mikhi and to a certain degree about Mata.
There are missing pieces in this team and I am sure it will be well addressed this summer. What I am inclined to believe is Mourinho knows pretty well that we're short in quality in terms of attacking players and him and us have seen how hard it's been to get a second goal, therefore applying those tactics. Defending fragile leads of 1:0 like it's the end of the world, because it feels impossible to get back in front if we have conceded an equalizer.
Mikhi was brought into this team to be a starter and to be a building block in this team, together with Pogba and Bailly. Those three and a few other individuals are the core of this team. Hererra, Valencia and may be even Rojo. Zlatan was brought for the instant success and that's what he delivered pretty much.
This summer we will go for the rest of the missing pieces. If I put what I've mentioned till here on a starting sheet should look like that:
--------------------- De Gea -----------------
Valencia----- Bailly ------ Rojo -------- LB ?
--------------------- Hererra -----------------
--------------- CM ? -------- Pogba ----------
Mikhi ---------------- ST ? ---------- Winger ?
I think Rashford, Mata, Fellaini, Martial, may be Smalling and Darmian are good squad players. They are not your starters, but have proved that they have what it takes to do a job. The young boys could develop with the right attitude. Both Rashfrod and Martial have had a second season to forget, but I also think they are a bit too young to carry that pressure on their shoulders, which has been great experience for them. And I am hopeful that once quality attackers join in these boys would relax a bit and improve their game.
Would it be those four positions plus Griezmann? Would Griezmann play as your typical Jose #9? Or would he be doing a job similar to what Benzema does in RM?
Attractive wages, Champions League, Jose being our manager and proving the majority that he could still win trophies even with a squad that lacks quality in depth are major pulls. He said himself once that the players we target are the ones who want to come and play here - those who don't want to can go and play in Madeira and enjoy the nice weather.
I believe we'll have at least four signings - the positions that I left with a question mark. But it could be even five or six - the four + Griezmann and one more CB.
I know some players will be packing this summer - Januzjaj, Young, Rooney, Smalling, Blind, Shaw are all suspects. I hope we can average £15m in transfer fees received over all those who leave.
Exciting times ahead.
Mkhi has the abillity to be starter material, fast, tricky, good work rate, chips in with goals/assists but mentally too flaky and his in-game decision making is too hit and miss which leads to counter-attacks breaking down. I don't trust him to be a first choice wideplayer and for £26m, I think its a fair value for a very talented squad player/potential first team regular.. so overall it has been a good signing but not a great one like Bailly, who is a mainstay. Nevertheless, I can see what you are saying that we could gamble on Mkhi/Mata again next year, but for me.. a risk I'm not willing to take, we need a proper wing forward with pace, confidence to dribble and be everpresent during 90 minutes. Giving the side menace and genuine world class wide threat which every top side needs and a club of this history needs.
Fair point. But at the moment we don't have even a single player of such description. I am both hands up for bringing such quality, but it would be a bit costly to bring two in the same window and hard to pull off, given a few factors like availability, etc. Therefore just like I mentioned in the earlier post and like you acknowledge, we'll stick on one side with the rotation of Mikhi and Mata, while we def need a new addition for the other side.
Jose has begun instilling a certain, almost steely mindset into the players this term. He wanted them to show fight, to play through the pain barrier, he wanted mental strength and he admitted that things were tough. He liked players who would perform his instructions perfectly. If you couldn't adapt, you lost your place. The football may not have been the best to watch, but he's getting that mindset drilled into the players - this is what it takes to be a Jose Mourinho player, this is what you need to show in order to stay in my team. Many of the players who have emerged with credit this season, most of us would describe as beasts, as warriors - Zlatan, Bailly, Rojo, Herrera, Valencia, and even Fellaini. There has been some rashness, sure. There has also been the players that have shown that they can handle pressure and thrive in it, like Romero taking centre stage when he's "only the backup", or pinning our hopes on Rashford when Zlatan was injured.
That makes me feel good about the coming transfer window. He'll want more players that can show the same mindset, or at least the ability to adapt to it, like Mkhitaryan did, like he tried to get from Shaw, and Smalling, and Jones. He'll want players who will run through walls for him, who will handle the expectation and the burden of being a winning club. As he showed with Bailly, you don't need every signing to be a megastar from a winning club. Who really knew who Bailly was and what he was about before he signed for us? Not many. But he's been possibly our best centre back this season, his first season in our league, his first season at a club burdened with such expectation as ours is.
I always liked how Fergie would circle the wagons and instill the siege mentality in his players. Jose has begun doing the same. He's learning who his key figures are, he's bedded in his the first crop of "his" players, and now it's time for more.
That makes me feel good about the coming transfer window. He'll want more players that can show the same mindset, or at least the ability to adapt to it, like Mkhitaryan did, like he tried to get from Shaw, and Smalling, and Jones. He'll want players who will run through walls for him, who will handle the expectation and the burden of being a winning club. As he showed with Bailly, you don't need every signing to be a megastar from a winning club. Who really knew who Bailly was and what he was about before he signed for us? Not many. But he's been possibly our best centre back this season, his first season in our league, his first season at a club burdened with such expectation as ours is.
I always liked how Fergie would circle the wagons and instill the siege mentality in his players. Jose has begun doing the same. He's learning who his key figures are, he's bedded in his the first crop of "his" players, and now it's time for more.
He did and he signed Bonucci too although he was a youngster! Jose knows a good CB better than anyone and in many ways is the complete opposite to Pep.
I wouldn't mind wholesale changes as I believe he can work them
Is there a thread for City's transfers? I feel like they will need their own thread this window. Pep is having a clear-out 
Di Maria
IMO, we have 5 players in our team that will be definite starters next season. They are De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Herrera and Pogba. The rest of the positions can be strengthened but we need to choose the ones that are most important. We can play two formations, 433 or 4231.
CF : We have Rashford and Martial. Going into a new season depending just on them would be madness. We definitely have to sign a striker. Morata, Lukaku, Belotti, Aubameyang, etc are some of the options. Lets say this will cost us a minimum of 50m.
CM : We have Herrera and Pogba as starters. Fellaini is a good option from the bench. So we have to get a CM/CDM depending on where Herrera will play long-term. We can try for Naingollan, Fabinho, Dier, Matic, Naby Keita or Paredes.
RW : If its a 433, Griezmann will play there. Else it's between Mkhi and Mata. I can't think of any player that we can add who would be a significant improvement over these two. So unless we sign a player like Bale or Sanchez, there is no need to buy anyone.
LW : We have Martial who has had a terrible second season. Mkhi can play here if the formation is 433. Lingard will be a bench option. Again can't think of any player who is clearly better that we could sign.
CB : Rojo is our best LCB. But it might take a while for him to recover from the injury. We also have Smalling, Jones and Blind who can play there. If we sign someone, we need to get rid of a few first.
LB : There are no clear frontrunners for this position. Darmian looks the best bet at the moment. Shaw and Blind can also play there. Both Blind and Darmian can't support much in attack. Shaw looks like the player we need but is yet to show it. So I think we'll need to sign a new LB. Mendy would be my choice.
So we have to sign a striker and a CM apart from Griezmann. These signings are a must. The other positions will depend on whether we can get a top player for that role. My preference would be to add a LB. The final line-up would be
De Gea
Valencia----Bailly----CB------LB
Herrera
CM------Pogba
RW--------CF--------LW
De Gea
Valencia----Bailly----CB------LB
Herrera---Pogba
RW-----CAM/SS------LW
CF
CAM : If we sign Griezmann, he will either play the CAM position in a 4231 or RW position in a 433. I don't think Joe would play him as a CF. That will cost us around 85m pounds.Valencia----Bailly----CB------LB
Herrera
CM------Pogba
RW--------CF--------LW
De Gea
Valencia----Bailly----CB------LB
Herrera---Pogba
RW-----CAM/SS------LW
CF
CF : We have Rashford and Martial. Going into a new season depending just on them would be madness. We definitely have to sign a striker. Morata, Lukaku, Belotti, Aubameyang, etc are some of the options. Lets say this will cost us a minimum of 50m.
CM : We have Herrera and Pogba as starters. Fellaini is a good option from the bench. So we have to get a CM/CDM depending on where Herrera will play long-term. We can try for Naingollan, Fabinho, Dier, Matic, Naby Keita or Paredes.
RW : If its a 433, Griezmann will play there. Else it's between Mkhi and Mata. I can't think of any player that we can add who would be a significant improvement over these two. So unless we sign a player like Bale or Sanchez, there is no need to buy anyone.
LW : We have Martial who has had a terrible second season. Mkhi can play here if the formation is 433. Lingard will be a bench option. Again can't think of any player who is clearly better that we could sign.
CB : Rojo is our best LCB. But it might take a while for him to recover from the injury. We also have Smalling, Jones and Blind who can play there. If we sign someone, we need to get rid of a few first.
LB : There are no clear frontrunners for this position. Darmian looks the best bet at the moment. Shaw and Blind can also play there. Both Blind and Darmian can't support much in attack. Shaw looks like the player we need but is yet to show it. So I think we'll need to sign a new LB. Mendy would be my choice.
So we have to sign a striker and a CM apart from Griezmann. These signings are a must. The other positions will depend on whether we can get a top player for that role. My preference would be to add a LB. The final line-up would be
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Rojo Mendy
Herrera
Naingollan Pogba
Griezmann Morata Mkhi
Subs: Romero, Smalling, Mata, Rashford, Martial, Fellaini, Blind
Valencia Bailly Rojo Mendy
Herrera
Naingollan Pogba
Griezmann Morata Mkhi
Subs: Romero, Smalling, Mata, Rashford, Martial, Fellaini, Blind
We need 3 attacking additions, Griezmann seems like he'll be one and we need a #9 and a creative player than can dribble and beat a man.
For midfield I think a holding player is ideal, if we can't get one Jose might add another box to box CM.
Defensively we are sure to add a CB, I've seen the 3 we are linked with, not sure I have a preference between van Dijk and Lindelof, on top of that a LB seems possible as we have no real first choice in the position. On top of that we are likely to need a keeper.
For midfield I think a holding player is ideal, if we can't get one Jose might add another box to box CM.
Defensively we are sure to add a CB, I've seen the 3 we are linked with, not sure I have a preference between van Dijk and Lindelof, on top of that a LB seems possible as we have no real first choice in the position. On top of that we are likely to need a keeper.
I'm not too sure about Griezmann any more, or Belotti. How about Sandro who currently plays for Malaga? Rotate him, Rashford and Martial as our strikers for next season. If Zlatan stays, even better. The more the merrier. We should have a huge squad.
I would love to see us sign Lukaku and Griezmann.
James would be a bonus. But we desperately need a new CB like Van Dijk. My personal choice would be Pepe on a free.
That'll be a lot of money spent if we land those 4. If Ibra stays, we should pass on Lukaku.
James would be a bonus. But we desperately need a new CB like Van Dijk. My personal choice would be Pepe on a free.
That'll be a lot of money spent if we land those 4. If Ibra stays, we should pass on Lukaku.
Sounds like we won't be signing more than 3 or 4 again this summer which I think is sensible. I just hope we target the right areas - a holding midfielder, winger and striker would be nice.
We need to bring in serious attacking quality and Griezmann is a very good start; it's not enough though. We're not going to win the league if Rashford and Lingard are first choice players. We're just not.
We definitely need a striker and a wide player in addition to Griezmann. That's three players before we've even started trying to finish the midfield like.
We definitely need a striker and a wide player in addition to Griezmann. That's three players before we've even started trying to finish the midfield like.
I wonder how much Ajax would want for De Ligt? Seems destined for great things. If we got rid of Jones this summer, I'd look at him as one for the future.
None of Ajax players cost too much. But he's just 17. We need a CB who is first choice. The player will also benefit more from staying in Ajax since he gets to play a lot. Maybe a few years down the line, we'll come for him.
How we fix our midfield is what I am interested in?
Will Fellaini leave? Rooney looks like he will leave.
If we get Griezmann, will Mata stay?
Does Carrick retire or does he play one more. I think he should retire.
We already let midfielders go during the year, which left us 2 short. If Carrick and Fellaini leave then we probably need 3 midfielders to replace them.
Will Fellaini leave? Rooney looks like he will leave.
If we get Griezmann, will Mata stay?
Does Carrick retire or does he play one more. I think he should retire.
We already let midfielders go during the year, which left us 2 short. If Carrick and Fellaini leave then we probably need 3 midfielders to replace them.
Anyone else really excited to see how Andreas Pereira does/fits in next season? He's come on leaps and bounds last season, and already looked ready to slot into the team when needed the season before - he will be like a new signing I feel.
Yea, thats my shopping list,
Reboot the attack with those exact same 3 positions you mentioned,
DM to help give Pogba /& Herrera more freedom.
CB because... none of ours seem to be able to stay trustworthy and fit.
...
LB we could use a starter... but between Shaw, Darmian, Blind we have enough to get the job done for another year, LB isn't the reason we came in 6th.
GK if DDG leaves.
Most of the news sources are reporting we are buying 4 players: CB CM SS ST. Basically the spine again. I find this weird when our wings suck. Would have expected LB at the very least, Semedo too would have been great, an actual winger too. If these reports are correct I can't see our football improving much next season. Think Jose is underestimating what's needed or being overly optimistic about the improvement of our flanks. Only explanation that I can think of is that the Ibra injury has screwed up our plans badly as we have to spend a huge amount of money replacing him.
Assumption:
1. Media speculation
2. DDG stays
3. "Inflated" market price
4.
"Most likely" positions to be replaced, with Jose likely alternates btw......likely in order......
4-2-3-1 (most offensive with 4 attackers, against most smaller teams, mostly against PL mid-to-small-table-team)
4-3-3 (more defensive with compact midfield, against big teams like Barca)
3-5-2 (tactical)
No of players to buy: 4
Amount to spend: 200
IN
Striker: 70
Attacker: 100 (Griezmann)
CM/DM: 40
CB: 40
OUT
Rooney: 40
TOTAL: 210, for 4 players
Potential IN
Striker: Lukaku, Morata, Belloti
Attacker: Griezmann (bookmaker's implied probability 80% lol), Rodriguez
CM/DM: Fabinho, Bakayoko, Matuidi
CB: Van Djik, Lindeloff, Keane
Think Jose wouldn't commit Rashford as A-team. Likely to be used as starter @ both FA and EFL, sub @ PL and CL. I think its reasonable as he is not ready as starter, starting him @ EFL/FA can help him to develop, with the potential to become A-team, who knows. Furthermore, he can be used as "super sub" @ PL/CL. With Rooney likely gone, if Zlatan stays, if we get Griezmann he is not pure No 9, and given Jose's style and formation, he will likely bring in a new No 9.
Not sure if we need DM or CM. With Carrick likely to extend 1 year, and Herrera can play as both DM/CM, hard to say. Given both Pogba and Herrera very likely to be starter, I prefer getting another CM, with Pogba-Herrera @ 4-2-3-1, and Pogba-Herrera-CM @ 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. Carrick is good enough as sub.
More or less "consistent" with the assumption. Well of coz its just a "simple" version of it. For example, given us bringing in a new CB, expect us to sell one of Jones/Smalling, leaving us with 4 CB (Bailly, Rojo, New CB, Jones/Smalling).
That sounds sensible for challenging PL & CL.
1. Media speculation
2. DDG stays
3. "Inflated" market price
4.
"Most likely" positions to be replaced, with Jose likely alternates btw......likely in order......
4-2-3-1 (most offensive with 4 attackers, against most smaller teams, mostly against PL mid-to-small-table-team)
4-3-3 (more defensive with compact midfield, against big teams like Barca)
3-5-2 (tactical)
No of players to buy: 4
Amount to spend: 200
IN
Striker: 70
Attacker: 100 (Griezmann)
CM/DM: 40
CB: 40
OUT
Rooney: 40
TOTAL: 210, for 4 players
Potential IN
Striker: Lukaku, Morata, Belloti
Attacker: Griezmann (bookmaker's implied probability 80% lol), Rodriguez
CM/DM: Fabinho, Bakayoko, Matuidi
CB: Van Djik, Lindeloff, Keane
Think Jose wouldn't commit Rashford as A-team. Likely to be used as starter @ both FA and EFL, sub @ PL and CL. I think its reasonable as he is not ready as starter, starting him @ EFL/FA can help him to develop, with the potential to become A-team, who knows. Furthermore, he can be used as "super sub" @ PL/CL. With Rooney likely gone, if Zlatan stays, if we get Griezmann he is not pure No 9, and given Jose's style and formation, he will likely bring in a new No 9.
Not sure if we need DM or CM. With Carrick likely to extend 1 year, and Herrera can play as both DM/CM, hard to say. Given both Pogba and Herrera very likely to be starter, I prefer getting another CM, with Pogba-Herrera @ 4-2-3-1, and Pogba-Herrera-CM @ 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. Carrick is good enough as sub.
More or less "consistent" with the assumption. Well of coz its just a "simple" version of it. For example, given us bringing in a new CB, expect us to sell one of Jones/Smalling, leaving us with 4 CB (Bailly, Rojo, New CB, Jones/Smalling).
That sounds sensible for challenging PL & CL.
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I wonder if Bale is realistic at all?
Surely he will want to win a PL title in his career.
Surely he will want to win a PL title in his career.
He is about to win his 3rd CL and has won his 1st La Liga. I don't think the PL is even on his mind right now. The only chance of us signing him is if Madrid decide to cash in because of his injuries.
Maybe there are no great options available on the wing. We have been linked to Silva and that winger from Inter but I don't think anything will come off it. We have Mkhi, Mata and Martial on our wings. Who can we buy who are clearly better than these guys? LB is a position we need strengthening for sure. My choice would be Mendy. But with Shaw, Darmian, Blind and Young who can play there, I guess it's not top priority.
So how many "key" players will we sign?There's been talks JM will sign 3 or 4 players,how many of these players will be in the first 11 and how many will be a squad player?
Will be interesting to see how much we will spend to get "key" players say like your Pogba's etc?
Will be interesting to see how much we will spend to get "key" players say like your Pogba's etc?
Diarms Muppet Summer XI:
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Keane Mendy
Fabinho
Herrera Pogba
Sanchez --------- Griezmann
Rashford
Romero, Rojo, Darmian, Shaw, Blind, Mkhey, Martial
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Keane Mendy
Fabinho
Herrera Pogba
Sanchez --------- Griezmann
Rashford
Romero, Rojo, Darmian, Shaw, Blind, Mkhey, Martial
It looks as though the chances of keeping de Gea are higher than we initially thought, with us being in the Champion's League. Hopefully that's true and he stays, as anyone else we bring in would make us weaker despite likely being in our strongest position for the last four years come next season. Carrick looks set to be offered the one-year deal and while some will say he should go now, I think it is a good idea to keep him for another season (as a squad player). Reason being, I don't think we can afford to lose the experience of Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Carrick, and then also lose one or two of the other English lads (Jones/Smalling/Young) all at the same time. It just isn't going to happen. This major overhaul that most fans seem to expect with 8-9 ins/outs is incredibly unrealistic. There will be a fair few outs though, most likely Januzaj, Wilson, Rooney, Zlatan, and Jones maybe? Along with a few loan deals.
As for new players.. Griezmann and Lindelof/Keane look to be almost certs. I think Keane is basically an option to get a young English defender at a far cheaper cost in the squad to replace an injury prone one, while if Rojo comes back strong it's likely he and Bailly to be first choice. If Lindelof is signed, I think it's more of a direct competition with the former and he'll cost four times as much (roughly). Despite keeping Carrick, a worldie of a CM will be signed, but I'm not sure who yet. Herrera has showed he can do the holding role, so it might not necessarily be a CDM we sign, but more of a box-to-box player. After that, assuming we'll lose two attacking players, we will likely sign another one. Everything seems to suggest James Rodriguez, not that I'd personally want him, but we'll see. I can't see him breaking into our first-team even now, especially if Griezmann is signed. I imagine he'll cost upwards of £40m and you can't pay that for someone who will be on the bench most weeks. I'd much rather we try and pinch Sanchez from Arsenal, even at a far higher cost. So, a CB, MF, and two attacking players is pretty much guaranteed for me. With Jose complaining about the amount of games (we'll probably still hit 55-60 games next season), he'll probably try to sign a couple more players as well, although I'd like to see Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe brought in when we have injuries / nothing games, along with some of the other kids.
All that said, I expect a bit of a merry-go-round in the PL. Chelsea will likely sign Lukaka back, maybe sell Hazard and beat us to Sanchez. Arsenal would then go for Mahrez, as everyone tries to replace their player with someone similar but a bit worse.
As for new players.. Griezmann and Lindelof/Keane look to be almost certs. I think Keane is basically an option to get a young English defender at a far cheaper cost in the squad to replace an injury prone one, while if Rojo comes back strong it's likely he and Bailly to be first choice. If Lindelof is signed, I think it's more of a direct competition with the former and he'll cost four times as much (roughly). Despite keeping Carrick, a worldie of a CM will be signed, but I'm not sure who yet. Herrera has showed he can do the holding role, so it might not necessarily be a CDM we sign, but more of a box-to-box player. After that, assuming we'll lose two attacking players, we will likely sign another one. Everything seems to suggest James Rodriguez, not that I'd personally want him, but we'll see. I can't see him breaking into our first-team even now, especially if Griezmann is signed. I imagine he'll cost upwards of £40m and you can't pay that for someone who will be on the bench most weeks. I'd much rather we try and pinch Sanchez from Arsenal, even at a far higher cost. So, a CB, MF, and two attacking players is pretty much guaranteed for me. With Jose complaining about the amount of games (we'll probably still hit 55-60 games next season), he'll probably try to sign a couple more players as well, although I'd like to see Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe brought in when we have injuries / nothing games, along with some of the other kids.
All that said, I expect a bit of a merry-go-round in the PL. Chelsea will likely sign Lukaka back, maybe sell Hazard and beat us to Sanchez. Arsenal would then go for Mahrez, as everyone tries to replace their player with someone similar but a bit worse.
Think we should try to get Fuchs.
He would fix a lot of things. Still underrated.
He would fix a lot of things. Still underrated.
Sky are saying we're after a striker, centre half, centre midfielder and full back who can play either side. Manchester Evening News say a striker, wide player who can play either side, centre midfielder, centre half and maybe a left back.