We don't have any forwards for next season, who do we sign ?

Rashford, Sancho, Martial and Elanga as inside forwards are good enough. Rashford and Tony can play strikers too.
So we only need one no9 for next season. Real, Bayern, City, Liverpool, Spurs.....for years have only one no9. No need to have two world class no9s
 
Is Victor Osimhen not an option? Napoli spent an absolute wedge on him which will probably make it difficult.
 
Rashford, Sancho, Martial and Elanga as inside forwards are good enough. Rashford and Tony can play strikers too.
So we only need one no9 for next season. Real, Bayern, City, Liverpool, Spurs.....for years have only one no9. No need to have two world class no9s
Errm. Martial doesnt want to play for us anymore. Elanga is promising but unproven and Rashford is extremely inconsistent
 
Belotti on a free as your donkey work physical striker and then go for Isak or someone skilful for decent wedge. Szoboszlai instead of Pogba. Kessie and Brozovic on a free. Sorted. Probably looking at about 120 million which is doable surely. Reckon Ralf will also want a left back. It doesn’t seem like Shaw will have done all that much to change his mind since he got here, unfortunately.

Team could be

Ddg
Dalot Varane McG LB
Szobozlai Brozovic Bruno
Sancho Isak Rashford

with Belotti and Kessie to come in. That’s a clear upgrade for me.
 
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Yeh that Haaland kid my be a decent under the radar signing.

Wasn't aware it had to be an under the radar signing. In fact, when do we ever make under the radar signings? I wish we did, but I'm struggling to think of the last one, or last successful one, Hernandez maybe?
 
Replacing 4 players in Ronaldo, Cavani, Greenwood, and Martial is a big ask. In terms of wages off the books it's great, but where are the goals and the experience going to come from? I know it's probably not possible, but outside of Haaland, Osimhen is the only that speaks to me. There really aren't many established strikers available.
 
Wasn't aware it had to be an under the radar signing. In fact, when do we ever make under the radar signings? I wish we did, but I'm struggling to think of the last one, or last successful one, Hernandez maybe?

Dont forget Alexander Buttner
 
Greenwood is gone, martial has gone, cavani will go after this season and ronaldo is ancient and will also leave if we don't get into CL.

So on top of not having a midfield, we won't have any forwards either. I bet our board regrets not bidding for julian alvarez from river plate who city signed up on the cheap.

Glazers won't spend a bomb on haaland. Our only realistic option is kane for around 75m and even that might be too much for the glazers.
Kane would’ve been perfect for us, but United wouldn’t be perfect for him. Can’t eventually blame him for prioritising titles at the end of his career.
 
Is Victor Osimhen not an option? Napoli spent an absolute wedge on him which will probably make it difficult.

If you want to get into a fight with De Laurentis this summer good luck to you! After Haaland, he’s probably the next best, but availability this summer would be unlikely I think. Jonathan David, Lautaro, Isak or Schick look the best attainable ones. In fact, Lautaro probably isn’t even a available, he seems smitten with Inter and just signed a new deal.
 
I'm less worried about who we might bring in to shore up the front line than I am the prospect that club management will be content with Fred and McTominay as our central midfield rocks for years to come.
 
If you want to get into a fight with De Laurentis this summer good luck to you! After Haaland, he’s probably the next best, but availability this summer would be unlikely I think. Jonathan David, Lautaro, Isak or Schick look the best attainable ones. In fact, Lautaro probably isn’t even a available, he seems smitten with Inter and just signed a new deal.
Christ yeah, they managed to keep an iron grip on Koulibaly so Osimhen will be an even bigger ball ache. I'm really hoping we go after a dynamic forward that offers a bit of flexibility. Crazy how few options are out there.
 
The most important addition is ETH, followed by a DM, followed by a RB, followed by a ST in my opinion anyway.
 
I’m not too worried about it since there are still plenty options available in the market. Raphinha should be available in the summer and our proper competition will probably be Bayern since Liverpool just signed Dias. Considering his connection with Bruno at sporting, there is a hope he will choose us if we are interested. I’m more concerned with the midfield options like who can we buy if Pogba leaves. We are also potentially will be limited in striker department but if we can make it top 4, Ronaldo is likely to stay and we should be fine for another season with ronaldo as our striker while the likes of Rashford and Martial should be fine as backup if we need to rest Ronaldo.

Rashford and Martial (should he returns), are NOT backup #9, as evident in past 5 seasons, which was the reason that we bought in Ibra, Lukaku, Cavani. They don't know how to play ball with the back to goal.
 
I hope Ralf’s scouting knowledge and network unearths some diamond in the rough or a left field choice that isn’t marquee. It feels more exciting watching an unknown or lesser known quantity with curiosity than a well known quantity with expectation.
The same type of excitement when Daniel James scored in his Old Trafford debute. :D
 
Rashford and Martial (should he returns), are NOT backup #9, as evident in past 5 seasons, which was the reason that we bought in Ibra, Lukaku, Cavani. They don't know how to play ball with the back to goal.
Martial can hold up with his back to goal. The issue is he doesn't fancy aerial duel, and lack the work rate to fight for loose ball.

Both don't have the instinct to make run into the box to attack cross, rebound from shot, decoy run occupying center backs... They mostly just station around area second striker, no 10 would also arrive. Crowding those area and nobody have space to shoot, and make it extremely difficult to deliver service. Our delivery is hit and miss as is. We wouldn't get much chance at all when our attackers stepping on each other foot.
 
Watched Leverkusen destroy Dortmund. Schick's touches were really sharp on the counter to get them going. Didn't get to see them play against a low block because Dortmund's line was so high, but he certainly dominated Akanji, who I gather we might sign, and looked good in the air so I imagine he's okay against a low block.

He sort of looked like a better fit for Arsenal since they can throw 3 goalscorers on behind him in Martinelli-SmithRowe-Saka and Arteta seems to like playing on the break.

I think maybe David for us and Schick for them makes the most sense.
 
We've still got Rashford and Sancho as first choice wingers and Elanga, Mata and maybe Lingard as back up. The squad was bloated for a long time and there was a knock on effect for morale with players unable to get games. Obviously the Greenwood situation wasnt planned for but we've still got enough players imo.

That's a midtable front
 
I’m not too worried about it since there are still plenty options available in the market. Raphinha should be available in the summer and our proper competition will probably be Bayern since Liverpool just signed Dias. Considering his connection with Bruno at sporting, there is a hope he will choose us if we are interested. I’m more concerned with the midfield options like who can we buy if Pogba leaves. We are also potentially will be limited in striker department but if we can make it top 4, Ronaldo is likely to stay and we should be fine for another season with ronaldo as our striker while the likes of Rashford and Martial should be fine as backup if we need to rest Ronaldo.
When everyone and their dogs know Man Utd needs forward, I am sure the market price will reflect that.
 
For under the radar signing I'd go with Gamid Agalarov who had an impressive season (in terms of goals scored) in Russia at a lower table club.
 
We're going to be losing 4 forwards, 2 CBs and 3 midfielders next season (assuming Martial + VDB are out already). I don't remember any previous season where we've lost this many first team players in a single window. On the plus side, we will also be saving 1.6m a week in wages & allow us to rebuild.

In the worst case scenario that Ronaldo leaves & Greenwood goes to jail, we need at least 2 forwards & 2 central midfield players to balance the squad. Could also mean opportunities for Diallo, Garner & a few others from the academy.

No.​
Pos.​
Player​
Status​
Wages​
1​
GK​
David de Gea​
First Team​
375,000​
26​
GK​
Dean Henderson​
First Team​
100,000​
13​
GK​
Lee Grant​
Reserves​
30,000​
22​
GK​
Tom Heaton​
Reserves​
57,000​
20​
RB​
Diogo Dalot​
First Team​
25,000​
29​
RB​
Aaron Wan-Bissaka​
First Team​
90,000​
2​
CB​
Victor Lindelöf​
First Team​
120,000​
5​
CB​
Harry Maguire​
First Team​
200,000​
19​
CB​
Raphaël Varane​
First Team​
340,000​
23​
LB​
Luke Shaw​
First Team​
150,000​
27​
LB​
Alex Telles​
First Team​
100,000​
17​
CM​
Fred​
First Team​
120,000​
39​
CM​
Scott McTominay​
First Team​
75,000​
18​
AM​
Bruno Fernandes​
First Team​
180,000​
46​
AM​
Hannibal Mejbri​
Prospect​
13,000​
10​
FW​
Marcus Rashford​
First Team​
200,000​
25​
FW​
Jadon Sancho​
First Team​
350,000​
36​
FW​
Anthony Elanga​
First Team​
15,500​
47​
FW​
Shola Shoretire​
Prospect​
8,000​
4
CB
Phil Jones
Potentially Out​
75,000​
3
CB
Eric Bailly
Heading Out​
80,000​
6
CM
Paul Pogba
Heading Out​
290,000​
31
CM
Nemanja Matić
Heading Out​
120,000​
8
AM
Juan Mata
Heading Out​
160,000​
11
FW
Mason Greenwood
Questionable​
75,000​
7
FW
Cristiano Ronaldo
Potentially Out​
510,000​
14
FW
Jesse Lingard
Heading Out​
75,000​
21
FW
Edinson Cavani
Heading Out​
250,000​
 
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I'm assuming among forwards, we'll be having Rashford, Elanga, Sancho, Ronaldo(?), Martial(?) next season. Assuming the worst case, where Ronaldo and Martial leave (I think martial will leave for sure, and Ronaldo being here depends on top 4 finish), we'll be looking at atleast 2 signings - think Amad will be here for sure in and around the squad. We will need to sign a striker and a wide forward. I have a feeling we might go for Antony if ETH is hired though.

Considering we have more pressing needs in midfield with Matic, Pogba on the way out, I dont think we'll sign 2 big names for forward positions. One Starter and one bench player I feel.
 
Haaland would be ideal, but probably won't happen, he seems to be set on playing for Real or Barca. I reckon City could tempt him, though.

We'll probably end up with Benzema once he leaves because Haaland is going to Real.
I'm sure we can find another 36 or 37 year old from somewhere.
 
Do we need a big-name forward? I'd be quite happy to take someone functional, in the Firminho mould, with a view to relying on the wide forwards and Bruno for the majority of our goals.

Modern football is really moving away from the idea of the classic #9 who plays between the posts and scores 20+ goals. Sure, they still exist, but in the main, most teams expect to get goals from midfield and wide-areas.
 
Rashford and Martial (should he returns), are NOT backup #9, as evident in past 5 seasons, which was the reason that we bought in Ibra, Lukaku, Cavani. They don't know how to play ball with the back to goal.

We bought Ibra, Lukaku, Cavani not because Rash and Martial are not good enough as backup but not good enough as starter.
 
Do we need a big-name forward? I'd be quite happy to take someone functional, in the Firminho mould, with a view to relying on the wide forwards and Bruno for the majority of our goals.

Modern football is really moving away from the idea of the classic #9 who plays between the posts and scores 20+ goals. Sure, they still exist, but in the main, most teams expect to get goals from midfield and wide-areas.

Having someone like Firmino type striker can give the best out of Rashford, Sancho, and Bruno. But who’s out there available can play in Firmino role?
 
Do we need a big-name forward? I'd be quite happy to take someone functional, in the Firminho mould, with a view to relying on the wide forwards and Bruno for the majority of our goals.

Modern football is really moving away from the idea of the classic #9 who plays between the posts and scores 20+ goals. Sure, they still exist, but in the main, most teams expect to get goals from midfield and wide-areas.
Our midfield don't score many goals and if we don't change this and bring in a 25 goals a season forward, then we will have to settle for midtable place.
 
@Adnan suggested Bruno as a false 9, that might work along with signing a young striker like Gouiri, Isak or Jonathan David.
 
I’m not worried. We only need one more striker next season, and that’s it. Kane would’ve been perfect, but can imagine Kane has other preferences than “chaos and rebuilding” at the end of his career; title guarantees
 
I keep saying this but I'm more and more convinced that Charles De Ketelaere is the best option for us; especially as a Firmino type getting the most out of attacking wingers and Bruno. He's going to be absolutely top drawer. Lots of regular watchers of the Belgian league absolutely love him, say he's a cert to be world class etc. He'll be 30m or so. Let's get him now for that rather than him go to a Dortmund, Villarreal, Leicester etc. and then we'll want to sign him for 80m. These are the type of signings we need to make. Not the obvious, super expensive types. We don't have that luxury unlike Liverpool or City as we have too much to fix.
 
I keep saying this but I'm more and more convinced that Charles De Ketelaere is the best option for us; especially as a Firmino type getting the most out of attacking wingers and Bruno. He's going to be absolutely top drawer. Lots of regular watchers of the Belgian league absolutely love him, say he's a cert to be world class etc. He'll be 30m or so. Let's get him now for that rather than him go to a Dortmund, Villarreal, Leicester etc. and then we'll want to sign him for 80m. These are the type of signings we need to make. Not the obvious, super expensive types. We don't have that luxury unlike Liverpool or City as we have too much to fix.

He and Vanaken are both quality for Brugges I must say.
 
Alexander Isak or Darwin Nunez look good to me. I just hope we have a plan rather than some desperate last minute signing that we haven't thought out.