We lack quality in certain positions, have some players that is not suited to the way we play now and hopefully will play next season, and we lack suitable cover/backups when the best players needs a rest/get injured. I don't think we will be able to fight for the big titles next season without improving our first 11 with 3/4 quality players and our squad as a whole. And we will not spend enough to do this. Better to improve gradually and close the gap over 2/3 seasons instead of trying to close it during a summer window.
There are 5 crucial problems with the team that we need to fix this summer, and hopefully make us a safe bet for top 4:
- Lack of depth in midfield. Outside of Matic, Pogba and Herrera we do not have players that can come in without the team falling down. Fred and Pereira might turn it around and become trusted/useful players but i doubt it. We should also start to prepare for when Herrera and Matic needs replacing.
- How do we play against a balanced defense when/if Pogba is injured or needs a rest? None of our players are currently able or used to be the focal point in attack/the initiator when attacking.(Sanchez did this for Arsenal, but that player is not the Sanchez we got.)
- CB: Lindelof needs a reliable partner. Bailly great when he has his day, but not the player you trust over a season to not make the mistakes. Smalling not good enough with the ball in his feet, and Jones is a walking error. Rojo is either injured or trying to get himself injured through making dangerous tackles.
- RW: Lingard is the perfect squadplayer, great movement and able to contribute in both ends, but is not the biggest threat on the ball like Martial is. We need someone able to be a threat on the right, so that we are not only creating chances from the left or on the counter(Makes us easier to defend against).
- RB: To early to trust Dalot over a season. Young is decent and can be a backup on both sides, but it can be argued that he is not good enough to be a starter next season.
Based on this the club should acquire;
RB: able to go straight into the starting 11 - Meunier. Contract ends in 2020, will not demand insane wages as he is a known fan of the club, can perform both ways, great movement and actions around the box against teams parking the bus. Around £25m seems sensible. Wan-Bissaka, Atal etc are all options for the future and fall into the same category as Dalot.
CB: comfortable on the ball and able to hold his own 1v1: Nathan Ake for £45m could be possible. Good player with experience in the league, and despite being fairly short he is effective in the air and on set pieces. Alderweireld for £25m is a good short term solution, Koulibaly for £75m+ might be a good deal, but will limit our ability to improve other positions.
RW: able to and experienced being the focal point in attack is Suso. Can play CAM as well. Despite not being fast, he is quick on the first meters making him able to take on players. Can shot, pass and cross. Clause at £35m. Good resale value. Pepe can be an option. Sancho should be the one we go after when we have fixed some of the big problems with the squad, and try to get him after next season.
CDM/CM: Pellegrini for £23m (clause) is a great deal. Can be a long term first teamer or at worst a good backup for Matic/Herrera. Or sold for the same value he was bought for.
In: Meunier ca £25m, Nathan Ake ca £45m, Suso £35m, Pellegrini £23m --> ca £128m. Any other players coming in would depend on the players being sold/released and how much we will spend. (Sancho, Tierney, Neves, Barella, Jovic, Aouar, Ndombele are names that must be on this list or for the next summer.)
Out without a doubt: Darmian(Activate 1 year clause and sell), Jones released, Mata released, Pereira(Activate 1 year clause and sell), Valencia released, Rojo sold.
Starters(2. option in position)
:
DDG(Romero)
Meunier(Dalot) - Lindelof(Bailly) - Ake(Bailly) - Shaw(Dalot)
Herrera(Pellegrini) - Matic(Pellegrini)
Suso(Lingard) - Pogba(Suso) - Martial(Lingard)
Rashford(Martial)
Additional players for games against weak teams/unimportant matches/injuries/rotation; Young, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Fred, Sanchez, Lukaku.
Would also give; Laird, Garner, Chong, Gomes and Greenwood games next season.
We should sell and replace Fred, Sanchez, Smalling, Lukaku if possible and replace them with promising but capable players more suited to our style of play.