Yeah need goals so break the bank for striker
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
Yeah need goals so break the bank for striker
Rumour heard - DeLigt for MG swap
Highly doubt it , more chances of MG reintegrated back into the fold and I believe that's what will happen .
Hope not. But let’s leave it there for now
Agree with many that we need a goalscoring CF, however that won't really transform our side enough.
After watching Real Madrid vs City yesterday - One player stood out to me even more then Vini and that was Camavinga.
Exactly the player we're screaming out for next to Casemiro. Dynamic, 90% pass completion (according to Fbref), progessive with the ball, fast, amazing tackler.
Even with RM pegged back by City at times he was always available and that playing out of position!
Not sure there is anyone even close to him out there at the moment, but even someone with 60% of what he offers would lift our midfield.
After watching Real Madrid vs City yesterday - One player stood out to me even more then Vini and that was Camavinga.
Exactly the player we're screaming out for next to Casemiro. Dynamic, 90% pass completion (according to Fbref), progessive with the ball, fast, amazing tackler.
Even with RM pegged back by City at times he was always available and that playing out of position!
Not sure there is anyone even close to him out there at the moment, but even someone with 60% of what he offers would lift our midfield.
We peaked in Feb, and now the team has run out of beans. You cannot go a 65 game season with 14 regular players.
We need at least 5 new recruits in the summer, just to keep ticking over. So we don't fall off a cliff at the business end of every season.
We need at least 5 new recruits in the summer, just to keep ticking over. So we don't fall off a cliff at the business end of every season.
Yeah in the summer we need absolute minimum of
ST
GK
CM
DM (backup)
RB/CB
Hard to see it with such a supposedly low budget and our inability to sell players
Ok let’s play this transfer game in a very different way if Man United are actually taken over by SJ and all the paperwork are cleared with EPL and UEFA because we would have different owners (even though we all know it’s Qatar State)
Just indulge me for a minute and please play the game; SJ and the owners of PSG now have a unique opportunity before united or PSG do any business whatsoever, both teams especially PSG have huge FSP issues with a huge annual wages of £642m per year and turnover of £568m which is 113% and they have to get to 90% this summer, is this the real reason for the united bid.
PSG first will lose Messi which will reduce the annual wage bill by €45m per year reduction, and they will want Neymar €35m to be sold or loaned. I really think if SJ buys united we will see major loan deals between each club and they will carefully planned to help each with with FFP. These are not swap deals but 1/2 year loan deals with very favourable prices be
Donnaruma - Loaned to United wages £160k per week
D De Gea - Loaned to PSG - £200k per week
H Maguire - Sold to PSG 40m - £200k per week to replace Sergio Ramos
M Veratti - Loaned to Man United - £180k per week
Fred - Loaned to PSG - £120k per week
Neymar - Sold to United £40m - £400k per week
M Greenwood - Loaned to PSG - 75k per week
A Martial - Sold to PSG 20m - 200k per week
So Summary SJ and Naseer Al-Khelaifi sit down over a pot of Arabic mint tea while smoking a huge hookah, obviously the table behind has all the accountants number crunching and;
United would get ; G Donarouma, M Veratti, Neymar - Cost £40m
(Wages for 3 players £750k per week) yes I know Neymar will probably get a brown bag of cash every week from Dohar as well but just indulge me. Previous wages was 375, 180, 75, 250k = £875 per week)
PSG would get ; D De Gea, Fred, H Maguire, Martial and M Greenwood - Cost £60m (Wages £800k per week) Previous £1.25m per week. They gain 5 players lose about €50/60m with Messi going as well from their wage bill and they still have a front three from Martial, Mbappe, Greenwood and M Icardi.
I keep saying if SJ buys us and it’s still a big if, they will be very, very friendly business between PSG and United plus Sporting Braga in Portugal will be used to bring in youngsters from All over the world.
If we signed Donnaruma, Veratti and Neymar, then we would only need a new RB like Frimpong or DumFries for £30m, a Decent CDM Rice or Caciedo for £90m and could go get two strikers one like Harry Kane and the other like R Hojlund. For £140m.
Total cost £200m net after We Sell Henderson, E Bailey, S Mctominay, B Williams, A Telles, A Elanga, H Maguire
Transfers in ; Frimpong, Caciedo, H Kane, R Hojlund, Neymar
Loans in ; G Donnaruma, M Veratti
Just indulge me for a minute and please play the game; SJ and the owners of PSG now have a unique opportunity before united or PSG do any business whatsoever, both teams especially PSG have huge FSP issues with a huge annual wages of £642m per year and turnover of £568m which is 113% and they have to get to 90% this summer, is this the real reason for the united bid.
PSG first will lose Messi which will reduce the annual wage bill by €45m per year reduction, and they will want Neymar €35m to be sold or loaned. I really think if SJ buys united we will see major loan deals between each club and they will carefully planned to help each with with FFP. These are not swap deals but 1/2 year loan deals with very favourable prices be
Donnaruma - Loaned to United wages £160k per week
D De Gea - Loaned to PSG - £200k per week
H Maguire - Sold to PSG 40m - £200k per week to replace Sergio Ramos
M Veratti - Loaned to Man United - £180k per week
Fred - Loaned to PSG - £120k per week
Neymar - Sold to United £40m - £400k per week
M Greenwood - Loaned to PSG - 75k per week
A Martial - Sold to PSG 20m - 200k per week
So Summary SJ and Naseer Al-Khelaifi sit down over a pot of Arabic mint tea while smoking a huge hookah, obviously the table behind has all the accountants number crunching and;
United would get ; G Donarouma, M Veratti, Neymar - Cost £40m
(Wages for 3 players £750k per week) yes I know Neymar will probably get a brown bag of cash every week from Dohar as well but just indulge me. Previous wages was 375, 180, 75, 250k = £875 per week)
PSG would get ; D De Gea, Fred, H Maguire, Martial and M Greenwood - Cost £60m (Wages £800k per week) Previous £1.25m per week. They gain 5 players lose about €50/60m with Messi going as well from their wage bill and they still have a front three from Martial, Mbappe, Greenwood and M Icardi.
I keep saying if SJ buys us and it’s still a big if, they will be very, very friendly business between PSG and United plus Sporting Braga in Portugal will be used to bring in youngsters from All over the world.
If we signed Donnaruma, Veratti and Neymar, then we would only need a new RB like Frimpong or DumFries for £30m, a Decent CDM Rice or Caciedo for £90m and could go get two strikers one like Harry Kane and the other like R Hojlund. For £140m.
Total cost £200m net after We Sell Henderson, E Bailey, S Mctominay, B Williams, A Telles, A Elanga, H Maguire
Transfers in ; Frimpong, Caciedo, H Kane, R Hojlund, Neymar
Loans in ; G Donnaruma, M Veratti
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Your right it’s definitely in the 7 to 8 player range which is why we need to do a free or a couple of loan deals
Its clear Kane is our priority for a striker or Kolo Muani. But uts quite interesting we are not strongly linked with any midfielder considering that's a priority this window. Arsenal have been strongly linked with Rice, Liverpool with Mac Allister and Mount, Chelsea with Lavia, City with Kovacic, T we've actually been linked with all these players we more of the "monitoring" "considering" type of link
Worrying for sure but I don’t see any outcome this summer where we don’t sign a midfielder.
There are so many good, young and attainable options this summer: Caicedo (probs the least attainable due to price), Ugarte, Lavia, Thuram, Mac Allister, etc.
As you said we’ve been linked to all of them, but much more loosely than the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea.
Perhaps the takeover is causing a distraction for the press / making the press wary of making links when there’s so much uncertainty around what our summer could look like. Whatever happens I see us moving on Fred or McTominay, and getting another body in.
It's been established that one of out problems is how we give away the ball carelessly and lack ball retention. Seen alot of posts that imply if we just sign a De Jong type midfielder this problem will go away a. But looking at other top teams that don't have this problem, they usually have at least 2 midfielders good on the ball. Madrid had Kroos and Modric to compensate for Casemiro poor ball retention, City have Rodri and Gundogan to compensate for De Bruyne, Liverpool had Fabinho and Wijnaldum, ETH had Alvarez and Gravenberch, Brighton has Mac Allister and Caicedo etc.
Say we sign De Jong, is he really enough to make up for Casemiro and Bruno's carelessness with the ball?
Say we sign De Jong, is he really enough to make up for Casemiro and Bruno's carelessness with the ball?
I get your point. Maybe not on his own. But if we can add more comfortable RB and RCB options we would probably see a significant improvement.
Yeah the takeover is definitely causing the press to distract from transfer rumours relating to us
CM
Ugarte and Koopmeiners
These two are not just alright they will be starting for us ahead of some of our fan favourites. Agustín Almendra would have been my most sign guy but it seems he is already moving on a free transfer to Rayo, this guy is a better player than Enzo.
Strikers
Hojlund and Ferguson
Watching Brighton against Everton convinced me Ferguson is our guy, Hojlund had passed the eye test a while back.
CB
Ndicka and Thiaw
Both players have immense potential and also performing at a high level currently.
Goalkeeper
Maignan
I just like a big fat goalie. It’s my thing and I’m not shifting away from it. Reminds me of Peruzzi. Lafont was also a interesting one last season.
Ugarte and Koopmeiners
These two are not just alright they will be starting for us ahead of some of our fan favourites. Agustín Almendra would have been my most sign guy but it seems he is already moving on a free transfer to Rayo, this guy is a better player than Enzo.
Strikers
Hojlund and Ferguson
Watching Brighton against Everton convinced me Ferguson is our guy, Hojlund had passed the eye test a while back.
CB
Ndicka and Thiaw
Both players have immense potential and also performing at a high level currently.
Goalkeeper
Maignan
I just like a big fat goalie. It’s my thing and I’m not shifting away from it. Reminds me of Peruzzi. Lafont was also a interesting one last season.
We have 3 world class players at the moment in Bruno, Rashford and Shaw. Martinez is also world class and Varane and Casemiro are very good but in decline (please prove me wrong). So 3 new world class players and 3 to improve the squad are needed to challenge for the title.
Striker
CM
CB
Those are the obvious areas to improve.
do we even have a starting midfield right now for next season that would be remotely acceptable based on current players? Eriksen should be an impact sub/spot starter. Case needs to be helped a bit more as he already looks gassed and struggling. McFred needs to be shipped out entirely. Bruno deeper in the midfield just isnt a great idea. No youth players got any meaningful minutes this season there. 2 signings for the midfield would be needed at minimum. All the more reasons we cant just blow everything on Kane and expect any decent results.
I don’t think Ferguson is going anywhere this summer. He has just signed a new five year contract.
I understand that is the stands from both the player and club.
Just think if United approach his with a plan to build our attack around him next season, the offer will be reflective of it and Brighton will also listen.
The top priority by far is a striker. No other position comes even close.
We have players who can do a job in midfield, RB and GK but we don't have a single player who can do a job at striker. Not Martial, not Weghorst. Rashford will stand in at striker when asked, but he's not a striker.
We have players who can do a job in midfield, RB and GK but we don't have a single player who can do a job at striker. Not Martial, not Weghorst. Rashford will stand in at striker when asked, but he's not a striker.
Without making a value judgment: I think the club is hoping there's interest from more than one club, so that they can drive a bidding war. Don't think the club is willing to give him away for cheap.
This guy is 23 and by all appearances has not played for a few years - am I missing something or what can you be basing your assessment that he's better than Enzo on?
We need some bargains, looking at number of players we need and cost of even quite unproven players we will be stuck in endless rebuilds unless we unearth some cheap players.
Amad is the only youngster who is probably capable of breaking into team next season, we can’t raise huge funds by selling players so even with new owners we can’t keep spending large sums on individuals, especially ageing players as just isn’t sustainable.
Amad is the only youngster who is probably capable of breaking into team next season, we can’t raise huge funds by selling players so even with new owners we can’t keep spending large sums on individuals, especially ageing players as just isn’t sustainable.
hugely disagree. If anything i can list a quality starting CF for next season-rashford. I couldnt do the same for our central midfield. Case-eriksen? Case-fred? Case-Bruno? Both are big holes in our roster but to act like our midfield is good is just a huge mistake. By my count we have 2 players id want to see next year in our central midfield spots total, eriksen and case. One needs to be an impact sub in eriksen, and the other one hasnt really convinced me that his good spell this year wasnt just a purple patch.
Do i think we should go into next year with rashford as our starting CF? Hell no. But would i rather do that than get zero midfield reinforcements? hell yeah
I think Brighton would be in expectation of a fee which Manchester United simply would not pay for an 18 year old with half a season’s exposure. I think it would be a very poor purchase to be honest.
Not dissimilar players but he has a defensive edge to his game that Enzo does not.
We did with an unproven Rooney. He was a kid coming straight into our 11 and Ferguson will be in the same position, in my opinion a price can’t by placed on such potential.
We need some bargains of highly potential players. For a very limited amount below players should be attainable
- GK: Bart Verbruggen (20 years)
- RB: Sacha Boey (22 years). Playing for Galatasaray in the Turkish league, very strong offensively, fighter, strong mentality and can also defend. He should be attainable for EUR 10-15m
- AM: Arda Güler (18 years). His first season with senior football but has already managed to show how big a potential he has. He is an AM but has also played CM and RW. Great overview, technique and pass capability. Best part is, he has a release clause of EUR 5m
I am not quite sure how much Bart Verbruggen would cost but we should be able to get a young highly potential RB and AM (RW/CM secondary) for about EUR 20m. If we can get Verbruggen for EUR 10-15m what would be 3 young prospects with significant potential and already significant senior football on their CV for about EUR 35m
- GK: Bart Verbruggen (20 years)
- RB: Sacha Boey (22 years). Playing for Galatasaray in the Turkish league, very strong offensively, fighter, strong mentality and can also defend. He should be attainable for EUR 10-15m
- AM: Arda Güler (18 years). His first season with senior football but has already managed to show how big a potential he has. He is an AM but has also played CM and RW. Great overview, technique and pass capability. Best part is, he has a release clause of EUR 5m
I am not quite sure how much Bart Verbruggen would cost but we should be able to get a young highly potential RB and AM (RW/CM secondary) for about EUR 20m. If we can get Verbruggen for EUR 10-15m what would be 3 young prospects with significant potential and already significant senior football on their CV for about EUR 35m
GK
RB Varane Martinez Shaw
Casemiro CM
Antony Bruno Rashford
ST
Backup Keeper(s)
Lindelof or New CB to cover Varane
Shaw to cover LCB
Malacia to cover Shaw
Dalot to cover RB and LB
Eriksen to cover Bruno and CM
Rabiot for free to cover Casemiro and CM
Garnacho to cover Rashford
Sancho to cover LW and RW
Amad to cover RW, AM, and may be even an option for false 9
Rashford to cover ST
RB Varane Martinez Shaw
Casemiro CM
Antony Bruno Rashford
ST
Backup Keeper(s)
Lindelof or New CB to cover Varane
Shaw to cover LCB
Malacia to cover Shaw
Dalot to cover RB and LB
Eriksen to cover Bruno and CM
Rabiot for free to cover Casemiro and CM
Garnacho to cover Rashford
Sancho to cover LW and RW
Amad to cover RW, AM, and may be even an option for false 9
Rashford to cover ST
If we are not able to get Kane or Osimhen for being expensive or FPP with all the other issues the club is going through, how would a bid for Tammy Abraham (Feel he will be much cheaper than both) make you feel? He was pushed out of Chelsea while, and now doing great in Italy, strong, and a very good finisher him linking with Rash, Bruno and Antony will be amazing , and get a young attacker (scouts should do there work) should set our attack for a long time.
DeJong will be the dream signing but it does not look like it will happen so Macallister would be a strong candidate.
RB Hakimi or Davies (not sure if he can play RB) will be amazing, didn't watch Frimpong a lot but he seems like a more realistic option.
For CB we need a substitute and Lavia being young with a great potential will be great option.
3 first team players and 2 substitute will be a realistic summer window.
Won't make us title contenders directly on paper but it could click like what happened with Arsenal and Liverpool when no-one saw it coming.
DeJong will be the dream signing but it does not look like it will happen so Macallister would be a strong candidate.
RB Hakimi or Davies (not sure if he can play RB) will be amazing, didn't watch Frimpong a lot but he seems like a more realistic option.
For CB we need a substitute and Lavia being young with a great potential will be great option.
3 first team players and 2 substitute will be a realistic summer window.
Won't make us title contenders directly on paper but it could click like what happened with Arsenal and Liverpool when no-one saw it coming.
Ralf wass the worst manager of all time perhaps but I would hope we learned something from his approach in the market. We are simply a second tier club and need to behave like one. We have an excellent and highly flexible coach who will hopefully be given the patience. We are facing a dominant domestic presence which will win until pep leaves. We should be building the best young team in the world over multiple seasons.
I 100% ageee with this. We should stop acting like we are at the level of Real, City or Bayern and stop competing with them on some of the largest. We are at a level behind the best clubs and should therefore work on building a team around young highly potential players and once we are closer where we with one single big transfer can complete the team then we should discuss the likes of players that are currently priced +£100m
ETH proved up until February that his team coaching ideas and his first 11-13 players potentially could mount a title challenge, however their are huge issues in the squad which have revealed themselves in the last 3 months.
The obvious changes are we need an elite Centre forward, a high energy high quality Defensive Midfield/ Centre Midfielder and a new Goal keeper that’s good with his feet. These three areas are what we need to improve just to compete for top 4 next year, to mount a serious title challenge we would need to add a quality Right CB that can be first choice or compete with an injury plagued Varane and we need an attacking right back, Back up striker and finally we need another goal threat, either an attacking 10/Right winger but a goal scorer Someone with a touch of magic.
The reality is we might have £100m to spend plus hopefully another £100m after we’ve sold players, some of these players will be 100% profitable as we did not buy them, assume the club manages to sell ; D Henderson, A Telles, B Williams, E Bailey, DVB, Fred, A Elanga, H Maguire, A Martial and let’s A Tuanzebe and P Jones go. Suggestion which could improve us are ;
Goalkeeper - David Raya PL proven, not top 10 in the world but good enough we can get a deal for £30m
RCB - Kim Min Jae , fast strong physical and a buy out clause let’s say we get that done early £50m easily the Best Buy of business we can do this summer
Right Back - J Frimpong or DumFries both will cost £30-35m both are huge upgrades
DM/CM - Adrian Rabiot, I’d love Rice or Caciedo, we simply won’t have the money to do either because a least one CFW is a priority and maybe two - Free Transfer/wages £10m per year this is a no brainer for the club or we spend £30m on A Onana
Centre Forward - R Hojlund, available not the finished article could play right wing, fast tall strong a decade in front of him but will not be good all the time and will cost £50-60m if not then go buy Goncalo Ramos, again young career in front of him £70-80m but both are available and both suit ETH style. Kane on Osimhen are simply not realistic, price, protracted transfer dealings with their clubs.
Number10/Right Winger - Paulo Dyballa he has a clause in his contract for £17m we missed out in the summer and he’s been Romas best player, he has Garnaucho who he can be role model for and L Martinez who they won world cup together.
He offers more magic either from the start or the bench, he can play with bruno who can drop in the 8 in certain games or others he can play the right wing play maker with a new overlapping right back.
Back up Striker - M Thurham, he’s 6’4 quick strong and at 26 could be devastating at united, he’s also a free transfer, he will think he has a chance to be our starting 9 as he’s competing against a raw 20 year old, finally a goal threat from the start and the bench.
The total cost of all of these is £190-200m and gives us a squad next year that looks like this ;
GK(3)- D Raya, D De Gea, T Heaton (HG)
Defenders(9) - J Frimpong(HG), AWB(HG), R Varane, KMJ, L Martinez, V Lindelof, L Shaw( HG), D Dalot, T Malacia
Midfielder(7) - Casemeiro, C Eriksen, S Mctominay (HG), A Rabiot, Bruno, Fred or Sabitzer, K Mainoo(HG)
Attackers(8) - Rashford(HG), J Sancho(HG), P Dyballa, A Garnaucho (HG), M Thurham, R Hojlund, Antony, A Diallo
A squad of 26/27 with 9 homegrown players, it’s why we will keep Scott Mctominay plus he’s more than good enough as a squad player probably would sell Fred and buy Sabitzer. This team won’t win the Title but it should be top 3 comfortably.
Ideally if money and FFP were not an issue we would all probably want ; V Osimhen, KMJ, M Caciedo, M Maignan, R Laeo and FDJ but all these transfers bar 1 or 2 are unrealistic.
The obvious changes are we need an elite Centre forward, a high energy high quality Defensive Midfield/ Centre Midfielder and a new Goal keeper that’s good with his feet. These three areas are what we need to improve just to compete for top 4 next year, to mount a serious title challenge we would need to add a quality Right CB that can be first choice or compete with an injury plagued Varane and we need an attacking right back, Back up striker and finally we need another goal threat, either an attacking 10/Right winger but a goal scorer Someone with a touch of magic.
The reality is we might have £100m to spend plus hopefully another £100m after we’ve sold players, some of these players will be 100% profitable as we did not buy them, assume the club manages to sell ; D Henderson, A Telles, B Williams, E Bailey, DVB, Fred, A Elanga, H Maguire, A Martial and let’s A Tuanzebe and P Jones go. Suggestion which could improve us are ;
Goalkeeper - David Raya PL proven, not top 10 in the world but good enough we can get a deal for £30m
RCB - Kim Min Jae , fast strong physical and a buy out clause let’s say we get that done early £50m easily the Best Buy of business we can do this summer
Right Back - J Frimpong or DumFries both will cost £30-35m both are huge upgrades
DM/CM - Adrian Rabiot, I’d love Rice or Caciedo, we simply won’t have the money to do either because a least one CFW is a priority and maybe two - Free Transfer/wages £10m per year this is a no brainer for the club or we spend £30m on A Onana
Centre Forward - R Hojlund, available not the finished article could play right wing, fast tall strong a decade in front of him but will not be good all the time and will cost £50-60m if not then go buy Goncalo Ramos, again young career in front of him £70-80m but both are available and both suit ETH style. Kane on Osimhen are simply not realistic, price, protracted transfer dealings with their clubs.
Number10/Right Winger - Paulo Dyballa he has a clause in his contract for £17m we missed out in the summer and he’s been Romas best player, he has Garnaucho who he can be role model for and L Martinez who they won world cup together.
He offers more magic either from the start or the bench, he can play with bruno who can drop in the 8 in certain games or others he can play the right wing play maker with a new overlapping right back.
Back up Striker - M Thurham, he’s 6’4 quick strong and at 26 could be devastating at united, he’s also a free transfer, he will think he has a chance to be our starting 9 as he’s competing against a raw 20 year old, finally a goal threat from the start and the bench.
The total cost of all of these is £190-200m and gives us a squad next year that looks like this ;
GK(3)- D Raya, D De Gea, T Heaton (HG)
Defenders(9) - J Frimpong(HG), AWB(HG), R Varane, KMJ, L Martinez, V Lindelof, L Shaw( HG), D Dalot, T Malacia
Midfielder(7) - Casemeiro, C Eriksen, S Mctominay (HG), A Rabiot, Bruno, Fred or Sabitzer, K Mainoo(HG)
Attackers(8) - Rashford(HG), J Sancho(HG), P Dyballa, A Garnaucho (HG), M Thurham, R Hojlund, Antony, A Diallo
A squad of 26/27 with 9 homegrown players, it’s why we will keep Scott Mctominay plus he’s more than good enough as a squad player probably would sell Fred and buy Sabitzer. This team won’t win the Title but it should be top 3 comfortably.
Ideally if money and FFP were not an issue we would all probably want ; V Osimhen, KMJ, M Caciedo, M Maignan, R Laeo and FDJ but all these transfers bar 1 or 2 are unrealistic.
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I would add that we need a new Goal Keeper too !
Would love if we could just buy the 5 or 6 players needed to complete the squad this summer and be done with it. What would you be talking, 300m all in?
If 10 or so could be sold as well it would recoup a good bit.
Maybe not realistic but possible.
If 10 or so could be sold as well it would recoup a good bit.
Maybe not realistic but possible.
This is definitely not going to happen, but I'd love to see a “drain the swamp” overhaul (with an emphasis on the acquisition of top young talents). 
Departures (£230 million). Includes good and productive players who are erratic, not of the right age profile, insubstantial or not the best under pressure (on top of those who are not fit for purpose and those who need to move on for the betterment of their own careers, of course).
Departures (£230 million). Includes good and productive players who are erratic, not of the right age profile, insubstantial or not the best under pressure (on top of those who are not fit for purpose and those who need to move on for the betterment of their own careers, of course).
- Bruno Fernandes: £50 million
- Jadon Sancho: £30 million
- Anthony Martial: £20 million
- Harry Maguire: £25 million
- Donny van de Beek: £5 million
- Mason Greenwood: £10 million
- Scott McTominay: £20 million
- Fred: £5 million
- Alex Telles: Released
- Eric Bailly: Released
- Christian Eriksen: £10 million
- Anthony Elanga: £8 million
- Facundo Pellistri: £7 million
- Zidane Iqbal: Released
- Diogo Dalot: £10 million
- Aaron Wan Bissaka: £15 million
- David de Gea: not renewed
- Phil Jones: not renewed
- Tyrell Malacia: £10 million
- Florian Wirtz (Bayern Leverkusen): £90 million. As always! He's going to one of the best playmakers of the next generation (fitness permitting).
- Estevão Willian (Palmeiras): £10 million; loaned back. Bit of a gamble, but he could become a special right forward.
- Arda Güler (Fenerbahçe): £10 million, Ødegaard-esque skill set. Would offer flexibility, and something different.
- Alex Scott (Bristol City): £15 million. Also versatile. Hopefully he can be developed into a Frenkie-esque ball-progressing central midfielder.
- Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord): £20 million. Decently talented and should not be too expensive.
- Vanderson (Monaco): £30 million. Frimping offers better end product, but I would be wary of building a defense that is slight in stature.
- Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur): £90 million. Wouldn't mind a younger player either, for what it's worth (especially if they can press and harry with greater intensity than Kane); provided they are accomplished on the ball and can act as the pivot for the other forwards (particularly Rashford, who is not a pre-eminent creator on his own).
- Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica): Bosman
- Mateo Kovacić (Chelsea): £30 million
- Bart Verbruggen (Anderlecht): £10 million. Wonderful and complete skill set, just needs experience at the top level.
- Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP): £40 million. A younger version of Casemiro, for all intents and purposes.
- Joël Veltman (Brighton): Bosman, former ten Hag player and used to his system.
- Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain): Bosman
- For the homegrown quota business, we could include the likes of Shoretire in the 25 man squad.
- Acquisition of the long-term right center half to partner Lisandro. Someone who is imposing, can cover lots of ground, good as a marker, comfortable in half-spaces and efficient on the ball.
- See if there's resolution at the right back position?
- Reinforcement in midfield, depending on the progress of the youngsters? Could stand to sign top midfielders (depending on availability) or double down on youth with someone like Sotelo?
- See if there's resolution at the right forward position (Estevão Willian will be one year removed from turning 18, and Shea Lacey could also be in contention)?
No strikers in the squad means very few goals, which means dropped points, which means no trophies, which would suck.
This is definitely not going to happen, but I'd love to see a “drain the swamp” overhaul (with an emphasis on the acquisition of top young talents).
Departures (£230 million). Includes good and productive players who are erratic, not of the right age profile, insubstantial or not the best under pressure (on top of those who are not fit for purpose and those who need to move on for the betterment of their own careers, of course).
Arrivals (£365 million). Most of these are comfortable in possession due to a strong technical foundation, and can confidently shrug off the opposition press/counter-press. Developing a top team will take several windows and seasons, but this collective would provide a reasonably good platform, in my opinion (note: I'm very frequently off the mark!)
- Bruno Fernandes: £50 million
- Jadon Sancho: £30 million
- Anthony Martial: £20 million
- Harry Maguire: £25 million
- Donny van de Beek: £5 million
- Mason Greenwood: £10 million
- Scott McTominay: £20 million
- Fred: £5 million
- Alex Telles: Released
- Eric Bailly: Released
- Christian Eriksen: £10 million
- Anthony Elanga: £8 million
- Facundo Pellistri: £7 million
- Zidane Iqbal: Released
- Diogo Dalot: £10 million
- Aaron Wan Bissaka: £15 million
- David de Gea: not renewed
- Phil Jones: not renewed
- Tyrell Malacia: £10 million
- Florian Wirtz (Bayern Leverkusen): £90 million. As always! He's going to one of the best playmakers of the next generation (fitness permitting).
- Estevão Willian (Palmeiras): £10 million; loaned back. Bit of a gamble, but he could become a special right forward.
- Arda Güler (Fenerbahçe): £10 million, Ødegaard-esque skill set. Would offer flexibility, and something different.
- Alex Scott (Bristol City): £15 million. Also versatile. Hopefully he can be developed into a Frenkie-esque ball-progressing central midfielder.
- Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord): £20 million. Decently talented and should not be too expensive.
- Vanderson (Monaco): £30 million. Frimping offers better end product, but I would be wary of building a defense that is slight in stature.
- Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur): £90 million. Wouldn't mind a younger player either, for what it's worth (especially if they can press and harry with greater intensity than Kane); provided they are accomplished on the ball and can act as the pivot for the other forwards (particularly Rashford, who is not a pre-eminent creator on his own).
- Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica): Bosman
- Mateo Kovacić (Chelsea): £30 million
- Bart Verbruggen (Anderlecht): £10 million. Wonderful and complete skill set, just needs experience at the top level.
- Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP): £40 million. A younger version of Casemiro, for all intents and purposes.
- Joël Veltman (Brighton): Bosman, former ten Hag player and used to his system.
- Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain): Bosman
Priorities for next summer...
- For the homegrown quota business, we could include the likes of Shoretire in the 25 man squad.
- Acquisition of the long-term right center half to partner Lisandro. Someone who is imposing, can cover lots of ground, good as a marker, comfortable in half-spaces and efficient on the ball.
- See if there's resolution at the right back position?
- Reinforcement in midfield, depending on the progress of the youngsters? Could stand to sign top midfielders (depending on availability) or double down on youth with someone like Sotelo?
- See if there's resolution at the right forward position (Estevão Willian will be one year removed from turning 18, and Shea Lacey could also be in contention)?
Corrrr a few bargains in there for other clubs to take advantage of us if you got your way.
Bruno £50m, Sancho £30m, Malacia £10m….
can say the same thing about midfield. No midfield means no control which means dropped points means no trophies etc. My point was in a starting lineup for next year if you gave me the choice of starting rashford at CF and having an actual midfield or having the exact same midfield options as this year with a new CF id go with rash up top. But it should be a moot point we need to get both a CF and a couple deep CM options.