Frimpong who has a fair release clause. It's another Kim Min-Jae situation in which on the first view the RB spot doesnt seem like an urgent position, but having a class player like him would instantly improve our overall play. While Shaw on the left would be the more inverted FB, Frimpong could run the right flank up and down and contribute to the attack, which Dalot seems to be trying but isn't really great at. Now that Bayern has signed a RB, the strongest contenders have left the race. Actually most top clubs have a top RB, so we might have a good chance.
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
We definitely need a left back
We need like 10 more quality players to compete for the league + new manager, probably. It will take at least two years(with new INEOS regime) to make a competent team capable of competing with best teams in the PL/World.
I think the priority right now are centre-backs, fixing the midfield - replacing Casemiro because of age and Bruno because of his (lack of)ability. Plus another striker as competition/backup for Hojlund.
Two centre-backs, two midfielders, and a striker for the upcoming summer. It's probably too much, but that's what I would focus on. Maybe a left back, as well(it's pretty high in the priority list because both Shaw and Malacia are injury prone).
I think the priority right now are centre-backs, fixing the midfield - replacing Casemiro because of age and Bruno because of his (lack of)ability. Plus another striker as competition/backup for Hojlund.
Two centre-backs, two midfielders, and a striker for the upcoming summer. It's probably too much, but that's what I would focus on. Maybe a left back, as well(it's pretty high in the priority list because both Shaw and Malacia are injury prone).
unpopular opinion, but we should sign a RB and LB. For that we might have to sign only one CM and CB, instead of two or three. if we sign a LB Shaw could become a LCB backup next to competing for the LB position. On the righr I would sell one of the two RBs to fund a tramsfer of Frimpong.
Basically we look like this in the medium term:
Rashford-Hojlund-Garnacho
-------Bruno-------Mainoo--------
------------------DM--------------------
Shaw-Lisandro--RCB------Dalot
----------------Onana-----------------
so those are the next 2 buys.
Casemiro and Varane were stopgap buys and we need long-term replacements whether they're staying for another year (I'd probably sell Maguire, keep Varane and pray that Kambwalla can be ready in 2-3 years, and at DM we'll probably need a chap backup in the summer of 2025 to replace Casemiro or grab one this summer if the Saudis will offer 30M+ for Casemiro) or go.
In terms of the 2nd XI:
-Another #9 is mandatory, we'd be in hell without Hojlund. Rashford has pace and is a backup option too when we're up against a high line, so I'd lean towards another strong classic #9 like Hojlund.
And the other buys probably look like:
-An LCB who can backup Martinez (and ideally cover LB). Hincapie would have been good but he's got 3 years left on his deal now and Leverkusen are gonna be in the CL, no reason for them to sell for another year at least if not two.
-Swap out Wan-Bissaka by selling him for like 20M to some Prem team and using the money on a good young RB, guys like Gusto and Boey went for only 10M or so so basically that covers a replacement that hopefully grows into a better player than Dalot.
TLDR:
-Expensive:
-RCB and DM
-Fairly expensive:
backup #9
-Mid-range RB top young player
-Cheaper LCB backup
Rashford-Hojlund-Garnacho
-------Bruno-------Mainoo--------
------------------DM--------------------
Shaw-Lisandro--RCB------Dalot
----------------Onana-----------------
so those are the next 2 buys.
Casemiro and Varane were stopgap buys and we need long-term replacements whether they're staying for another year (I'd probably sell Maguire, keep Varane and pray that Kambwalla can be ready in 2-3 years, and at DM we'll probably need a chap backup in the summer of 2025 to replace Casemiro or grab one this summer if the Saudis will offer 30M+ for Casemiro) or go.
In terms of the 2nd XI:
-Another #9 is mandatory, we'd be in hell without Hojlund. Rashford has pace and is a backup option too when we're up against a high line, so I'd lean towards another strong classic #9 like Hojlund.
And the other buys probably look like:
-An LCB who can backup Martinez (and ideally cover LB). Hincapie would have been good but he's got 3 years left on his deal now and Leverkusen are gonna be in the CL, no reason for them to sell for another year at least if not two.
-Swap out Wan-Bissaka by selling him for like 20M to some Prem team and using the money on a good young RB, guys like Gusto and Boey went for only 10M or so so basically that covers a replacement that hopefully grows into a better player than Dalot.
TLDR:
-Expensive:
-RCB and DM
-Fairly expensive:
backup #9
-Mid-range RB top young player
-Cheaper LCB backup
I still think 2 centre backs, 2 midfielders and a backup fo Rasmus are the priorities. Left back looks like more of a problem as well now though and AWB’s contract situation means a right back might be required.
Varane and Evans out of contract this summer and AWB, Maguire and Lindelof next summer. You ideally dont want to renew any of their contracts or let them all leave for nothing so lots of work to do just in defence.
Varane and Evans out of contract this summer and AWB, Maguire and Lindelof next summer. You ideally dont want to renew any of their contracts or let them all leave for nothing so lots of work to do just in defence.
fyi both went for €30m / £25m
Defense and DM without a doubt should be our priority going into the summer, and they all need to be top athletes. We lack so much athleticism at the back as a unit that it kills our ability to defend space well, and Casemiro is already a bit washed as well legs wise. But Lindelof/Maguire/Evans is a laughably unathletic selection of CBs, and even Varane is past his best and Martinez is only average in that department even if he makes up for it in many other spots.
Something like: Branthwaite + Todibo + Onana + Thuram would do so much for our squad as we'd finally have the PnP to compete with other top teams through the spine. Doesn't have to be those 4 specific players, but the point being those are the types of profiles we need to target.
I also think we need another versatile forward that can play across the front line that adds a constant rotational option to the team (basically our version of the Liverpool/Jota signing).
Back up ST, starting RW, starting DM, Starting RCB, starting LB and back up RB.
If we can't do all that then, get the ST, starting DM and staring RCB.
If we can't do all that then, get the ST, starting DM and staring RCB.
Last season we needed a CF, centreback, couple of midfielders, GK and a fullback(probably in that order). We had a 200M budget.
We just got the GK(debatable upgrade) and the CF(young talent). We blew the rest of the money on an attacking midfielder which we didnt need to replace another played we didnt need(VdB).
So yeah, horrible horrible recruitment. And we still need a CB, RB, couple of CMs, and a CF. Maybe a winger too.
We just got the GK(debatable upgrade) and the CF(young talent). We blew the rest of the money on an attacking midfielder which we didnt need to replace another played we didnt need(VdB).
So yeah, horrible horrible recruitment. And we still need a CB, RB, couple of CMs, and a CF. Maybe a winger too.
We need 4 players badly and another 3 to make sure we can compete. Pretty bad situation tbh
Must buys - CB, DM and backup CF
Maybe - RB, Winger, CM and LB
Have to improve our wingers as we cant always buy one.
This should be our priority in the summer
Maybe - RB, Winger, CM and LB
Have to improve our wingers as we cant always buy one.
This should be our priority in the summer
I think if we bring in Frimpong then we definitely need to strengthen our right sided centre back as well. Frimpong needs to be able to bomb forward with the full confidence that his centre back has him covered.
I’m torn about whether we need a starting right back or not, Dalot shows so many good glimpses but he just needs to put it together over a course of a whole season.
I don’t think we are 7 players away from competing. Realistically if you add a starting caliber centre back, a midfield alternative to Mainoo, a winger who can alternate with Garnacho and a backup striker, then we should be able to compete.
Thats only 4, and could look something like this:
Todibo
Thuram
Williams
Taremi
You need to factor in Holjund, Garnacho and Mainoo having another year of development.
We need two CB. We have Maguire, Lindelof and Evans who cannot play a high line and we have Varane who is a sick note and can only play 50% of games even when fit.
Agree with the "Must buys" except I would add LB with Shaw's injuries and Malacia out the full year (And no idea if he can even get back to that level) it's imperative.
The Maybe for me shouldn't be a RW if we have Amad and Pellistri who I think can go up a level, it should be another CB (On top of the "Must Buys") and then another defensively minded midfielder and none of that address if any of our main players leave but does assume we don't sign Amrabat
Taremi has just signed pre contract for Inter.
I would be tempted with Callum Wilson tbh.
Oh we definitely need one or two CBs.
I think we need to level up and not just buy for the future players. We already have Garnacho, Antony, Mainoo, Hojlund, Amad as out future stars. We need -
Defence
LB - Shaw plays 25/30 games max. We need a good back up.
CBs - if we are getting one then as I say level up. Everyone thinks Varane and Maguire are sht but the odds of a 30 mill CB walking in and bettering them is low. Possible but I doubt it.
Ideal players - De ligt - he is being benched by Upamecano and Kim. He's only 24 and a top player. Him and Martinez would be a great partnership.
LB - Facundo Medina. He plays LCB in a 3 but I think he can cover as LB a bit like Ake and Gvardiol. Plus he will be good cover for Martinez. His passing and moving the ball from the back is top class. It will mean we won't miss Martinez ability on the ball if he is injured.
Midfield
CM - De Jong. Again yes no one wants him and he might fk us off again but this is the player to take us up a level. We only have Mainoo with any technical ability. How many years have we said we need to control the midfield and we need someone to get the ball from defence to attack. We'll here is the perfect man.
Plan B - Well anyone else is a level or 2 down. Onana, Zubimendi etc. Pick one
Attack
Striker - Garnacho looks like he can claim the RW. Then we have Amad and Antony even Pellistri. I don't think we will bin all of them off. LW is Rashfords and Garnachos. I think we can do better but we are stacked. But we need goals. Lots of goals. So back up/ first choice striker. I don't think it will hurt for Hojlund to have less games.I would go for Toney. He's 27. Which means he can give us 3 good years while Hojlund matures. He's on last year of his contract. I say bid 80/90 for him.
So muppet ideal world - De ligt - 70, De Jong 70, Tony 80, Medina 30. Total 250
Sell a few to make up the budget - Sancho, Greenwood, Varane etc
I think the below team and subs bench will take us up levels.
---‐--------------Onana
Dalot-----De ligt----Martinez---Shaw
---------Casemiro------De Jong
‐-----------------Bruno
Garnacho-----Toney-----Rashford
SUBS - Mount, Mainoo, Hojlund, Amad, Antony, Medina, Wan B, Maguire, McTominay
Defence
LB - Shaw plays 25/30 games max. We need a good back up.
CBs - if we are getting one then as I say level up. Everyone thinks Varane and Maguire are sht but the odds of a 30 mill CB walking in and bettering them is low. Possible but I doubt it.
Ideal players - De ligt - he is being benched by Upamecano and Kim. He's only 24 and a top player. Him and Martinez would be a great partnership.
LB - Facundo Medina. He plays LCB in a 3 but I think he can cover as LB a bit like Ake and Gvardiol. Plus he will be good cover for Martinez. His passing and moving the ball from the back is top class. It will mean we won't miss Martinez ability on the ball if he is injured.
Midfield
CM - De Jong. Again yes no one wants him and he might fk us off again but this is the player to take us up a level. We only have Mainoo with any technical ability. How many years have we said we need to control the midfield and we need someone to get the ball from defence to attack. We'll here is the perfect man.
Plan B - Well anyone else is a level or 2 down. Onana, Zubimendi etc. Pick one
Attack
Striker - Garnacho looks like he can claim the RW. Then we have Amad and Antony even Pellistri. I don't think we will bin all of them off. LW is Rashfords and Garnachos. I think we can do better but we are stacked. But we need goals. Lots of goals. So back up/ first choice striker. I don't think it will hurt for Hojlund to have less games.I would go for Toney. He's 27. Which means he can give us 3 good years while Hojlund matures. He's on last year of his contract. I say bid 80/90 for him.
So muppet ideal world - De ligt - 70, De Jong 70, Tony 80, Medina 30. Total 250
Sell a few to make up the budget - Sancho, Greenwood, Varane etc
I think the below team and subs bench will take us up levels.
---‐--------------Onana
Dalot-----De ligt----Martinez---Shaw
---------Casemiro------De Jong
‐-----------------Bruno
Garnacho-----Toney-----Rashford
SUBS - Mount, Mainoo, Hojlund, Amad, Antony, Medina, Wan B, Maguire, McTominay
No offense but that team is nothing more than a team competing for top 4 that too after spending 250 m which we might still achieve this season .
Probably but that is true of any transfer window we do unless we get Mbappe. I'd like to see a better realistic team that can catch City/Arsenal/Liverpool
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What we need: a competent D.O.F and new negotiation and player sales team
this is super weird to me. Very different players. I’d like zubimendi, mind. Think we should look for ballplayers, which onana isn’t. He would add to corner setups but not much else.
i mean i always say it, but really is easier to just say what we dont need vs what we still need. A number 10 we dont need assuming they dont move bruno on for some reason this summer. LW prob safe considering we have garnacho/rashford there and i highly doubt the club has the stones to move rashford on. If they do that and they view Garnacho as the RW slot then id understand that. As much as i dont like what weve seen so far, be a huge call to move Onana on this early so id assume they view starting GK as set. Hojlund i like at CF, but def needs help up there with another option.
Other than that pretty much every other position is a need. LB cant stay healthy, one cb is old and cant stay fit in Varane-other hasnt shown good luck so far with injuries in martinez. RB has dalot, which is ok but could prob use an upgrade to really be title challenging team. CMs pretty much just has mainoo who has any shot of being here after next season barring a mount resurgance. RW-Garnacho?
So yeah i mean pretty much everywhere needs upgrading in one way or another. Except the 10
Other than that pretty much every other position is a need. LB cant stay healthy, one cb is old and cant stay fit in Varane-other hasnt shown good luck so far with injuries in martinez. RB has dalot, which is ok but could prob use an upgrade to really be title challenging team. CMs pretty much just has mainoo who has any shot of being here after next season barring a mount resurgance. RW-Garnacho?
So yeah i mean pretty much everywhere needs upgrading in one way or another. Except the 10
That's why it's plan b. I don't think there is an ideal midfielder. Zubimendi looks good but will he cut the prem and he looks like he wont leave which says a lot about his character. Onana as you say isn't a ball player but he would bring strength and athleticism that we sorely lack. Jaoa neves looks class but 100 mill and 19? You can go on.
We need profiles we don't have instead of upgrading on players we don't have to.
That team has fundamental flaws which would prevent it from challenging for titles , CB's lack pace for one which would leave Team vulnerable if we intend to play high line , Unless De Jong is surrounded by players who don't treat the ball like hot potato there is no point in spending big on him either we aren't controlling midfield If Casemiro and Bruno are still part of it .
There are very few really top CBs that are lightening quick. De ligt is as fast as Saliba and Gabriel and they do ok. Todibo isnt fast and everyone wants him. People have a fascination with one quality of a CB and nothing else. Of course if we manage to get a robot with max attributes for 40 mill that would be great. But we can't.
As for not bothering with technical attributes because of Case and Bruno then let's get rid of Mainoo while we are at it. Again you have a point but its a pie in the sjlky ideal world. I would like it to be Mount and Mainoo. But I put them as subs until they prove it. At the moment Bruno and Case are better
??? We don't have any of these profiles
I think rojafiam puts it well, we need profiles, not names. I’d like a ball playing ‘anchor’ and an extra ball playing 8. The rest of the transfers depend on outgoings (when looking at midfielders). 1 of the 2 could be bigger so you have a + in set plays.
1. De Ligt is the almost the same profile as Maguire and Lindelöf. Also a slight upgrade on the former, at best.
What we need in a new RCB is someone who has pace, is really comfortable on the ball, can receive in tight situations under pressure and can receive with his back to goal.
2. De Jong is great and all, but Mainoo can do the job he would be brought in for, despite being the inferior player.
De Jong is also at his dream club, earning the 2nd highest salary in all of Europe (1.1m/week), and won't trade Catalonia for rainy Manchester.
3. Toney is a really good player, but both him and Hojlund are too good to just be a sub for the other. The fee would also be questionable, as he will be 28 by the time the transfer window comes around, and his mentality and attitude can also be questioned IMO.
4. I don't know much about Medina, but I'd rather sign a right back. Shaw has to be managed better, but Malacia is a good option, and Martínez would also be excellent in that LCB/LB role that Pep and Arteta use.
1. Yes De ligt has similar attributes to Maguire but I'd say strength and aerial ability especially next to Martinez is a must. Look at the Villa game for how much we need that. As to the other attributes he is a much better techically. passer, progresser of the ball etc. Plus he's only 24. Name me a better CB we can get?
2- Mainoo is a great player and all but he is nowhere near De Jong yet. We don't even know if a 6 is his best position. He could probably play alongside him. But those 2 are the only technical midfielder we have so I would say we are missing those attributes. I agree he probably won't come here but that's what they said about Varane, Case, loads of people. Might as well try.
3 we used to play with 4 top quality strikers. Now we have to put all our hopes on a 21 year old and get a shit donkey to sit on the bench? There is enough games for both of them. I agree there is a risk with Toney but again name someone better.
4- we have been totally fkd at LB this season but everyone wants a RB. We have 99 problems but RB isn't one
2- Mainoo is a great player and all but he is nowhere near De Jong yet. We don't even know if a 6 is his best position. He could probably play alongside him. But those 2 are the only technical midfielder we have so I would say we are missing those attributes. I agree he probably won't come here but that's what they said about Varane, Case, loads of people. Might as well try.
3 we used to play with 4 top quality strikers. Now we have to put all our hopes on a 21 year old and get a shit donkey to sit on the bench? There is enough games for both of them. I agree there is a risk with Toney but again name someone better.
4- we have been totally fkd at LB this season but everyone wants a RB. We have 99 problems but RB isn't one
That's easy to say. But I would bet my house that nearly every manager would pick de ligt, de Jong and Toney over other random options like Todibo, Onana and Giminez. Those 3 have the attributes. Are the right age. Have the right mentality. Have the experience. Everything. As I said I don't see better options
The starting positions I would be looking for top quality but say now for a striker I wouldn’t be interested in paying big fee for someone to cover for Højlund. I’d be scouting outside top 5 leagues and looking for a young striker with attributes that could translate to the premier league. A club in Belgium probably aren’t going to charge an arm and a leg for a player.
I don’t know much about Kevin Denkey but a quick google tells me he’s 23 years old and has scored 20 goals in 24 games this season in the Belgian Pro League. Looking at his FBRef tells me he takes nearly 4.5 shots per game which has him in top 1% of strikers for taking shots outside of the traditional top 5 leagues. There is a large correlation between the amount of shots strikers attempt on goal and the amount of goals they score.
I’m not necessarily saying we should take a punt on him specifically because of this 5 minute scouting report but you can use these metrics to filter players and create a shortlist that we can go and look at in detail. Not easy to find another Chicharito but that’s what I’d be attempting. If Denkey for example at 23 years old came in for less than £30m on sub £100k pw wages which I don’t think is unreasonable at all coming from the Belgian league at managed to provide cover for Hojlund and score 10-15 goals per season we’d probably be pretty satisfied with that. If he doesn’t do as well as we hoped then it’s not a huge financial hit and he wouldn’t be on massive wages so it probably wouldn’t be difficult to move him on again.
I don’t know much about Kevin Denkey but a quick google tells me he’s 23 years old and has scored 20 goals in 24 games this season in the Belgian Pro League. Looking at his FBRef tells me he takes nearly 4.5 shots per game which has him in top 1% of strikers for taking shots outside of the traditional top 5 leagues. There is a large correlation between the amount of shots strikers attempt on goal and the amount of goals they score.
I’m not necessarily saying we should take a punt on him specifically because of this 5 minute scouting report but you can use these metrics to filter players and create a shortlist that we can go and look at in detail. Not easy to find another Chicharito but that’s what I’d be attempting. If Denkey for example at 23 years old came in for less than £30m on sub £100k pw wages which I don’t think is unreasonable at all coming from the Belgian league at managed to provide cover for Hojlund and score 10-15 goals per season we’d probably be pretty satisfied with that. If he doesn’t do as well as we hoped then it’s not a huge financial hit and he wouldn’t be on massive wages so it probably wouldn’t be difficult to move him on again.
I
I like the Medina shout, he’d be able to back up both Shaw and Martinez and is fantastic ball player.
Medina, Todibo and Frimpong would be a nice set of new defenders for us to play with tactically. People talk about certain players like Frimpong requiring our tactics to be tinkered again, but it’s hardly like the current tactics are producing flowing performances so I say we need new players who can add a new dynamic, like Frimpong, Medina etc.
Add to the above 3: Thuram, Guirassy, Bardghji and Rafa Silva on a free and we’re cooking.
I like the Medina shout, he’d be able to back up both Shaw and Martinez and is fantastic ball player.
Medina, Todibo and Frimpong would be a nice set of new defenders for us to play with tactically. People talk about certain players like Frimpong requiring our tactics to be tinkered again, but it’s hardly like the current tactics are producing flowing performances so I say we need new players who can add a new dynamic, like Frimpong, Medina etc.
Add to the above 3: Thuram, Guirassy, Bardghji and Rafa Silva on a free and we’re cooking.
Like I said, I don't know much about Medina, but I'd rather be looking to sign a right-back instead of another left-back.
Also, I like both Todibo and Frimpong a lot.
It would be good to see two centre backs coming in. Would like to see one that’s established and a starting quality, and then a Martinez backup.
We should be able to to get decent fees for Maguire and Lindelof.
While I'm no expert in football statistics, these are my thoughts on what I think is working for City (as an example) when I looked at their individual player stats:
Ederson - In the bottom 2% of goal kicks taken across top 5 leagues in Europe. He's also in the bottom 10% for passes over 40 yards.
Ake, Dias, Stones, Akanji, Walker, Gvardiol - Every single one of those 6 players are at 90+ percentile for passing. If you look at our players, only Martinez is up there with that group, so a good place to start would be those ball playing CBs and FBs. 1 or 2 of these City players are also excellent at progressive carries.
Rodri - leads every stat when it comes to passing, and is also 99th percentile for progressive passes and carries. Case while he's great with the defensive side of things (top percentiles across Europe for tackles, blocks, clearances and aerial duals), is well behind in progressive passing and ball carrying.
Bernardo - Also great with his progressive passes and carries, while being in the 98th percentile both for passes attempted and passes completed. Mainoo might still get there but he doesn't impose himself in a game in that same way yet.
De Bruyne (Small sample size with him this season admittedly) - Also in the top of Europe in his passing stats (passes attempted, progressive passes, progressive carries, take ons and touches in the attacking penalty area). He is 99th percentile for progressive passes received, which shows how well everyone behind him works to get the ball safely to him while being higher up the pitch (And how good he is at receiving). Bruno on the other hand is the only midfielder in our team that is in the 99th percentile for progressive passes but is only in the 25th percentile for progressive passes received and is well behind KdB in those other areas I mentioned earlier, while being ahead in the defensive actions - Which means, he's not able to play a proper No 10 role with this team as he doesn't have the right profile of midfielders/defenders behind him that are ball carriers and most of the time, he's got to do his progressive passing from behind the half way line.
From their usual wide attackers - Doku, Grealish, Alvarez and Foden are high up in those passing/carrying stats. Rashford is well below par in these stats, and Garnacho only excels in progressive carries plus touches in attacking pen. area. Alvarez and Doku are high up in the tackles stat (Above 80th percentile), while Rashy for example in the 4th and 5th percentile respectively for tackles and interceptions (None of the City wide players this season are below the 40th percentile in at least one of these stats)
Garna at least is doing well with interceptions and Antony for all his faults is high up with his defensive contributions. It's painfully obvious we need wide attackers who can carry the ball, make progressive passes and can put those tackles/interceptions in.Haaland - Decent pass accuracy for a CF, and takes a lot of touches in the box (90th percentile). Hojlund on the other hand takes far less touches in the box (50th percentile), but is well ahead of Haaland in terms of ball carries and take ons. He is also quite high for progressive passes received (78th percentile, whereas Haaland is in the 12th percentile). I think what this shows is that Hojlund is not able to be a fully functioning centre forward in this team, he has to do a lot of the ball carrying in the final third - Whereas he should just be the final piece of the puzzle, that is able to do some passing, but is there solely to score goals.
Putting all this together, if we want to play with more control, I think we need CBs/FBs who are able to pass progressively, while also carrying the ball well. The midfield 3 themselves need to be passing and carrying the ball to a high standard. This composed spine of the team allows our GK to play short/flat passes to distribute the ball. The ability to pass well with composure then leads to more possession, and less defensive actions required from the midfield and defence. The wide attackers also need to pass more often, pass more accurately, pass progressively, carry the ball forwards more often, and contribute defensively at a high level (Either via tackles or interceptions). Our CF then just needs to make more runs into the box, and utilise the passing abilities of the wide players / FBs / midfielders to have more effective touches inside the box. I think Rasmus, Garna, Kobbie, Bruno, Shaw, Licha, Dalot, Onana, Mount are all capable of playing this way. I'm just not convinced with the rest of our squad - Case, Varane, and Rashford just needs to get replaced for cheaper/younger options that suit this kind of football more. Perhaps Bruno needs to go as well, but I think he will improve with better players around him - I don't see him necessarily as the biggest problem, but if he is, he will get found out next to those better players quite quickly. Then we need better squad options who are also good at passing and ball carrying - This means Maguire, Lindelof, AWB, McTominay, Antony, Sancho, Greenwood all need selling. That's 10 players to sell and then 4 defenders, 3 midfielders, and around 3 wide players to add.
10 years of mismanagement + two bad decisions by ETH/Murtogh on Antony and Case (Good player but not for us imo) results in this mess, hope that INEOS themselves see that the squad still needs a lot of work. Oldest player we signed during the Gill/Fergie era was RVP so I hope we return to that policy when we buy from outside, and I hope some more of our youth players will also help us bridge this gap.
Another right winger with attacking threat and end product
2 midfielders with ball retention and athleticism
Competition for Hojlund
Athletic Ball playing RCB
Right back with attacking threat
2 midfielders with ball retention and athleticism
Competition for Hojlund
Athletic Ball playing RCB
Right back with attacking threat
Hojlund
Rashford Bruno Olise
Thuram Zubimendi
Shaw Martinez Todibo Frimpong
Onana
Rashford Bruno Olise
Thuram Zubimendi
Shaw Martinez Todibo Frimpong
Onana
LCB
RCB
LB
RB
CM
RW
ST
7 players in the next 2 summers hopefully.
Martinez and Varane need two more CBs with them, and Maguire and Lindelof moved on.
Shaw and Dalot need competition going forwards, why not look at Ferland Mendy from Real Madrid seeing as they're linked with Alphonso Davies at Bayern. Frimpong is an obvious one being linked with us last year and being available with a doable buyout clause in the summer.
We still need a CM that we should've signed when Ten Hag signed Mount to play CM.
A right winger if Greenwood isn't being brought back in the summer to play. That player can replace Sancho, Greenwood and Antony as a starter.
Another CF as we need two for next season with Martial leaving at the end of his contract.
The players that need to go to make way for signings:
Malacia
Maguire
Lindelof
AWB
Eriksen
Sancho
Antony
Martial
RCB
LB
RB
CM
RW
ST
7 players in the next 2 summers hopefully.
Martinez and Varane need two more CBs with them, and Maguire and Lindelof moved on.
Shaw and Dalot need competition going forwards, why not look at Ferland Mendy from Real Madrid seeing as they're linked with Alphonso Davies at Bayern. Frimpong is an obvious one being linked with us last year and being available with a doable buyout clause in the summer.
We still need a CM that we should've signed when Ten Hag signed Mount to play CM.
A right winger if Greenwood isn't being brought back in the summer to play. That player can replace Sancho, Greenwood and Antony as a starter.
Another CF as we need two for next season with Martial leaving at the end of his contract.
The players that need to go to make way for signings:
Malacia
Maguire
Lindelof
AWB
Eriksen
Sancho
Antony
Martial