My point is we need to ensure that there is cover for these 2 positions. Malacia I’d forgotten because he was out for a year too. We don’t want to be using inadequate players at left back like we have done this year.
likewise for both CB roles too since Varane is also unreliable. Nearly a full defence needed. So whoever we buy, young or old should be good enough for first team now, because no doubt they will get plenty of playing time!
That’s exactly the point, more football, faster players, more injuries, even without European football we need 9/10 defenders for next season;
And at the same time we need to address our current weaknesses in this part of the team;
1. Centre Backs lack mobility, speed and ability on the ball
2. Key players like Martinez and Shaw have injury issues
3. Four of our CB’s are near or over 30
4. Full/Wing Backs lack creativity and talent on the ball
5. Struggle to play a high line due to lack of Pace and defending wide areas
6. Lack a leader/Captain from the defence who can see the game in front and shout instructions to team mates.
We need to be decisive, we can’t sell Martinez, Shaw or Mallacia this summer however we can sell/release the following, R Varanne, V Lindelof, AWB and J Evans.
We might only receive £20m for AWB and £10m for V Lindelof. So £30m however we would save RV(350), VL(120), AWB(100) and JE(60) a total of about £630k per week on the books this adds about £36m per year in transfer and wages to the current accounts.
To solve the issue’s above we need two CB’s, a RB and a LB.
Player signings for Defence;
CB -
J C Todibo (40m/80k) 5 year contract on Budget (£8m+4m=£12m per year)
CB -
J Branthwaite(63m/80k) 5 year contract on Budget (12.5m+4m=£16.5m per year)
RWB -
J Frimpong(35m/120k) 5 year contract on Budget (7m+6m=£13m per year.
LB/LWB -
M Guiterez(25m/75k) 5 Year contract on budget( 5m+3.9m = £8.9m per year
This would mean the club would have increased their yearly budget on defence by £14m per year from £36m which was freed up by selling and releasing players in the summer window to a new cost of £50m, that might be too much, so Wilcox and Asworth, might swap out Todibo for Tosin Adarabioyou or simply not sign Frimpong.
It’s important to note that if they sell Alvaro Fernandez for £7m that would represent pure profit and could make it easier to go for the 4 players named above requested.
My personal opinion is that the club will recruit 3 defenders, 2 CB’s and a left back and the Bournemouth Left back
Milos Kerkez who at 20 would only cost £20m and £40/50k per week wages which is (£6m combined on the accounts) which might be a surprise call.
To really make significant improvements the club needs four defenders and at least two quality Centre Backs. A Man United Squad that featured these options in defence would be a huge improvement;
D Dalot, * J Frimpong(HG), L Shaw(HG),
*M Gutierrez, H McGuire(HG), L Martinez,
* J Branthwaite(HG), J C Todibo, W Kambwala(HG), T Mallacia,
That’s enough options for a team that might only play 40-45 games next season without European football. If we qualify for Europa I’d sign another defender who can cover on a free and the surprise option would be
Lloyd Kelly whose 25, available on a free and versatile if we can’t sign
Tosin Adarabioyou. The potty marquee signings will be replaced with more hardworking players that can’t believe their luck that they are playing for Man United, whether we as fans like it or not.
Jason Wilcox will know Adarbioyou, J Sancho, J Frimpong and many others that he might feel are better options for the club, watch out soon for United being linked soon for D Solanki, K Dewsbury-Hall, A Gray, A Scott and many more young English players coming through right now.
