What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

Onana is basically the perfect keeper for Amorim and has been massively improved this season. The keeper joining the back 3 and being comfortable in possession is a big part of the system.

I would say looking at the potential 3-4-3 set-up, two new wing backs/wide players would be the absolute priority.
Then I am glad to keep him! Getting at least one "star" wingback (Theo Hernandez, Frimpong, Grimaldo) should be a must.
 
The perfect summer doesn’t exist….?

Ins:

CB - Diomande - 50m

Perfect modern CB who could play across the three CB positions. Currently deployed as the middle CB at Sporting but last year was the RCB. Gives us 6 solid options with Yoro, Martinez, De Ligt, Evans and Shaw.

LWB - Alphonso Davies - 0m

No brainer of a signing. Still have Shaw as the main back-up who can also provide LCB cover. Hopefully promote Amass next year as 3rd choice.

RWB - Hakimi - 60m

Dream RWB signing, come the summer will only have 1 year left on his contract. I like Mazraoui but we won’t sell Dalot so he will need to make way and provided he avoids injuries should easily be sellable based on his performances so far.

CM - Baleba - 60m

Complete CM who has made good strides this year at Brighton. Would provide cover for both CM positions which will no doubt be occupied by Mainoo and Ugarte.

AM - Chris Rigg - 25m

Exciting prospect in the Championship at Sunderland. We might struggle to get him if they get promoted however so alternatives would be Roony Bardghji at Kobenhaven or Sverre Nypan at Rosenborg.

ST - Jonathan David - 0m

Proven and consistent goal scorer in France and I assume a good pal of Alphonso Davies. Would be good alternative to Hojlund who could play a really important role similar to the likes of Berbatov or Saha in their respective Utd teams.


Notable Outs?

Maguire and Lindelof - I feel Evans has outperformed him this year, is on 1/3 of the wage I think and probably happy to be a 5th/6th choice.

Malacia - Simply won’t suit the new system so hopefully we see him get a few minutes this year with us and we can find a club who will take him on a loan to buy or something.

Mazraoui - as above

Antony - no explanation needed

Casemiro - done okay recently and wouldn’t be the end of the world if he stayed, but if there’s any Saudi or MLS interest we should snap their hand off to get his wage off.

Garnacho - controversial but he’s someone that we will be able to get good money for might not suit the new system all that well.

Eriksen - love him as a player but feels like he’s already confirmed this is his last year.

Collyer - try and get some money for him that can be better used elsewhere. Seems like he has a good future but maybe not here.
 
Under Ruben Amorim, our squad becomes a lot easier to manage and buy for in my opinion. Especially in a 3-4-3/3-4-1-2 formation.

We should sort out or LWB crisis in January. Whether that be activating Alvaro Carerras buyback clause (rumoured to be around 15-20 million) and/or, buying cheap on Alphonso Davies as his contract is running out, and is primarily suited to an attacking LWB role. These are two cost effective options that should sort us out on the left flank.

As for the summer. I think we should look at offloading and evaluating the following players, especially ones that might not be a system fit with Amorim, along with players that congest the injury list or are regressing.

Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Casemiro, Eriksen, Malacia, Shaw, Lindelof, Mount, Dalot

I’m willing to be proven wrong on these players, and most of those guys should be auditioning for Amorim as part of long term fits for his squad.

As far as targets goes, we should aim big and target players that fit Amorims philosophy and principles. The striker position is intriguing because he could unlock Rasmus Hojlund, that being said, I think it wouldn’t hurt to target a proven goalscorer and system fit in Victor Gyokeres. He’d come at a steep price, but if Hojlund doesn’t prove to have the class as of yet, and needs time grow, it could be worth adding someone of Victor’s pedigree. Another option is someone I’ve been a longtime admirer of, Benjamin Sesko. He’s going to be a star wherever he goes and it’d be smart to poach him before another top PL club does.

I think a true RWB should be top of our priority list as well. An expensive pipe dream would be Achraf Hakimi. There’s no reason for PSG to sell, and he’d cost a pretty penny, but a player of his profile would absolutely rake in Amorim’s system. A cheaper option would be Monaco’s Vanderson. An extremely versatile right sided defender capable of playing an inverted or wide wingback role.

Central midfield will need 2-3 additions. Casemiro/Eriksen will be on last legs come next year, and we can’t pin 60 games on Ugarte and Mainoo alone. In an Amorim midfield two, he’s used a destroyer DM, along with a progressive box to box (Ugarte/Mainoo fit this to a tee) but we need other options. A prime target would be Martin Zubimendi. Composed, diligent, defensively conscious and a strong passer/facilitator. He’d orchestrate our midfield. Many top teams will be in on him, and we’d have to compete in being able to sign him and honestly most likely would miss out. However, the cheaper alternatives are strong. Hugo Larsson is a must buy for me. The young, lanky Swede is a key midfielder for Eintracht Frankfurt. Proficient both as a deep lying playmaker, as well as a box to box. He has a bright future and a large toolbox of attributes suited to a modern, PL squad. Another is Atalanta’s Ederson. A pure box to box, a bottle of energy, and a tireless workhorse. Imagine Fred but with more composure, better passing and superior end product. Another player I rate for us, would be Joao Gomes from Wolves. Can play a variety of midfield roles, is premier league proven, and is still young enough to grow into a strong player. I like Hayden Hackney for a cheaper, homegrown buy. He’s done very well in the championship and would shore up depth wise for us.

If we’re switching to a 3 centerback style, we should look at adding another centerback. Martinez/De Ligt/Maguire/Yoro are fine options and I think all would benefit in a back 3, but strong rotation is needed. Jarrod Branthwaite was a target last summer, clearly rated by our scouts and I think we’ll sniff around him again this summer, perhaps for a cheaper price. Ousmane Diomande is a well liked young centerback on this forum, and would be a great addition for our present and future, doesn’t hurt that Amorim is very familiar with him as well. Unironically Eric Dier will be out of contract and is comfortable in a back 3, some Sporting/Portugal links there as well. Wouldn’t mind him on a free, purely as injury depth.

I think our most important signing, however would be in the free attacking role Amorim dispatches. The obvious answer is Bruno, and he would excel I think. But he’s nearing 30 and long term we need someone with attacking dynamism to link the midfield to the attack. I think the man for this is Xavi Simons. A superstar in the making, blessed with skill, tekkers, and end product. Capable of playing any attacking role in my opinion, and is a must buy for Manchester United. I’m unsure whether or not he still has that loan clause next summer, if he does, could be a can’t miss deal. If he’s unavailable, I feel most other top option are mostly unattainable for us. However I wouldn’t be unhappy with Pedro Goncalves. He’s Amorims most important player, the straw that stirs the drink so to speak. Capable of playing a free attacking role through the middle or on the wing, even sometimes playing central midfield. He reminds me of a Bruno type signing and if Amorim wants him we’d be silly not to have a look.

Lastly, and probably the least important of the wish list. Would be a true backup Goalkeeper. We don’t seem to trust Bayindir. I think it’s smart to give Onana rest and let him fully focus on and prepare for PL matches and important European matches without having to potentially think about Domestic games. I rate Matej Kovar from Leverkusen. We have a buyback on him and he’d be a more than suitable tall backup, while also adding to our homegrown list.

Sorry for the long post, and I may have gone a bit Sporting heavy with targets. But these are all the options I think we should at the very least, be targeting and keeping an eye on.
 
Whether or not we could actually pull it off, Alphonso Davies is basically *the* perfect fit for this system.
 
Once again, without the allure of Champions League football it's going to be incredibly difficult to attract world class talent to United next summer.

If you can't offer players like Davies and Hakimi the prestige they're accustomed to, the only other thing you have to offer is a salary too good to pass up, and doing that was one of the things that got us into the mess we're in to begin with.
 
Once again, without the allure of Champions League football it's going to be incredibly difficult to attract world class talent to United next summer.

If you can't offer players like Davies and Hakimi the prestige they're accustomed to, the only other thing you have to offer is a salary too good to pass up, and doing that was one of the things that got us into the mess we're in to begin with.

We’ve got to win the Europa league.
 
Whether or not we could actually pull it off, Alphonso Davies is basically *the* perfect fit for this system.

We should get him and the young lad from Ipswich, and treat Shaw as a LCB if he’s ever available.
 
We should get him and the young lad from Ipswich, and treat Shaw as a LCB if he’s ever available.
But for a 3-4-2-1, I think you could also play with 2 OMs
In our case Mount and Bruno, for example. Alternatively of course Rashford and Bruno.
With Garnacho and Amad I don't know if the position suits them, then rather a row behind them?

In addition, the system would make sense to sign a second flexible OM like my favorite player Eze.

Eze and Bruno or Eze and Rashford behind Hojlund reads well to me.
I can't imagine Garnacho as a wingback, which was briefly discussed here, and certainly not in this system. But actually he was always an excellent joker player who comes on from the 60th onwards and can play to his greatest advantage with pace, speed and dribbling strength when opponents are tired.

What do you think?
 
GK: Onana, Bayindir
RCD: Yoro, Lindelof (renew contract if reasonable wages - good squad player in this system)
LCD: Martinez, Shaw
CD: de Ligt, Maguire (activate 1 year option - good squad player in this system), Evans (renew contract if reasonable wages - good squad player in this system)
RWB/RM: Dalot, Mazraoui
LWB/LM: Davies, Amass (Shaw can also cover here)
CM: Mainoo, Ugarte, Casemiro, Mount, J. Fletcher
RAM: Garnacho, Amad
LAM: Fernandes, Rashford
ST: Hojlund, Zirkzee, Obi Martin


Minimal changes but there’s a fair bit of potential in our squad and I’m assuming we won’t have a lot of money to spend. It’s not the worst idea to go a Summer without spending huge money. Ideally I’d bring in another striker but I feel Gyokeres is overrated and Hojlund has potential. I like Sesko but he’s only scored 2 in 8 Bundesliga games this season and is still very raw. I feel he’ll be a beast in 2 years or so.

Davies at LWB on a free makes a lot of sense. Casemiro should hopefully thrive in a non ETH midfield. Maybe that’s reactive after last night but it makes sense, especially if played sparingly.

2026 transfers: Sesko for Zirkzee, one of the young CMs (loaned out next season) for Casemiro, Branthwaite for Maguire, Quenda for Mazraoui
 
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I expect Davies will want Madrid, but if we offer him the attacking role I think he wants (said as much on some podcast called Say Less I gather) and more importantly, solidly higher wages, maybe we could swing it.
 

Gyökeres
Højlund

AM ------------------------------------- Fernandes
--Rashford----------------------------- Garnacho / Diallo


----- LWB----------------------- Mainoo ------------------ Ugarte ---------------------------- Dalot--
Malacia / Amass ---------------- DM ------------------- Casemiro ---------------------- Mazraoui

Martinez
----------------- De Ligt ------------------------ Yoro
-----------Shaw ------------------- Maguire --------------Lindelof / Evans

Onana
Bayindir



Possible transfer targets:

ST
Viktor Gyökeres
Samu Omoridion
Evan Ferguson
Benjamin Sesko

AM
Cole Palmer
Jonathan David
Pedro Gonçalves
Trincão

DM
Adam Wharton
Carlos Baleba

LWB
Alphonso Davies
Alvaro Fernandez
Leif Davis

RCB
Ousmane Diomande
Antonio Silva
Zeno Debast


If we manage to bring in 4 key players next summer, we could challenge for the title already next season.

Should be affordable as we might get Alphonso Davies on a free and would also be selling a few players, like Mount, Antony and Zirkzee.

Edit:
Statistically young players are unlikely to break into the first team long term, that's why I put Garnacho / Diallo, because I think one of them might be leaving in the coming years.
Lindelof / Evans because I would like us to sell Lindelof, but Evans will turn 37 and may be likely to leave first. New CB not a priority at the moment.
Malacia / Amass because they are both question marks at this point.​
 
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Gyökeres
Højlund

AM ------------------------------------- Fernandes
--Rashford----------------------------- Garnacho / Diallo


----- LWB----------------------- Mainoo ------------------ Ugarte ---------------------------- Dalot--
Malacia / Amass ---------------- DM ------------------- Casemiro ---------------------- Mazraoui

Martinez
----------------- De Ligt ------------------------ Yoro
-----------Shaw ------------------- Maguire --------------Lindelof / Evans

Onana
Bayindir



Possible transfer targets:

ST
Viktor Gyökeres
Samu Omoridion
Evan Ferguson
Benjamin Sesko

AM
Cole Palmer
Jonathan David
Pedro Gonçalves
Trincão

DM
Adam Wharton
Carlos Baleba

LWB
Alphonso Davies
Alvaro Fernandez
Leif Davis

RCB
Ousmane Diomande
Antonio Silva
Zeno Debast


If we manage to bring in 4 key players next summer, we could challenge for the title already next season.

Should be affordable as we might get Alphonso Davies on a free and would also be selling a few players, like Mount, Antony and Zirkzee.

Edit:
Statistically young players are unlikely to break into the first team long term, that's why I put Garnacho / Diallo, because I think one of them might be leaving in the coming years.
Lindelof / Evans because I would like us to sell Lindelof, but Evans will turn 37 and may be likely to leave first. New CB not a priority at the moment.
Malacia / Amass because they are both question marks at this point.​
I have absolutely no evidence for this but I think the exit door might be open for Rashford next summer... he just doesn't seem happy anymore and it might be best for both parties and he's one player even we should be able to get good money for
 
I don't know why Murillo isn't being spoken about more often here. Forrest have the 2nd best defence in the premier league at the moment and he's a huge reason for it.

Statistically one of the best CB's in the league and only 22. I'd much prefer him over Braintwaite.
 
Madrid apparently signing Wirtz, which you’d imagine means the end of Arda Guler (probably Rodrygo too).

I’d take both!
 

Gyökeres
Højlund

AM ------------------------------------- Fernandes
--Rashford----------------------------- Garnacho / Diallo


----- LWB----------------------- Mainoo ------------------ Ugarte ---------------------------- Dalot--
Malacia / Amass ---------------- DM ------------------- Casemiro ---------------------- Mazraoui

Martinez
----------------- De Ligt ------------------------ Yoro
-----------Shaw ------------------- Maguire --------------Lindelof / Evans

Onana
Bayindir



Possible transfer targets:

ST
Viktor Gyökeres
Samu Omoridion
Evan Ferguson
Benjamin Sesko

AM
Cole Palmer
Jonathan David
Pedro Gonçalves
Trincão

DM
Adam Wharton
Carlos Baleba

LWB
Alphonso Davies
Alvaro Fernandez
Leif Davis

RCB
Ousmane Diomande
Antonio Silva
Zeno Debast


If we manage to bring in 4 key players next summer, we could challenge for the title already next season.

Should be affordable as we might get Alphonso Davies on a free and would also be selling a few players, like Mount, Antony and Zirkzee.

Edit:
Statistically young players are unlikely to break into the first team long term, that's why I put Garnacho / Diallo, because I think one of them might be leaving in the coming years.
Lindelof / Evans because I would like us to sell Lindelof, but Evans will turn 37 and may be likely to leave first. New CB not a priority at the moment.
Malacia / Amass because they are both question marks at this point.​

-I'd love to have Davies but why would he choose United when Madrid are gonna come calling?
-I doubt we'd spend money on a player like Diomande when we just invested heavily in Yoro, but don't get me wrong, I'm all for that move
-It'll be a miracle if we get anyone to buy Antony or Mount...Zirkzee maybe, at a loss

I just don't see being able to lure in-demand players to United when we won't be able to offer Champions League.
 
I think we will need a quicker, more physically dominant and one with a better technical profile than De Ligt and Maguire to really play Amorim's system. We will also need a controlling CM but that depends on how Mainoo fares under new management. Hoijlund might surprise us if properly managed.

Surprisingly we have many pieces in place that Amorim might find useful for a couple of years anyway. But I think players like Amass, Gore, Amad, Garnacho and possibly Jack Fletcher might be more important if we decide we need a more accomplished striker, defender and midfielder who might all cost circa 200m.

I think a striker and a top CB will move the needle more for us so Amorim will have to find solutions for the other roles from within.
 
Our wide forwards need to be the priority now. I'd be looking to sell Amad, Rashford and Anthony. Not because Amad is bad, but because he's lightweight and I don't see him ever being a 30 goal contributions a season PL winger. Anthony hasn't worked and the fanbase isn't behind him. Rashford should have been gone years ago.

Dunno who I'd bring in...but we need more output from those areas for sure.
 
Not much as changed with the new managerial appointment.

We’ll go back in for Branthwaite. We needed a left back and still do (an attacking one you’d assume).

We’ll buy a midfielder to compete with Ugarte and Mainoo.

Based on nothing more than a hunch, I fully expect the club to go balls out for Eze next summer.
 
A full set of forwards starting with two wingers. Not going to be cheap but obviously necessary
 
Hard to say what we need but seriously impressed that we managed to assemble an attacking line incapable of trapping the ball, dribble past opponents, pass the ball and finish off chances. This team has made me hate 4-2-3-1.
 
Edon Zhregrova for right wing or Kudus. Kudus currently is the #1 dribbler in the premier league so having a winger who is capable of beating a player is essential and he's 24 so a good age.

Gittens has been amazing for Dortmund and he grew up in Manchester at the City Academy. Would be close to my top pick for left wing.

Sell Antony/Rashford and keep Garnacho/Amad for competition.
 
Edon Zhregrova for right wing or Kudus. Kudus currently is the #1 dribbler in the premier league so having a winger who is capable of beating a player is essential and he's 24 so a good age.

Gittens has been amazing for Dortmund and he grew up in Manchester at the City Academy. Would be close to my top pick for left wing.

Sell Antony/Rashford and keep Garnacho/Amad for competition.
I wouldn’t touch anymore Dortmund players with a barge pole, especially those who have give straight from academy football to looking good in German football.
 
We need a lot if we judge them by the performances in the last 18 months or so. The hope is that with the new manager and a proper system a few can perform better, a few can continue to improve and a few can get their previous form back. Still, these will be my priority signings for next summer:

(1) Milos Kerkez - we need a top quality LB and cannot rely on Shaw and Malacia to get fit. In fact, Shaw should be moved to a back-up LCB permanently from here on.
(2) A young CB with strength, passing and pace (Diomande?) - Lindelof and Evans will definitely leave. We need at least one to come in and take-up the option in Maguire's contract.
(3) A central midfielder who can pass the ball - Don't really know who can fill this position but definitely need one.
(4) A striker who can hold-up the ball, link-up play and knows how to score goals- Sesko looks good and should be an option if he keeps developing.

I think those 4 positions are an absolute must. Rest depends on which players are moved on.
 
I don't know why Murillo isn't being spoken about more often here. Forrest have the 2nd best defence in the premier league at the moment and he's a huge reason for it.

Statistically one of the best CB's in the league and only 22. I'd much prefer him over Braintwaite.

He's looked good for Forest - very good in transition with his passing / ball-carrying and good defensive instincts and tenacity.

But he's basically a Martinez clone - under 6ft, vulnerable in the air and left-footed.

Branthwaite's 6'5", quick and completely two-footed which means you can play him anywhere across the back 3 and would be a better fit for the middle CB / RCB slots which arguably where you'll be looking to strengthen.
 
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Looks like Nikola Milenkovic has a better player rating than Murillo
 
I think there are two PL players we should be looking at before they are snapped up by other top clubs, and they are Carlos Baleba and Bryan Mbeumo. Baleba is a huge talent, comfortable in possession and seem to be a similar player to Caicedo. Mbeumo has improved each season and I suspect he could have a Mané like effect when he moves to a top club. I think both are very good fits for Amorim's style and I reckon he could get the most out of them.
 
Davies, Tchouameni, Kvaratskhelia and Branthewaite.

“Title charge”
I think there are two PL players we should be looking at before they are snapped up by other top clubs, and they are Carlos Baleba and Bryan Mbeumo. Baleba is a huge talent, comfortable in possession and seem to be a similar player to Caicedo. Mbeumo has improved each season and I suspect he could have a Mané like effect when he moves to a top club. I think both are very good fits for Amorim's style and I reckon he could get the most out of them.
I think this could be realistic, but maybe too expensive to do it in one window.

Gyökeres

Eze--------Rashford

Ait-Nouri---Mainoo--Ugarte---Mazraoui

Yoro---De Ligt---Diomande

Onana

Second Eleven:

Hojlund

Garnacho------Sancho

Shaw----Bruno---Baleba----Amad

Martinez---Evans-----Maguire

Bayindir


IN:

Eze
Gyökeres
Ait Nouri
Baleba
Diomande

Out:

Antony
Zirkzee
Dalot
Casemiro
Malacia
Lindelöf


What do you think? Possible?
 
I think there are two PL players we should be looking at before they are snapped up by other top clubs, and they are Carlos Baleba and Bryan Mbeumo. Baleba is a huge talent, comfortable in possession and seem to be a similar player to Caicedo. Mbeumo has improved each season and I suspect he could have a Mané like effect when he moves to a top club. I think both are very good fits for Amorim's style and I reckon he could get the most out of them.
Cunha for me. Would slot nicely into the inside-left attacker role.
 
I Agree. Upgrading our wingers is a must in the summer.
What we've cleverly done instead is realise that wingers are bizarrely allergic to present-day United, and so hired a coach who doesn't really use them.
 
I don't know why Murillo isn't being spoken about more often here. Forrest have the 2nd best defence in the premier league at the moment and he's a huge reason for it.

Statistically one of the best CB's in the league and only 22. I'd much prefer him over Braintwaite.
My father in law is a Forest fan and absolutely waxes lyrical about Murillo