What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

Gk: Onana, Kovar, Heaton (or someone)
CB: Mazraoui, MDL, Maguire, Lisandro, Yoro, Branthwaite
WB: Dalot, Ait-Nouri, Amad, Quenda
CM: Mount, Mainoo, Ugarte, New
AM: Bruno, Kvaratskhelia, Garnacho, Cunha
ST: Rasmus, Zirkzee

Sell the rest including Rashford and Shaw.
I would even be tempted to sell Garnacho and Lisandro for the right price as they don't really fit into the system.
Can't think of an athletic all-rounder CM but we need to add some physicality and technical ability to the team.
 
I watched Wolves vs West Ham yesterday and I honestly would take either of their midfields over ours. We need to buy a whole new midfield, but I feel like we've been saying that since 2013.
 
Seeing as we are targeting younger players are there any we should be looking at?

Anyone know anything about Ayyoub Bouaddi?

See he’s playing at 17 starting for Lille, just wondered if he someone we should be after.
 
Only ever seen him play tonight but that Lamine Camara in midfield for Monaco looked superb.
 
Onana/Bayindir

Maz/Yoro
De Ligt/Maguire
Martinez/Shaw/Kukonki

Amad/RWB
Ugarte/Casemiro/Collyer
Mainoo/CM
LWB/Malacia/Amass

Mount/Garnacho
Bruno/AM
Hojlund/CF

Priority : LWB, CM, AM, RWB, CF
 
Highfather_24 said:
Onana/Bayindir

Maz/Yoro
De Ligt/Maguire
Martinez/Shaw/Kukonki

Amad/RWB
Ugarte/Casemiro/Collyer
Mainoo/CM
LWB/Malacia/Amass

Mount/Garnacho
Bruno/AM
Hojlund/CF

Priority : LWB, CM, AM, RWB, CF
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Could Leon not be the LWB signing in summer
 
Is that new LWB ready for first team football? I feel our left side needs the most work. Someone for that Mount position today as he cant stay fit and someone to replace Dalot.
 
Short term we need 2 players badly! One LWB as we do not have anyone. One CM or AM to either play next to Ugarte and compete with Mainoo as he still needs development or a AM to play next to Amad if Bruno is to excel at the CM position.
 
We have an opportunity to rebuild the left side and should look for options that compliment each other. A LWB and LCF in right combo will add a lot of balance in attack that is currently missing.
 
Godfather said:
Is that new LWB ready for first team football? I feel our left side needs the most work. Someone for that Mount position today as he cant stay fit and someone to replace Dalot.
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He’s 17. We cannot have him play for us until he’s 18.

We will sign or loan someone else as well I think
 
golden_blunder said:
He’s 17. We cannot have him play for us until he’s 18.

We will sign or loan someone else as well I think
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Given previous purchases at this age, it's extremely unlikely that he'll be ready for first team football when he arrives. He looks like a unit but that power and pace is not going to be such an advantage in the premiership.
 
December_16 said:
LWB, CB, CM and AM is my guess. A striker too, depending on how Hojlund fares this season.
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we are covered at CB...CF is an issue as zirkzee isn't good and Rashford can't get his head out his arse

the two inside forwards are vital and Amad looks to have one spot nailed down....a LWB of real quality would be good

will need to find another CM once Casemiro and Eriksen leave after this season
 
bosskeano said:
we are covered at CB...CF is an issue as zirkzee isn't good and Rashford can't get his head out his arse

the two inside forwards are vital and Amad looks to have one spot nailed down....a LWB of real quality would be good

will need to find another CM once Casemiro and Eriksen leave after this season
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I was talking about recruitments in the summer after this season, which you seem to allude to as well. In which case we’re certainly not covered in the CB areas with Lindelof and Evans leaving, Maguire TBD, Shaw perma injured if he’s being considered for the role.
 
December_16 said:
I was talking about recruitments in the summer after this season, which you seem to allude to as well. In which case we’re certainly not covered in the CB areas with Lindelof and Evans leaving, Maguire TBD, Shaw perma injured if he’s being considered for the role.
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if they keep Maguire that leaves us with him, martinez, DeLigt, Maz, Yoro and Shaw.....6 is a pretty decent amount and that doesn't include a kid like Amass who could play LCB or LWB or Ogunneye who was on the bench in the europa league match

just think the focus should be on LWB, AM and CM...wiht Striker as the 4th spot based on sales
 
i think Kudus would be a great addition to this squad nad the formation we play....he carries the ball so well
 
After watching yesterday I feel we need 4.

A LWB, A RWB as Amad has made the right CAM his own, CM to rotate with Mainoo & The other CAM.

With us pushing the FFP do we go for potential to be ready to step up in 1/2 years as guaranteed quality is expensive.

LWB - Ait Nouri/Patrick Dorgu
RWB - Quenda
CAM - Matheus Cunha/Xavi Simons - was unsure here tbh
CM - Ederson/Ayyoub Bouaddi

Don’t know what anyone else thinks.
 
MCDC said:
After watching yesterday I feel we need 4.

A LWB, A RWB as Amad has made the right CAM his own, CM to rotate with Mainoo & The other CAM.

With us pushing the FFP do we go for potential to be ready to step up in 1/2 years as guaranteed quality is expensive.

LWB - Ait Nouri/Patrick Dorgu
RWB - Quenda
CAM - Matheus Cunha/Xavi Simons - was unsure here tbh
CM - Ederson/Ayyoub Bouaddi

Don’t know what anyone else thinks.
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Personally, I'd go for Cunha in a heartbeat, even with his recent elbow/glasses grabbing action. Such a talented player, quality playmaker, moves with the ball quickly and decisively, and scores plenty.

Don't think it'll happen though.
 
I think Maguire's form has softened the need for another experienced centre back until the summer.

Priority should be left wing back, left forward and striker

LWB - Hernandez/Gutierrez - Both of these guys are available. I dont know why Girona would sell to us though since they are owned by city group. So I have a hard time believing the rumours.
ST - Osimhen/Gyokeres - Osimhen is available in January. Its a no brainer. Gyokeres is available in summer. I would take Osimhen.

AMCL - This is a hard position to fill...you need to be quick, chip in with goals and assists but also put in a shift defensively.
Maybe Joao Pedro is a possibility, but Brighton are hard to deal with, will ask for a fortune and wont sell until summer.
Goncalves could work but wont be available until summer, theres also a risk he may not adapt to PL. Is unproven in a top league.
Lookman - Having a good couple of years and should be available in the summer. Risky though as he has been a journeyman and several failed attempts at establishing himself in the premier league
Fantasy signings would be Kvaratskhelia or Nico Williams

CM - Maybe priority number 4. Ederson is the obvious target. Zubimendi maybe.

My worry is that losing Ashworth will affect us in the transfer market. All our summer signings have worked out bar Zirkzee and he was cheap.


Rashford, Mount, Eriksen, Casimero, Lindlehoff, Evans, Shaw on the bin list.
 
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December_16 said:
I was talking about recruitments in the summer after this season, which you seem to allude to as well. In which case we’re certainly not covered in the CB areas with Lindelof and Evans leaving, Maguire TBD, Shaw perma injured if he’s being considered for the role.
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We've tied for 3rd fewest goals allowed in the Premier League. Top 5 defenders on the depth chart all returning (MDL, Martinez, Mazroui, Dalot, Yoro) and all can play one of the CB positions when needed, plus a fair chance Maguire returns as well. We probably do add a CB if Maguire/Lindelof/Evans all leave, but it should be a cheap one. The defense is solid.

This team is crying out desperately for quality attackers; that should be the focus. 2nd priority in midfield.
 
It changes every week but this is what I am thinking this week. Would love to sign Gyokeres, Wirtz, Baleba etc but those would be 100m + signings I think.

AWB - Ait Nouri
CM - Stiller
AM - Chris Rigg or Tyler Dibling (I see this as a backup role to Bruno & Amad).
Striker - Cunha (assuming Zirkzee has not produced in the remainder of this season)

Think we should be able to buy these for EUR140-150mm before sales. Should get EUR25m from Sancho and maybe EUR30-40m for Rash. Some wage reduction from Casemiro, Rashford, Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans leaving. If we buy Cunha then maybe Zirkzee also leaves.

----------------MDL(Yoro / Dalot)---------------HM (Yoro / MDL)---------------Licha (Kukonki / Shaw)--------------------


Maz (Antony)-----------Stiller (Kobi)--------------Ugarte (Collier)------------------------Ait Nouri (Malacia)---------------


-----------------------Amad (Dibling)----------------------------------------------Bruno (Garnacho / Cunha)-----------------------------


------------------------------------------------Hojlund (Cunha)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Still not sure if Bruno works betters as the left 10 or a CM. If Amorim sees him as the left 10 then all the shouts for Kvara, Marmoush etc won’t be needed. But if he’s a CM paired with Ugarte then I don’t see us spending big on another CM like Ederson from Atalanta

Amorim has previously stated he needs left footed players in the attack, so I imagine if we are getting an attacker we’d be getting a left footed one at least, given Amad is the only competent one we have
 
jamesjimmybyrondean said:
Still not sure if Bruno works betters as the left 10 or a CM. If Amorim sees him as the left 10 then all the shouts for Kvara, Marmoush etc won’t be needed. But if he’s a CM paired with Ugarte then I don’t see us spending big on another CM like Ederson from Atalanta

Amorim has previously stated he needs left footed players in the attack, so I imagine if we are getting an attacker we’d be getting a left footed one at least, given Amad is the only competent one we have
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I personally am not a big fan of Bruno in CM. The best part of his game is G + A / chance creation and being in CM takes away from that.
 
Osimhen is my number 1 January wish. He would transform the team, and we would have a genuine top striker. There aint many around.
 
The following should be sold or let go come the summer.

Heaton/Evans/Lindelof/Maguire/Eriksen/Casemiro/Rashford/Anthony/Sancho

I'm not sure Dalot is upto it, but he could be kept as a versatile squad option

Hard to know where to even place Shaw, he's so rarely available.

Winter transfer window I can't see much action - perhaps look for an option at Left Wing back.

Come the summer we need:
2xCB
2xLWB
2xCM
1x AM
1x Striker

Possibly a 3rd choice keeper but hardly essential.

I'd list Onana and Garnacho as sellable is suitable bids came in too
 
Attacking RM/RWB (left footed) - Quenda, Dibling or Dorgu

Ready now LM/LWB - Davies, Ait-Nouri or Kerkez

Playmaker type of CM - Pepelu, Zubimendi or Hjulmund

Young RAM (left footed) - Rigg, Mastantuono or Nypan

Experienced ST - Gyokeres, Toney or Osimhen

The above is a bit too much to ask in 2025 unless we go for the cheapest options of the lot and manage to sell some players for a reasonable fee.
 
i think amorim will go young, athletic players who won't cost a fortune to purchase but are young players who fit his system and will come in with the right attitude

only splurge purchase i see happening is Gyorkeres
 
The majority of our rebuild is reliant on Rashford out for PSR.

I think if we can get rid of him in Jan, we might be able to get 2 in a LWB & CAM.

Who they are anybody's guess.

Or do we wait till the summer with a couple more transfers paid off and wages off the books.

I do have faith in Wilcox & Vivell.
 
We really need this completed in two stages.
Stage One;
The January window for the first time in years is essential for the club to get involved in, we simply need to address the huge imbalance within the squad. We must look to ship out 4/5 players and bring in 3 players to help the club attack the second half of the season, top 5 will be enough for CL and if we can get close to 30 points after 19 games then attack the second half and look to get 36-40 points that should be enough, however if we don’t have an Elite Number 9, a modern young BTB/10 Midfielder and left footed wing back. We will need to be decisive in the market and sell the following ;
V Lindelof(5m), C Eriksen(5m), Antony(20m), Rashford(loan/5m), Garnaucho (£60m),

We need to be brave and it’s clear that Osimhen or Gyokeres could be transferred this winter for £65m, add a player like Cunha/Dibbling or Brian Mbeumo for £30m to £55m with Alt Nouri or kerkos for maybe £30m and the team would look very different.

I think Dan Gore can easily step up with Collyer in midfield with Jack Fletcher too, it’s in attack that we need elite experienced goal scorers with high work rate.

Stage Two - Summer 2025
This is vital that we get our business done early, extend Maguire on a new 2+1 bit half the contract at £100-120k per week. Clear out all fringe players like Malacia, Casemiro, finally sell Rashford after a loan. There will be other homegrown young players that we will sell to generate cash but the targets for the Summer should be ; Elite CM(Ederson), Young CB preferably left footed ; G Inacio or J Branthwaite, Another young Wing back: Geovany Quenda, and sell Mount if he doesn’t sort his fitness out and buy a young homegrown replacement like Chris Rigg or Morgan Rogers or Morgan Gibbs White.
 
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bb8 said:
We've tied for 3rd fewest goals allowed in the Premier League. Top 5 defenders on the depth chart all returning (MDL, Martinez, Mazroui, Dalot, Yoro) and all can play one of the CB positions when needed, plus a fair chance Maguire returns as well. We probably do add a CB if Maguire/Lindelof/Evans all leave, but it should be a cheap one. The defense is solid.

This team is crying out desperately for quality attackers; that should be the focus. 2nd priority in midfield.
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I agree with this. Add Shaw and Kukonki to the CB options, Maguire staying, and the backline should be fine. The main problem area is up top,
We need two quality attackers. At least one that starts day 1. Just as important is the LWB position where we need a starter the too. Lastly CM, we need a replacement for Eriksen.
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
Attacking RM/RWB (left footed) - Quenda, Dibling or Dorgu

Ready now LM/LWB - Davies, Ait-Nouri or Kerkez

Playmaker type of CM - Pepelu, Zubimendi or Hjulmund

Young RAM (left footed) - Rigg, Mastantuono or Nypan

Experienced ST - Gyokeres, Toney or Osimhen

The above is a bit too much to ask in 2025 unless we go for the cheapest options of the lot and manage to sell some players for a reasonable fee.
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I think this is exactly the type of transfer window we need and would really help to reshape the squad. Ideally you’d replace Casemiro as well but that will have to wait until his contract expires.

We need mostly younger and up and coming players and I wouldn’t be paying 80m fees for anyone given how much work is required. If Gyokeres or Osimhen could be bought for 60-65m as has been reported then I think that is would be good business.
 
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