A CB, DM and RW would do us a world of good.
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
We are a good DM who is a passer like Carrick/Alonso and a proper right winger away from being a really good side with good balance to the team.
Ideally though to start challenging for all major honours I think we need a goalkeeper, RB, DM, RW, CB and likely a striker as well as Cavani is likely only here for another year I would have thought.
I do have high hopes for Hannibal, Amad, Hugill, Shoretire, Laird (who my friend who is a MK Dons fans says is way to good for league 1) and one of two others from the youth side however some of these lads are maybe a couple of years away from proper breakthrough with the 1st team.
Ideally though to start challenging for all major honours I think we need a goalkeeper, RB, DM, RW, CB and likely a striker as well as Cavani is likely only here for another year I would have thought.
I do have high hopes for Hannibal, Amad, Hugill, Shoretire, Laird (who my friend who is a MK Dons fans says is way to good for league 1) and one of two others from the youth side however some of these lads are maybe a couple of years away from proper breakthrough with the 1st team.
I’ve been thinking that a midfielder like Rice would do us the world of good and ease the pressure on the defence. He’d track runners and mop up like keane used to do.
Need to add the word leader to the CB as well because Maguire is clearly a follower like Stones at City, in regards to RW I am all for giving Amad a proper chance rotating with Mason for the rest of this season to see if he can nail that spot. Yes we could really do with a starter one but with a limited budget think we need to prioritise the first two positions.
Buy Oblak for ~120m
Buy Trippier
Trade Pogba for de Ligt
Defense sorted for years...one can dream
Buy Trippier
Trade Pogba for de Ligt
Defense sorted for years...one can dream
I think we need DM more than anything. Not sure if we will go back in for Sancho now. I dont think we need to spend any money on a back RB since we have multiple players that can cover. i also think Ole is waiting to see if Laird can stay healthy for the position. CB might just as important as DM, but i have no clue who Ole will ship out. i dont think he totally just Lindelof, but he really has no other choice considering Bailly cant stay fit, Axel comes and goes, but i think the potential is there, and Jones is, well, Jones.
I will be interested to see how Mengo progresses. didnt we buy some 17 year old beast CB from france in the summer?
I will be interested to see how Mengo progresses. didnt we buy some 17 year old beast CB from france in the summer?
It’s now increasingly apparent that the goalkeeper position has accelerated itself to being one of the most important positions to address this summer. If the club has faith that Henderson is the answer, we need a number 2 but if he isn’t, we need a world class modern and brave goalkeeper in the mould of an Alisson or Ederson type. For me the defence naturally improves considerably with that GK position upgraded.
In a total Fifa / FM kind of world I'd go for making some of these happen over the next three windows. Yes been playing a lot in these lockdown times. So sorry for the unrealistic stuff.
In:
Grealish
Zakaria (alternatively Rice)
Haaland
Kounde
Tapsoba
Donnarumma (if possible on a free summer 2021 and than get rid of De Gea vs promote Deano and find a propper 2nd choice)
Out:
Jones
Lingard
A. Pereira
Dalot
Romero
Bailly
Mata
Matic
Martial (once Haaland can be bought)
J. Pereira
Grant (retire)
Chong
Tuanzebe (permanently or a loan to PL club where he gets minutes constantly)
Garner (PL Club Loan)
Williams / Laird (Loan one out and use other as competition for Wan-Bissaka) - (Both could be loaned if we get a seasoned RB competition for the spider but I can't really think of any ideal ones)
Potential Squad:
De Gea / Donnarumma
Dean Henderson
Matej Kovar
Maguire
Tapsoba
Kounde
Lindelöf
Mengi
Shaw
Telles
Wan-Bissaka
Williams / Laird
Zakaria (alternatively Rice)
McTominay
Pogba
Van De Beek
Fred
Fernandes
Grealish
Diallo
James
Pellistri
Rashford
Greenwood
Cavani
Haaland
Young players looming:
Will Fish, Shoretire, Hugill, Mcneil, Hannibal, Kwambala, Jurado
In:
Grealish
Zakaria (alternatively Rice)
Haaland
Kounde
Tapsoba
Donnarumma (if possible on a free summer 2021 and than get rid of De Gea vs promote Deano and find a propper 2nd choice)
Out:
Jones
Lingard
A. Pereira
Dalot
Romero
Bailly
Mata
Matic
Martial (once Haaland can be bought)
J. Pereira
Grant (retire)
Chong
Tuanzebe (permanently or a loan to PL club where he gets minutes constantly)
Garner (PL Club Loan)
Williams / Laird (Loan one out and use other as competition for Wan-Bissaka) - (Both could be loaned if we get a seasoned RB competition for the spider but I can't really think of any ideal ones)
Potential Squad:
De Gea / Donnarumma
Dean Henderson
Matej Kovar
Maguire
Tapsoba
Kounde
Lindelöf
Mengi
Shaw
Telles
Wan-Bissaka
Williams / Laird
Zakaria (alternatively Rice)
McTominay
Pogba
Van De Beek
Fred
Fernandes
Grealish
Diallo
James
Pellistri
Rashford
Greenwood
Cavani
Haaland
Young players looming:
Will Fish, Shoretire, Hugill, Mcneil, Hannibal, Kwambala, Jurado
Well we clearly need a CB (LEADER) & RW, in regards to a backup RB it sounds like Ethan is doing well at MK Dons so maybe he deserves a chance there and right now I still cannot decide if we need a DLP/CDM in midfield to be more effective transitioning through the middle, then of course there is the small matter of a Pogba replacement if he leaves which simply has to be Grealish.
Last edited:
Fast and tall CB, and Grealish.
Rashford, Greenwood, and that new kid can fight that RW spot.
Rashford, Greenwood, and that new kid can fight that RW spot.
We absolutely need a DM over anyone else. The defence is far too exposed and if the CB need to deal with the ball this much, then ofcourse we are going to concede like crazy.
we only have 2 fit and good CBs for 50+ games. Maybe 1 and half, with Lindelof still has that back problem.
Pretty much why we need a CB.
Yeh. I had high hope with Tuanzebe, but man.. maybe we can wait for him to come good, if he's the 4th choice.
Ideally we need a CB who has leadership skills but also quick as well which I admit won't be easy to find, in regards to the midfield I think we could do with signing someone that is a bit of a CDM/DLP hybrid but not sure who fits that bill. I am still not convinced Pogba will leave this summer because can't see many of his suitors having the money for him so maybe another creative option will be off the table again.
With all the money spent at youth level it would be prudent to promote one or two to supplement the signings of a new CB and hopefully Jack Grealish in the current Covid affected market. It makes little sense signing a DM if he's gonna cost 70m.
Would be very surprised if we spent that much on a CDM/DLP, think if Utd feel they could get Rice for a reasonable fee in this COVID market they will go for him otherwise I would expect us to look at a Soumare/Zakaria instead. I think our biggest spend will be on a CB in the summer but who we eventually sign is anyone's guess right now and just hope we don't wait until it's too late.
Out: Pogba, Matic, Mata, Lingard & Bailly
With Pogba it's not about wanting him to go it's just about accepting he will and I remain steadfast in the opinion that we have to get a player in the deal as neither Real or Juve will stump up the required fee on it's own. Personally I'd sell Lindelof as well and get Konate too but Maguire is unfortunately Teflon.
I think Ed will want to "win" the war with Dortmund by getting a cut price Sancho as opposed to Grealish, I also like Neto as an option. Players like Neuhaus, Camavinga and Auoar are also good options for midfield.
With Pogba it's not about wanting him to go it's just about accepting he will and I remain steadfast in the opinion that we have to get a player in the deal as neither Real or Juve will stump up the required fee on it's own. Personally I'd sell Lindelof as well and get Konate too but Maguire is unfortunately Teflon.
I think Ed will want to "win" the war with Dortmund by getting a cut price Sancho as opposed to Grealish, I also like Neto as an option. Players like Neuhaus, Camavinga and Auoar are also good options for midfield.
CB (LEADER), RW, CDM (no 6) for the first XI and RB (backup) could also throw in ST if Cavani leaves too
Quickest road to seriously competing for the title would be to sign Ndidi and Sancho, sell the deadwood, make Henderson the starter (simply because he's more proactive as a goalkeeper), and then just get a more aggressive/faster centerback to partner Maguire. If Varane was actually a realistic option, obviously him but I doubt. Depth for Wan Bissaka can also be cheap like Trippier.
It's unrealistic as I can't see us get either Ndidi or Varane, but Sancho and Trippier should be done no matter what, and then ideally if we hold Pogba, we sign a quality defensive mid. If pogba goes, either we try VdB there, or slowly work on that but still either get the #6 or the #8
Cavani
Rashford Bruno Sancho
Pogba Ndidi
Shaw Maguire Varane Wan Bissaka
Henderson
Greenwood
Martial Van de Beek Diallo
Fred McTominay
Telles Lindelof Bailly Trippier
De Gea
Rashford Bruno Sancho
Pogba Ndidi
Shaw Maguire Varane Wan Bissaka
Henderson
Greenwood
Martial Van de Beek Diallo
Fred McTominay
Telles Lindelof Bailly Trippier
De Gea
It's unrealistic as I can't see us get either Ndidi or Varane, but Sancho and Trippier should be done no matter what, and then ideally if we hold Pogba, we sign a quality defensive mid. If pogba goes, either we try VdB there, or slowly work on that but still either get the #6 or the #8
There is a chance for Varane if he really fancies the chance to play in England but agree there is no chance of Ndidi
I'm starting to think the opposite now. We need a CD yes, but a lot of goals imo are conceded because the back 4 have very poor protection.
If your defence needs that much protection, it just means that they're shit
The defense does need to be shielded against high calibre teams but we can't do that in every game imo. The fullbacks and midfielders need to push up and help cause overloads and the CBs need to hold the fort in 1v1 scenarios in the eventuality of a quick turn over. We can't keep babysitting the two CBs because we end up playing deep and leave ourselves with no choice but to counter attack.
Agree, there are good options, if those aren't available. I'd be equally happy if not more if we signed Grealish instead of Sancho and Koundé ahead of Varane. Trippier would be a sensible signing for competition.
I agree, pretty much.
Grealish, in any circumstances, if we can get him, we should. If not, there’s no panic but we should be looking at how we can get more control and composure into the midfield.
And a CF, not necessarily a big name but someone with a similar style to Cavani to give us an alternative next year as Cavani will taper off.
If only one signing, I would take a good CB and be thankful.
We were fine for years with Carrick and 35 y.o. Scholes "protecting" the defence.
Why don't we go back to Sporting for Goncalves?
Good backup to Bruno and can play RW.
Good backup to Bruno and can play RW.
Was nice having one of the best English midfielders of all time who was also one of the most intelligent players around so he could play comfortably until his mid 30's. Same with Carrick. 2 players with great vision, passing and technique, but also excellent positioning so they could hold the midfield.
Phillips I don't watch enough to say if he's good enough, but stylistically he's one of the very few actual holding midfielders who has the passing range and vision to spread it around where he could maybe step up like Carrick.
I know, man. Carrick is just my personal favorite United player. A player at his peak level might cost 70+m even in COVID season.
We should be targeting DM in Fernandinho, Casemiro, Fabinho, or Henderson mould. A DM with good passing range.
Yeah we haven't had that sort of player since Carrick retired so who have you got in mind out of interest
If we are budgeting at £100M net we should be able to get Sancho and Kounde with the sales of Lingard, Mata, Matic, James and Pogba, we just have to make sure we get a midfielder as part of the Pogba deal, not a dream midfield combination by any means but it is what it is.
We need a few things:
1. New CB
2. Winger (both sides would be OK)
3. CM as a Pogba replacement
4. Backup/competition for AWB
5. Striker
1. New CB
2. Winger (both sides would be OK)
3. CM as a Pogba replacement
4. Backup/competition for AWB
5. Striker
Koundé
Sancho
Koopmeiners
- estimation 150-200 million
Martial/Cavani
Rashford Sancho
Bruno - DvB(McTominay)
Koopmeiners
Shaw Maguire Koundé AWB
Rashford Sancho
Bruno - DvB(McTominay)
Koopmeiners
Shaw Maguire Koundé AWB
About the best we could hope for IMO with Haaland hopefully coming in 2022.
Really don't care who we bring, as long it's an improvement on what we got. If the guys you mentioned are good, then why not. I'm just worried we will end up with another Van de Beek/Fred/Telles situation where we spend money on players that don't bring a lot to our squad on the whole.
Kounde/Varane
Neuhaus/Camavinga
A central defender and a cm/cdm with a good passing range should be priorities imo.
Neuhaus/Camavinga
A central defender and a cm/cdm with a good passing range should be priorities imo.
I think it'll be a centre back and competition at right back. Sancho a possibility although I can't see three young players competing for one right wing slot. The CM will need a serious injection of quality if Pogba goes but I don't envisage Ole moving away from Fred and Mctonimay until he's found a defence he can trust. So two definite signings and one maybe (Sancho) imo.
My priorities would be a stiker (Haaland) and a DM (probably Rice). Give Diallo and Greenwood til EOS to stake a claim to the RW spot, and same with Henderson as #1. If they dont impress then potentially those are also positions we may need to shop for.
Hopefully we can raise some capital from the sale of Pogba, Martial and some of the deadwood - we could do with a fairly big summer.
Hopefully we can raise some capital from the sale of Pogba, Martial and some of the deadwood - we could do with a fairly big summer.
My only concern in regards to selling Pogba/Martial is who has realistically got the money to sign them this summer, really hope we can get a CDM this summer but if this focus is around securing Kounde then doesn't leave much money to do that. I also still think we are monitoring the Trippier situation and expected us to make a move for him in January had he not got this 10 week suspension for betting.
I'm not following many games outside United nowadays. Even Carrick wasn't a DM when we bought him. But he had the skills and attributes to transform, and we had (one of) the greatest manager to see that.