Which midfielder should we buy to give Pogba more freedom

I'll throw Corentin Tolisso into the mix. Probably won't leave Bayern after a year, but hasn't played a ton under Heynckes and they've just signed Leon Goretzka, so who knows? Always really liked him at Lyon, good work rate and scored quite a few goals too. Also really like Milinkovic-Savic. That Barella kid looks impressive as well.

In a more defensive sense, I'd also already earmark Wilfried Ndidi as a possible Matic successor in a couple of years.
 
Seeing people suggest defensive players as an answer is frustrating the hell out of me.. That's what Matic is for, we need a player who fits the no 8 and no 10 role so Pogba and said person can interchange positions, controlling everything that is happening outside and around the box.
 
Personally, I think a good candidate for that role would be Franck Kessie. Physical box to box player who can help out Matic shore up the midfield, chip in with a few goals and leave the playmaking to Pogba.
 
Which one? You think you need one midfielder ? If Pogba or Matic get tired, injured or have bad form your chances of winning any cup or finishing in top 4 drop drastically. Which they probably will at some point this season. What are the chances of Herrera stepping up ? Last time i checked he himself was in bad form.
 
Ah right, I didn't realize that about Fekir, he's looking better than ever now so hopefully the same goes for Cyprien.

Speaking of that Lyon team, I've been quite impressed with Ndombele this season, he was immense tonight as well against PSG, he's still raw and needs to add a bit more in the final 3rd to be a top box to box CM, but the tools are there.

All 3 of NDombele, Aouar and Tousart have been quite good considering their age. Really intriguing prospects.

Which one? You think you need one midfielder ? If Pogba or Matic get tired, injured or have bad form your chances of winning any cup or finishing in top 4 drop drastically. Which they probably will at some point this season. What are the chances of Herrera stepping up ? Last time i checked he himself was in bad form.

Cool.
 
Seeing people suggest defensive players as an answer is frustrating the hell out of me.. That's what Matic is for, we need a player who fits the no 8 and no 10 role so Pogba and said person can interchange positions, controlling everything that is happening outside and around the box.

Thank you! We’re not looking for a destroyer.

We need quality and the next major CM signing is going to key. Not sure who the board has in mind but a little bit of brain over brawn will be required to fight for the title and compete with the best in Champions League.
 
Getting Sanchez has upgraded our attacking 3.

Now the focus has to be a true No.8 who will control the game and with Matic be the platform on which Pogba thrives.
 
Seeing people suggest defensive players as an answer is frustrating the hell out of me.. That's what Matic is for, we need a player who fits the no 8 and no 10 role so Pogba and said person can interchange positions, controlling everything that is happening outside and around the box.

Agreed, people saying Vidal and the like are forgetting that midfield 3 combinatoin at Juve worked because they had Pirlo as the DLP, that's not what Matic is, we need the #8 we add to be the controller, the make-up of our midfield 3 is different to that Juve team..

Which one? You think you need one midfielder ? If Pogba or Matic get tired, injured or have bad form your chances of winning any cup or finishing in top 4 drop drastically. Which they probably will at some point this season. What are the chances of Herrera stepping up ? Last time i checked he himself was in bad form.

I think you'll find most United fans feel we need two.

All 3 of NDombele, Aouar and Tousart have been quite good considering their age. Really intriguing prospects.

Yeah, Aouar has shown some lovely, nimble footwork when I've seen him, the Lyon production line is impressive.
 
It may actually be a long shot but who thinks we should break the bank for Thiago Alcantara. The guy is only 26 years of age and could be the perfect mix to play with Pogba and Matic. Would he be worth 60m? I mean he could use a new challenge. He's been at Bayern for 5 years now and won everything there including the Champions League. He's best mates with De gea as well.
 
Double that and Bayern might raise an eyebrow.

75m max should do the trick and we could even throw in Herrera. He's done well at Barca and Bayern have quite a few midfielders at their disposal. They let Kroos go to Real. I think 70m would be a lot of money for them to ignore. Does anyone know how many years that Thiago have left on his contract. Got to strangle Moyes for passing on him....
 
That was in a two man midfield.

Mourinho wanted Gerrard-Lampard to play ahead of a DM. He eventually got something similar when he bought Ballack. There's no reason why Matic/Pogba/Savic can't work. In fact, I think they'd be perfect foils for the players ahead of them and behind them.

Both would-be AMs like to drift wide and have a wicked cross on them, which would allow Sanchez/Martial to come inside (where they're happiest) and Shaw/Valencia to stick mostly to the middle third (which is where their passing can be of most use in dominating teams, as opposed to asking them to provide end product). I honestly can't think of a better match for the squad (possibly Koke, if he were available)

But then, But Savic's size adds another dimension. By having 3 technically brilliant but physically dominant midfielders, we make it really difficult to get overrun in midfield (a weakness of ours over many years). If opposition defences try to play a higher line to compensate, we have the best frontline in the world to take advantage of that. I can really see the formula Jose is going for. We're only a couple of pieces of the jigsaw away from being a proper team. Savic and maybe a playmaking right back (though I'm hopeful Lindelof can build on his recent performances there).
That was in a two man midfield.

Mourinho wanted Gerrard-Lampard to play ahead of a DM. He eventually got something similar when he bought Ballack. There's no reason why Matic/Pogba/Savic can't work. In fact, I think they'd be perfect foils for the players ahead of them and behind them.

Both would-be AMs like to drift wide and have a wicked cross on them, which would allow Sanchez/Martial to come inside (where they're happiest) and Shaw/Valencia to stick mostly to the middle third (which is where their passing can be of most use in dominating teams, as opposed to asking them to provide end product). I honestly can't think of a better match for the squad (possibly Koke, if he were available)

But then, But Savic's size adds another dimension. By having 3 technically brilliant but physically dominant midfielders, we make it really difficult to get overrun in midfield (a weakness of ours over many years). If opposition defences try to play a higher line to compensate, we have the best frontline in the world to take advantage of that. I can really see the formula Jose is going for. We're only a couple of pieces of the jigsaw away from being a proper team. Savic and maybe a playmaking right back (though I'm hopeful Lindelof can build on his recent performances there).
All good points. I'm now sold on Milinkovic-Savic. Make it happen Woody :drool:
 
75m max should do the trick and we could even throw in Herrera. He's done well at Barca and Bayern have quite a few midfielders at their disposal. They let Kroos go to Real. I think 70m would be a lot of money for them to ignore. Does anyone know how many years that Thiago have left on his contract. Got to strangle Moyes for passing on him....

He's one of the best #8's in the world and he signed a new deal not that long ago, when they sold Kroos he was in the last year of his contract, in today's market they wouldn't consider £70M and they don't need Herrera, they have just gotten Goretzka and already have Tolisso for the box to box role.
 
Milinkovic-Savic is a real talent. Being Serb myself I've followed him through the U20 and upwards. If we plan to play without a nr 10 he would be perfect in a 3 man midfield. Only negative I've seen from him is that he can sometimes hang his head if things aren't going his way.
 
I would put 80m for him no question. But can't see Bayern selling him.
Bayern would never sell us Thiago (even so they don't really need him).
I wished we would have signed Rodriguez but again, I doubt that Munich would ever sell us a player like that.

They didn't value Kroos and that's the only reason why they sold him. Rummenigge told him he isn't world class and they didn't want to pay him the same as Götze.

Supporters in Munich told him over and over how lazy he is. Kroos proved that he was able to reach the next level. He is pretty average in 2017/2018 though.

I would go for Özil this summer.
 
Why don't we just do a Pep and buy all of them until one set works?
 
Nobody. Just promote someone from the youth teams. There has to be at least one good player there just waiting for an opportunity.
 
Seeing people suggest defensive players as an answer is frustrating the hell out of me.. That's what Matic is for, we need a player who fits the no 8 and no 10 role so Pogba and said person can interchange positions, controlling everything that is happening outside and around the box.

Couldn't agree more. In fact, the defensive midfielder position in general is stupid in my opinion. Most DMs are so poor on the ball, all they do is play it sideways and are a waste of a player. A player who is comfortable on the ball can quite easily offer anything a DM can whilst also contributing offensively.
 
I'll throw Corentin Tolisso into the mix. Probably won't leave Bayern after a year, but hasn't played a ton under Heynckes and they've just signed Leon Goretzka, so who knows? Always really liked him at Lyon, good work rate and scored quite a few goals too. Also really like Milinkovic-Savic. That Barella kid looks impressive as well.

In a more defensive sense, I'd also already earmark Wilfried Ndidi as a possible Matic successor in a couple of years.
Tolisso is best near the box. Quite the opposite of what you need. I think you could use a guy like Weigl. But that's not what Mourinho wants, I guess.

@beingshe7don
The idea that we would sell Thiago is laughable, really. You have absolutely no chance there.
 
Tolisso is best near the box. Quite the opposite of what you need. I think you could use a guy like Weigl. But that's not what Mourinho wants, I guess.

@beingshe7don
The idea that we would sell Thiago is laughable, really. You have absolutely no chance there.

Money talks.

A big enough offer may force the sale.

Would you have considered the idea of kroos being sold laughable?
 
Money talks.

A big enough offer may force the sale.

Would you have considered the idea of kroos being sold laughable?

We sold Kroos because we didn't value him. We value Thiago. Thiago is under contract until 2021. The idea that you could throw money at us and we just sell him is laughable and extremely arrogant. Thinking that Thiago would actually want to move from us to you is quite funny, either.
 
He should be for sale, now that we got Goretzka. But I don't think he is what you need.
I dunno I was thinking Vidal can be our Keane Pogba our Scholes then we now have a new Beckham and Giggs Martial and Sanchez soon we would be close to what we should be :)
 
Nobody. Just promote someone from the youth teams. There has to be at least one good player there just waiting for an opportunity.

Really good passing and moving 8s are real hard to find. It seems like Gomez is the guy likeliest to break in from the non-defenders, unless I'm behind on academy developments. Even someone like Drinkwater who is a fine PL player wouldn't be any better than Herrera.

We really should have signed Kovacic when he was at Inter. I wonder if Ceballos could be gotten as he's not played a ton, I think. He's very raw as an overall midfielder but his dribbling from the middle of the pitch is already basically elite, would give us a fun Giggs style midfielder and with the attention Pogba attracts running down the middle as our sort of #10...
 
There's a lot of things to consider here, such as:

What formation do we play
What type of player do we want in midfield
What kind of role will the signing perform

If we're after a pure destroyer/ball winner, we can look at the likes of Danilo Pereira, William Carvalho or Steven N'zonzi. They are all big units who are defensively solid and aren't flashy with the passing.

If we want a ball player, there's the likes of Jorginho, Allan or Julian Weigl, who will sit deeper and spread play, much like Carrick did.

If we want a more mobile all-rounder, there's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Leon Goretzka who are capable of getting about, winning the ball and contributing to attacks.

We could also look at Fabinho, who is a good ball winner and passer, and can also cover right-back for us.


We'll need to replace Carrick, the question is whether or not we go like-for-like and get in another deep-lying ball player, or if we get a different kind of player in. There's also question marks over Fellaini renewing his contract, so we could look at bringing in a second player if required. Personally, i'd get a more mobile player than Carrick or Fellaini, allowing Matic to have to do less running, and also switch to 4-3-3 more often, which also helps that. Matic can sit at the base of the three and win the ball and initiate attacks, Pogba can play the more attacking role, driving the ball forward with cover in behind, and the third role would be the player that can do a bit of everything.
 
75m max should do the trick and we could even throw in Herrera. He's done well at Barca and Bayern have quite a few midfielders at their disposal. They let Kroos go to Real. I think 70m would be a lot of money for them to ignore. Does anyone know how many years that Thiago have left on his contract. Got to strangle Moyes for passing on him....
Why on earth would Bayern sell Thiago? He has 3 or 4 years left on his contract, is their starter and they absolutely don’t need the money.
The thought to „throw in Herrera“ is in my opinion quite laughable. What would Bayern want to do with him when they have options like Thiago, Martinez, James, Vidal, Goretzka, Tolisso, et al.?
 
If we want a more mobile all-rounder, there's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Leon Goretzka who are capable of getting about, winning the ball and contributing to attacks.
That ship has sailed. He’s a Bayern player.
 
Pjanic:drool:

One thing is dead certain, we will spend a lot of money in the summer for one marquee signing who will take a place in our first 11.
 
The most important thread in the TF now. The missing piece.
 


Not one to excite the fanboys, but very impressive for a 20 year old - viable Herrera upgrade with a lot of potential to gradually establish himself in a midfield 3 with Matic and Pogba.
 


Not one to excite the fanboys, but very impressive for a 20 year old - viable Herrera upgrade with a lot of potential to gradually establish himself in a midfield 3 with Matic and Pogba.


Is that the lad from Leeds? Is he any better than Pereira?
 
Is that the lad from Leeds? Is he any better than Pereira?

I don't know much about him but that's a very valid question. If we get Lewis Cook, it's not like he is going into first team but more of a rotation player. No point in getting him unless he is head and shoulders above Pereira.

What I'm saying is Pereira should be the rotation player and we should get a first team midfielder.
 
Nobody. Just promote someone from the youth teams. There has to be at least one good player there just waiting for an opportunity.

I'd love as much as the rest of us to bring up another youth player, but it's not gonna happen for a number of reasons. Firstly, Jose isn't exactly in love with the notion of playing them. I feel like he's already gone out of his way to bring up McTominay to appease the fans when for me at least its pretty clear that he isn't good enough to be starting games for Man Utd. If there was an exceptional midfield talent, that would be a different conversation, but in my humble opinion, there isn't anyone outstanding. The best youth prospects I would say are Gomes, Chong, and Tuanzebe so we should focus on bringing those up. Gomes is a 10, Chong is a winger, and Tuanzebe, while touted as a potential midfielder is definitely not trusted by Jose to play there as of now. No, I think that we absolutely need to go out an buy at least on mid. With Fellaini likely leaving, Carrick retiring, and Matic turning 30, we need some more depth in the area not just to complement pogba but to play in case he gets injured. I think if we went to Roma and offered 50 mil for Naingollan, they would take it, and IMO, he's the closest thing to Roy Keane in modern football. Milankovic-Savic is a fantastic player and just what Jose would want, but the figures being touted, 150 mil is completely unreasonable if we want to bring in a Dybala as well.