Who's attainable if we were to spend big and improve our squad?

[Bestietom]

Everyone has a price, but would they want to come here.

 

[JJ12]

Depends who’s manager. Completely different style of players that Jose likes to somebody like Potchetino (just for example)

I’d love to see us in for young talent such as Skriniar, De Ligt, N’dombele and De Jong.

Would love to see an experienced CB in and a young CB so maybe Toby and Skriniar? Bin off Jones, Rojo and maybe another CB

 

[SolidSnake007]

Every club knows we have money. Expect to be royally screwed.

 

[Real Madras]

If the board have learnt their lesson of potentially falling very far behind the pack (our season so far) and invested heavily this winter and summer Id break the bank for the following;

1) De Light
2) De Jonge
3) Pellegrino

They would make very happy.

 

[Sparky_Hughes]

Pep has his teams play great football, but he's an overdramatic arseclown and a hypocritical cnut if you ask me.

I do violently dislike Spanish football and Barcelona in particular though. I'm a Feyenoorder, I like players with ugly mugs, no discernible ability with a football and a kit covered in mud after 90 minutes.

I could not agree with you more, Spanish football, and especially the arrogant Catalan cock wombles is tedious in the extreme.

 

[Member 109952]

£100m at Sancho before anything else. I think that kid will become world class, has it all, touch, dribbling, passing, and above all great game intelligence. Would be a steal even at that price.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

£100m at Sancho before anything else. I think that kid will become world class, has it all, touch, dribbling, passing, and above all great game intelligence. Would be a steal even at that price.

He’s the RW I really want us to sign. The young guy is just so talented and is the exactly the sort of right winger we need. Then again, I won’t be suprised if we end up with someone like Willian instead

 

[Scholsey2004]

We probably need a manager who won't chase talent out of the door first.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Why are so many people insistant on "spending big"? Do we really need another 75-100m player? What is the purpose of having scouts if we are just going to play fatasy football? Why do we make inquiries about a player like Maguire for 60m when we could have had him a year ago for 17m? It's not like we didn't know he was a good player. He was the only shining light on a shitty Hull City team. And enough of buying players from other leagues. There is a ton of talent in England who already know the English game...

 

[AlecHDR]

Chiesa (RW)
Meunier (RB)
De Ligt (CB)

 

[Fridge chutney]

£35m for Jadon Sancho
£30m for Sessegnon
£30m Koulibaly
£25 for a good right back.
£30m for a good Matic replacement.

It's a stretch but 150m in one summer should be doable.

 

[meamth]

£35m for Jadon Sancho
£30m for Sessegnon
£30m Koulibaly
£25 for a good right back.
£30m for a good Matic replacement.

It's a stretch but 150m in one summer should be doable.

I think you live in different era.

Sancho will be around 100-120m
Sessegnon should be 40-50m (because united will be mugged)
Dalot is fine already, needs to give him time.
30m for Matic replacement? What are you signing? Romeu? De Jong would be around 70-80m mark.

 

[Fridge chutney]

Agree re: Dalot, forgot about him. And I probably overpriced Sessegnon. So that means we should only need to spend £100-115m and we'll be good.

 

[meamth]

Agree re: Dalot, forgot about him. And I probably overpriced Sessegnon. So that means we should only need to spend £100-115m and we'll be good.

150m is peanuts nowadays. That money can only get you 1 world class player and a decent player.

 

[GlastonSpur]

150m is peanuts nowadays. That money can only get you 1 world class player and a decent player.

What absolute bollocks.

This is typical of the linear, simplistic and mechanist thinking - football by numbers - that dominates the approach of some clubs and fans​

 

[onemanarmy]

£35m for Jadon Sancho
£30m for Sessegnon
£30m Koulibaly
£25 for a good right back.
£30m for a good Matic replacement.

It's a stretch but 150m in one summer should be doable.

Sancho, Sessegnon, Koulibaly alone would probably cost £180m.

 

[meamth]

What absolute bollocks.

This is typical of the linear, simplistic and mechanist thinking - football by numbers - that dominates the approach of some clubs and fans​

What are you implying? It's fact, if not your club would have gotten several numbers of quality players for peanuts.

The situation at Spurs is they can't get better players for what they have now. Simply because players are expensive nowadays. Add that with that new stadium financial situation..

 

[el3mel]

Sancho, Sessegnon, Koulibaly alone would probably cost £180m.

Kouilbaly alone will cost 100-120m.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Kouilbaly alone will cost 100-120m.

It's this foolishness that has us where we are. Why would we consider spending that much on a defender when you can in the same market get the City pairing for the same price.

People in here are talking like 100million is nothing. Its alot of money even in the current market. City, the outrageous spenders have a transfer record of 60 million.

 

[GlastonSpur]

What are you implying? It's fact, if not your club would have gotten several numbers of quality players for peanuts.

The situation at Spurs is they can't get better players for what they have now. Simply because players are expensive nowadays. Add that with that new stadium financial situation..

We already have - you've clearly not being paying attention. And Foyth (£11.7m) is simply one of the latest in a long line.

I'm implying that there are plenty of quality players out there without necessarily having to shell out mega-bucks for 'name' players. But if United want to continue with the same old failed transfer policy then it's no skin off my nose.

 

[meamth]

We already have - you've clearly not being paying attention. And Foyth (£11.7m) is simply one of the latest in a long line.

I'm implying that there are plenty of quality players out there without necessarily having to shell out mega-bucks for 'name' players. But if United want to continue with the same old failed transfer policy then it's no skin off my nose.

I understand what you're implying, apologies. Unknown players instead of established wonderkids/superstars. I get that, but that won't happen now in the modern times. That Neymar deal created this mess.

Fergie days are over, unless we sign a DOF.

 

[GlastonSpur]

I understand what you're implying, apologies. Unknown players instead of established wonderkids/superstars. I get that, but that won't happen now in the modern times. That Neymar deal created this mess.

Fergie days are over, unless we sign a DOF.

It's not about signing a DoF - that may or may not help depending on who the DoF is and their relationship with your manager.

It's about deciding to abandon going for an endless series of attempts at quick fixes (involving spending lots of money) in favour of a long-term re-build regardless of short-term results.

Trying to compete with Neymar-type signings (and he's not that good anyhow) is a mug's game.

 

[Chicharo]

Icardi and Dybala have scored two beautiful goals tonight, against Mexico. Obviously, we can't buy Dybala, but I would really love if we tried and reach Icardi.

 

[Donk87]

We already have - you've clearly not being paying attention. And Foyth (£11.7m) is simply one of the latest in a long line.

Steady on. He's played twice in the league for you conceding 2 penalties on his debut and scoring the winner in his second game. Bit early to be placing him in the quality bucket. Might well end up there but equally might not.

 

[GlastonSpur]

Steady on. He's played twice in the league for you conceding 2 penalties on his debut and scoring the winner in his second game. Bit early to be placing him in the quality bucket. Might well end up there but equally might not.

Well, he's also appeared 9 times for us in domestic and European cup competitions. And he's recently made his debut for the Argentine senior team in friendly against Mexico where he helped Argentina to a 2–0 win and was given the MotM award.

Sometimes you can just see a player and know that they're very likely going to make it. He is one of them.

 

[Patrick08]

Kouilbaly alone will cost 100-120m.

We should just lure toby, and save us from wasting our money. Even spending so much on defense will not solve the problems at the back with the way our midfield is and the style and selection mourinho employs.

 

[el3mel]

We should just lure toby, and save us from wasting our money. Even spending so much on defense will not solve the problems at the back with the way our midfield is and the style and selection mourinho employs.

Kouilbaly is worth every penny. If we slashed 100-120m on him, it will be good money spent.

 

[Patrick08]

Kouilbaly is worth every penny. If we slashed 100-120m on him, it will be good money spent.

Not worth spending that much on a single player, if he is not going to make us, immediately into title winners or European champions.

Our problems lie in the midfield more than it lies at the back. It's not that if we get him for 100 m mourinho is going to play gung-ho attacking football immediately and dominate teams left right and centre. Not even Real Madrid or Psg would splash that amount of cash on a defender who is also not the best at passing out from the back.

Those sort of targets can only be secured when the contractual situation is in favour of the buying club.

Also tactics play a part in how the player looks on the field. Napoli are a good front foot team, and that helps defensively as well, how will he react to a reactive constant pressure absorbing tactics with movement all around him remains to be seen. 100 m on a defender is insanity at this point, when the style of football is not going to change much. Mourinho only seem to be pointing out defensive side of our game in his post match blues, what about the offensive side, it will hardly improve with the midfield we have got, so we better use the money to get crucial midfield steel and creativity at this point even at higher prices than an 100 m defender.

 

[Johan07]

Kouilbaly is worth every penny. If we slashed 100-120m on him, it will be good money spent.

Koulibaly will be 28 in June this summer. To pay 120m for him and put him on a 5+1 year contract would mean that he would be 33-34 when his contract is up. He will not be worth anything the last 1-2 years of his contract.
We should not sign "old" players for this type of transfer fees where the asset depreciation each and every year will be double or more of the actual wage.
Give me a Koulibaly at 23 years old and I dont think anyone at the club would hesitate at £80-100m (which is more realistic). But at 28 its just not financially sound.

 

[Sarni]

What absolute bollocks.

This is typical of the linear, simplistic and mechanist thinking - football by numbers - that dominates the approach of some clubs and fans​

Yeah because Spurs did so well signing bargain players last Summer.

 

[roonster09]

Yeah because Spurs did so well signing bargain players last Summer.

Some how he thinks Spurs are some brilliant model every club should be following, the club that fun feck all in years.

 

[Sarni]

Koulibaly will be 28 in June this summer. To pay 120m for him and put him on a 5+1 year contract would mean that he would be 33-34 when his contract is up. He will not be worth anything the last 1-2 years of his contract.
We should not sign "old" players for this type of transfer fees where the asset depreciation each and every year will be double or more of the actual wage.
Give me a Koulibaly at 23 years old and I dont think anyone at the club would hesitate at £80-100m (which is more realistic). But at 28 its just not financially sound.

28 years is still fairly young for a defender. He should be good for 4 years.

 

[ivaldo]

Well, he's also appeared 9 times for us in domestic and European cup competitions. And he's recently made his debut for the Argentine senior team in friendly against Mexico where he helped Argentina to a 2–0 win and was given the MotM award.

Sometimes you can just see a player and know that they're very likely going to make it. He is one of them.

Aye, if he plays his cards right he could be the next Fazio.

 

[Sarni]

Some how he thinks Spurs are some brilliant model every club should be following, the club that fun feck all in years.

Yeah it's baffling. He's also been so bullish about it.

Spurs have been a well run club for most of the last decade, they will be forced to shop for bargain players for the considerable future but none of the big clubs can really employ their model when it comes to transfers because a) transfer prices will be inflated the minute a big club comes into picture, b) they usually try to shop mainly for established players and they cost more.

Spurs rarely buy established players but instant success is also not required there, they don't need to win the league or perform respectably in Champions League year in year out because they are not in the top tier. Of course they've been run better than us but it's also not comparable at all. If we had performed the same as them over the last 5 years, which is still better than we have, it would still not be enough.

 

[Patrick08]

28 years is still fairly young for a defender. He should be good for 4 years.

100m just to plug in the goals is insanity.

 

[Johan07]

28 years is still fairly young for a defender. He should be good for 4 years.

Absolutely. Koulibaly is a great player. Would love to have him.
That was not my point.
My point that our actual cost for him would be not just the wage of maybe wages of £10-15m per year, but also the asset depreciation of at least the same amount every year, worst case even double.
Noone is going to pay an hefty transfer fee for a 32-33 year old defender on high wages so we would need to write his value off during the term of his contract.
It would be a extremely costly transfer and would hamper what we can do otherwise in the market for the upcoming years.
EDIT
CIES values Koulibaly at around £45m, which is probably about right for a player of his age and position.
Napoli does not want to sell obviously, which is fine in itself. But we cant keep on paying over the odds for older players. The Sanches and even Matic deal were bad enough.

 

[Sarni]

Absolutely. Koulibaly is a great player. Would love to have him.
That was not my point.
My point that our actual cost for him would be not just the wage of maybe wages of £10-15m per year, but also the asset depreciation of at least the same amount every year, worst case even double.
Noone is going to pay an hefty transfer fee for a 32-33 year old defender on high wages so we would need to write his value off during the term of his contract.
It would be a extremely costly transfer and would hamper what we can do otherwise in the market for the upcoming years.

I understand this and it makes sense. I don't think the club cares that much about the cost at this point, it's about getting us back to being competitive again. Ideally you don't want your squad to cost you £500m per year in salaries and asset depreciation (which player losing transfer value is virtually) but it's sometimes tough to manage your finances in our current position because at the end of the day question is: how much do you lose by not being a top club for a considerable period of time?

With recent influx of money into the game teams who were trying to pinch every penny 10 years ago are probably regretting this now because it's difficult for them to get back to a certain level with current fees. We are actually guilty of that, we underinvested between 2007 and 2013.

 

[Johan07]

I understand this and it makes sense. I don't think the club cares that much about the cost at this point, it's about getting us back to being competitive again. Ideally you don't want your squad to cost you £500m per year in salaries and asset depreciation (which player losing transfer value is virtually) but it's sometimes tough to manage your finances in our current position because at the end of the day question is: how much do you lose by not being a top club for a considerable period of time?

With recent influx of money into the game teams who were trying to pinch every penny 10 years ago are probably regretting this now because it's difficult for them to get back to a certain level with current fees. We are actually guilty of that, we underinvested between 2007 and 2013.

Yeah, that is probably a correct assessment.
Its a lot about timing as well. A club like City made a lot of their major investments before the Neymar/Dembele/Mbappe era, which means that they still have many of their better players on actually relatively low wages.
We surpassed City wage bill-wise this year, which has a lot to do if not all with the Sanchez-deal (which was stupid from so many perspectives). This year we might also put De Gea on some serious money. Granted, City needs to do the same with Sterling, etc.
Question is how much we can and should be able to demand from our owners/Ed when we already are at the top of the league in pure wages. We actually have a pretty young squad, so we are not so bad asset depreciation-wise compared to paid transfer fees. Players like Pogba and Lukaku are probably worth more (Pogba most def) compared to when we bought them.
I think the wage budget above anything is the major reason why we choose not invest in older players. IMO it makes complete sense why we did not go for Willian or Perisic for example, and I guess the argument will be - correctly - the same for a player like Koulibaly.
That said, Napoli is seriously overreaching for Koulibaly and a lot of this might be papertalk from their management. If we could get him for around £50m it would be fine. But this over £100m: no, just no.

 

[breakout67]

Koulibaly will be 28 in June this summer. To pay 120m for him and put him on a 5+1 year contract would mean that he would be 33-34 when his contract is up. He will not be worth anything the last 1-2 years of his contract.
We should not sign "old" players for this type of transfer fees where the asset depreciation each and every year will be double or more of the actual wage.
Give me a Koulibaly at 23 years old and I dont think anyone at the club would hesitate at £80-100m (which is more realistic). But at 28 its just not financially sound.

Meanwhile Juventus spend 35m on bonucci and 100m on Ronaldo. Basically throwing that money down the drain to push for the CL.

The top clubs spend big to win trophies which gives them future supporters and revenue. Our fans want us to buy players to sell on to make some money like we are Southampton.

 

[Johan07]

Meanwhile Juventus spend 35m on bonucci and 100m on Ronaldo. Basically throwing that money down the drain to push for the CL.

The top clubs spend big to win trophies which gives them future supporters and revenue. Our fans want us to buy players to sell on to make some money like we are Southampton.

I dont. I am trying to be realistic. We already have the biggest wage budget in the PL. Bigger than the "mighty" Citeh. If we bring in even more old players on big wages it will feck us backwards the next couple of years.
EDIT
And the Ronaldo-deal was so stupid. If its not something shady with it, which I seriously think it might be.
I hope we never do anything similar.