The search for a holding midfielder (Summer 2017 version)

LawCharltonBest

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We've had various links with Dier, Matic, Fabinho. But this could be a "smoke screen summer"

Personally I'd like a DM with a surname starting with "L" to join Lukaku and Lindelof. Or Bakayoko just to piss Chelsea off more (can you imagine if we did that?)

Who do you want / think we'll get, and why?
 
Weigl, Fabinho, Herrera, Danilo, N'Zonzi, Strootman, Jorginho

In that order for me.
 
I can't help thinking Weigl is a bit lightweight. I'd go with Nainggolan or Fabinho. Both of them are probably a bit more attacking than Mourinho would like though.
 
Nainggolan isn't a holder, but would work well alongside Herrera holding. Fabinho would be a fantasic holding player for us and I really hope we're in for him as he won't cost the earth.

N'zonzi would be a good capture too, it looks like Sevilla are willing to do business. Weigl is the most direct "Carrick replacement" out there I think. William Carvalho could be a good shout for that role too.
 
Fabinho, Nzonzi, Weigl - in that order for me. Outside of those three, I'd be just as happy if we gave it to TFM than any other signing I can think of.
 
I wanted Paredes or Carvalho and then Fabinho. Wanted someone who can do more than just break up play but could start counters well. It looka to me that Matic and Dier seem to be dead ends now so will be interesting to see who is Jose's 3rd choice. The l'equipe tv remarks about us having bid for Fabinho do seem promising so he must be favourite now despite Luckhurst.
 
TehRed said:
Nainggolan isn't a holder, but would work well alongside Herrera holding. Fabinho would be a fantasic holding player for us and I really hope we're in for him as he won't cost the earth.

N'zonzi would be a good capture too, it looks like Sevilla are willing to do business. Weigl is the most direct "Carrick replacement" out there I think. William Carvalho could be a good shout for that role too.
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N'Zonzi was so under rated while in the premiership. Personally dont think he is quite good enough for an elite European side, but many of the other larger clubs, especially in the premiership should have tried to sign him and he is much better than most of the names we have been linked with too.

Personalyl I have liked Herrera most when playing as a holding midfielder and would like to see him play there. What I think we need is a quality partner for Pogba that allows him the freedom to roam and helps out Herrera too. Fellaini was often used in that role for us as he doesnt stop working and is very disciplined is his movement and positioning so in the effect he is very good there. The problem is he cant tackle, keeps fouling, has no intelligence or technique or passing ability above laying the ball off. I think if we can sign someone that does the good work Fellaini does and do all the things he really cant, both Herrera and Pogba will really flourish this season.
 
I'd like Romeu and he's probably my personal first choice. I like N'Zonzi, too. I've no idea who we're actually going to get, though! Never expected us to be in for Lukaku.
 
Thiago Maia. Special talent. Half what Fabinho or Matic would cost:

 
I don't have a clue who it will be but we'll sign one, probably outside of the three most strongly linked - Dier, Matic and Fabinho.
 
I wouldn't call it a 'search'. It's more like going to a surprise party except the guests don't know who they're waiting for.

That said, I'd prefer a far less known name to surprise us first by signing and second by playing better in our team than any of the rumored ones might.
 
Ekeke said:
Fabinho wouldnt be a holding midfielder anyway. He gets forward more than Ander does
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As some have already noted, Ander as a DM is not a bad option. Would Fabinho fit as a B2B in that scenario or even be used as part of a double pivot with Ander with Pogba further upfield? Just spitballing.

Instead of a DM, maybe we should looking at B2B like Naingollain, assuming Jose is comfortable with Ander as DM. Ander does give us options.
 
Fabinho, as the English press seem to have nothing on him so far, similar to how they had nothing about Lukaku till 48 hours ago.
 
Ekeke said:
Fabinho wouldnt be a holding midfielder anyway. He gets forward more than Ander does
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If Fabinho comes to Manchester United he won't be doing ANYTHING else aside from sometimes filling in at right back.
 
Herrera is our main holding midfielder, but ya in some games we may need his energy upfront.

Carrick is retiring..

The search for holding midfielder continues..

Who knows the players we already have may step up and fill the void, like maybe Blind finally clicks or youths grab the role.
 
RU Devil said:
As some have already noted, Ander as a DM is not a bad option. Would Fabinho fit as a B2B in that scenario or even be used as part of a double pivot with Ander with Pogba further upfield? Just spitballing.

Instead of a DM, maybe we should looking at B2B like Naingollain, assuming Jose is comfortable with Ander as DM. Ander does give us options.
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If Ander was asked to sit deep, someone like Fabinho would definitely help as he would certainly be a good ball winner, just not someone who is sitting while others attack. But he also got 10 goals from midfield so would help us going forward in that department.
 
Ekeke said:
If Ander was asked to sit deep, someone like Fabinho would definitely help as he would certainly be a good ball winner, just not someone who is sitting while others attack. But he also got 10 goals from midfield so would help us going forward in that department.
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9 of Fabinho's 12 goals last season were penalties to be fair.
 
Ekeke said:
If Ander was asked to sit deep, someone like Fabinho would definitely help as he would certainly be a good ball winner, just not someone who is sitting while others attack. But he also got 10 goals from midfield so would help us going forward in that department.
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7/10 were penalties I think, rather than 9. But he did contribute to their attacking play in other ways.
 
Either one of Matic or Fabinho would be excellent.

It's more likely to be Fabinho at the moment which seems to be most people's preference.
 
HankHill said:
Either one of Matic or Fabinho would be excellent.

It's more likely to be Fabinho at the moment which seems to be most people's preference.
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Haven't seen any concrete Fabinho rumors, but I certainly hope you're right.
 
Giant Midget said:
Haven't seen any concrete Fabinho rumors, but I certainly hope you're right.
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I haven't either really, I'm just assuming that the potential Matic deal is either dead or very close to death after we stole Lukaku from underneath Chelsea's nose.
 
In this order....

Keita
Nainggolan
Fabinho
Weigl

*Matic & Dier will not bring any improvement to what we already have.
 
Son Of Sam said:
In this order....

Keita
Nainggolan
Fabinho
Weigl

*Matic & Dier will not bring any improvement to what we already have.
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Isn't Keita more of a B2B player like Pogba?

Nainggolan seems like someone who likes his life in Rome too much to leave.

Weigl is still young and developing, and I don't think he's defensively that good either.
 
Adam-Utd said:
Psg bound I believe?
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That's been much of the talk, but I don't know it's been decided, but I hope he doesn't. The lad would do well to look at the example of Verratti. PSG is like the Hotel California.
 
Andersons Dietician said:
Not by much. I really do hope we avoid Fabinho like the plague unless it's for RB and even then we can do better. Fabinho's mythical rise amongst united supporters is worrying.
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Oh, I see you have something against him. I like him a lot!
 
It depends what we're looking for in a holding midfielder, everyone seems to be after Fabinho but from what I've seen he's not all he's cracked up to be defensively.
If we want a big clogger they're a dime a dozen so it shouldn't be a problem getting a hold of one, if we want someone a bit good then I have no idea who fits really. Weigl is meant to be good but I've never seen him play properly.
I've always liked the look of Strootman but that ship may have sailed. Were we not after that Brozovic from inter at one time?
 
What about Goretzka from Schalke or Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio? Are any of those two playing as a holding midfielder?
 
Jkkruse said:
What about Goretzka from Schalke or Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio? Are any of those two playing as a holding midfielder?
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Both are all-action offensive midfielders. Goretzka is quite versatile but I believe he's at his best as a box-to-box type player. SMS is a bit Pogba-like, decent technique ability for his frame with great passing.
 
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