Lukaku and Sanchez - cut our losses? Poll now added

Should we cut our losses on Sanchez and Lukaku in the summer?


  • Total voters
    1,486

hobbers

Full Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
27,359
People saying we absolutely have to keep them 'because they bring depth' and 'who would we replace them with' really dont have a grasp on the finances...

Our highest and third (at least until De Gea signs a new deal) highest earners are nothing more than impact subs. Impact subs that cant even make an impact when we're coasting against Fulham, but that's by the by. What sort of precedent does that set? What happens when we negotiate deals for the likes of Rashford or De Gea, players who actually will contribute to our success in the future. Or when we negotiate with players we want to sign in the future? How much extra money are we going to drain with these deals?

The fact is that if by some miracle we could shift both Lukaku and Sanchez this summer we'd free up SO MUCH MONEY from our wage bill we'd have the finances to go and sign whoever the feck we wanted to replace them. But we wouldn't even need to sign big names to replace the (lack of) quality we'd lose from shifting the pair of them. What we need is a top quality right winger and possibly some cover for Rashford at striker, Greenwood dependent.

The issue isn't "should we", it's "can we". And the answer to that is probably no. But if some dumb Italian club wants to bid a decent amount for Lukaku we'd be total morons not to accept. Likewise Sanchez, although with his wages and at his age and with his form I think it will take an absolute miracle to shift him this summer. China is our only hope with him.
 

paulscholes18

Full Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
20,112
Went for keep both, reason being there are already too many positions that need to be strengthened without needing to sell and replace those two as well,
 

Negan

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Aug 30, 2018
Messages
647
I would sell both. Lukaku is too good to be on the bench and we could get a fee for him.

Sanchez would have a lot of buyers in China I’m sure. Either way he has to go.

Bring in some quality defenders... Ricardo Pereira, Alex Sandro and Koulibaly. You’ll have around 700k in wages to give.
 

Canagel

Full Member
Joined
May 26, 2016
Messages
13,888
Waste of wages and squad space. Rather replace them with Isco and Werner. Alexis is finished at the top and Lukaku is just not a united striker.
Isco is just a ball hogger. Wouldn't want him near the club. I'd rather promote Greenwood and then get a RW- a D Costa, Cheisa, Pepe etc
 

Schneckerl

Full Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2016
Messages
2,704
Would keep them, as I doubt it's easy to find better players for benchwarmer roles.

However there are problems:
With Lukaku not sure if he is satisfied with a backup role.
Sanchez' contract fecks up the wage structure. Don't know how much of an issue that is in reality.
 

RedIan

Full Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
3,091
Location
Manchester
I went for keep sanchez. If martial is crocked or needs rotating we need him and he is far better technically gifted player than Lukaku. Id sell Lukaku in the summer and bring in another striker with the funds, lukaku has his strengths, good finisher and has pace and power but not a united player, he lacks some basic technical ability, control and passing etc
 

GifLord

Better at GIFs than posts
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Messages
22,898
Location
LALALAND
Would keep them, as I doubt it's easy to find better players for benchwarmer roles.

However there are problems:
With Lukaku not sure if he is satisfied with a backup role.
Sanchez' contract fecks up the wage structure. Don't know how much of an issue that is in reality.
You'd keep 2 players that cost us around 2mil a month in wages as bench players? :houllier:
 

Schneckerl

Full Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2016
Messages
2,704
You'd keep 2 players that cost us around 2mil a month in wages as bench players? :houllier:
This isn't Football Manager.
Not pretending to be familiar with the financial internal policies of the club. If the wages are problematic get rid.
 

GifLord

Better at GIFs than posts
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Messages
22,898
Location
LALALAND
This isn't Football Manager.
Not pretending to be familiar with the financial internal policies of the club. If the wages are problematic get rid.
Lukaku is apparently on 250k a week while Sanchez's salary is even higher :rolleyes:
 

marko goalo

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Feb 8, 2017
Messages
111
As of now I'm in the 'keep both' camp. If we add a quality right winger then imagine the depth of squad and the healthy competition for places. We could be title contenders as early as next year.

Right now we may appear sorted, but a loss of form for either rashford or martial via even an injury /suspension type situation will land us in big trouble. We need players who are capable of stepping in.

Sanchez IMHO can make a very capable false nine and his experience can be vital for us in big games. The man deserves a proper chance in an attacking team.

The same goes for lukaku, I'm hoping that he will shed a lot of bulk over the summer and return to the terrifying and pacey goal scorer that he was. If ole is appointed manager, I can totally see lukaku improving drastically.

Both of them in the squad next season, would give us amazing options. I hope people can see that
Unfortunately for most of us the only thing we've seen is inept performances bar the odd decent performance here and there. Just not enough to justify the outlay
 

Dan-Utd

Full Member
Joined
May 17, 2016
Messages
200
Location
United Kingdom
Sanchez should never have been signed, we had a manager who just wanted to sign the best talent regardless of how it would fit in with what we had and regardless of the cost in wages.

Sanchez comes along and becomes our highest paid player - and since he's been here his performances levels have not really reached that of other players here who are being paid less, Ironic that according to Google the 2 highest paid Premier League players are the inconsistent Sanchez and the extra inconsistent Ozil and both spent a few years playing for an inconsistent Arsenal.

We don't need queens here, lets have a first team where they are fairly paid and that will make for a happier dressing room.

Lukaku is only 25, did well in his loans at West Brom and Everton, he's also shown a lot of class for us since he arrived, in the right system and with the right guidance i think there is a lot more to come from him, i would certainly prefer to have him in our squad than him being in a team playing against us.
 

Schneckerl

Full Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2016
Messages
2,704
Lukaku is apparently on 250k a week while Sanchez's salary is even higher :rolleyes:
I should have worded my post differently, sorry. Shouldn't have started with 'Would keep them...'

My guess would be that they earn to much (especially Sanchez), but I don't know for sure. However it's not like there is a hard salary cap and you need to free up space to sign new players.

Sanchez looks really problematic due to being one of the highest earning players in the World.
 

davidmichael

Full Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2015
Messages
3,373
Originally I was of the belief that we should sell Lukaku as we’d get £50-£70 million for him as well as saving £200-£250K a week on wages then use Sanchez through the middle as back up to Rashford but Sanchez has looked awful since the Arsenal game.

With Chong, Gomes and Greenwood all coming through as well as Rashford, Martial, Lingard and Mata already in place we don’t need one of Lukaku or Sanchez especially if we sign a genuine right sided forward.

I think I’d use Sanchez through the middle when he plays until the end of the season and if he hasn’t shown enough to be seen as a good alternative to Rashford then he’d have had long enough and I’d say move Sanchez on in the summer. I’d put Lukaku on a strict fitness programme to build up bus cardio and reduce muscle and have him as back up to Rashford as if nothing else Lukaku is a proven goal scorer in the league.
 

Sauldogba

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 6, 2018
Messages
533
Keep both.
This is what i wrote a few days ago in the Lukaku thread when someone said we should sell him and I still stand by it.

Why though?
If hes happy coming off the bench hes more than good enough to stay and play a bit part role.
In this day and age your not gonna get much better 2nd place strikers that are happy to come off the bench.
People seem to forget that Fergie always had atleast three good strikers at the club.
Yorke,Cole,Sheringham,Solksjaer in the 90s.
Hernandez,Berba,Rooney in the 00s.
I think its worth remembering that as bad as he has been this season he has only got one less goal than our other number 9 Rashford
.
 

Jeffthered

Full Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2015
Messages
2,678
Doesn't this sound eerily similar to the "sack Mourinho and hire who?" line of reasoning to you? An underperforming player or manager will always be easily replaceable.
No, not at all. I am saying, with the squad we have, which is limited, and the fact we have an interim manager, we need to think quite carefully before 'cutting our losses' as it were. have some targets in mind that may actually suit the club, because we have seen far, far, far, far, far too many erratic purchases at Manchester United over the last five years or so.
 

Greck

Full Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2016
Messages
7,099
Lukaku can stay if he's happy to play cup games and be on the bench on CL nights. His ego is big so I'll be surprised. At Everton he was very vocal about wanting to leave for CL football. Once he's seen Rash start both legs against PSG and possibly the next round I'm not sure he'll be too pleased
 

Sauldogba

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 6, 2018
Messages
533
Yes get rid of both. They barely contribute even as squad options and they are far too expensive to be used as such anyway. If I could only sell one, I'd sell Lukaku. At least we would get a decent fee for him. Sanchez could be used as back up for Martial and Rashford.

Maybe we can put out a rumour that Solksjaer just hates Belgians. That's why he sold Fellaini, that's why Lukaku is playing sh!t. Some clubs might make a decent offer if they think his form is down to the manager...
They barely contribute

Rashford and martial have one more goal than Lukaku.

and they are far too expensive to be used as such anyway

Says who? If we couldnt afford to use them that way we wouldnt be doing it.

you don't pay those wages for "bench" or "rotation" players, its just not sustainable. and the play time they get would be better off being given to developing kids, at least there's potential of future great pay off in that case. its not like their contributions could be any worse than what Sanchez and Lukaku have been doing.
Of course its sustaineable. We wouldnt be doing it if we couldnt afford it.
This is Manchester United. The second biggest sports team in the world. I think they know a hell of a lot about finances
 
Last edited:

Jean claude van hire

Full Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
658
Still clinging to the hope that Alexis can have an impact at this club. Who knows, could even be in the CL with a bit of luck. Form is temporary, class is permanent and all that. As for Rom, I'm not so sure. I just think the quicker we move the ball the more his flaws are exposed and the club is clearly moving towards a style of play that doesn't suit him. What I will say is I definitely prefer him from the right if we do hang on to him.
 

devil in me

Full Member
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
6,603
Location
Hereford
Would love to get rid of both, but see a bit of a Rooney situation with both, unfortunately.
Lukaku isnt good enough for a top club, so who is going to pay his wages? Sanchez is probably finished at the top too, but again, how on earth do we get rid with those wages ?
 

siw2007

Full Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2014
Messages
2,366
I would probably lose both over the next few years. Would be tempting to lose Sanchez first though just because that his massive wages could be better used elsewhere such as extending De Gea or Pogba's contracts as they are our best performing players at the moment ands have done far more to deserve it.
 

reelworld

Full Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2001
Messages
8,748
Location
Mexico City, Mexico
:lol: seriously those who complained about wages needs to chill.
This isn't FM lads.
Keep them both, I want to see them a full season under Ole. Jose system weren't kind to attacking players. Who knows how Lukaku might develop or how Sanchez might respond fully healthy.
Lukaku lack of technique and first touch was waay overblown here. Especially when he's actually decent last night.
 

hobbers

Full Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
27,359
:lol: seriously those who complained about wages needs to chill.
This isn't FM lads.
Keep them both, I want to see them a full season under Ole. Jose system weren't kind to attacking players. Who knows how Lukaku might develop or how Sanchez might respond fully healthy.
Lukaku lack of technique and first touch was waay overblown here. Especially when he's actually decent last night.
His lack of technique and first touch isn't overblown, if anything it's vastly understated, especially by pundits and commentators. It's absolutely atrocious for a £240k/week Premier League footballer. John O'Shea would put him to shame if we brought him back and stuck him up top.

Jose's system wasn't kind to anyone, but at least Lukaku got on the pitch under him. With Ole, or any manager with a brain, he won't be getting on the pitch for more than 20-30 minutes a week. Sanchez is the same. Sanchez is a clear case of career burnout having played so many matches in the last few years, and is now too old to come back to top form, especially given all his muscular injuries. And the only hope Lukaku has of a long term place on our bench is if he can drop 2-3 stone between now and pre-season.
 

LawCharltonBest

Enjoys watching fox porn
Joined
May 17, 2012
Messages
14,889
Location
Salford
Alexis is capable of hitting a sweet spot and being devastating. He still hasn’t settled

Lukaku could be a top player somewhere but I don’t think he’s a United player. The United fans won’t ever warm to a player like him, a bit like with Fellaini
 

Cheesy

Bread with dipping sauce
Scout
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Messages
36,181
I'd be more tempted to sell Sanchez than Lukaku. Whereas I'd argue he's been a complete flop, Lukaku's goal return is at least alright, and he's young enough to have a full decent years ahead of him. Struggle to see Sanchez properly returning to his Arsenal form again.
 

Cheesy

Bread with dipping sauce
Scout
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Messages
36,181
Alexis is capable of hitting a sweet spot and being devastating. He still hasn’t settled

Lukaku could be a top player somewhere but I don’t think he’s a United player. The United fans won’t ever warm to a player like him, a bit like with Fellaini
He's 30 and has been here for over a year - feels like he's probably just declined and won't get back to his best again, although I'd like to be wrong. Even before he arrived there was an argument he'd been nowhere near as good for Arsenal as he had been the previous few years.
 

bushyboy

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Mar 20, 2018
Messages
85
Location
South Africa
On current form I'd sell both, although OGS could improve them. Would like to have the bench depth that City have. Would need to be ruthless though.
 

Sauldogba

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 6, 2018
Messages
533
Why the feck would we offload both of them when we finally have some depth going forward after so many years? :rolleyes:
Its a madness :lol: they need to take an fa coaching course so they can learn about squad depth.

'cut our losses..' and then do what ? What would be your plan? You want to rely on Lindgard-Martial-Rashford week in, week out..? I don't. Buy other players right.. like who?

Have to think about the squad. Which is still short...
They want us to spend money to replace our squad players with more squad players who will be worse than the squad players we already have.

Aye, with Rashford playing about 7 games up front and Martial possibly zero.
Whats that got to do with anything i said?
The poster said Lukaku barely contributes.
I replied saying there is only one goal difference between Lukaku and Rashford and Martial.
 

Bastian

Full Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
18,444
Supports
Mejbri
You've gotta laugh, two years ago if somebody had said we'd have Alexis and Lukaku in the squad fans worldwide would've been hastily arranging ticket only wank parties, now most can't wait to get shut, football, bloody hell.
If two years ago someone would have said we'd have Lukaku and Alexis both performing the way they have been, the highest and third highest earners, I'd laugh too. But now I just think the pragmatic thing to do is to move them on and replace them with more suitable players and keeping an eye on our wages to ability ratio.
 

red woppit

Full Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2017
Messages
2,229
Location
Buchebi
Supports
Northampton Town
You've gotta laugh, two years ago if somebody had said we'd have Alexis and Lukaku in the squad fans worldwide would've been hastily arranging ticket only wank parties, now most can't wait to get shut, football, bloody hell.
Sanchez yes, Lukaku no. Never thought he looked like a United player.
 

Class of 63

Sourness
Joined
Aug 15, 2017
Messages
9,028
Location
Going through the Desert on a Horse with no Name
If two years ago someone would have said we'd have Lukaku and Alexis both performing the way they have been, the highest and third highest earners, I'd laugh too. But now I just think the pragmatic thing to do is to move them on and replace them with more suitable players and keeping an eye on our wages to ability ratio.
If somebody can predict how players will perform two years in advance they should put their name forward for the D.O.F position because they'd save the club a bloody fortune, and who are these gettable(sp) players of the required standard who would be happy to come in and be content with a place on the bench?

Sanchez yes, Lukaku no. Never thought he looked like a United player.
Lukaku is a guaranteed 25 goals a season man with an outrageous record at International level so does it really matter if he looks like a United player, whatever that means ?
 

GeordieRed

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Dec 28, 2017
Messages
69
Sell both, they add far too much to the wage bill for them to be perpetual benchwarmers.

It might be possible to stomach one overpaid sub, but not two, and neither of them make a major impact when coming off the bench anyway.
 

red woppit

Full Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2017
Messages
2,229
Location
Buchebi
Supports
Northampton Town
If somebody can predict how players will perform two years in advance they should put their name forward for the D.O.F position because they'd save the club a bloody fortune, and who are these gettable(sp) players of the required standard who would be happy to come in and be content with a place on the bench?



Lukaku is a guaranteed 25 goals a season man with an outrageous record at International level so does it really matter if he looks like a United player, whatever that means ?
Do you ever watch some player performing for another team, and get that feeling that they could easily fit into your team? When Lukaku was playing for West Bromwich and Everton I never had that feeling that he could fit into the team I support, Manchester United. He never really had a good game against United (that I can recall), and I remember Jones in particular keeping him very quiet in matches. He was a strong, quick bustling type of player, very strong on his left foot, and excellent in the air. If we had two wingers who could beat the full back, and get a good cross into the box, then he could possibly thrive at OT, but we're not playing like that. He needs to go to a club that play that way, and possibly then he would become a 25 goal a season man, I don't think the way United play at the moment suits him.
 

AndyJ1985

New Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
8,954
If somebody can predict how players will perform two years in advance they should put their name forward for the D.O.F position because they'd save the club a bloody fortune, and who are these gettable(sp) players of the required standard who would be happy to come in and be content with a place on the bench?



Lukaku is a guaranteed 25 goals a season man with an outrageous record at International level so does it really matter if he looks like a United player, whatever that means ?
A guaranteed 25 goal a season striker who isn't going to score 25 goals this season. Interesting
 

RetroStu

Full Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,538
I still dont know why we bought Sanchez. I mean we have been accused of buying a lot of 'luxary signings' and ego signings over recent yeras, many times falsly, but Sanchez is the optimum of that. Pointless signiing imo.
 

Class of 63

Sourness
Joined
Aug 15, 2017
Messages
9,028
Location
Going through the Desert on a Horse with no Name
Do you ever watch some player performing for another team, and get that feeling that they could easily fit into your team? When Lukaku was playing for West Bromwich and Everton I never had that feeling that he could fit into the team I support, Manchester United. He never really had a good game against United (that I can recall), and I remember Jones in particular keeping him very quiet in matches. He was a strong, quick bustling type of player, very strong on his left foot, and excellent in the air. If we had two wingers who could beat the full back, and get a good cross into the box, then he could possibly thrive at OT, but we're not playing like that. He needs to go to a club that play that way, and possibly then he would become a 25 goal a season man, I don't think the way United play at the moment suits him.
Wasn't paying too much attention as to how he played but didn't he score a hat-trick for WBA coming on as sub in SAF's last match ?
 

Everest Red

Reddest ever
Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Messages
6,363
Location
DoJ
Would love to get rid of both, but see a bit of a Rooney situation with both, unfortunately.
Lukaku isnt good enough for a top club, so who is going to pay his wages? Sanchez is probably finished at the top too, but again, how on earth do we get rid with those wages ?
Chelsea, easily.
 

Cloud7

Full Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Messages
12,778
If we want squad depth bin both of them and get Richarlison and Ryan Fraser in for squad depth. They would more than likely contribute more to the team, and the wages would be much less.

All the talk about squad depth ignores the fact that Lukaku and Sanchez have been crap, Sanchez especially. I can at least see some argument for keeping Lukaku, but there is absolutely no reason to keep Sanchez. Anytime he’s on the field he is a liability. Just because he was good once upon a time doesn’t make him “useful firepower from the bench”
 

red woppit

Full Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2017
Messages
2,229
Location
Buchebi
Supports
Northampton Town
Wasn't paying too much attention as to how he played but didn't he score a hat-trick for WBA coming on as sub in SAF's last match ?
You are spot on. Just watched the game, and it looked like United's defence were already on holiday, probably thought they had the game won at 3-0 and then 5-2, but fair play, took his first two well, third was a bit scrappy, but was in the right place.
He's here for the rest of the season, likewise Sanchez, and perhaps we will be wrong and Ole will get them firing again. I'm not in the camp that just want to get rid of these two, but looking at their performances recently, neither look comfortable in our game plan, so based on that I can only see them both moving on, Lukaku more likely in my opinion.
 
Last edited: