Sandro is not World Class at all. Did you follow him recently? He isn't even an upgrade.
Ole's transfer strategy
- Thread starter devilish
- Start date
Finally some sensibility or on this thread, the last time we won the league we had pretty lacklustre attacking options of an aging Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, R Van Persie, S Kagawa, Nani, Wayne Rooney, N Powell, Chicquirito, D Wellbeck prime Antonio Valencia, decent Ashley Young yet as poor as those options were they were on a completely different level to what we currently have.
We need a 25 to 26 year elite level goalscorer, add Mason Greenwood and T Chong or A Gomez then we may have 7 or 8 attacking options for 3 or 4 places with Europa looking obvious next year, there will be plenty of games time for all of them. Currently I would only keep Rashford, Martial, Lukaku and Lingard added to A Gomez and M Greenwood means the club needs A No 9 to compete with Romelu and Right Winger.
60 + 80 + 60 + 70 +80 +60 =410m . Well, we can keep dreaming!
We have Dalot there. Kid is ready to be our first choice next year. That is why i think that we don't need Wan Bissaka. I would buy him only if we can get him for normal price. And not for first choice. Let Dalot and him fight for that position.
Young is finished. He will be backup next year
As we are not playing FM, we should be realistic and fix at least something during the summer. I don't expect that we will spend more than 200m (even that), and especially if we do not sell some big names.
If we should trust media and Ole's interview, he is opting for younger players that will grow in the next few years, which is excellent. On the other hand, it is possible that Ed will try to sign some big name, but I wouldn't bet on it, except if De Gea or Pogba leaves.
What will certainly happen is that some of the fringe players will leave the club on free (Darmian, Valencia). That certainly means that we will buy new RB who will compete with Dalot for RB spot. Young had extension, probably his last and I guess he will be a backup for LB and RB positions. Since Dalot can play LB as well, hopefully Young won't have too many games next season. Not sure who is on the radar, I doubt it will be someone young, as we already have 2 young players on this positions, and have Laird as talent (and even O'Connor) that will maybe be ready in a season or two. So, I guess someone like Meunier is an option, as not very expensive, probably can be signed for 20m or so.
Honestly, I think that we will let Mata leave as well. He is very expensive for someone who is obviously bench player, while he certainly won't like one year contract. On the other hand, we need RW, who is really RW, and we have Chong and Greenwoon who both should be squad players next year. So, replacing Mata with someone who is young, strong and fast, and who can grow in the next year or two would be serious improvement. We would open right side with new RB (or Dalot) and RW and open space on the left for Martial or Rashford to play with less pressure. Not sure who will RW be, but I doubt it will be Sancho.
I hope that we will sell Rojo as well during the summer. He did not play for I am not sure how long, and we certainly would not be worse without him. Probably we can't get much money for him, he is almost 30, injured. Tuanzebe will hopefully take his position in the squad, and play much more hopefully.
So, if we fix RB with someone experienced, and RW with some young (not very young) talent, we will probably have around 150m to invest to fix real problems. Real problem is top CB and CM.
Not sure who would be top CB that is achievable, and young enough. Varane? I guess that would be great, and it would cost a lot, probably half of this.
CM? That is crucial problem we have I think, although it is not that obvious maybe bigger problem than CB as a lot of problems we have in defense are coming from CM's that can't keep ball under pressure or don't want to be aggressive. Herrera leaving is a loss, but lets be clear I don't think that Herrera is the quality that should be more than a squad player in United. With him leaving we need two CM's to imrove, one DM and one box-to-box. Like Neves and Ndombele (if they would play like we think they would). We will hardly get those two for 70-80m to be honest.
If this happens somehow I think we would be better. We would have Lindelof and top CB (and Smalling, Jones and Bailly as backups, with Tuanzebe hopefully improving a lot). We would have Shaw and Dalot (with Meunier for example as backup, and Young only if crisis). That would be much better.
Midfield with Pogba, Neves, Ndombele, Matic, Pereira, McTominay and Fred, with Garner having a few games, is much better than the current crop.
Attack with RW helping current crop Rash, Martial, Lukaku, Alexis, Lingard...that is also much better.
So, it is possible with investments in the region of 200m, and a few good sales (maybe Pereira should be sold with the last year of contract) to have a better and more balanced squad that would fix a few problems we have in the team.
Looks like at least someone from our star players will ask to leave. Talking about Pogba, De Gea, Alexis, Lukaku. Some of them more star players concerning salary. I am pretty sure, we can be better team if any of them leave, and if we agree on taking someone as replacement. For example if De Gea can be replaced with Varane + Courtois, I would go for it.
If we should trust media and Ole's interview, he is opting for younger players that will grow in the next few years, which is excellent. On the other hand, it is possible that Ed will try to sign some big name, but I wouldn't bet on it, except if De Gea or Pogba leaves.
What will certainly happen is that some of the fringe players will leave the club on free (Darmian, Valencia). That certainly means that we will buy new RB who will compete with Dalot for RB spot. Young had extension, probably his last and I guess he will be a backup for LB and RB positions. Since Dalot can play LB as well, hopefully Young won't have too many games next season. Not sure who is on the radar, I doubt it will be someone young, as we already have 2 young players on this positions, and have Laird as talent (and even O'Connor) that will maybe be ready in a season or two. So, I guess someone like Meunier is an option, as not very expensive, probably can be signed for 20m or so.
Honestly, I think that we will let Mata leave as well. He is very expensive for someone who is obviously bench player, while he certainly won't like one year contract. On the other hand, we need RW, who is really RW, and we have Chong and Greenwoon who both should be squad players next year. So, replacing Mata with someone who is young, strong and fast, and who can grow in the next year or two would be serious improvement. We would open right side with new RB (or Dalot) and RW and open space on the left for Martial or Rashford to play with less pressure. Not sure who will RW be, but I doubt it will be Sancho.
I hope that we will sell Rojo as well during the summer. He did not play for I am not sure how long, and we certainly would not be worse without him. Probably we can't get much money for him, he is almost 30, injured. Tuanzebe will hopefully take his position in the squad, and play much more hopefully.
So, if we fix RB with someone experienced, and RW with some young (not very young) talent, we will probably have around 150m to invest to fix real problems. Real problem is top CB and CM.
Not sure who would be top CB that is achievable, and young enough. Varane? I guess that would be great, and it would cost a lot, probably half of this.
CM? That is crucial problem we have I think, although it is not that obvious maybe bigger problem than CB as a lot of problems we have in defense are coming from CM's that can't keep ball under pressure or don't want to be aggressive. Herrera leaving is a loss, but lets be clear I don't think that Herrera is the quality that should be more than a squad player in United. With him leaving we need two CM's to imrove, one DM and one box-to-box. Like Neves and Ndombele (if they would play like we think they would). We will hardly get those two for 70-80m to be honest.
If this happens somehow I think we would be better. We would have Lindelof and top CB (and Smalling, Jones and Bailly as backups, with Tuanzebe hopefully improving a lot). We would have Shaw and Dalot (with Meunier for example as backup, and Young only if crisis). That would be much better.
Midfield with Pogba, Neves, Ndombele, Matic, Pereira, McTominay and Fred, with Garner having a few games, is much better than the current crop.
Attack with RW helping current crop Rash, Martial, Lukaku, Alexis, Lingard...that is also much better.
So, it is possible with investments in the region of 200m, and a few good sales (maybe Pereira should be sold with the last year of contract) to have a better and more balanced squad that would fix a few problems we have in the team.
Looks like at least someone from our star players will ask to leave. Talking about Pogba, De Gea, Alexis, Lukaku. Some of them more star players concerning salary. I am pretty sure, we can be better team if any of them leave, and if we agree on taking someone as replacement. For example if De Gea can be replaced with Varane + Courtois, I would go for it.
- Sell all players older than 25
- Buy all U21 wonderkids
- Promote the whole academy
Really? Every player these days are overpriced no matter how you look at it. What i think is most imporant is that we go back to aiming for talented youth. Bying someone like Bale for 100m is lunacy, but Sancho? Well worth it.
I just demand a dominant, world class central defender. That has to be our main mission in this transfer window.
He’s out of contract at the end of next season, most media reports have him moving for 50-70m. If you are Real or PSG, why pay 100m+ when you can get him for free at the end of his contract.
I think Pavard has already signed a pre agreement with Munich great signing for them
I just sent my resume to Ed. We’ll see who has the last laugh.
City paid 60m for Mahrez when they already had 50m Sane and 50m Sterling.
If we want to compete, we have to spend similar.
If you genuinely believe Alex Sandro wouldn’t be an upgrade on Luke Shaw, then more fool you.
Just been given a new contract and made captain...
Starts every game under new manager...
The players you mentioned wont make us better.
Sancho is overrated to me at his asking price. I have watched his past few match for dortmund. For 100m, I expect some 24yrs old who have performed well in a few seasons. Not a half season wonder who has gone missing in big games. The risk is too big for the price quoted unless you are a world beater.
I think people are overly concerned with youths. Since when 26-28 years players are considered old?
Anyway I don't trust the board will have so much money for Ole. Actually it won't surprise me if all United signed this summer are Gueye, Drinkwater, Zaha and Toby and called it a day.
Agree that Martial/Rashford need to seriously step up but if no one major leaves, I can't see us spending more than 200/250M so getting a top class RW in plus everything else we need with Mata/Herrera going, we just won't have the money to go and buy a 100m 30+ goal a season striker, Icardi for Lukaku in a swap deal maybe but he comes with a shed load of baggage.
In a few years will look back and think circa 100mil is a bargain.
Sancho is a seriously talented football player. If we can get him then we should be looking to pay whatever it takes. It's effectively paying £100mil to have our RW position sorted for a decade.
Yes but city are supplementing an already world class squad. We are not even close to that situation, so taking the same approach isn't suitable.
No point spending a large chunk of the budget on a position where we already have a player performing highly when we have a number of other positions in our first 11 that desperately need an upgrade.
If he is going to be a world class, he won't last a decade if we are not winning stuff. 4 years and is goodbye off to Real Madrid on a free.
My transfer targets keep changing every few weeks based on the form of our players. Right now, I think we should make the following signings,
Bruno Fernandes
Muenier
Koulibaly
Sancho
Bruno Fernandes
Muenier
Koulibaly
Sancho
Yeh, we can't really approach transfers like that can we. And in any case, at least we'd get 4 years then a huge fee.
So you’re saying we shouldn’t ever sign anyone who might become good one day because they might have ambitions to play for Real Madrid?
Totally agree with the FM comments, you can't expect a crazy overhaul it's just not that simple and wouldn't work regardless. I think it's obvious after our signings in recent summers and our contract situation that a technical director (who's a proper football person) to help out Ole would be massive. I'm pretty sure he'll be after 4-5 players who'll upgrade the side but have youth on their side. I'm hopeful he'll be looking at the characters as well as the ability of the players we bring in (ala Fergie), who'll understand the club and give everything for the badge. I'm a bit wary of 'wonderkids' from the Netherlands or Portugal. Koulibaly, Wan-Bissaka, Saul and Sancho would be my choices. Hopefully we get a step up from the quality players we do have too!
Yeah agree with this, people wanting 15 out and 11 in are just clueless, he will be looking at the next 2/3 windows to shape his team, just the essentials this summer which is why I can't see a top striker coming in unless we do lose say Pogba for 150 odd million and he can invest in a top class number 10 maybe or number 9.
I would be happy with any one of the following in each position, based on Herrera going.
DC: Koulibaly/Alderweireld
DR: Wan Biasska/Munier
DMC: Doucoure/Neves
MC: Fernandes/Ndombele
RW: Sancho/Brooks/Felix
5 signings would be a dream but with Fred hopefully finding his feet, McTominay looking very very good and Garner potentially having more opportunities next year, one CM maybe would be enough.
Koulibally and Sancho would be over €100m, so that figure is closer to €480m! Keep dreaming as you said
, this isn't FIFA Ultimate Team!Except he isn’t performing highly... regardless of what anyone says. Anyone who watches the games can see he’s a big problem in our attack. He doesn’t overlap, can’t cross, is out of position nearly all of the time, isn’t extremely fast, is always knackered after 60 minutes.. what does he actually bring to the table? “Decent defender” doesn’t equal “great left back for one of the top teams in the world”... you have to do more. You have to be a good attacker now if you want to be a good full back. And Shaw isn’t it.
Even if Shaw is only a 5 or 6 out of 10, we've got 3s and 4s all over the park.
I'm not saying Shaw is Patrice Evra btw. Just that we have other priorities.
So in one summer you want us to buy how many players, on top of the CB, RB, MC, DMC, RW and maybe CF that we already need, get 60m Alex Sandro in as well?
Martial is not exactly setting the world alight either on the left hand side, how about we get a bid in for a top LW as well while were at it.
We won't be able to do everything this summer, we need 4 minimum, maybe 5 if we get close to that then happy days, LB can wait another year.
Dalot could simply play in his actual position. We literally have no right sided attack. At all. And midfield is still more a pressing concern imo before RB.
Yep. Close the thread.
Worryingly it’s a short window as well I believe? Always fond of the summer we signed Nani, Anderson & Hargreaves. They were announced inside 24 hrs of eachother
Ole shouldn't be concerned with having a transfer strategy at all - we should have a DoF to worry about that. Ole should just be making observations about where we are weak and which players are struggling to adapt to the way the club want to play
Otherwise, you have this situation where you have a FrankenTeam put together by four different managers who all had different styles and ideas
Otherwise, you have this situation where you have a FrankenTeam put together by four different managers who all had different styles and ideas
Yep. Our no.1 problem.
We’re not getting the team we/Ole wants with these leeches prioritising vanity signings that they/Woowoo perceive to be beneficial to the worldwide appeal of the club, rather than what the manager needs for a decent team.
Our previous three managers have been hampered and denied players they wanted to bring in to allow them to build their team/squad. Instead we’ve had cheap crocks like Falcao, Schwein, *Sanchez etc. these managers, all strong characters couldn’t get the players they wanted, so I really can’t see Ole succeeding where they couldnt
*I know
You mean apart from Pep and Klopp who successfully did this at City / Liverpool when they took over?
Valencia, Darmian, Rojo all look set to go.
Sanchez needs to leave.
Fellaini has already left.
Herrera wants to leave.
That's 6 players who don't have a future here. I think we can all agree on that, as will the club. They barely contribute anything and getting rid would have no effect on the squad whatsoever.
And that leaves Mata, Young, Matic and Lukaku all of whom have serious question marks about their futures. There are rumours about all but Young leaving this summer. And considering Young's form in 2019, I think questions will be asked there too. Maybe shift him to a coaching role.
It might sound a lot but we could realistically ship out 10 players this year and none of them except maybe Lukaku would be considered a tactical preferences by Ole. They're just crap and eating up wages. If the club has any sense at all it will do what needs to be done.
The club has financial sense but the footballing sense of the club leaves a lot to be desired.
It would make financial sense too though. But I agree, their incompetence might prevent it from happening either way.
Although I disagree that it wouldnt work regardless, as I think it can, Guiardiola has done it, Klopp did the bulk of it over 18months and others have to....we wont. But your four choices would probably cost £300m if not £400m, dont see how we spend that without an overhaul?
Minimum I hope for is something like:
Darmian/Rojo - Upemecano/Bissaka - £65m
Matic/Perreira - Ascaciba - £0
Sanchez/Mata - Sancho £85m
I personally would like to add JOnes/Bailly and sign a second top quality centre back such as Romagnoli. If Herrera leaves another central midfielder.
Personally if we were doing the big overhaul and we can obtain big targets....I would sell Lukaku and though I think he is hugely talented....Martial, the kind of money they would bring in......that buys the likes of Felix and a top young striker like a Jovic/Lincoln or the likes or a top midfielder.
Personally for what Lukaku brings and what Martial has so far achieved.....if we do have high faith for the likes of Greenwood, Garner, Gomes for example to be regular squad players pushing for a place next season then we shouldnt be afraid of a big overhaul if we can sign 6 top top players
Get Toby in for 25 mill he has PL experience and will slot in straight away. A lot less of a risk than a big fee for Koulibaly and expecting him to settle immediately.
We will get 3/4 years out of Toby
We will get 3/4 years out of Toby
You didnt dare to mention Phil Jones
Unless things change behind the scenes, I'm not expecting anything different from the other guys post Fergie.