What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

[NoPace]

What we need is to fill these positions:

De Gea
RB - CB - Lindelof - Shaw
CDM
CM - Pogba
RW - ST - Rashford
​

Unfortunately, I can't see Ole signing 6 players. I guess we will get 4.

There are worse things than Martial and Fred getting real opportunities to prove they're first XI players here, and both can be sold for decent fees (I'd guess around 55 for Martial and 20 for Fred) even if they struggle, as some teams will see Martial's talent, age and scoring record and Fred's play at Shaktar as likely.

And I still believe we can find a RB for cheap if we're clever for once. Dortmund just signed Hoffenheim's LB for 22M after his breakout season and I'm sure they could have gotten him for half that if they'd signed him last season. Or if we believe so much in Laird and Dalot, bring in a RB for one season on a loan. Dortmund just got a very talented Hakimi for 2 years on loan and Inter paid 1M for a year of Cedric Soares (who fine, isn't great, but you get the point). An upgrade to Young/Dalot is certainly out there somewhere.

Same for CM/DM. We probably need one big signing, but there's a guy in La Liga or Ligue 1 who'd help us and we can get for 10-15M, that's just how things work. I don't know if that's Jordan at Eibar or Campana at Levante or Savanier or Nimes or even taking Seri or Meyer on loan after they flopped for awful Prem sides after being among the better midfielders in France and Germany, but they do exist.

 

[sideshow_bob]

We need rid of players Ole didn't use
(900 mins or less):
Sanchez, Bailly, Pereira, Valencia, Darmian, Rojo
- These 6 have to be sold/released at all costs
- Decision on McT; more mins with us or on loan

We need decisions on over 30s:
Matic, Mata
- Both look spent; sell Matic, release Mata
- Valencia, Fellaini, Young already decided

We need contingencies if sizable offers arrive for:
DDG, Pogba, Lukaku
- no one will bid for Rashford

FWDs
Out: Sanchez, (Lukaku)
In: Griezmann, (Milik)

AMs
Out: Pereira, Mata, (Pogba)
In: Ziyech, Sancho, (Fernandes / Ruiz)

DMs
Out: Herrera, Fellaini, (Matic)
In: Ndidi / Partey, (Brozovic)

WBs
Out: Valencia, Darmian
In: Meunier, Telles

CBs
Out: Rojo, Bailly
In: Romagnoli / Koulibaly, Milenkovic / Maguire

GK
Out: (DDG)
In: (Benitez)

 

[Fer]

Current player - Best replacement available

Attack
Lukaku - Jovic
Sanchez - Felix
Mata - Sancho
Martial - Sane

Midfield
Herrera - Fernandes
Fred - N'Dombele
Pereira - Neves
Fellaini - Havertz
Matic - Rodri

Defense
Rojo - De Ligt
Valencia - Wan Bissaka
Jones - Alderweireld
Bailly - Koulibaly
Darmian - Cancelo
Young - Meunier

If we get at least 1 player for each category this transfer window, it would be a good start.

...And sell the deadwood.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

I know that to someone this will sound like a lunacy, but if it's true that the summer budget is 250mil it would be stupid to spend most of that on Koulibaly and Sancho when there are so much holes to fill in in this squad.

How much would Koulibaly cost, around 90mil? I would rather buy both Maguire and Nathan Ake for that kind of money. There is still 160mil left for RB, CM, CDM and RW. Wan Bissaka, Tielemans, Ndidi/Doucure, Malcom/Ziyech. Everyone of them would be upgrade over what we have now.

do you not think it is better to buy 5 top players over 2 years than 5 okay players in one year going into a season where we still wont compete with 100 point city

 

[Devil may care]

Defenders
We are being linked with good CB's so hopefully we get one of them and don't have to dip low on the quality, and with the RB's I think the 3 options we've been linked with are good, I don't want Wan-Bissaka but he'd be a huge upgrade defensively so even though he offers nothing much in attack I'll be happy with an improved defense at least.

Midfielders
We badly need two, one to replace Herrera and one to replace Matic, it's getting overlooked due to our other many issues but one of our defensive problems is that we have no DM protecting the CB's, Matic wasn't that great at it even at his best, and now he's well past his best. On the Herrera replacement front we've had links to Tielemans, Longstaff, Ndombele and I guess you could say Bruno Fernandes but I think he'd play as a #10 if we bought him. The only Matic replacement we have been linked with is Gueye, which is disappointing.

Forwards
Once the Daniel James deal goes through that'll be it for wingers IMO, no Pepe or Chiesa, we'll wait for Sancho I think. The sale of Lukaku and Sanchez will surely mean one more attacker brought in though, even if Greenwood is involved more next season. I'm really hoping we move for Jovic but I fear it'll probably be someone mediocre like Dembele so nobody gets in the way of "Rashy" starting as a striker all of the time.

 

[NoPace]

Post above this one

Agree with all this, but if we are waiting for a year on Sancho (which we shouldn't, just spend the extra 10-15M) we absolutely need a right-sided player who can produce on loan for the season, whether that's Bale or Odegaard, Malcolm from Barcelona, Perisic as part of the Lukaku deal or something else like that.

I guess the other alternative would be if one of the 2 central midfielders we bring in can play out there (like Soler or Lo Celso or Aouar) and hopefully Pogba-Fred-DM can be the midfield 3.

But if we buy Dembele that means one of Dalot, Rashford, James or Mata have to win the right wing job and that seems like a recipe for a 6/10 season in that position.

 

[ThierryHenry14]

If OGS plans to play counter attack next season, there is no one better than Bale for the wing position. He probably has the desire to prove Real Madrid wrong, and probably can be obtained for a good price, assuming you are willing to wait till the last day of the transfer window.

 

[Champagne Football]

With Longstaff not happening anymore and Neves confirming he'll stay at Wolves, Perhaps we'll go for Saul Niguez to have a player who can control things in midfield.

De Gea
Wan Bissaka - Collins - Lindelof - Shaw
Saul Niguez
Maddison - McTominay
James - Dembele - Rashford​

 

[Fer]

If OGS plans to play counter attack next season, there is no one better than Bale for the wing position. He probably has the desire to prove Real Madrid wrong, and probably can be obtained for a good price, assuming you are willing to wait till the last day of the transfer window.

Jadon Sancho?

 

[Mastoness]

do you not think it is better to buy 5 top players over 2 years than 5 okay players in one year going into a season where we still wont compete with 100 point city

Honestly, if budget is limited, I would rather buy 5 young solid players in one year who would improve our squad and that we could count on for the future. We can buy Sancho and let's say Koulibaly and we still wont compete for the title because there is so much holes in this squad. Right now I would splash some big money only for De Ligt.

---------------De Gea

---AWB---Lindeloff---De Ligt---Shaw

--------------Ndidi
-----Tielemans-------Pogba

---Ziyech---Rashford---Martial


This squad would compete for Top 3 in next season. The goal should be to create a solid core and a system for this team, just after that we should make a more expensive transfers.

If board is willing to support Ole with a huge budget, then we can go crazy in the transfer market.

 

[Robbo*]

If OGS plans to play counter attack next season, there is no one better than Bale for the wing position. He probably has the desire to prove Real Madrid wrong, and probably can be obtained for a good price, assuming you are willing to wait till the last day of the transfer window.

Certainly wouldn’t mind a loan deal for him.

 

[Fer]

What we need is to realize that the 433 formation is not the best for us (mainly if Pogba wants to leave). We have been playing with Mata and Lingard as right-wingers. Also, we have Rashford as our main striker with 10 goals... IMO we can get the best of our players with a No.10/CAM behind the striker/s.

There are available players with the potential to make a difference in our team playing as No.10, for example, Felix, Dybala, Fernandes, Havertz, Eriksen, Ziyech, Fekir, Maddison, James Rodriguez, Isco and Griezmann.

I guess some of them have the quality to improve our team.

 

[bucky]

Haven't done this in a while, I wouldn't mind replacing the whole team, but unfotunately that's not possible. Won't pretend I have seen all of them constantly, so quite a bit is based on stats or what I've read about the players. In order of preference:

In case de Gea is leaving: Mike Maignan, Walter Benitez, Cragno
In case Pogba is leaving: Havertz, Aouar
RB: Ricardo Pereira, Atal, William (Wolfsburg), Meunier, Dubois
LB: Ferland Mendy, Grimaldo, Aaron Martin
CB: Diallo, Akanji, Zagadou, Elvedi, Andersen
DM: Rodrigo, Florentino Luis, Roca, Ndidi, Rice
CM: NDombele, Fabian Ruiz, Rodrigo de Paul, Cyprien
RW/LW/#10: Sancho, Havertz, Dybala, Fekir, James, Pepe, Felipe Anderson, Atal
FW: Jovic, Joelinton, Werner, Ben Yedder

 

[Sandikan]

Critical - RB, RW
Massive Need - CB, CM

If Lukaku goes, then another Striker becomes essential.

It looks a massive mess, and we just have to hope some of these links mean there's loads of work going on behind the scenes.

 

[Sandikan]

If OGS plans to play counter attack next season, there is no one better than Bale for the wing position. He probably has the desire to prove Real Madrid wrong, and probably can be obtained for a good price, assuming you are willing to wait till the last day of the transfer window.

Is it 2013-15 still?

 

[Adnan]

CB De Ligt
DM Rice
CM Rabiot
RW Chiesa
CF Jovic

I think we'll also probably sign a Goalkeeper to replace De Gea who is asking for £480k a week according to the reliable James Ducker.

I also think a young Left back with high potential will bought rather than a Right back.

 

[AdNani]

What I think we'll get

RB: Meunier
CB: De Ligt
CM: Tielemans
CF: Dembele
GK: Cilesson/Onana

Outs

Darmian, Bailly, De Gea, Lukaku

 

[Devil may care]

Agree with all this, but if we are waiting for a year on Sancho (which we shouldn't, just spend the extra 10-15M) we absolutely need a right-sided player who can produce on loan for the season, whether that's Bale or Odegaard, Malcolm from Barcelona, Perisic as part of the Lukaku deal or something else like that.

I guess the other alternative would be if one of the 2 central midfielders we bring in can play out there (like Soler or Lo Celso or Aouar) and hopefully Pogba-Fred-DM can be the midfield 3.

But if we buy Dembele that means one of Dalot, Rashford, James or Mata have to win the right wing job and that seems like a recipe for a 6/10 season in that position.

The wait for Sancho isn't about the money IMO, Dortmund don't want or need to sell and from his perspective it makes sense to stay where he is for one more season in a stable environment to continue his development and to also see if we get back on track as right now we are the club equivelant of the world in Mad Max.

A loan is possible but I don't see it, but the RW isn't as crucial if Ole is going to use the 4-4-2 diamond as opposed to the 4-3-3, which he has to unless he buys a striker that can actually play the central role in a front 3.

 

[Devil may care]

CB De Ligt
DM Rice
CM Rabiot
RW Chiesa
CF Jovic

I think we'll also probably sign a Goalkeeper to replace De Gea who is asking for £480k a week according to the reliable James Ducker.

I also think a young Left back with high potential will bought rather than a Right back.

I can see the logic in your picks even if I'm not a fan of either CM, but a RB is absolutely vital mate, I know you like Laird but he isn't ready and neither is Dalot and we can't have Young playing regularly as he's absolutely shite, we need a prtoper first choice RB.

 

[Adnan]

I can see the logic in your picks even if I'm not a fan of either CM, but a RB is absolutely vital mate, I know you like Laird but he isn't ready and neither is Dalot and we can't have Young playing regularly as he's absolutely shite, we need a prtoper first choice RB.

I think with Butt's reported comments about Laird and what the Guardian have reported about us signing a LB rather than a RB, makes me think we'll sign a LB. Wan Bissaka is the one who is linked to us for the RB role, but his attacking game leaves alot to be desired according to many. Eventhough I've barely seen him play.

 

[Devil may care]

I think with Butt's reported comments about Laird and what the Guardian have reported about us signing a LB rather than a RB, makes me think we'll sign a LB. Wan Bissaka is the one who is linked to us for the RB role, but his attacking game leaves alot to be desired according to many. Eventhough I've barely seen him play.

I'm not a fan of Wan-Bissaka for that reason but defensively he is excellent, maybe the best defensive fullback in the PL. Butt's comments are that we might lose Laird if we put anther young RB in the mix but at the same time he knows Laird is not ready to start, if we go into the season with Young, Matic and Rashford as the starting RB, DM and Striker we are screwed before we kick a ball, neither Dalot or Laird are ready, it's why I've always favoured Meunier, ideal profile to give them time, but if Ole wants Wan-Bissaka then so be it, we cannot start the season without a quality RB in my opinion.

 

[sideshow_bob]

Think top level CBs & CFs are now hard to find, premium commodities.
Midfield and wingbacks seem easier & possibly cheaper options to strengthen this summer.

Could we just use speedy wingers who shoot/create a lot with no target man & get away with it? Get our width from attacking wingbacks. And stack the midfield with willing runners ala Liverpool.

------------------- Rashford -------------------
--------------- Pogba | Ziyech --------------
---- Ndidi | Fernandes | Brozovic ----
F. Mendy | Lindelof | Smalling | Atal

 

[Wallez]

Our main issues could be fixed through the following steps.

Step 1: Sign De Ligt, he will strengthen one of our weakest positions and show the world that we are serious about bringing the club back to the top.
Step 2: Use the De Ligt deal to convince Sancho to sign for us. Sancho was reported to be very interested in a move here before our poor form at the end of the season put us out of CL next year. If he sees that we are seriously making an effort to become a top club again by signing De Ligt ahead of Barcelona and is offered a key role in this project, I think we should be able to land him.
Step 3: Sign Wan-Bissaka for gods sake, even if Palace wants 50 mill for him. RB is by far our worst position, and AWB is a perfect fit in terms of ability, age, nationality and price.
Step 4: Sell Alexis and Lukaku. This will remove two of the main examples of how poor the club has been administrated in recent years, and put our wage ceiling back at a reasonable level.
Step 5: Sign new contracts with Pogba and De Gea. Both will have a cut in salary due to lack of CL next year, which could be compensated for with a new contract. The problem with De Gea seems to be about him wanting to be our top paid player, but with Alexis being sold this should not be an issue. By giving him the wage he deserves in this new and more reasonable wage structure, we can sell him on our terms next summer if we want, or we can keep him long term. The main issue with Pogba seems to be that the team is not good enough to live up to his standards, but with the above steps being achieved, it should be possible to make him sign a new deal. Possibly include a gentlemens agreement for him to leave next summer if he plays well, as with Ronaldo.

I think all of this is possible if we really go for it, and the net spend by signing AWB, De Ligt and Sancho while selling Lukaku and Alexis should be at a reasonable level. Possibly throw in a midfielder or two as well, for example Rabiot or Rice.

 

[HD7]

Our main issues could be fixed through the following steps.

Step 1: Sign De Ligt, he will strengthen one of our weakest positions and show the world that we are serious about bringing the club back to the top.
Step 2: Use the De Ligt deal to convince Sancho to sign for us. Sancho was reported to be very interested in a move here before our poor form at the end of the season put us out of CL next year. If he sees that we are seriously making an effort to become a top club again by signing De Ligt ahead of Barcelona and is offered a key role in this project, I think we should be able to land him.
Step 3: Sign Wan-Bissaka for gods sake, even if Palace wants 50 mill for him. RB is by far our worst position, and AWB is a perfect fit in terms of ability, age, nationality and price.
Step 4: Sell Alexis and Lukaku. This will remove two of the main examples of how poor the club has been administrated in recent years, and put our wage ceiling back at a reasonable level.
Step 5: Sign new contracts with Pogba and De Gea. Both will have a cut in salary due to lack of CL next year, which could be compensated for with a new contract. The problem with De Gea seems to be about him wanting to be our top paid player, but with Alexis being sold this should not be an issue. By giving him the wage he deserves in this new and more reasonable wage structure, we can sell him on our terms next summer if we want, or we can keep him long term. The main issue with Pogba seems to be that the team is not good enough to live up to his standards, but with the above steps being achieved, it should be possible to make him sign a new deal. Possibly include a gentlemens agreement for him to leave next summer if he plays well, as with Ronaldo.

I think all of this is possible if we really go for it, and the net spend by signing AWB, De Ligt and Sancho while selling Lukaku and Alexis should be at a reasonable level. Possibly throw in a midfielder or two as well, for example Rabiot or Rice.

Agreed!
+ Ruben Neves for me
Whoever gets him will have the new Modric soon. Its imperative he doesnt end in Liverpool or City...
Rice Pogba Neves will be in the top 3 midfields in the world after a season together.

 

[jesperjaap]

Firstly move on Sanchez. Costing a fortune and has been awful. Not to mention, a lot of these contract stand offs with other players can be linked to his contract. This needs to be solved even if we have to pay off part of his contract, move him on a free transfer I think.

Secondly, all the players not accepting contract offers, or showing loyalty to the club can go as well. Only DeGea warrants an improved contract and he hasnt signed the best for a keeper offered, so they can join the likes of Herrera and get out of here, none are players that will be remembered anyway bar DeGea as true United players. We have already this year handed out contracts to the likes of Young, JOnes and Martial that dont deserve them, no more.

Finally on the clear out, we have a few players barely even playing, they need to go even if for fees under there value as they have barely any value to us.

So possibly out for me would be a big list Herrera, Valencia, DeGea, Darmian, Rojo, Bailly, Pogba, Perreira, Sanchez, Mata, Lukaku - thats a good £300m worth of sales.

There are several others I would like to sell too, but as they have signed contracts and some at least have the right attitude, its all for the next window if needed.

Those sales and wages off the books added to a warchest of say £200m should allow us to make 6 BIG signings a new keeper, centre back, right back, central midfielder, right winger and striker:

GK: Donarumma (otherwise I would be happy with Romero for a season)
CB: DeLigt, Romagnoli, Koulibailly or Upamecano - these are the four with the right quality we need for me, happy with any
RB: Bissaka - Alternatives but for me e is the MUST sign this window for me, dont want anybody else personally
CM: NDOmbele, Fernandes - Pogba replacement, I think NDOmbele would be ideal
RW: Pepe, Sancho, Dembele - Sancho looks unlikely but we need a proper right sided player that can dribble with pace
CF: Felix, Dybala, Jovic - Dont actually think there are that many strikers the right age available this summer and we alreay have a very good young one in Greenwood and two other players in Rashford and Martial that can play there, would like Felix as something compeltely different and he looks to have real star quality to me too.

Probably looking at about £410m for that lot which if we did have £500m to spend would still leave cash for a couple of smaller signings:

James £15m
Godfrey £15m
Ascacibar £30m
Barella £45m

Finally, three youngsters I would bring in to the squad would be Tuanzabe, Gomes and Greenwood

-----------------------------------------------Donarumma/Romero------------------------------------------------------
Bissaka/Dalot-----------------DeLigt/Smalling----------------------Jones/Lindelof--------------------Shaw/Young--------

----------------------------------------------Matic/Ascacibar------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------McTominay/Barella-----------------------------NDOmbele/Fred------------------------------

----Pepe/Lingard---------------------------------Felix/Martial--------------------------------Rashford/James


Over the coming season I would expect plenty of opportunities for the likes of Godfrey,Tuanzabe, Gomes and Greenwood to filter out some of the players above, maybe even Laird getting chances too as there are still a good six players from the 22 i can see not lasting too much longer without serious improvements.
I would loan Garner and Chong next season.

 

[bosnian_red]

The strongest rumors I'd say look like:
Rb - Meunier (£20m)
Cb - De Ligt (£80m)
Cm - Rabiot (£0m)
Cm - Bruno Fernandes (£50m)
Wing - James (£15m)
Attacker - Joao Felix (£100m)
Total - £265m (very doable - especially if we sell Lukaku for ~60m and release some others).
Dont personally think Joao Felix is actually happening, but can easily see the other 5 (de ligt is the dream signing in that group). Not convinced Bruno Fernandes or Joao Felix are what we need but we'll see.

 

[Anustart89]

The strongest rumors I'd say look like:
Rb - Meunier (£20m)
Cb - De Ligt (£80m)
Cm - Rabiot (£0m)
Cm - Bruno Fernandes (£50m)
Wing - James (£15m)
Attacker - Joao Felix (£100m)
Total - £265m (very doable - especially if we sell Lukaku for ~60m and release some others).
Dont personally think Joao Felix is actually happening, but can easily see the other 5 (de ligt is the dream signing in that group). Not convinced Bruno Fernandes or Joao Felix are what we need but we'll see.

I like this.

I would however consider going for someone like Pepe instead of Felix this summer for half the price and use the rest of the money to go for Firpo or someone similar who could deputise or take over at left back. I'm not completely convinced by Shaw in an attacking sense for the long term.

That would plug the main holes in the squad and, if all players succeed, put us in the position that Liverpool were in when they started going for top-class players in obvious problem positions (VvD, Alisson). The next summer could then just consist of getting Koulibaly (or some other CB) and Sancho, and that'll be that. I don't think Rashford's good for 30 goals per season, but in a well-functioning team with James, Pepe, Martial and Rashford the attacking options ahead of a solid base and goalscorers in midfield (Fernandes, Pogba), we would have a great chance of getting in the top 3. That's without mentioning Greenwood who I think/hope can challenge for the striker position from next season and be ready to lead the line in two-three years.

 

[Devil may care]

The RB's and CB's we are being linked with are really promising, the attacking players are a mixed bag, but the big concern is midffield, we don't seem to be even looking at a DM and the lack of protection for the CB's is a huge issue in this team, the only true DM we have been linked to since the window opened is Gueye who seems like an option chosen to facilitate bringing Garner through as he's not a long term buy.

It feels like we might just keep playing Matic or Fred at the base and the only CM we'll bring in will be a replacement for Herrera, as the main links are to #8's with Rabiot, Lo Celso, Tielemans and to a lesser extent Ndombele getting mentioned.

 

[passing-wind]

Centre half
AWB

Rice
Longstaff
Rabiot

Sancho
Striker

 

[OohAahMartial]

Here's my version of a complete overhaul:
In De Ligt Out Rojo
In Onana Out De Gea
In Meunier Out Valencia
In Alderweireld Out Bailly
In Fernandes Out Pogba
In Rabiot Out Herrera
In Bale (Subsidised Loan) Out Sanchez (Subsidised Loan)
In Vardy Out Lukaku
In Rice Out Matic
In James Out Wilson
In Firpo Out Darmian

James/Martial--Vardy/Rashford--Bale/Chong/James
Fernandes/Gomes--Rabiot/McTominay/Fred
Rice/Garner
Firpo/Shaw--De Ligt/Tuanzebe--Alderweireld/Lindelof--Meunier/Dalot
Onana

High line, passing out from the back, attacking full backs, high press, pacy counter-attack, long distance shooters

Following season get Sancho in to replace Bale

Quickest way to get an Ole style team, and allow those who want to leave to leave.

 

[suhaylah]

We need a whole new team. I would keep only De Gea and Shaw maybe.

 

[golden_blunder]

I'm not a fan of Wan-Bissaka for that reason but defensively he is excellent, maybe the best defensive fullback in the PL. Butt's comments are that we might lose Laird if we put anther young RB in the mix but at the same time he knows Laird is not ready to start, if we go into the season with Young, Matic and Rashford as the starting RB, DM and Striker we are screwed before we kick a ball, neither Dalot or Laird are ready, it's why I've always favoured Meunier, ideal profile to give them time, but if Ole wants Wan-Bissaka then so be it, we cannot start the season without a quality RB in my opinion.

Laird is only 17, his opinion shouldn’t be holding sway.
It’s obvious that we need a RB or we will see Young there again. Dalot will not play a full season imho

 

[Raw]

Don't get the people who think we'll be signing more than 6 players in one summer. 6 is the absolute maximum that we'd possibly get, and I doubt we'll even get that many. Something like 4/5 players is more likely.

 

[Devil may care]

Laird is only 17, his opinion shouldn’t be holding sway.
It’s obvious that we need a RB or we will see Young there again. Dalot will not play a full season imho

It shouldn't hold sway, I agree, but I get the feeling it is to a degree, it's like how we aren't being linked to a prime holding midfielder because of Garner, all the CM's we are linked to are basically #8's to replace Ander. With RB I feel sure we'll get one but I think it will be an older one rather than Wan-Bissaka who Ole reprotedly wants.

 

[Rory 7]

Don't get the people who think we'll be signing more than 6 players in one summer. 6 is the absolute maximum that we'd possibly get, and I doubt we'll even get that many. Something like 4/5 players is more likely.

I agree with you. And worse than that I can’t see us improving the squad either. These are dark days.

 

[Wallez]

Call me crazy, but I think we have a squad that may easily be transformed into a 343 system that would be extremely interesting. If we manage to sign De Ligt, we would have a rock solid CB that can be the beating heart of our defence. Lindelöf is very comfortable with the ball in his feet as long as he is allowed to play to the right, and this can be utilized as a weapon in our build-up play. Luke Shaw has developed into a rock solid defender that is extremely good one-on-one defensively, and he has the muscle and pace to keep up with anyone. I think it would be extremely interesting to see him as a left-sided CB in a back 3, which would give us a left-footed CB that is comfortable playing out from the back.

For this system we would need to bring in two wing-backs, and Meunier seems to be the obvious choice to the right. Extremely good going forwards (for a defender), but a defensive liability. With 3 men behind him, we would compensate for the lack of defensive fibers in him, and allow him to be creative. At LWB there are a lot of interesting options that should be available for a reasonable price, for example Alex Telles, Grimaldo, Gaya, Ferland Mendy, Tagliafico or Tierney. Danny Rose has also been solid in this role, and I have been impressed by Digne this season. [Irrelevant point] was absolutely superb for Chelsea under Conte in this system, and would be very interesting. Even the power and dribbling of Masuaku would be interesting in this role.

In midfield, I think it is time to go for Paul Pogba if he wants to leave. McTominay is well suited to play in a midfield duo, and I think he is ready for this role. However, he needs a solid parter, and I think Saul would be perfect. Very good going forwards, tracks back and is used to play in a midfield duo at Atletico. In attack, we have Rashford and Martial that should thrive in a mobile attacking trio. Bring in a new RW, for example Nicolas Pepe or Sancho, and we could line up like this:

De Gea
Lindelöf - De Ligt - Shaw
Meunier - McTominay - Saul - Alex Telles
Sancho - Rashford - Martial

In: De Ligt (80 mill), Alex Telles (50 mill), Meunier (30 mill), Saul (100 mill), Sancho (150 mill)
Out: Pogba (150 mill), Lukaku (50 mill) + deadwood
Net spend: 210 mill

 

[Rory 7]

Anyone read Andy Mitten’s piece with Ashley Westwood? Very interesting take on the right side. Makes a decent case for it being our main problem.

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/feature...ited-must-buy-summer-and-why-its-so-important

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

If Ole and Ed really want to “get our business done” by 1 July as they’ve stated, we should be in for a whirlwind month here. Hold onto your hats and glasses!

 

[El Jefe]

------------------DDG-----------------
Meunier---De Ligt---Lindelof---Shaw
-------------------Rice----------------
--------Rabiot-----------Pogba-------
----------------Bruno-----------------
----------Rashford-----Dembele-----

 

[Fer]

Something to consider is the other top teams in the transfer market. We normally talk about players going to Spain (Madrid, Barcelona). But some of our targets could end up at City, Juventus, PSG and Bayern. Also, those teams could sell quality players in order to sign other top talents.

So players like De Gea, Pogba, Bale, Griezmann, Coutinho, De Ligt, Dybala, Rodri, Fernandes, Felix, Havertz, etc could go to any of those teams. We are far to be the 3rd option after Real Madrid and Barca. Mainly without Champions League.

The problem it would be to spend most of the transfer window trying to sign a top player and watching them signing for another top club. In the meantime, our plan B would be already in another club.

Besides Barca, Madrid, City, Juventus, PSG, Liverpool and Bayern... Do you think there's a better alternative for a top player than us?