stunned that multiple posts think replacing Shaw is top 3. Defence is sorted (for now). only 1 for me ...Christian Eriksen... linch pin...spark the fire.. shame we couldnt get Bale for Fred money
6 realistic signings to improve us?
- Thread starter Schmeichel's Cartwheel
- Start date
This thread feels too far sighted to me, a lot of the players mentioned are only really realistic for the summer window. 3 signings in the winter window would be perfect to improve our squad depth, so...
Which 3 players are realistic for the winter window?
Which 3 players are realistic for the winter window?
I dont think we're going to make the type of signings that would be made for squad depth as I feel we are focusing on signing s that will improve the quality of the squad rather than fill it out. If we wanted squad players we would have signed them in the summer as there was plenty of players available that would have suited a squad role for us eg Llorente or Mandzukic for ST or Lemina or Fredy Guarin at CM. We have been short of players in some positions for the season and injuries have made this a big problem.
However we have consistently signed players that aren't at the level of player we should be looking for, just like City, Barcelona or Juventus who rarely if ever not sign player who would be seen as an improvement on their current option. We had a large clearout this summer that was made up of a number of players who were signed by us when they weren't good enough.
Things we should prioritize in the January window if Maddison, Sancho and a starting holding midfielder aren't possible (or equivalent types being starters, those should be the key positions) would be just signing a more experienced striker. Not sure who though.
This is my point, we cant focus on Sancho, Maddison for the winter window - its not realistic. But at the same time, we cant just waste that window because a select few players arent available. We might not be able to fill the most pressing needs of the team, but we can still add depth where its needed.
ST - Moussa Dembele. Good scoring form for Lyon, so may be difficult to get him unless we offer a decent transfer fee. I think he's good enough to start, but also may have the mentality to rotate.
RW - Olmo. I question if he would be a square peg in a round hole out wide, but he's at a club we should be able to negotiate with in the winter window.
MC - Szoboszlai. Again looks a good player and at a club we could negotiate with.
RW - Deulofeu. Is he good enough, I dont know - but he looks direct and plays on the right. Not sure Watford facing relegation would release him, but he would improve our right wing.
People will say wait for Sancho, but realistically we need a right winger right now, ultimately we need 2. So theres no harm in buying a lesser player in the short term.
Unfortunately Maddison and /Sancho are very unrealistic transfer in January, however they are players we should be looking at as they fit the profile of player and have more quality then what we have in their respective positions. I don't think we will make any signings in January as the quality players we are prioritizing will be unavailable and short term fix players are not considered which I think is the way to proceed. I'd rather wait for quality than settle for less.
I agree Sancho and Maddison won't be possible till at least the summer but signing lesser players, until we possibly sign the likes of Sancho and Maddison who are top targets and with the most quality, will just leave us with the same problem we've had for years, a squad with alot of deadwood that is hard to sell due to wages and players wont take the wage cut.
The positions you have mentioned are the problem areas for us but I feel that unless we are able to sign a top player target then we should have faith in the Academy players.
City have been the best example of this recently in that they got their first choice targets, paid whatever it took and the same goes for their squad players and that has resulted in a 22 man squad all capable of playing at a high level and suit Guardiolas style.
We currently are settling for less. We have no right wingers, buying a good right winger like a Jesus Navas type would be an instant improvement over Pereira and Lingard. At the same time Sancho would then be an improvement on ''Jesus Navas'. We'd then have 2 decent options for that position rather than 2 square pegs.
Just remember Sancho isnt guaranteed. We may just end up buying the secondary option at a latter date.
Pereira is more of a CM/CAM than RW Id say our RW options are Lingard, Mata, Chong and when Martial comes back from injury we'll probably start James or Rashford in the position. In the short term the RW is problem and we are seriously in need of a natural RW player and I think Sancho would be the best option by quite a bit and he is a realistic target. He is top class young winger that fits our profile of player and is of the quality that the top teams all have.
Sure he not guaranteed and will only be possible next summer at least and and expensive transfer but he would be the biggest improvement we could make in that position and that should make him and other 1st choice targets priority and unless impossible to complete settle for 2nd. We have struggled to get our transfer targets in general the last few years and have settled for decent players and usually an improvement such as Fellaini, Rojo, Blind and Scheiderlin etc.
We sign these players to long term and big contracts and as expected when they show they are not good enough we replace them and then struggle to sell them.
We're finally trying to build a squad and our transfers show that there is a clear plan in the profile of player and although short in areas like ST and CM instead of taking decent options that would be replaced in the summer and then stay for the wages, we're are being patient in the knowledge that long term will be alot better than the short term.
I can see your point of view, but I just don't think we are acting fast enough in the transfer market - we are happy to tread water for a season and say we'll buy the next 3 players that will improve the squad. Then wait another season to get the next 3 players. Thats a fine strategy, but dont neglect the squad depth.
Lingard and Mata - 2 number 10s who dont belong on the RW
Pereira - a number 8.
Chong - just not ready.
James and Rashford - 2 LW perfect for rotation and cover.
We need 4 wide players, we currently have 2. 0 right wingers. By all means lets wait and see if we can buy Sancho. But in the meantime lets go and and buy the back up.
i know its frustrating but I think the 3 signings we made were obviously our top targets and and they solved problem areas in the squad. I would prefer to act efficiently in the transfer market and although they were positions that needed strengthening they are looking long term in that the right player wasnt availble this summer, we'll wait till he's available or theirs a 2nd choice to sign instead of just bringing in a player that is a short term fix and I think it is change that is risky but is a change that was needed.
Look at City PSG or Barcas squads in they have cover in every position but the quality is consistent through the squad especially at the top clubs. We are a huge club and settling for decent or second best isnt good enough. We have just cleared out the deadwood from the sqaud this summer and they all were not good enough for Manchester United most were panic buys or just a quick fix. Thats fine for alot of clubs to sign loan players or or players they know arent good enough but will have to suffice. If your not good enough you shouldn't be playing for Manchester United. Play the young players, Chongs not good enough yet but how will he improve if he doesn't get game time. It's about time we stopped settling for less than best.
The club needs to be better at scouting and and recruiting players, saying we’re patient and is well though our is being extremely generous.
I keep hearing people talking about waiting for Sancho but if we’d gone out and bought a decent RW last year this summer we’d be a better team with more chance of finishing in the top 4. A top four finish would actually give us a chance of getting him whereas there is no chance of him joining this current dross.
There is no point being reliant on a handful of players to rebuild but should be able to get alternatives without resorting to panic buying.
RW - Samuel Chukwueze
CM - John McGinn
DM - Florian Grllitsch
DM - Florian Grllitsch
I think we did very well in this window. The club had its targets prepared and sorted out our defence first which was a big problem the season before. Just as important was the big clearout of players that just weren't good enough or just didn't suit the way we hoped to play. Most of them players have been at the club for 4-5 years, collecting their wage and simply shouldn't have been allowed stay at the club for that long. All of these players are decent but decent shouldnt be settled for at a club like ours.
Sancho could potentiality be one of the best players in the world and fits the profile of player at the club. The club must feel next season we can sign him or they would have gotten the 2nd choice. Before we would have panicked and bought a decent player leg Ryan Fraser or Richarlison.
Decent players but if we sign Sancho we're stuck trying to sell a player with huge wages and unhappy a distraction. Or even miss out on Sancho if he's playing well.
I think Sancho has alot more talent and quality than the decent players and if he is the best player we can sign for that RW then we shouldn't settle for Perisic or the likes. This team looks like its building over a couple of years, young,Briish core, pace and we're going to have to be patient.
Midfield
Lorenzo Pelegrini (B to B Midfield)
Grillitsch (DM)
Maddison/Eriksen (AM)
RW
Ziyech/Lozano/Chiesa
CF
Mousa Dembele
Zabatta
Lorenzo Pelegrini (B to B Midfield)
Grillitsch (DM)
Maddison/Eriksen (AM)
RW
Ziyech/Lozano/Chiesa
CF
Mousa Dembele
Zabatta
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Midfielder
Right winger
Forward
Anyone will do ATM
Right winger
Forward
Anyone will do ATM
Do people just throw out the names of wonderkids from football manager and think we should sign them
Putting youtube clips of these players seals it along with every other footballer youtube makes them looks amazing
Putting youtube clips of these players seals it along with every other footballer youtube makes them looks amazingPersonally I think half the names are made upDo people just throw out the names of wonderkids from football manager and think we should sign them
We should sign this guy ive only ever seen this youtube video of him but he must good from that.
I think United had a decent summer, but not a great one. The players they signed are doing pretty well, and they cleared a decent amount of deadwood. However, there were a lot of holes in the squad already, and some departures like Lukaku and Herrera created more. Making 3 good signings is better than making 5-6 bad ones, but at the rate they're going, Maguire will be 30 by the time the squad is ready to compete for the biggest trophies.
You have to make the project attractive to a guy like Sancho in order to sign him, and getting top 4 and playing pretty football is a big part of that. A decent right winger would improve the squad a lot, but also wouldn't scare someone like Sancho away. In some ways, I think not signing a right winger hurts your chances with Sancho rather than helps them.
Liverpool were very picky in holding out for Van Dijk, but that was only after they had already signed Matip and Klavan.
Yes mate, I was quite happy with the 3 signings we made in the summer. The only thing that annoyed me was not replacing Herrera and Lukaku. The transfer of Maguire was dragged on far too long, and we still had to pay the asking price in the end. Lukaka could have moved quicker, then enabling us to bring in a replacement. At the end of the window we spent 67million net. Not very much for a team in desperate need of a Rebuild and promised much more.
We need now to follow up on these signings starting in January ( a Midfielder and a striker) and next summer. I think we are about 5 players away from challenging for honours again, so if we could bring 2 in January and 3 next summer we would be on track, next year. Just hope we don't go and change things before this.
Ya it was sensible from us really, not making any big signings that wouldn't suit the team and clearing out alot of players was well overdue.
Personally I think Ole will be replaced for next season especially if Poch or Tuchel are available and if we do scrape top 4 then we become a much more attractive option.
Well I think with Sanchez leaving very suddenly and at the end of the window our options were limited but also if sign a player that will end up replaced the following year he will be hard to sell due to wages and thats what happened with the 7-8 we sold this summer in that most of them just hung around and got paid.
Look at the top teams squads like City, Barca, Juve they dont buy players that will just be a short term fix they have quality from the starting 11 to the replacements. I'm fairly confident about us signing Sancho and that should be the standard of player we should buy. Ya so I thought it was a good window,. looking forward to next summer already
Just remember we could have signed Dybala if we wanted but we pulled out because of his wage demands. That was huge for this club in that this was a chance to sign a top class young player that will be a superstar and we have always payed whatever it took.
Its was annoying not to get him but for us to not give in the players crazy demands and say that he's only coming for money is a big statement that we arent an easy cheque.
Ruben Neves/ Bruno Fernandes
Ziyech
Literally any striker that can score goals
Ziyech
Literally any striker that can score goals
The big problem with our current "go british" philosophy is we're gonna be paying twice the price for the same level of talent, if not inferior talent.
I'm not slating them, as they are actually 2 of our few bright spots this season, but I am certain we could have upgraded on Wan Bissaka and Maguire spending £130m on foreign talents.
I fear in the summer we're gonna spunk about £150m on Maddison and Longstaff or something, while better players who would massively improve us move for much less. Idrissa Gueye for example, he moved to PSG for £30m, I would have rather gone for him than spent £50m on Wan Bissaka. Centre midfield is so much more important than full back and Wan Bissaka, while very good with plenty of potential, isn't the GIANT upgrade on Young/Darmian/Dalot that Gueye would have been on McTominay/Matic/Pereira etc.
I'm not slating them, as they are actually 2 of our few bright spots this season, but I am certain we could have upgraded on Wan Bissaka and Maguire spending £130m on foreign talents.
I fear in the summer we're gonna spunk about £150m on Maddison and Longstaff or something, while better players who would massively improve us move for much less. Idrissa Gueye for example, he moved to PSG for £30m, I would have rather gone for him than spent £50m on Wan Bissaka. Centre midfield is so much more important than full back and Wan Bissaka, while very good with plenty of potential, isn't the GIANT upgrade on Young/Darmian/Dalot that Gueye would have been on McTominay/Matic/Pereira etc.
Right now, if only 3 players (4 would be nice as we need a top class striker) but needs must and I would go with:
Sancho
Madison
Allan/Patey one of them would do for DMC
My 2020 United line up would be something like:
DDG
AWB Tuanzebe Maguire Shaw
McTominay Allan/Patey Pogba
Sancho Madison Martial/James
Greenwood
Based on only 3 signings and assuming Pogba stays (which I don't think he will).
Sancho
Madison
Allan/Patey one of them would do for DMC
My 2020 United line up would be something like:
DDG
AWB Tuanzebe Maguire Shaw
McTominay Allan/Patey Pogba
Sancho Madison Martial/James
Greenwood
Based on only 3 signings and assuming Pogba stays (which I don't think he will).
I can't believe Allan is still at Napoli.
We should have bought Wanyama is Spurs were willing to sell him for £13m.
No Rashford then.
Where did Wanyama go in the end?
Yeah very good player that Allan, I know PSG were after him last summer, would be a class addition
we are going to overpay no matter who we buy, be it british or european. Clubs know we have money and are desperate and will rinse us. Even Dembele at Lyon, a player I like and I think we could get. There is talk of 80 to 100 million for him. He joined them from Celtic just over a yr ago for less than 20 mill. He's a very good player, but he's still a long way of the finished article and it's a totally different kettle of fish playing in the pl than the SPL and ligue 1. I think there is value if you scout aggressively in any league, we are seeing that with James at 15 million looking like a bargain. Jan is an even worse time to buy. If we have to address one position in Jan, I think it needs to be a dynamic creative midfielder. Right now we bring in any striker and they will struggle to score goals due to lack of creativity in our midfield.
Wouldn't be starting for me mate no, especially the start of next year when I expect Greenwood to be a lot more seasoned with this season behind him.
There’s no way Sancho joins a team that isn’t on the way up, I have no doubt we think we can get him but reality is we can’t unless he’s desperate.
It was an ok window nothing more, failure to strengthen in midfield and RW was bad planning and recruitment. You. An easily find players who improve the team and and could eventually be improved upon.
And at the end of the day we’ve fished out long and expensive contracts to a lot of players already at the club so this idea that there is some kind of intelligent rebuild occurring is pretty much nonsense.
Stayed at Spurs
Is he still there is he, yeah can't go wrong for 13m and lets be honest, he would probably be our best cm at the minute haha
I thought he had gone Club Brugge, but I’ve just checked and it must not have gone through. He’s still at Spurs.
A lot of people mentioning Haland. I don't know, I'm all for taking chances on rough diamonds, but he's someone we look at in the summer I feel. In our current set up, with no supply from midfield a young lad like that could crumble. When we make additions to our midfield maybe we can think about bringing him in. Also isn't his agent Mino Raiola, that's enough to put me of him. If we bring anyone in Jan, and that's a big if, as it's a terrible time to do business, it needs to be someone who can come in and hit the ground running. A young lad with one season in Norway and half a one in Austria isn't going to do that.
Realistic signings: Olmo/Ziyech/vd Beek/Taglifico/Eriksen/Neves. Don’t think Odegaard is realistic if he keeps performing the way he does.
Time for us to show a bit more nous in the market I think, it's not only about finding top quality it's also about building out our squad in general I feel.
Eriksen is coming to the end of a contract, seems a no brainer to try and get him in.
Maybe someone like Ryan Fraser as a squad player (plus he actually plays RW and his stats are strong for Bournemouth) on a free. Miles better than Lingard or Pereira.
Then we should aggressively go after a DM, likely a CM (should we not lure Eriksen here) and go for someone like Werner up top. Sancho would be great but I don't see it until we're out this slump
Eriksen is coming to the end of a contract, seems a no brainer to try and get him in.
Maybe someone like Ryan Fraser as a squad player (plus he actually plays RW and his stats are strong for Bournemouth) on a free. Miles better than Lingard or Pereira.
Then we should aggressively go after a DM, likely a CM (should we not lure Eriksen here) and go for someone like Werner up top. Sancho would be great but I don't see it until we're out this slump
How much would Dele Alli cost right now? especially if he has a season like last one?
Eriksen is going to walk for free to Juve/Real/Bayern.
If he wants money, he could even just go to PSG. How the feck is he realistic.
If he wants money, he could even just go to PSG. How the feck is he realistic.