Potential Centre-Back Options?

[Bebestation]

I need a left footed CB in my life.

Pau Torres
Gvardiol
Schlotterbeck

Etc..

 

[Gavinb33]

Our need to consistently sign center backs is the one reason we need a DoF with an overarching remit to oversee and sign off all transfers and take charge and not give any manager full autonomy.

in the past 5 years we have spent nearly 200 mill on center backs and near 100 million on full backs and we still need them, this is a legacy of both Ole and Jose and transfer policies of the past

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

Don't be surprised if De Ligt will be connected to us because of ETH

 

[Jibbs]

We don't need a CB unless we sell one of Maguire and Lindelof. We need a quality CDM .

 

[L1nk]

We don't need a CB unless we sell one of Maguire and Lindelof. We need a quality CDM .

Bailly is likely to go though, Varane is injury prone, and ETH might not like one of Maguire or Lindelof

 

[Charles Miller]

Gleison Bremer from Torino.

 

[DickDastardly]

Go all out for Joško Gvardiol.

The next CB superstar.
He's that good.

 

[Mickeza]

We don't need a CB unless we sell one of Maguire and Lindelof. We need a quality CDM .

Bailly, Axel and Jones should all be leaving.

 

[Red the Bear]

How's that Paul Torres lad doing again? Was very impressive against bayern to be honest.

 

[Red the Bear]

Don't be surprised if De Ligt will be connected to us because of ETH

Has really grown to be a wonderful defender with an unfortunate affinity for hand balls , but with riola involved that's impossible.

 

[Freak]

Go all out for Joško Gvardiol.

The next CB superstar.
He's that good.

He’s very good. I’m always impressed whenever I see him play. It’s between Timber (because of the ETH connection ) and Gvardiol for me.

 

[EtH]

Go all out for Joško Gvardiol.

The next CB superstar.
He's that good.

Yup he’s the one.

 

[aeh1991]

Gvardiol would be the best option, for a long term plan. He'd cost too much though. Considering the urgent need on other positions, maybe someone for the 2023 summer window.

 

[diarm]

Gvardiol is class but would be bloody expensive and the same goes for Pau Torres. Schlotterbeck with only a year left on his deal could be a decent value and a real prospect for the future. He ticks a lot of boxes.

I'd like to see us go for Timber as well, to compete for right back with Dalot and provide cover at CB.

Bailly, Tuanzebe, Jones, Maguire and Wan-Bissaka should all be available if the right bids came in.

 

[SparkedIntoLife]

As a cheaper alternative to the often mentioned players here, Kim Min-Jae of Fenerbahce is a hidden gem. He is a 1.90 physical beast, very fast, great at interceptions, good tackling, solid in the air. Overall a very well-rounded CB. He has played less than a season in Turkey but is already called the best CB of their league. He is probably the most important player for the Korean NT, even before Son. He likes to concentrate on his defensive duties and is not a ball playing CB, although his short and long passes are solid, also making some great through passes once a while. The amount of goals Fenerbahce have conceded this season is a bit misleading as mostly it was due to individual mistakes by the other CBs. He kinda reminds me of Vidic. Not only in terms of playing style but also being a lesser known foreign CB from a smaller European league. He'd cost 10-20m euros apparently and has been linked to Spurs, West Ham, Everton, Porto, Leipzig and PSV in the recent past. IMO he would be the kind of player who would make a huge step under ETH, wouldn't sulk being a 3rd or 4th CB and would complement each of the other CBs that are in the club atm. I'm not allowed to post media yet, but you can watch some of his YT highlights. He is not one of those players who only look good on the compilation videos, but also stands out on the pitch, which is not easy for a CB. I hope he is at least on the scouting list.

How’s Szalai been getting on? He was rated highly 6 months to a year ago and looked superb at the time. Chelsea were heavily linked. Should I take it from your post that he’s dropped off in a big way recently?

 

[NoPace]

If ten Hag is appointed and he does sign Timber, then he'd be our best right back and potentially someone that can also play at CB in the EPL. But a young player like Timber with his versatility to play in multiple roles would be brilliant for us imo.

I personally think he'd be utilised as a right back in the EPL.

My guess is we'd play the same formation as Ajax do now, with a Shaw-Varane-Timber back 3 and Lindelof getting lots of games subbing for them, maybe Maguire even leaves this summer.

Then Dalot or Telles at one fullback spot and the other side we only sort of half-have one, like Ajax do on the left with Blind sort of in between a fullback and wide CB.

------------------------Cristiano(Haller)------------
-----Bruno(Tadic)------------------Sancho (Antony)
-----------#8(Gravenbach)-VDB(Berghuis)-----------
------------------------#6(Alvarez)---------Dalot(Mazraoui)
----Shaw(Blind)-Varane(Martinez)-Timber(Timber)
-----------------------Henderson(Passveer)---------

is how Ajax play. I'm assuming that Bruno, Sancho, Varane and VDB will be the core players he trusts, and we do have some promising young wingers in Diallo, Elanga and Pellistri, so reinforcing 2 of the midfield spots and signing Timber would seem like the easiest but also long-term safest way to approach signing the 3-4 first teamers I would expect.

We probably need a left-footed defender because Shaw gets hurt and is generally inconsistent. Maybe Gvardiol? He'd cost a ton, but if we're only signing 3 players it's not crazy.

This isn't the thread for it, but I could see us going for Sabitzer. He'd seem to fit the Gravenbach role, he's struggling for playing time at Bayern under Nagelsmann (have to think he'd have done more than Musiala, who is incredibly talented but also 19, in the Villareal games) , Rangnick probably loves him, and Bayern could use a little cash at the moment. 28 is a bit older than what we'll probably look for, but it's not insane.

 

[Lux Thunder]

Gvardiol would be a dream, left-footed and at a young age, ready-made to be a serious contender for starting lineup in top clubs. He has everything you want from a modern ball-playing center back playing in high line: technique, very good vertical passes, strong in 1v1 situations, recovery pace...simply, generational talent. He won't be leaving RB for less than 70 mil., but the bigger problem from the price tag is that his heart is set to move to Liverpool one day.

Watched a YouTube podcast with Gvardiol last summer, hosted by my acquaintance and journalist employed by Croatia Football Association, and one of the questions was:

"Each of us has a favorite club from abroad, including Joško. The question is where would you like to play? - Liverpool. From a young age, I watched Liverpool games with my dad. When I took football more seriously, I started following them, and I definitely want the Premiership and Liverpool - Gvardiola concluded."

Would be scary to see pair of VVD and Gvardiol in the future.

 

[captaincantona]

Gvardiol would be a dream, left-footed and at a young age, ready-made to be a serious contender for starting lineup in top clubs. He has everything you want from a modern ball-playing center back playing in high line: technique, very good vertical passes, strong in 1v1 situations, recovery pace...simply, generational talent. He won't be leaving RB for less than 70 mil., but the bigger problem from the price tag is that his heart is set to move to Liverpool one day.

Watched a YouTube podcast with Gvardiol last summer, hosted by my acquaintance and journalist employed by Croatia Football Association, and one of the questions was:

"Each of us has a favorite club from abroad, including Joško. The question is where would you like to play? - Liverpool. From a young age, I watched Liverpool games with my dad. When I took football more seriously, I started following them, and I definitely want the Premiership and Liverpool - Gvardiola concluded."

Would be scary to see pair of VVD and Gvardiol in the future.

That’s very disappointing. Gvardiol would have been an ideal signing. No one in their right mind would choose us over Pool anyway but if he is a Liverpool fan as well.

 

[Nick.]

We should have gotten Pau Torres.

 

[aeh1991]

How’s Szalai been getting on? He was rated highly 6 months to a year ago and looked superb at the time. Chelsea were heavily linked. Should I take it from your post that he’s dropped off in a big way recently?

Yes. Ironically, from the day he was linked with Chelsea, he's dropped off in a big way. He's not even good enough to start. Sure, as a left-footed CB he is attractive, but at the moment he is nowhere near top club level and I doubt he ever will be.

On the other hand, Kim has always been the better player, but it took him a bit of time to get used to the league as he came from the Chinese league in winter 2021. But he has since played every game unless due to little knocks. Wouldn't be surprised if he was linked to bigger teams than Spurs soon.

 

[Kingslayer18]

I think we need a young left footed CB that can come in initially as 4th choice as Bailly likely leaving. Then in a year or two, likely to be first choice with Varane. Options would be:

Gvardiol
Schlotterbeck
Badiashile

Gvardiol would be my no 1 choice. He's so good I think he would actually usurp Maguire and Lindelof in his first season. He's likely to cost a bomb though as he's only been at Leipzig for a year. If we can't get him this season, we should try and negotiate with Leipzig and get him on a pre-contract to come in next season.

 

[aeh1991]

Gvardiol would be a dream as he is one of those players with so much potential that you can't see failing. However, as someone mentioned, if he is a die hard Liverpool fan, we can forget him.

Schlotterbeck seems to have signed a contract with Dortmund already, just not revealed yet.

 

[Jibbs]

How's that Paul Torres lad doing again? Was very impressive against bayern to be honest.

Should have signed him instead of Varane

 

[Devil may care]

Either Gvardiol or Timber would make sense as they are young enough to have a season bedding in while Ten Hag assesses the Maguire situation and Varane's fitness.

 

[Red the Bear]

Should have signed him instead of Varane

Varane is pretty good , his injuries are worrying though.

 

[jesperjaap]

Was aware and already a fan of Gusto at Lyon who hasnt been great against West Ham, but didnt know of Lukeba who at 19 has been very impressive against West Ham, any French fans know more of him? Watched a fair amount of French football this season and only the Arsenal player on loan Saliba has impressed me at centre back, loads of excellent young players in other positios such as Caqueret who Lyon missed, but was very impressed with Lukeba despite them getting thrashed tonight

 

[jesperjaap]

Should have signed him instead of Varane

Im not mad on Torres, but another player I woul dhave liked we were linke dwith a bit less is Romero

 

[sullydnl]

Should have signed him instead of Varane

If I'd known we'd be ending up with ETH as manager I'd probably have leaned more in his direction too.

 

[Zoo]

Some Twitter chat tonight about Pau Torres to United.

 

[sullydnl]

Some Twitter chat tonight about Pau Torres to United.

Would be very pleased if we did but I would have thought he would cost quite a bit relative to what we need to spend on a CB this summer.

 

[DJ_21]

I think ten Hag will go all out for timber… he’d be useful at full back and ten Hag likes his full backs to be comfortable at centre back aswell so when in possession they can tuck in and make it a back 3 while the other full backs further up the pitch helping out in attack. that’s the role blind plays, he’s the full back that stays back and tucks in to cb as he’s comfortable playing there.

 

[wolvored]

If ten Hag is appointed and he does sign Timber, then he'd be our best right back and potentially someone that can also play at CB in the EPL. But a young player like Timber with his versatility to play in multiple roles would be brilliant for us imo.

I personally think he'd be utilised as a right back in the EPL.

I was going to say similar. He would easily be our best RB and a versatile defender to cover other roles.

 

[Blood Mage]

In hindsight, we should have signed Torres instead of Varane. Not that Varane hasn't put in some good displays for us but his injury record has become a concern.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Some Twitter chat tonight about Pau Torres to United.

Having him line up with Varane would look a lot more suitable, on paper. Having Maguire next to Varane just seems wrong

 

[Bebestation]

This is purely on Europa last night but does anyone know anything about N'dicka of Eintreit Frankfurt?

Is he good or not?

 

[aeh1991]

This is purely on Europa last night but does anyone know anything about N'dicka of Eintreit Frankfurt?

Is he good or not?

He seems to have made some steps and is considered a very talented, modern CB. Speedy, big, good with the ball and left-footed. Having a strong season.
Apparently Frankfurt want to make cash by selling him. Could be a steal for around 20m.

Here is a scouting report from 2021:
https://www.scoutedftbl.com/best-young-football-players/evan-ndicka/

 

[Nick.]

This is purely on Europa last night but does anyone know anything about N'dicka of Eintreit Frankfurt?

Is he good or not?

Based on the fact that United didn't even have a scout report on Nkunku I suspect they have no idea this player even exists.

 

[sullydnl]

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[Zoo]

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He’s left-footed isn’t he? Seems to be something we’re looking to do with Maguire featuring on the right now.

 

[croadyman]

Varane is pretty good , his injuries are worrying though.

Yeah I didn't expect him to have so many injury issues will hold my hands up