What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

[jesperjaap]

Goalkeeper
De Gea 2023 with option 31
Dubravka 2023 option to buy 33
Heaton 2023 with option 36

If De Gea adapts and performs well enough we could go with these 3 into next season. If not we can keep the 2 senior heads and buy a starter that suits.

Full backs
Dalot 2023 23
Bissaka 2024 with option 25
Shaw 2023 with option 27
Malacia 2026 with option 22

If Dalot keeps this up we've got our starter at right back. Bissaka can be sold. We could probably promote one of Williams, Laird or Fernandes as the 4th full back.

Centre half
Varane 2025 29
Martinez 2027 with option 24
Maguire 2025 with option 29
Lindelof 2024 with option 27
Jones 2023 with option 30

Sell Maguire and let Jones go. Sign a young prospect or promote one.

Midfield
Casemiro 2026 with option 30
Eriksen 2025 30
Fernandes 2026 with option 27
Mctominay 2025 with option 25
Fred 2023 with option 29
Donny 2025 with option 25

Promote and progress Iqbal to replace Eriksen. If everyone performs to their ability there's no need to sign anybody but Caqueret would be a great addition.

Attack
Rashford 2023 with option 24
Elanga 2026 20
Martial 2024 with option 26
Ronaldo 2023 with option
Garnacho 2025 18
Sancho 2026 with option 22
Antony 2027 with option 22

All to prove for Rashford and Tony. Let Ronny go and sign either a backup or a starting number 9 based on what Tony does.

Hopefully we just have to sign a few prospects but it'll depend on how we go this year. The clean slate year.

Yes clean slate year I do agree, but we have had a few of those with new managers and a fair few players have been involved in several.

In an ideal world I would agree with your sentiment, but....

a) As mentioned - cant rely on youngsters breaking through, certainly not so many. Yes Fernandez, Mengi, Laird, Iqbal, Hannibal, Pellestri, Amad, Savage, Mainoo, MNeill are all good prospects and a fair few not far away but if even one of them makes it as a starter and a couple as squad players its a result despite peoples beliefs to the contrary of building our future around them

b) Most importantly....for me its a semi clean slate. So many players, some of which have started well within this squad that from experience I just dont trust ability or mentality wise to consistently perform over a season.

But I do disagree with you on players leaving, there are without doubt 5/6 bare minimum players that just dont have a future here and are surplus to requirements

 

[Michael T]

Barcelona will try again to sell Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 25, in the January transfer window after a proposed £63m move to Manchester United fell through during the summer. (Forbes via 90min.com)

FdJ & Timber in January would be excellent work indeed. Fingers crossed.

 

[AdNani]

GK - David Raya
CM - De Jong
ST - Toney

should be the priorities.

 

[AussieDevil]

GK - Lafont
CM - Caquaret
ST - Pedro

You could complete all by spending 110m max. Would add a young modern keeper, a technical player who would vastly improve our link up play and a striker with an all round game up top.

Lafont has 7 years of first team football under his belt at the age of 24. Caquaret is 22 with almost 100 first team games including UCL and UEL. Pedro is 20 and started over 30 premier leagues along with another 45 in the Championship. These arent just players with potential and nothing else, these are players who have plenty of experience for their age and showed what they can do, all three are the type of players who would make a step up to bigger side for cheap before we end up splashing 100m on them a season later.

The only players I would splash big money on next season is De Jong or Bellingham and I dont think we will get either.

 

[mitchmouse]

FdJ & Timber in January would be excellent work indeed. Fingers crossed.

The Mirror saying:

Manchester United reportedly believe that only their own 'indecisiveness' scuppered a blockbuster deal for Frenkie de Jong in the summer - and that the Dutchman would have joined them, despite claims to the contrary.

 

[jesperjaap]

The Mirror saying:

Manchester United reportedly believe that only their own 'indecisiveness' scuppered a blockbuster deal for Frenkie de Jong in the summer - and that the Dutchman would have joined them, despite claims to the contrary.

Personally that report sounded like absolute nonsense to me, he never at any point looked like coming here and we spent too long chasing him. ALthough our window overall inwards looks like a decent one, still have a feeling it may have been better inwards and we may have moved a couple more players out if we had not have wasted so much time on DeJOng or spent so much money on transfers either, all felt rushed and desperate at the end of the window.

I think we probably need

First Eleven
GK
CM
ST

On top of that a first choice or squad right back, at least one squad centre back

SO a minimum of five signings again.

Really not sure of the new keeper as none I have seen massively stand out as a number one for us.

I think Timber is maybe a good option as he covers rb and cb in one signing and very much pushes for a starter in either. As well as him Bella Kotchap and Lukeba stand out as young centre back options and Gusto as a right back.....none of these players come cheap though I feel

CM I think with the sgnings of Eriksen and Casemeiro, we need a good all round box to box midfielder that can defend and attack. Bellingham is the obvious choice, I dont see Rice as an option now, two cheaper alrenatives would be Caqueret though isnt so strong defensively though he works hard and Thuram at Nice I think progressed a lot last season and could become a top player of Hannibal and Iqbal dont look like breaking through over this season.

As for the striker I really have no idea. A lot of the good young strikers have moved, I was very impressed with Omishen against Liverpool but probably a huge fee, hope someone braks through in Europe this season as like he was this summer, too expensive in terms of what we need overall, Bellingham justifies such a fee, not sure Omishen does

 

[croadyman]

The Mirror saying:

Manchester United reportedly believe that only their own 'indecisiveness' scuppered a blockbuster deal for Frenkie de Jong in the summer - and that the Dutchman would have joined them, despite claims to the contrary.

Christ sounds like a certain Norwegian robot

 

[Erik the Red]

Personally that report sounded like absolute nonsense to me, he never at any point looked like coming here and we spent too long chasing him. ALthough our window overall inwards looks like a decent one, still have a feeling it may have been better inwards and we may have moved a couple more players out if we had not have wasted so much time on DeJOng or spent so much money on transfers either, all felt rushed and desperate at the end of the window.

I think we probably need

First Eleven
GK
CM
ST

On top of that a first choice or squad right back, at least one squad centre back

SO a minimum of five signings again.

Really not sure of the new keeper as none I have seen massively stand out as a number one for us.

I think Timber is maybe a good option as he covers rb and cb in one signing and very much pushes for a starter in either. As well as him Bella Kotchap and Lukeba stand out as young centre back options and Gusto as a right back.....none of these players come cheap though I feel

CM I think with the sgnings of Eriksen and Casemeiro, we need a good all round box to box midfielder that can defend and attack. Bellingham is the obvious choice, I dont see Rice as an option now, two cheaper alrenatives would be Caqueret though isnt so strong defensively though he works hard and Thuram at Nice I think progressed a lot last season and could become a top player of Hannibal and Iqbal dont look like breaking through over this season.

As for the striker I really have no idea. A lot of the good young strikers have moved, I was very impressed with Omishen against Liverpool but probably a huge fee, hope someone braks through in Europe this season as like he was this summer, too expensive in terms of what we need overall, Bellingham justifies such a fee, not sure Omishen does

I think Ndicka on a free would make sense as a CB, although I wouldn't be against Timber coming as well, and then we should let go of Maguire, Lindelof and Jones.

 

[Primex]

Personally that report sounded like absolute nonsense to me, he never at any point looked like coming here and we spent too long chasing him. ALthough our window overall inwards looks like a decent one, still have a feeling it may have been better inwards and we may have moved a couple more players out if we had not have wasted so much time on DeJOng or spent so much money on transfers either, all felt rushed and desperate at the end of the window.

I think we probably need

First Eleven
GK
CM
ST

On top of that a first choice or squad right back, at least one squad centre back

SO a minimum of five signings again.

Really not sure of the new keeper as none I have seen massively stand out as a number one for us.

I think Timber is maybe a good option as he covers rb and cb in one signing and very much pushes for a starter in either. As well as him Bella Kotchap and Lukeba stand out as young centre back options and Gusto as a right back.....none of these players come cheap though I feel

CM I think with the sgnings of Eriksen and Casemeiro, we need a good all round box to box midfielder that can defend and attack. Bellingham is the obvious choice, I dont see Rice as an option now, two cheaper alrenatives would be Caqueret though isnt so strong defensively though he works hard and Thuram at Nice I think progressed a lot last season and could become a top player of Hannibal and Iqbal dont look like breaking through over this season.

As for the striker I really have no idea. A lot of the good young strikers have moved, I was very impressed with Omishen against Liverpool but probably a huge fee, hope someone braks through in Europe this season as like he was this summer, too expensive in terms of what we need overall, Bellingham justifies such a fee, not sure Omishen does

Bellingham justifies such a fee and Oshimen doesn't ???

 

[croadyman]

Personally that report sounded like absolute nonsense to me, he never at any point looked like coming here and we spent too long chasing him. ALthough our window overall inwards looks like a decent one, still have a feeling it may have been better inwards and we may have moved a couple more players out if we had not have wasted so much time on DeJOng or spent so much money on transfers either, all felt rushed and desperate at the end of the window.

I think we probably need

First Eleven
GK
CM
ST

On top of that a first choice or squad right back, at least one squad centre back

SO a minimum of five signings again.

Really not sure of the new keeper as none I have seen massively stand out as a number one for us.

I think Timber is maybe a good option as he covers rb and cb in one signing and very much pushes for a starter in either. As well as him Bella Kotchap and Lukeba stand out as young centre back options and Gusto as a right back.....none of these players come cheap though I feel

CM I think with the sgnings of Eriksen and Casemeiro, we need a good all round box to box midfielder that can defend and attack. Bellingham is the obvious choice, I dont see Rice as an option now, two cheaper alrenatives would be Caqueret though isnt so strong defensively though he works hard and Thuram at Nice I think progressed a lot last season and could become a top player of Hannibal and Iqbal dont look like breaking through over this season.

As for the striker I really have no idea. A lot of the good young strikers have moved, I was very impressed with Omishen against Liverpool but probably a huge fee, hope someone braks through in Europe this season as like he was this summer, too expensive in terms of what we need overall, Bellingham justifies such a fee, not sure Omishen does

Yeah that is definitely the three weakest areas in the first XI and has to be top priorities.

Problem is it would take nearly €200m to sign Bellingham & Osimhen not leaving much for a GK.

 

[NoPace]

At the moment, I'd guess:

January - RB in, Wan-Bissaka out (maybe on loan)
Summer - Cristiano, VDB Shaw, Lindelof and Maguire out, a #9 to start, young #8 to backup Eriksen, 2 CBs (one cheap, one giant highly rated young player to learn from and take over for Varane as Lisandro's partner in time), an LB to compete with Malacia unless Ten Hag loves Alvaro.

#9/Martial/Rashford
Sancho/Rashford/Garnacho
Antony/Sancho
Bruno/Eriksen
Eriksen/#8
Casemiro/McTominay
Malacia/LB or Alvaro
Lisandro/LCB
Varane/RCB
Dalot/RB
De Gea or new GK/Dubravka

and then you'd figure one young midfielder like Iqbal is in the squad, an attacker, so maybe Elanga gets one more year with us to be our 7th attacker.

I think Lindelof has to go because he's got 2 years left as of this summer so we can probably sell him for 15M and buy a decent replacement instead of letting him get to one year left, when he might choose to just let his deal expire and sign on a free somewhere for more money.

Current guess:

#9 - Toney
#8 - De Jong
LCB, RCB - No idea, had never heard of Bella-Kotchap before he signed for Saints
GK - Sanchez or we keep De Gea

 

[NoPace]

If we have 70M as rumoured to spend in January, that would seem to cover a RB and one more position. Maybe we'll move out one of Cristiano, VDB Shaw, Lindelof and Maguire and sign an expensive replacement at one of their spots.

 

[Boondog]

If we have 70M as rumoured to spend in January, that would seem to cover a RB and one more position. Maybe we'll move out one of Cristiano, VDB Shaw, Lindelof and Maguire and sign an expensive replacement at one of their spots.

RB is not even remotely a priority. It's a position we might upgrade if the right player comes available, and we could use a depth option there. But there are other ways to improve this club that would make more sense. Dalot is playing exceptional ball on that right side and might keep improving now that he'll be pairing with Antony.

Keeper has the potential to be enormously impacting because it would improve buildup considerably. Striker has the potential to benefit greatly from multiple skilled passers on the pitch (not only Ericksen and Bruno but also Antony's ability to feed the ball into the box). Those are much more logical directions for how to best use the allotted money, whatever the total is.

 

[NoPace]

RB is not even remotely a priority. It's a position we might upgrade if the right player comes available, and we could use a depth option there. But there are other ways to improve this club that would make more sense. Dalot is playing exceptional ball on that right side and might keep improving now that he'll be pairing with Antony.

Keeper has the potential to be enormously impacting because it would improve buildup considerably. Striker has the potential to benefit greatly from multiple skilled passers on the pitch (not only Ericksen and Bruno but also Antony's ability to feed the ball into the box). Those are much more logical directions for how to best use the allotted money, whatever the total is.

I don't think we'll replace De Gea until the summer. He's on massive wages, and saving 5-10M by loaning him out or whatever would probably be eaten up by the January premium for signing a team's starting keeper.

Dalot has no real backup or rest options (not a huge deal as he's young, but we play every 3 days for instance), as evidenced by Malacia apparently being the backup for now. Lindelof looked rough out there. And I'm not sure Ten Hag can or wants to count on Shaw.

 

[Boondog]

I don't think we'll replace De Gea until the summer. He's on massive wages, and saving 5-10M by loaning him out or whatever would probably be eaten up by the January premium for signing a team's starting keeper.

Dalot has no real backup or rest options (not a huge deal as he's young, but we play every 3 days for instance), as evidenced by Malacia apparently being the backup for now. Lindelof looked rough out there. And I'm not sure Ten Hag can or wants to count on Shaw.

Ok I get that. Depth is an issue I agree.

But I don't think DDG's wages are an issue. I just don't see that mattering. There is no way EtH took this job without some assurance or agreement that he'd have the power to move from the paid players who are not up to snuff. And to date he has shown he has a vision and that he is in charge. So after he navigates his way to that January window without the right keeper the ownership is going to need to support the change at that point. If they don't I think he'd walk but it's probably on paper somewhere knowing how thorough he is. There is no way this guy is going to accept DDG beyond that window barring a situation where he completely reinvents his playing ability. They will have things aligned and understood when it opens.

 

[Mr PG]

We need a center-forward plain and simple. I just with fans had let ETH sign Arnautovich… seriously… look what he’s doing in serie A and then imagine with service from Sancho and antony.

 

[Rojofiam]

If we can get ideal players in for those 3 imporant positions...GK, ST, CM (in this order of priority for me)...then we'll be a force to be reckoned with already next season.

 

[Rojofiam]

We need a center-forward plain and simple. I just with fans had let ETH sign Arnautovich… seriously… look what he’s doing in serie A and then imagine with service from Sancho and antony.

I don't want racist pieces of shit together with this group of players. We need to be targeting guys like Malacia and Martínez instead. (personality-wise)

 

[NoPace]

Ok I get that. Depth is an issue I agree.

But I don't think DDG's wages are an issue. I just don't see that mattering. There is no way EtH took this job without some assurance or agreement that he'd have the power to move from the paid players who are not up to snuff. And to date he has shown he has a vision and that he is in charge. So after he navigates his way to that January window without the right keeper the ownership is going to need to support the change at that point. If they don't I think he'd walk but it's probably on paper somewhere knowing how thorough he is. There is no way this guy is going to accept DDG beyond that window barring a situation where he completely reinvents his playing ability. They will have things aligned and understood when it opens.

Eh, he's doing okay. And we brought in Dubravka to compete so he can always bench him near the end of the season if he wants him replaced in the summer anyways.

 

[croadyman]

If we can get ideal players in for those 3 imporant positions...GK, ST, CM (in this order of priority for me)...then we'll be a force to be reckoned with already next season.

Might switch GK & ST around,mind you a commanding keeper who is good with the ball at his feet allows us to play out properly.

 

[mitchmouse]

Just a few days ago, I read somewhere that ETH had £70m to spend in January. yesterday in the Express we get

"Manchester United will reportedly back Erik ten Hag with a January budget of £100m to continue improving his squad at Old Trafford."

By the time we get to the window, we could be about to buy PSG!!

 

[RedRonaldo]

GK: someone who is solid and can pass
DR: backup for Dalot
CM: FDJ
FW: Nkunku

 

[Rojofiam]

Might switch GK & ST around,mind you a commanding keeper who is good with the ball at his feet allows us to play out properly.

That's what I mean. GK is the most important issue.

 

[Rob Bowman]

Assuming all the players we signed bed down and play well, that is 5 new starters. Wow, that is a powerful indictment of our poor squad management the last few years.

Now our starting XI when healthy is pretty solid (and I am not here to argue if we are in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, depends on what you want top call Eriksen)...

---------------------DeGea------------------
Dalot-Varane-Martinez-Malacia
---------Casemiro-Eriksen-----------
Antony--------Bruno--------Sancho
-----------------Martial--------------------

And we have quite a few solid players in depth. Thing is we need another striker, another class CM and we need a RB either an upgrade or at least similar quality for squad. in addition DeGea is in the last year.

So
GK- Oblak, or... ?
RB- Danilo, Dubois, or... ?
ST- Vlahovic , David, Osimhen, Toney, Mitrovic, or... ?
CM- FDJ

 

[mikeyt]

If we've £70million then we should go for a starting GK, FDJ or Nkunku. I don't see the point signing back ups when we still need starters.

 

[TheNewEra]

Assuming United can spend 200M in the summer (which is needed for the finishing touches to the squad).

United need a CM, GK, RB and Striker.

I'd personally do the following:

Extend:
Diogo Dalot - 3 Year Contract (Promising and should fight for the RB slot)
Marcus Rashford - 4 Years with an option to extend to keep PSG away I think he will have a good run of form under ETH.
Garnacho - 3 Year deal
Alvaro Fernandez - 3 Year Deal (Squad option at LB)

Players Out:
Fred - £15-20m (30 years old when the season ends)
Dean Henderson - £20m (put nails his own coffin)
Donny Van De Beek - £20m (not what United need at this point although he was promising at Ajax)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - £25m (Hasn't grown enough on the attacking front)
Luke Shaw - £30m (Trigger the extra year and let him go at this stage, he's hot/cold)
Eric Bailly - £6m (conservative) different fees touted but he will go IMO, will be great for Marseille
Alex Telles - £7m (not working out but still a good age and can be good in a Spanish or French side)
Axel Tuanzebe - £2-5m (anyone that takes him)
Brandon Williams - £5-8m (anyone that takes him)
Phil Jones - Free
Ronaldo - Free
David de Gea - Free
Total Outs (lower bound) - ~£125m

Players In - Assuming plenty of outs arranged early on to get the spent around £250m but much less due to the outs at the club:

January
Youri Tielemans - £15-20m (January, his contract expires in the summer and he's still a very talented player) I think he can play the deeper role and fight for the spot with Eriksen.
It also allows Eriksen to rotate with Bruno for the CAM slot when Tielemans starts in the DLP role.

Summer
GK - £65m
Not really sure the going rate on Goalkeepers or options, but getting DDG off the books for £375k a week saves United £19m a year, signing a goalkeeper on a third of those wages helps the budget for a GK, getting a top class young goalkeeper that has great distribution and stop stopping is essential.
At this point I'm not really sure "who" would be a good GK option, or if offering DDG much lower wages and extended for 3 years could be an option.


Striker - £75m
=1) Christopher Nkunku - £75m - Better all round goalscoring record than the others and in a stronger league, the others are risks and I'm not sure if United should sign a proven player or a gamble, United need quality to convert chances and I think barring a break out season from Leao or Osimhen that Nkunku is the best candidate.
=1) Victor Osimhen - £60M
2) Rafael Leão - £60M
3) Beniamin Sesko (assuming he can move) - £50M
4) Another option pending break out season*
Outside of Haaland who is just one of the best players of this generation, having a striker that can convert chances is a must. Nkunku is shorter than the other candidates but he is much better in front of goal. Equally first for me is Osimhen, he's also, faster and taller than Nkunku which obviously would have its advantages as a striker, Leao would be second.

CM - £110M
1) Jude Bellingham £110M - Generational talent, if Youri Tielemans joins it means that United are stacked for midfielders in the deeper role.
2) Frenkie De Jong £75M - If Jude is an option and he says yes, FDJ doesn't need to be pursued. if the squad still lacks depth in the area the DLP role outside of Eriksen and if Tielemans/Jude isn't an option then sign FDJ.
One of the two needs to be secured to make United have one of the strongest midfields in the league

RB - £50m Cap*
1) Denzel Dumfries - £26.5m 26, turning 27. A good option for United, athletic, strong and a good crosser of the ball. Everything United need in a RB. Inter want 30m euros for him, an absolute steal.
2) Malo Gusto - £35-40m A potential option if he continues his upwards trajectory but time will tell. Price factors in his age.
3) Another option pending break out season*
Not really aware of any top talents out there currently, Gusto is a player that is mentioned here but I know little about him

Total Spend (IF united extend DDG for much lower wages) £220m (or 120-160M with outgoings)
Total Spend - £300m (£180-220m with outgoings, this also ignores staggered payments or "add-ons" which might lower the bill more)

 

[Erik the Red]

Assuming United can spend 200M in the summer (which is needed for the finishing touches to the squad).

United need a CM, GK, RB and Striker.

I'd personally do the following:

Extend:
Diogo Dalot - 3 Year Contract (Promising and should fight for the RB slot)
Marcus Rashford - 4 Years with an option to extend to keep PSG away I think he will have a good run of form under ETH.
Garnacho - 3 Year deal
Alvaro Fernandez - 3 Year Deal (Squad option at LB)

Players Out:
Fred - £15-20m (30 years old when the season ends)
Dean Henderson - £20m (put nails his own coffin)
Donny Van De Beek - £20m (not what United need at this point although he was promising at Ajax)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - £25m (Hasn't grown enough on the attacking front)
Luke Shaw - £30m (Trigger the extra year and let him go at this stage, he's hot/cold)
Eric Bailly - £6m (conservative) different fees touted but he will go IMO, will be great for Marseille
Alex Telles - £7m (not working out but still a good age and can be good in a Spanish or French side)
Axel Tuanzebe - £2-5m (anyone that takes him)
Brandon Williams - £5-8m (anyone that takes him)
Phil Jones - Free
Ronaldo - Free
David de Gea - Free
Total Outs (lower bound) - ~£125m

Players In - Assuming plenty of outs arranged early on to get the spent around £250m but much less due to the outs at the club:

January
Youri Tielemans - £15-20m (January, his contract expires in the summer and he's still a very talented player) I think he can play the deeper role and fight for the spot with Eriksen.
It also allows Eriksen to rotate with Bruno for the CAM slot when Tielemans starts in the DLP role.

Summer
GK - £65m
Not really sure the going rate on Goalkeepers or options, but getting DDG off the books for £375k a week saves United £19m a year, signing a goalkeeper on a third of those wages helps the budget for a GK, getting a top class young goalkeeper that has great distribution and stop stopping is essential.
At this point I'm not really sure "who" would be a good GK option, or if offering DDG much lower wages and extended for 3 years could be an option.


Striker - £75m
=1) Christopher Nkunku - £75m - Better all round goalscoring record than the others and in a stronger league, the others are risks and I'm not sure if United should sign a proven player or a gamble, United need quality to convert chances and I think barring a break out season from Leao or Osimhen that Nkunku is the best candidate.
=1) Victor Osimhen - £60M
2) Rafael Leão - £60M
3) Beniamin Sesko (assuming he can move) - £50M
Outside of Haaland who is just one of the best players of this generation, having a striker that can convert chances is a must. Nkunku is shorter than the other candidates but he is much better in front of goal. Equally first for me is Osimhen, he's also, faster and taller than Nkunku which obviously would have its advantages as a striker, Leao would be second.

CM - £110M
1) Jude Bellingham £110M - Generational talent, if Youri Tielemans joins it means that United are stacked for midfielders in the deeper role.
2) Frenkie De Jong £75M - If Jude is an option and he says yes, FDJ doesn't need to be pursued. if the squad still lacks depth in the area the DLP role outside of Eriksen and if Tielemans/Jude isn't an option then sign FDJ.
One of the two needs to be secured to make United have one of the strongest midfields in the league

RB - £50m Cap*
Not really aware of any top talents out there currently, Gusto is a player that is mentioned here but I know little about him

Total Spend (IF united extend DDG for much lower wages) £220m (or 120-160M with outgoings)
Total Spend - £300m (£180-220m with outgoings, this also ignores staggered payments or "add-ons" which might lower the bill more)

Agree with almost everything you suggest. I wouldn't be surprised if we go for Timber for the RB position, and we should also sell Maguire and bring in Ndicka on a free.

 

[golden_blunder]

Assuming United can spend 200M in the summer (which is needed for the finishing touches to the squad).

United need a CM, GK, RB and Striker.

I'd personally do the following:

Extend:
Diogo Dalot - 3 Year Contract (Promising and should fight for the RB slot)
Marcus Rashford - 4 Years with an option to extend to keep PSG away I think he will have a good run of form under ETH.
Garnacho - 3 Year deal
Alvaro Fernandez - 3 Year Deal (Squad option at LB)

Players Out:
Fred - £15-20m (30 years old when the season ends)
Dean Henderson - £20m (put nails his own coffin)
Donny Van De Beek - £20m (not what United need at this point although he was promising at Ajax)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - £25m (Hasn't grown enough on the attacking front)
Luke Shaw - £30m (Trigger the extra year and let him go at this stage, he's hot/cold)
Eric Bailly - £6m (conservative) different fees touted but he will go IMO, will be great for Marseille
Alex Telles - £7m (not working out but still a good age and can be good in a Spanish or French side)
Axel Tuanzebe - £2-5m (anyone that takes him)
Brandon Williams - £5-8m (anyone that takes him)
Phil Jones - Free
Ronaldo - Free
David de Gea - Free
Total Outs (lower bound) - ~£125m

Players In - Assuming plenty of outs arranged early on to get the spent around £250m but much less due to the outs at the club:

January
Youri Tielemans - £15-20m (January, his contract expires in the summer and he's still a very talented player) I think he can play the deeper role and fight for the spot with Eriksen.
It also allows Eriksen to rotate with Bruno for the CAM slot when Tielemans starts in the DLP role.

Summer
GK - £65m
Not really sure the going rate on Goalkeepers or options, but getting DDG off the books for £375k a week saves United £19m a year, signing a goalkeeper on a third of those wages helps the budget for a GK, getting a top class young goalkeeper that has great distribution and stop stopping is essential.
At this point I'm not really sure "who" would be a good GK option, or if offering DDG much lower wages and extended for 3 years could be an option.


Striker - £75m
=1) Christopher Nkunku - £75m - Better all round goalscoring record than the others and in a stronger league, the others are risks and I'm not sure if United should sign a proven player or a gamble, United need quality to convert chances and I think barring a break out season from Leao or Osimhen that Nkunku is the best candidate.
=1) Victor Osimhen - £60M
2) Rafael Leão - £60M
3) Beniamin Sesko (assuming he can move) - £50M
Outside of Haaland who is just one of the best players of this generation, having a striker that can convert chances is a must. Nkunku is shorter than the other candidates but he is much better in front of goal. Equally first for me is Osimhen, he's also, faster and taller than Nkunku which obviously would have its advantages as a striker, Leao would be second.

CM - £110M
1) Jude Bellingham £110M - Generational talent, if Youri Tielemans joins it means that United are stacked for midfielders in the deeper role.
2) Frenkie De Jong £75M - If Jude is an option and he says yes, FDJ doesn't need to be pursued. if the squad still lacks depth in the area the DLP role outside of Eriksen and if Tielemans/Jude isn't an option then sign FDJ.
One of the two needs to be secured to make United have one of the strongest midfields in the league

RB - £50m Cap*
Not really aware of any top talents out there currently, Gusto is a player that is mentioned here but I know little about him

Total Spend (IF united extend DDG for much lower wages) £220m (or 120-160M with outgoings)
Total Spend - £300m (£180-220m with outgoings, this also ignores staggered payments or "add-ons" which might lower the bill more)

Rafael Leão plays wide left doesn’t he

 

[TheNewEra]

Rafael Leão plays wide left doesn’t he

Preferred position yes, or down the middle at a push. I think there's always the option of playing Rashford down the middle although he can't hold the ball well there. I wouldn't have Leao as a first option.

I think Nkunku or Osimhen are the best two options personally, people mention Vlahovic but I know very little about him and I think it's harder to get a player from Juventus.

 

[RopersReturn]

Sign a CF, upgrade Carrington and redevelop the South Stand.

 

[bosskeano]

Rafael Leão plays wide left doesn’t he

we should go after Nkunku as he would fit the style of play and players currently on our roster

 

[mitchmouse]

Said it before, will say it again. The names of the clowns in suits may have changed but little else...

"Old Trafford chiefs are split on transfer policy - Erik ten Hag wants to make more signings in January, but chief executive Richard Arnold wants to wait until summer" (The Athletic)

 

[aeh1991]

we should go after Nkunku as he would fit the style of play and players currently on our roster

I think Nkunku or Osimhen are the best two options personally, people mention Vlahovic but I know very little about him and I think it's harder to get a player from Juventus.

Have you guys even see Nkunku playing? He is most effective as a 2nd forward, a position we never play. He barely played as a lone CF.

 

[NoPace]

Have you guys even see Nkunku playing? He is most effective as a 2nd forward, a position we never play. He barely played as a lone CF.

Yeah, he frequently ended up the highest player when Silva wasn't playing, but he's not really proven as a 9 and could struggle if isolated up there. Maybe he'll up at Chelsea and he and Havertz will sort of alternate as the 9 and 10 with Sterling attacking wide left and Reece James pushed up high on the right.

 

[TheNewEra]

Have you guys even see Nkunku playing? He is most effective as a 2nd forward, a position we never play. He barely played as a lone CF.

I have, its also one reason why I think Osimhen might be preferred or there might be another player that catches the eye over the course of the season.

 

[MrSingh2002]

Still need the striker.

Can't believe I just heard that Morata was a done deal but we signed Lukaku instead.

At the time I was sold on Morata suiting our game better with his speed on the counter and aerial ability.

Wonder how different we would have played at the time.

 

[mitchmouse]

Here's something everyone except the two clowns in suits knew months back...

"Frenkie de Jong has revealed he never wanted to join Manchester United in the summer despite his future at Barcelona being up in the air at the time" (The Sun)

 

[Onerealunited]

GK: New, New
RB: Dalot, New
CB: Varane, Martinez,
LB: Malacia, New
DM: McTominay, Casemiro
CM: Eriksen, New
AM: Bruno, New
LW: Sancho, Rashford
CF: Martial, New
RW: Antony, New

This is basically what we have to built from slowly.But most importantly a striker as soon as possible

 

[Bwuk]

I think we'll see another big summer due to the volume of outgoings again. Bolded the outgoings.

GK
De Gea
Henderson - He won't come back from his loan after his comments. Sold.
Heaton - Wouldn't be surprised if he retires.
Dubravka

Defenders
Lindelof
Bailly - Won't return from his loan
Jones - Contract expires in 2023. Gone (probably retired).
Maguire - Sold. He will want to play every week and he won't get that here. He's too slow for what Ten Hag wants to do.
Martinez
Malacia
Varane
Dalot
Shaw - I think we'll move him on. His contract expires in 2023 (we have the year option). I think we'll take it and sell. I don't think his mentality fits with what Ten Hag is trying to achieve.
Telles - won't return from his loan.
Wan-Bissaka - not suited for how we want to play.
Williams - Surprised he's still here.
Tuanzebe - gone. Contract expires in 2023
Fernandez

Midfielders
Bruno
Eriksen
Amad - Contract expires in 2023. I think we'll renew then sell unless he has a brilliant year for Sunderland.
Fred - Contract expires in 2023. I think he'll go. He isn't a fit for how we want to play and I expect we'll bring another CM in.
Casemiro
Pellistri - Gone. Should go find first team football somewhere. He's shown he can do it for Uruguay.
Van de Beek - Gone. Will look for first team football.
McTominay
Hannibal - I think he'll go back out on loan.

Forwards
Ronaldo - Contract expired.
Martial
Rashford
Greenwood
Antony
Sancho
Elanga
Shoretire - Loan
Garnacho - Loan




Looking at the above, I think we will go in for;

• Striker to replace Ronaldo.
• Another deep playmaking midfielder who can rotate with Eriksen/allow Eriksen to rotate with Bruno
• CB. I think this will be Timber.

 

[DannyCAFC]

Robert Sanchez, Gusto, Bennacer and Nkunku would represent great business I think next summer. Possibly a new LB option as well depending on what the decision is with Shaw.

All those should probably be gettable I think depending on how United do this season. They'll likely have strong competition for Nkunku though and possibly Gusto.