What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

BorisManUtd said:

If we go after Sancho, then I can see us bidding for Declan Rice, he would mean DM position sorted out + can play CB when needed, so in a way he'd be a stop-gap signing for centre back position for one season, until we get another CB in 2022.

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So we'd have Sancho / Greenwood / Diallo and according to many, Rashford (due to Pogba being undroppable at LW) for RW - and no new CB because our shiny new DM can play CB for a season?

Nice balanced squad your going for then.

Whose gunna play DM instead of our new DM signing Rice when he's playing CB? Why cant we just sign a CB who can play CB regularly and leave the midfielders play in midfield?

Hugh Jass said:

Midfielder and CB priority.

It will be interesting to see if we go after Sancho again this summer.

A covering RB as well.

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Agree - central midfield is vital as well as CB.

Dont think we need a covering RB. Dalot/Laird/Williams? How many back ups do you want?

Any other activity will depend on outgoings i think

Top CB and DM. That will still cost slighty north of 100m (we can't be expecting to spend more than that in this current climate).

I like Sancho, but don't think we really need him for the huge 90m fee. Greenwood is doing well and learning each game.

We have to keep Cavani. If not then we have only 2 options Haaland or Kane.

Craig Ward said:

Why RW?

We signed Diallo and Pellistri because we couldn't get 1st choice Sancho done and Greenwood is flying there at the moment?

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I would've thought the same but Amad's barely played and Pellistri's been sent out on loan. From the outside looking in, it would seem the management don't think they're ready for United yet. Greenwood's great there but from what I can see so far we have 1 senior option for the right wing, our competitors have multiple.

Craig Ward said:

Seen Gravenberch a few times - looks a talent. For me, not what we need right now. We need instant quality in the midfield area.

We have Telles and Williams for cover for Shaw - LB is probably the most secure area in the squad right now

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Neither Telles or Williams are good enough

Here's what we don't need. A CF.

Vamossssssssssssssssss!

Really pleased Cavani has committed to another year. Means CF is less of a priority for at least another year. That said I wouldn’t say no to either Kane or Haaland should the unlikely possibility arise Seriously though, I think Cavani signing has given us a fair amount of breathing room.

Craig Ward said:

So we'd have Sancho / Greenwood / Diallo and according to many, Rashford (due to Pogba being undroppable at LW) for RW - and no new CB because our shiny new DM can play CB for a season?

Nice balanced squad your going for then.

Whose gunna play DM instead of our new DM signing Rice when he's playing CB? Why cant we just sign a CB who can play CB regularly and leave the midfielders play in midfield?

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Yeah I desperately want us to address the three key positions this summer and bring back either a Dalot/Laird to provide some cover at RB, however my gut feeling for a while now has been it will be TWO from CB, CDM & RW and think we could well go back for Trippier as apparently we were keen in January until he got that ban. So which position do people think is the least important out of those highlighted taking all things into consideration.

With Cavani signed up for another year, the priority clearly needs to be a RW who can provide consistent service to him. Bayern are, allegedly, in for Sancho -- and why wouldn't they be? -- and we need to get the transfer sorted out quickly.

CDM and CB are the priorities for me. RW possibly. However that seems to be where Greenwood operates best and I'd like to see him get plenty of game time.

We spent a fair amount of Diallo and Rashford can play there too.

EdinburghDevil said:

CDM and CB are the priorities for me. RW possibly. However that seems to be where Greenwood operates best and I'd like to see him get plenty of game time.

We spent a fair amount of Diallo and Rashford can play there too.

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Yeah wish we could get all three but it just looks too much to ask in this market

Anyone from the relegated teams worth snatching on the cheap?

Lookman? Anguissa? That big Danish CB? Diagana?

Murder on Zidane's Floor said:

Anyone from the relegated teams worth snatching on the cheap?

Lookman? Anguissa? That big Danish CB? Diagana?

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Like Berge/Pereira/Andersen but not ahead of our top targets if we can get them of course

justsomebloke said:

No, I don't think we'll sell all of those players either. Nor that we'll get the most expensive options everywhere. But the potential for sales may be enough to really significantly bump up the amount available for transfers. Maybe something like 150m all told could be realistic. That could land us some serious reinforcement - f.e., Sancho, Kamara, Trippier.

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This is true, my gut feeling is Lingard and DeGea will be the only major outgoings though and the likes of Pereira and Dalot will be very low fees. I think we bring in considerably under £100m this summer in sales, and am agreement with that being wrong personally. I also think there will only be 2 or 3 signings this summer though they may be good ones. A bit annoying in my mind as like the Maguire/Bissaka window, its good progress but a player or two short in and certainly not enough out again

Murder on Zidane's Floor said:

Anyone from the relegated teams worth snatching on the cheap?

Lookman? Anguissa? That big Danish CB? Diagana?

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I think the right teams are going down this year and there are some good signings from them for premiership sides....Berge, Ampadu if Chelsea dont take him back from loan, Lookman, Areola, Anderson, Pereira, Diangana....but none of them stand out at all as players any of the top sides should be after....certainly not us

jesperjaap said:

I think the right teams are going down this year and there are some good signings from them for premiership sides....Berge, Ampadu if Chelsea dont take him back from loan, Lookman, Areola, Anderson, Pereira, Diangana....but none of them stand out at all as players any of the top sides should be after....certainly not us

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Saw a report that City are looking at Berge

croadyman said:

Saw a report that City are looking at Berge

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Surprises me. Lazy comparison but this years Schneiderlin for me. I think he is a decent player as was Schneiderlin Could be a good playe for several premiership sides but for me not good enough for the top ones.

Have United been linked to any DCM yet outside of Rice? Doesn't seem like we have which is a concern.

I mentioned before how our prospective needs keep changing, which tells you a lot about how the team is evolving. And I have to say that after further thought, I'm not sure I'm standing by my own views from a couple of days ago.

With Pogba seemingly redefined as a left winger, that actually raises the question of whether we really have room for a starting XI right winger, or if that wouldn't be disruptive? Pogba, Rashford, Greenwood, they all need to play regularly. And then there's James and Diallo in need of some game time too. We clearly need more depth, but if you bring in f.e. Sancho, you have a situation where every game either Pogba, Rashford or Sancho sits on the bench. Perhaps it would be wiser to bring in someone with real potential who won't necessarily need to play as regularly - like Pereira, or Neto?

Up front, right now it feels completely OK to go into a new season with Cavani as the main man. Certainly it would be even better to do so with Cavani and another top striker, but it now looks like a better option than before to wait a year.

Then there's RB. During mid-season, this seemed crucial and urgent, because AWB was showing signs of deteriorating under the burden of playing every game, and not really working out offensively. But now? He, incredibly, seems to be hitting his best form of the season as we approach the end, and is also showing clear signs of improvement offensively.

More and more, I think central midfield looks like the key focus area. There's a sense that we've more or less maxed out there, and that we have is less than you'd want and has become something that holds the team back and limits it. Given the obvious reluctance to use DvdB in the no 8 role, there may even be concerns over depth.

The single player in world football who would make the biggest difference to this team is Haaland.

I would happily take Haaland now and nothing else this window or next Summer.

RW and CDM first and foremost. Then a CB.

Watched Neville and Carragher debate bringing in Sancho vs. Kane for 10 minutes on Sky as if it was the final piece of the puzzle without a single mention of a CDM or CB...

*sigh* about to change my list again. I think at the very least we shoule be able to afford 2 starters and one cheap punt a this window. I maintain that DM CB RW is. So I'd go for a starting DM - Rice; Starting RW - Sancho; and a cheap punt CB; David Carmo or Milenkovic(not sure but whoever the scouts approve of)

I think we need to have a think about our squad, identify areas of weakness and ensure we have correct pathways for our talented youngsters.

I think we should sell/release the following; De Gea, Romero, Joel Pereira, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot, Mata, Lingard, Andreas Pereira, James, Martial and Chong.

This would leave us with

Goalkeepers
Henderson, Grant, Bishop

Defenders
Lindelof, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Telles, AWB, Williams, Tuanzebe, Mengi, Laird

Midfielders
Pogba, Fred, Bruno, Matic, VdB, Garner, McTominay, Hannibal, Levitt

Attackers
Cavani, Rashford, Greenwood, Amad, Pellistri, Shoretire, Elanga

We benefit from the fact quite a few of our players are positionally flexible. However, a lot of these players are young and could do with loans.

I would look to find loans for the following;

Brandon Williams - He needs regular game time if he's going to make it here. Another season like this season doesn't benefit him whatsoever. He's contracted to 2024, I'd look to find him a loan to a premier league side who play progressive football, such as Brighton or Norwich then reassess his situation the season after.

Ethan Laird - By all accounts he did great at MK Dons this season. We should look to get him a loan in the Championship for another progressive, attacking side.

Teden Mengi - Still young. Did ok at Derby by all accounts, but could do with a full season in the Championship to get game time. He won't play if he stays here.

Dylan Levitt - The move to Croatia was odd. Charlton wasn't a good loan. I think there's a good player there, but he needs a good loan. He'll be 21 next season so really needs a good loan if he's to make it here. Nottingham Forrest as a replacement for Garner could be a good move for him.

Facundo Pellistri - I think he needs to play in Britain to get used to the style of football here. I actually think Celtic could be a good move for him on loan, especially if Eddie Howe takes over.

Anthony Elanga - Didn't quite look ready vs Leicester. I think he could go to the Championship, but again the style of player he is I wouldn't be against him going somewhere like Celtic to play regularly. I think the key is getting game time wherever he goes.

This reduces the squad size a lot.

Goalkeepers
Henderson, Grant, Bishop

Defenders
Lindelof, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Telles, AWB, Tuanzebe

Midfielders
Pogba, Fred, Bruno, Matic, VdB, Garner, McTominay, Hannibal

Attackers
Cavani, Rashford, Greenwood, Amad, Shoretire.

That's a squad of 23. I think Shoretire is still too young and could probably have a similarish role to what he's had this season, some game time with the u23s, and some experience with the senior side. I wouldn't send him on loan due to his age.

I think that squad lacks an experienced and reliable backup to Henderson, a back up right back for AWB, a proper #6 (who if we signed we could look to probably move on VdB or Matic and a RW.

Sam Johnstone has been linked, I think that would be a good move for us. Knows the club, wouldn't cost much, and likely would be happy to deputise for Henderson.

Kieran Trippier would be a good right back option. Can rotate in with AWB and at 30 is at an age where he wouldn't block the progression too much of younger full backs we have either on loan or in the academy.

Jadon Sancho has been linked for years and would be the ideal option to play across the front. Get it done.

Declan Rice I think he'd be the smartest move we can make this summer. We seen how good Matic was as an actual #6. McTominay nor Fred can play that position and it's a glaring weakness in the squad.

We have too many CB options to sign a new CB unless we sold Tuanzebe, as Lindelof nor Maguire are going anywhere, and we just renewed Bailly.

I’m concerned by the early noises that we are just looking to sign one or two top players

We need 3 top quality signings and 1 rotation for Wan Bissaka to title challenge next season

We need a centre midfielder, at the very least.

Midfielder is the priority, CB and RW as well ideally.

We can't compete at the top with that defence or that horrendous double pivot. Need this season over because we are a bag of wank right now

CB, CM and Sancho are now vital. Solsjkaer needs to be backed otherwise we will just stand still.

JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo said:

We can't compete at the top with that defence or that horrendous double pivot. Need this season over because we are a bag of wank right now

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Yeah CB & CDM simply has to go back ahead of RW in the priority for me after tonight and I know many won't agree with that

I don't know if it's possible, but if we can sign Sancho, along with a midfield conductor and a CB, (which I believe will be a priority) then we will have a balanced team next season.

CM, CB, RW and possibly new GK. Easy

Damien said:

We need all three. Half arsed approach where we sign one or two won't be enough.

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Couldn't agree more but have had this niggling feeling that this summer we will only get TWO of CB, CDM & RW and the third signing is going to be a backup RB most likely Trippier

After tonight's showing a centreback who's amazing at defending set pieces , no depth or presence there apart from Maguire, Bailly was terrible tonight playing the ball out. Lindelof zero presence.

CB and RW

That's it we don't need more. But it's the Glazers so I have no Hope

Damien said:

We need all three. Half arsed approach where we sign one or two won't be enough.

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Thats the key. Get Sancho. Get a starting CB and starting midfielder. No depth signings. No youth. First team only

What we need is one thing - what we'll get quite another. Over in the US this will look like a successful season; higher league placing, Euro final, Champions League next year. Income badly reduced by Covid, but that can be made up by not spending much on transfers - what we have is good enough to deliver the business plan. Womens team needs new toilets. Done.