I honestly don't understand the obsession with Elliot Anderson when we’re looking at a £200m budget tops, even after sales. Spending nearly half of that on him, plus a massive fee for Branthwaite, just doesn't make sense for the balance of the squad.
Under Carrick, we desperately need a proper
regista. Especially with Casemiro leaving, we need someone who can win the ball, control the game, and dictate the tempo from deep. For me,
Manuel Locatelli is the perfect fit. His stats in Serie A and the CL are elite, and he provides that veteran leadership and tactical discipline our young players need to grow. He's exactly what Carrick was for us.
My second choice would be
Samuele Ricci. There’s a reason City and Real Madrid are tracking him. He offers almost everything Locatelli does—elite ball retention and vision—just perhaps with a slightly lower ceiling for now.
Why break the bank for Anderson when we can get a world-class controller for a fraction of the price and actually fix the spine of the team? We have so many other holes to plug:
- Striker: With Zirkzee leaving, we need a high-level replacement.
- Goalkeeper: Both Bayindir and Onana are on their way out, so a new goalie is a priority.
- Left-back: This is Shaw’s last season, and we can’t rely on his fitness anyway.
Blowing the entire budget on two players while the rest of the squad is paper-thin would be a massive mistake. We need a smarter, more balanced rebuild
