Centre Midfielder Transfer Links

If City lose both Rodri and Silva this summer, no chance Anderson doesn't end up there as he would walk into a starting position for them
 
bosskeano said:
If City lose both Rodri and Silva this summer, no chance Anderson doesn't end up there as he would walk into a starting position for them
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He'll cost the guts of 100m. No one is paying that for a bench player.
City with Rodri, Silva and Guardiola cant overhaul a really mediocre Arsenal team. They're not going to be that attractive without them.
 
davidmichael said:
If we’re serious about fixing the midfield then we go all out for Anderson and Wharton who’d be our first choice pairing then bring in a young high energy ball winner who’d be back up along with Mainoo, if it was set in stone Anderson was going to City we wouldn’t still have credible links to him.

If Anderson is our number one priority then treat him as such and blow City out the water and offer Anderson the vice captaincy whilst telling him he’ll be our midfield leader for the next decade, Wharton would be perfect alongsude him as they offer different qualities whilst covering each others flaws.

Someone like Chema, Sangare, Gomes or Bouaddi as a young ball winner who could slowly progress as back up to Anderson would be perfect whilst Mainoo could be allowed to progress as back up to Wharton instead of being expected to boss games at his current age, we’ve neglected midfield for so many years so can’t make the same mistakes again.
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I don't see Utd signing any central midfielders from outside the PL this summer.

Between Anderson, Baleba, Tonali, M Fernandes, João Gomes, Andre, Wharton, Sangare there is plenty of choice of PL proven players. Seeing how well Mbeumo and Cunha integrated. I can see Utd following a similar process.

Obviously there's the caveat that they may suprise everyone with a unexpected signing from abroad.

Whoever they sign, they are not longer just signing in isolation as Andy Mitten explained, but now looking at how potential signings will pair up together and with existing players.

This is why I dont think Wharton will happen. Him and Mainoo are quite a weak pairing in midfield together as was discussed on TOTD podcast a few weeks back.
 
I just dont think Wharton is that good basically. I like the profile, he could become very, very good but right now i think he's pretty ordinary overall. I think paying more than 60m or so would be foolish and even that much would be a gamble.
I wouldn't be that pushed on premier league experience either. Our position last season was precarious enough that we needed an immediate impact. I could live with some time adapting next season for the right player. Between 3 midfielders we can do a bit of both I guess.
 
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caid said:
I just dont think Wharton is that good basically. I like the profile, he could become very, very good but right now i think he's pretty ordinary overall. I think paying more than 60m or so would be foolish and even that much would be a gamble.
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I think he will end up at Liverpool if Alonso takes over. There was something mentioned I can't recall where. That he is at his best with runners to hit with his passes and therefore is best suited to a 352 formation with aggressive wingbacks.
 
dinostar77 said:
I think he will end up at Liverpool if Alonso takes over. There was something mentioned I can't recall where. That he is at his best with runners to hit with his passes and therefore is best suited to a 352 formation with aggressive wingbacks.
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True but their biggest problems are defensive, and he will have a negative effect on that
 
Hammondo said:
True but their biggest problems are defensive, and he will have a negative effect on that
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They have a new £60mil CB from Rennes coming in the summer. Midfield of Wharton - Slazbs - Gravenberg would be a solid trio.
 
dinostar77 said:
I think he will end up at Liverpool if Alonso takes over. There was something mentioned I can't recall where. That he is at his best with runners to hit with his passes and therefore is best suited to a 352 formation with aggressive wingbacks.
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If you were looking to make use of him that sounds like a good plan. I just think you could do better and he's probably more of a Spurs / Villa level player. That level player would still be useful to us (or liverpool) but i wouldn't want to pay a premier league / english player tax for it.
 
dinostar77 said:
I don't see Utd signing any central midfielders from outside the PL this summer.

Between Anderson, Baleba, Tonali, M Fernandes, João Gomes, Andre, Wharton, Sangare there is plenty of choice of PL proven players. Seeing how well Mbeumo and Cunha integrated. I can see Utd following a similar process.

Obviously there's the caveat that they may suprise everyone with a unexpected signing from abroad.

Whoever they sign, they are not longer just signing in isolation as Andy Mitten explained, but now looking at how potential signings will pair up together and with existing players.

This is why I dont think Wharton will happen. Him and Mainoo are quite a weak pairing in midfield together as was discussed on TOTD podcast a few weeks back.
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I’d see Wharton as an alternative to or as a starter over Mainoo and never as a pairing, that’s why I said Anderson and Wharton as a pairing as they’d compliment each other or Anderson and Guimares or even Anderson and Tonali.
 
I'm willing to bet real money that United wont buy 3 midfielders this summer. Just never gonna happen, we barely ever buy 2 players in the same position, let alone midfield.

We wouldnt be able to flog Ugarte, he will stay.
 
I’m stretching it abit here, Akliouche was linked today. He looks best as an elegant #10 with some Kaka style ball carrying, but his long distance passing would look equally as effective as a deep lying playmaker.

He looks a player. Not sure where to put him, but he has some swagger.
 
Highfather_24 said:
I'm willing to bet real money that United wont buy 3 midfielders this summer. Just never gonna happen, we barely ever buy 2 players in the same position, let alone midfield.

We wouldnt be able to flog Ugarte, he will stay.
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Caemiro and Ugarte leaving and we're already light in midfield, I think we sign minimum 2 and likely 3 just not all 3 are going to be big money
 
Highfather_24 said:
I'm willing to bet real money that United wont buy 3 midfielders this summer. Just never gonna happen, we barely ever buy 2 players in the same position, let alone midfield.

We wouldnt be able to flog Ugarte, he will stay.
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If Ugarte stays, we probably don’t need to bring in three midfielders. But if he goes, that changes things. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if we sign three, similar to how the club loaded up on forwards last summer.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
If Ugarte stays, we probably don’t need to bring in three midfielders. But if he goes, that changes things. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if we sign three, similar to how the club loaded up on forwards last summer.
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I'd hedge my bets on it being three as Romano has mentioned today that Ugarte camp are looking for a new project for him.

I'm sticking to Anderson, Baleba and João Gomes. As my three for coming in this summer.
 
dinostar77 said:
I'd hedge my bets on it being three as Romano has mentioned today that Ugarte camp are looking for a new project for him.

I'm sticking to Anderson, Baleba and João Gomes. As my three for coming in this summer.
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Would make no sense sign both Anderson and Baleba.

I think it will be Baleba/Anderson/Tonali, and two relatively cheaper options.
 
ManhattanRed said:
Would make no sense sign both Anderson and Baleba.

I think it will be Baleba/Anderson/Tonali, and two relatively cheaper options.
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Anderson is a 8 and Baleba is a 6. Baleba gives you the power and physically missing in our midfield for years. Both on paper pair well with one another and Mainoo as well. Which was discussed on TOTD podcast the other week in their transfer specials.

Last CM is a guess, I'd presume we will go with one from one of the relegated sides as they should be cheaper.
 
Wharton and Baleba would be an interesting duo if we can't get Anderson.

If it's just two signings then them two plus Mainoo as options. Two injuries and we may need Bruno to be a CM with Cunha as a 10.
 
dinostar77 said:
I'm sticking to Anderson, Baleba and João Gomes. As my three for coming in this summer.
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This combination is the best, realistically possible scenario. Would cost in the region £200-250m, but would be worth it. I hope Ugarte leaves, and we bring 3 midfielders(3rd one could be cheaper one like Gomes).

Baleba and Gomes are definitely obtainable. If Anderson picks City(which is likely), go with Wharton instead(I don't know who else would be a good solution).
 
Could this work?

Outgoings
- Case
- Ugrate
- Mount (loan or sale)
Incomings
- Joao Gomes as backup for no.6
- M Fernandes as backup for no.8 and no. 10
- Anderson / Baleba as 1st choice no.6
- Orozco/Kone/Thwaites/Youth option as 6th CM in the squad

(If we can't sell Ugarte, we don't sign Joao Gomes)

I am not sure where Tonali fits. We can't be signing him if he is not a nailed on starter. Bruno and Mainoo have two spots. Can Tonali be the third in that midfield? Or will a midfield of Tonali-Bruno-Mainoo feel too open?
 
Kinda weird that everybody is saying just 2 signings with Ugarte leaving... Not sure how we plan to deal with CL football with only 3 midfielders. We need to add to our current depth to have 4, along with anyone leaving being replaced.
 
ryan_forlan said:
Could this work?

Outgoings
- Case
- Ugrate
- Mount (loan or sale)
Incomings
- Joao Gomes as backup for no.6
- M Fernandes as backup for no.8 and no. 10
- Anderson / Baleba as 1st choice no.6
- Orozco/Kone/Thwaites/Youth option as 6th CM in the squad

(If we can't sell Ugarte, we don't sign Joao Gomes)

I am not sure where Tonali fits. We can't be signing him if he is not a nailed on starter. Bruno and Mainoo have two spots. Can Tonali be the third in that midfield? Or will a midfield of Tonali-Bruno-Mainoo feel too open?
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No, because no one will pay him £250kpw and at this point, I don’t think he’d be looking to leave. When fit, he’s in and around the team.
 
Andy Mitten was talking in riddles a while ago on TOTD about a midfielder at a big club who isn't happy with his current lot and had been talking to United through his agent, and could be an option for us in the summer.

I wonder if it's Camavinga. Seems out of favour lately, and Madrid are playing an 18 year old lad ahead of him tonight.
 
V.O. said:
Andy Mitten was talking in riddles a while ago on TOTD about a midfielder at a big club who isn't happy with his current lot and had been talking to United through his agent, and could be an option for us in the summer.

I wonder if it's Camavinga. Seems out of favour lately, and Madrid are playing an 18 year old lad ahead of him tonight.
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First player I thought of was Camavinga. He's on the bench again tonight with an 18 year old in midfield.
 
Highfather_24 said:
We wouldnt be able to flog Ugarte, he will stay.
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Why wouldn`t we? He is 24, has been scouted and picked up by 2 of the biggest clubs in Europe. Has not been able to grab a starting position at either club but could start for loads of other clubs out there. We will not get our money back of course but i don`t see any problem selling him, if thats what we want.
 
I think if Spurs goes down that we should go in for Bergvall as our second / third choice. Think he has everything in his locker to become top tier
 
At some point United must at least try a vintage UNITED alike purchase, even as hard as it might be, going after someone like Joao Neves would be the right path. Even if PSG asks some filthy ammount of money. He is such a great and still somehow under the radar player.
 
JJ12 said:
First player I thought of was Camavinga. He's on the bench again tonight with an 18 year old in midfield.
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Me too and I think he's got Jonathon Barnett as his agent (His agency at least, anyway), who loves to hawk his players around.
 
Gordon S said:
Why wouldn`t we? He is 24, has been scouted and picked up by 2 of the biggest clubs in Europe. Has not been able to grab a starting position at either club but could start for loads of other clubs out there. We will not get our money back of course but i don`t see any problem selling him, if thats what we want.
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What kind of wages is he on, and would those clubs be willing to pay the fee and the wages? Lets hope so.
 
bosnian_red said:
Kinda weird that everybody is saying just 2 signings with Ugarte leaving... Not sure how we plan to deal with CL football with only 3 midfielders. We need to add to our current depth to have 4, along with anyone leaving being replaced.
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If Ugarte leaves, we definitely need 3.

One of them will be a big money signing like Anderson/Wharton/Tonali.

The other one/two I see being cheaper punts. But considering we also need a LB/LW and CF, I dont know if we will look for 3 mids, or just keep Ugarte for another season.
 
Highfather_24 said:
If Ugarte leaves, we definitely need 3.

One of them will be a big money signing like Anderson/Wharton/Tonali.

The other one/two I see being cheaper punts. But considering we also need a LB/LW and CF, I dont know if we will look for 3 mids, or just keep Ugarte for another season.
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Yeah agree. That's why I'm confused as both Fabrizio and the TotD crew have spoken about 2 midfielders and Ugarte leaving. Maybe they're thinking Bruno will drop deeper again and you'll have 5 of 2 new DMs, Mainoo as an 8, Bruno as a 8 or 10, and Mount as the depth 10. Maybe a youth player as part of the rotation, but not sure there's one who is ready.

Think that still leaves us far too reliant on Bruno and short of depth as we can't trust Mount to actually fill in as a 10 when we use Bruno as an 8.
 
bosnian_red said:
Yeah agree. That's why I'm confused as both Fabrizio and the TotD crew have spoken about 2 midfielders and Ugarte leaving. Maybe they're thinking Bruno will drop deeper again and you'll have 5 of 2 new DMs, Mainoo as an 8, Bruno as a 8 or 10, and Mount as the depth 10. Maybe a youth player as part of the rotation, but not sure there's one who is ready.

Think that still leaves us far too reliant on Bruno and short of depth as we can't trust Mount to actually fill in as a 10 when we use Bruno as an 8.
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Could be cunha dropping in to 10. We're still being linked with left wingers.
Doesn't make sense to me but i guess i can kind of see the logic . I mean if you got two top quality midfielders with mainoo to rotate that would probably be fine most weeks. I'd still want to bring in a younger prospect / academy player or someone like eriksen who probably wont play outside of injuries but is there if needed.
 
JJ12 said:
First player I thought of was Camavinga. He's on the bench again tonight with an 18 year old in midfield.
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Haven't some Madrid commentators said that Camavinga hasn't improved in the five years he's been at Madrid? Not Real Madrid level. Frequently injured and inconsistent. Sounds like a signing we should avoid.
 
dinostar77 said:
Haven't some Madrid commentators said that Camavinga hasn't improved in the five years he's been at Madrid? Not Real Madrid level. Frequently injured and inconsistent. Sounds like a signing we should avoid.
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Oh I agree - he was just the first player that came to mind
 
Much rather we go for Tchouameni if there's any sniff of him being open to leaving.
 
Can't we sign Camavinga on loan? It worked out well for Arsenal with Odegaard. His development has stunted and his recent injury issue is definitely worrying.
 
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