Fullbacks for the summer

Hellboy

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Arguably our weakest positions in the squad are RB and FB, plus there are very high chances Darmian & Blind won't be here next season.

We have Shaw, Young and Valencia who will probably stay. The latter two are quite old and will decline even further next season.

So what are realistic targets we could sign in both position ?

On top of my head ;

Right backs :

Meunier
??

Left Backs :

Alex Sandro
Gaya
Benfica's LB
 
Juan Bernat might become available. Not a flashy name, but a very good player, still young, great character and shouldn't be to expensive. As a bayernfan, I'm actually quite confused he's not linked to other clubs more frequently. He's too good to be a backup.
 
I think Sessegnon is a must sign. Probably the best prospect in the country. Certainly the most accomplished. I think the player should probably go to Spurs but I'd be disappointed if we don't make him a priority.

I think Valencia will be the starting RB again next season with Young moving to that side as backup. The investment will be at LB - Whether that's a player to backup Shaw (Sessegnon, Tierney) or to start (Sandro) remains to be seen.

Edit: Actually Fosu-Mensah backing up Toni V with potential to be long term starter if he impresses. Young can just be a utility guy.
 
Think we might avoid signing a RB till January and see how Fosu-Mensah does on his return. Hoping we'll look for someone fairly versatile, i.e can play both sides pretty comfortably. Ideally I'd like to see us go for a pretty attack-oriented player at RB because our threat down that side is virtually nonexistent at times, we need some sort of back up though because our only proper full back who isn't rubbish is Shaw.

Fabinho may be a decent option on the right hand side and we were linked with Ghoulam (?) at Napoli I think for LB who's meant to be really good.
 
TFM backing up Valencia next year and Young backing up Shaw is what I think it'll be.

With Rojo, Lindelof and Tuanzebe as emergency options.
 
Bubz27 said:
TFM backing up Valencia next year and Young backing up Shaw is what I think it'll be.

With Rojo, Lindelof and Tuanzebe as emergency options.
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Oh shit forgot all about TFM. Yeah 100% he should be a squad player next season.
 
If Shaw stays fit and maintains his performance levels, I think we'll continue with him and Young for LB. Do think we'll buy a backup to Tony V though but there again, he'll be first choice again I reckon.
 
Just game to post what surprised myself a bit.

Young and Valencia are the best performers in the league and in current squad of the year in Whoscored.com according to all players average ratings. Aging though.
 
Bubz27 said:
TFM backing up Valencia next year and Young backing up Shaw is what I think it'll be.

With Rojo, Lindelof and Tuanzebe as emergency options.
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if we're aiming for top 4 finish yes, but we need far more quality in these positions to win the league.

TFM is not good enough going forward
 
Hellboy said:
if we're aiming for top 4 finish yes, but we need far more quality in these positions to win the league.

TFM is not good enough going forward
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I agree. As a backup, TFM is fine.

But to be properly elite, we need a properly elite fullback. RB is more pressing then LB imo.
 
Danny Rose would be good for you. I'd say you should keep Shaw and Young as both could be useful with Rose injury record.
 
I think it’s probably time to replace Valencia. He’s a great right-back but this team really relies on good delivery which he just doesn’t have. Time will likely start to catch up with him soon. If we can sort out our right-wing situation then this wouldn’t be quite as pressing a problem.

He’d still be a great rotational player, however.
 
Hopefully Shaw will continue his renaissance and we won't need a left back this summer.

For right back I would like to see us sign Mitchell Weiser. This is a player I would know almost nothing about except a Hertha fan on another forum has been raving about him for a while. I ended up watching a few games just to check him out and was blown away by how good he is. Apparently he was considered an incredible talent as a young player, so much so that Bayern bought him at 18 as a long term replacement for Lahm. I'm not sure why it didn't work for him there but he was deemed surplus and sold to Hertha when they bought Kimmich. He has everything you want in a modern full back and his stats are almost comically good. All of the following are per 90 minutes:

Chances created.
Weisner - 1.93
Meunier - 0.93
Walker - 0.81
Valencia - 0.60

Successful take-ons.
Wiesner - 1.29
Valencia - 1.20
Walker - 0.81
Meunier - 0.74

Tackles won.
Weisner - 2.22
Meunier - 1.39
Valencia - 1.15
Walker - 1.02

Interceptions.
Weisner - 2.81
Valencia - 1.52
Walker - 0.98
Meunier - 0.84

Remember he is the youngest of these players and plays for, by far, the weakest team. The Hertha fan I mentioned thinks he is far too good for their team and will leave for a big club soon, I'd love it if it was United.
 
we currently have issues with our attacking threat from right back. I see people suggesting Fosu Mensah as an option/back up. You think Valencia's delivery is poor, Fosu Mensah's would be even worse. He's not an attacking full back, in fact to me he's not even a full back. I see him as a centre half, and I'd be fine with him getting chances there as I rate him. If we were playing a Real or Barca and you wanted him at right back to specifically be set up to stop attacks down the wing, he could probably do a job there defensively, but in a game where you are looking for some attacking threat from full back, he's not the guy, it's not his game
 
I think we'll go for Sessegnon and hold off on right back for another year, we'll have Fosu Mensah and Tuanzebe hopefully coming back from successful loans.
 
I wouldn't be surprised to see us continue to ignore both fullback positions this summer, at least one of them will go on without an upgrade if Jose sticks to his commernt about only buying 2 players.

Options though;

RB
Meunier
Odriozola

LB
Sandro
Bernat
Tierney
Gaya
 
Devil may care said:
I wouldn't be surprised to see us continue to ignore both fullback positions this summer, at least one of them will go on without an upgrade if Jose sticks to his commernt about only buying 2 players.

Options though;

RB
Meunier
Odriozola

LB
Sandro
Bernat
Tierney
Gaya
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I would go for Tierney, think he can make the step up and excel..
 
A lot of shout on Meunier but whenever I watched PSG, I always see his name on the bench and see 34 years old Alves instead.

I think centre back & midfield need to be sorted out first, we can think about full backs later. Those two roles are more important than full backs. For now, Valencia is doing great & consistent most of the time. Mensah probably should be able to cover him up in cup comps & group stage of CL. Shaw has made a good progress.
 
Adnan said:
I would go for Tierney, think he can make the step up and excel..
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Our 5th choice leftback is shredding up the SPL. Shows how poor the league is. Tierney isn’t good enough defensively and isn’t particularly a player I’d say would be strong enough to shine in the EPL.
 
Getting Meunier in at RB as competition and eventually as replacement for Valencia would be great.

Left back is a bit more tricky, I reckon we should sell Blind and Darmian. I know that leaves Young and Shaw for LB but how long can/should we use Young? And will Mourinho keep hold of Shaw, he is not playing him a lot despite praising him recently.

So I would like to see someone like Ghoulam, Alex Sandro, Grimaldo, Bernat, Gaya come in as direct competition for the 1st spot. And than getting one of Tierney or Sessegnon for the future, especially if we don't hold onto Shaw.
 
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settembrini said:
Hopefully Shaw will continue his renaissance and we won't need a left back this summer.

For right back I would like to see us sign Mitchell Weiser. This is a player I would know almost nothing about except a Hertha fan on another forum has been raving about him for a while. I ended up watching a few games just to check him out and was blown away by how good he is. Apparently he was considered an incredible talent as a young player, so much so that Bayern bought him at 18 as a long term replacement for Lahm. I'm not sure why it didn't work for him there but he was deemed surplus and sold to Hertha when they bought Kimmich. He has everything you want in a modern full back and his stats are almost comically good. All of the following are per 90 minutes:

Chances created.
Weisner - 1.93
Meunier - 0.93
Walker - 0.81
Valencia - 0.60

Successful take-ons.
Wiesner - 1.29
Valencia - 1.20
Walker - 0.81
Meunier - 0.74

Tackles won.
Weisner - 2.22
Meunier - 1.39
Valencia - 1.15
Walker - 1.02

Interceptions.
Weisner - 2.81
Valencia - 1.52
Walker - 0.98
Meunier - 0.84

Remember he is the youngest of these players and plays for, by far, the weakest team. The Hertha fan I mentioned thinks he is far too good for their team and will leave for a big club soon, I'd love it if it was United.
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Those stats do look great, and although we've struggled with players from the bundesliga I actually think it's probably the most similar league to the premier league.

I'm going to have to take a look at this guy.

EDIT: Quick look at transfermrkt and it seems he only has 1 assist from right back all season. Occasionally switches positions to one of the wings though, which would suggest he is good going forward.

Could be a sensible transfer for us if we are looking at picking up somebody ready to make a step up. However, I don't think it is the type of transfer we'll go for. He would be in the Bailly and Lindelof mode of unknown to the most fans and if we're only making 2 or 3 signings I expect them to be well known names at their prime.
 
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Creativity and tangible impact in attack should ideally be a major consideration for any fullback signing, IMO. If your fullback or wingback is a genuine offensive threat, than's an additional source of goals for your striker, in particular, and it does create more room for you wide attackers as opposition markers are caught in two minds. Someone like Alex Telles would be a good standing for United from that standpoint — he's not only creative for the fullback position, but creative in general — including all positions, and also fairly effective from set pieces (which is not United's forte at this moment in time).
Telles.jpg
Click to expand...

A bit reticent to compare him with Alex Sandro for Porto because the latter was just so accomplished in nearly all phases of the game and has been a part of the genuine elite since joining Juventus, but Sandro is in the same boat in that he's outgrown Porto, with all due respect to the club — and it's a bit weird that clubs aren't targeting him more intently, much like Sandro in the past — who went a bit under the radar, and now suddenly everyone has a great deal of interest in him after-the-fact.

Ghoulam would've been ideal but Napoli rushed him, and now he's done his knee cap. That situation is also worth monitoring.
 
settembrini said:
Hopefully Shaw will continue his renaissance and we won't need a left back this summer.

For right back I would like to see us sign Mitchell Weiser. This is a player I would know almost nothing about except a Hertha fan on another forum has been raving about him for a while. I ended up watching a few games just to check him out and was blown away by how good he is. Apparently he was considered an incredible talent as a young player, so much so that Bayern bought him at 18 as a long term replacement for Lahm. I'm not sure why it didn't work for him there but he was deemed surplus and sold to Hertha when they bought Kimmich. He has everything you want in a modern full back and his stats are almost comically good. All of the following are per 90 minutes:

Chances created.
Weisner - 1.93
Meunier - 0.93
Walker - 0.81
Valencia - 0.60

Successful take-ons.
Wiesner - 1.29
Valencia - 1.20
Walker - 0.81
Meunier - 0.74

Tackles won.
Weisner - 2.22
Meunier - 1.39
Valencia - 1.15
Walker - 1.02

Interceptions.
Weisner - 2.81
Valencia - 1.52
Walker - 0.98
Meunier - 0.84

Remember he is the youngest of these players and plays for, by far, the weakest team. The Hertha fan I mentioned thinks he is far too good for their team and will leave for a big club soon, I'd love it if it was United.
Click to expand...

Weiser is actually worth a punt if you ask me. Has consistently been improving since joining Hertha and getting much more playing time. I think the main reason it didn't work out for him was that he simply hadn't enough progressed when it was time to decide who would replace Lahm and Kimmich was the better option at this time, add to that the fact that Weiser wanted to get as much playing time as possible moving on was the best option for him.
 
We should've bought Mendy last summer. You see this is the reason why we are behind City in terms of planning and getting who they need. Mendy would've solved the LB position for years and that would've left us needing a RB only this summer (along with other signings).
 
Invictus said:
Creativity and tangible impact in attack should ideally be a major consideration for any fullback signing, IMO. If your fullback or wingback is a genuine offensive threat, than's an additional source of goals for your striker, in particular, and it does create more room for you wide attackers as opposition markers are caught in two minds. Someone like Alex Telles would be a good standing for United from that standpoint — he's not only creative for the fullback position, but creative in general — including all positions, and also fairly effective from set pieces (which is not United's forte at this moment in time).
Telles.jpg
Click to expand...

A bit reticent to compare him with Alex Sandro for Porto because the latter was just so accomplished in nearly all phases of the game and has been a part of the genuine elite since joining Juventus, but Sandro is in the same boat in that he's outgrown Porto, with all due respect to the club — and it's a bit weird that clubs aren't targeting him more intently, much like Sandro in the past — who went a bit under the radar, and now suddenly everyone has a great deal of interest in him after-the-fact.

Ghoulam would've been ideal but Napoli rushed him, and now he's done his knee cap. That situation is also worth monitoring.
Click to expand...

That image is very much blurred and can't see a thing.

Telles is very interesting player, at Inter he was good and they even had the option to buy which they didn't take. Didn't think he had it him to be top player though, he was linked with Chelsea recently and is very highly rated now. When he was Inter, he was good enough but not a very big threat on the flanks. But then again we are talking about Inter who are one of the most disjointed teams in top leagues.
 
We need to get the fullbacks right. Yes we could do with a box-to-box midfielder, but we do not have enough attacking outlets. The great United sides used their fullbacks in this way. Until this is sorted we will to easy to shut down. There have to be alternative ways of getting forward, not just hoofing it up the middle. We need to be able to stretch team, get them retreating. We should be getting the midfielder, but also the fullbacks. Young is a backup at best and Valencia does not offer what we need.
 
roonster09 said:
That image is very much blurred and can't see a thing.
Click to expand...
How about now? Tried to resolve it to a larger size - still a bit blurred, but most of the names are more legible:

Alex.png

Coincidentally, we were just discussing him in convo, and it'll be interesting to see how he fares vs. one of the most prolific and in-form forwards around in Salah. Might answer some questions regarding his positioning and defensive discipline on the wider European front. That's probably the most significant sticking point as regards Telles, because he was making major contributions on the other end of the pitch even last season:

C9nS0nyXYAEGLd9.jpg
 
Invictus said:
How about now? Tried to resolve it to a larger size - still a bit blurred, but most of the names are more legible:

Alex.png

Coincidentally, we were just discussing him in convo, and it'll be interesting to see how he fares vs. one of the most prolific and in-form forwards around in Salah. Might answer some questions regarding his positioning and defensive discipline on the wider European front. That's probably the most significant sticking point as regards Telles, because he was making major contributions on the other end of the pitch even last season:

C9nS0nyXYAEGLd9.jpg
Click to expand...

Yeah this one is much better. Thanks for the effort.

I remember him playing for Inter and also remember Inter fans divided on him with some saying he isn't defensively strong and also physically and other side of the argument was he offers lot in attack which is very important for full back. Both fair opinions at that time.

Not sure how much he has improved but going by stats, his assists column rivals so many wingers. If we can have such a threat in final third then it's a big step in right direction.

Btw, remember him whipping the crosses with good accuracy rather then just floating it with no pace.

Also will be interesting to see how he will cope with in form and very attacking team/player like you said.
 
Red_toad said:
Our 5th choice leftback is shredding up the SPL. Shows how poor the league is. Tierney isn’t good enough defensively and isn’t particularly a player I’d say would be strong enough to shine in the EPL.
Click to expand...
Tierney is rated higher than the fullback Liverpool signed who put in a fantastic performance against City recently. The league is poor but Tierney is a very good prospect along with the lad at Liverpool Robertson.
 
settembrini said:
Hopefully Shaw will continue his renaissance and we won't need a left back this summer.

For right back I would like to see us sign Mitchell Weiser. This is a player I would know almost nothing about except a Hertha fan on another forum has been raving about him for a while. I ended up watching a few games just to check him out and was blown away by how good he is. Apparently he was considered an incredible talent as a young player, so much so that Bayern bought him at 18 as a long term replacement for Lahm. I'm not sure why it didn't work for him there but he was deemed surplus and sold to Hertha when they bought Kimmich. He has everything you want in a modern full back and his stats are almost comically good. All of the following are per 90 minutes:

Chances created.
Weisner - 1.93
Meunier - 0.93
Walker - 0.81
Valencia - 0.60

Successful take-ons.
Wiesner - 1.29
Valencia - 1.20
Walker - 0.81
Meunier - 0.74

Tackles won.
Weisner - 2.22
Meunier - 1.39
Valencia - 1.15
Walker - 1.02

Interceptions.
Weisner - 2.81
Valencia - 1.52
Walker - 0.98
Meunier - 0.84

Remember he is the youngest of these players and plays for, by far, the weakest team. The Hertha fan I mentioned thinks he is far too good for their team and will leave for a big club soon, I'd love it if it was United.
Click to expand...

I agree and mentioned him in my topic about replacing the RB in the newbies too.
Seems like such a sensible low risk transfer. Doubt we’ll have to pay munch too.

For LB I trust Shaw to develop more when he gets gametime every week. Young as a backup.
 
Shaw is fine. However, a RB that can actually cross a fecking ball would be a great start.

Valencia is always bombing forward, at times he's probably one of the most forward RBs in Europe. Yet he almost always turns back (while in space) and passes the ball backwards, slowing down our attack. When he does cross it, it's a shocking cross.
 
Is Sessegnon not more of a winger then a LB? have only seen him a handful of times but hes always been a lot further up the park, giving the goals hes putting in at his age dont see why we would be looking to sign him as a left back.
 
Red_toad said:
Our 5th choice leftback is shredding up the SPL. Shows how poor the league is. Tierney isn’t good enough defensively and isn’t particularly a player I’d say would be strong enough to shine in the EPL.
Click to expand...

Heard this about Wanyama and Van Dijk as well, both have been superb since they came to the premiership, not saying Tierney is ready for United but certainly would do a job in the premiership for a lot of teams.
 
Meunier isnt a realistic option. We may as well forget it.
 
People go on about Shaw and his Renaissance but Jose never plays him in the big games. Valencia is great on his day but needs to be the back up, I like tfm but wonder how many opportunities Jose will give him. Young has been good overall for us but we need better. We need the best about and starter's, not back up.
 
Whoever we buy (if anybody) tell them just to play with some kind of attacking intent.

Either take your man on or look to run in behind the defense.

Fullbacks offer teams so much these days, we have the personal but for whatever reason they aren’t performing.
 
Meunière for RB
Fabinho for CM but can also play RB
Sandro for LB

Ryan S is good but plays more as a LM like Bale did
 
I want to see Sandro at leftback and i'm not really sure about RB. I want to see a world class replacement, but I don't know any who are attainable. I'd like us to try TFM rotating with Valencia next season and see how that goes.

Having said that Demitri Mitchell seems to be doing well at hearts, maybe we should let him fight it out with Shaw for a LB spot? The safe bet is Sandro though.
 
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