How many players do we need to sign this summer?

[charlenefan]

I ask the question because in recent weeks we've seen injuries to Bailly, Pogba, VDB, McTominay & Cavani has left very little room for rotation

Seems likely Mata will go in the summer, if Pogba isn't going to sign a new contract than this is the summer to sell him as well and given his rise in form now's the time to let Lingard go as well

Does this mean then that like last summer this summer will be spent signing more squad options like Telles and VDB rather than players who will improve the starting XI? Because after all it's a lot less expensive to sign 3 or 4 backup players than it is 3 or 4 players top class players better than what we have already

Its a little concerning seeing as many are expecting an actual real title challenge next season

 

[eire-red]

I'd go with 3 top quality first team options, right up the spine. CB, CDM and CF would be my preference.

Having said that, knowing what we need and actually filling those holes is a different story.

 

[Wilt]

Haaland and Grealish dream signings

 

[charlenefan]

Haaland and Grealish would be dream signings

That's likely 200m for two players and doesn't really address the lack squad depth at the moment

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

I'd go with 3 top quality first team options, right up the spine. CB, CDM and CF would be my preference.

Having said that, knowing what we need and actually filling those holes is a different story.

Agree.

Kounde
Rice
André Silva

But we probably only have 70m net to spend. That would mean 2 players if we sell Dalot and Lingard. All 3 if we sell Pogba.

Martial's lack of form and work rate is a big concern.

 

[redNATION]

Haaland, Sancho (or just one of them this summer...), and Rice and a CB.

 

[gorky_utd]

A cb and a forward is a must. If Pogba leaves, then a midfielder will be required. Kounde or konate, Sancho will be my choice. However, if it is only 1 then I would sign the cb. Ole will probably have to approach the cb targets by saying- I need warriors. I am building an alliance to defend ourselves .

 

[Wilt]

That's likely 200m for two players and doesn't really address the lack squad depth at the moment

Of course unrealistic hence I said “dream”

 

[wolvored]

I hope we can move Pogba on, hopefully Martial as well. This would add £70-80 mill in these covid days.
I would buy a CD, DM, RWB, and CF in that order as we could get by with Cavani, Greenwood even Rashford as cover for CF if the money runs out before we get to the CF signing. Not ideal, but managable.
Along with Pogba and Martial, we also need Jones gone as a minimum. Mata will be out of contract so he will be gone as well.

 

[Feed Me]

The same as usual: a commanding CB, a holding midfielder, a right winger and a CF.

We don’t need a new thread on this topic so frequently, since the answer is the same as it has been for about ten years.

 

[Beanz]

Offload martial, get in a genuine cf/striker, get a cb, get a lw as martial also acts as depth there and with him gone we'll be a rashford injury away from nought. I also just really want a reason for us to get neto and a dm for obvious reasons. I want to say rw, but as it is a dream I will just hope that diallo hits the ground running supplemented by Mason.

Summary
Cf- haaland
Cb- kounde/konate
Cdm-no idea
Lw- Pedro neto

 

[charlenefan]

The same as usual: a commanding CB, a holding midfielder, a right winger and a CF.

We don’t need a new thread on this topic so frequently, since the answer is the same as it has been for about ten years.

If you read what I asked you'll see this isn't a what do we need thread, we're struggling with squad depth right now with many of those options who are injured right now likely to be sold in the summer that's it's own separate issue beyond I want shiny thing in this position

 

[Feed Me]

If you read what I asked you'll see this isn't a what do we need thread, we're struggling with squad depth right now with many of those options who are injured right now likely to be sold in the summer that's it's own separate issue beyond I want shiny thing in this position

Oh okay. To answer your question - we need four new players.

 

[charlenefan]

Oh okay. To answer your question - we need four new players.

So we lose Pogba, Mata and Lingard in the summer and you don't think we need to replace any of them? Because none of them are holding midfielders or right wingers

 

[Oranges038]

Really need some commanding players through the spine of the team. A dominant CB and CM/CDM and a proper CF who will bag at least 25 goals a season. Two of those would be Haaland and Rice, as for CB I am not sure but Ramos might be an option.

These are the main options I see for these 3 positions but to spend almost 200m on 3 players is a bit much, especially when you consider the current climate and the amount of money that has already been spent on this squad.

 

[Manoucha09]

Going by our activity over the past few summer windows, I'd say we'd need more than we'll actually sign. I hope we have enough dead rubbers come the end of the season to blood some of our youth players with a view of adding them to the first team squad next season (Shola, Amad, Mejbri, Galbraith and Hugil).

We should be looking at signing a new CB, cover for RB, a new right winger, at least 2 CMs as I believe Pogba will be off, and a striker (2 if we sell Martial, which we won't).

Our squad depth isn't anywhere near City, but after them we probably have the best depth in the league. It's just mainly our right-hand side which is really lacking.

Once Pogba leaves, the drop in quality in midfield is worrying. We already need a deep lying midfielder, we'll need an 8 with Pogba gone too.

Edit: Hopefully some of those positions can be filled by our players out on loan. Laird and Garner could add real depth if they come back ready.

 

[Ali Dia]

Exact same as last summer.

Sancho, Rice/Camavinga while the Spanish are still skint, centre back. Should be about 150 after we flog and give away the deadwood. We need to start clearing squad space for the next batch of youth challengers too.

next year haaland if he’s still at Dortmund. Another whole year of wondering whether Martial will hit form or Cavani will retire first...

 

[charlenefan]

Going by our activity over the past few summer windows, I'd say we'd need more than we'll actually sign. I hope we have enough dead rubbers come the end of the season to blood some of our youth players with a view of adding them to the first team squad next season (Shola, Amad, Mejbri, Galbraith and Hugil).

We should be looking at signing a new CB, cover for RB, a new right winger, at least 2 CMs as I believe Pogba will be off, and a striker (2 if we sell Martial, which we won't).

Our squad depth isn't anywhere near City, but after them we probably have the best depth in the league. It's just mainly our right-hand side which is really lacking.

Once Pogba leaves, the drop in quality in midfield is worrying. We already need a deep lying midfielder, we'll need an 8 with Pogba gone too.

Edit: Hopefully some of those positions can be filled by our players out on load. Laird and Garner could add real depth if they come back ready.

See this guy gets it

 

[croadyman]

Ideally CB, DM, RW & ST although if Cavani stays would maybe go for backup RB instead. See this is the trouble we should already have two of those four signed last summer and now be moving on to the next ones but because we haven't the right people in place we didn't do shrewd deals and are a year behind.

 

[Eire Red United]

Haaland and Sancho or Grealish.

 

[davidmichael]

What we need if we’re to realistically challenge for big trophies is a pacey centre back that’s strong and no injury concerns, a pure out and out defensive midfielder with lots of stamina, a proven quality right sided attacker and a proper centre forward.

Of course we won’t be signing all of those due to COVID unless we manage to offload De Gea, Dalot, Jones, Pereira, Mata, Lingard, Chong and Martial and also have £150 million as a transfer budget in place which as a whole is very unlikely.

 

[Feed Me]

So we lose Pogba, Mata and Lingard in the summer and you don't think we need to replace any of them? Because none of them are holding midfielders or right wingers

I don’t think Mata and Lingard matter a great deal, especially when you look at how little Ole utilised them.

Pogba has been a square peg in a round hole for years at United – shame we always tried to shoehorn him.

If we get a class holding player and a right winger then we won’t mourn the loss of that trip you mentioned imo.

 

[Ali Dia]

I don’t think Mata and Lingard matter a great deal, especially when you look at how little Ole utilised them.

Pogba has been a square peg in a round hole for years at United – shame we always tried to shoehorn him.

If we get a class holding player and a right winger then we won’t mourn the loss of that trip you mentioned imo.

100%. It would be a huge and instant upgrade to the actual starting 11

We need a central defender too though!

 

[Ali Dia]

Ideally CB, DM, RW & ST although if Cavani stays would maybe go for backup RB instead. See this is the trouble we should already have two of those four signed last summer and now be moving on to the next ones but because we haven't the right people in place we didn't do shrewd deals and are a year behind.

Last year we had covid as the excuse and they spent 80 million while not improving the first 11 so they can’t exactly say money’s been tight... I’ve a feeling this is our new direction. youth signings on relatively big money and a few punts to tide Ole over until they develop... this could take a while!

 

[sullydnl]

Not that many, probably.

I mean in terms of positions to strengthen you'd be looking at probably CB, CM, RW and CF?

Would we need to strengthen all of those though? Maybe not.

CB, definitely. RW has been a problem position for years too. CF though, well we do have Cavani and Martial there already, as well as Greenwood coming on (who would be featuring less at RW if we had someone in that position). And in CM you could keep Pogba and/or hope VDB comes on in his second season. Not ideal but there's scope to make-do in some of those positions.

If we got three quality signings I'd be very pleased. It will probably end up being two signings though, so I just hope they're good.

 

[thegregster]

RW for obvious reasons.
Striker Martial can't deliver and Cavani is 34.
A specialist DM
CB
Maybe a RB as well.

So 4 players minimum.

 

[croadyman]

RW for obvious reasons.
Striker Martial can't deliver and Cavani is 34.
A specialist DM
CB
Maybe a RB as well.

So 4 players minimum.

Yeah completely agree with you and would be possible if we had the right people in place

 

[RashfordisRed]

As with every season we won't fill all roles but in my mind realisticially I want to see:

CB
DM
RW

I don't think there is a worthwhile big marquee signing at CB out there - Milenkovic with 1 year left on his contract could be a shrewd buy. Being Serbian gives me a good feel.

That leaves the big funds to be spent in DM and RW. It seems the price for Sancho is going to be lower and Dortmund will have to sell this summer due to their difficulties so can see that getting over the line. As an alternative I think we should be looking at Grealish, we don't need a guy who plays every game RW, a Grealish would allow Mason / Diallo plenty of game time whilst adding quality.

I think a DM is possible if Pogba leaves, the issue is again not many out there. Rice is the obvious candidate and with Lingard we could get something over the line.

Potentially would like to see the following:

Milenkovic 15-20m
Rice 50m + Lingard
Sancho 75m

If Pogba recoups 50m and we can get fees for Jones, Dalot, Pereira, Williams that looks a very reasonable net spend and essentially 3 players that improve our 1st X1.

A CF would be nice, but suspect we only have the budget for a single forward player considering the need to improve our spine.

DDG / Henderson
AWB Milenkovic Maguire Shaw
Rice Scott
Sancho Bruno Rashford
Cavani

DDG / Henderson
Tuanzebe Bailly Lindelof Telles
Matic Fred
Mason DVB James
Martial

+ Diallo + Mejbri

That squad to me looks a lot stronger than we have and feasible.

Perfect set up to go all out for Haaland the next summer.

 

[AgentSmith]

Depends if the Glazers are willing to give reasonable backing and allow all the money raised by selling the fringe players to be reinvested. Also then depends on the fee we can generate for Pogba.

This is probably a slightly unrealistic list but it doesn’t seem too far from what could be achieved with some intent and conviction in a Covid-stricken market.

In:

Trippier
Milenković
Camavinga
Sancho

Out:

Dalot
Jones
Pereira
Lingard
James
Pogba
Mata
Chong

De Gea Henderson

AWB Trippier
Milenković Bailly
Maguire Lindelof
Shaw Telles

Camavinga Matic
Fred McTominay

Sancho Diallo
Bruno VDB
Rashford Martial

Cavani Greenwood

With players like Grant, Tuanzebe, Williams, Garner, Pellistri, Shoretire etc. filling out the rest of the squad.

(I’d personally cash in on De Gea and Martial and add their replacements to the ’in’ list as well but it seems improbable and unrealistic to include this)

 

[ForeverRed1]

I’d like to see mata, lingard, martial and pogba go this summer, which should give us enough money to invest in what we need.

a fast nimble centre back to partner maguire.
Right back to rival awb.
An out and out Cdm
A right winger.
Extend Cavani another year and get greenwood playing as a striker. Get grealish next summer

let’s say kounde, max Aarons, Declan rice and Jason sancho.
Wishful thinking as that’s not going to be cheap.. but I think that’s what we need to put us right up there.

A world class striker and grealish next summer makes us world class.

 

[Remember the geese]

Think we could do with five players. Sancho, Haaland, a centre back, defensive midfielder and a backup right back. Realistically, I think we may get two of those. Three at an absolute push. Something along the lines of Sancho and Milenkovic/Torres. The third would be Trippier. I assume we will sit tight on the goalkeeping situation and leave any potential acquisition there until we know for sure that Henderson isn't up to it.

 

[united_99]

Would be good to sign a couple of established players who will improve our starting 11 immediately instead of more 18 year olds and squad players.

 

[jem]

That's likely 200m for two players and doesn't really address the lack squad depth at the moment

Not just squad depth but glaring weaknesses in the starting 11 at CB and DM.

 

[RedDevil250]

CB
ST
CDM/CM
RW

Are all musts IMO. Go cheap on CB and possibly RW, need to spend massively on the midfield and striker options. To be honest, it's kind of scary how many holes we still have in our squad. Because I could argue GK, RB, and another CM as well.

 

[GBBQ]

3 if Pogba doesn’t leave, 4 if he does. It won’t be enough to match City’s squad on paper but it’ll be a big step closer if we get the right people. Especially since we’ve a raft of gems up and coming in the under age teams who can act as the squad fillers.

 

[SER19]

We're not going to win a league any time soon unless there is some huge outlay that won't happen. You'd be talking a top CB, sancho and Haaland. And a 55m sub right back would be great

 

[patty123]

Of course we won’t be signing all of those due to COVID unless we manage to offload De Gea,

Seriously who the heck is going to pay DDG 350 a week on top of a fee given his lousy form now for near 3 yrs, and he wont leave unless he gets that wage, as would you leave a job for lesser money.

As for the others you mention, really only money makers is martial, and depending on Jesse's form is a toss up as to much people would be willing to pay, as mata can leave on a free unless we take up the extra year, jones be lucky to get 5 million for him given his lack of game time and woeful injury record.


As like most have said, an out and out striker, a proven RW, CDM. I thought of adding a right wing back, but given AWB recent form (attack wise) he seems to be improving and would use Williams as his back up for next season, as this crap we tend to go on with, where we think every player is able to switch postion with ease like Irwin is messing us up and the players, it killed O Shea.

 

[Ali Dia]

We're not going to win a league any time soon unless there is some huge outlay that won't happen. You'd be talking a top CB, sancho and Haaland. And a 55m sub right back would be great

that’s about 300 million and still no DM. It’s crazy how much tweaking this squad could still use. We’ve so many players that hardly play so hopefully we clear the decks this summer and reinvest that money at least.

 

[SirScholes]

That's likely 200m for two players and doesn't really address the lack squad depth at the moment

Absolutely does

 

[SER19]

that’s about 300 million and still no DM. It’s crazy how much tweaking this squad could still use. We’ve so many players that hardly play so hopefully we clear the decks this summer and reinvest that money at least.

Only joking about the 55m sub. I think improving the balance of the team would improve some players we already have

Really I think we need 3 players. A sub rb, and a top rw and forward. If we got sancho rehaos cavani would suffice one more season. We 'need' a new CB but only one that will actually improve things. Id sooner see the team improve overall than spend 40 or 50m on Lindelof and Maguires equal. Hopefully scouts have detected a good option