Liam Delap | £30m release clause?

[G-manc]

That's why players are sold for much cheaper than expected. To get them off the books. We could of course keep Shaw since he's still only 29 and is on contract for two more seasons. That wouldn't be the end of the world if he stays, especially since he and Mount are quite effective when healthy.

As for being skint, I suspect that's mostly PR from Ratcliffe as leverage to reduce the perception that United will overpay in the future. He has already said there's a transfer budget in place this year, which could grow depending on sales, which how I suspect things will unfold in the summer. We will probably buy two notable players (along with Leon) and that will be the bulk of our transfers. Once the entire squad is fit, we will have 3 or 4 players whose availability will almost feel like new transfers.

But if we get them off the books at a loss, that money doesn’t go into some kitty, it would be negative in relation to PSR is my understanding. We probably still owe around £40m on both Antony and Hojlund whereas someone like Dalot would be fine as we paid his transfer off some time ago. Aside from possibly Rashford, I don’t see that the others will raise much funds unless you’re moving on Mainoo or Garnacho.

 

[Darlington Padgett]

Would people be as disappointed if we signed Sesko?

Sesko might be a bigger gamble. He has fewer goals in a lesser league with a better team.

 

[bosnian_red]

Would people be as disappointed if we signed Sesko?

Both would be projects with a decent chance of the same happening as what happened this season. I'm pretty much set in the thought that we can't keep fecking around and just need to sign the most of proven scorer that we can. This club needs a proven goalscorer at all times and shouldn't be treating their starting 9 position as a development project. It's too much pressure and too important.

Both are better than Hojlund, but also Hojlund might've developed differently in a lower pressure role, behind a proven scorer.

 

[Raoul]

Would people be as disappointed if we signed Sesko?

I think with players like Delap and Sesko (both roughly the same age) you’re buying future potential. Would either storm out of the gates like RvN circa 2002 ? Probably not. But the expectation would be that they will develop into very good players in a couple of years. This is why the sound thing to do would be to go for an established striker who has demonstrated they can score a lot of goals, then buy a younger one to be their understudy (selling the two we have now).

 

[FerociousCorgis]

Both would be projects with a decent chance of the same happening as what happened this season. I'm pretty much set in the thought that we can't keep fecking around and just need to sign the most of proven scorer that we can. This club needs a proven goalscorer at all times and shouldn't be treating their starting 9 position as a development project. It's too much pressure and too important.

Both are better than Hojlund, but also Hojlund might've developed differently in a lower pressure role, behind a proven scorer.

the problem is there are no proven scorers available this window, as they are few and far between. Gyo would have question marks on whether he would be effective in the prem, and osimhen has his fair share of question marks as well. You can't say just because going for one up and coming CF didnt work we never do that again. INEOS needs to have their strategy and stick to it and sign whoever they think will best suit the squad. If they believe a player like delap or sesko fit and can do the job, then go for them.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

 

[didz]

If it’s Delap and a proven striker like Osimhen then the move makes sense. Delap on his own would be pretty underwhelming given the pathetic state of our attack.

Except then it doesn't really make sense to the player. He's already left one Manchester club in favour of first team football, so I can't see him going back to a different bench. Nor does it really make sense for the club to spend what will be a significant portion of its budget on another project. And that on top of an even bigger portion on a striker so good he'd have to be first or second name on the team sheet every game.

 

[MaMa given red]

If Newcastle and Liverpool are interested we may struggle to convince him to come to us. The one thing that may swing it is that he has a much better chance of starting regularly here.

 

[DJ_21]

Thats short sighted. There are many factors involved in building a team. We will need a core of the squad that peaks at the same sort of time. So Yoro, Heaven, Grogu, Amad, Mainoo etc. That will take a few years years.

Areteta has done that at arsenal, though they havent quite translated that into trophies.

City did similar with the core of their squad and now paying the price for not replacing some of them sooner. But they have had a decade of success from it.

Also delap seems to have the mentality that Utd want in their players. Desire and hunger. A nasty streak is no bad thing. Didnt do Shearer any harm. We also bought Roy Keane from relegated Nottm Forest.

Utd are going back to building superstars rather than buying them. Thats where our success was born out of. Buying superstars was a post fergie woodward / arnold idea thats been an abject failure.

The thing with building superstars and a team competing… you’re basically saying we aren’t going to compete or win the league for at least another 3 plus years. Amorims already said he can’t say things like that and he’s desperate to challenge sooner. City’s success as come from signing class players along with having a manager capable of implementing a system that suits his signings. You need a bit of both. You need to sign young players but you also need experienced players with quality otherwise fans will get impatient and young players are hit and miss with form.

 

[jderbyshire]

If it’s Delap and a proven striker like Osimhen then the move makes sense. Delap on his own would be pretty underwhelming given the pathetic state of our attack.

I really think you need to temper your expectations to be honest. The club is so restricted in what we can spend. Delap is an upgrade on what we have and the people in charge of recruitment now are not going after big wage players with little resale value.

 

[SoCross]

Absolute bull of a forward. Reminds me of Tevez albeit a poor man’s Tevez. He’s been relentless every single time I’ve watched him.

Right now, he’s better than Rasmus but don’t think there’s too much in it. Our boy has his confidence shattered sadly. Nothing is going right for him.

 

[next_number_seven]

The thing with building superstars and a team competing… you’re basically saying we aren’t going to compete or win the league for at least another 3 plus years. Amorims already said he can’t say things like that and he’s desperate to challenge sooner. City’s success as come from signing class players along with having a manager capable of implementing a system that suits his signings. You need a bit of both. You need to sign young players but you also need experienced players with quality otherwise fans will get impatient and young players are hit and miss with form.

It's hard to catch up with just one transfer window.

Newcastle, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool have much better squads than us.

Really we're trying to catch up on Bournemouth, Brighton, Notts Forest etc...

Those are our competition next year.

 

[macheda14]

If Newcastle and Liverpool are interested we may struggle to convince him to come to us. The one thing that may swing it is that he has a much better chance of starting regularly here.

He only goes to Newcastle if Isak leaves. I think Liverpool would pretty much offer him a starting spot. Nunez is likely off and Delap would be their only actual number 9.

 

[DJ_21]

It's hard to catch up with just one transfer window.

Newcastle, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool have much better squads than us.

Really we're trying to catch up on Bournemouth, Brighton, Notts Forest etc...

Those are our competition next year.

Bournemouth and forest don’t have better squads than us. Or Brighton for that matter. There just better run and have an actual plan and style of play. It’s easy to get them type of teams playing the way you want compared to us. Forest will finish bottom half next year and you can quote me on that. 1 season wonder

 

[Teja]

If Newcastle and Liverpool are interested we may struggle to convince him to come to us. The one thing that may swing it is that he has a much better chance of starting regularly here.

I'm not really buying Chelsea.

Newcastle did go a bit brexit and he suits their style of football to a tee but maybe that means Arsenal come in with a record fee for Isak. They could keep Isak and also get Delap but I struggle to see why Delap would accept such an arrangement.

Liverpool is pretty likely if they're in for him - Slot finally threw Nunez under the bus so I doubt he'll be around next season. It looks like they'll find buyers for Nunez quite easily. They won't get 70m but 30-40m should be very doable. A proper, old fashioned #9 is necessary these days and they won't go without one into next season.

 

[Swedish_Plumber]

I don’t know if we can risk another potential type player. However there aren’t many top strikers going and the ones that are, aren’t PL proven so who knows what we’d be getting really.

It’s not ideal when it’s a position we badly need to address correctly.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

If Newcastle and Liverpool are interested we may struggle to convince him to come to us. The one thing that may swing it is that he has a much better chance of starting regularly here.

We’ll definitely still have a good chance to get players, for sure. Especially with the market we are in.

Even Spurs got some top players (Bale, Modric etc) because they could offer more regular football.

Of course Dortmund got Sancho, Bellingham and Haaland due to guaranteeing game time to young players too

Agents will see Yoro, Dorgu and Heaven quickly becoming part of the first XI and know United is a brilliant option for their young players

 

[next_number_seven]

Bournemouth and forest don’t have better squads than us. Or Brighton for that matter. There just better run and have an actual plan and style of play. It’s easy to get them type of teams playing the way you want compared to us. Forest will finish bottom half next year and you can quote me on that. 1 season wonder

They perform consistently better than us.
Although we have improved since January.

I'm just saying they're our competition. We're miles off the big teams.

Amorim will have to nail all his signings this summer.

On a positive note, we are building a very young squad right now.

We've about 12 players 22 and under who have good potential.

 

[Gandalf]

I'm not really buying Chelsea.

Newcastle did go a bit brexit and he suits their style of football to a tee but maybe that means Arsenal come in with a record fee for Isak. They could keep Isak and also get Delap but I struggle to see why Delap would accept such an arrangement.

Liverpool is pretty likely if they're in for him - Slot finally threw Nunez under the bus so I doubt he'll be around next season. It looks like they'll find buyers for Nunez quite easily. They won't get 70m but 30-40m should be very doable. A proper, old fashioned #9 is necessary these days and they won't go without one into next season.

Well, Chelsea need a striker and he is their profile to a tee, young and cheap so they can offer him one of their bonkers 8 year deals. They only have Jackson as an out and out striker and he has not actually been much use other than a brief purple patch earlier this season.

Newcastle are replacing Callum Wilson, Delap is not going to go to a club and expecting to be the only striker on the books and at Newcastle he will no doubt get a nice financial package and the chance to join a side playing in Europe and currently very much on an upwards trajectory. It is no great leap to see Newcastle effectively doing a City over the next 5 to 10 years so why would he not want that?

 

[DWelbz19]

So we sign someone that will keep us in the same position. Sounds like a good plan

This is what we are now, sadly.

 

[Rozay]

Absolute bull of a forward. Reminds me of Tevez albeit a poor man’s Tevez. He’s been relentless every single time I’ve watched him.

Right now, he’s better than Rasmus but don’t think there’s too much in it. Our boy has his confidence shattered sadly. Nothing is going right for him.

Wish this narrative would stop. If not for one month in two seasons, there would be no evidence at all of any better level at all with Hojlund. When was this ‘usual’ level of his before this crisis of confidence? When was everything ‘going right for him’? 6 games in two years?

 

[Teja]

Well, Chelsea need a striker and he is their profile to a tee, young and cheap so they can offer him one of their bonkers 8 year deals. They only have Jackson as an out and out striker and he has not actually been much use other than a brief purple patch earlier this season.

Newcastle are replacing Callum Wilson, Delap is not going to go to a club and expecting to be the only striker on the books and at Newcastle he will no doubt get a nice financial package and the chance to join a side playing in Europe and currently very much on an upwards trajectory. It is no great leap to see Newcastle effectively doing a City over the next 5 to 10 years so why would he not want that?

Yeah but surely we are a more attractive proposition than rotate with Jackson or rotate with Isak? I think Newcastle will only happen if Isak leaves. They're also a bit constrained financially right now.

 

[DWelbz19]

Is he good in the air?

Statistically very slightly above average.

 

[FrankWhite]

Interestingly him and Rasmus were born 4 days apart. He plays with more aggression and responsibility though.
Also was looking at his fbref, progressive passes recv is in the bottom 9%, which is worrying. I wouldn't have guessed this based on eye test because to he comes across as such a willing runner.

Him and Cunha as the 9 and 10, a midfielder and a wingback would improve us quite a bit, assuming he makes the leap I'm expecting him to.

 

[Godfather]

Have you been paying attention to what ratcliffe and INEOS have been saying? Days of £60mil + 200k a week signings are over. At least for a few years minimum. We have tight FFP restrictions.

We don't. Next summer FFP won't be much of an issue

 

[Godfather]

Statistically very slightly above average.

Well that is brilliant. Can't wait for another 20 crosses a game to absolutely nobody. Can we not just sign Osimhen and Cherki and some half decent CM (and WB)

 

[bosnian_red]

the problem is there are no proven scorers available this window, as they are few and far between. Gyo would have question marks on whether he would be effective in the prem, and osimhen has his fair share of question marks as well. You can't say just because going for one up and coming CF didnt work we never do that again. INEOS needs to have their strategy and stick to it and sign whoever they think will best suit the squad. If they believe a player like delap or sesko fit and can do the job, then go for them.

Osimhen is a proven goalscorer and very much attainable. Just go out and get him. Anything else is fecking around and taking unnecessary risks.

 

[bucky]

We need young players that help with the homegrown quota. Mount was most likely signed with that in mind, which hasn't worked out. If we move on from Sancho and Rashford, and are actively looking to do the same with Shaw, Mount and Garnacho, it would leave Maguire and Collyer as our only homegrown players. Mainoo and Heaven don't need to be registered yet, Heaton and Evans probably won't be retained.

 

[Gandalf]

Osimhen is a proven goalscorer and very much attainable. Just go out and get him. Anything else is fecking around and taking unnecessary risks.

It is really not that simple. The Athletic are saying he still wants the Saudi move and if he doesn't then I am sure other clubs will be in for him too and likely clubs with far deeper pockets right now. I don't think he would be much use in the PL anyway so might be a bullet dodged, his goal scoring record is not actually that impressive when you look at it and then you have to factor in absences for AFCON and a lengthy injury history.

 

[CM]

Wish this narrative would stop. If not for one month in two seasons, there would be no evidence at all of any better level at all with Hojlund. When was this ‘usual’ level of his before this crisis of confidence? When was everything ‘going right for him’? 6 games in two years?

They've produced very comparable numbers in their debut seasons. Hojlund got 10 Premier League goals in 30 appearances and 2,171 minutes last season. Delap has 12 (including 2 penalties) in 30 appearances and 2,349 minutes so far this season.

I'd worry about Delap in our team and don't feel it's a particularly ambitious move. We are where we are so I get that we may not have access to some of the better strikers out there but I don't think this will really solve many of our issues in attack.

 

[bucky]

Osimhen is a proven goalscorer and very much attainable. Just go out and get him. Anything else is fecking around and taking unnecessary risks.

Well that is brilliant. Can't wait for another 20 crosses a game to absolutely nobody. Can we not just sign Osimhen and Cherki and some half decent CM (and WB)

What do we do, if neither Osimhen nor Gyökeres are interested signing for us? Arguably all of Barcelona, Chelsea, PSG and Arsenal need a striker, Liverpool potentially, too.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

Osimhen is a proven goalscorer and very much attainable. Just go out and get him. Anything else is fecking around and taking unnecessary risks.

meh feel like gonna be decently high priced, from what ive seen/heard has a relatively limited overall skillset, and lighting up turkey with the top team doesnt exactly mean he is a sure thing here. Has some question marks, just like the rest of them. Also something to keep in mind with him vs delap for instance is that delap wont be gone for AFCON like osimhen will likely be for the rest of his career.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Both would be projects with a decent chance of the same happening as what happened this season. I'm pretty much set in the thought that we can't keep fecking around and just need to sign the most of proven scorer that we can. This club needs a proven goalscorer at all times and shouldn't be treating their starting 9 position as a development project. It's too much pressure and too important.

Both are better than Hojlund, but also Hojlund might've developed differently in a lower pressure role, behind a proven scorer.

Yeah this is where I am at, I just don't really see it with either, especially Delap. CFs tend to develop later as well, we have Hojlund for better or worse and know what he brings - he should de developed and moulded to use the physical attributes he has if nothing else as a No2 to someone top drawer.

I'd also point out, as much as people don't want to think of the possibility, that Amorim will be sacked quickly if he starts next season like this one has gone and then we suddenly might be playing much more direct football again, we almost definitely won't be playing 3 at the back, WBs or double 10's either and there's every chance we're playing football that better suits some of the younger prospects that seem to struggle with the current setup.

 

[FrankWhite]

Question, Osimhen and dibling or Cunha and Delap?

 

[Zoo]

Not inspired at all but literally anyone is better than the options we have currently. I just hope the club is organised and not putting all their eggs in this basket as I fully expect Chelsea to swoop in at some point and offer him a 9 year contract.

 

[Remember the geese]

Question, Osimhen and dibling or Cunha and Delap?

Osimhen and Cherki.

 

[MCDC]

You do realise he plays for Ipswich? Less pressure there and teams go up against them attacking. Completely different to playing for us

No thanks for clearing that up......

There is less pressure at all bar Madrid & Barca, so should we not sign any player that has been there.

Ipswich have scored a total of 31 goals of which he has scored 12, they have had a total of 298 shots, shows a clear amount of creativity for him to feed off.

Teams don't sit back apart from teams at the top of the table, do I know if he is going to be able to play and work at us no, but fits the profile, runs the channels, scores more than our forwards and room to grow, the main part if we can afford him.

Who are the alternatives Gyokeres isn't coming here, don't want Osimhen feel he will want huge wages and doesn't fit the system, Sesko maybe but he isn't prolific so who is left bar a left field.

The only alternative I would accept would be Mateta had a great couple of years since Glasners change to 3 ATB, knows the system and Chido Obi and could learn off him without stunting his development.

 

[Gandalf]

Question, Osimhen and dibling or Cunha and Delap?

Osimhen and Cherki.

Kean and Mbuemo

 

[Raoul]

It is really not that simple. The Athletic are saying he still wants the Saudi move and if he doesn't then I am sure other clubs will be in for him too and likely clubs with far deeper pockets right now. I don't think he would be much use in the PL anyway so might be a bullet dodged, his goal scoring record is not actually that impressive when you look at it and then you have to factor in absences for AFCON and a lengthy injury history.

The Saudi deal fell apart, but that doesn't mean he's going to try and go back. He's reportedly happy in Turkey, although Napoli will definitely try to sell him if they can.

 

[Trex]

Cunha and Delap....Cunha will be such a big player in the role Garnacho Curren occupies.