Luckhurst: United prepared to move for a holding midfielder in January

[Cassidy]

Martial up front, Greenwood wide right. Pogba wide left. Martial has had a full pre season I believe.

Martial played 45 mins in preseason. Due to his injury last season

 

[Igor Drefljak]

It'd be nice to trim down the midfield and bring a specialist in.

I'd happily see Mata, Matic, Pereira and Lingard leave.
Pogba played great last season, but even though he was 'left wing' I feel in a midfield 3, where he played his best at Juve, he'd be as effective.
If we got a proper reliable DM in, along with Varane tightening it up at the back, being able to say to Pogba and Bruno to just go play their games, I think we'd see a lot more of yesterdays performances.

DM, McTom, Fred, VdB, Pogba and Bruno
Along with Mejbri and Shoretire. I think that's enough

 

[Riz]

Martial up front, Greenwood wide right. Pogba wide left. Martial has had a full pre season I believe.

Martial wasn’t a starting option either for the same reason Sancho wasn’t. As Ole said pre match he’s played 45 minutes of football since March.

 

[Devil may care]

If we can sell Lingard and Pereira and get Camavinga in it would be a very strong end to the window.

 

[kirk buttercup]

If we can sell Lingard and Pereira and get Camavinga in it would be a very strong end to the window.

That would be a great window.

 

[Edea]

If we can sell Lingard and Pereira and get Camavinga in it would be a very strong end to the window.

Genuine question. I don't watch ligue 1.

CDM is Camavinga natural/best position? Our CDM problem is potentially will solved with Camavinga?

 

[StonedhamsterZA]

I thought James was average at best.I didn't see much of this width you refer to.

I agree with this. The issue I have with James is that he gets the ball, uses his pace to beat a player but then ends up in a position where he either can’t play a ball, or makes a bad decision with a pass that means the receiver can’t do much.

I’d just have assumed that his time at United would have resulted in a bit more nous about using his pace intelligently.

 

[Devil may care]

Genuine question. I don't watch ligue 1.

CDM is Camavinga natural/best position? Our CDM problem is potentially will solved with Camavinga?

He first came to everyone's attention playing as a holder but he's also played as a #8, with his talent and age he can develop into anything in midfield.

 

[Pavl3n]

If we can sell Lingard and Pereira and get Camavinga in it would be a very strong end to the window.

That's probably the plan. Nothing else makes sense.

1. First priority is the need to trim - Pereira, Lingard, Jones, Dalot, Williams and other loans. There were reports linking each player with exit. Williams only linked with a loan move.

2. We need CDM to upgrade on Matic. I think Camavinga is top priority and if he was certain about moving to us we would've been negotiating with him right now, regardless outgoings. Neves and Saul are the other options, but I get the feeling we wouldn't rush to make that investment as we would with Camavinga. If we move both Lingard and Pereira and recoup around 20/25 mil for both of them then I can see us making a move in the late stages of the window.

3. We need upgrade on back-up RB. Here we'll need to move Dalot for a good fee to bring Trippier, but not only. Atletico's asking stupid money and just selling the former won't be enough to cover the fees for the latter. Too many domino blocks need to fall to materialise this deal. Most probably we'll leave it for next year - Trippier on a free and hope that Dalot comes at the good end.

 

[Abraxas]

My feeling is we've identified a few deals that are certainly possible like Niguez and Camavinga but nothing can happen until we clear the wage bill. We've stopped short at 100 million which seems quite logical in terms of a realistic spend for the summer, since then the links have not been strong that anything is underway. It could be completely under the radar but I think the smart money is that we're not seriously working on any incomings.

It's going to be difficult as some of the players we would like to ship out are really difficult to do so. They are already maximising their earning potential at Man Utd. The only way is down which relies on them valuing their playing career over football. Well, some do not, and some may but not to the extent they'd leave a big contract behind so the economics have to be appealing.

 

[lysglimt]

I dont think anyone is suggesting we're after another attacker

Lots of rumours about Jovic

 

[lysglimt]

Think people need to forget about James going anywhere. He started yesterday when he didn't need to. He's in Ole's plans.

We should keep James - granted he is not good enough to be a regular, but he has his pace and he works so hard defensively - which makes him a player you at least can rely on to not let us down.

 

[roseguy64]

I think it’s likely we’ll sign one more player, but probably prefer to sell player(s) before we buy.

We now play the waiting game because we have a pretty good hand.

• We’ve already had a good transfer window
• Lingard and Pereira performed well during pre-season
• 5-1 against Leeds

Pretend we won’t sign more players and are happy with the situation and not desperate.

Other clubs are still keen to sell players and very interested in Lingard. Very surprised if we doesn’t receive bid >£20m for Lingard, and we will sell him if we do.

We will also sell Bailly or Jones if we get the opportunity. We didn’t have a CB-substitute yesterday (very strange).

If we sell Lingard I’m more unsure about Pereira. Ole prefer to have good cover.

We allegedly said we’ve stopped the hunt for example Neves and Camavinga, but I don’t believe that. We just wanted to play the initiative over on their clubs. I also think a Rice transfer is still alive.

I doubt we'd sell Bailly right now. Jones is too unpredictable coming back from a long term injury to make him 4th choice CB. Also, we had no sub yesterday because Tuanzebe is out on loan, Bailly isn't available after the Olympics and Jones is nowhere near ready to play first team minutes. McTominay/Matic/Shaw would have been the 3rd CB.

 

[roseguy64]

Think people need to forget about James going anywhere. He started yesterday when he didn't need to. He's in Ole's plans.

Agreed. With Amad potentially going out on loan then James stays as 3rd choice on both wings.

 

[Polar]

I doubt we'd sell Bailly right now. Jones is too unpredictable coming back from a long term injury to make him 4th choice CB. Also, we had no sub yesterday because Tuanzebe is out on loan, Bailly isn't available after the Olympics and Jones is nowhere near ready to play first team minutes. McTominay/Matic/Shaw would have been the 3rd CB.

You are probably right. We need at least four match fit CB’s.

 

[CanadianUtd]

here’s the signing

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[LawCharltonBest]

here’s the signing

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Brilliant to see that again. Those empty stadiums aren’t for us

 

[FrankDrebin]

Lots of rumours about Jovic

?

 

[Scholsey2004]

Agreed. With Amad potentially going out on loan then James stays as 3rd choice on both wings.

Fourth id say. I can see Pogba being predominantly used in the front 4 this season since he's been a revelation in the spells hes played there. So 2 from Pogba, Sancho and Rashford with James and Mata providing depth.

 

[Nicolarra90]

here’s the signing

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

they are back, give us the title already

 

[lenny_1248]

they are back

They were always there.

 

[Craig Ward]

Sancho and Varane is amazing business.

We look to have proper depth up top/wingswhich we havent for a long long time.

Varane completes our defence - we've been waiting for years for an elite level CB and if he adjusts to the prem - it's a great signing.

Midfield worries me still, we have so much numbers but not enough quality. For CM/DM we have: Matic/Fred/McTom/Pogba/Periera/Garner/Donny. I'd argue none as a pairing work to an elite standard - all options we have come into the "Ok" bracket and not elite.

McTom and Fred are the preferred pair - Not ideal but far from horrendous. Matic is done, Periera and Lingard have no future and Donny is a mystery. He can't get going.

So the priority for me is selling Lingard/Periera and possibly Matic and signing a starting midfielder. Someone the calibre of Kalvin phillips or Rice

All hinges on outgoings.

Either that or we hope Pogba learns to play CM or Donny comes good. Pogba's doing his best stuff wide left, but with all the attacking players we cant stay there.

 

[Tarrou]

they are back, give us the title already

I don't think they ever left did they?

Just been moved around a bit

 

[Alemar]

So the priority for me is signing a starting midfielder. Someone the calibre of Kalvin phillips or Rice

It wouldn’t change much. We need someone in the mould of Casemiro or Barella - it’s a significantly higher calibre.

 

[WhyYouGottaBeSoRuud?]

We should keep James - granted he is not good enough to be a regular, but he has his pace and he works so hard defensively - which makes him a player you at least can rely on to not let us down.

I agree with this. James gets a lot of hate on here for "not being good enough". For me (when everybody is fit) he is behind: 1. Rashford 2. Pogba 3. Sancho 4. Martial 5 Greenwood so arguably 6th choice to play Left wing and behind 1. Sancho 2. Greenwood so 3rd choice to play right wing. As long as he is happy being used in this manner (a squad player) then I'm happy to have him here. He is hard working and has lightning pace that no defender will want to play against.

In response to the thread I can't see us making another signing now unfortunately as we've not seen anyone leave. It's all gone a bit quiet on the transfer stories now, the most recent midfielders we were linked to were: Saul, Neves and Camavinga. I'm not sure any of them are the "destroyer" that would enable us to play that mythical 4-3-3. The only one I can think of would be N'didi but Leicester would hold us to ransom and he'd cost £60m+. Saying that I do really like Neves as a player and if Pogba leaves I think we would need a player like him for his passing range.

 

[lysglimt]

I agree with this. James gets a lot of hate on here for "not being good enough". For me (when everybody is fit) he is behind: 1. Rashford 2. Pogba 3. Sancho 4. Martial 5 Greenwood so arguably 6th choice to play Left wing and behind 1. Sancho 2. Greenwood so 3rd choice to play right wing. As long as he is happy being used in this manner (a squad player) then I'm happy to have him here. He is hard working and has lightning pace that no defender will want to play against.

In response to the thread I can't see us making another signing now unfortunately as we've not seen anyone leave. It's all gone a bit quiet on the transfer stories now, the most recent midfielders we were linked to were: Saul, Neves and Camavinga. I'm not sure any of them are the "destroyer" that would enable us to play that mythical 4-3-3. The only one I can think of would be N'didi but Leicester would hold us to ransom and he'd cost £60m+. Saying that I do really like Neves as a player and if Pogba leaves I think we would need a player like him for his passing range.

James actually hasn't lost a game since Palace on the opening day of the season last year - of course that has partially to do with him not playing in all the big games, but it also indicates that maybe he doesn't win us games - but he doesn't lose us games either. I would not sell James as long as he is happy being a part-time player.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

GK: DDG, Henderson, Heaton, Grant & Kovar
RB: AWB, Dalot
RCB: Varane, Lindelof
LCB: Maguire, Bailly, Jones
LB: Shaw, Telles, Williams
DM: Matic
CM: Mctominay, Fred
AM: Bruno, VDB, Pereira
LW: Rashford, Martial, Lingard
RW: Sancho, James, Mata
ST: Cavani, Greenwood

That's without kids, really starting to get some decent depth, you can see the #6 and the #8 position are really the only thing lacking depth, a signing or 2 there would really help us out, even if we use Garner and buy 1 decent #6 option.

 

[Lights Out]

GK: DDG, Henderson, Heaton, Grant & Kovar
RB: AWB, Dalot
RCB: Varane, Lindelof
LCB: Maguire, Bailly, Jones
LB: Shaw, Telles, Williams
DM: Matic
CM: Mctominay, Fred
AM: Bruno, VDB, Pereira
LW: Rashford, Martial, Lingard
RW: Sancho, James, Mata
ST: Cavani, Greenwood

That's without kids, really starting to get some decent depth, you can see the #6 and the #8 position are really the only thing lacking depth, a signing or 2 there would really help us out, even if we use Garner and buy 1 decent #6 option.

Has Pogba gone?

I’d put Pogba into LW and Martial as an ST

 

[Highfather_24]

GK: DDG, Henderson, Heaton, Grant & Kovar
RB: AWB, Dalot
RCB: Varane, Lindelof
LCB: Maguire, Bailly, Jones
LB: Shaw, Telles, Williams
DM: Matic
CM: Mctominay, Fred
AM: Bruno, VDB, Pereira
LW: Rashford, Martial, Lingard
RW: Sancho, James, Mata
ST: Cavani, Greenwood

That's without kids, really starting to get some decent depth, you can see the #6 and the #8 position are really the only thing lacking depth, a signing or 2 there would really help us out, even if we use Garner and buy 1 decent #6 option.

Dunno how, but you missed Pogba there too.

Our squad is too damn bloated.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Dunno how, but you missed Pogba there too.

Our squad is too damn bloated.

If Pereira (likely), Williams (likely on loan) and Lingard (maybe) leave then we're fine

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Dunno how, but you missed Pogba there too.

Our squad is too damn bloated.

That's a fair point haha! I even wrote him but deleted him from "AM" as I was going to put him "LW"

Our squad could genuinely cut: Jones, Williams, Pereira, Lingard, Grant, Kovar and one of Mata or James and we would still have 2 decent options per position.

EDIT: Even if you put sale values on these players, Jones (£0m), Williams (£5m), Pereira (£5m), Lingard (£10m), Grant (£0m), Kovar (£0m), Mata (£0) & James (£10m) = £30m

That feels realistic in terms of what we would ACTUALLY get, I see so many people manage to get £80m from them and it's ridiculous

 

[Lappen]

GK: DDG, Henderson, Heaton, Grant & Kovar
RB: AWB, Dalot
RCB: Varane, Lindelof
LCB: Maguire, Bailly, Jones
LB: Shaw, Telles, Williams
DM: Matic
CM: Mctominay, Fred
AM: Bruno, VDB, Pereira
LW: Rashford, Martial, Lingard
RW: Sancho, James, Mata
ST: Cavani, Greenwood

That's without kids, really starting to get some decent depth, you can see the #6 and the #8 position are really the only thing lacking depth, a signing or 2 there would really help us out, even if we use Garner and buy 1 decent #6 option.

Looks good and like a title challenging team :0) We need to make place for some kids though.

My guess is that Ole do not look for any DM this year and will play with McT, Fred, Matic and VdB as CM. Pogba and Bruno as AM. Pogba will continue on the left some game and in the CM in outhers. I got the feeling Ole don't have the same feelings about the need of a DM as many supporters (me included).
And if we don't play with a specialist DM the squad is pretty packed in every position.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

So the priority for me is selling Lingard/Periera and possibly Matic and signing a starting midfielder. Someone the calibre of Kalvin phillips or Rice

That would be hugely disappointing. With Pogba playing excellently off the left, our engine room is now Fred and Mctominay with Matic or VDB (when push comes to shove) playing backup roles. That means, that our midfield is mostly energy and muscle, and what it lacks, IMO, is genuine ability on the ball and passing ability. For me, we need a playmaker in midfield, someone who can control games, someone who isn't inconsistent/erratic /clumsy in their work on the ball like Fred or Mctominay but who compliments their energy and hustle. Rice, Fred and Mctominay will be an overload of players who aren't great on the ball, IMO.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

If pogba signs a new deal then camavinga surely isn't the guy. If pogba left this summer then staying with a double pivot and making camav one of them make amazing sense.

I'd prob still sign him for the peanuts quoted but surely the player to sign is a real holder who can play on his own

 

[Lights Out]

That would be hugely disappointing. With Pogba playing excellently off the left, our engine room is now Fred and Mctominay with Matic or VDB (when push comes to shove) playing backup roles. That means, that our midfield is mostly energy and muscle, and what it lacks, IMO, is genuine ability on the ball and passing ability. For me, we need a playmaker in midfield, someone who can control games, someone who isn't inconsistent/erratic /clumsy in their work on the ball like Fred or Mctominay but who compliments their energy and hustle. Rice, Fred and Mctominay will be an overload of players who aren't great on the ball, IMO.

Who though?

Why do people disagree with peoples suggestions of signings but then don’t actually offer up alternative names?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

If pogba signs a new deal then camavinga surely isn't the guy. If pogba left this summer then staying with a double pivot and making camav one of them make amazing sense.

I'd prob still sign him for the peanuts quoted but surely the player to sign is a real holder who can play on his own

Pogba is looking at home on the left. I think it's best to leave him there and fix our midfield excluding him from the conversation.

 

[golden_blunder]

GK: DDG, Henderson, Heaton, Grant & Kovar
RB: AWB, Dalot
RCB: Varane, Lindelof
LCB: Maguire, Bailly, Jones
LB: Shaw, Telles, Williams
DM: Matic
CM: Mctominay, Fred
AM: Bruno, VDB, Pereira
LW: Rashford, Martial, Lingard
RW: Sancho, James, Mata
ST: Cavani, Greenwood

That's without kids, really starting to get some decent depth, you can see the #6 and the #8 position are really the only thing lacking depth, a signing or 2 there would really help us out, even if we use Garner and buy 1 decent #6 option.

no Pogba there Souness

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Who though?

Why do people disagree with peoples suggestions of signings but then don’t actually offer up alternative names?

Simple. Because we aren't knowledgeable enough on European football. I mean, I've heard about various young CMs being good on the ball but I wouldn't have seen enough to recommend them.

 

[jackal&hyde]

If pogba signs a new deal then camavinga surely isn't the guy. If pogba left this summer then staying with a double pivot and making camav one of them make amazing sense.

I'd prob still sign him for the peanuts quoted but surely the player to sign is a real holder who can play on his own

Doesn't feel like it. For all the talk of DMs our system simply does not need one nor is the club seemingly looking for one. I also feel like DVB is being trained for the double pivot so we have Matic, Fred, McTom and Donny as options.

 

[Phil]

That would be hugely disappointing. With Pogba playing excellently off the left, our engine room is now Fred and Mctominay with Matic or VDB (when push comes to shove) playing backup roles. That means, that our midfield is mostly energy and muscle, and what it lacks, IMO, is genuine ability on the ball and passing ability. For me, we need a playmaker in midfield, someone who can control games, someone who isn't inconsistent/erratic /clumsy in their work on the ball like Fred or Mctominay but who compliments their energy and hustle. Rice, Fred and Mctominay will be an overload of players who aren't great on the ball, IMO.

Strongly agree with this.