We already have Shaw on the left. Pogba seems to be thriving as an AM/LM. The whole midfield is going to be off balance. We need either a playmaker who will play through the middle or a destroyer to sit back and cover two AM.
Saúl Ñíguez \ Joins Chelsea on loan
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If Utd decide to bring no one else in, namely a midfielder, then Ole surely has to start selecting Van De Beek in the starting eleven.
He can play anywhere in midfield and played in the centre a lot in his career. My point was judging someone off last year's heatmap isn't always the best idea.
He’a not a Carrick or Keane. He’s McTomilay and honestly nothing without a proper DM
Not sure why he wants to come and sit on Chelsea's bench for a season. We did the same loan arrangement with Kovacic and he ended up impressing enough to earn a permanent deal, but I really can't see him starting many games, so not sure I understand this one from Saul's POV.
Perhaps Tuchel will rotate Kante and Jorginho considerably more often this season?
I hear you, picking him up on a loan deal definitely makes sense for Chelsea, but he's a big player who's played almost 350 games for Atleti, just heading into his prime years. I can't for the life of me see the appeal of choosing Chelsea, when he could almost walk into United's midfield and play for a title and CL contending team as an important piece. Unless he just fancies his chances against Jorginho and Kante and thinks he can beat one of them out of team.
Why do t we just go buy Neves??? Throw in a player if need be.
Maybe because he's about as mobile as Matic
You're welcome to him. I don't buy that he's choosing Chelsea over United, I don't think we're interested tbh
It's true he should be hitting his prime but his form over the last few years hasn't been at a great level.
I think our need for a CM has clouded our judgment and any half decent player that lazily gets linked to us gets us in a tizzy.
I think we see him as an option, but others are higher on the priority list. I just worry we'll end up with none of them 
I have not watched enough of him but would he not be just another Donny?
Pretty good overall midfielder but not a specialist CDM to move McTominay and Fred out of the first 11 and attacking wise behind Bruno and Pogba?
Pretty good overall midfielder but not a specialist CDM to move McTominay and Fred out of the first 11 and attacking wise behind Bruno and Pogba?
That's the thing. We did that in Ole's first season.
-------Fred
--McT----Pogba
Was a midfield that was used when Matic and Herrera got injured. We played Periera in place of Pogba in the UCL tie against PSG as well. To switch to a 4-3-3 and keep using McFred is only natural and makes sense. Would love to see the meltdown here though
Well that may be the case but it's not the point we were discussing.
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Probably all media talk again linking every Tom, Dick and Jose with United. We have a huge amount of players and need to trim the playing staff, but many clubs won’t pay similar wages.
It looks like Chelsea want him on loan and if the deal goes through, I can't see Chelsea also signing Aurelien Tchouameni who the Chelsea fans on social media are going nuts over.
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Why do they need him?
The thing about Tchouameni is would he even consider the role we supposedly want Saul to fill? I don't think so. He's an important player at Monaco and he's on the cusp of breaking into the French NT in a World Cup season. He's touted as some kind of cheaper alternative to Rice, but he won't come cheap either. It seems totally unrealistic to sign him this summer when we're completely set with Jorginho, Kante and Kovacic.
It feels like our name was thrown in to get Chelsea to act. And it feels like it worked.
It makes more sense for you guys to sign Saul for sure and wait for Declan Rice who is one of your own from the academy.
Tchouameni makes a lot of sense for us right now to provide a upgrade defensively in midfield. But I can't see Monaco selling cheap.
Why go for someone who is surplus to requirements at Atletico rather than someone Prem proven and key players in their teams like Bissouma or Ruben Neves.
It kind of is. He prefers to operate in the spaces Pogba likes. He’s not a Kante or Ndidi. He will need someone covering him when he moves forward.
Those are different points. He's a McT type when we need a DM is a fair point. However, a loanee who can rotate with McT or Fred wouldn't go astray, given our alternative seems to be Matic.
As for the getting in Pogba's zone I think it's just shallow analysis based on a heat map, which can change based on position and tactical instruction. By all accounts he's a very versatile player so I don't think that would be an issue.
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I can’t see where Marca have said this.
Yeah exactly he's Chelsea bound and we will just crack on with Matic and McFred. Personally think we should have just taken him on loan and if that meant an obligation to buy so be it, he could have been Donny's replacement then still go in for a Rice/Tchouameni/Bissouma next summer.
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I really dont think he is. re. Marca i think they said the same "Chelsea insist on signing Saul" night before last. So whether they did say it re. Utd, who knows
Can we just have Kovacic if they get Saul? Maybe if we ask nicely?
He'd essentially compete with McTominay for that position. Provide some things over Scott, lose out on the physicality and strength.
Okay, not a La Liga expert here but everything I read about this guy is about how flexible he is where he lines up and how good he is defensively. Every major source I have seen comments on at least one of these two traits, if not BOTH.
So for the La Liga experts simple question... How well would Saul slot into a DCM position with us?
If he could handle DCM for us we could seamlessly switch from single pivot to double pivot allowing us loads of tactical in game adjustments.
And throw in on a loan seems like such a simple decision to me.
Experts, please educate me!
So for the La Liga experts simple question... How well would Saul slot into a DCM position with us?
If he could handle DCM for us we could seamlessly switch from single pivot to double pivot allowing us loads of tactical in game adjustments.
And throw in on a loan seems like such a simple decision to me.
Experts, please educate me!
I'm not a la liga expert, but I'm pretty sure when he was on loan at Rayo he played a more defensive role. From what I gather he just wants to play, so if you tell him to play left back, as long as he's playing he'd do it - and do a good job. When i've watched him, I've seen him as a more refined McTominay.
Raphael Varane is our new CDM - you heard it here first
He's 26. People said he was world class just a few years ago. I'd take him on a loan with no obligation to buy if it costs less than buying a new midfielder. Then we will see. The risk is worth the reward and he can play multiple positions at once. So we don't only get a midfielder thats better than what we currently have but also a very good backup for other positions.
Think Atletico are only interested in a loan with obligation to buy deal
They say that but come deadline day they may change their tune. If neither Chelsea nor Man Utd want that obligation then they'll be forced to do something or keep him and his salary.
With McT having a groin injury and Ole finding it hard to bring himself to play VDB I think Saul on loan with obligation to buy is a done deal actually.
Saul on loan would be the icing on the cake
Stephen Howson, who does have pre-existing Utd Academy sources and more recently has buddied up with Rio, posted this last night:
Do you think Rio told him something?
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Do you think Rio told him something?
Hopefully that’s what his agent told him otherwise I’m sure this message would get lost with the other thousands he gets to come and play for us.
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