The Centre Forward Stop-Gap Market

jesperjaap

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
5,695
Why waste wages or a fee on a stop gap option when we have stop gaps already in Martial or Rashford to play CF. With Garnacho coming up we have 6 players that can rotate for the front 3 attacking spots. Ride it out this season and focus on a long term and permanent option in the summer. It has to be Osimhen.
I kind of agree. Dont think Rashford is a striker personalyl and little faith in MArtial, but either as stop gaps are fine. Dont think it has to be Osimhen, but I do think the worry is doesnt seem a huge amount of options, but we should certainly be looking long term...I mean when was the last time we signed a long term striker? I have probably missed someone but isnt i even Martial?
 

MadMike

Full Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2015
Messages
11,607
Location
London
I kind of agree. Dont think Rashford is a striker personalyl and little faith in MArtial, but either as stop gaps are fine. Dont think it has to be Osimhen, but I do think the worry is doesnt seem a huge amount of options, but we should certainly be looking long term...I mean when was the last time we signed a long term striker? I have probably missed someone but isnt i even Martial?
We signed Lukaku for long term, but it didn’t end well.
 
Joined
Nov 5, 2012
Messages
3,369
Location
Learn me a booke
Horrendoous shout.

Kieffer Moore? Seriously.
I think it's meant considering that we apparently don't have any money to buy a better one. A striker who actually stays fit and is available to give 100 % whenever he plays and can deliver a 5-6/10 each time he plays would actually be quite useful, I think.


But yeah, Manchester United signing Kieffer Moore does sound absurd.
 

jesperjaap

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
5,695
We signed Lukaku for long term, but it didn’t end well.
Aha, yes, one I am glad to forget. Never liked him since he left Anderlecht, thought it was a terrible signing at the time. Will always get goals, but bafflign the money has been spent on him by various clubs and laughable when he came back to Chelsea all the pundis saying what a different player he was......one of the most over rated and hyped players of all time for me, was never what we needed in terms of the type of player, elt alone the pretty average obe he has always been....always misses crucial chances in huge games, for Belgium to I remember a few moments that ould have been trophy ones for them
 

jesperjaap

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
5,695
I think it's meant considering that we apparently don't have any money to buy a better one. A striker who actually stays fit and is available to give 100 % whenever he plays and can deliver a 5-6/10 each time he plays would actually be quite useful, I think.


But yeah, Manchester United signing Kieffer Moore does sound absurd.
Always makes me laugh when stop gap players lie kthis thread are mentioned.....people bring up players absolutely nowhere near good enough quality wise and do we want a target man anyway? 5/6 out of 10 each time?

We have signed a few world class strikers passed here peak short term which is semi understandable but for me the wrong move, signing players who wouldnt start for 95% of the premier leage sides....where is there merit in that?

We are Macnehster United, I dont expect us to go out and spend millions on every plaeyr we need, but come on, as the other guy said you responded to....seriously?
 
Joined
Nov 5, 2012
Messages
3,369
Location
Learn me a booke
Aha, yes, one I am glad to forget. Never liked him since he left Anderlecht, thought it was a terrible signing at the time. Will always get goals, but bafflign the money has been spent on him by various clubs and laughable when he came back to Chelsea all the pundis saying what a different player he was......one of the most over rated and hyped players of all time for me, was never what we needed in terms of the type of player, elt alone the pretty average obe he has always been....always misses crucial chances in huge games, for Belgium to I remember a few moments that ould have been trophy ones for them
Agree, sums him up nicely.
 

jesperjaap

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
5,695
Did see rumours we were scouting the South AMericam market for a striker recently. Interesting that bar Alvarez from City....there seems to barely be a young striker in the SOuth AMerican sides at the world cup
 
Joined
Nov 5, 2012
Messages
3,369
Location
Learn me a booke
Always makes me laugh when stop gap players lie kthis thread are mentioned.....people bring up players absolutely nowhere near good enough quality wise and do we want a target man anyway? 5/6 out of 10 each time?

We have signed a few world class strikers passed here peak short term which is semi understandable but for me the wrong move, signing players who wouldnt start for 95% of the premier leage sides....where is there merit in that?

We are Macnehster United, I dont expect us to go out and spend millions on every plaeyr we need, but come on, as the other guy said you responded to....seriously?
:lol: I'm not exactly thrilled at the idea, I've never even seen him play. If he's that terrible I retract my comment that he'd be useful. I wouldn't mind a competent stop-gap though.
 

pascell

Full Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2012
Messages
14,113
Location
Sir Alex Ferguson Stand
We could do a lot worse than sign Kieffer Moore as a stop gap. He is a perfect ETH striker, a target man that gets stuck in. He has a release clause of €6m, but could definitely do a job for us.

If we sign young players like Sesko and / or Moukoko in the Summer, I think Kieffer Moore would be a great role model of someone who has worked hard his whole career, and at the age of 30, finally makes it to the Premier League and to the World Cup.
Ah yes, all young strikers are going to look up to the legendary Keiffer Moore.
 

Bwuk

Full Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
17,281
Honestly, still can’t get over someone suggesting Moore.
 

Valencia Shin Crosses

Full Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2015
Messages
6,501
Location
"Martial...He's isolated Skrtel here..."
Always makes me laugh when stop gap players lie kthis thread are mentioned.....people bring up players absolutely nowhere near good enough quality wise and do we want a target man anyway? 5/6 out of 10 each time?

We have signed a few world class strikers passed here peak short term which is semi understandable but for me the wrong move, signing players who wouldnt start for 95% of the premier leage sides....where is there merit in that?

We are Macnehster United, I dont expect us to go out and spend millions on every plaeyr we need, but come on, as the other guy said you responded to....seriously?
5/6 out of 10 every game is just a shit player.

we can get that performance with what we already have (and even that would be a poor game for both Martial and Rashford)
 

UNITED ACADEMY

New Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2018
Messages
13,127
Supports
Erik ten Hag
Joao Felix loan move if it’s true he‘ll be allowed to leave on loan then it’s the best stop-gap signing and potentially long-term signing.
 

Bertie Wooster

Full Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
2,827
Joao Felix loan move if it’s true he‘ll be allowed to leave on loan then it’s the best stop-gap signing and potentially long-term signing.
Yes, I agree from an individual ability point of view, then getting a player like Joao Felix in January would be a very good addition to a squad. And better than the usual January fare.

But is it not a similar issue to the Cody Gakpo discussion? In that he's more of a winger / wide striker, most suited to starting from the left wing same as Rashford, Garnacho, etc? Both Felix and Gakpo have the height, mobility and versatility to maybe be able to fill in as a makeshift #9 at times, and might be able to develop into ones in the long term, but neither are currently the kind of #9's that we need in the short term?

But both would provide another senior option for the left wing, leaving Rashford and Martial for the #9 role for the second half of the season. So, yeah, in the short term, Felix coming in on loan may well be the best short term option until we address things more permanently in the summer.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

New Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2018
Messages
13,127
Supports
Erik ten Hag
Yes, I agree from an individual ability point of view, then getting a player like Joao Felix in January would be a very good addition to a squad. And better than the usual January fare.

But is it not a similar issue to the Cody Gakpo discussion? In that he's more of a winger / wide striker, most suited to starting from the left wing same as Rashford, Garnacho, etc? Both Felix and Gakpo have the height, mobility and versatility to maybe be able to fill in as a makeshift #9 at times, and might be able to develop into ones in the long term, but neither are currently the kind of #9's that we need in the short term?

But both would provide another senior option for the left wing, leaving Rashford and Martial for the #9 role for the second half of the season. So, yeah, in the short term, Felix coming in on loan may well be the best short term option until we address things more permanently in the summer.
Felix been spending most of his career at no 9 or no 10 at Benfica and Atl Madrid. If he comes as no 9 then it will be false 9, will play like how ten Hag used Tadic in 18/19.
 

NoPace

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
9,340
We could do a lot worse than sign Kieffer Moore as a stop gap. He is a perfect ETH striker, a target man that gets stuck in. He has a release clause of €6m, but could definitely do a job for us.

If we sign young players like Sesko and / or Moukoko in the Summer, I think Kieffer Moore would be a great role model of someone who has worked hard his whole career, and at the age of 30, finally makes it to the Premier League and to the World Cup.
If it's true he has a release clause of 6M then he's basically free since we can just sell him for that much in the summer.

You're being mocked for this, but IF the club isn't willing to just spend an extra 15-20M on securing an actual target like Jonathan David or Gouiri in January, then this isn't the worst shout I've ever heard.

28 in 64 the last 3 years in the Champo and 9 in 29 for Wales and he's definitely above average in terms of pressing/defending and setting up teammates (mostly flick ons but he's just a consummate team player and not selfish).

I'd have no problem with this. Obviously Memphis, Dembele and probably Thuram (who we would have to pay probably 10M more than if we got him on a pre-contract to come in the summer) are far better options, but we might be in Ighalo territory.

My guess though is Ten Hag will just buy Gapko and make him a #9 or keep trying to mould Rashford into a #9 rather than go for a random Prem striker he's seen play like 3 times in his whole life for Wales while he was watching various Dutch players as we haven't even played Bournemouth.

But yeah, he'd start 10 games here, score 3 goals and give us a threat in the air for the last 10 minutes of games. Link play wouldn't be good enough, but it would probably come out to a C+ type deal and as I've said, if we can't get Memphis or Dembele, I won't be surprised if whoever we do get is some Eredivisie/Dutch option Ten Hag at least feels can apply his tactics within 2 weeks of joining. Even worse would be if we panic bought a 45M striker for 70M who doesn't fit.

I imagine Ten Hag is furiously looking for a #9 as we speak and if it's true Moore has a 6M release clause I'd be surprised if he isn't watching Wales and Bournemouth tape on him. That's a pittance in a league where Chris Wood's release clause was 30M when Newcastle found themselves in the same spot we're in last January.

I'm not sure why people think we can just instantly grab a Callum Wilson, Dzeko or Giroud in January, just because Ten Hag is here and he knows what he's doing. Maybe a decent option will present itself, but right now I don't exactly see a bunch of great options.

I do think it will be Memphis, but Chelsea are said to be interested and also Lewandowski could get hurt over the next 6 weeks or Memphis could have a great World Cup, Fati breaks down again or Ferran gets hurt and Xavi decides he wants to keep Memphis.
 

NoPace

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
9,340
Did see rumours we were scouting the South AMericam market for a striker recently. Interesting that bar Alvarez from City....there seems to barely be a young striker in the SOuth AMerican sides at the world cup
Might not be the worst thing. Firmino didn't make the Brazilian team and a 9 as good as him might be cheaper without national team appearances.
 

Bertie Wooster

Full Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
2,827
Felix been spending most of his career at no 9 or no 10 at Benfica and Atl Madrid. If he comes as no 9 then it will be false 9, will play like how ten Hag used Tadic in 18/19.
That's good. Then, yeah, if there's any truth in the suggestion that he'd be available on loan in January then that seems a decent short term solution. With the added potential, if he impresses, of a more permanent deal?
 

Marcus

Full Member
Joined
Oct 3, 1999
Messages
6,085
With Ronaldo gone, should we close this stop-gap thread? Now it will be for a full on signing.
 

Messier1994

The Swedish Rumble
Joined
Oct 7, 2022
Messages
1,368
Always makes me laugh when stop gap players lie kthis thread are mentioned.....people bring up players absolutely nowhere near good enough quality wise and do we want a target man anyway? 5/6 out of 10 each time?

We have signed a few world class strikers passed here peak short term which is semi understandable but for me the wrong move, signing players who wouldnt start for 95% of the premier leage sides....where is there merit in that?

We are Macnehster United, I dont expect us to go out and spend millions on every plaeyr we need, but come on, as the other guy said you responded to....seriously?
I of course get where you are coming from, and I do think many have just been spittin names to establish who even remotely might be available.

But — I do think part of the reason we are in the position we are as a club is because we have never been able to get more out of a player than what their price tag commands. Very often, getting the opposite. If we bought a failed Maxim Choupo-Moting from Stoke, or picked him up for free, the same could of course be said. Right?

But that is what Bayern have done (getting Choupo-Moting). And he is playing as their striker now when Mane is hurt. They could have spent 50-60m on a backup to Mane, but they found one for free. Sure PL isn’t the BL etc etc etc. But…

Why should we get a stop gap option for striker? We only have so much to spend. We have a ton of holes in the squad. It is perfectly possible that there will — not — be the right long term solution available on the market this January.

Let’s say we have a total of 150m to spend this January, the summer of 23’ and in January 23’. Perfectly possible. Possibly a bit high.

If we want say Oshimen and he is available for 100m this summer. Should we spend 35m on a stop gap now, then 100m on Oshimen next summer and only have 15m left for a RW, CM, RB and CB?
 

AbusementPark

Operates the Unfairest Wheel
Joined
Jul 27, 2014
Messages
2,595
Location
Belfast
Lautaro Martinez has to be the long term plan if we can get him. Offers everything up front we need, pressing, aggression and decent finisher.
Has to deal with Lukaku so we know he can be a team player as well, would fit into the system well.
No stop gap needed, wait for the summer and buy him, we have Garnacho bursting through and we should just run with it. Worst case we have Elanga as well for the wings and Rashy and Martial up front. Im sure Antony and Sancho can play up front if needed, wont be ideal but just to get us through until the end of the season.
 

Escobar

Shameless Musketeer
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
30,063
Location
La-La-Land
Lautaro Martinez has to be the long term plan if we can get him. Offers everything up front we need, pressing, aggression and decent finisher.
Has to deal with Lukaku so we know he can be a team player as well, would fit into the system well.
No stop gap needed, wait for the summer and buy him, we have Garnacho bursting through and we should just run with it. Worst case we have Elanga as well for the wings and Rashy and Martial up front. Im sure Antony and Sancho can play up front if needed, wont be ideal but just to get us through until the end of the season.
Of all players, why Sancho? He appears to be the least likely option.
 

Bertie Wooster

Full Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
2,827
With Ronaldo gone, should we close this stop-gap thread? Now it will be for a full on signing.
The thread was only started on Thursday, based on the assumption that Ronaldo would be leaving and that we'd need another #9 - and that could be a stop gap until the summer.

So confirmation that Ronaldo has indeed left doesn't change that. And the news about the potential ownership sale means a permanent, and expensive, #9 signing is even less likely in January.
 

Delano

Full Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2016
Messages
1,490
Thuram, Moukoko, Memphis and Dembele all have contracts expiring in June.

I'd go for Thuram for now and Moukoko for the future if possible.
 

Erik the Red

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 19, 2022
Messages
707
For all those saying we don't need a stop gap, belittling some interesting suggestions, or suggesting some fanciful names, stop being ridiculous. Currently, we have one striker who has been injured most of the season. Rashford is not a striker, and has not done well there, and it is not his natural position. We have even played Maguire there because we had no-one else to fit ETH's style of having a target man. Antony and Sancho are both good players, but they are not strikers and never will be. As for Mbappe joining us in January, I can also play FIFA. We have to be realistic, most clubs do not want to sell in January, and even if we can spend £35-45m on a player in January, is that more sensible than saving a bigger chunk of that to put towards the right players (we need more than just a striker) in the Summer.
 

Marcus

Full Member
Joined
Oct 3, 1999
Messages
6,085
The thread was only started on Thursday, based on the assumption that Ronaldo would be leaving and that we'd need another #9 - and that could be a stop gap until the summer.

So confirmation that Ronaldo has indeed left doesn't change that. And the news about the potential ownership sale means a permanent, and expensive, #9 signing is even less likely in January.
Oh I see! My bad on the thread genesis. But I actually think the impending sale of United makes it even more likely we would spend in January to try and secure 4th at least. Increases the value of the club etc.
 

swissgenius

Full Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2013
Messages
552
I'll just leave this here, copied from the other thread.

Breel Embolo

He's been on fire since arriving at Monaco, and he'd fit in pretty nicely in a high pressing system.
I know he's flown under the radar since his teenage hype, but injuries got the better off him nearly every season.
Now he's matured his decision making, still needs to work on a better finishing but is a physical force and good in the air.

Expect him to have a fantastic WC

I think he'd be a far better option for the system EtH wants to play than someone like Depay. He's like a more robust Martial in the build up. Worse finisher but he's a tank.
Would be more of a stop-gap but if it works, he's not too old to become a permanent signing.
 

bosnian_red

Worst scout to ever exist
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
57,577
Location
Canada
Memphis is my vote now, Moukoko on a free in the summer as well is a great one (he can play RW too and is left footed). Sort out the position without spending stupid money.
 

AbusementPark

Operates the Unfairest Wheel
Joined
Jul 27, 2014
Messages
2,595
Location
Belfast
Of all players, why Sancho? He appears to be the least likely option.
He could be an option up front to get us through to Summer, not saying we should be starting him or going with him every game but hes an option if Rashford and Martial are injured.
 

Hansi Fick

New Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2020
Messages
5,057
Supports
FC Bayern
One guy I really would like as a stop gap signing is Gabriel Barbosa. He is left footed and can play RW besides striker. Remember when he broke through with the Brazil national team along with Jesus. Was a brief stint in Italy with Inter but never cut it, but has done a good job in Brazil the last seasons going by the stats at least.



We were also linked to him last summer:
“As it stands, neither Manchester United, nor any representative of the player, have contacted Flamengo to enquire about a possible move to Old Trafford for Gabriel Barbosa.” (Jonathan Shrager)

Last January, Newcastle discussed a loan deal with Flamengo with a 17m buy option.
“Flamengo are open to a six-month loan in January if it includes a £17million deal to make it permanent in the summer”.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/foot...castle-transfer-news-gabriel-gabigol-25798226
I'll always fondly remember that scene from the 2016 Olympics final when Lukas Klostermann won a sprint duel over 15 meters with the famed Gabigol, after starting about 10 meters behind him. Slow as feck.