Some thoughts:
Players I would not target
There are some guys we are linked with, that I would — not — target for various reasons. Turning down players that aren’t a fit is just as important as the signings, as we learned from Woodward’s tenure.
They are:
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Declan Rice — First of all, I only see him as a CDM for us. You can’t spend 70-80m on a back-up for Casemiro who easily could play 90% of our most important games the coming 4-5 years if we are lucky.
Second of all, I think Rice has the perfect tool set to become a Casemiro type of player. But facts are that as far as I know, he has never played one single game for a team that tries to play up from the back. I mean, this is an issue. It looks so easy when Casemiro does it, but when Bruno or Sabitzer drops deep in Cas’ absence, it doesn’t look as easy. Of course Rice has more experience and can do it, even if WH per se doesn’t look to play up from the GK (you get those situations anyway), but nah, I would be a bit concerned.
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Mason Mount — He is another guy that just isn’t a natural fit in how we play, and it’s also showing under Potter.
He is a really good AMC, but not for a team that plays the way we do. KDB is like a perfect AMC for ETH. If we have a someone like FDJ at No 8, someone that does more of the dirty work isn’t wrong. Pressing etc. I cannot see how MM would be a good signing for us giving his value.
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Dusan Vlahovic — This is one I really would — not — want. He is a non-factor in the pressing game. Even if he is really big and heavy, he isn’t exactly Duncan Ferguson II in the box. He has a great left foot, he is a talented footballer, but I don’t think he would give us an edge.
The Striker
(1) The general notion is that our priority 1, 2 and 3 is getting a striker; and
Oshimen,
Kane and even
Vlahovic is mentioned.
But in reality, it is complicated. It would be a very Woodward/old MUFC thing to do and set our sights on getting one of Kane/Oshimen and chasing that until the 11th hour without the best outcome.
Can Oshimen be had? Great. You do it. But Napoli could be the CL winner for all we know. Or more likely, having come close to winning it. He has 2 years left on his contract. Napoli won’t lose a penny by holding on to him until there is 1 year left on his contract. Everyone failed to get Khouibaly for a long while. If Napoli starts to sell one of the nukes, why would the others stay? I could definitely see them saying, nope, not for sale this summer. Call us back in a year if you are interested,
I have a bit of a hard time deciding on Kane. 5 years ago, I would be surprised if ETH didn’t see him as a great option. But he is playing an insane amount of games. He is Tottenham’s Bruno, and he is what 6’2-3 and 30. Previous years, he has had his fair share of injuries.
The one I really would like to see us target is
Benjamin Sesko. Sesko is great at pressing, he is a treat in the air, he is a really good finisher.
But would Leipzig sell him before he even played a game for them? Well they have depth at the striker position with Werner back. But I would go high on the transfer fee in an offer for him. Like I am sure anyone who have seen him a lot would agree with, the kid is from a talent point of view the real deal. 6’4, but the same explosiveness as someone like Haaland. That is unique. He is a really hard worker. And he has great technique. Sure, he is a bit raw, but he is what, 19 y/o.
My strategy would be this:
Finding the right striker isn’t easy. I would:
(a) Keep
Antony Martial, and
(b) buy
Wout Weghorst from Burnley for say
15m. (And no, I am not suggesting this because I think it would be popular
)
And, I would offer Enzo money to RB Leipzig for
Benjamin Sesko, say
€120m.
Make it clear from the get go that Sesko will be eased into the lineup, despite the price tag. If Martial is healthy, ETH will gladly use him. I don’t hold Wout higher than anyone else, but facts are that we are winning games with Wout on the pitch. He is learning ETH ball. He is definitely an asset on the press. His link-up isn’t half bad at times.
But most importantly, if he sits on the bench for 3 months in the row if Martial is healthy, it’s not the end of the world. He would know the conditions. And as a vet, it’s easier to come in ‘cold’ and contribute. Perfect 3rd string striker, or perhaps not perfect, but you get what I mean. He would be acceptable.
Sesko can be the No 1 when Martial is hurt and rotate with Martial when healthy. The aim is to get someone who can grow into his game under ETH.
Spend: 135m
AMC and Wing
Here, I would first of all sell players, namely
Antony Elanga and
Facundo Pellestri. We should be able to get close to
20m for Elanga and
10-15m for Pellestri.
I would also bring back
Amad Diallo. He is a better fit in ETHs system, especially as a RW but he could also fill in as a AMC. The kid’s touch on the ball is world class, so is his balance and the quickness of his feet. He has an amazing touch when passing the ball to. Is he ready to be a star in the PL/CL? No, but I firmly believe that he can contribute.
I have seen him at least 15-20 times this year. Remember that he besides his talents on the ball:
(a) Tracks back really well. Mowbray comments on this a lot, he is constantly leading the relevant stats for Sunderland.
(b) He is great at getting first to loose balls, and especially not just getting a toe on them, but keeping them within the team.
Midfield
I would of course touch base with
Jude Bellingham, but I would never consider paying 100+m for him. He is a box to box midfielder who is fairly skilled, but like miles behind someone like FDJ and the likes. The one unique thing about him right now is that he is ‘19 y/o’, but at the same time, he is a really early bloomer. Ansu Fati scored for Barca when he was 16 y/o, doesn’t mean that the development curve will keeping heading up to the sky. All youth must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Given his age, if Bellingham want to force his way to us and Dortmund takes 75m, you do it. No reason whatsoever to overpay for a No 8 who isn’t even a great fit (if FDJ is the prototype of what ETH wants).
But if that can’t be done, I am perfectly happy with Marcel Sabitzer. At 28 he is in his prime, he is a work horse who can cover a ton of distance. He can play as a No 8 or as an AMC or even on the wing if needed. I think he is better than Eriksen, but those two rotating is acceptable unless someone like FDJ can be had (I assume he won’t be available).
So sign
Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern for say what,
30m?
In addition, I would sign
Jurrien Timber, with say an expected cost of
50m — as a back-up to Casemiro, who can also rotate with Varane. I’ve seen a lot of Timber the last years like many others. He has definitely taken a step back — this season — compared to last season. But at the same time, he is starting 100% of the games for Ajax, in all competitions, and he has played a ton for the Netherlands. That is an insane workload for a 21 y/o CB. Many claim that this kid has insane potential, and can be the next Cannavaro when he hits his prime, Balon D’Or winning CB. I am not sure if he really has elite elite potential, but the kid has so much football in him. Think his development would take off if he could come to a top club, get a little lighter work load, and be a part of building something really special. ETH hinted at him having captain material when he was 19 y/o. Can’t have enough of that.
I would sell
McTominay no doubt — do we get
25m? — but keep
Fred one more year. Fred is an central part of the lockerroom, and does OK on average. If Fred is sold, the notion would be to have
Hannibal Mejbri as a last option CM. But I think it’s best to loan out Mejbri one more year, and aim to have him replace Fred another year down the line if it makes sense then.
Defense
One player I have considered a lot back and forth is 21 y/o
Josko Gvardiol. I think he is a perfect LCB for ETH. At the same time — we already have a 25 y/o Lissandro Martinez there as well as a Luke Shaw who have done a remarkable job when played at CB.
But at the bottom line, I would want us to go for Gvardiol even if the cost is 85-90m. He is that good. Tremendously poised when pressured. A great passer. Strong physically. At 21, he can of course still develop a lot.
What we have seen with ETH is that if the skill is there, he can create a team of players even if they are moved from their natural position. With Gvardiol we would be heavy at LCB, but at the same time, you need depth. And having elite options at all positions is our goal.
The ball playing ability of our CBs and their overall play is so important for our game. We can play great with Wout at Striker and Fred as a No 8, at least if Casemiro is on the pitch, but we could never play well against the better teams without basically having Lisandro/Shaw and Varane on the pitch. If Martinez is hurt Shaw is playing every game and so is Malacia. Lindelof was sick today, but that is next to Martinez. You play Shaw-Martinez-Varane-Darlot one game and then Malacia-Gvardiol-Timber-AWB the next, and we are talking elite defense.
Pay the
90m to get him.
At CB, I would sell both of
Harry Maguire and
Victor Lindelof. Do we get
50m in total? I think so.
I would — not — sell AWB. Sorry, he has been way to good lately. Full-backs tends to get injured a lot too.
Goalkeeper
Of course,
Dean Henderson should be sold. Do we get
20m? Sheffield United is playing in the Premier League again next season. Hopefully they are willing to ant up for Henderson.
I am not really in a position to judge if DDG should be kept, exactly how big impact it has that his passing is behind the top ball playing keepers. If DDG is not retained, I actually wouldnt mind bringing in Manuel Neuer (he is done for Bayern, big public fall out with the brass) next to a younger keeper like Mielier. But I think DDG is resigned.
Total spend incoming: 305m
Total sale: 125m
This would leave us with a good 50-60m to spend on young talents, which is an area that has been neglected by the Glazers for a long long time. Let’s not lose out on more Enzo Fernandez players for 15m… Of those youth players, we should definitely spend a little extra to get a top young 17-18 y/o CDM that could fill in from the youth team if we get a lot of injuries there. In addition, we should have some dry powder for January.
Depth chart
ST — Martial/Sesko/Weghorst
LW — Rash/Garnacho/Sancho
AMC — Bruno/Sancho/Diallo/Fred
RW — Antony/Diallo/Sancho
MC — Sabitzer/Eriksen/Fred
CDM — Casemiro/Timber
LB — Shaw/Malacia
LCB — Martinez/Gvardiol
RCB — Varane/Timber
RB — Dalot/AWB/Timber
GK — DDG/someone
