My mind changes all the time and I'm definitely feeling negative and possibly reactionary after recent poor results.
GK = NONE
I think we're OK. I feel De Gea's heart is elsewhere now but would insist he stays for the last year of his contract unless we're offered an absurd amount (£70m plus). We just wouldn't be able to replace him sufficiently while properly strengthening elsewhere of priority IMHO. Romero's still a great backup but no more. Henderson could really develop on loan again if Sheffield United go up to the Prem.
RB x 1
I've had an idea. Dalot does seem to need a bit more time and probably can't yet be trusted as first choice. We could sign someone more experienced like Meunier or Lala to tide us over while Dalot progresses. However, thinking about it, it might be worth signing 22 year old Youcef Atal from Nice. He's been getting rave reviews and Transfermarkt indicates he's two footed and able to play left back and right wing as well. If Dalot and Laird become top players as expected, we could either sell Atal on with hopefully decent resale value or he could compete with Luke Shaw on the left.
LB = OK
Shaw and Young should be fine. I'd much rather have someone else to compete with Shaw as I see Young as 1) not quite good enough and declining and 2) slows us down when on the left. However, if the aforementioned Atal is indeed two footed, he can compete on the left too.
CD x 1
This looks less of a pressing need than it previously did. However, I feel Bailly needs selling while he has some value still. He's rash and injury prone and I don't trust him to develop. Rojo hasn't been great despite a purple patch in the Europa League winning run and the knee injury seems to have brought him down further. I'd sell him too. I've finally given up on Mathijs De Ligt sadly as Barca very much seem to have his signing sown up. Although he hasn't been at his best for some time, I still think Toby Alderweireld would improve us and for £25m it's a gamble worth taking. Jones and Smalling can be good backups, though I would keep Fosu Mensah or Tuanzebe around as an option due to Jones' injury issues.
DM x 1
I hate that I feel this way because I like his attitude and feel he has been wrongly criticised at times but I think Nemanja Matic is past his best and not mobile enough for what Ole wants. I'd consider selling him and upgrading to Rodri; especially if he does indeed have a clause for £60m. He's one of the best young defensive midfielders in the world and offers a lot going forward too with his passing. However, in my heart of hearts, I don't believe he'll leave Atletico after only a year. They tend to earn great loyalty from their players, especially Spanish midfielders. I think his teammate Thomas Partey for £50m is more achievable though. Not quite as good but maybe better suited to the Premier League. He would be backed up by McTominay and Garner.
CM x 1
I want us to keep Ander Herrera around. He appears to me to be one of the only leaders we have so I'd make him club captain. However, I'm not too willing to be patient with Fred. He's a better player than he's shown but we should be doing better. We need to sell him while his Shakhtar status is still slightly fresh in minds. I'd replace him with Hossam Aouar from Lyon. He looks like he could become one of the best midfielders in the world. He's creative and extremely press resistant which are two qualities we lack. I'd have him rotate with Herrera while he develops and gets used to England. He could also play in the more attacking midfield role.
AM x 1
Now here's the controversial one perhaps. I'd sell Pogba. Yes, class. Yes, probably our best player. Yes, our top scorer this season. But his attitude is shocking, he's often flirting with other clubs and I resent how indulged he seems. I know it's a cliché but Ferguson really was fed up with him and his entourage and we should take note of that. Sell him to Madrid for £150m and improve several areas of our squad. Bruno Fernandes of Sporting isn't as good of a player but offers much more goal threat. Someone scoring so many from midfield offers a huge threat and upgrading the players behind the attacking midfielder should mitigate for the loss of Pogba. I'd sell Andreas Pereira as he only has a year left on his deal and I don't think he'll be good enough. Jesse Lingard and Angel Gomes can be decent backups.
RW x 1
It has to be Jadon Sancho, right? It seems an absolute no brainer to me. The problem is that I don't think Dortmund will want to sell until next year after the Euros where they'll probably expect him to star and attract a bidding war. However, if we offer a big amount now like £120m, I think they would be tempted. I struggle to know what to do with Mata regarding a new contract. Due to a probable lack of interest from big clubs to promise him a lot of game time, I think we could probably end up renewing with him, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as a backup on less wages. This allows us to send Chong on loan. I don't think Mata really fits into Solskjaer's tactics but he's an awesome guy and he offers something different.
LW x 1
Martial remains first choice. I still have some doubts about his work ethic but he signed a new deal and is still very young. I wouldn't be against us signing Ryan Sessegnon. He looks far from the sure thing prospect he looked a year ago but still hasn't done too badly and he's only 18. He's a natural left footer so gives us width and could combine well or even compete with Shaw. Hopefully with Fulham's relegation, him entering the last year of his contract and the huge amount they wasted last year, they wouldn't be against selling Sessegnon for a reasonable fee. Maybe there is still a top player in there. I'd look for us to get rid of Sanchez, hopefully without us having to subsidise his wages. He used to be an excellent player and it's a huge shame it hasn't worked out for him at United but 18 months of poor performances is enough to bear considering the wages he's on and I'm fairly convinced his legs have gone.
ST = OK
Rashford, Lukaku and Greenwood. Good options. I'd have Lukaku as basically a backup which seems very frivolous for someone who cost as much as he did. However, we won't get our money back for him and I'd say he gives us something different that is often needed in the PL. The physical presence is something Rashford can develop but Lukaku's much better in that respect at the moment.
So -
GK: De Gea, Romero, Grant (Henderson loaned)
RB: Atal, Dalot, Laird
LB: Shaw, Young
CD: Alderweireld, Lindelöf, Smalling, Jones, Fosu Mensah (Tuanzebe, O'Connor loaned)
DM: Partey, McTominay, Garner
CM: Aouar, Herrera
AM: Fernandes, Lingard, Gomes
RW: Sancho, Mata (Chong loaned)
LW: Martial, Sessegnon
ST: Rashford, Lukaku, Greenwood
IN -
Atal = 25M
Alderweireld = 25M
Partey = 50M
Aouar = 70M
Fernandes = 50M
Sancho = 120M
Sessegnon = 40M
TOTAL = 380M
OUT -
Darmian = 5M
Bailly = 15M
Rojo = 5M
Valencia = Free
Matic = 15M
Fred = 20M
Pogba = 150M
Sanchez = Free
A. Pereira = 10M
TOTAL = 230M
Therefore the outlay would be 150M which is reasonably achievable.
