What is your view on Wharton's suitability, unfortunately Zubimendi will be Arsenal plater
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
-
Nik (@Rood), Jamie (@Vault Dweller) and Ed (@That'sHernandez) give their end of season awards out! They celebrate the best players, goals and moments of the season (there were some, honestly) and also give out awards for the worst and most disappointing players/moments of the season.
They then discuss all the latest transfer rumours and get into the potential ins and outs this summer at Old Trafford.
Arsenal or Madrid yes.
It's probably a coin toss between Wharton and Baleba depending if we want a ball carrier or someone who can pass the ball well from deep.
I personally feel we need someone who can do both
So need Baleba and Wharton but can't afford that
No I'm saying we need a person who can do both roles well, because let's say we are going for a 2-3 year rebuild cycle we need a partner for Bruno and that means buying a player around the age of 24 that can do the leg work but carry and pass the ball too.
We perhaps need someone who can get the ball out to the wingbacks but probe the ball through to Cunha or Mbeumo, but the player also needs to be able to beat a press too, as that'll be important for Amorim.
If our wingbacks bomb forward and the new CM is on needing to turn, beat the press if he loses the ball suddenly it's a turn over and we have 3 at the back, we can't really make those mistakes.
We have Casemiro, Mainoo, Ugarte and Bruno don't forget, but we need a top class option for Bruno.
Realistically Casemiro and Ugarte will be surplus to requirements in 1-2 years in our squad build.
Mainoo the jury is out we need to see him next year and where he slots in.
Hmmm can't think of anyone available who can do both
We start this game every summer, with fanciful ideas of what players surplus to requirements monetary value are worth to the club. I believe things are simply not that simple however we can make £120/125m of purchases before June 30th 2025 and that would go into last year, this will however use up the majority of transfer funds allocated.
Players who have left Club/contract not renewed;
V Lindelof / £125k
J Evan’s / £65k
C Eriksen / £160k
The Club has saved £350k per week on last years wages
Players In Before 30/06/25;
M Cunha - £62.5m(20m) (150k)
B Mbeumo - £55+7.5m(30m) (200k)
Problem with this deal is Brentford want the £60m upfront not in 3 or 4 instalments
(Hopefully this week)
After this everything is reliant on funds coming in and cash generated as sales for these players. Man United will not sell 7 or 8 players for £200m, we just won’t.
Players listed For Sale;
A Garnaucho(50m), M Rashford(40m),
J Sancho(25m), Antony(30m),
A Onana(20m), A Bayinder(7m),
R Hojlund (40m)
Players Who still Could be sold for right Price;
B Fernandes(100m), K Mainoo(70m), MDL(45m) , M Mount (35m), L Shaw (20m),
L Martinez(45m)
Sell on Clauses for players previously sold ;
A Fernandes(7m), M Oyedele(2m),
A Elanga(8m), M Greenwood (17.5m)
These are some of the figures out there In the Media which have the United fans frantically trying to create excel spreadsheets, deluding themselves that Barcelona or PSG will give Man United £40m for Marcus Rashford and then pay his £15m per year contract.
Realistically the club might sell 3 from the players listed for sale; my guess is Garnacho, Onana and Antony might be all sold for a combined £45m+18m+27m which is £90m combined. This will reduce the wages by a further £400,000 per week and then we will have to accept loan deals for Sancho and Rashford were we might save a further £350k per week in subsidies for their wages.
We might move one of the second list out but I can’t see any of these players leaving unless Luke Shaw goes to Italy.
Finally the sell on, the club could make £10m extra maximum with these players.
Living in the real World
The club might generate a further 100m through player sales but more importantly free up £750k per wages. Therefore I see something like this;
New Players Signed after 1st July 2025;
E Martinez (GK)/ £25m / £200k wages
J Mateta (CF) / £45m / £125k wages
H Hackney / £30m / £50k wages
This is how I see the window realistically unfolding, we might just have enough left over to get another wingback like Vanderson from the French league but No Gykores, No Osimhen, No Hugo Ekitike and Amorim only has himself to blame?
Had he won a very winnable Europa League Final, Gykores would already be signed!
Players who have left Club/contract not renewed;
V Lindelof / £125k
J Evan’s / £65k
C Eriksen / £160k
The Club has saved £350k per week on last years wages
Players In Before 30/06/25;
M Cunha - £62.5m(20m) (150k)
B Mbeumo - £55+7.5m(30m) (200k)
Problem with this deal is Brentford want the £60m upfront not in 3 or 4 instalments
(Hopefully this week)
After this everything is reliant on funds coming in and cash generated as sales for these players. Man United will not sell 7 or 8 players for £200m, we just won’t.
Players listed For Sale;
A Garnaucho(50m), M Rashford(40m),
J Sancho(25m), Antony(30m),
A Onana(20m), A Bayinder(7m),
R Hojlund (40m)
Players Who still Could be sold for right Price;
B Fernandes(100m), K Mainoo(70m), MDL(45m) , M Mount (35m), L Shaw (20m),
L Martinez(45m)
Sell on Clauses for players previously sold ;
A Fernandes(7m), M Oyedele(2m),
A Elanga(8m), M Greenwood (17.5m)
These are some of the figures out there In the Media which have the United fans frantically trying to create excel spreadsheets, deluding themselves that Barcelona or PSG will give Man United £40m for Marcus Rashford and then pay his £15m per year contract.
Realistically the club might sell 3 from the players listed for sale; my guess is Garnacho, Onana and Antony might be all sold for a combined £45m+18m+27m which is £90m combined. This will reduce the wages by a further £400,000 per week and then we will have to accept loan deals for Sancho and Rashford were we might save a further £350k per week in subsidies for their wages.
We might move one of the second list out but I can’t see any of these players leaving unless Luke Shaw goes to Italy.
Finally the sell on, the club could make £10m extra maximum with these players.
Living in the real World
The club might generate a further 100m through player sales but more importantly free up £750k per wages. Therefore I see something like this;
New Players Signed after 1st July 2025;
E Martinez (GK)/ £25m / £200k wages
J Mateta (CF) / £45m / £125k wages
H Hackney / £30m / £50k wages
This is how I see the window realistically unfolding, we might just have enough left over to get another wingback like Vanderson from the French league but No Gykores, No Osimhen, No Hugo Ekitike and Amorim only has himself to blame?
Had he won a very winnable Europa League Final, Gykores would already be signed!
Gyokeres has chose Arsenal now so sod him, like your suggestions for players we could sign after 1 July. I wouldn't just give up on Osimhen/Ekitike yet though
When there was all the speculation about Bruno leaving the club was briefing that we didn't need to sell him to achieve our transfer targets during the summer. That was 3 days into the window when Cunha was already done and we were in pole position for Mbeumo.
Roll on two weeks and nothing has happened. We may or may not now be favourites for Mbeumo and cannot identify a striker we want to get now.
More than that there is no real news about departures. If we get any hard cash for anyone other than Garnacho and Anthony I'd be amazed.
We have players returning for training in three weeks (potentially slightly earlier according to some outlets). To give Ruben the best chance of success we need the vast majority of signing in place from the start, with preferably all the smelly players that will stink up yhe place gone.
I get that a lot of the people involved normally take these weeks as their only holidays but there's a shedload to do in a few weeks.
Roll on two weeks and nothing has happened. We may or may not now be favourites for Mbeumo and cannot identify a striker we want to get now.
More than that there is no real news about departures. If we get any hard cash for anyone other than Garnacho and Anthony I'd be amazed.
We have players returning for training in three weeks (potentially slightly earlier according to some outlets). To give Ruben the best chance of success we need the vast majority of signing in place from the start, with preferably all the smelly players that will stink up yhe place gone.
I get that a lot of the people involved normally take these weeks as their only holidays but there's a shedload to do in a few weeks.
There is no such player. We should be thankful if anyone of Baleba, Wharton, Larsson or Jashari signs for us.
If we don't sign a first team player by the end of this week then I will start to worry
Only Garnacho sold looks most likely outcome which is frustrating as still need to get at least
Mbeumo over line
Striker
CM/GK (Don't see both)
It would not be the worst to continue with Onana given that interest in him would be very limited. Could be a better idea to sell Altay and get in a cheaper option to fight directly with Onana. Do not know who we could get, though max 20m in transfer fee and should be someone on lower wages
Cunha is already signed for the AM position. With Bruno, Amad, Mount, Mainoo, Zirkzee to share the position between them we should for now be well covered to play in PL and the few cup games
Striker should be the next signing. Osimhen is the dream signing and the salaries saved from Lindelof, Evans and Eriksen is more than enough to cover Osimhen’s wage. In this scenario I might also keep Hojlund to see whether he can learn from Osimhen and play better when the pressure is taken from his shoulders. He is only 22 and it is’t unseen that the very best forwards starts playing better in later ages. He should always have been 2nd choice for us and should remain so next 2 years minimum
Finally a very good CM is needed. This is the position I would use the most on together with Striker. We need someone in there that can move the ball forward and be dynamic at the same time. Depending on games and availability this player should cover the CM with Ugarte, Casemiro, Mainoo, Bruno, Collyer
In order of priority
1. Starting AM - already signed
2. Starting CF
3. Starting CM
4. Competing GK
Cunha is already signed for the AM position. With Bruno, Amad, Mount, Mainoo, Zirkzee to share the position between them we should for now be well covered to play in PL and the few cup games
Striker should be the next signing. Osimhen is the dream signing and the salaries saved from Lindelof, Evans and Eriksen is more than enough to cover Osimhen’s wage. In this scenario I might also keep Hojlund to see whether he can learn from Osimhen and play better when the pressure is taken from his shoulders. He is only 22 and it is’t unseen that the very best forwards starts playing better in later ages. He should always have been 2nd choice for us and should remain so next 2 years minimum
Finally a very good CM is needed. This is the position I would use the most on together with Striker. We need someone in there that can move the ball forward and be dynamic at the same time. Depending on games and availability this player should cover the CM with Ugarte, Casemiro, Mainoo, Bruno, Collyer
In order of priority
1. Starting AM - already signed
2. Starting CF
3. Starting CM
4. Competing GK
If there was a "what don't we need" thread then "another attacking midfielder" would be one of the first things on my list, which is why I find the Mbeumo interest a bit odd.
I'm not necessarily even saying he wouldn't improve us, but I feel like there are other positions (striker, goalkeeper, central midfield, wing back) where our depth of quality is woeful.
I'm not necessarily even saying he wouldn't improve us, but I feel like there are other positions (striker, goalkeeper, central midfield, wing back) where our depth of quality is woeful.
Still believe we want Mbeumo, so we will have to sacrifice one of those bottom two positions this summer
I
I very much agree with you. It would only have made sense if we could get him in at a unrealistic low price and it would have been stupid not to get him, however, the prices quoted are high and puts us in a bad position with regard to other acquitusins
You might be right. I doubt it but if doable with additional budget created from sales I wouldn’t mind to have him in as the forth signing instead of the goal keeper but given prices quoted it might be a challenge to have him in together with a starting striker and starting CM which I believe are way more important right now
GK - Urgent
CM - Urgent
AM - Preferable, allows Amad at RWB & Bruno as CM
ST - Urgent, priority
Looking at ca 200 million outlay.
IF the likes of Mainoo, Garnacho, Rashford, Antony & Sancho can be sold, then there is no reason that these positions of need cannot be filled during the summer window. It is patently asking a lot but it is possible.
CM - Urgent
AM - Preferable, allows Amad at RWB & Bruno as CM
ST - Urgent, priority
Looking at ca 200 million outlay.
IF the likes of Mainoo, Garnacho, Rashford, Antony & Sancho can be sold, then there is no reason that these positions of need cannot be filled during the summer window. It is patently asking a lot but it is possible.
If we sign Mbeumo, alongside Cunha, then maybe CM should be the next priority. With both of them, we have definitely added goals and creativity. It feels like Delap was the best deal for us - £30 million for a proven goal scorer, albeit not prolific, in the EPL. I'm not sure there's a good enough deal to be made now for a striker this close season.
We still need desperately need a RWB and a DM along with another CB but dont seem to have a concrete link with any of those
Think Tah was target on a free but went to Bayern, in terms of RWB I feel we are looking at internal solutions. The only solid midfield target so far is Ederson
We will still be a very open team who will be exploited by every team in the PL if we go and Bruno and Casemiro/Ugarte in the midfield if we play 3-4-3 which is the coach preference.
Selling Bruno (70m pounds) to Saudi plus getting rid of his big wages as well would have been a blessing for us which unfortunately didn't happen which would have allowed us to invest in a top Stricker and a more balanced MF together with Cunha and Mbeumo.
Given he will start most of the matches in midfield, we desperately need someone to play alongside him who is quick and can cover the ground and provide defensive stability else I am worried about this season as well. This is the first priority.
CF should be a second priority given we are getting 35-40 goals in Cunha and Mbeumo.
Selling Bruno (70m pounds) to Saudi plus getting rid of his big wages as well would have been a blessing for us which unfortunately didn't happen which would have allowed us to invest in a top Stricker and a more balanced MF together with Cunha and Mbeumo.
Given he will start most of the matches in midfield, we desperately need someone to play alongside him who is quick and can cover the ground and provide defensive stability else I am worried about this season as well. This is the first priority.
CF should be a second priority given we are getting 35-40 goals in Cunha and Mbeumo.
I read somewhere that Amorim said he was happy with our wing back options so unless that was untrue, I don’t think that’s happening.
Centre back options aren’t too bad- Maz, De Ligt, Yoro, Heaven, Maguire, Shaw (if he’s STILL here) but yeah, maybe one more would be a good thing.
So much depends on who leaves the club. I’d hope that after our worst two seasons ever in the PL era that a few more might leave but finding buyers will be tough.
His name: Jean-Philippe Mateta.
While not the exotic striker to be muppeted about, he checks all the boxes, maybe around £35m, and becomes a good servant for 5 years until we can buy or promote the long term striker.He may not be the best marksman in tight spaces, or deadly in the penalty area, but he’s the profile this squad needs in this rebuild.
The power and speed of a Cunha, Mateta and Mbeumo forward line would be enough to have Prem CBs soil themselves in fear
While not the exotic striker to be muppeted about, he checks all the boxes, maybe around £35m, and becomes a good servant for 5 years until we can buy or promote the long term striker.He may not be the best marksman in tight spaces, or deadly in the penalty area, but he’s the profile this squad needs in this rebuild.
The power and speed of a Cunha, Mateta and Mbeumo forward line would be enough to have Prem CBs soil themselves in fear
This last season and now transfer window really opens up some self pity for the club. The what could have been stings...
Rashford -- Greenwood -- Sancho
Young careers, wrecked, wasted . Highly unlikely redemption arc for all but maybe one of them.
What was it? The UK media and pressure?
Was it bad influences? Lingard, Pogba, Foden?
Could it have been prevented?
Rashford -- Greenwood -- Sancho
Young careers, wrecked, wasted . Highly unlikely redemption arc for all but maybe one of them.
What was it? The UK media and pressure?
Was it bad influences? Lingard, Pogba, Foden?
Could it have been prevented?
Or the one on the left and the right weren't top top talent. Never deserved the salary and the adulation.
I think Greenwood can simply blame himself.
Would you prefer him to Watkins?His name: Jean-Philippe Mateta.
While not the exotic striker to be muppeted about, he checks all the boxes, maybe around £35m, and becomes a good servant for 5 years until we can buy or promote the long term striker.He may not be the best marksman in tight spaces, or deadly in the penalty area, but he’s the profile this squad needs in this rebuild.
The power and speed of a Cunha, Mateta and Mbeumo forward line would be enough to have Prem CBs soil themselves in fear
Yes- it’s close, but yes. While they’re very similar in offensive actions (advantage Mateta) and scoring actions (advantage Watkins), yet would cost about the same to acquire, Mateta is 2 years younger and on lower wages.
Mateta is also more complementary to what Amorim would want to do with his attacking forwards and advanced wingbacks.
But all in all, Mateta is the type of striker that buys us time to round out the squad, whereas Ollie doesn’t appear to me has that shelf life and endurance to commit resources elsewhere without having to worry about striker again even as soon as next season.
The fact anyone can try to pin blame on anyone else for that scumbag is worrying
Could have had promising international career too
Here's a comparison of Zirkzee vs Osimhen for when they both played in Serie A. Zirkzee vs Osimhen Serie A
I think a lot of fans underrate how good Zirkzee is when he's played in his best position through the middle.
I think a lot of fans underrate how good Zirkzee is when he's played in his best position through the middle.
In fairness, nobody is criticizing Zirkzee for his pass completion percentage or how many clearances he makes. The areas that Osimhen is superior are the areas most highly valued in a striker at a big club.
Would a live auction for Sancho, Rashford, Onana, and Antony be "unbecoming" of us?
Yeah things like shot creating actions, key passes, successful take ons, progressive carries, progressive passes, passes into penalty area, through balls, carries into penalty area.
These types of areas? Because Zirkzee is ahead in all of them.
Most of those stats are important for the 10s in Amorim's system.
We're discussing a striker.
Goals please.
United are clearly looking to improve their forward options. Having something different is always a nice option.
Nick Woltemade - young 6'6" forward playing for VfB Stuttgart & Germany U-21s (although he is actually 23), looks a rare talent in that for a player of his immense stature, his touch is exceptional and he has a skill set rarely seen in taller players. He broke out this season gone with a 17 goals and several assists in 33 league and cup matches.
Following his recent exploits in the U-21 championship, the big clubs have sat up and are taking notes. With United looking to improve their options, that lad needs serious consideration.
Nick Woltemade - young 6'6" forward playing for VfB Stuttgart & Germany U-21s (although he is actually 23), looks a rare talent in that for a player of his immense stature, his touch is exceptional and he has a skill set rarely seen in taller players. He broke out this season gone with a 17 goals and several assists in 33 league and cup matches.
Following his recent exploits in the U-21 championship, the big clubs have sat up and are taking notes. With United looking to improve their options, that lad needs serious consideration.
While I agree on some parts of your post, this highlighted part makes no real difference, as players bought are amortised linearly over the course of the contract, hence only 1/60th of the transfer fee is allocated to this year's accounts if signed on a 5 year contract 1st June 2025. If signed later but still before 1st of July, you can do the math.
He is not a CF though. More like a Jonathan David / Zirkzee type of player who is best used as a second striker.
Again the only criticism I've commonly seen for Zirkzee is that he doesn't score nearly enough goals and his box movement is poor. I think most fans think he's a good footballer.
And?
Obviously the primary need is a striker but United need more forwards than just one CF. The addition of Cunha is a very fine start but they need more.