What is your order of priority for our transfer needs?

Fortitude

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It seems as though Bruno is staying, with that, our positional needs appear to be a bit discombobulated and our transfer budget will seemingly plummet (assuming Mbeumo is purchased, our kitty looks to be almost entirely dependent on sales).

I think it’s fair to say we need: a new keeper; a new striker; at least one proper CM or DM, and you may even be inclined to believe we need wide players and another CB. Depending on whom you ask, the priority swings wildly, with some preferring a full-on attacking force, some wanting the spine of the team fixed and others honing in on midfield. I can’t say I’ve seen a real clamour for flank improvement over the aforementioned, but I would not be surprised if that was what some desire.

If you had to give an order of priority to our current needs over three slots, what would you go with? (This is assuming Mbeumo is coming)

For myself:

1. #9 - we’re badly lacking in the centre forward department. Getting a quality #9 in not only adds their threat, but enables the team behind them to better function.

2. #6 - this proposed double #10 pairing need a rock solid supply line that can hit them quickly and efficiently time and time again so they can better focus on hurting the oppo.

3. #1 - not another minute of Onana in the team or any incompetent back up.

We have other areas that need improvement, but these are the priority positions going forward from this point to the end of the window for me.

Yours?
 
  1. Striker
  2. Goalkeeper
  3. Central midfielder 1
  4. Central midfielder 2
Assuming Mbeumo will be signed.

I think they will get one central midfielder only.
 
If we assume Mbeumo signs, and Bruno stays, you’d guess our starting 11 looks something like this;

Onana
Yoro - De Ligt - Heaven
Amad - Bruno - Casemiro - Dorgu
Mbeumo - Hojlund - Cunha​

Hojlund, Onana and the midfield are the obvious weak spots.
 
Exactly the same as yours @Fortitude …..

We haven’t one reliable striker, holding midfielder or goalkeeper in the squad.

This was my main concern with signing Cunha for big money which I stated months ago.

It’s worrying at the moment to say the least.
 
We have no decent goalie, no mobile CM who can control the ball, no decent centre forward, really bad wingback options in my opinion, and being greedy I’d love a quality centre back like Murillo from Forest to play alongside MDL and Yoro.
Putting them in order I’d prob go:

1)Goalie
2)CM
3)Striker (if we get Mbeumo, if not move striker to 2)
4)LWB
5)RWB
6)CB
7)2nd CM signing.
 
1. Striker
2. Left wing back
3. Central midfielder
4. Goalkeeper

The first 3 are absolute necessities, the goalkeeper budget dependent/whether Onana has any suitors.

Onana/new GK

Yoro
De Ligt
Heaven

Amad
New CM
Bruno
New LWB

Mbuemo
Cunha

New ST
 
GK-- P2

Yoro
De Ligt
Heaven

 Dalot
New CM --P3
Bruno
Dorgu

Mbuemo
Cunha

ST --- P1
 
1 - Striker
2 - CDM
3 - Goalkeeper
4 - LWB

Can make an argument that CDM be more important than striker with Cunha and Mbuemo both recruited
 
1. Striker
2. GK
3. All action B2B midfielder
4. Playmaking midfielder

If there is an opportunity, upgrade at RWB instead of Dalot.
 
WakeAndBeek said:
1. Striker
2. Left wing back
3. Central midfielder
4. Goalkeeper

The first 3 are absolute necessities, the goalkeeper budget dependent/whether Onana has any suitors.

Onana/new GK

Yoro
De Ligt
Heaven

Amad
New CM
Bruno
New LWB

Mbuemo
Cunha

New ST
Click to expand...
I agree except I move up goalkeeper to position 2
 
A new keeper is an absolute must for me.Onana inspires zero confidence, followed by at least one midfielder and a striker, if we could add those 3 to Cunha and Mbeumo that would be a very good summer.
 
I think Mbeumo and Cunha will take some of the pressure off needing a striker. One of them can play there if needed with other options in their positions and we have Zirkzee to try there with them flanking him.


So for me it’s:

1. Goalkeeper
2. Striker
3. Playmaker CM
4. LWB that can cover RWB.
 
It's not as simple as it possibly should be. The signing of Mbeumo alongside Cunha is an opportunity that is too good to ignore and so based on that, this is probably the priority for me. I feel like that duo would transform our attack massively for the next five years, even if we only got a decent striker to play alongside.

However, ignoring this I would say that on paper it's:

1. Striker - I fear we'll try to shoehorn Bruno as a false 9 or something silly if we don't get one.

2. Goalkeeper - I think our defence needs that stability of someone behind who will be decisive and consistent. Doesn't have to be the greatest goalkeeper in the world as long as he's not a clown.

3. Midfielder - we'll need someone disciplined who can anchor the midfield when Bruno (who surely plays there if we sign Mbeumo) inevitably runs all over the pitch trying to play every role.

After that, I think LWB still might need looking at, and we could do with a decent backup striker.
 
A first choice striker
GK to displace Onana
CM that can cover ground and break the lines with his passing
Another FB/WB
 
1) Striker. Cunha and Mbuemo are really good additions, but we need someone else to pull things together in front of them

2) GK. We can’t continue with Onana. He actively makes things worse, and no doubt makes the defense worse as they know they can’t trust him

3) DM. If Bruno is staying then we need someone to play next to him, someone who can properly shore up the defensive side of things in midfield. Ugarte is not him.
 
Striker and a DM to replace Casemiro. Bruno and Casemiro pairing is a disaster and too easy to play through. Get a new DM in to partner Bruno, one who has the legs to cover the ground especially in deep midfield.

Then ideally a new keeper. Anyone will do.
 
Fortitude said:
It seems as though Bruno is staying, with that, our positional needs appear to be a bit discombobulated and our transfer budget will seemingly plummet (assuming Mbeumo is purchased, our kitty looks to be almost entirely dependent on sales).

I think it’s fair to say we need: a new keeper; a new striker; at least one proper CM or DM, and you may even be inclined to believe we need wide players and another CB. Depending on whom you ask, the priority swings wildly, with some preferring a full-on attacking force, some wanting the spine of the team fixed and others honing in on midfield. I can’t say I’ve seen a real clamour for flank improvement over the aforementioned, but I would not be surprised if that was what some desire.

If you had to give an order of priority to our current needs over three slots, what would you go with? (This is assuming Mbeumo is coming)

For myself:

1. #9 - we’re badly lacking in the centre forward department. Getting a quality #9 in not only adds their threat, but enables the team behind them to better function.

2. #6 - this proposed double #10 pairing need a rock solid supply line that can hit them quickly and efficiently time and time again so they can better focus on hurting the oppo.

3. #1 - not another minute of Onana in the team or any incompetent back up.

We have other areas that need improvement, but these are the priority positions going forward from this point to the end of the window for me.

Yours?
Click to expand...
Same as you, but possibly with another midfielder ahead of a goalkeeper. I’m sick of Onana, but with a better team ahead of him, he will be less costly. It’s not a disaster to ship a cheap goal once in a while, if we can score relatively freely.

We are just so thin in midfield, in my opinion. It’s really not Bruno’s position. Casemiro already has limitations and is not getting younger. Ugarte is very inconsistent on the ball.
 
I fear Cunha+Mbuemo=no new CF

I can’t see United buying an entire brand new frontline in one summer.

If I take that as truth then the next addition should be GK followed very closely by CM
 
Where do you start after that miserable season. Bruno cannot play in a midfield two. Can we please sort our midfield issues once and for all the summer

1) Quality center forward.
2) DM
3) CM
4) WB

Cunha CF Bruno

WB DM CM Amad

Martinez Yoro Heaven
 
After the Cunha signing, and hopefully in the next week or so Mbuemo confirmed and signed.

My order would be

1. Striker, the lack of goalscoring has crippled us the last two or more seasons. 24/25 Season especially!
2. Defensive midfielder, but emphasis on both defensive ability and in-possession ability. Ideally someone that knows the league but price dependent.
3. Goalkeeper, big priority but also... easy to find a decent stop gap if the ideal target or deal isn't available this window.
4. Young players with high potential, we should have a small squad for next season by design. Less games with no Europe so focus on getting young players involved and see who can handle minutes for when we have the balance of domestic and European games. Chris Rigg is an obvious one, Dibling is another one, but there are some talent young players that could be signed and drip fed into the team alongside the young talent already at the club.

Quality over quantity this window, we don't need a big squad and can afford to let players go provided we sign the necessary quality in the key positions.
 
Mike Smalling said:
Same as you, but possibly with another midfielder ahead of a goalkeeper. I’m sick of Onana, but with a better team ahead of him, he will be less costly. It’s not a disaster to ship a cheap goal once in a while, if we can score relatively freely.

We are just so thin in midfield, in my opinion. It’s really not Bruno’s position. Casemiro already has limitations and is not getting younger. Ugarte is very inconsistent on the ball.
Click to expand...
Keeper’s not really a position I pay much attention to outside of the exceptionally good and exceptionally bad ones, and unfortunately, after many exceptionally good ones who have come in and given their team more confidence and belief, we get to witness the exceptionally bad, who zap confidence, belief and stability from the team.

Onana’s mistakes are bad enough in isolation, but putting the shits up the backline itself is just unforgivable. We cannot have another season of unforced errors and the trickle down effect on the team. I think you’re underestimating how many points that costs us directly and indirectly. Huge liability to be anchored by a keeper nobody believes in.

I agree with you about midfield too, but I want an xi I can put faith in, and am not perturbed by subs like Collyer and Mainoo filling in when needed as I am by a keeper who is a sink hole for anybody in a 30 yard radius.
 
GK
Yoro De Ligt Martinez
Amad CM Bruno LWB
Mbeumo ST Cunha
​
#1 - Definitely a goalscoring ST
#2 - CM next, so important to making a team tick, and some much needed physicality
#3 - We need a new GK, Onana could be used for one more season.
#4 - We have Dorgu obviously, I just think we need a better first choice
#5 - With Lindelof leaving another RCB would be nice, not desperate though
 
Fortitude said:
Keeper’s not really a position I pay much attention to outside of the exceptionally good and exceptionally bad ones, and unfortunately, after many exceptionally good ones who have come in and given their team more confidence and belief, we get to witness the exceptionally bad, who zap confidence, belief and stability from the team.

Onana’s mistakes are bad enough in isolation, but putting the shits up the backline itself is just unforgivable. We cannot have another season of unforced errors and the trickle down effect on the team. I think you’re underestimating how many points that costs us directly and indirectly. Huge liability to be anchored by a keeper nobody believes in.

I agree with you about midfield too, but I want an xi I can put faith in, and am not perturbed by subs like Collyer and Mainoo filling in when needed as I am by a keeper who is a sink hole for anybody in a 30 yard radius.
Click to expand...
Yeah, he's turgid and he has cost us massively this season and last. I'm just saying it's exacerbated by the team not being able to score goals. My hope is that there is some clever business that can be done on, so we don't have to spend £50-70m on fixing the position. It would be such a boost in itself to just get a reliable, experienced keeper - it doesn't even have to be top shelf stuff.
 
Perhaps a controversial opinion from me.
The signings of Cunha & Mbuemo would be absolutely fantastic, they tick every box and then some.
Most people are saying that a #9 should now be top priority, but for me, it's Central Midfield, all day, every day.

I keep repeating this again and again, but you cannot play with a front three AND have Bruno in Central Midfield, there are acres of space behind when we lose the ball, and opponents are pouring through us.
The Midfield situation must be addressed, it needs to be rethought, otherwise, I don't care what front three you have, they won't be getting enough decent service, and our Midfield will be swamped.

So my priorities:
CM
GK
CF
 
1-left wing back. We only really have Dorgu, and he should be a second option. Need a starter here.

2-goalkeeper: individually, replacing Onana with a top 4 goalkeeper in the league is a net 10 points imo. Definitely largest individual effect.

3-Central midfield. Getting Mbeumo probably means both Bruno and Mainoo would play more in Central Midfield so might not be that high of a priority

4-Striker: again, priority depends on getting Mbeumo. If we do get him, both him and Cunha can cover striker when needed, and with both in the team I think Zirkzee will do wonders. Zirkzee is a very good facilitator as a striker if you have other players who can run in behind ( think Marcus Rashford ). Both Mbeumo and Cunha are pretty devastating as goalscorers so I'd rather have a Zirkzee profile rather than a Hojlund profile (irrespective of quality, only style of play). If we manage to sell Hojlund on the other hand, striker should be number 1 on the list. ( Even then, I'd rather a Lautaro Martinez facilitator than an Osimhen pure finisher ).

5-RWB. If amad plays here too, between himself and Dalot ( and Mazraoui when needed ) we should have a serviceable option depending on the opponent (Diallo for defensive teams, Dalot for attacking teams) and Mazraoui for when Bruno is playing central midfield ( would need a more reserved player in there to cover for midfield gaps).
 
I think signing Cunha and Mbeumo wipes our budget.

The focus in the short term now HAS to be on outgoings.

Rashford, Sancho and Anthony all out on loans and have no future here. We simply have to get these players out the door and sharpish.

Then we have Onana & Garnacho, who looks to have no future here. I'd also like to see us trying to sell Casemiro.

I don't think we can do anymore incomings until we sell some players.

It would be a disaster to go into the new season with any of these 5 still around the squad.

Given Lindelof and Evans have gone and the injury worries of some other defenders - I wouldn't bet against us signing a CB this window too.

After the 5 are sold we HAVE to go into the new season with:
1) ST
2) 2x CM's
3) GK

After Cunha and Mbeumo = we still need 4 signings to even look like a balanced team

I'd argue we need a better RWB but I suspect Amad & Dalot will share the role with Maz as cover.

It's a big window
 
Order of priority now
1. Make sure we complete Brian Mbeumo £50m
2. Sell Antony(30m), Hojlund(35m) Sancho(5+15m), Onana(20m) and Garnaucho(40m) for £135-145m
3. Make sure Rashford to Barcelona is £5m loan plus £30m obligation to buy and they pay his wages
4. Buy the right number 9 who may cost £60/65m ; Osimhen, Gykores or Mateta
5. Buy an experienced, elite Goalkeeper - £30-35m
6. But J Branthwaite or Preferably Murillo - £55-60m we need a mobile fast physical CB
7. Make sure we get paid the £20m from Alvaro sell on to Real

How we sell players is really the next most important thing and as usual we are off to a terrible start with Jadon ‘Freedom’ Sancho!
 
So after 2x10 looks like we need a minimum of 4 more starters. That’s 6 fresh faces. Can’t see it all happening this window. Please surprise us!!


Sales will be more important it seems.
 
BaguetteBoy said:
So after 2x10 looks like we need a minimum of 4 more starters. That’s 6 fresh faces. Can’t see it all happening this window. Please surprise us!!


Sales will be more important it seems.
Click to expand...
We need to sell really well and get £150m in plus get rid of Garnaucho and Rashford as academy players
 
  1. CF (a must)
  2. Goalkeeper (dependent on Onana leaving)
  3. Midfield (can see it waiting until 2026)
CF
Cunha Mbeumo
Dorgu Ugarte Bruno Amad
Yoro De Ligt Mazraoui
GK

Chido
Zirkzee Mount
Amass Casemiro Mainoo Dalot
Martinez Maguire Heaven
Altay​

Something like this. Obviously backup 11 not strictly those positions and as we won't need to rotate much, not overly concerned about not having crazy big depth.
 
Assuming we get Mbeumo over the line:

1. Striker
2. DM
3. GK
4. LCB

Not sure how much of a budget we’ll have for this and it will depend on Garnacho and Rashford being sold.
 
Before any signings/sales it was:
  1. #10 (Cunha)
  2. Centre forward
  3. Keeper
  4. Wingback
  5. Centre mid
  6. Centre back

So something like:

Keeper
Yoro - De light - Heaven/CB
Amad/WB - Bruno - CM - Dorgu
Amad/Bruno - Cunha
CF​

When you take into consideration the Cunha signing and possibly Mbeumo (or a second #10) it sort of puts a different spin on it.

It probably mean Bruno will play centre mid more often and that Amad will play wingback more often. I think it pushes the need for a solid centre mid partner for Bruno higher and the need for a wingback and centre forward a little lower. I also think Zirkzee two attacking #10s beside him, feels a lot palatable. Although I do think a centre forward is almost a must buy.

Would probably be:
  1. Centre mid
  2. Keeper
  3. Centre forward
  4. Wingback
  5. Centre back
 
1. #9 - Mateta/Wissa? Very few options but absolutely vital we get someone in
2. Goalkeeper - probably cannot move Onana on this summer, but he must be replaced in the first XI (Bayindir is obviously not good enough)
3. Central midfielder - someone with the requisite physicality and duel winning ability to play alongside Mainoo/Bruno
4. Left wingback - Assuming Diego Leon is not ready (I don't know), then we need another option aside from Dorgu. 1v1 ability is the key attribute.
5. Central midfielder - playmaker/passer who can control games from deep
6. #10 - Mbeumo looks like the top target, but I think he's overpriced. Again, I'd prioritise someone who excels in 1v1 ability

Obviously, you never get everything you are looking for and United are facing budgetary constraints thanks to the absence of European football revenue next season, but if we can get the first four priority players, we could be in much better shape next season. Even those four would necessitate some significant sales, though (Rashford, Antony, Sancho and Garnacho probably all need to bring in fees if we are to be able to fund this kind of outlay).
 
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