What + who are our top summer 2026 targets?

goldenboy said:
"Statman" Dave doesn't even use 'per 90' stats. His videos barely even contain any demonstration or use of data at all.

In that video he also calls Alex Scott "far too offensive" to partner Mainoo... and says he'd rather be a potential Bruno Fernandes replacement!?!?!

The guy also wears makeup and/or uses some kind of e-thot camera filter.

He's a complete joke.
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I enjoy his content so do plenty of others, so each to their own. If you know of a Utd channel that covers Utd from a date perspective that you think is better, feel free to share.
 
golden_blunder said:
Osimhen has proven nothing imo

Your suggestion is like throwing blob of poo at the wall and seeing what sticks, there seems to be no actual thought to squad building

You need more than tens of the best players from different teams. Good luck keeping them all happy as they will all want to play. Title winning squads contain your o’Shea’s, Parks, Blomquists, etc
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Right so you wouldn't have signed Kvaratshkelia at Napoli because it's wondering what sticks. Let's not just take gambles?

Look at who we are being linked to -

Anderson, Fernandes, Gomes, Bruno G,Wharton, Scott even bloody Hackney : best players in their team in the position we need.

How is that any different to buying poop and seeing what sticks just because I say we buy from abroad aswell?

I'm just saying we should target these players who are the best player in the team from all top leagues.

Was Sancho the best player at Dortmund? Antony at Ajax? Ugarte at PSG? This is why I think they failed because they were bought with a view of potential rather than already being their clubs best player. The last player we bought like that outside of Ineos is maybe Pogba. His time here is mixed but back at Juventus he looked like a player that could win the CL for a team that was already on the level of contending which wasn't us.

We are being linked to Diomande who looks like RB Leipzig's best player this season right? If we miss out on him then there's a big chance he ends up at Liverpool replacing Salah. Arguably the best winger option available this summer. Should we go for Ndiyae just because he plays for Everton and PL proven?

Since you bought it up about how we need our Nicky Butt, Oshea to be of PSG or Bayerns CL calibre :

Are you happy with the current level of the subs bench? Would you upgrade the subs bench by spending 50 million on Madueke or find a player that is potentially even better than Cunha, Amad & Mbeumo so that one of those 3 will have to sit on the bench when underperfoming. I pick option 2 where finding a player that is better is harder to do than finding a worse version of a player you already have. I remember the South Korean Lad was starting matches for PSG once but the uprising of Dembele, Doue, Kvaratshkelia, Barcola have well made him more of a squad option. The same for Goncalo Ramos. They weren't bought as squad options but ended up as squad options and many are already talking about players like Amad & Yoro being more squad players than starting 11 players for us simply because we have continued to upgrade the first team. Whether they are happy or not is down to them like Mainoo under Amorim.

We are the 2nd most popular club in the world, we should be able to target the best players of other teams that are respectfully below us to the point the player acts like Garnacho refusing to move to anyone but Chelsea.

We don't need to treat ourselves like we are Real Madrid's toilet trying to wipe their arse with whatever they flush out of their club only for us to give them the money to buy a player that's even better than what they gave us.

INEOS PL targeting is safe and efficient. It's done its job well and let's continue by buying the best players wherever they play.

The fact is in my personal opinion, the only world class player we have is still Bruno Fernades. I'd maybe add Lammens in there after a year of similar performances.

All other CL teams have like 5 world class players, some who often seeing on the bench.

None of the players we are being linked to can guaranteed to be called world class.

Is Anderson world class?
Jao Gomes?
Baleba?
Wharton?
Matheus Fernandes?

We are spending 100+ pounds per player who isn't world class, has hardly played any Champions League Football and has only ever played for lower league clubs in the PL.

There has and will always be consistent performers abroad that are more proven at CL level we should target who might even cost less than the 100 million PL price tag.
 
kobbie meh noo? said:
Right so you wouldn't have signed Kvaratshkelia at Napoli because it's wondering what sticks. Let's not just take gambles?

Look at who we are being linked to -

Anderson, Fernandes, Gomes, Bruno G,Wharton, Scott even bloody Hackney : best players in their team in the position we need.

How is that any different to buying poop and seeing what sticks just because I say we buy from abroad aswell?

I'm just saying we should target these players who are the best player in the team from all top leagues.

Was Sancho the best player at Dortmund? Antony at Ajax? Ugarte at PSG? This is why I think they failed because they were bought with a view of potential rather than already being their clubs best player. The last player we bought like that outside of Ineos is maybe Pogba. His time here is mixed but back at Juventus he looked like a player that could win the CL for a team that was already on the level of contending which wasn't us.

We are being linked to Diomande who looks like RB Leipzig's best player this season right? If we miss out on him then there's a big chance he ends up at Liverpool replacing Salah. Arguably the best winger option available this summer. Should we go for Ndiyae just because he plays for Everton and PL proven?

Since you bought it up about how we need our Nicky Butt, Oshea to be of PSG or Bayerns CL calibre :

Are you happy with the current level of the subs bench? Would you upgrade the subs bench by spending 50 million on Madueke or find a player that is potentially even better than Cunha, Amad & Mbeumo so that one of those 3 will have to sit on the bench when underperfoming. I pick option 2 where finding a player that is better is harder to do than finding a worse version of a player you already have. I remember the South Korean Lad was starting matches for PSG once but the uprising of Dembele, Doue, Kvaratshkelia, Barcola have well made him more of a squad option. The same for Goncalo Ramos. They weren't bought as squad options but ended up as squad options and many are already talking about players like Amad & Yoro being more squad players than starting 11 players for us simply because we have continued to upgrade the first team. Whether they are happy or not is down to them like Mainoo under Amorim.

We are the 2nd most popular club in the world, we should be able to target the best players of other teams that are respectfully below us to the point the player acts like Garnacho refusing to move to anyone but Chelsea.

We don't need to treat ourselves like we are Real Madrid's toilet trying to wipe their arse with whatever they flush out of their club only for us to give them the money to buy a player that's even better than what they gave us.

INEOS PL targeting is safe and efficient. It's done its job well and let's continue by buying the best players wherever they play.

The fact is in my personal opinion, the only world class player we have is still Bruno Fernades. I'd maybe add Lammens in there after a year of similar performances.

All other CL teams have like 5 world class players, some who often seeing on the bench.

None of the players we are being linked to can guaranteed to be called world class.

Is Anderson world class?
Jao Gomes?
Baleba?
Wharton?
Matheus Fernandes?

We are spending 100+ pounds per player who isn't world class, has hardly played any Champions League Football and has only ever played for lower league clubs in the PL.

There has and will always be consistent performers abroad that are more proven at CL level we should target who might even cost less than the 100 million PL price tag.
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Alright cool your jets
 
I do hope we're not putting all our eggs in a "Prem Proven" basket. The links to Diouf at left back seem to follow a pattern; we don't seem to be linked much to players outside of the Premier League, with a few exceptions (tepid links to Ederson, for example), and I feel we are gong to limit our ability to improve our squad if we only chase pursue from within the league, due to the higher transfer fees we can expect. I still wonder where Vivell's influence is being felt, aside from the Sesko signing.
 
Yohan Diouf £10m
Balde £40m
Wesley £40m
Baleba £65m
Bouaddi £40m
Joao Gomes £35m
Mateus Mane £40m
Welbeck £10m

Both full backs and cm are the priorities for me this summer personally and these are young exciting signings...three of which would go straight into the first eleven and two of the others have huge potential at just 18 and already good enough to play for us
 
Gazza said:
I do hope we're not putting all our eggs in a "Prem Proven" basket. The links to Diouf at left back seem to follow a pattern; we don't seem to be linked much to players outside of the Premier League, with a few exceptions (tepid links to Ederson, for example), and I feel we are gong to limit our ability to improve our squad if we only chase pursue from within the league, due to the higher transfer fees we can expect. I still wonder where Vivell's influence is being felt, aside from the Sesko signing.
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The thing is its links to players who have actually struggled in the PL, not players who have tore it up.
Diouf, lewis-skelley, Balaba, van de ven. It seems if true that we're thinking players coming off poor seasons in the pl may be bargains, seems a recipe for disaster.
 
United need 8 signings to compete for the Premier League trophy next season. I can't see them doing that much business.

ST, LW, CM, CDM x 2, LB, CB, backup GK.

We can't compete in more competitions without having two decent players for each position. RB we can assess next summer if Dalot or Mazraoui don't lock down the position.

Can we sign those 8 players and sell/release Casemiro, Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Hojlund, Ugarte, Mount, Shaw, Altay.... 9 could go IF we sign 8 to replace them, any gaps in the squad should be filled by the academy next season.
 
Overhaul FC said:
United need 8 signings to compete for the Premier League trophy next season. I can't see them doing that much business.

ST, LW, CM, CDM x 2, LB, CB, backup GK.

We can't compete in more competitions without having two decent players for each position. RB we can assess next summer if Dalot or Mazraoui don't lock down the position.

Can we sign those 8 players and sell/release Casemiro, Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Hojlund, Ugarte, Mount, Shaw, Altay.... 9 could go IF we sign 8 to replace them, any gaps in the squad should be filled by the academy next season.
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Maybe doable if we can get lucky with couple youngsters from youth squads coming in and doing well, and signings we make all become a success.
I am thinking 4-5 signings should be the target if we have any ambitions to push on.
Hoping INEOS sees the progress we made with 3 good signings and would maybe encourage them to do same again and provide funds?
 
Overhaul FC said:
United need 8 signings to compete for the Premier League trophy next season. I can't see them doing that much business.

ST, LW, CM, CDM x 2, LB, CB, backup GK.

We can't compete in more competitions without having two decent players for each position. RB we can assess next summer if Dalot or Mazraoui don't lock down the position.

Can we sign those 8 players and sell/release Casemiro, Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Hojlund, Ugarte, Mount, Shaw, Altay.... 9 could go IF we sign 8 to replace them, any gaps in the squad should be filled by the academy next season.
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We should also be looking at the free agent market and those players with only a year left on contract
 
bb8 said:
PSG bought their entire front line for just under £200M combined (Dembele, Kvara, Barcola, and Duoe). Major signings should either be stars or elite prospects who can become stars.

I don't think folks realize just how much money we throw away buying guys who don't move the needle. Yes this time it's "just" £30M on Gomes to be a backup CM. But that's what we did 2 years ago, spending £80M and ~250k a week wages on Ugarte and Zirkzee combined, when we could've/should've gotten a top player with that money.

You don't need to spend the money just to spend it. If we really can't find anyone who even has a chance of being a good performer in a UCL side, just save it and use the money the next window.
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Can that be true? Kava alone was 70 or 80m alone.
But agreed on the elite talent
 
Overhaul FC said:
United need 8 signings to compete for the Premier League trophy next season. I can't see them doing that much business.

ST, LW, CM, CDM x 2, LB, CB, backup GK.

We can't compete in more competitions without having two decent players for each position. RB we can assess next summer if Dalot or Mazraoui don't lock down the position.

Can we sign those 8 players and sell/release Casemiro, Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Hojlund, Ugarte, Mount, Shaw, Altay.... 9 could go IF we sign 8 to replace them, any gaps in the squad should be filled by the academy next season.
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Dont think youre far off. Id say 7/8. The good thing is we have a few youth players are options. I think there are a number of top young players around europe 50m or under that avoiding anderson or diomande probable fees we can certainly get close to doing it money wise...but the way we operate we dont evem seem able to do do many ins and outs in a window and see us doing 5 buys max
 
Overhaul FC said:
United need 8 signings to compete for the Premier League trophy next season. I can't see them doing that much business.

ST, LW, CM, CDM x 2, LB, CB, backup GK.

We can't compete in more competitions without having two decent players for each position. RB we can assess next summer if Dalot or Mazraoui don't lock down the position.

Can we sign those 8 players and sell/release Casemiro, Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Hojlund, Ugarte, Mount, Shaw, Altay.... 9 could go IF we sign 8 to replace them, any gaps in the squad should be filled by the academy next season.
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Thing is there’s opportunities out there as Sam Johnstone who’s an experienced PL level keeper and actually homegrown for us is on a free this summer and would surely come back as back up, Raul Jimenez who’s an experienced PL level striker is on a free this summer and would jump at the chance to join us and then there’s Sensei who’s been a very good PL level centre back this season who is also on a free so that would be three positions filled without spending a penny and all likely to cost as much in wages as Sancho does alone so there’s PL proven value out there this summer.

Then with the left sided situation you have to ask is Dorgu better as an attacking left back or further forward as a left winger ? I think which position they see Dorgu in we need to fill the other, I personally think Dorgu is better further forward so that’s Cunha and Dorgu as left sided attackers and we have kids coming through too therefore only a left back is needed.

So now you’re looking at a midfielder with a similar profile to Mainoo to rotate between, two defensive midfield ball winners to replace Casemiro and Ugarte and a left back to at least rotate with Shaw but preferably push Shaw into a squad role so four signings which is very realistic when you think how much money comes in or is saved wages wise from Onana, Bayindir, Malacia, Casemiro, Ugarte, Sancho, Rashford, Zirkzee and Hojlund all going this summer.

It was reported by Whitwell in The Athletic that we’re hoping to promote from within as well which would likely mean Vitek, Kukonki, Amass, Thwaites, the Fletcher twins, Lacey, Gabriel and Chido all getting minutes through stages of next season as well but it all comes down to whether the powers that be are clever enough to see whats out there and what can be done with astute planning and foresight.
 
Hopefully interest fades in Morgan Rogers, no one should pay £80-100m for his services.
 
croadyman said:
I wouldn't if it affected budget for midfield signings
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If we have secured our midfield targets and still had the finances to spend £80-100m on an attacking/left wing option, I still wouldn't want Rogers. £80-100m should buy you a guaranteed starter, a player who is being bought to improve greatly upon what you already have and I honestly don't think he is that sort of player. He has a long way to go and needs to become more consistent.

To be honest, I'm not sold on any of the attacking options we've been linked with Rogers isn't worth £80-100m, Diomande I haven't seen enough of really, Ndiaye is an exciting player but doesn't have the output for what he'd likely cost and as for Leao...a player who is so much like what we have struggled to get rid off in the last few seasons.
 
cj_sparky said:
If we have secured our midfield targets and still had the finances to spend £80-100m on an attacking/left wing option, I still wouldn't want Rogers. £80-100m should buy you a guaranteed starter, a player who is being bought to improve greatly upon what you already have and I honestly don't think he is that sort of player. He has a long way to go and needs to become more consistent.

To be honest, I'm not sold on any of the attacking options we've been linked with Rogers isn't worth £80-100m, Diomande I haven't seen enough of really, Ndiaye is an exciting player but doesn't have the output for what he'd likely cost and as for Leao...a player who is so much like what we have struggled to get rid off in the last few seasons.
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Diomande is an actual winger/wide player. I think Rogers is more of a number 10, who can play off the left. And we already have 3 different players who can fulfill a similar role (Bruno, Cunha, Mount). There's really no point spending 80m+ on that profile. If he was out of contract in the summer I'd understand our interest. As things stand it would make no sense.
 
sp_cgb said:
Diomande is an actual winger/wide player. I think Rogers is more of a number 10, who can play off the left. And we already have 3 different players who can fulfill a similar role (Bruno, Cunha, Mount). There's really no point spending 80m+ on that profile. If he was out of contract in the summer I'd understand our interest. As things stand it would make no sense.
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Could see Diomande replacing Salah
 
If West Ham get relegated - we should pick up Jarrod Bowen. I know he is 29 - but he is one of the most consistent players in the Premier League. He will probably be available for £35-40 million and will give us an excellent back-up to Mbeumo and Amad. During his last 6 seasons he has reached around 20 G+A 4 times. For a club like West Ham he produces a goal or assist about every 2 games. And he is always available. Over the last 6 seasons, Bowen has missed a total of 10 games in the league. That is actually less games than Bruno has missed.
 
Overhaul FC said:
United need 8 signings to compete for the Premier League trophy next season. I can't see them doing that much business.

ST, LW, CM, CDM x 2, LB, CB, backup GK.

We can't compete in more competitions without having two decent players for each position. RB we can assess next summer if Dalot or Mazraoui don't lock down the position.

Can we sign those 8 players and sell/release Casemiro, Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Hojlund, Ugarte, Mount, Shaw, Altay.... 9 could go IF we sign 8 to replace them, any gaps in the squad should be filled by the academy next season.
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I see you’re living up to your alias

Btw maybe you should follow the transfer news more, we sold Antony last summer
 
Anyone else think it’s a mistake to prioritize LB over RB this summer ? Seems odd to me as we could already have the answer at LB in Dorgu for all we know. Never mind the fact that our current RB options are capable of playing LB as well.
 
Big Ron’s Coat said:
Anyone else think it’s a mistake to prioritize LB over RB this summer ? Seems odd to me as we could already have the answer at LB in Dorgu for all we know. Never mind the fact that our current RB options are capable of playing LB as well.
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Because our current left back has had a very patchy injury record, is on big wages and with a contract that expires next summer which might well not get renewed. Seems the right time to look at it when the other option hasn’t played at all as a left back in a back four for us.
 
IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos said:
Because our current left back has had a very patchy injury record, is on big wages and with a contract that expires next summer which might well not get renewed. Seems the right time to look at it when the other option hasn’t played at all as a left back in a back four for us.
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Right and I imagine Dorgu probably isn’t up to it defensively but stranger things have happened. Surely worth finding out. If we sign a RB worst case scenario we rely on the depth of Dalot and Mazraoui if Dorgu isn’t up to it. Which will be the default if we sign a LB this summer. Will probably need Mazraoui for CB too so adding a RB creates more depth there as well.
 
Escobar said:
Can that be true? Kava alone was 70 or 80m alone.
But agreed on the elite talent
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Kvara 80M euros, Doue 50M euros, Dembele 50M euros, Barcola 45M euros. Comes out to £194M.

Just goes to show what you should be getting for the money. We paid more for Ugarte (as did PSG!) than any of them except Kvara.

No way Baleba is worth more than these guys at present. And Joao Gomes at £30M is only slightly cheaper than Barcola (£38.8M).
 
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def need some smart signings and not overpriced names. At least 2 CMs has to be the top priority. Going into next season we literally just have mainoo who should be here and counted on to play any minutes in the central midfield. We sure as shit better not try dropping bruno back into CM again
 
1. CM/Anderson
2. CM/Baleba
3. LB/Hall
4. Striker/Welbeck
5. CM/Gomes

Out:
Höjlund 40m
Zirkzee 30m
Ugarte 25m
Onana 0
Rashford 25m
 
Big Ron’s Coat said:
Right and I imagine Dorgu probably isn’t up to it defensively but stranger things have happened. Surely worth finding out. If we sign a RB worst case scenario we rely on the depth of Dalot and Mazraoui if Dorgu isn’t up to it. Which will be the default if we sign a LB this summer. Will probably need Mazraoui for CB too so adding a RB creates more depth there as well.
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If I ever see Dalot on the left again, I will openly weep.
 
lysglimt said:
If West Ham get relegated - we should pick up Jarrod Bowen. I know he is 29 - but he is one of the most consistent players in the Premier League. He will probably be available for £35-40 million and will give us an excellent back-up to Mbeumo and Amad. During his last 6 seasons he has reached around 20 G+A 4 times. For a club like West Ham he produces a goal or assist about every 2 games. And he is always available. Over the last 6 seasons, Bowen has missed a total of 10 games in the league. That is actually less games than Bruno has missed.
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Would be a completely inefficient use of funds. Why would we blow part of our budget on another right winger when we already have two.

You don't need 3 players per position or you end up with a squad of 33 first team players.
 
lysglimt said:
If West Ham get relegated - we should pick up Jarrod Bowen. I know he is 29 - but he is one of the most consistent players in the Premier League. He will probably be available for £35-40 million and will give us an excellent back-up to Mbeumo and Amad. During his last 6 seasons he has reached around 20 G+A 4 times. For a club like West Ham he produces a goal or assist about every 2 games. And he is always available. Over the last 6 seasons, Bowen has missed a total of 10 games in the league. That is actually less games than Bruno has missed.
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If we got Bowen I could see him being first choice for a season or two, you can’t argue against players put in the numbers he’s been doing. He’d be no worse than 2nd choice and getting plenty of game time.
 
golden_blunder said:
Some of you over exaggerate Dalots performances. He’s not as bad as all that. Plus he’s generally always available. He can be upgraded but it’s not on the priority list for this summer
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I think he’s benefitted from just how bad we’ve been the past few seasons. His technique is really poor as his decision-making, particularly in the final third. Suspect defensively as well. Look at what Lewis-Potter did to him in the first half at the weekend. That said he’s a top professional who gives his all and is nearly always available as you say. But he wouldn’t look out of place at West Ham IMO.
 
Big Ron’s Coat said:
I think he’s benefitted from just how bad we’ve been the past few seasons. His technique is really poor as his decision-making, particularly in the final third. Suspect defensively as well. Look at what Lewis-Potter did to him in the first half at the weekend. That said he’s a top professional who gives his all and is nearly always available as you say. But he wouldn’t look out of place at West Ham IMO.
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We need to prioritize
 
Cathy Ferguson said:
1. CM/Anderson
2. CM/Baleba
3. LB/Hall
4. Striker/Welbeck
5. CM/Gomes

Out:
Höjlund 40m
Zirkzee 30m
Ugarte 25m
Onana 0
Rashford 25m
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Who on earth is giving us £30m for Zirkzee, also Barca seem to be going cold on signing Rashford too. I would be absolutely staggered if we can afford Anderson, Baleba and Hall in this window, also still not enough noise we will sign 3 midfielders but hoping that changes.
 
lysglimt said:
If West Ham get relegated - we should pick up Jarrod Bowen. I know he is 29 - but he is one of the most consistent players in the Premier League. He will probably be available for £35-40 million and will give us an excellent back-up to Mbeumo and Amad. During his last 6 seasons he has reached around 20 G+A 4 times. For a club like West Ham he produces a goal or assist about every 2 games. And he is always available. Over the last 6 seasons, Bowen has missed a total of 10 games in the league. That is actually less games than Bruno has missed.
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Also have Shea Lacey who if not for injuries would probably have made more of a breakthrough. Id argue if anything, being ruthless we should sell one of the three to fund lw signing not add to it...Bowen be a good signing for most clubs but certainly not for our needs
 
golden_blunder said:
Some of you over exaggerate Dalots performances. He’s not as bad as all that. Plus he’s generally always available. He can be upgraded but it’s not on the priority list for this summer
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I basically agree. He’s a squad player that’s been elevated to the status of automatic starter for several seasons. That’s where the frustration comes from.

That said, he can’t play on the left except in emergencies. He’s got no left foot.
 
croadyman said:
Who on earth is giving us £30m for Zirkzee, also Barca seem to be going cold on signing Rashford too. I would be absolutely staggered if we can afford Anderson, Baleba and Hall in this window, also still not enough noise we will sign 3 midfielders but hoping that changes.
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I think mostly a good list. The one i dont get so many people mentioning is Lewis Hall. He has had a very good season and is a goid player but what are we talking £50m odd. Balde, Nathaniel Brown both may cost less and outside of psg/bayern are possibly the best in europe...Udogie may be available for half the fee....still think rb is more important anyway personally...in a perrfect window id take Balde and Wesley from Roma to solve both flanks...but id rather Shaw/Dorgu as lb for the season than dalot starting at rb
 
bb8 said:
Kvara 80M euros, Doue 50M euros, Dembele 50M euros, Barcola 45M euros. Comes out to £194M.

Just goes to show what you should be getting for the money. We paid more for Ugarte (as did PSG!) than any of them except Kvara.

No way Baleba is worth more than these guys at present. And Joao Gomes at £30M is only slightly cheaper than Barcola (£38.8M).
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Crazy good business. Doue for 50 is a steal
 
I was hoping we’d resume our interest in buying Angello Stiller, which seems to have gone quiet lately?
He looks like a good signing and could also fill the gap left by Casemiro.
 
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