What + who are our top summer 2026 targets?

croadyman said:
Maybe to one of the promoted sides?
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Anywhere he gets first team football. PL football would be ideal. Someone said Sommer (37) is out of contract. I'd bring him in as no2 to lammens. Excellent keeper with really good footwork. Lammens could learn a lot from him.
 
dinostar77 said:
Anywhere he gets first team football. PL football would be ideal. Someone said Sommer (37) is out of contract. I'd bring him in as no2 to lammens. Excellent keeper with really good footwork. Lammens could learn a lot from him.
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Yeah should definitely consider him
 
BorisManUtd said:
Wings: we have Mbeumo and Amad for RW so don't think much will be done about that side. Good thing about Amorim's formation was we were able to have Amad at RWB and Mbeumo at right 10. Now we need a different solution. For other side we have Cunha. Dorgu could be more advanced and play there, Mount could play there sometimes (again far from ideal). Amad has played there.
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We also have Lacey for RW and Gabriel for LW
 
Alemar said:
Does he want to be a number 2? Maybe he wants to play every week somewhere (even if at a lower calibre club)
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He'd get plenty of games with us and our 60 game season. Besides lammens needs competition and some rest at some point.
 
pacifictheme said:
Can not include Gabriel in anything at this stage. He's not even 16 is he?
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16 in October I think.

Feels plausible LW next season will be Cunha starting and Gabriel (we're down a goal or tied, need creativity) and Dorgu (we're ahead and/or playing on the counter) will be complimentary rotation/off the bench options because they're opposites, and Dorgu gets lots of LB time. 40-45 starts for Cunha, 10-15 left over for Gabriel/Dorgu to split.
 
golden_blunder said:
Not yet and he’s still built like a 14 year old. We need to let the guy develop before throwing him into mens football
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Reality is different: if we don’t start playing him, his entourage may persuade him to look elsewhere and we lose a new Neymar as a result.

Besides, he is versatile and can play all 4 positions in attack, so why not to use him as a sub here and there? 60 games next year as people already mentioned, need a big squad
 
Alemar said:
Reality is different: if we don’t start playing him, his entourage may persuade him to look elsewhere and we lose a new Neymar as a result.

Besides, he is versatile and can play all 4 positions in attack, so why not to use him as a sub here and there? 60 games next year as people already mentioned, need a big squad
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Look at the expectations you’re piling on him already. The new Neymar? He’s a 15 year old child. You need to temper your expectations
 
golden_blunder said:
Look at the expectations you’re piling on him already. The new Neymar? He’s a 15 year old child. You need to temper your expectations
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He is a player who produced more end product than Greenwood did for U-18, and did that at the age of 15. So if you are good enough you are old enough - it’s not as it’s expected for him to start matches regularly at 16, but being a sub player and part of the squad in a 60-game season - yes please
 
Alemar said:
He is a player who produced more end product than Greenwood did for U-18, and did that at the age of 15. So if you are good enough you are old enough - it’s not as it’s expected for him to start matches regularly at 16, but being a sub player and part of the squad in a 60-game season - yes please
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Mason Greenwood was 17 and a half when he made his debut.

“If you are good enough you are old enough”. This is a dangerous mantra when you’re talking about a child. They are more prone to injuries.

But you’re not going to listen to reason. You have your mind made up that promoting a child to the men’s game after limited exposure to even u21 is the way forward.
 
golden_blunder said:
Mason Greenwood was 17 and a half when he made his debut.

“If you are good enough you are old enough”. This is a dangerous mantra when you’re talking about a child. They are more prone to injuries.

But you’re not going to listen to reason. You have your mind made up that promoting a child to the men’s game after limited exposure to even u21 is the way forward.
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Max Dowman isn’t allowed to get changed in the same dressing room as the first team for safeguarding. When that’s happening, it’s pretty obvious they’re too young.

U16 should be outlawed, but I think even that’s on the young side. They’re children.
 
Alemar said:
Reality is different: if we don’t start playing him, his entourage may persuade him to look elsewhere and we lose a new Neymar as a result.

Besides, he is versatile and can play all 4 positions in attack, so why not to use him as a sub here and there? 60 games next year as people already mentioned, need a big squad
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Neymar left Brazil at 21. Neymar didn't start playing for Santos until 17. Gabriel's got 2 years until that...
 
What is the downside of trying him out next season? There is none, if it doesn’t work then we will continue with more senior players. But if it does - excellent, then we benefit from additional good attacker
 
Still surprised the club and fans barely.mentioning rb, think beyond cm its a priority. Shaw has been a lot more consistent and dependable tham Dalot. Ideally id sign two full backs and with more games next season id rather keep zirkzee who will get more opportunities...still think he offers more than most of the realistic experiencrd striker names...and doubt much of a net profit replacing him. The supposed lb, 2xcm and striker dont feel like the right priorities to me if we are only signing 4/5
 
Alemar said:
What is the downside of trying him out next season? There is none, if it doesn’t work then we will continue with more senior players. But if it does - excellent, then we benefit from additional good attacker
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It might be negative for his confidence and long-term development. He does not have the physique of Rooney or Ronaldo. He is very slighth. No idea about his mentality but in general I would use him sparingly in some cup games.
 
jesperjaap said:
Still surprised the club and fans barely.mentioning rb, think beyond cm its a priority. Shaw has been a lot more consistent and dependable tham Dalot. Ideally id sign two full backs and with more games next season id rather keep zirkzee who will get more opportunities...still think he offers more than most of the realistic experiencrd striker names...and doubt much of a net profit replacing him. The supposed lb, 2xcm and striker dont feel like the right priorities to me if we are only signing 4/5
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Shaw is a superior footballer but can't play twice a week, which Dalot can. But man, Dalot is frustrating in the final third.
 
It should be: 3 midfielders, 1 left back, and either Striker or LW depends on how the manager views Cunha as LW or striker.
 
IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos said:
Max Dowman isn’t allowed to get changed in the same dressing room as the first team for safeguarding. When that’s happening, it’s pretty obvious they’re too young.

U16 should be outlawed, but I think even that’s on the young side. They’re children.
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Personally I think that there should be a rule for all European leagues that any player under 17 is not allowed to play senior football. More should be done to protect young players in my opinion.
 
Alemar said:
What is the downside of trying him out next season? There is none, if it doesn’t work then we will continue with more senior players. But if it does - excellent, then we benefit from additional good attacker
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In recent years I would look at Garnacho and how early he was brought into the fold and given a big role. Give youngsters too much too early and it can go to their head and then attitude problems come in.. I’d even bring Chido into that argument as well with the rumours of problems this season.

Of course some of that is down to the individual but it still needs to be managed. Gabriel has a bright future ahead of him but there’s still plenty to develop mentally and physically.
 
croadyman said:
Given a choice would you prefer proven experienced ST like the two mentioned or someone who has that capability to cover LW and ST instead like Leao?
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Honestly not sure. You could make case for both. I'd be happy with either really. More concerned about midfield as that's surely most important area.
Alemar said:
We also have Lacey for RW and Gabriel for LW
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True, especially for Lacey. Gabriel will probably have to wait until 27/28 season when he'll be bit older.
 
dubplate warrior said:
I'd be surprised if he isn't one of our youngest ever debutants next year. They will not risk losing him.
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He's not on a pro contract yet right? I believe that's not til 17. If so, seems like we have very little leverage until then?
 
Cathy Ferguson said:
Shaw is a superior footballer but can't play twice a week, which Dalot can. But man, Dalot is frustrating in the final third.
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Personally find him frustrating both ends, often poor defendive mistakes...his only major strength for me is driving forward in the middle third
 
golden_blunder said:
Personally I think that there should be a rule for all European leagues that any player under 17 is not allowed to play senior football. More should be done to protect young players in my opinion.
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100% agree. We don't know the long term damage it will depend to the careers and bodies of the likes of Dowsman, Yamal etc
 
dinostar77 said:
100% agree. We don't know the long term damage it will depend to the careers and bodies of the likes of Dowsman, Yamal etc
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Yes, and look at Gavi and Pedri at Barcelona. Played into the ground at a young age. Contrast that with how Messi and Ronaldo were handled. Both were dipped in and out as teenagers.

The other side is mental. Can you imagine playing in front of 80,000 people at 15 or 16? It’s a pressure and a warping of reality that shouldn’t be put on kids.
 
jesperjaap said:
Personally find him frustrating both ends, often poor defendive mistakes...his only major strength for me is driving forward in the middle third
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I agree, Dalot’s performances in the final third are often really frustrating. Still, I think he’s extremely underrated by the fanbase. He can contribute a lot more intensity than, for example, Shaw, and there’s probably a reason why he has four direct goal contributions. Defensively, I thought he was solid, and I believe he could surprise us offensively next season.


Of course, in general I’d prefer someone of Kayode’s caliber in that position, but Dalot and Mazraoui are solid options, and we need to focus on other positions this summer. Shaw has also had a solid season, but he won’t be able to handle two games per week, and even though he stayed fit this season, I still think the risk of injury with him remains high.


Since, according to Whitwell, we’re looking for a left-back and a center-forward, it seems like Dorgu is being planned for the left wing. I actually don’t dislike the idea of signing someone like Van de Ven as a left-back. It would make the left side very dangerous, and you’d also have adequate cover for center-back if needed. However, Van de Ven would probably be far too expensive unless Tottenham get relegated. That’s why I think transfers like Hall or Truffert are more realistic.
 
I feel like a solid LW options is just as important as reinforcing the midfield. Need a LW in the Doku-ilk. Fast, can dribble and take his man on his own. Dorgu should stick to LB.
 
golden_blunder said:
Personally I think that there should be a rule for all European leagues that any player under 17 is not allowed to play senior football. More should be done to protect young players in my opinion.
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I think an outright ban seems a bit like cracking an egg with a hammer, but you could definitely set minute limits for players under 17. We were always very good at slowly integrating players, even Rashford was only got half a season at 18.
 
Surely the hard work starts now, the squad is sub standard and got away with it only because they played one game per week and had no European football and no domestic cup competitions.

Carrick’s earned the right by default(No real Elite Manager available!) to get a 2+1 contact with a 12 month break clause.

If Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell have planed correctly this year, then they are in the process of finishing a full appraisal of the current squad.

I’m no expert but I’m sure it would look something like this ;

Goalkeepers
A Onana - currently on loan /Must Be Sold at a loss - £10m valuation
A Bayinder - Current number 2 / Must be sold - £5m Valuation
R Vitek - Currently on loan / Reintegrate into Squad as new Number 2
T Heaton - Current number 3/ Top Pro extend 1 more year
E Harrison - Current under 21 /Send on loan

Defenders

D Dalot - Current Squad / Keep but set Training drills on Shooting and Crossing to improve overall quality
N Mazroui - Current Squad/ Keep but look to sell in 2027
H Maguire - Current First Team/ Extend Contract / look to replace in 2027
MDL /Current Squad but long term injury / reintegrate back into First Team from August 26 however may need to be sold in 2027
L Martinez / Current First Team/ May look to sell or extend contract
L Shaw - Current first team Squad / Contract expires 2027
A Heaven / High rated Developing Young CB
L Yoro / High Rated Developing Young CB
P Dorgu - Highly rated can play defence or attack continue to work with player and improve attacking output.


Conclusion
Club urgently needs a reliable physical CB with PL experience at £50-60m, Martinez or MDL might have to be sold, the number of goals conceded in the PL will end up 50 and that’s 15 to 20 too many!!!

Midfield
M Mount - this is his last season to prove himself, or he may be sold as early as Jan 27
Bruno - 2 more seasons as the fulcrum of the team and renew contract if necessary
K Mainoo - Continues to Develop as an elite player m / New contract signed
M Ugarte - Must be Sold £20-25m ASAP
Casemiro - Leaving Frees up £18m wages per year
T Collyer - Returns from loan, either keep in first team squad or sell as pure profit for £10-15m


Conclusion
The Club needs a new mobile Elite 6 for maybe £75-90m, A Pl proven creative 8 for maybe £40-55m and all round young developing midfielder who can play 6 and 8 for £25-35m. The budget has been briefed at £150m but may have £170-180m depending on players available?

Attack
Right wing options are good
B Mbeumo - (settled but needs more goals) has a full pre season no World Cup
Amad - (Poor season, needs to rediscover form asap)
Shea Lacey ( Will push both Mbeumo and Amad for a starting place next season)

Striker
B Sesko developing well
R Hojlund sold £38m
J Zirkzee - Should be sold to Italy for £30m doesn’t suit PL

Left Wing Striker
M Cunha - Fantastic finish to season
P Dorgu - Can play and looked great before injury
M Rashford - Won’t return will be sold if not Barcelona get £40m from someone else.
J Sancho - Complete waste of a talent / Release and remove obscene wages from the accounts.

Conclusion
It’s clear we need a pacey left winger who widens the pitch like R Leao or Y Diomende and we need another Centre Forward who puts pressure on sesko to start.


Overall Summary -
United need at least Six players, maybe seven if they decide on a new left back.

Good Summer would be ;
Murillo - £50m
A Tchouameni - £70m
M Fernandes - £45m (Relegation clause)
A Scott - £50m
R Leao - £50m
G Ramos (Loan with option to Buy £5m fee)

That’s £270m if you decided on Morgan Rogers over Leao it’s another £30m and £300m investment.
 
IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos said:
Yes, and look at Gavi and Pedri at Barcelona. Played into the ground at a young age. Contrast that with how Messi and Ronaldo were handled. Both were dipped in and out as teenagers.

The other side is mental. Can you imagine playing in front of 80,000 people at 15 or 16? It’s a pressure and a warping of reality that shouldn’t be put on kids.
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Isn't it well documented that Michael Owen played too often at a young age which led to injuries down the line.
 
Guys maybe we should take the bigger discussion about young players elsewhere as we’re derailing this thread. Does someone want to create a thread in the football forum?
 
Back to top targets then?

For me, a great window would be

Lewis Hall
Elliot Anderson
Matheus Fernandes
Junior Kroupi

If Anderson really wants city then get Tchouemeni or Baleba.

Job done
 
1) Mobile powerhouse to play DCM - must be technically sound
2) Midfield orchestrator capable of unlocking opposition
3) Left sided flyer who actually looks up & can deliver a decent cross
4) Solid fullback to spell / improve upon Shaw at LB
5) Depth at CF position (provided sales of Hojlund & Zirkzee happen)
6) Proven CB with aerial ability (if manage to sell Martinez for example)
7) Promising midfielder who shows ability defensively & technically

To fill all of those holes in the squad, United may need to put together 300 million quid, which seems very unlikely as a single window budget following last summer. However, sales of Hojlund, Zirkzee, the chuckle brothers GKs, Rashford & perhaps a few players such as Martinez, Collyer & Amad, along with the wages of Sancho & Casemiro, would free up the majority of that figure. Nice CL wedge added to the coffers, along with a potential chunk from Mason Greenwood's possible transfer, will also help.
 
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