Which 2 midfielders would you prefer we sign ?

Desert Eagle

Punjabi Dude
Joined
Sep 25, 2006
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With Casemiro and Ugarte leaving this summer it seems like we are planning to do what we did last summer and spend big in one area of need. With the way our central midfield has been neglected for so long this could prove to be the most important summer in getting us back to the top in a long time. We have our starboy Mainoo but little else in that position. The question is which two should we go for. The players we have been linked to the most are:

Carlos Baleba

Elliot Anderson

Adam Wharton

Bruno G

Sandro Tonali

Joao Gomes

All PL proven and all will be expensive. If you could pick two from that list who would it be and why?

Personally I'd remove Wharton straight away because he's too similar to Kobbie. Gomes I'd also say no to because he hasn't impressed me like the others. My number 1 pick is Anderson. His strengths compliment Kobbie in that he has a relentless engine and is very good at winning the ball back. He's also physical and press resistant. I'd say Baleba is a similar profile to Anderson so I'd rule him out too.

That leaves us with one from Bruno G and Tonali. For me Bruno G is more of a Bruno F replacement. He plays his best in a sort of free roaming attacking mid kind of setting whereas Tonali is more of deep lying playmaker type. I think Tonali is more the Casemiro replacement . With him being younger and probably cheaper too I'd go with him as my second midfielder to sign. Around 160 million for Anderson and Tonali would be great business for the team and our future prospects.
 
Are we only allowed to consider Premier League players? I feel like we have to have a bash at signing someone from France or somewhere given we'll likely need 3 players if Ugarte can get himself a move and we're in Europe.
 
TwoSheds said:
Are we only allowed to consider Premier League players? I feel like we have to have a bash at signing someone from France or somewhere given we'll likely need 3 players if Ugarte can get himself a move and we're in Europe.
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I just went with the players we have been linked to the most but if there is a young non PL midfielder out there you think would work then go ahead.
 
Desert Eagle said:
I just went with the players we have been linked to the most but if there is a young non PL midfielder out there you think would work then go ahead.
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Do they have to be young? I wouldn't mind an experienced hole filler (ooo er) if they were available for the right price as I think we have to cast the net far and wide if we need 3 players. In terms of younger players people seem to talk about Bouaddi and Mamadou Sangaré, but Adrien Tomasson has had a good season from a deeper role and he's 32.

Must be one or two in Spain as well - Sotelo at Celta Vigo maybe?
 
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TwoSheds said:
Do they have to be young? I wouldn't mind an experienced hole filler (ooo er) if they were available for the right price as I think we have to cast the net far and wide if we need 3 players. In terms of younger players people seem to talk about Bouaddi and Mamadou Sangaré, but Adrien Tomasson has had a good season from a deeper role and he's 32.

Must be one or two in Spain as well - Sotelo at Celta Vigo maybe?
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I've said it on the other thread , I want us to sign three midfielders. Wharton, Mamadou Sangare and Ayyoub Bouaddi. And I still think we'd have some money left over for other positions.
 
I definitely don't want to buy a 28 year old for huge money, might ht be different if we were on the verge of competing next year but we won't
 
Tiber said:
I definitely don't want to buy a 28 year old for huge money, might ht be different if we were on the verge of competing next year but we won't
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INEOS themselves set the goal to win the title in 2028, which given our current position and the state of the league isn't a crazy aim. I think we're probably a midfield, a bit of depth, and refs not allowing Arsenal to play rugby at corners away from having a go. There's no team as good as pre-Haaland City or Covid Liverpool with Salah, van Dijk and Alisson all in their prime for us to have to bridge a massive gap to.

I think getting some players in their prime or closer to it with a view to having the squad generally peak at the same time is a decent strategy. It's better than the current Chelsea model of rolling the dice on half a dozen 18-22 year olds every summer.
 
I don’t see how Wharton is too similar to Mainoo - I don’t see that many similarities.

Wharton controls the tempo of the game and passes through the lines i would compare his style more to that of a Carrick.

Anderson would be my number 1 choice though
 
Probably Anderson and Bruno G. If Real are genuinely considering selling Camavinga then him instead of Bruno G.

I think we need to go for established rather than too young.

Prem proven, able to raise their game even when in a struggling side. Both have a bit of nastiness to them which I think we badly need. Seen how important Cunha has been in that aspect.

I think we probably won’t sign either though. And will more likely go down the route of one youngster one established.
 
I'd like Bruno G or Tonali, we're not getting both but would love either of those, and i'd possibly sway towards Tonali i think due to availability/injury record this season and is a bit younger. Then probably Anderson, I do like that he's English and his age profile is good. I also think Gomes is tidy and think he'd be a good addition and if the stories about City pushing for Anderson are true we might have to look at other options.

So for me:

option A: Tonali/Anderson
option B: Bruno G/Gomes
 
Tonali is not a deep lying playmaker His game is box-to-box. Maybe he’ll become more of one in the future, but that isn’t him right now.
 
I feel like the Adam Wharton paired with Baleba probably ticks most boxes and has the highest ceiling. Wharton will hold position and control / distribute while Baleba will hunt for the ball and carry it forward as required.
 
LukeTheRed said:
I don’t see how Wharton is too similar to Mainoo - I don’t see that many similarities.

Wharton controls the tempo of the game and passes through the lines i would compare his style more to that of a Carrick.

Anderson would be my number 1 choice though
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He doesn't really dictate tempo, he just passes it forward quickly. They are both amongst the most dribbled past players, but lacking athletically.
 
Missing Mateus Fernandes at West Ham, who would be a young alternative to Bruno G and Anderson.
 
I really wonder why so many of the midfielders being discussed are box-to-box 8s instead of deep-sitting 6s. Casemiro has been wandering quite far ahead in recent games but that's not what we need -- we need a security blanket in front of the CBs. And if none of the new CDMs is a 6, then who will do that job? Kobbie would be much better as an 8 than a 6.
 
Firstly, Manchester United should push to sign either Elliot Anderson or James Garner this summer. Both are homegrown and England internationals.

Elliot Anderson would likely cost in the region of £80–100m, and we’d probably face serious competition from Manchester City, who could be his preferred destination (going by his Instagram activity).

As for James Garner, I’d expect a fee of around £50–60m. However, there hasn’t been much indication that we’re interested, and I’m not sure he’d be keen on returning. He didn’t get many opportunities during his first spell at United, and the club didn’t seem to rate him that highly at the time, so it wasn’t the best departure.

That said, if we manage to sign either of them, it should make it easier to bring in another midfielder, given the remaining budget.

Whether that’s someone with EPL experience like Tonali, Guimarães, Baleba, Wharton or Fernandes, or a talent from abroad such as Mamadou Sangaré or Lamine Camara, there are plenty of good combinations to build a stronger and more dynamic midfield.
 
I rate Bruno G and Anderson the highest. Part of me thinks they are both good enough all-rounders that they could partner each other in midfield, but another part thinks that maybe it wouldn't quite have the right balance. I'd definitely prioritise one of them anyway, and then find a suitable partner.

Unfortunately most likely we'll get neither. Anderson seems likely to go to City, and Newcastle really won't want to sell Bruno G unless we offer a huge amount which he's probably not worth at his age.
 
Are we keeping Bruno? Are we signing a player to play with mainoo? They are the two big questions you'd need to answer before deciding who to bring in. Also - do we actually have the money this year after reaching so much last year to be spending multiple 80s etc?
 
Crashoutcassius said:
Are we keeping Bruno? Are we signing a player to play with mainoo? They are the two big questions you'd need to answer before deciding who to bring in. Also - do we actually have the money this year after reaching so much last year to be spending multiple 80s etc?
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Yes to both. CL football will help with the FFP/money part along with getting Cas and Ugarte off the books.
 
Anderson and Wharton for me I think. Anderson looks class so it's annoying he's likely going to 115.
 
Camavinga is allegedly heading towards the exit door at Madrid, they're looking to gather funds to sign a controlling MF.

The other one would be one of the EPL proven players like Anderson, Wharton, Baleba etc.
 
vva said:
As for James Garner, I’d expect a fee of around £50–60m. However, there hasn’t been much indication that we’re interested, and I’m not sure he’d be keen on returning. He didn’t get many opportunities during his first spell at United, and the club didn’t seem to rate him that highly at the time, so it wasn’t the best departure.
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I think it was recently announced that he had signed a new contract with Everton.
 
Surely with 50-60 potential matches next season and the increased intensity in the EPL We need a full overhaul of this department.

Current Midfield Options;

Casemiro
Manuel Ugarte
Kobie Mainoo
Bruno Fernandes
Mason Mount

Potential Youngsters coming through;

Tyler Fletcher
Jack Fletcher
Sekou Kone
Toby Collyer
Jack Moorehouse


We need Six/Seven options to compete in this area, assuming we lose Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte, we are effectively down to 2 and half midfield options with Mount being a continuing worry with constant injury issues.

From the five man group below, none of them are ready just yet and need at least another one year to develop.

Toby Collyer, potentially could be brought back but both loans have not been great and he might be sold for £10-12m if an offer comes in.

The bare minimum required this summer is for the club to recruit 3 New Midfielders.

I hope we Get Bruno G or Sandro Tonali as our first marquee choice, Alex Scott or Angelo stiller as number 2 option and Joao Gomes, Camavinga or Kephern Thurman as our third midfielder.

If all three cost £150-160m then that is money well spent, I don’t mind Adam Wharton as an option but he’s going to be £75m.

United need to be careful with overspending as we also need a new CB and left winger in the window so the club need to find real value this summer?
 
Wharton, and a young athletic promising cheaper midfielder from somewhere.

So spend big on the right player, and take a cheap informed
punt on another. Like we did with Yoro and Heaven.
 
In terms of stat, Anderson is way ahead of all the other PL players.

First choice would be him, but to be honest, he will prefer City than us.

Then, Guimares, but he is already at 200 per week, and would seek at least 250 to us, plus a 80M (minimum) transfer on 4 years mini, meaning a 130M operation over 4 years.

Then I would like Baleba as a real shield to our defense, but his passes stats are not well, and we would rely to much on Kobbie to dictate the game.
 
Joao Gomes and Bouddi for me. Then we have Orozco already due to arrive. Gomes is a solid Prem proven player, the other 2 will not be expected to start and will get ample opportunities to play and develop.
Will leave us more funds for upgrades on full back/ Centre back positions and back up keeper.
 
Fracture90 said:
Camavinga is allegedly heading towards the exit door at Madrid, they're looking to gather funds to sign a controlling MF.

The other one would be one of the EPL proven players like Anderson, Wharton, Baleba etc.
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Annoyingly have seen him linked with the scousers but then remember back to what Mitten said. Anyway getting it back on topic would love to get Guimaraes and him
 
croadyman said:
Annoyingly have seen him linked with the scousers but then remember back to what Mitten said. Anyway getting it back on topic would love to get Guimaraes and him
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If he's really available as some reports suggest, i reckon there will be many clubs lined up for him. If scousers are getting linked to him, it's down to Xabi Alonso.

If i remember correctly, we were in negotiations with his representatives before he joined Madrid.

Gordi Bruno would be great, but i feel that he would be way too expensive to justify the transfer. We talking in the ballpark pf €100m and something upwards of £275k per week most probably.
 
Adam Wharton as a starting #6.

If Ugarte leaves, Eric Martel of Köln is out of contract and would be a cheap (potentially stop-gap) option as a backup #6 who can also play CB in a pinch. He's limited on the ball, but excellent defensively.

Either Mateus Fernandes or Kees Smit as rotation option at #8/#10. Either could rotate with Mainoo and Mount and also be backup for Bruno. Mateus Fernandes more rounded and familiar with the league, Kees Smit more attacking-minded and higher ceiling.
 
I think signings have to be solid bets to be good enough for a 2028 title push. I see a lot of people including only quite risky propositions in their lists.

We need one sure thing, one promising, one squad. That'll give us 4 senior options which will be enough.
 
Anderson and Bruno G. But I think it is highly unlikely we will or can afford both.
 
We need 3.
Passer/ball player - Anderson, Stiller, Guimaraes, Wharton, Alex Scott

Ball winner/box to box/more defensive guy - Tonali, Baleba, Barrios

Cheaper squad option (really would need the more defensive guy here too to replace Ugarte, but not sure who) - Joao Gomes, Matheus Fernandes

Hard to say who i'd prefer. Maybe Guimaraes, Barrios, Matheus Fernandes and Mainoo gives the best balance of 4.
 
bosnian_red said:
We need 3.
Passer/ball player - Anderson, Stiller, Guimaraes, Wharton, Alex Scott

Ball winner/box to box/more defensive guy - Tonali, Baleba, Barrios

Cheaper squad option (really would need the more defensive guy here too to replace Ugarte, but not sure who) - Joao Gomes, Matheus Fernandes

Hard to say who i'd prefer. Maybe Guimaraes, Barrios, Matheus Fernandes and Mainoo gives the best balance of 4.
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Couldn't Bruno G fall into the second group as well?
 
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