You're suddenly DOF, who we signing?

If its £80m either try to bargain for

Balde £35m LB
Camavinga £45m CM

Think be more like £90-95m

Realistically

Ganiou £25m cb/rb
Camavinga £55m cm

Maguire/martinez out of contract and deligt may or may not come back good. Mazroui and dalot should both go next summer, so a pretty cheap defender this summer though young could save us a lot of money next year as well as adding extra cover now for injuries at cb...and think hed oust dalot at rb over season too

Forgetting £80m

Hall or Balde
Baleba or Camavinga
Asllani or Watkins

£120-180m would guess
 
in 90s 00s and until his final season (rvp) Fergie if like or seen player in the premiership he went and took him.

I think one of our biggest issues that gets ignored is how we very very rarely have the same back 5(keeper included) we have a talented centre backs but when harry maguire is the one we can depend on most we are in trouble. If I was DOF I would be taking gabriel of Arsenal give them their 120+ give him his 300k plus. ATM on ability and age he is possibly the best centre half in the league/world and his injury record isn’t to bad.
 
Get Tchouameni, then find a Bournemouth style prospect like Truffet left back for the sale price of all the players you've listed. I would sell Rashford too if I can and bring in a striker or a left winger which moves Cunha to striker.
 
Sign Lewis Hall, although that bid should have been placed the day after the season ended so we actually maximised our chance of getting him, rather than waiting for them to sell Gordon, Tonali and Bruno G.

Sign another midfielder but I'm not sure who - Tchouameni/Camavinga/Berge/Baleba probably all have some merit to them.

Sell Zirkzee. Try to sell Rashford too but that's looking unlikely.

In regards to incoming striker - I'm less bothered about than some people, even after Zirkzee goes, if Rashford is staying, I'm not convinced there's even space for it. Between Sesko, Rashford, Cunha, Mbeumo, Amad, Dorgu - we have already have the standard 6 senior attackers for the front 3 spots. And youngsters like Thompson and Lacey on top of that. However if both Zirkzee and Rashford leave, a striker makes sense but I'm not sure where we'd go for that.
 
Dominos said:
Sign Lewis Hall, although that bid should have been placed the day after the season ended so we actually maximised our chance of getting him, rather than waiting for them to sell Gordon, Tonali and Bruno G.

Sign another midfielder but I'm not sure who - Tchouameni/Camavinga/Berge/Baleba probably all have some merit to them.

Sell Zirkzee. Try to sell Rashford too but that's looking unlikely.

In regards to incoming striker - I'm less bothered about than some people, even after Zirkzee goes, if Rashford is staying, I'm not convinced there's even space for it. Between Sesko, Rashford, Cunha, Mbeumo, Amad, Dorgu - we have already have the standard 6 senior attackers for the front 3 spots. And youngsters like Thompson and Lacey on top of that. However if both Zirkzee and Rashford leave, a striker makes sense but I'm not sure where we'd go for that.
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I would still like to sign Watkins or Mateta as striker, fear we have unfortunately left it too late to sign Hall for this summer. Like you say needed to get in bid when the window opened. Any of those names mentioned could offer us something in terms of that third midfielder
 
Roboc7 said:
We’d be mad to turn down 30m for him, he doesn’t even play 50% of our games and not long left on his contract. Doesn’t really matter though as no one would pay that for him.
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Similar to Mount, then eh? Only we paid £55m for him"
 
Denis' cuff said:
Similar to Mount, then eh? Only we paid £55m for him"
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Should have made the comparison to Mount now who also couldn’t be sold for 30m because of all his injuries. No one would want to pay 30m and or match their wages.

Mount’s injury record prior to signing was way better than Martinez’s or his is now.
 
I would let go of the whole selling Department and hire better guys. Get rid of Rashford, Mount, Zirzkee etc.

Then start buying, probably Hall and a striker.
 
I would sign Garner for £45 (yes, I know not the most glam signing but Tchouameni isn't coming). The midfield would be Mainoo, Garner, Tielemans, Santos. Probably not what we expected. All able to play the ball. Bruno in 10. I would give Thwaites a run of games. Listen this isn't first choice. But its a move in the right direction.

The wingers we have plus Lacey getting games. In terms of left back I would go all in Lewis Hall for £45m if possible.

I would keep Amass. If Lewis Hall isn't signed, rotate him with Shaw. Assess the Lewis Hall situation, and do in again January.

Find a way to keep Rashford away. Even consider selling him where we pay 33% of his wages. This is the cost of Woodward era errors.

This midfield would keep going.

I would aim to sell Ugarte if possible but likelihood is he might stay.

Very boring, but this is just the first phase. My aim is keep a steady squad of players that can finish and handle top 3 and balance with youngsters.

The plan would be look at everyone and assess who is earning their keep.

But at the same time accumulating a list of players to fill the gap in January and next summer. With a slightly bigger budget where we go in big on a forward and / or winger.
 
doomy20 said:
I would let go of the whole selling Department and hire better guys. Get rid of Rashford, Mount, Zirzkee etc.

Then start buying, probably Hall and a striker.
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Ahh yes. Everyone would want to buy Rashford & Mount near 200000 every week.

I guess that's why we are not DOF's.
 
Roboc7 said:
Should have made the comparison to Mount now who also couldn’t be sold for 30m because of all his injuries. No one would want to pay 30m and or match their wages.

Mount’s injury record prior to signing was way better than Martinez’s or his is now.
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Oh… ok
 
We need a left back as priority - ideally Hall, a fit strong experienced centre back - lacroix who just joined Chelsea would have been good, but seen the athletic nerds saying Theate from Frankfurt - and a senior striker to cover Sesko, Welbeck would have been good but etc etc, so get Watkins from Villa as long as its only £30m or so. I wouldn't bother with another midfielder unless they were absolute world class level i.e. Touchameni.

So whats that £110-£120m on Hall, Theate & Watkins. Together with Santos & Tielemans I'd say that would be a good summer of strengthening.

Can't see there's any possibility of making significant income unless Spurs or Newcastle possibly went for Rashford and i doubt he'd go to Newcastle.
 
ChorltonReds said:
We need a left back as priority - ideally Hall, a fit strong experienced centre back - lacroix who just joined Chelsea would have been good, but seen the athletic nerds saying Theate from Frankfurt - and a senior striker to cover Sesko, Welbeck would have been good but etc etc, so get Watkins from Villa as long as its only £30m or so. I wouldn't bother with another midfielder unless they were absolute world class level i.e. Touchameni.

So whats that £110-£120m on Hall, Theate & Watkins. Together with Santos & Tielemans I'd say that would be a good summer of strengthening.

Can't see there's any possibility of making significant income unless Spurs or Newcastle possibly went for Rashford and i doubt he'd go to Newcastle.
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I've never been that impressed when I've seen Theatre play. He seems like a CB that would get bullied in the prem. I didn't think he looked good at the WC either.
 
Hall and Camavinga. I think Hall is a must, not often do top young fullbacks that already have succeeded in the PL come available and a homegrown one at that. This is Luke Shaw v2 (hopefully without the career altering leg break). Pay the premium and lock down that position for 5-10 years hopefully.

Camavinga I think will be the casualty from the Rodri signing, and even though his development and injury history is ropey I think the price would be reasonable enough from Madrid that it's worth it. I'm also a fan of signing midfielders with a higher ceiling because I think Carrick will be brilliant in working with them (same reason I don't have as many reservations about Baleba).

If Hall is off the table, then I think you pivot and look to sign a CB (haven't looked into targets that much). Our CB room is painfully ropey outside of the two young guys. Maguire is old, Martinez and De Ligt are crocked, and then it becomes auxillary players.
 
Lash said:
I've never been that impressed when I've seen Theatre play. He seems like a CB that would get bullied in the prem. I didn't think he looked good at the WC either.
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Got to admit i haven't seen him much outside the WC and personally would have liked Lacroix. I do think we need someone older though as Martinez and de Ligt are always fitness worries, Yoro and Heaven are young & Maguire is ok but aging. Difficult to think of an option who wouldn't break the bank.
 
If Tchouameni is open to coming, all out push for him. World class player, in his prime, in a position we absolutely need. If we can't land him, roll the dice on Baleba or if Brighton is unreasonable, settle for Kone. Maybe Camavinga, but if he doesn't want to come, hard pass. Then depending on outgoings, either Hall or if can't afford, Robinson for LB. Think we also should have snapped up Welbeck to provide depth at ST.
 
We're kinda forced to look at a left back. What are the odds of Shaw staying injury free for an entire season once again? Dorgu is not a defender, so it's a gamble only having those two options in defense. I want Hall to replace Shaw, but I think he's too expensive right now. The market is crazy. I'd maybe take a look at Theo Hernandez or Miles Lewis-Skelly. Then, in a future transfer window, if the finances are there - sign Hall.

When it comes to the third CM signing, I just have no idea. I never even thought of Santos and Tielemans prior to them signing for United, so I have no idea who's interesting here. People are talking about Tchouameni, but I don't think he'd be interested, and I don't have a good feeling about spending an insane amount of money on another Real Madrid player.

I would very much like to add some pace to our attack. And I would very much like for that not to be Rashford. But I don't think he's sellable tbh. His wages makes it complicated.

I'd like a change at RB and CB as well, but it's probably not realistic in this window.

So... Now that you've read all these lines and wasted your time, like @ManRed, I resign as DOF.

I simply don't know what is possible and not possible this summer.
 
I saw today, West Ham is close to signing Arne Engels.
https://www.transfermarkt.de/arne-engels/profil/spieler/565435
We should hijack that deal, then add Schlegel from Atlas as our new fullback:
https://www.transfermarkt.com/rodrigo-schlegel/profil/spieler/504258
Next try to get Marx from Offenburg for the left wing:
https://www.transfermarkt.de/jan-hendrik-marx/profil/spieler/169295
and finally bring N’Golo Kant(é) back to the PL.

We could do that for under 30 million and would be in a good position against the Greeks especially since Sócrates isn’t available any more
 
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I want Camavinga if he's finally over his injuries. I think he's the next player to leave Madrid and look class. He's still only 23. I don't think he's worth breaking the wage structure for but if you had him on deal where if he starts bossing it he gets paid a lot more that would be fine with me. I think he still has the highest ceiling of any midfielder on the market this summer.
 
I would get Dusan Vlahovic on a free as a back-up/reclaimation project.

Then probably get after a midfielder, probably Baleba or Camavinga

I would then aim for a 3 year extension on Amass and have him back up Shaw, who I would try to lock in to a 12 month extension with appearance/availability clauses automatically triggering a 2nd year if he hits them.

I would consider my business done at that point, maybe try and find Vitek a decent move for a lowish fee with a high sell-on or favourable buy back.
 
Why is it that every year Man Utd are treated like bums in the street looking for loose change.
 
Ali Dia said:
I want Camavinga if he's finally over his injuries. I think he's the next player to leave Madrid and look class. He's still only 23. I don't think he's worth breaking the wage structure for but if you had him on deal where if he starts bossing it he gets paid a lot more that would be fine with me. I think he still has the highest ceiling of any midfielder on the market this summer.
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I am a Camavinga fan too, however whether he can do a Dembele and overcome the injuries is another thing
 
Stobzilla said:
I would get Dusan Vlahovic on a free as a back-up/reclaimation project.

Then probably get after a midfielder, probably Baleba or Camavinga

I would then aim for a 3 year extension on Amass and have him back up Shaw, who I would try to lock in to a 12 month extension with appearance/availability clauses automatically triggering a 2nd year if he hits them.

I would consider my business done at that point, maybe try and find Vitek a decent move for a lowish fee with a high sell-on or favourable buy back.
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Personally would still go for Watkins or Mateta over Vlahovic. Yes I appreciate he's a free agent but does make me wonder why he's still on the market
 
croadyman said:
I am a Camavinga fan too, however whether he can do a Dembele and overcome the injuries is another thing
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I don't think it's that unusual for players in their early 20s to still be growing into their adult frame picking up injuries and setbacks, especially someone who was playing regularly at 16. He's missed an awful awful lot of football, they wouldn't be selling him otherwise but he's got insane talent, like Dembele yeah
 
I think we probably do have around that to play with unless we make some sales.

I would try to sell someone and buy Baleba and Hall.
 
The ends dictate our means. Is our objective this season to win the PL trophy or is to take the next step in fighting to the end but be odds on favorites win it next season?

If the former, then screw the ridiculous 80m spending cap and bring in Hall, Tchouameni and Diomande -- which would take about another 250m to pull off (plus the mad wages). But I don't think INEOS or anyone here believes we're 2-3 players away from a PL trophy this season.

Given what we've already done with transfer business and the high likelihood that Rashford is going nowhere we're in good shape at LW so let's scratch Diomande, let's forget about Tchouameni unless his transfer fee can be negotiated down to 60m, but let's do address the bigliest hole in the starting XI -- LB -- which means Hall.

If we go this route we'll see what we've got next summer and whether we really do need a top name at LW and at DCM or whether Cunha, Santos and Tielemans are up to the task; and if so, strengthening the bench is a higher priority than spending on the shiniest names in the game.
 
the chameleon said:
I would sign Garner for £45 (yes, I know not the most glam signing but Tchouameni isn't coming). The midfield would be Mainoo, Garner, Tielemans, Santos. Probably not what we expected. All able to play the ball. Bruno in 10. I would give Thwaites a run of games. Listen this isn't first choice. But its a move in the right direction.

The wingers we have plus Lacey getting games. In terms of left back I would go all in Lewis Hall for £45m if possible.

I would keep Amass. If Lewis Hall isn't signed, rotate him with Shaw. Assess the Lewis Hall situation, and do in again January.

Find a way to keep Rashford away. Even consider selling him where we pay 33% of his wages. This is the cost of Woodward era errors.

This midfield would keep going.

I would aim to sell Ugarte if possible but likelihood is he might stay.

Very boring, but this is just the first phase. My aim is keep a steady squad of players that can finish and handle top 3 and balance with youngsters.

The plan would be look at everyone and assess who is earning their keep.

But at the same time accumulating a list of players to fill the gap in January and next summer. With a slightly bigger budget where we go in big on a forward and / or winger.
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Great call on Garner, think he’s massively underrated and should have made the World Cup squad. He can cover at fullback too which gives us the option to play Dalot or Mazraoui at left back. Do we have a sell on % for Garner?
 
worldinmotion66 said:
Do we have a sell on % for Garner?
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Reportedly 15%.

Last season, the lad was as good as just about any midfielder in the PL. His development at Everton over the past 18 months or so has been outstanding and now, he is a very good player.
 
worldinmotion66 said:
Great call on Garner, think he’s massively underrated and should have made the World Cup squad. He can cover at fullback too which gives us the option to play Dalot or Mazraoui at left back. Do we have a sell on % for Garner?
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Yeah him or Wharton should have gone over Henderson
 
sp_cgb said:
The full £80m on Tchouameni of course.

Would still leave us short at left-back and without a better backup/rotational striker, but that's the midfield sorted at least. Which was the main goal this summer.


There's also a chance I'd invite Jimmy for another fishing trip to Iceland and convince him to also buy me Hall on the credit card. Best in class.
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ha good one
 
the chameleon said:
I would sign Garner for £45m
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Have we learned nothing about speculating how much players will cost and then being massively let down when the selling club aren't interested in letting us decide the price.

Asking Everton to sell one of their best players late in the window, English, homegrown, good age, and the fees for midfielders in the PL already this summer, they're more likely to ask for £90m than they are £45m. Maybe you haggle them down to £70-80m if you're lucky.
 
Dominos said:
Have we learned nothing about speculating how much players will cost and then being massively let down when the selling club aren't interested in letting us decide the price.

Asking Everton to sell one of their best players late in the window, English, homegrown, good age, and the fees for midfielders in the PL already this summer, they're more likely to ask for £90m than they are £45m. Maybe you haggle them down to £70-80m if you're lucky.
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Maybe you'd be a DOF than me. For me this thread is just a bit of hypothetical fun :lol:
 
With Bruno off the table, still sticking to 150m with sales I’d go with.

Hall - 60-70
Watkins - 40-45
Baleba - 50-60

I’d at least try for these ones and see what deals could be done.
Rashford if he stays could be used a utility player across the front.

Get a RB, CB, 10 & striker next season to add to the squad

Lammens
Heaton

Maz Maguire Heaven Hall
Dalot MLD Yoro Shaw

Tielemans Mainoo
Santos Baleba

Mbeumo Bruno Cunha
Amad Mount Dorgu

Watkins
Sesko​
 
A left back is now top priority. Hall is the obvious candidate, but no messing about, if we sign no one else, it has to be a left back. Can’t go into the season with just Shaw.

After that, I think we’ll struggle for the third centre mid because of the Ugarte injury and we’ll just have to make to do and mend with kids and Mount as the 4th option.

Another attacker of some sort would be desirable. This is almost certainly dependent on one or both of Rashford and Zirkzee leaving. I can see this being our very late/deadline day move. Might well be a “market opportunity” one. A player that is suddenly available because his club have signed someone else. I’d like Endrick, but he’d be at the steep end budget wise.

If we could do a loan deal, perhaps with an option, for someone like Camavinga or Pahlinha, I’d like that. Don’t think we should be afraid of deals like the Sabitzer one. He was useful to have for that period.
 
Sesko
Mbeumo
Cunha

Cunha - Bruno - Mbeumo
Dorgu - Mount - Amad
Rashford - Cunha - Lacey

Tielemans - Santos
Mainoo - CM
Mount - Fletcher

LB - Martinez - De Ligt - Dalot
Shaw - Heaven - Yoro - Mazraoui
Dorgu - Shaw - Maguire - Yoro?

Lammens
Darlow
Heaton​

There is need for another CM unless we’re content with Collyer as an option / Martinez as a backup DM option until Ugarte returns from injury sometime.

And room for a LB unless Amass stays and is considered good enough / Rashford stays and we see Dorgu as a LB.

I wouldn’t buy a striker unless both Rashford and Zirkzee leave.
 
Avero said:
Sesko
Mbeumo
Cunha

Cunha - Bruno - Mbeumo
Dorgu - Mount - Amad
Rashford - Cunha - Lacey

Tielemans - Santos
Mainoo - CM
Mount - Fletcher

LB - Martinez - De Ligt - Dalot
Shaw - Heaven - Yoro - Mazraoui
Dorgu - Shaw - Maguire - Yoro?

Lammens
Darlow
Heaton​

There is need for another CM unless we’re content with Collyer as an option / Martinez as a backup DM option until Ugarte returns from injury sometime.

And room for a LB unless Amass stays and is considered good enough / Rashford stays and we see Dorgu as a LB.

I wouldn’t buy a striker unless both Rashford and Zirkzee leave.
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Yeah I can't see a striker unless both of them leave either
 
After reflecting a bit, apart from LB, I think we have an adequate squad made up mostly of good enough players to cover the fixture load for the upcoming season. No need to buy decent PL level players to bolster the ranks. We should be laser focused on exactly what we want to improve (top line ability, consistency, injury record, game model fit etc.) and work on that. And that needs sales more than incomings.

e.g.,

top line ability: Do we expect Amad to be our primary RW 1v1 specialist like a Doku for City or Saka for Arsenal? If not, do we sell and upgrade? Repeat this exercise for every position starter / backup on the pitch.
consistency: Are there some hit / miss players we can't rely on to put in consistent performances? (Dalot / Maz)
injury record: Do we really want to rely on De Ligt / Martinez? Or is it time to look for replacements?
game model fit: It looks like Carrick wants to play standard mid block football w/ a good blend of technique and physicality across the pitch. Who fits / who doesn't fit this model? Is Dorgu really the type of player for Carrick ball at LW?

For me, if I was playing FM I would:

Sign Hall.
Sell Licha, get a proper LCB.
Sell Zirkzee, get an experience CF rotation option.
Sell / loan Rashford and Dorgu, get a proper 1v1 specialist on LW

Nothing too exciting beyond what we're doing right now apart from getting a CB and LW.
 
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