What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

Assuming Sancho and Varane are in, DM and GK for now, maybe RB and CF at a later stage if AWB and Martial don't improve.

There's very few midfielders in the world that could work in a midfield 3 with Pogba and Bruno. Kante and Verrati are obvious ones.

If we can't get land a midfielder of that ilk, I'd focus on building a midfield without Pogba. That means Fred or McTominay next to someone that can pass from deep but is defensively reliable enough to play there. A younger Matic type.

GK is a bigger issue for me than it seems to be for most. Now, maybe Spongebob needs to give me a visit, but I just can't imagine us winning the title with De Gea or Henderson.

I'm not entirely convinced by AWB, but he's certainly not the one holding us back. I want to see if he can fix those lapses in concentration and if he can become more consistent going forward.

Martial should get a chance this season, but if he can't convince, we'll need a new striker when Eddie leaves. Haaland is the obvious choice.

If we can't land a big target DM and GK (like Verrati and Ter Stegen), Bazoer and Onana are worth a punt.

I'm hoping we keep an eye on the Barca sale. They have a class goalie and a strong midfield. Maybe loaning Donny in return is realistic.
 
Well at least we are being linked to multiple midfielders now which shows that the club think there is an issue in that position and after sorting out Varane and selling a few may just sign one late in the window too
 
croadyman said:
Well at least we are being linked to multiple midfielders now which shows that the club think there is an issue in that position and after sorting out Varane and selling a few may just sign one late in the window too
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Quite positively surprising window so far, indeed. Even if Cama or Goretzka go to another club, United at least made serious steps to sign them. After that there are still possibilities and right amount of time for alternatives.

No excuses if we won't end up with 3rd player this window, but we'll definitely have look for loans & sales to free some space and finances.
 
Sancho situation is a bit strange but I'm not worried. As long as himself and Rashford get to ore season on the same day it's irrelevant


CB situation is a bit worrying. Ideally would have had one done for pre season. If we get someone experienced liken Varane it doesn't matter too much but if we where to risk it and get Pau Torres then missing ore season is a big negative.



Midfields very concerning. For me we must get a DM even if we keep Pogba. So if we lose him we need two starting quality Midfielders to ensure we don't regress in that department.

Lots still to do. This summer could be a 10/10 it could even be a 1/10 yet.


Its in the balance as far as we know.
 
laughtersassassin said:
Sancho situation is a bit strange but I'm not worried. As long as himself and Rashford get to ore season on the same day it's irrelevant


CB situation is a bit worrying. Ideally would have had one done for pre season. If we get someone experienced liken Varane it doesn't matter too much but if we where to risk it and get Pau Torres then missing ore season is a big negative.



Midfields very concerning. For me we must get a DM even if we keep Pogba. So if we lose him we need two starting quality Midfielders to ensure we don't regress in that department.

Lots still to do. This summer could be a 10/10 it could even be a 1/10 yet.


Its in the balance as far as we know.
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Yeah we definitely need a proper DM and either DLP or tempo controlling CM when Pogba leaves, would love to think we could sign Rice and a Camavinga/Neves/Goretzka over the next two summer windows but that looks too much of an ask
 
croadyman said:
Yeah we definitely need a proper DM and either DLP or tempo controlling CM when Pogba leaves, would love to think we could sign Rice and a Camavinga/Neves/Goretzka over the next two summer windows but that looks too much of an ask
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It really shouldn't be. How we haven't been planning for Pogba going or even staying is insane.

A DM needed to be signed last summer the second that we pulled out of the Sancho deal.
 
Who are the best and potentially available CMs in the world right now? I don't see anyone better than Pogba for this season.

The days of having CMs the calibre of Scholes/Kroos seem to have gone. Whose better than Paul Pogba?
 
MrSingh2002 said:
Who are the best and potentially available CMs in the world right now? I don't see anyone better than Pogba for this season.

The days of having CMs the calibre of Scholes/Kroos seem to have gone. Whose better than Paul Pogba?
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What has he done in club football in his whole career not just here for you to consider him the best central midfielder in the world?
 
jesperjaap said:
What has he done in club football in his whole career not just here for you to consider him the best central midfielder in the world?
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A player isn't just a player when he plays club football.

Who would you say are the best box to box midfielders in the world?
 
Should have gone for Hakimi, an attacking right back would transform our team. I think Trippier and Sancho could combine well down our right though.

Varane, Trippier and Neves would be a great window, but I guess a lot depends upon who leaves the club.
 
MrSingh2002 said:
A player isn't just a player when he plays club football.

Who would you say are the best box to box midfielders in the world?
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So we shouldnt sell Pogba based on 10/15 games a season he plays for France? We should sign Grenit Xhaka as he is also very good for Switzerland?

Do I really need to name players that have been far more effective than Pogba over the last five years as there are dozens of them? We are not talking about ability here but performances of the leagues most expensive player over five years...its an argument done a million times on here, the fact that there even is an argument is enough to answer the question of him having been considered a success
 
So assuming there's no late hitch to Varane.. What do we still need to put up a genuine title challenge in 2021/22?

For me, firstly, a central midfielder who can play in the '2' or as a 'DM'. Basically a long-term Matic replacement (which may be facilitated if Pogba leaves)

And right back competition for AWB, assuming Dalot leaves as expected.

I'd also take a punt on Ings. For some reason, I can see him scoring loads in our team and being something of a Sheringham here.
 
Midfielder, another RB, possibly another midfielder if Pogba is to leave. Also striker but don't believe we're signing one before 2022. Will be interesting to see what happens with GK position, if Henderson and DDG don't prove to be good enough, who knows, maybe even Heaton becomes our first GK until next summer :D
 
I expect us to go after Rice now if we've still got enough money for him, having secured 2 of our biggest targets pretty quickly

I might be mistaken, but hasn't Matt Law recently tweeted that West Ham would seriously consider around £60m for him, contrary to earlier rumours?
 
there is no chance we bring in another midfielder unless Pogba is sold. No one is going to buy mata and matic so they'll get minutes here or there and it appears Jesse is going to stay. There is no room for another CM without someone leaving.
 
bosskeano said:
there is no chance we bring in another midfielder unless Pogba is sold. No one is going to buy mata and matic so they'll get minutes here or there and it appears Jesse is going to stay. There is no room for another CM without someone leaving.
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Should be targeting a DM if Pogba stays and more of a playmaker if he leaves
 
Cavani
Rashford-----Fernandes------Sancho
-----Saul-Niguez-----Neves-------
----Shaw------Maguire---Varane----Wan-Bissaka
De Gea​
 
Motorman said:
Cavani
Rashford-----Fernandes------Sancho
-----Saul-Niguez-----Neves-------
----Shaw------Maguire---Varane----Wan-Bissaka
De Gea​
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Could see us getting one of those midfield two but not both, still cannot tell what type of MF we are actually going to target if Pogba leaves because have been linked to both pure DM's & playmaker types who sit deep. Like I have said before ideally we sign a player who can shield that back four but also pass through the lines as well but who is that person. Gut feeling all along is that the top target is still Rice but maybe that has changed since the usual suspects reported it.
 
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Have you guys ever heard of Joao Palhinha from Sporting? All-Around Deep Lying Play Making Anchor. Definitely fits the bill, can play solo DM with ease w/o the need of a partner.
No rumors or links with him thus far, but he is the type of player that we should be taking a closer look at.
 
croadyman said:
Could see us getting one of those midfield two but not both, still cannot tell what type of MF we are actually going to target if Pogba leaves because have been linked to both pure DM's & playmaker types who sit deep. Like I have said before ideally we sign a player who can shield that back four but also pass through the lines as well but who is that person. Gut feeling all along is that the top target is still Rice but maybe that has changed since the usual suspects reported it.
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Would you think we could get two if pogba leaves though?
 
I was happy with another solid season, CL finish and domestic trophy would've been just fine.

Sancho and Varane this though could well be a difference maker.

Personally I think a great goalie would make us genuine contenders. Midfield would be nice but I think we can get by with what we have given the talent we have all around them.

A world class goalie changes the picture completely. We'd be fckin intimidating at the back
 
still feel we need a goal machine. Like a van Persie type machine. Have no idea who that is, mind.
 
A CDM and we become a fifa dream team.

Genuinely excited to see talk of us switching to a 4-3-3. With Varane, Sancho already in, a player of Ndidi's mould would be the final piece of the puzzle. Exciting times!
 
A lot of people on this thread clearly not aware there's been a global pandemic and we're not made of money...

We're getting one more player max, and that's with outgoings. My fingers are crossed for a bargain DM I've never heard of.
 
I can see Trippier eventually joining once Atletico Madrid wear down, then at least one central midfielder... possibly two if Pogba leaves (and I think we’d need two if he does leave).

I‘m leaning towards Pogba leaving and it’ll be the reverse of the Varane situation for us, where we just want to recoup money for a replacement (after he turned down a new contract) rather than lose him on a free or go into the season knowing he’s going at the end of it, resulting in potentially negative impact on the team.
 
I think the only realistic signing now is Trippier for this window. We’ll hopefully have a strong season and be in a handy position to go in for a long term striker next summer (Haaland ideally) and we’ll need a proper defensive midfielder still. Think Ole and the board have done a good rebuild thus far and we should be fairly close to having a complete balanced team 12 months from now.
 
If we can get a decent CDM after a few sales then I think it’s one of the best windows for a long while.
 
-CDM and attacking RB
Or
-CDM, CM if Pogba leaves and attacking RB

Next summer we sign Lautaro Martinez and we're set for 5 years of glory.
 
Red_Orchestra said:
Have you guys ever heard of Joao Palhinha from Sporting? All-Around Deep Lying Play Making Anchor. Definitely fits the bill, can play solo DM with ease w/o the need of a partner.
No rumors or links with him thus far, but he is the type of player that we should be taking a closer look at.
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Having been impressed him in the Euros and now this YT vid, I’m now convinced he’s the imposing, positionally solid, technically sound CM/CDM we’ve been missing (our Rodri, Casemiro, Fabinho).

Looks like he could be very capable in CDM supporting two 8s or as part of a double pivot too, so could potentially support Bruno and Pogba if he did stay.

I cant link YT vids yet being new here, but I urge anyone to give him a look and you’ll no doubt be impressed.
 
Its all down to 1 great ||D|M now to have the best starting X1, Make it happen

Rice / Carmavinga / Bissouma / Neves / Saul are in kante mould though so not sure who should we go after to fill in DM position
 
It really is a never ending story. You could make a case for LW since Rashford can be hit or miss, centre forward since Cavani is aging, 1 or maybe even to CMs, the RB for more composure going forward (although I think AWB was showing alot of improvement in that area at times last season), the goalkeeper now the De Gea seems to be past his best and IMO Henderson looks a level or two below the elite level.

There's always room for improvement, but all in all though I think we're in pretty good shape.
 
Attacking RB please. Transform that right flank. Trippier seems perfect.

If Pogba leaves, a passer from deep. If not, a sitting DM.
 
If Pogba goes, we would need two central midfielders. A natural defensive midfielder and another who can playmake from deep. We are linked with various midfielders, but I'd like to see us go for Ndidi. Maybe next Summer.
 
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