What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

Buy: 265m (980k)
Striker 100m (300k)
Rabiot - Free (200k)
Lavia - 35m (80k)
Diogo Costa - 65m (150k)
Todibo - 35m (100k)
Frimpong - 30m (100k)
New backup keeper - Free (50k)


Sell: 160m (940k)
McFred & VDB - 50m (300k)
Elanga - 10m
Dean Henderson - 20m (100k)
DDG - out of contract (19.5m salary)
Maguire - 20m (200k)
Bailly - 3.5m (4m salary)
Bissaka - 20m (90k)
Martial - 17m (250k)

Net Spent: -105m -40k
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
Buy: 265m (980k)
Striker 100m (300k)
Rabiot - Free (200k)
Lavia - 35m (80k)
Diogo Costa - 65m (150k)
Todibo - 35m (100k)
Frimpong - 30m (100k)
New backup keeper - Free (50k)


Sell: 160m (940k)
McFred & VDB - 50m (300k)
Elanga - 10m
Dean Henderson - 20m (100k)
DDG - out of contract (19.5m salary)
Maguire - 20m (200k)
Bailly - 3.5m (4m salary)
Bissaka - 20m (90k)
Martial - 17m (250k)

Net Spent: -105m -40k
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Not gonna sign 7 in summer or did I misinterpret completely and this is actually going to be across the next 2/3 windows
 
croadyman said:
Not gonna sign 7 in summer or did I misinterpret completely and this is actually going to be across the next 2/3 windows
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We Signed 5 players last summer , four of them are starters in Current team .

I don't believe it's a stretch to suggest we could bring seven players in Summer if the Ownership changes which seems likely as things stand right now .

Difficult part would be selling .
 
gajender said:
We Signed 5 players last summer , four of them are starters in Current team .

I don't believe it's a stretch to suggest we could bring seven players in Summer if the Ownership changes which seems likely as things stand right now .

Difficult part would be selling .
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Yes a lot of this summer is dependant on the outgoings. Last summer the majority were out of contract as we have been so poor trying to sell players and not sold some that we should have a good two years earlier when they held value....Pogba the obvious example.

But this summer there are comfortably a good 10-16 players to consider trying to move on and only a couple of them are contract situations, some have little value but there are also a few £20-60m players amongst them I would have thought.

I dont see seven coming, I think six is what we can hope for, think there are plenty of options of all prices though:

GK: Top Target Costa £60m - Chepaer OPtion Vicario £20m
RB: Top Targets Hakimi/Vanderson £40-50m - Cheaper OPtion Frimpong £30m
CB: Top Target Jae £50m - Cheaper Options all around £40m still anyway
CM: Top targets Bellingham/Rice £100m Caicedo £65m - Cheaper Options: CAqueret/Lavia £40m
AM: Top Targets McALlister £65m - Cheaper OPtions Guler £25m
ST: Top Targets Kane/Omishen £100m - Cheaper Options Hoijlund/Roque £40m

I think midfield wise we sign one that is an all rounder that can play alongside Casemeiro or as an attackign midfielder which rules out half of them but I think a coupel of them can do either roll, obviously Bellingham would be perfect but dont see it. Also think we need two strikers so its either a top target and a free like Tjuram or a couple of younger cheaper options which personally I would prefer considering he prices of the top targets.

Unless there are some surprise free signings or loans or chepaer Malacia like deals, we would have to be lookign at spending £200-300m which is a huge amount, dont see it happening, only way it does or could (in my opinion should) is with a good ten of this current squad going and for me it would be the majority of our squad players at both centre back and central midfield
 
croadyman said:
Not gonna sign 7 in summer or did I misinterpret completely and this is actually going to be across the next 2/3 windows
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We should and could sign seven with the right sales this summer. I also dont think we will sign seven and of course big money probably needs to be spent in ceretain areas, but seven over maybe three windows, that would be terrible no matter who we signed in terms of progression.

We are a logn way behind the top two in a season reminds me a bit of hte covid one where we came second a mile behind City. A lot of the top sides Liverpool, Chelsea the obvious examples have been dreadful this season like they were that season. The likes of SPurs and Newcastle are also going to be spending money and can only improve on this season.

Personally if we are talking maybe three/four this summer, I would suggest we dont progress to challenge more the title, we probably end up in a much harder fight next season for a champions league place.

There simply has to be two strikers, a midfielder and centre back this summer, has to be. I would also add a keeper (even if its a number two) and fist chocie right back to that list, thats six....oh and a back up to Casemeiro, so seven really is about right.

The caveat for me is I do think one maybe two of those players can come from players already in our squad.

As talented as Garnacho is, from what i saw of him in youth games personally, he looked a bit of a rough diamond and really not ready, saw a lot of comments saying similar in a much more negative way last summer. Casemeiro doesnt have much of an injury history or suspensions, may be a year older but I dotn think its as prevelant as others to sig an understuday liek Lavia, I really think Mainoo can be that man for next season playing a handful of games and comign off the bench and just because he hasnt played so often recently and still seems to have a bit of an attitude, I dont see why Hannibal cant break through if he gets opportunities, his abilities fit just what we need after all.

Seven over 2/3 windows reminds me of SOlkjears "Its a building process"....managers and sides dont get that time. Not saying we need to sign a whole load of players liek Chelsea, but we definatel need quite a few. Our first eleven for me is four short from a top side as it is
 
jesperjaap said:
We should and could sign seven with the right sales this summer. I also dont think we will sign seven and of course big money probably needs to be spent in ceretain areas, but seven over maybe three windows, that would be terrible no matter who we signed in terms of progression.

We are a logn way behind the top two in a season reminds me a bit of hte covid one where we came second a mile behind City. A lot of the top sides Liverpool, Chelsea the obvious examples have been dreadful this season like they were that season. The likes of SPurs and Newcastle are also going to be spending money and can only improve on this season.

Personally if we are talking maybe three/four this summer, I would suggest we dont progress to challenge more the title, we probably end up in a much harder fight next season for a champions league place.

There simply has to be two strikers, a midfielder and centre back this summer, has to be. I would also add a keeper (even if its a number two) and fist chocie right back to that list, thats six....oh and a back up to Casemeiro, so seven really is about right.

The caveat for me is I do think one maybe two of those players can come from players already in our squad.

As talented as Garnacho is, from what i saw of him in youth games personally, he looked a bit of a rough diamond and really not ready, saw a lot of comments saying similar in a much more negative way last summer. Casemeiro doesnt have much of an injury history or suspensions, may be a year older but I dotn think its as prevelant as others to sig an understuday liek Lavia, I really think Mainoo can be that man for next season playing a handful of games and comign off the bench and just because he hasnt played so often recently and still seems to have a bit of an attitude, I dont see why Hannibal cant break through if he gets opportunities, his abilities fit just what we need after all.

Seven over 2/3 windows reminds me of SOlkjears "Its a building process"....managers and sides dont get that time. Not saying we need to sign a whole load of players liek Chelsea, but we definatel need quite a few. Our first eleven for me is four short from a top side as it is
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The first XI needs GK,RB,CM & ST,in terms of squad we need CB,DM & ST so yeah that comes to seven. How many we actually manage to sign in the summer is anyone's guess
 
croadyman said:
The first XI needs GK,RB,CM & ST,in terms of squad we need CB,DM & ST so yeah that comes to seven. How many we actually manage to sign in the summer is anyone's guess
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We’ve scored 49 league goals, I think the first 11 needs more than one attacking upgrade
 
croadyman said:
Yeah but trying to be realistic
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I think ETH will prioritise more goals realistically. He had made a point this season, especially during January to point out our lack of attacking options.
 
Cassidy said:
I think ETH will prioritise more goals realistically. He had made a point this season, especially during January to point out our lack of attacking options.
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Can you see us signing two strikers though
 
croadyman said:
Can you see us signing two strikers though
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I didn't say 2 strikers. More than one attacker and yes I think we will.
Also if we shift Martial then yes I can see 2 strikers being signed.
 
World class striker and a younger striker (kane & hojlund)

world class midfield partner to Casemiro (declan rice or Caicedo)

versatile forward who can play anywhere across the front ( James Maddison)

Defender (timber)
 
ForeverRed1 said:
World class striker and a younger striker (kane & hojlund)

world class midfield partner to Casemiro (declan rice or Caicedo)

versatile forward who can play anywhere across the front ( James Maddison)

Defender (timber)
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Still feel we need a midfield playmaker to partner Casa like De Jong but obviously not him
 
Cassidy said:
I think ETH will prioritise more goals realistically. He had made a point this season, especially during January to point out our lack of attacking options.
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Cassidy said:
I didn't say 2 strikers. More than one attacker and yes I think we will.
Also if we shift Martial then yes I can see 2 strikers being signed.
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Would better keeper that can retain possession against high press also help the team to score more goals? I would say yes. So it depends on how manager and people see it, 1 new keeper and 1 new striker/attacker to upgrade XI could be more benefit for the team's attack than 2 new attackers (one to upgrade XI and one to upgrade the squad depth).
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
Would better keeper that can retain possession against high press also help the team to score more goals? I would say yes. So it depends on how manager and people see it, 1 new keeper and 1 new striker/attacker to upgrade XI could be more benefit for the team's attack than 2 new attackers (one to upgrade XI and one to upgrade the squad depth).
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Would like new keeper and two attackers,however we still need cover for Casa and a midfield playmaker to partner him too. Could even throw in an attacking RB like Vanderson as well.
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
Would better keeper that can retain possession against high press also help the team to score more goals? I would say yes. So it depends on how manager and people see it, 1 new keeper and 1 new striker/attacker to upgrade XI could be more benefit for the team's attack than 2 new attackers (one to upgrade XI and one to upgrade the squad depth).
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Overall yes, however not as much as adding quality to the attack. Its clear the attacking output of the players in the forward line isn’t enough. Not unless Sancho and Antony significantly improve next season and Martial stays fit. We already know not all of those mircales will happen.

Also a single injury to the new no 9 and we’re in big trouble, back to square one again. We need 2 attackers, we also need midfield improvement and a new keeper. Better attacking fullbacks would also help and better CB cover

So we have to prioritise if we can’t do it all.
Under no circumstances can we afford to go into next season only adding one attacking addition to the squad in my opinion.
 
Buy: (235 m) - 4 players
Sabitzer - 15 m
Diogo Costa-60 m
Kane 100 m
Hakimi: 60 m
+ Loan a striker as backup

Sell (95m) - 6 players (probably unrealistic, but jesus we need to be better at selling)
Maguire: 20m
McTominay: 20m
Henderson: 10m (has been injured, so not a great risk to take for a new club)
Elanga: 10m
VdB: 10m
Martial: 25m
Jones, De Gea, Greenwood: Leaves on a free

Total: 140m spend. Wages from De Gea, Martial goes to Kane/Hakimi.

Would be a decent title-challenging team, able to dominate teams. Everyone good at passing would make a world of difference.


Costa
Hakimi - Varane - Martinez - Shaw
Bruno - Casemiro - Eriksen/Sabitzer
Anthony - Kane - Rashford​
 
ROFLUTION said:
Buy: (235 m) - 4 players
Sabitzer - 15 m
Diogo Costa-60 m
Kane 100 m
Hakimi: 60 m
+ Loan a striker as backup

Sell (95m) - 6 players (probably unrealistic, but jesus we need to be better at selling)
Maguire: 20m
McTominay: 20m
Henderson: 10m (has been injured, so not a great risk to take for a new club)
Elanga: 10m
VdB: 10m
Martial: 25m
Jones, De Gea, Greenwood: Leaves on a free

Total: 140m spend. Wages from De Gea, Martial goes to Kane/Hakimi.

Would be a decent title-challenging team, able to dominate teams. Everyone good at passing would make a world of difference.


Costa
Hakimi - Varane - Martinez - Shaw
Bruno - Casemiro - Eriksen/Sabitzer
Anthony - Kane - Rashford​
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Not bad but still needs cover for Casa
 
ForeverRed1 said:
World class striker and a younger striker (kane & hojlund)

world class midfield partner to Casemiro (declan rice or Caicedo)

versatile forward who can play anywhere across the front ( James Maddison)

Defender (timber)
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Spot on. We can quibble over the names and whether we'd have the budget to pull all this off, but these are the holes that need to be filled.
 
ROFLUTION said:
Buy: (235 m) - 4 players
Sabitzer - 15 m
Diogo Costa-60 m
Kane 100 m
Hakimi: 60 m
+ Loan a striker as backup

Sell (95m) - 6 players (probably unrealistic, but jesus we need to be better at selling)
Maguire: 20m
McTominay: 20m
Henderson: 10m (has been injured, so not a great risk to take for a new club)
Elanga: 10m
VdB: 10m
Martial: 25m
Jones, De Gea, Greenwood: Leaves on a free

Total: 140m spend. Wages from De Gea, Martial goes to Kane/Hakimi.

Would be a decent title-challenging team, able to dominate teams. Everyone good at passing would make a world of difference.


Costa
Hakimi - Varane - Martinez - Shaw
Bruno - Casemiro - Eriksen/Sabitzer
Anthony - Kane - Rashford​
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Hmmm....have to say that I wouldn't love these signings at all. Can't see United releasing one sex offender only to spend €60mn on another. Also, Sabitzer is patently not the answer to our midfield problems and is not the correct age profile so would really hate to see us signing him. Finally, think the club makes a big mistake if we sign Kane for 100mn. Would only be pressed to do that if Kane was the final piece in the jigsaw which he clearly isn't so we need to get a striker who can develop with the team over the next few years.
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
Hmmm....have to say that I wouldn't love these signings at all. Can't see United releasing one sex offender only to spend €60mn on another. Also, Sabitzer is patently not the answer to our midfield problems and is not the correct age profile so would really hate to see us signing him. Finally, think the club makes a big mistake if we sign Kane for 100mn. Would only be pressed to do that if Kane was the final piece in the jigsaw which he clearly isn't so we need to get a striker who can develop with the team over the next few years.
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Didnt know about the Hakimi case. Not proven guilty however, so i wont judge. Jonny Evans, Neymar, etc also had allegedly fake/unproven accusations so I’ll hold with judging him.

regarding Kane, I think we need to go for a title push now when we have other players at their peak. Signing Osimhen or youth to develop will create an offset where Osimhen/Youth will peak in 3 years, but then Bruno, Varane, Shaw, Casemiro wont. Lets sign a proven great goalscorer and go for it imo.
 
Goalkeeper is now second only to striker as priority for me. Having a pro active keeper that can pass will help us to progress the ball from the back.

There are are too many turnovers due to poor kickings.
 
GK
RB
CB
2CMs
Striker

6 players at least. I guess striker and GK should be priority.

We probably also need to think about a back up striker. Can't depend on Martial to even do that.
 
thegregster said:
GK
RB
CB
2CMs
Striker

6 players at least. I guess striker and GK should be priority.

We probably also need to think about a back up striker. Can't depend on Martial to even do that.
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Diogo Costa 65m
Frimpong/Dumfries 40m
Timber 40m
Caicedo 85m
Alex Scott 25m
Kane 90m

Just a cool £345m summer
 
Here we go again (priority order)

ST
CM
DM (backup)
GK
RB
CB (backup)
ST (backup)
AM (backup)

Maybe the backups should even be higher,especially when you look at our depth which is virtually non existent
 
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thegregster said:
GK
RB
CB
2CMs
Striker

6 players at least. I guess striker and GK should be priority.

We probably also need to think about a back up striker. Can't depend on Martial to even do that.
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Yeah maybe even backup AM but that's obviously way down list,so potentially this first XI and squad needs 8 players to compete
 
ROFLUTION said:
Buy: (235 m) - 4 players
Sabitzer - 15 m
Diogo Costa-60 m
Kane 100 m
Hakimi: 60 m
+ Loan a striker as backup

Sell (95m) - 6 players (probably unrealistic, but jesus we need to be better at selling)
Maguire: 20m
McTominay: 20m
Henderson: 10m (has been injured, so not a great risk to take for a new club)
Elanga: 10m
VdB: 10m
Martial: 25m
Jones, De Gea, Greenwood: Leaves on a free

Total: 140m spend. Wages from De Gea, Martial goes to Kane/Hakimi.

Would be a decent title-challenging team, able to dominate teams. Everyone good at passing would make a world of difference.


Costa
Hakimi - Varane - Martinez - Shaw
Bruno - Casemiro - Eriksen/Sabitzer
Anthony - Kane - Rashford​
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You’d buy a player accused of rape just 2 months ago?
 
croadyman said:
Not gonna sign 7 in summer or did I misinterpret completely and this is actually going to be across the next 2/3 windows
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Let me reduce this to 4 signings plus 1 backup keeper.

Buy: 190m (400k)
Costa - £65m (140k)
Lavia - £35m (80k)
Højlund - £60m (80k)
Frimpong £30m (100k)
Butland - Free (same salary)

Sell: 90m (400k)
McTominay - 25m (60k)
Elanga - 10m
Dean Henderson - 20m (100k)
DDG - out of contract (20m salary)
Bailly - 0 (80k)
Bissaka - 15m (90k)
Jones - out of contract (50k)
Pellistri - loan (20k)

-100m
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
Let me reduce this to 4 signings plus 1 backup keeper.

Buy: 190m (400k)
Costa - £65m (140k)
Lavia - £35m (80k)
Højlund - £60m (80k)
Frimpong £30m (100k)
Butland - Free (same salary)

Sell: 90m (400k)
McTominay - 25m (60k)
Elanga - 10m
Dean Henderson - 20m (100k)
DDG - out of contract (20m salary)
Bailly - 0 (80k)
Bissaka - 15m (90k)
Jones - out of contract (50k)
Pellistri - loan (20k)

-100m
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I still worry about no progressive CM and will Hojlund be able to adapt easily as well
 
croadyman said:
I still worry about no progressive CM and will Hojlund be able to adapt easily as well
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It depends on how you want to see it but Lavia has 77 percentile of successful take on. Meaning he has the talent to make progressive carries by dribbling the ball. His current progressive carries is very low (30) because he plays for Southampton and used as DM. Joining better teams, his progressive carry would be much higher. Playing as CM next to Casemiro would also allow him to make more dribbling which also will increase his progressive carries.

I think we have to accept that we should sign young players to build this team. We need more than just 100m budget if we want to compete with man city under pep. Hence why the idea of signing Hojlund.
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
It depends on how you want to see it but Lavia has 77 percentile of successful take on. Meaning he has the talent to make progressive carries by dribbling the ball. His current progressive carries is very low (30) because he plays for Southampton. Joining better teams, his progressive carry would be much higher.
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Yeah maybe
 
still think 4 is the absolute minimum of quality players needed to be brought in and still have a legit chance to achieve our goals next year. CF, 2 CMs, and prob a modern GK. And if being realistic prob is more like 5 since will want a good CB to add to lindelof for backup rotation options. Gotta hope we can find some internal options to improve certain positions as well.
 
CF and CM are TOP priorities then CB and RB. GK is not a priority this summer considering our budget.
Priority sells: Maguire, VdB, Jones, McT, Telles, Henderson, Elanga, Verghorst (let go)
Optional salles: Martial (we need squad depth even with a new CF), Fred (same),
Not sure - Sabitzer (I would keep him over Fred)
 
I'd consider getting both Thuram brothers (Khéphren and Marcus). If INEOS buy us, perhaps we can do some semi-dodgy business with Nice by having Khéphren come in on a small loan fee with a bigger buy price the next year when we're less hamstrung by FFP. We could give them Martial on a free and maybe subsidise some of his wages. I'm just done with Martial. He's very talented but injured too often, way overpaid and hasn't got a great attitude with lots of lazy displays. Marcus Thuram could replace him. He's not absolutely top drawer but is a strong, versatile option on a free. His wage demands will be high but not higher than Martial's. Khéphren is the better of the two and could be a similar player to Frenkie De Jong. He's incredibly agile, press resistant and brings the ball up the pitch very effectively.

On the goalkeeper situation, I'd try to call de Gea's bluff with the contract negotiations. I seriously doubt a big team will offer him anywhere near the wages he's said to want and a starting position. Let's see if we can renew him for £150k a week maximum, even if it's a waiting game. If not, get Livakovic. We definitely need someone else who is better in the build up. I'd go for a young apprentice like Verbruggen perhaps.

Full back is fine. Dalot and AWB aren't the best but solid enough. If Dalot refuses a new deal, though, perhaps we get someone like Dedic or Vanderson. I watched a bit of Frimpong tonight and he played poorly and I'm not sure he can really play as a proper right back.

At centre back, Kim Min-Jae looks a great option with a supposed £42m release clause. Screw the left foot/right foot thing. I love Varane but he needs top competition due to his injuries.

A Casemiro backup would be great but probably isn't easy budget wise, unless we have decent sales. A young one like Ugochukwu, Vermeeren or Andre might work.

Khéphren Thuram and Kobbie Mainoo to challenge Eriksen. Fred and McTominay could go. Two of our more saleable assets.

Wing options more than OK, especially with Amad Diallo returning.

Need two strikers IMHO. I'd get rid of Martial and send Weghorst back and get in Marcus Thuram and Rasmus Hojlund. Kane and Osimhen would be very expensive and I have doubts about how both would fit into our style of play. Kane can't press and isn't quite quick enough. Osimhen's link up play and ability in the hole isn't up to what we've seen from Ten Hag strikers. Hojlund is very raw but probably a decent price and has everything to develop into what is basically a perfect ETH striker - quick, strong, good finisher, technical, can play as false 9 and a target man. I'm not convinced by the value of other rumoured options like Kolo Muani, Vlahovic etc. Hojlund is at least a year or two away from being United starter class but he'd be a better option now than Martial or Weghorst and I'd rather we go for him now than wait til he's worth a stupid price like £150m.

GK: de Gea, Verbruggen, Heaton
RB: Dalot, Wan-Bissaka
LB: Shaw, Malacia
CD: Martinez, Min-Jae, Varane, Lindelof
DM: Casemiro, Vermeeren
CM: K. Thuram, Eriksen, Mainoo
AM: Fernandes, Sancho
RW: Antony, Diallo
LW: Rashford, Garnacho
ST: Hojlund, M. Thuram
 
I want a right back. We haven't had a good one for 15 years, I feel I'm owed a nice right back.
 
Kane.

Enzo Le Fee, Seen we've been linked, he'd be fantastic.

Raya

Frimpong
 
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