We signed Telles, Cavani, Pellistri and Amad after the season started last year. If the right outgoings happen then we'll make a signing.
Luckhurst: United prepared to move for a holding midfielder in January
- Thread starter Valar Morghulis
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
To my mind he’s most suitable as the attacking midfielder who operates off of a target man. So for a mid table side he is maybe the biggest goal threat in the way that say Tim Cahill played for Everton (Lingard would score more with his feet than head obviously).
Again though, all of Lingards flaws are particularly highlighted when playing for a ‘better’ side. The simplicity of his passing and directness are good attributes in lesser teams. They are not good attributes when breaking down low blocks.
Also, judging Lingard by his stats is tricky. He was a late bloomer and so only really came with into the side at 22-23 and he has never been a guaranteed starter. Going by the eye test he seems to be a good striker of the ball which you can see by the number of long range goals he has scored (out of the goals he has scored).
One of Ole’s biggest achievements has been identifying early which players don’t really suit his vision. Fellaini, Smalling & Lukaku all were moved on due to their poor technique. Lingard has stuck around longer in part because he was younger and seemed happy to play a bit part role but it does seem Ole recognised he needed a more technically proficient no 10 to play that role for us.
It is surprising that no one has seriously gone in for Bissouma, at the end of last season it felt like almost everyone was going to be after him. I think he'd be a good signing.
I think his loan form, not just at west ham but also his loans to the likes of Birmingham, confirms this as well. Ive personally wondered whether we'd be wiser using him as a back up striker at United rather than as a CAM.
Is Bissouma really that good? There is a bit too much hype in here but then I have not really watched much of his.
in general, I dont think our MF signing will be significant. It is most likely Neves for 30m if at all
Seems we are still in for Cavaminga and its unrelated to sales, but he's undecided yet. Neves / Saul seems completely dead now, but might be dependant on sales
Does feel like its convincing Camavinga or nothing 
need something to oil the wheels on the old muppet train, its turning into a bit of a ghost train.
need something to oil the wheels on the old muppet train, its turning into a bit of a ghost train.Why are we not in for Zakaria? His contract is ending in 2022 and he's made it clear that he's leaving this summer
I'd be curious to know why we're not interested
I'd be curious to know why we're not interested
If Camavinga really needs convincing then I’m certain we won’t be following it up. A big part of our current mantra for signing players is that they have to want United as much as United wants them.Does feel like its convincing Camavinga or nothing
Isn't he still behind Xhaka in the pecking order?
I feel the player United will fill that DM position with would need to be unquestionably a starter for his national team
Everybody seems to be insisting on a CDM apart from Ole and the coaches 
I honestly think people have been suckered in by the press about them saying we want to play an attacking 4-3-3. So far we haven't seen any proof of that at all, it looks like the normal 4-2-3-1.
I honestly think people have been suckered in by the press about them saying we want to play an attacking 4-3-3. So far we haven't seen any proof of that at all, it looks like the normal 4-2-3-1.
Trippier will effectively be our middle third signing.
Like Shaw, Trippier is a playmaker from the middle of the park during transitions. McTominay and Fred will cover the gaps that the fullbacks leave when they bomb forward.
People talk about AWB increasing his end product, and that's true. But his biggest shortcoming isn't in goals and assists. It's in progressive passes through midfield. That's where we need to be better.
Ole can see our lack of creativity in the midfield as much as anyone in this thread. But rather than shoring up the double pivot, he seems to be going down the Guardiola route of turning his midfielders into defenders and his defenders into midfielders. I'm fine with it.
Like Shaw, Trippier is a playmaker from the middle of the park during transitions. McTominay and Fred will cover the gaps that the fullbacks leave when they bomb forward.
People talk about AWB increasing his end product, and that's true. But his biggest shortcoming isn't in goals and assists. It's in progressive passes through midfield. That's where we need to be better.
Ole can see our lack of creativity in the midfield as much as anyone in this thread. But rather than shoring up the double pivot, he seems to be going down the Guardiola route of turning his midfielders into defenders and his defenders into midfielders. I'm fine with it.
Isnt the Trippier deal dead? Seems to me most sources are saying Athletico wont budge from their valuation and we wont increase our offer.
Fair play by Atletico. Trippier is certainly worth 20m minimum considering he's got two years remaining.
Bear in mind in all this that it's speculation by Luckhurst, who's maybe closer to the club than some other reporters, but writes for a crap newspaper and often makes me think he's been watching a different football match the one I've seen. In short, he's frequently wrong.
United only value him at £10m as he is 30 and wouldn't be first choice.
I'm glad United won't spend money on older players now. They made too many mistakes giving out contracts to players in the squad previously who should never have had em.
I'd rather have another quality midfielder.
Don't they play together in midfield?
But anyways, I doubt the club has a requirement that "given player needs to be a starter for his national team"
I dont think we will make a third signing tbh . I think Donny is going to play a bigger Role this year and we will go after a CF and DM next summer whilst allowing some time for our young guns and fringe players in cups. I could be wrong but don't see Another being added. Squad is bloated with Players that just don't play we need to address that as much as possible.
Well maybe not, but I would expect that player to be starting in that Switzerland midfield. I saw him come on a sub more often than start during the Euros.Don't they play together in midfield?
But anyways, I doubt the club has a requirement that "given player needs to be a starter for his national team"
This summer he's been pretty spot on though. Even going as far back as last summer, I think he was the first to report our interest in Amad and Pellestri.
OK, maybe I'm being a bit unfair to him in that respect, and he has the advantage of being a Manchester-based journalist.
Can't say I have ever watched Camavinga play an actual game. Only seen highlights which I suspect is the case for most people on here. However he doesn't strike me as a player who is going to allow Pogba n Bruno to play in a midfield three so what's the actual point of him? Unless it's just about getting Pogba's replacement in early before he leaves next summer.
It's all gossip I reckon and unfortunately I can see again us neglecting this position even though it's our clear weakness. I'd be very worried if Ole thinks Matic, McT, VdB can step up this season, leaving Fred the only defensive minded midfielder of MUFC quality. Relying on Pogba playing from deep is risky too..
If we buy him it wouldnt be for him to be a first teamer this season, it would be because he is supposedly one of the best midfield talents around and we dont want to miss out. Its abit like when we wanted Jude Bellingham. He is primarily a box to box I think, not a pure DM.
I didn't see him other than from highlights but he's very potent tackler averageing more than 3 per game, which seems to me he can quite clearly get stuck in and win a lot of balls. Along with his ball playing ability, he will be a perfect mix of what we need in terms of playing form the deep and winning enough balls, providing cover. As a young palyer of that ilk, he could be converted in any kind of midfielder with a bit of time but certainly seems to be able to play with Fred instead of McT, which is already an upgrade, or instead of him when he needs rest.
Rumours now going round that Herrera might be on his way back to the club.
That's fair enough if that's the case. Would signify that Pogba is definitely not renewing his deal.
All well and good but there's no way him, Pogba and Bruno can play together.
No, I dont think it will, because we are going for him in isolation - nomatter what happens to our other midfielders
I didnt want him to leave, loved his passion . But has that ship sailed ?
Not sure about that personally. Fred, Mctomminay, Pogba, Camavinga, Donny can all play cm / box to box role. You not think that's overkill?
It's probably a bit of safeguarding from us. If Pogba does end up leaving then he has to be replaced.
Oh god no. We shouldn't be going back in for Herrera now. He's no better than what we have right now. Unless we're shipping out Matic and he's like for like replacement then it's totally pointless but even then it would scream a bit of backwards step.
It's interesting we've wrapped Sancho and Varane early and they only started training with the team. Seems like wrapping deals early isn't that important in the end.
I can't remember such uneventful summer tbh.
I can't remember such uneventful summer tbh.
his only problem was he became a bit injury prone, but taking him for free or little fee wouldn't be too bad at all, he would be still a huge upgrade on McTominay, both deffensively and offensively and really good alternative to Fred if he gets injured.
It's not like we have enough money or there is always a value in the market so similarly to Cavani we could make the same in midfield..
Not sure I agree with this. Mctomminay is getting better and better and scored 8 goals last season which was more than any of our CM's (except Bruno of course).
Herrera is better than Fred or McTominay; he should never have left; but a Matic replacement should be the top priority.
I'd be happy of we signed him, seems to have recovered from his injury and has lots of potential. I'd say he'd adapt very well to the Premier League.
Not sure he's better than Mctomminay anymore personally. Scotty gets a lot of stick on here because he's Scottish and not a fancy name sounding player but he outscored Pogba last season. People don't like to admit he's actually a pretty good box to box player who has an eye for a goal. It's not cool to like one of our own it seems.
Where have you seen that?
Guardian. Express and other papers running it as well.