24 Apr 2023 13:06:16
Who is everyone's ideal signing to lead the line next year?

It looks like Spurs won't make Champions League spots this year, along with Poch potentially joining Chelsea, Kane could push to leave.

Osimhen looks lethal in Italy but we've seen a few players struggle to adapt to the Premier league from Serie A. Lukaku is probably the biggest example of this.

Ramos from Benfica could be in with a shout but he's probably just a year or two away from the step up, he's still very raw but looks one of the young lads who will make the step up sooner rather than later.

Ferguson is someone who I think Fergie would sign. He already looks like he has many strings to his bow but hasn't even played a full season yet and would cost as much as the others.

If I'm missing out on anyone let me know.

1.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:41:14
I think if were being totally honest, fergie would not sign Ferguson with the current options we have.

When we signed Rooney for example, we still had Van Nistelrooy for a couple of years and even then we signed Louis saha to be the experienced striker while Rooney developed.

The correct option in my opinion for the current team is Harry Kane, i think his link up with Rashford and Bruno could be so lethal that we blow a lot of teams away.

2.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:41:21
I'd far ratber have Son than Kane Mumbles. Far more mobile and I think a better fit.

3.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:53:13
Kane would win us the title next year. I would also get one of the younger ones in too from the likes of Sesko, Ferguson or Ramos.

4.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:53:55
Son hasn't even got double figures this season and predominantly plays on the left wing where most of our attackers want to play.

It doesn't make much sense.

5.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:01:19
Son over Kane. are you serious.

6.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:01:42
A few months ago I was adamant we should sign Kane, as the season has progressed I've moved more towards signing someone younger like Osimhen, Lautaro, Vlahovic or Ramos.

However, I think Kane is the one we go for and ultimately get. The one signing we cannot afford to get wrong in the summer is the striker. We have had numerous games this season where we have created chances and failed to take them. Kane guarantees goals and if we give him some of the chances we have regularly missed, he would put a fair few of them away. His injury record and age is perhaps a slight worry for some people but at the same time he has never relied on pace throughout his career.

Kane may not be for everyone based on the cost and age he is but he is the sure thing out of the strikers we have looked at.

7.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:24:03
DSG, I meant that Ferguson would be a Fergie type signing. I know he wouldn't be relying on him alone.

AJH, Son has been my favourite player in the league for some time now, I love watching him and I think he also needs to leave to relight that fire in him. On his day he's unreal.

8.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:39:09
If Kane is obtainable then he has to be first choice IMO. But much like the de Jong saga last year I could see it dragging out and us missing out on getting second choice. We'd need to have a 'take it or leave it' cut-off point then move on.

9.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:40:11
Largely depends on who we ship out and how much we get in transfer fees. Also depends on whether the sale of the club is completed, when it is completed and who the new owners are.

Assuming all goes well and we are able to sell the likes of Martial and Elanga, personally I'd go for both Harry Kane and Evan Ferguson. Kane is getting on now and will probably not be fit for all games, while Ferguson is a youngster just starting out. If we can get both, the pressure to score will fall on the experienced and very clinical Kane, who I expect will score quite a lot considering the chances that go begging every week. That way Ferguson can take his time to acclimatize to playing for a big club (all due respect to Brighton), in Europe, under pressure.

Alternatives to Kane I'll go for Vlahovic, Ivan Toney (assuming he isn't banned for too long) or even Ollie Watkins. Sesko or Ramos if we cannot sign Ferguson.

Quite possible that we won't sign any of these players, I understand transfers are complicated and our club is run by amateurs, but for me that would be the ideal scenario.

10.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:48:20
Ferguson is no rooney to be frank. Rooney was a generational talent and a work horse.

I think we will sign ramos or the french striker from frankfurt. I also think we will sign a second striker if martial is sold. Not a huge name but someone who will contribute goals and help rotate the squad.

Spurs will not sell kane to us and if they do will ask for a crazy sum. We have ffp issues to manage and doubt we will get involved in spending crazy sums given the need to spend in other areas.

11.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 15:14:55
I think we’ll sign the Danish boy from Atlanta.

12.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 15:31:53
Kane has 24 goals in the PL this season. Are we seriously saying he is not mobile, unfit, finished etc? If he is available, its a no brainer for me.

13.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 15:54:33
Lukaku prime example? You forgetting the 100 plus goals he's scored in the prem?

14.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 16:11:22
Hang on, are people comparing lukaku and Kane? Confused by that comment.

15.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 16:18:26
Kane 100%.

He scores a lot, but he also has a fenomenal pass, if he makes similar connection with Rashford, as he has with Son, it would be benefiting him as well. Kane simply gives us more options. And a lot more set pieces / cross danger.

16.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 16:48:53
Go all out for Weggy. He'll come good :-)

17.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 17:03:51
RedWhiskey, Lukuka wasn't great for us, did excellently at Inter and then couldn't hit a barn door at Chelsea. He went back to Italy and the goals started flowing again.

I'm saying Lukaku is a bad player, but the Serie A compared to Premier League seems to be a big step up for strikers.

18.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 17:09:07
I wasn't comparing the two, just stating you can't say lukaku has struggled in the prem. He did at his second stint at Chelsea.

19.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 18:17:47
I had a little post about this on the discussions page, but it wasn't up for long so you may have missed it?

I'm of the opinion that we need to sign two strikers this summer, although I highly doubt that will happen.

Kane seems like an obvious option, English, EPL proven, in his prime and potentially available. That said the cost in both transfer fee and wages will be huge, probably north of 80m if not closer to 100m, with wages likely of 300k or more on at least a 4 year deal given the transfer fee outlay. While you know Levy will make it a summer long saga, he won't want to do a deal early as the fans will then expect him to spend money on a replacement. While at the age of 30 and having had a history of injuries (particularly ankle injuries) he isn't a long term solution, and will likely need replacing himself in 2-3 years time.

For me Harry Kane is the signing you make if you are already to challenge for the title next season.

Personally I think we are 2 season's away from seriously challenging. This summer we should complete the first 11 in EtH's image. However, we will still be woefully short of suitable squad depth. So we will probably in reality need the summer of 2024 to sign a few more players to give EtH the depth needed for a serious title challenge.

So for several reasons Kane doesn't seem like a sensible choice.

I'm not completely sold on Osimhen, he reminds me a little too much of Lukaku in style. He doesn't get involved in team play, is just a focal point and the player to put the ball in the net. I'm not convinced his numbers would translate from Serie A to the EPL. He also has a troubling injury record in a much less physically demanding league.

Given Napoli are like the Italian Spurs when it comes to signing their players, he would cost a fortune and there are just far too many concerns for me to feel that the fee is justifiable.

I really like the look of both Rasmus Højlund and Evan Ferguson, but agree that it would be a big gamble to sign them without signing someone else.

A player I have always liked and who could be available given his side's financial situation (they have to repay a 200m loan by the end of the summer), is Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan.

Although he isn't a classic striker and is more of a creative false 9 kind of striker. However, I think that sort of striker could work really well with Rashford and Antony who are more goalscoring wide forwards than creative wingers.

Another similar player to Lautaro Martinez but probably available for a bit cheaper is Jonathan David.

For me the best solution this summer is to sign one of Jonathan David or Lautaro Martinez AND one of Evan Ferguson or Rasmus Højlund.

I feel like we could sign any two of those four strikers for a similar amount to what Kane or Osimhen would cost by themselves.

20.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 19:11:22
Tell me Shappy, compared to a young player like, let's say Rashford, how many games did Kane miss last season and this one, due to all those injuries u keep mentioning?

21.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 20:50:18
I would not go near Kane, it’s just short term thinking. Levy would extract a high price as well.

This summer unusually there are a number of top strikers likely on the market, yes Kane, but younger ones Osimhen for example. Personally, I believe we need two, whilst selling Martial and sending Weg anywhere. Ramos looks very interesting and Ferguson is high potential. We need younger hungry players not an older one seeking his first trophy at 30, that would be poor planning. We need to take the right path now, not Kane and having to look again in 2 years.

22.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 20:59:06
Trololo, RvP had two relatively injury free seasons before joining us.

RvP much like Kane suffered with injury early in his career, unfortunately those sort of persistent injuries tend to come back, especially as a player enters their 30's.

Maybe Kane is over his injuries and he'll be fit for the majority of the next 4 years. Or maybe they will come back.

The question is do you think he's worth the gamble at 140-160m he will cost in terms of fee and wages over his contract.

If his injuries do return (as they can in aging players who have suffered with injuries previously) is it sensible to have so much money tied up in him?

Kane is a a quick wham bam thank you ma'am signing. He'll make an impact for two season's or so but will then need replacing.

Given the age profile of the squad (Varane, Casemiro and Eriksen) it probably isn't sensible to have another key player sign at around the same age.

We just need to look over at Liverpool this season to see what happens when half your first 11 age and start declining at the same time.

23.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 22:38:22
Jonathan david is a very poor finisher. A bit like welbeck. Will not survive the critism of playing for a club like united. As they say the shirt is too heavy for many, he is bang average. Sasko has a high ceiling but can’t see him getting sold.

24.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 22:47:08
I personally would orefer United to have a strategy of signing the next Kane rather than signing the cutrent midel who is at best a shirt term silution.

If you sign Kane then i think you're also making a commitment to signing a Ferguson or other such striker two years later. I don't doubt that Kane would be a great player for us, i jus ont think it will be for very long. Which is fine, so long as the plan is in place now to replace him ( which of course is subject to change as events or players develop)

However I think City will be play to replace Haaland in a season or two, if there really is a clause or agreement that he can go to Real at a point in the future. I don't think right niw we are ready to fight them off in these circumstances, so maybe if we are sure of whibthis biy is we need to pukk the trigger a bit earlier.

I am of the thought that the best strategy for United right now is to accept we aren't a year or probably 2 from actually challenging and therefore targetting players that we are in the belief that in 3 years time will have developed into players capable of playing their part in that.

I disagree strongly with the comment that signing Kane put us in the title race, i think we are a few starters and several squad memebrs short of that point right now. I do think we have made progress but we are only a short way along the path. At about the point where the kids start asking for the toilet for the first time. (Which for me is about three streets from home)

25.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 23:00:06
Look, Shappy, I tried to compare minutes played by most strikers in the league (and some midfielders), and I have to say, Kane is more injury free than most. It bothers me that you continue to tell that story, but it just isn't true.

Sure, he isn't Bruno type of player, who seems to never get injured (until now it seems), but he plays a lot.

Even earlier in his career, he always played a lot. He had some injuries, but mostly small ones.

Looking at his career, since he became first choice, in his 8 seasons (counting this one as well), 4 times he played around 2.500 minutes (mostly a bit above) and 4 times he played above 3.000 minutes (this season 3.200, and it is not yet over) .

That said, ANY player can get injured and miss games, look at Vlahovic for example, he missed a lot of games this season. It is always kind of a gamble.

I don't really care if he is 10 or 100 milion, it is not my money to spend, I think he would improve us a lot, more than the others and that is what is important.

Let me ask you, do you think Osimhen would be a lot cheaper? I don't. Do you think Osimhen will just blend in in his first season? And how injury prone is he? He had a lot of injuries, if I remember corectly, without checking.

What I would like, and I think you (or someone else) mentioned it, is to sign two strikers, Kane and one younger, ready to be a cover for couple of seasons.

Also, why would it be wrong to bring him for 3-4 seasons? It's a different era, players last longer, who is to say he couldn't do a lot with us?

In my opinion, he is the best player we can get for the position.

26.) 25 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 23:16:39
If we did sign Kane might he be able to move back into midfield later as he gets older? He has a gt football brain and would know and be able to execute the type of passed tgat forwards thrive on.

27.) 25 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 23:22:21
I really don't get many of the arguments against signing Harry Kane, if he's even remotely available.
Too old? How old is Karim Benzema, current Ballon d'or holder? (35 v Kane's 29).
Short-term signing? We're saying that like we're going to win the CL or Prem next year with a couple of decent signings. I feel we're at least 2-3 years from even thinking about challenging for the big things. We're looking good for 4th this season, we might even get 3rd, but we're a long way off 1-2 and were just completely humbled in Europe's Mickey Mouse cup. We're in such a great place compared to last season but let's not forget ourselves, we've been spanked several times this season. Kane might not win us the CL, but we've got a fair bit to go before then and he could be the guy to help us continue to close that gap.
Pep wanted him, Chelsea would love him, and I would be surprised if ten Hag would say no. Would any top manager? If there's a chance of signing England's record goalscorer, who has a fair few good few years in him at the top, I'd love to see him in a Utd shirt. He does ok at Spurs pretty much single-handedly, I dread to think what he might do with Antony, Rashford, Garnacho et al supplying him.

28.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 00:45:14
I am tilting towards Kane and a youngster to develop to full potential. The risk with Kane alone is we get to a point where he cannot perform week in week out and we have no succession plan.

But as has been proven by Spurs, it’s no good having a top striker if he and the team cannot score more goals than you are conceding.

So regardless of the fact we need a striker, we need a top defender because again we are relying heavily on age at the moment. Even the Fringe Adjuster is 30 and will only get slower, if that is at all possible.

A TOP central defender and a Striker are a must.

29.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 03:24:03
I would love to see a striker who will make first strikers runs in the box - either back post or front post across the defenders. I am sick of watching all our strikers not bother running through into the 6 yard boxes for crosses. People say our wingers are greedy, but jeez we have nothing in the middle to cross to.

30.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 07:20:34
Ahmad, is David a "very poor finisher"?

He has 21 goals in Ligue 1 this season averaging 3.1 shots per game.

Mbappe has 22 goals in Ligue 1 this season averaging 4.2 shots per game.

Those records look fairly similar to me, although if you want to be accurate then Jonathan David actually has a better conversation rate than Mbappe. While playing on a much poorer side. He seems to hold his own against one of the best players in the world in the same league.

Trololo, Kane missed on average 6 weeks a season due to injury for 4 years in a row. Yes, he hasn't in the last couple of season's, but you can't rewrite history to suit your argument. To only include the years he hasn't been injured is not a good way to make a judgement on his injury record.

That's like saying I'm a perfect driver if you don't include the crashes and speeding tickets I've got.

You've literally gone, "let's have a look at Kane's injury record, but let's not include any years he's actually picked up an injury" then come to the conclusion that he doesn't get injured much. That bothers me.

You say you don't care how much he costs, but if his cost limits what else we can do in the market this summer then I'm sure you'll be annoyed.

If the options are sign Kane and one other player, or sign a different striker and 3 other players which option do you think would be best?

Imagine if you sign Kane and only one other player then Kane gets injured and misses half the season.

As for Osimhen I don't think we should sign him either, if you read my whole post and not just the bit about Kane then you'd have seen I've given reasons why I wouldn't sign Osimhen.

There are many reasons I've given why Kane for me isn't a good choice, but you've only argued his injury record.

So what's your argument against his age and our age profile? Or do you think it's a good idea to have 4-5 key first 11 players over the age of 30 just like Liverpool this season?

What's your argument against the cost and time it will take to get him out of Levy's grasp?

Spenno, the age thing is a concern. Yes some strikers continue playing at a high level into their mid thirties, but the fact we can name them on one hand suggests they are the exception and not the standard.

For every Benzema there is a Falcao, a RVP, a Owen, a Raul etc. Great strikers in their prime, but had seriously faded by 32.

We don't have a bottomless pit of money, spending 80-100m to sign a player who is 30 years old is not a smart move.

Factor in his 12-15m a season wages on what will need to be a 4 year deal, and his history with injuries, then the move becomes even less sensible.

We could very easily get 1-2 good season's out of him then have 2 years of injuries/ poor form stuck with a player on 300k per week.

Kane is the cherry on top type signing, the player you bring in when you already have a great side but need a boost to win the biggest prizes. Unfortunately by the time this team is rebuilt to a point where we will be ready to seriously challenge for the top honours Kane will likely need replacing again.

31.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 08:00:38
Shappy. "Jonathan David actually has a better conversation rate"
That typo might easily have been constipation rate ???.

{Ed001's Note - I doubt if anyone's conversation rate could compete with Shappy's though.}

32.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 08:55:29
No, Shappy, you are putting words in my mouth. I said that in 8 seasons as a first choice, he has 4 seasons with around 2.500 minutes (injury seasons) and 4 seasons with above 3.000 (injury free seasons) . To me, that is not a bad injury record as you continue to put it. So, I haven't said he doesn't get injured, but that injury is not half as bad as you continue to claim.

I asked you to compare him to Rashford. Or most of the strikers, atacking midfielders. How many injury free players can you count? I would really like to see the how Kane stands against other players injury-wise.

Would you buy 1 ferrari or 10 yugo's? Its a ridicilous question. We can sign 5 players, but who is to guarantee they would bring us what we need.

Tell me the 4-5 players you think you could buy instead of Kane and let's talk about the pros and cons of those players. And what realistic price would be.

You are putting your thoughts on what would happen as a sure thing, that really bothers me. Who is to say that Levy wouldn't go right by Kane if they don't qualify for CL? After all these years? Who is to say he would get injured and miss half of the season? It could happen, but it also could not. It could happen to any player/ striker we sign.

And since when is 30 years too old. Jeez. Bayern wants him, but hey, Bayern is obviously a bad club, they can't measure with us!

We need goals, and to get them, we need the best choice out there.

What I started to agree about with you, is that we should probably change DDG, as it would probably let us play in a different way.

Also, I have a question for you, or anyone else, who is familiar with the situation. Is there any striker in the academy who could be good for us? Do we need to sign Ferguson, or could we make our own striker?

33.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 09:04:11
And about age thing. Yes, Real seems to do so badly with their midfield and striker over 34. It is all about quality.

I do think we could and should have some players over the 30. They bring experience and stability.

And who would those players be for us in few years? Atm, Casemiro, Varane and Kane, if we sign him. It seems good to me.

You can't rely on 11 young players.

34.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 09:53:52
I have an average of 16.8 shots in every game I play at my local Powerleague, I must be pretty hot :D
Ok, I end up having to ask the kids on the other side of the fence to go and collect them for me.

35.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 10:42:40
Maybe Greenwood returns?

36.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 10:47:03
Randal Kolo Muani looks a real talent.

37.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 11:58:22
Shappy

I would be very disappointed if we are looking at jonathan david unless its a squad purchase or a bit of desperation signing and we have missed on all our primary targets or can’t afford them. Poor first touch and plays in a easy league to run up stats. Recommend you watch 5/ 10 games of his and not you tube highlights.

He has been available and wonder why none of the top teams have moved for him. He is a canadian welbeck imo and will not be wearing a united shirt.

38.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 12:12:07
Seems to be a little noise around the Feyenood guy Santiago Giménez, anyone seen much of him? By all accounts a really decent young player.

39.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 12:45:31
I don't see us bringing in 2 strikers unless we make Weghorst permanent. The price we are looking at will prohibit a second striker (unless they are a hybrid striker/ wide player) .
Oshimen looks quality but I worry about his output crossing over from Serie A as well as his apparent lack of build up play.
Kane would be an instant hit for me, proper striker with the additional build up play ability. One worry would be whether he moves into the areas that Fernandes wants to move into but I think both would work intelligently off of each other with Rashford/ Antony having a field day feeding off of Kanes play.
There should be a future plan to develop a younger player over the next few years but this should not prevent a player like Kane coming in. I think he would have 3-4 good years.

40.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 13:49:46
If martial goes there will be a main striker and a so so squad addition as a second striker. All depends what eth decides on martial.

41.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 16:49:04
In an ideal world Kane and Ferguson but got a feeling the parasites won’t sell, then we’ll be stuck with Weghorst and Martial. Don’t get the problem with Kanes age. Two of The best 2 strikers In Europe are both getting on ( Benzema and Lewandowski) and they’ve got plenty left in the tank. Plus Kane uses his brain more than speed. Guaranteed goals unlike the fancy foreign names. We’ve bought enough stars from abroad that struggle in the prem.

42.) 26 Apr 2023
26 Apr 2023 01:49:58
Don’t win anything with kids………. :)

43.) 26 Apr 2023
26 Apr 2023 07:13:48
Vlahovic.

44.) 26 Apr 2023
26 Apr 2023 08:51:27
If Kane is genuinely available then he’s an obvious choice. Top class striker. Has been for years and would improve our team immeasurably. The money side is irrelevant to all of us.

If not, I’d be leaning towards Vlahovic, but not sure Juve have a need to sell anymore?

45.) 26 Apr 2023
26 Apr 2023 20:00:49
Kane, Osimhen or Lautaro Martinez. Kane is proven, one of the best no.9s in the world. Martinez and Osimhen are at good ages and relatively proven, no one’s guaranteed to succeed but these 2 will be hitting prime age in 2-3 seasons.
I don’t think we can afford to get Ramos or the lad from Atlanta who are still raw talents. We need a ready made no.9 who is capable of 20 goals a season.