14 Dec 2022 20:02:30
Evening All. First time poster here. Utd fan for over 30 years and have been on this site everyday for 15 years. Anyway . speaking to a club scout recently who I know well, he said Vlahovic is the number one target for January. Also that there is huge interest in Gakpo but will not move for him till the summer.

1.) 14 Dec 2022
14 Dec 2022 21:10:34
Would love Vlahovic. Exactly what we need. Ed mentioned that he's not very happy in Italy so there may be some legs to that rumor.

2.) 15 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022 00:51:25
Welcome Luke. Keep those rumours coming mate.

3.) 15 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022 12:57:37
Nice one luke. Really good player.
I hope its not another sms situation he is annoyed player I've admitted for years like sms vlahovic imo is made for the epl and united.

4.) 15 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022 13:51:03
Could do with avoiding annoyed players. We might not be the best place currently for anyone like that.

5.) 15 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022 12:53:33
Hey

Ed002: do you have anything to add here? Is this true?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - His agent has spoken with two clubs - but I am not aware of MU showing any interest.

6.) 15 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022 17:03:53
Gakpo is strongest rumour and if that's who the manager wants then that's who we should try for.

7.) 15 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022 17:49:03
Ken

On Gakpo, is he more of a winger than a natural centre forward? If he is bought and keeps Garnacho out I would be very against signing him. Our need is a goal scoring CF. If he comes as a CF, then is he good enough? Are you convinced about his ability to play CF? We have bought players that were not an exact fit before.

8.) 15 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022 20:49:02
Red Man, from what I've seen and can gather Gakpo is more of a wide forward than a traditional No.9.

He has typically played off the left and seems somewhat similar to Martial and Rashford in that he can play as a striker but seems to benefit from finding space out wide and drifting in field rather than squaring off against a CB.

Although I admit my knowledge is limited, especially compared to someone like EtH so I would bow down to his view of the player.

I posted the other day that very few of the strikers we have been linked with typically play as a No.9 and seem to be more suited to playing either as wide forwards or second strikers.

When you pour over the list of the most consistently linked players names like Gakpo, Felix, Lautaro Martinez, Jonathan David, Nkunku and Depay. While only Osimhen and Vlahovic are what you could call "proper strikers", and if we are being honest they are both hugely expensive and highly unlikely to move to us in the summer let alone January.

What is less clear is are we specifically targeting more creative forwards because that is what EtH wants (maybe he's looking to model the side more on his 2018 Ajax side with Tadic as a false 9) or because there is a real lack of quality options for a more traditional striker available?

Ultimately I'll be happy as long as we sign the players the manager wants and who he has a plan for rather than who is easily available/ cheap/ good for brand image.

I have an odd feeling that we will get João Felix, possibly in January on a loan to buy type deal. Pay something like 10-20m loan fee then with either an option or obligation to buy in the summer.

He is a player the club apparently enquired about in the summer (which suggests that EtH does have an interest in him) . While signing him for a modest loan fee will suit the Glazers, provide cover and if it's a buy option then it doesn't potentially saddle the new owners with a big new expensive signing that they might not want.

The only thing that goes against it is I'm not sure Atletico would be thrilled with such a deal, but the reality is they might have to accept a deal like that to move him on in the January window.

9.) 16 Dec 2022
16 Dec 2022 14:59:53
Redman I don't need to be convinced I don't pick the team.
I don't get concerned it's a hobby I've no worries about united at all.