11 Apr 2020 13:47:11
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Pogba is the primary transfer target for Juventus this year. If Pogba were to leave in the summer who would be looking to bring in for the midfield?

For me I would go all out for Saul, he would be exactly what we need and flexible across the midfield positions.


1.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 15:12:29
I think you need to look at what we have and assess the situation from there.

Without looking at lads like Garner and Levitt from the academy we have would have 6 midfielders if Pogba leaves.

Matic and TFM as holding/ defensive midfielders.

Fred and McTominay as energetic box to box midfielders.

And Bruno and Andreas Pereira as creative midfielders.

Now when we look at those 6 options the thing I notice most is if Bruno is out injured we seriously lack creativity.

The second thing I notice is that our defensive midfielders are either unproven and potentially not good enough, or aging and lacking consistency over a season.

Saul is an interesting player, he tends to play as the energetic box to box player or as a defensive player at Atletico.

Personally I think we need someone more creative as we would be one injury to Bruno away from lacking creativity again.

{Ed004's Note - I think a lot depends on if we move Pogba on. I'm not sure if Juve will be able to afford him this summer and if Madrid actually really want him. Regardless if he stays or not I would target a defensive midfielder to take over from Matic - so Zakaria or Partay as first choices.

If pogba goes I think he needs replaced and my top two targets would be Saul or SMS. Not sure who would suit us better but we would definitely need to replace him. Ideally, we could move Andreas and Lingard on this summer. Garner could do with a years loan and then replace Matic the following season. Would leave us with Matic + Zakaria as the holding players with Pogba, Fred, Bruno and Scott competing for 2 spots/maybe 3 if we play a diamond some games}


2.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 16:12:39
A defensive midfielder will be essential this year with Matic unable sustain a long period in the team.

I have to say I would live to see Pogba and Bruno play in the same team, whether that's realistic or not is another question.

{Ed004's Note - Yeah I think defensive midfield has to be the priority. On a separate note- I would only want Grealish if he is coming in to replace Lingard, Andreas and maybe Mata's contribution. We are weakening if he is coming to replace Pogbas}


3.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 16:14:51
We will look st grealish imo.


4.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 17:12:44
How is TFM an option?

Lad is finished at the club, and is nowhere near the level required, even as backup.

{Ed004's Note - I would be surprised if TFM made another appearance at the club}


5.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 19:11:34
TFM only down as an option as the club have recently extended his contract by a year. Seems an odd move if he isn't going to be given a chance at least.

For me the dream signings would be Sancho, Rice and Cantwell, along with Ighalo signing permanently. Allowing Pogba, Lingard, TFM and Andreas Pereira to leave from midfield along with Jones, Rojo and Smalling from defence. While Sanchez out the door would be the icing on the cake.

Three players with great potential, tick the homegrown box and would give us a real platform to build from.


6.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 21:23:44
I agree with your list shappy well nearly anyway .
While rice isn't a worldly by any means I think he would bring balance to the squad as if you were able to move them on you could let smalling, Jones, rojo and pogba go and rice would mean you had a fifth option for cb and 4 options for cm .
I agree aswell on sancho and ighalo but I would change Cantwell for grealish . If bruno got an injury or loss of form the other midfielders are not the most creative, plus it's good to have attacking options on the bench for games we need to turn .
I think we would then have the option of again, if we found buyers moving on lingard, peirrera, mata and sanchez and still have 2 for every position .
The problem is with this list is it would be very expensive with only sancho having any certainty of being a starter but we would have a more balanced squad and when injuries, fatigue and loss of form happen, options.


7.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 22:49:44
If he is fit rhen david brookes ar Bournemouth is a player i really like.


8.) 11 Apr 2020
11 Apr 2020 18:39:41
Garner and Laird shouldn't even be in the conversation at this time. Neither could get game time when our midfield was ravaged with injury. TFM as well shouldn't be mentioned in our squad, he has no future with us.

Our squad is at that stage of development were you have to be ruthless. Too many 5/ 6 out of 10 performers in there.

Pereira hasn't done enough and should be sold. Matic was one of our best perfemromers when he came back in from the cold. Hopefully someone who can deputise with him next year.

The Pogba debacle should be sorted once and for all. Let the fella go and be someone else's problem. If we're picking our dream signing it would be Reuben Neves for me.


9.) 12 Apr 2020
12 Apr 2020 00:47:26
Personally think Jack Grealish holds on to the ball to long to play in a counter attacking system. I would rather the club looks elsewhere.


10.) 12 Apr 2020
12 Apr 2020 02:29:07
Maddison. Every time. Going to be a top, top player.


11.) 12 Apr 2020
12 Apr 2020 11:29:57
Slate, I'm not a fan of Grealish, as LaBamba says he holds on to the ball for too long, doesn't seem like a great team player. He also entirely plays either left wing or No.10. Meaning he would be competing with Rashford and Bruno probably two of only 3-4 outfield players who are nailed on to start if fit. I don't see any value in spending 60-70m on a squad player who seems to be a bit of a big time charlie.

In a ideal world I'd love to sign Maddison as Stevie suggests. However, if we are to pursue players like Rice and Sancho they are likely to cost 70-80m and 100-120m each. While I can't see Leicester letting Maddison go for any less than the 80m we paid for Maguire last summer. Which means we would be looking at spending nearly 300m in fees alone, signing on fees and agents fees would likely add another 100m if the 50-60m fees being asked for Sancho alone are anything to go by.

I see the creative midfielder we are looking for is to replace Lingard/ Pereira as the back up squad players who could potentially challenge Bruno centrally, or cover the wide area if needed.

That's why for me Cantwell could be a great option. He is more tactically flexible than Grealish (I watched him against Newcastle, Everton and Arsenal this season lining up on the right and was excellent in all games picking up a few goals and couple of assists on his supposed weaker side) .

Salford, David Brooks looked a player before his injury, but after a whole season out injured he needs games to get back to where he was if he can get back. Many top young players have suffered bad injuries and never recovered their top form. I think he needs at least another season before we consider a move for him.

Mumbles, I agree that Garner, Levitt and Laird should head out on loan next season to play a year at senior level.
I also don't think TFM is good enough, he has stagnated for 3 years. That said the club activated a one year extension clause. So i would imagine the club will give him a run at least.
Matic has often had a great 2 months in most season with us, he struggles to keep that level up over a whole season. That said I'm not sure how many games we will need a specific holding midfielder. But someone like Rice would offer us a longer term option.


12.) 12 Apr 2020
12 Apr 2020 13:00:33
Not sure the TFM contract extension has anything to do with him being involved in match days. Probably more along the lines of the club have invested a fair bit of money in his development and in all likelihood could still get some return if they can shift him before the start of next season.

Wouldn’t be surprised if he was already being hawked off to the highest bidder behind the scenes!


13.) 12 Apr 2020
12 Apr 2020 23:31:30
We need to get rid of Pogba and replace him with Saul or SmS and i would go no where near Grealish.

He isn't what we need and we should rather focus on a too class CM and DM for midfield.

I think Bruno can do everything and anything Grealish can do and he is twice the player Grealish would ever be.


14.) 13 Apr 2020
13 Apr 2020 08:28:54
There is a lot of TFM bashing going on. He had an injury this season which kept him out for a long time. He has never had a chance in his preferred DM position. He only ever played as a right back in the first team, for Van dull. We should buy another DM and play Matic as back up for another year. TFM should go out on loan this season, where he is guaranteed to get game time. Then reassess it in January, (or whenever mid season is next year! )