02 Jul 2024 11:46:46
Seems like we have the green light from PSG and the player to go ahead for a move for Manuel Ugarte (providing he's not injured after last night) apparently we just need to put in an acceptable bid.
Zirkzee seems like his clause is active if it applies to prem teams and we are in pole position ahead of Milan.
De Ligt, also seems just an acceptable bid needs to be made to Bayern.
A fair way between agreement between United and Everton regarding Branthwaite but he is keen on the move.
These are obvs reports so don't know how exactly true they are and I'm sure we need to move a few on also.
How would posters feel if these 4 players were our signings this summer?
02 Jul 2024 12:24:28
I don't see both De Ligt and Branthwaite, I reckon the former is the contingency plan if Everton don't budge on their hilarious valuation. I'd prefer de Ligt myself but I know there are a few here who are experts on his fitness history and turning circle. :D
I hadn't heard of Zirkzee until a few weeks ago so can't pass judgement there, I had hoped we'd get a more experienced striker in otherwise who's passing on the wisdom to Rasmus, who looks a long way off to me but is on the way.
Ugarte is my kinda player, no fuss, gets on with it and can put the boot in. A little terrier in midfield.
02 Jul 2024 13:04:09
Ugarte sounds like the midfield equivalent of Martinez.
02 Jul 2024 17:16:55
Wouldn’t be a bad summer, but I’d rather see a new right back come in instead of two £40m+ center backs. If we do sign De Ligt, I think we’ll cool our interest in Branthwaite and use any leftover funds to bring in Todibo (if the threat of legal action causes UEFA to change their tune) and somebody like Dumfries or Frimpong (we seem to be open to letting Wan Bisaka leave this window, so I can only assume they plan on replacing him) . I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up signing Amrabat on a permanent deal as well, although I’m not entirely convinced that would be a good move.
02 Jul 2024 19:05:27
Redseven
Now reports saying PSG also in for de ligt. I think if we sign de ligt we will sign a left footer and not another right footer. Todibo as ed002 has said not going to go through due to UEFA ruling.
Unless Everton drop their ask significantly. someone like Inacio has been one of our targets since last year. Need Bruno to give us a helping hand:)
We need a left back more than awb replacement. shaw is not dependable and will get injured again if we can't rest him enough games.
03 Jul 2024 04:36:01
I know we’re not in the Champions League next season, but still got to believe that we’re a more attractive proposition than PSG (especially now that they’ve lost Mbappe) . As for Todibo, I wouldn’t be surprised if UEFA ends up folding to avoid a public confrontation (especially if there’s any chance of them losing), but I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
This idea that we need a left footed center back seems ridiculous to me. Rio and Vidic were both right footers, and they didn’t do too badly.
I agree that the need for a new left back is just as important as a new RB, but am not really seeing us linked with anybody, nor is there much noise regarding Shaw or Malacia leaving. Unless one of them does (or Malacia is going to be out for another season), it seems unlikely that we’ll bring in another left back this window (especially when Dalot can cover the position) .
I must say I’m a little surprised that we’re not being linked with a new keeper. Onana was dreadful last season and I seem to recall Ed002 saying that Bayındır wanted out. Replacing Onana would be top of my to-do list if it were up to me, although we definitely have issues all over the pitch.
03 Jul 2024 10:41:55
R7
Onana started badly, but once he got going he really wasn't bad. Not the level we'd like, sure, but given how the team as a whole played, he was facing a lot more shots, and from better positions, than he should have been, and honestly, Onana did moderately well.
I'm not opposed to replacing him, but we desperately need at least one new CB, a CDM, and a second striker at minimum before we even start thinking about a new GK.
Overall, I'd say we really need 2 CBs, 2 CDMs a striker, a LB and probably a RB ahead of a new keeper.
Right now Licha is our only CB who is good enough, Maquire and Lindelof are ok as cover but not good enough as first choice, so we need a new partner for Licha and if either Maguire or Lindelof leave (which looks likely), we will need another backup.
Casemiro is our only proper CDM, and I don't think it's contraversial to say he's passed his best and should be moved on. That will leave us no CDMs, with Bruno, Mount, Mainoo and McTominey in midfield. So we need a new first and second choice CDM.
I really like Rasmus, but we need a second striker to give cover, competition and a rotation option.
Shaw is still good when he's fit, but he's struggled with injuries, and Malacia might be fine as second choice if Shaw could stay fit, but that's unlikely to happen, so we really need another LB.
Dalot and AWB are both OK, but neither is really great, so ideally we'd move one of them on and bring in a new RB. This is arguably not a higher priority than a new GK, but I'd prioritise RB first as Onana has only had one season, and that's been in a team playing terribly and plagued by injuries, so I'd like to see how he does behind a settled defence.
03 Jul 2024 12:08:33
Disagree on Onana, Thorne. He made some good saves here and there but continued to drop clangers right up until the final day of the season. Had the cup final gone on for another five-ten minutes, I dare say his mistake would have cost us the trophy and Ten Haag his job.
I think CB, CM, and GK are all important positions for us, but suspect that a deal for a keeper would be a lot easier to get over the line than the other two. There are a lot more goalkeepers who are better than Onana than there are CBs better than Maguire or CMs better than Casemiro.
03 Jul 2024 16:06:49
Yeah, he did continue making obvious mistakes, but he also started making a lot of good saves. He's certainly inconsistent, and I don't trust him not to make the mistakes.
Where I think we really disagree is that I think there are a lot of CBs out there who are a lot better than Maguire, and based on this season, I'd say the same is true of Casemiro. Crucially, I think there are more of them who are likely to be available and obtainable for us.
There are certainly better Keepers out there than Onana, but not as many IMO, and even fewer who would actually be available, and willing to sign for us.
03 Jul 2024 16:37:48
Onana cost us more points than the rest of our players combined last season, not to mention our place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. There aren’t many goalkeepers I wouldn’t take over him.
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree when it comes to which position (s) take (s) priority, but let’s hope that we can sort out as many of them as possible before the season kicks off.
03 Jul 2024 17:14:59
To answer the original poster I would be happy with those 4 signings. Personally I am not overly keen on De Ligt but what do I know? Those 4 though I believe would make us stronger than last year and 4 players every season that improve us would get us back in a few years to where I want us to be which is challenging for titles.