24 May 2026 07:46:11
Hi, all.
Long time no speak/post!
The midfield overhaul looks fairly straightforward, now. Which is so un-United, but I'm not complaining!
Eriksen's replacement - Mateus Fernandes.
Ugarte's replacement - Ederson.
Casemiro's replacement - one of Anderson, Tonali or Tchouameni.
That's the £180m summer budget spent, with the remaining incomings (LB or LW, depending on where Carrick sees Dorgu's future, a backup keeper and a backup striker) coming from the sales of Rashford et al.
If we could somehow add Sam Johnstone, Iliman N'Diaye and Danny Welbeck to the above midfield reinforcements, I'd be absolutely delighted.
Lammens
Johnstone
Dalot
Mazraoui
Maguire
De Ligt
Yoro
Martinez
Heaven
Shaw
Dorgu
Anderson/Tonali/Tchouameni
Ederson
Fernandes
Mainoo
Fernandes
Mount
Mbeumo
Amad
Cunha
N'Diaye
Sesko
Welbeck
Would be a really strong squad to greet Champions League football again at Old Trafford.
24 May 2026 10:49:20
Well Downsie, hope all is well.
I'd lump Mainoo in with Ederson and Tonali, and say it's 2 from 3 there.
Ban Bruno and Mount.
Fernandes, from West Ham, if we get him, could cover both midfield and 10.
He has been relegated the last 2 seasons, assuming West Ham go down, so let's hope his luck changes. ?
24 May 2026 11:41:04
Anderson's destination is key this summer. If he goes to City, I think they finish above us, even with a new manager. If our ambition is what Man Utd ambition is supposed to be, then we should be aiming to win the league. Less was not good enough as an aim for every other manager, and that needs the best-in-class CM. If he chooses City, ok, but if it's because we are not willing to pay, that tells us everything about our continuing issues and attitude. Looks like we actually may buy some midfield players at last. I suspect that Mainoo may struggle to get in at times, but that's a good sign.
I see the OP went for Welbeck. I think a goal scorer is vital, and should be second purchase after the key CM. We cannot go with just Sesko and an old Welbeck, it has to be someone lively, that Andy Cole moment. When I saw him last weekend, Junior Kroupi looks that player.
So, start with Anderson and Kroupi, and add from there.
I know the usual "we can't" posts will come, but at some point this lot in charge need to show they mean business. Last summer was good, but this must be decisive.
24 May 2026 11:58:58
By all reports Anderson has chosen City and agreed terms with them. So that's not a runner. It's a bit disappointing, but if that's what he wants to do, we can't kidnap him.
Lots of other options.
As for the striker, I agree we need to get someone who can start.
I'm sure they will buy well.
24 May 2026 13:18:06
Downsie, that would be a pretty good summer. I don't see Welbeck leaving Brighton to play a bit part role with us. If he wanted that, then he probably wouldn't have extended his contract a few months ago.
Also, while I'm a big fan of N'Diaye personally, I'd feel more comfortable signing a top class LB over a LW. Someone like Truffert, who is EPL-proven, and would scale up well from a club like Bournemouth to a club like ours.
The issue I have is I don't think Shaw will be available much next season, and Dorgu looks more comfortable further forward. Plus, it's better to have a player in their peak years like Cunha competing with someone younger like Dorgu for a position (like we have Mbeumo and Amad on the right) than it is to have two players who are the same age and would both expect to be first choice.
Also, we have two very young CBs in Heaven and Yoro, as well as a less experienced GK in Lammens. Given the injury records of MdL and Martinez, we could very easily end up in a situation with Lammens, Yoro, Heaven and Dorgu making up 4 of our back 5 next season in big games in the league or in Europe.
Having someone with a little more experience, and who is more settled as a LB such as Truffert, would mean we are a little more defensively solid in that situation.
Having Shaw and Truffert fighting it out at LB, with Dorgu who could fill in there in a pinch, looks far more solid.
While Cunha and Dorgu fighting it out for the LW looks more balanced.
Also, as a little brucey bonus, LBs are both easier to find a good one and typically cheaper than top quality wingers. Which will enable us to spend heavier in other key positions like midfield.
Signing someone like Illman N'Diaye or Bradley Barcola would cost 60-80m, while a top class LB probably wouldn't cost much more than 35-40m at most. That could be the difference between getting our first choice midfielder or having to sign a cheaper second or third choice option.
24 May 2026 14:31:38
Not so sure on those fees for a decent fullback, Shappy. A player of the level we should be looking for at fb would cost between £50 & £60 million, imo. I couldn't see Lewis Hall going for less than £50M. Didn't we sell the Spanish boy to Madrid for £50M?
24 May 2026 14:40:51
TW
On Anderson, in that case, I want to know if he made the decision, or we refused to pay fee or wages, and let City have clear run. I don't trust Ratcliffe or Glazers & think they would go for cheaper options based on money, not ability.
Stories abounded that Amorim met Semenyo, wanted him, but the owners didn't believe he was worth the money asked, so let him go to City.
24 May 2026 15:07:15
Ports, we didn't sell the Spanish boy to Madrid for 50m. He went for about 45m, but from Portugal.
24 May 2026 15:11:22
You want to know...!!!
Well, I'm sure they will phone up just to tell you...
24 May 2026 15:27:02
Most important, that we sign a top midfielder who can be a leader, and boss the most important part of the pitch. Casemiro going is huge for this team. Our focus has to be to replace/improve on his position and also to sign another top midfielder to fill out an empty squad.
All other squad positions we have solutions for, but not midfield.
Of course, we could use another striker who scores goals. Upgrade fullbacks, wingers, CBs etc... but we simply don't have a midfield right now, and Ugarte, if he stays, can only be 4th choice given how weak he has been.