03 Aug 2026 15:12:52
A lot of people complaining about the speed in which we are reinforcing the squad, so what does our squad depth look like:
GK: Lammens, Heaton, Darlow, Bayindir, Vitek.
RB: Dalot, Mazraoui, Yoro, Kamason.
CB: MdL, Martinez, Yoro, Heaven, Maguire, Shaw, Mazraoui.
LB: Shaw, Dorgu, Amass, Leon.
CM: Mainoo, Tielemans, Santos, Mount, Ugarte, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Thwaites.
RW: Mbeumo, Amad, Lacey.
CAM: Bruno, Cunha, Amad, Lacey, Zirkzee.
LW: Rashford, Cunha, Dorgu.
CF: Sesko, Zirkzee, Cunha, Mbeumo, Rashford, Obi.
Now we often say squad depth I mm is about having two good options for every position.
When all our players are fit we have that. The issues we have are based around availability, and the quality/suitability of the depth.
There are question marks over the fitness of Shaw, MdL, Martinez, Ugarte, and Mount.
While we still don't know whether Dorgu is a winger or a full back, and we need to resolve the Rashford situation.
That makes it clear that LB is the highest priority next this summer, as it means we are covered in case of Shaw getting injured as well as allowing Dorgu to play more as a winger if Rashford was to leave.
Without anyone leaving next priority position is probably midfield again, due to Mount's injury record and Ugarte's situation.
Beyond that it will be what happens with Rashford. If he stays then we don't need to sign either a LW or a ST, even if Zirkzee leaves. However, if Rashford does leave along with Zirkzee then we will need another ST.
CB is the position I don't think we will sign anyone for this summer. Maybe that bites us in the arse, but ultimately we can't do everything this summer.
The problem with CB is that really before we sign another one we need to offload one of MdL or Martinez. Otherwise we will just be blocking the pathway for Yoro and Heaven (who both need to play to develop and improve).
In an ideal world both stay fairly fit next season and next summer while both Yoro and Heaven make good steps forward in their development. Meaning we can let Maguire leave next summer and sign a replacement, maybe two if one of MdL or Martinez leaves.
That's more or less what I expect to see happen before the window closes.
A LB and another midfielder signed. Then depending on whether Rashford and Zirkzee leave we might get another ST in.
03 Aug 2026 18:26:14
We don't need any LB or another midfielder, or depend on anything to buy another striker.
We need a top quality LB, a top quality CM, and a good second striker, perhaps experienced, who can support Sesko and play 20 games. Score goals.
We don't need to fill up an average squad with average players; yes, squad depth is important, but it's more than just having two players for each position, it's about standards of the first team.
We need to buy quality that goes into the first team and drives up standards. That will create more squad depth.
03 Aug 2026 18:40:48
Red Man, I get that. But we live in a world where a top LB will cost 60-70m, where top midfielders are going for 100m, and where decent strikers cost 50m.
Do you really think we've got another 220m to spend?
So, the question is what position can we sign top quality in, and then, if we can, improve the other positions with whatever cash we have left.
Maybe we can get Lewis Hall in for 65m. But add that to the 90m we have already spent and suddenly we are up to 155m spent, with maybe another 45-60m left at most (which would still take our spending to around 200m).
Can we get a top class midfielder AND a striker for under 60m in total? Probably not without spending on gambles or well scouted, lesser known players. You know the ones you were b1tching about being "budget" options.
Is it better to spend all our money even if a big chunk of that is potentially poorly spent on gambles, or, if we can't afford to buy all of the players we want/need, is it better to keep the money to spend in January or next summer on the right targets?
03 Aug 2026 20:02:43
They need to spend the money this summer. Putting it off again will just mean the team falling further behind.
Not spending it this summer could potentially lead to a really poor first half and calls for Carrick to go. The team managed to get through the last half of the season with only 1 game a week. There will be more this season, and the team can't afford to drop off a cliff as soon as one or two players are missing.
Mbuemo is not a striker. The team needs somebody up there when Sesko can't play, which, sadly, seems to be quite often.
And Shaw is highly likely to get injured again, and even when fit, he can't go up and down the pitch all game to offer the team any width.
With Cunha on the left, there is no width, as he drifts inside. The full back needs to offer that.
And I agree with many, the team need another body in the midfield. The squad isn't really any better off in terms of numbers this season. Cas and Ugarte are out, and two in to replace them.
There are a lot of names on the squad list above. But, if we are honest, not many would get into the teams fighting for the title or Champions League.
03 Aug 2026 20:21:07
Shappy,
£90m spent? What's the net spend? I read £37m. We still need to shift others.
It seems people tell us not to talk money until it suits them to argue we can't spend to buy what we need. The Glazers must be rubbing their hands.
Champions League football. No more money excuses this summer.