Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

he is prob the cheapest best option available. no way palace want £35m for mateta.

we need as close to a sure thing as possible - and i think its him. he did have 2 good seasons in the championship so is used to the physical side of things from that. the championship is also the 2nd fastest league in europe.

would be interesting to see where we would turn if we dont get him.

Assist for Cunha (played 79 mins) in 1-0 win for Brazil last night. Casemiro played the 90 mins and set off the attack with a nice ball out to the wing.

I think Mainoo should be great in the 8 position for us.

Ability to resist pressure? Yup.
Ability to carry the ball on the run? Yup.
Ability to pass accurately? Yup.

What he needs to improve imo, is the number of actions, and his defensive intensity.

He doesn't get on the ball enough, doesn't get enough touches in a game.
I think he does have good defensive positioning, but his speed and intensity in tackling/defending is poor.

Would agree. So its either him or Bruno as one of the two. Both cannot play in the middle of the park two. We will get destroyed

Would agree on all except I don't rate Ugarte. Very average on the ball and also poor in the air. We really got our pants pulled down with him as well considering Onana went to the Villa for the same monies

I like Ugarte. He had a poor end to the season, but in general I like him and only really have an issue with him in the air.

I don't think he is as bad on the ball as people make out - and we are focusing on the small amount of errors he has made, which all players make, and making that 'his game'.

He is tidy on the ball, not adventourous at all really, but his cross field switch is very good, under utilised imo. And I do think his conservatism on the ball is a function of what he is being asked to do. When the game has less pressure on it, I think you see him relax and express himself more.

But then I also don't think him being conservative on the ball is an issue itself, really. IMO the issue was highligted by the CBs not being attacking enough (as needed in the system) and the 10's regularly not coming deep and being able to take the ball on the turn.

I do think with Mbeumo (hopefull) and Cunha ahead of him, Amad at RWB and the defenders settling into the role they are supposed to play in the attacking sense the lack of progressive passing from the defensive 6 isn't going to be the major issue people see it as.

I do think we could improve on him and someone with a bit better technique under pressure and more progressive on the ball, without losing the defensive side, would be great. but hard to find and buy that player. His lack of height or physicality in the air is also an issue when you possibly have a bunch of other players who are also poor in the air.

Do you really believe that? His agent tried to get a move for him (Chelsea, Bayern, PSG and reportedly others) in summer 2022 and nobody went ahead with it. If someone seriously wanted him, he would have been gone.

Jeez I don't know if I'm getting old, or a result of how quickly we got Cunha resolved, or if it's just because of the turd season we just came out of. City's high speed activity probably a factor too.

But I'm getting awful impatient lol. I'm grumpy about not having Mbeumo resolved and grumpy about not shifting any of the outgoings.

This damn club world Cup BS doesn't help ease my frustration either.

from a Portuguese outlet. we should just bid for him - having to sell to buy is a myth. organise the deal for 1st july. that then gives you all summer to sort outgoings (and jan 2026) if psr is an issue.

though i do think this will get a few more suitors to the party.

According to Portuguese paper Record, the Swede has been left frustrated by Sporting's desire to now charge around £70m.

They add that Gyokeres has insisted that he will never play for Sporting again, such is his determination to leave this summer.

The former Coventry striker has reportedly told club chiefs that he would even be willing to go on strike in order to get his move.

On what are you basing that on?

If he works out as good as either of them, that's another decent bit of business.

links with psg and juve, unsure who else. i wouldnt discount chelsea either.

i just hope we dont finance another psg deal by buying ramos off them (apparently has been offered around to a few clubs).

I'd argue they got ridden for Ugarte, PSG dragged it out and United paid over the odds