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

Same can't say I've seen much of him but surely there's 2 £50m CMs out there or 60/40 70/30 etc

It's quite concerning the lack of academy players in our squad and likely to have zero in the first XI. This season is possibly going to put an end to our record of having academy players in matchday squads, unless it really is a token gesture (not based on merit)

Inácio is probably the obvious pick for LCB or just the lazy pick given his links to Amorim and Sporting. Don't know who else there is out there. Maybe Vivill goes back to Leipzig for one of their young French CBs who are left footed.

Inácio though can be got for around £52M if his release clause is met but he's into the final year of his contract next summer so maybe Sporting accepts less unless multiple clubs get involved.

Licha and Shaw are both in contract until 2027 at least. If you could move Shaw on even letting him walk on a free if someone covers his wages but would imagine only Saudi clubs would do that. Licha for his mentality you'd like to keep around the squad. Could mean whoever replaces Maguire might be another young prospect rather than experienced squad player if neither of them are moved on.

Yoro and Maz should be enough cover for the RCB side. Maybe they get that young Norwegian in who plays RB/CB but supposedly has the skill set to play as a DM.

Firmino was a quality player though. His workrate at winning the ball back by pressing high was excellent. Zirkzee improved after that Newcastle game and was having a good game when he got injured. Pity his injury has made him miss pre season.

Mainoo will likely pick up an injury somewhere. Fredricson really ought to be going on loan to the championship for his development. Heaton might be number two but I think if Bayindr goes we'll be looking for someone.

I think the fee seems on the steep side as you’re into the Rice price range who had multiple years of proof at that point. Caceido is obviously a class player and I guess he had only the one full season with Brighton.

Splitting the fee is potentially ending up with two hopefully good players but won’t necessarily be as significant enough an upgrade to help challenge for a title in a few years.

Sure don’t we know that 40-50m midfielders don’t guarantee quality performances. Agree it’s a big risk putting the money into one player but maybe it is the right move if he’s been scouted correctly.

Bruno's assists were mostly from the 10 position though, he's talking about replacing him as an 8, which should theoretically be perfect for Mainoo

That new Carrington complex looks really great. I don't see much cost-cutting there.

There's been plenty of teething issues with Ineos over the last 15 months or so. But the reasons to be protesting against them are lessening by the day

There is very little reason to protest about anyone that puts their money where their mouth is. Everyone makes mistakes and the eth mistake was one of them that alot of us backed. They didn't shy away from fixing it when it became obvious.

Carrington redevelopment is paid by sjr putting the extra money into the club,

The job cuts were fully needed we took on hundreds of staff in last five years that were not needed. No business operates like that. Plus alot of them were not bottom rung employee and most I'd say got paid off fairly well. It happens every day of the week in alot of companies.

Ticket prices and how they restructure the seating could be handled better but you can't keep everyone happy.

I think Chido will count for ht erecord too (wrongly, really). He played in the U18 and FA Youth Cup for us, which i think are the bits of info used to qualify someone

€80+million feels risky for Sesko. Yes of course we need to improve at the top end of the pitch.

But his numbers are not hugely impressive. Only 13 goals in the Bundesliga last season? Something similar the season before. And we've seen much hyped players from this league come to the PL before and very much underwhelm.

Nkunku and Werner are two that spring to mind, and both were more prolific in Germany than Sesko. Proven PL quality was the way to go imo. Mateta and Watkins are two I would have much preferred.

Just on Rasmus, I wouldn't be moving him out yet. There is a lot of potential there, and Sesko needs competition. Virtually no player could have arrived and lit the place up at 20yrs of age as some people were expecting of Hojlund. And we've been a totally dysfunctional outfit for the last 18 months or more. He will get better for having these new forward additions around him

Get Sancho, Garnacho and Antony out the door - we can still recoup plenty of $$$ there. And lets keep some healthy competition in our forward line.

Fair enough. I too feel like there’s a risk to it but with the market the way it is, I don’t know what better options there could have been. At least there’s a balance between between premier league proven and riskier ones.

One thing I would say is it’s hard to know what someone is capable of purely off the stats. For example, Sesko has better stats on a per game basis in the bundesliga than Isak had in La Liga when Newcastle spent £60m on him. Hopefully the years of tracking/scouting him pays off.

Part of the problem though is when Bruno has been taken out of the front 3 and played at CM, we've been toothless. The attack is so poor without him! He feels a need to be everywhere and to try and provide us with creativity. I'd like to see him at CM with Cuhna, Mbuemo and Sesko in front, I reckon he could be a lot more disciplined if he doesn't have to worry about us being so poor in attack.