Oh no another transfer post?! Well it is that time of year, hopefully some of you find this interesting...
Personally, I'm really exited about the building of this new Manchester United side. Hopefully I've filtered out a lot of the bullshit but there's still a lot to be optimistic about.
However reliable the source, no transfer is guaranteed until it's officially announced but I tend to stick with Duncan Castles for facts (@duncancastles on Twitter) and I try and avoid certain unreliable news outlets.
Last summer, Castles reported Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Bastian Schweinsteiger had all been deemed "surplus to requirements". It's only my opinion but I believe Blind and Mata have earned their place in the squad and Mourinho probably has other names to add to the transfer list by now.
Ok, so let's get to it:
- Right-back
Though Darmian had a great start I think he's proven to be pretty average, though versatile, he doesn't offer enough going forward. With Valencia the wrong side of 30, as good as he's been, I'd love to see us sign a younger, pacey fullback with more potential to grow with the rest of our young and exciting squad.
Nelson Semedo (YouTube) from SL Benfica makes a LOT of sense! He's lightning fast and great with the ball, he'd need a little work defensively but at 22 I'm sure he's going to be a future star! Bayern are supposedly eyeing him up to replace Lahm, so we'd need to move fast! I'd love United to secure a future transfer for him as part of the Lindelöf deal.
Fabinho (YouTube) is a player I really rate too, though he's playing as a DM this season, there was a lot of talk last summer about us signing him, along with Fonte, but according to Castles we had to offload one or two first, which didn't happen and we seem to have switched targets now.
Arsenal are rumoured to be after another Portuguese fullback, Ricardo Pereira YouTube, who looks to have great potential but Semedo is the better of the two for me.
Darmian +£12M • ~£60k pw
Semedo -£35M • ~£80k pw
- Centre-back
Hopefully 'The next Rio Ferdinand', (YouTube)
Victor Lindelöf looks nailed on to arrive before the end of the month and while he wouldn't be my first choice (Van Dijk) I have absolute faith in Mourinho and he must see something more. Do we need another CB right now? Especially when Rojo and Jones have been performing so well, Bailly will soon return and Smalling should come back into form. Blind can cover and Axel Tuanzebe is dying to get minutes in the first team. Someone will have to go and I think it will be Rojo initially, unless Jones gets another serious injury or Smalling's form fails to improve.
Rojo +£15M • ~£70k pw
Lindelöf -£38M • ~£70k pw
- Defensive/Centre-midfield I know most people on this sub are tired of the 'Carrick replacement' posts and discussions, myself included, especially when he's set to sign a 12 month contract extension. Age ain't nothing but a number!
I've seen absolutely nothing substantial to suggest we're interested in Weigl or Carvalho, I can't imagine Madrid will want to sell Kroos any time soon and as much as I rate TFM, he's not ready. Rather than look to replace like for like I think we will just be looking to compliment the other players we have as part of a different system.
Fellaini was recently spotted in Milan with his agent and twin brother Mansour, make of that what you will but I wouldn't be surprised if he left in the summer, for me he provides a good 'Plan B' but is looking increasingly out of place in this new look, mobile Manchester United squad and I think Timothy Fosu-Mensah will be able to play a similar rotation role, filling in for others next season.
With Schneiderlin 90% certain to move to Everton this month I think Jose will definitely be looking to bring in someone, with Castles confirming United interest in Tiemoué Bakayoko (YouTube) and AS Monaco seemingly willing to cash in THIS month, I think we'd be mad to miss out on Bakayoko, especially if it means a rival getting him (like with Kanté) and he'd definitely give us something different in midfield.
Castles is reporting that were also after Saúl Niguez (YouTube) from Atletico Madrid, this summer along with his mate who plays up front, apparently. One of Saúl's biggest strengths is his versatility, equally adept at playing DM/CM/AM or on the left or right side of midfield.
Fellaini +£15M • ~£80k pw
Schneiderlin +£20M • ~£100k pw
Schweinsteiger £0 • ~£200k pw
Bakayoko -£35M • ~£80k pw
Saúl -£40M • ~£90k pw
- Left Wing With the RW position now sorted, it looks like we lack a little depth on the left. Mourinho is looking to sell Memphis this month and Young really should be leaving too this summer.
Martial is undoubtably first choice, though will probably be more of a CF long term. Rooney has played some of his best football on the left this season, Lingard can cover the position along with Mkhitaryan, but we seem to a lack a long term 'specialist' left winger.
Adam Ounas (YouTube) looked set to join last summer after following the club on Twitter, plus Wayne Rooney, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford on Instagram. Hirving Lozano AKA 'Chucky' (YouTube) is another young talented winger who was heavily linked with a move last summer, a rumour which came from Pachuca, his Mexican club and also his father-in-law. However, with Andreas Pereira and Adnan Januzaj due to return this summer and plenty of young attacking talent in the U18's I wouldn't mind sticking with what we've got if it means we can strengthen in other areas.
Memphis +£20M • ~£90k pw
Young +£3M • ~£120k pw
- Centre-forward/Secondary Striker On to the most exciting name on the list and one of the best players in World Football! Antoine Griezmann. No links needed, everyone knows who he is and what he can do. As mentioned above, The Times and Castles are reporting a "Raid on Atletico" this summer, as long as we qualify the Champions League. With Diego Simeone looking increasing likely to be heading back to Internazionale, I can actually really see this happening!
Unfortunately this would undoubtedly signal the end of Wayne Rooney's magnificent career at Manchester United, with his well deserved goal scoring record intact, I believe it's the perfect time to go. He will have options, MLS would provide a good amount of money and standard of living for his family (with the option of a loan to Everton between seasons), China might not be as appealing but the money would be insane (for both him and the club), or he could follow his heart and return to Everton permanently.
Rooney £15M+ • ~£260k pw
Griezmann £80M • ~£290k pw
Net Spend ~£130M, by streamlining the squad we could be saving over £300k per week or +£15 million per year on wages! That's mainly due to Schweinsteiger, no wonder he doesn't want to leave!
How we could look next year:
4-2-3-1
4-3-3
Let me know if I've missed anyone or anything and I hope you enjoyed reading, let me know what you think!
ここには何もないようです