yep. and i am fine with that. it's just whether this approach is even on anyone's radar in the club and whether they have the patience to see it through over a few windows
I don't understand this Sancho hype, to be honest i don't think he can do better than James. He is not a bad player but he is overrated. If i could choose two players i'd go for Haaland and Maddison.
Interesting, a fall out with the manager may open the door a crack. Jadon Sancho came in for some blunt criticism from his manager after Dortmund's heavy defeat to Bayern...He was taken off after 36 minutes 😬 pic.twitter.com/GMuy75eyo9— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 10, 2019
Another Haaland hat-trick 🎩👀The 19-year-old’s competitive record for RB Salzburg this season: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️❌⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️❌⚽️❌⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️❌⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Ji5DpVsiSb— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) November 10, 2019 Him and Fernandes are probably out of reach in January and those would likely be a couple of summer moves. Not entirely positive as to what Haaland's valuation is like but I imagine that £120-130mil should land us both players. Not bad value, especially considering the price of Prem proven English players. By contrast, going for 2 English players like Maddison and Rice, to take those 2 as an example, would probably set us back anywhere between 150 to upwards of 180mil. That's just madness from my point of view. And with the way the board looks to spend, an English/UK player only policy simply does not make much sense.
Considering all the needs we currently have, a starting 9 is looking like a luxury at this time. But I would still rather focus on a couple of CMs, especially if Pogs goes and play mainly 4-3-3 so we don't need to focus on a 10. For instance would rather get someone like van de Beek, Fernandes or Havertz if it were possible, guys who can play at the 10 if our setup demands it, but players who can also play in different roles in midfield also. Would prefer that type of player over a specialist 10. That player and a rock solid 6 would be a good place to start. Add in a RW/RWF, which is needed as well, on top of a CF for depth and that still leaves a pretty hefty shopping list. Very unlikely that all of our needs will be addressed for the start of next season unfortunately. Unless the board pulls their finger out and authorizes big time next summer...
Haaland doesnt make sense. All it would do is destabilize Martial. Every cent we have for new players should be spent on the midfield, RW, and a backup depth 9. This is why I was for signing someone like Llorente so be dont have to shuffle our entire front 3 whenever Martial gets injured, which seems to always happen once he gets rolling.
Assuming current system, I see Martial as our #9 with Mason as depth #9. Rash and James as LWF. So for me we need a starter quality RWF either a leftie or a Sancho type who is properly used to playing that side. We have needed a proper RWF for many years and keeping getting LWFs. Alternatively in different system, Haaland is very interesting, ok he is a #9 but he is a leftie #9 like Mason. If we were to properly change system and have a two striker system there would be good balance there with either Martial/Rash slightly left and Haaland/Mason slightly right. Or 3-4-3 where 3 play narrow owing to wing-backs etc.
James at RW is fine..we need some one to stretch and ping decent crosses although wouldnt mind left footed RW in summer.
We've been linked to a lot of Championship players in the run up to this window. Leeds' Kalvin Phillips (DM) and Ben White (CB on loan from Brighton) have been linked before, and now Matheus Pereira (RW on loan from Sporting). I don't watch the Championship but Ben White is putting up some great numbers...
The interest in Haaland from the club appears to be very real. It was reported last week that Ole has sent one of his most trusted scouts, Simon Wells, to look at him (per The Athletic). Those reports look to have been corroborated by David Orstein, with claims that his father, Alf Haaland, has recently been spotted at Carrington. It is being rumored that Raiola is looking after his interest now and that could be the major hair in the soup, knowing how he won't hesitate to use United in hopes the best deal he can for his client. I agree that a CF may not the top priority for us right now, but like de Ligt this past summer, Haaland is looking like monster/generational talent at the tender age of 19. Not sure about our chances of actually getting him. But at the same time, United could be seen as the right next step in his career (as opposed to joining one of the current powerhouses). And if he were some how open to join United, it probably would be foolish to pass up on the opportunity.
The kid wakes up with CL anthem and sleeps with hatrick balls ... our chances hinges on CL and even then he has more reasons to snub us.
Really hope we are keeping tabs on Thomas Partey. We need to splash the cash on a midfielder of his quality. If we got him, it would make up for missing out on Fabinho and Ndombele.
Another big plus for Partey over other prospective DMs is that he'd still be relatively cheap. His release clause is still at 40-45mil Euros, thus still leaving money left towards players in other positions of need. The issue now would be to convince him to leave Atleti to join us. Still my #1 target for the position though, ahead of Ndidi (who would probably would cost close to twice as much). He managed to take his game to the next level this season, with Rodri having left. Absolutely superb and dominant at the base of midfield this term.
Partey is tremendous. I think he's better than Fabinho. He's a complete midfielder. He's very good at progressing the ball, retaining possession and beating the press. And as far as spatial awareness goes, he's like Carrick, but with more athletic(o) ability.
United believe they're still frontrunners to sign Sancho next summer. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...nited-believe-leading-race-sign-jadon-sancho/ One can only hope: the kid could have a very transformative effect on the team. The thought of him combining with Martial and Rashford (with James as a first offensive alternative off the bench) is legitimately mouth watering.
He’s better than anyone we have here, except for maybe Pogba who most likely won’t be here next season.
More talk coming out in how the relationship between Dortmund and Sancho is deteriorating quicker by the day. Not only he was already upset at being scapegoated allegedly for Dortmund's recent loss to Bayern, he's said to be even more upset that Favre didn't start him yesterday. His comments about going with guys who are focused appeared to be a jab at Sancho also. In any regard, there are rumors suggesting that Dortmund might be willing to move him as soon as January. Would be surprised if it were to happen personally but if things are as bad as they are said to be and Favre is still there, there just might be something to it.
The only incentive we can offer sancho is £££££. CL ❎ , Domestic title ❎, Competitive team ❎, Manager ❎.
Our biggest draw for him apart from £ is that at Liverpool for example he competes with Mane and Salah for a WF slot. With us he has a free run at RWF (Mata , AP and Lingard are no competition) and a free run at #10 (again Mata, AP and Lingard are no competition). Agree that in terms of ambition we see nothing from owners to suggest we are going to compete at the top again any time soon.