16 Dec 2025 20:15:11
Evening Ed,

How likely is a move for Semenyo in January? There is not usually much movement in January but it does seem like it's an opportunity that would be attractive to a few teams if it is true that there will be a fixed fee in place.

How he would fit in would be another discussion.

{Ed001's Note - I don't know of any likely attempt by United in January. I would think there are other priorities.}

1.) 16 Dec 2025
16 Dec 2025 20:53:41
What are those priorities and targets, please.

{Ed001's Note - central midfield, wing-back and centre-back.}

2.) 17 Dec 2025
16 Dec 2025 22:16:39
Ed001 Semenyo I'd assume would be targeted for wing back. Amorim has mentioned wanting an attacking left sided wing back several times.

3.) 17 Dec 2025
17 Dec 2025 08:40:16
Can you please provide likely targets by name?

{Ed001's Note - Midfield: Gomes, Barrios, Anderson, Sadiki, Smit. Interest seems to have cooled in Baleba, no doubt down to his poor season.

Wing-back: I don't have any names but I know that Dorgu is seen as a disappointment and a replacement is being sought.

Centre-back: Murillo, Bastoni, Guehi, Diomande, still interest in Branthwaite though his injury history is likely to put paid to any move materialising, Scalvini, Lacroix and Silva.

I am sure there are probably more of interest, they are just who I know of that you have been watching.}

4.) 17 Dec 2025
17 Dec 2025 10:26:12
Thank you for the names Ed001, very much appreciated!

Have often been on the Liverpool site and enviously seen the ITK regular updates there.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. There is a fair bit of crossover luckily, so often players LFC watch are also being tracked by United. So I can sometimes get bits from people who are talking about Liverpool interest, because they will say what other teams they know of are keen.}

5.) 17 Dec 2025
17 Dec 2025 13:45:13
Seems like with the interest in centre backs means Martinez and Shaw aren't seen as long terms solutions at the club with the amount of left sided players in the list.
I'd love to see Anderson in the midfield along side kobbie and Bruno if we got to 433.

6.) 17 Dec 2025
17 Dec 2025 19:39:33
Appreciated, thanks. Keep it up, . please.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}

7.) 18 Dec 2025
18 Dec 2025 15:54:57
I do know how likely a move for Semenyo would be in January for us, but I think he'd be a phenomenal signing if we could get him.

We lack real pace in behind when Mbeumo isn't playing, which is something Semenyo would bring.

He is also capable of playing right across the front line and more importantly I think he'd really suit playing in the wingback roles as Amorim ideally likes them to play. Effectively as wingers high and wide, but with a good work rate to help out defensively but they aren't supposed to be defenders.

If you look at the options we currently have in Amad, Dalot, Mazraoui, and Dorgu. The only one who has consistently performed well under Amorim is Amad, who is the only one who isn't naturally a defender. That's not a coincidence, it's due to the role they are supposed to play in this system. It naturally suits a more offensive player.

Amad on the right and Semenyo on the left, with Cunha, Sesko and Mbeumo in-between them would be utterly frightening. Although to balance that out we would need to have two proper defensive midfielders in the pivot. No Bruno Fernandes with that front line, but then would you need him with that front line? Probably not.

8.) 18 Dec 2025
18 Dec 2025 19:35:20
Is playing on the left to Semenyo's strengths?

I think he is a quality player, but his best football comes from playing on the right. I really don't want to see players being bought and played out of position, or to accomodate other players.

{Ed001's Note - he can play all over the front line, he has played equally up front and on left and right.}

9.) 19 Dec 2025
19 Dec 2025 07:25:58
I think he has scored more from the left than the right agree with ed he is equally effective from either side and gets played from both.
I think he is so good that he could probably play in goal and be effective.

10.) 19 Dec 2025
19 Dec 2025 08:52:53
Cheers ED001.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}

11.) 19 Dec 2025
19 Dec 2025 12:59:43
ED001,

Do. ypu think Semenyo is best suited to a 343 or 433?

{Ed001's Note - I think he can play either equally well - so long as he is at the top end. Playing wing-back would require him to learn a new role altogether and there is no telling how he would get on until he is tried in it.}

12.) 19 Dec 2025
19 Dec 2025 13:17:36
Thanks ED001.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome MH.}

13.) 19 Dec 2025
19 Dec 2025 20:57:35
Hi Ed,
I noticed Wharton is not listed above, has interest cooled or was it never there?

{Ed001's Note - from what I understand he is off the table in January, I would expect him back on the list for the summer.}

14.) 21 Dec 2025
21 Dec 2025 03:40:14
Cheers Ed.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}

15.) 21 Dec 2025
21 Dec 2025 12:23:44
Ed, if you don't mind. Who do you think we should be looking at? I know that’s not an easy one to answer, but I’d be interested in what type of player/players you think we really need?

{Ed001's Note - your biggest priority, imo, is central midfield. Especially as you are often outnumbered in there due to the tactical shape you employ. So I would go for a Bruno Guimaraes type. I don't think he is going to leave Newcastle, but you need someone like him with drive and desire. Elliott Anderson seems the next best option. I do like Ederson of Atalanta too and Santos of Chelsea I think would grow into an excellent player given a run of games, rather than dicked about like he has been there. I still think Gomes or Andre would step up a level if rescued from Wolves and would both be excellent options. A player like Gallagher could be a useful option - if cheap - as a rotation option. His energy could help make up for the lack of numbers in there, but it would depend on who is next to him. You could get away with a Bruno Fernandes better with Gallagher there, as he wouldn't need to be creative and would do a lot of the legwork to allow the Portugese to play more. The two that have particularly impressed me this season are Miley and Sadiki, though Miley has been playing right-back lately, he has still been a standout for the Toon. Sadiki just always impresses me.

Wing-back is a difficult one, really depends how attacking Amorim wants to go. It is a left sided one you need imo, as Dorgu is dreadful. The problem is that there are so few left-sided options, which is why Citeh ended up with the entirely average Ait-Nouri. Maatsen would be good if he could be prized away from Villa. Lewis-Skelly would be good too - might be worth an ask as he is not getting much game time this season.

Centre-back, the obvious are ones like Schlotterbeck, Murillo and Bastoni. Esteve of Burnley has been impressive this season, I have to say. He might be worth a look at.}

16.) 22 Dec 2025
22 Dec 2025 11:53:47
Thanks Ed, appreciate that.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}