Manchester United Rumours Archive March 03 2013

03 Mar 2013 00:32:04
Hey ed002, how are things?if you get time to answer what positions or how many players do you see united moving for in the summer?coild it be a cb, cm and an am/winger (versatile attacker)?ive noticed we are mainly linked with cb's, cm's and versatile attackers like Rodriguez, lamela, etc, thanks {Ed002's Note - I suspect you are correct in your assumptions. There is clearly interest in a CB, a midfield player such as Strootman and, as we know, Rodriguez.}

Zaha belhanda wanyama and quintero are more realistic I feel
the lamela rodriquez verratti rumours I take with a pinch of salt

I don't see belhanda or quintero happening

The editor has said above who we are interested in but things do change, I suspect Lewandowski is on the "shortlist" too. The fact we are in for a CB and looking at GK's must mean that it is a possibility that DDG or Lindegaard could be on their way out and Rio or Vidic. Or Jones may move permanently to midfield? It's never easy to know what SAF is thinking.

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - There remains interest in Lewandowski as you say.}

I think Zaha, Ogbanna, Wanyama and Eriksen would be perfect. That's about 55m -65m outlay, so I would expect one or two to leave. Nani, though I would rather Young or even Valencia went. Plus as Nani will be in the last year of his contract in the summer, we would only get 12 -15m on him. Young or Valencia would go for 15m - 20m. I also think that Anderson just isn't up to it, fitness wise and is sporadic on the pitch. So I think 8m -10m for him should be taken. Of course if he could remain fit he's be worth 15m or so. That would be a 40m -45m outlay. Lindergaard may also be on his way, depending on on whether he is prepared to sit on the bench or not. Of course if one is to believe the Sun saying "CR7 would accept a Rooney type contract", our whole summers outlay may go on him. Should be an interesting summer whichever way our transfers go.
Mik {Ed004's Note - I reckon we will see a massive outlay this summer. There is a chance a cb, lb, cm, rm and St will be signed. I reckon we will see a young cb signed like Zouma or Marquinhos, a left back such as Baines, Strootman looks very likely, as does Rodriguez and Lewandowksi so I could see one of rio/Vidic leaving, Evra, Anderson, fletcher, and scholes along with Nani and one of welbeck/Hernandez leaving. Although if so many went from midfield I would hope another midfielder is signed}

I too think that there will be a very big outlay. There are two options in my opinion:

Option 1 (Too large an overhaul):

- Baines, Zouma, Strootman, Rodriguez, Zaha & Lewandowski.

To take all of those new players then we would need to see the back of Evra, Vidic, Scholes, Fletcher, Nani & Hernandez.

Options 2 (Quite plausible):

- Strootman, Rodriguez, Zaha & Lewandowski.

Leaving would be Scholes, Nani, Hernandez.

Option 3 (Ideally what will happen):

- Baines, Strootman, Zaha, Ronaldo.

To balance the books we would need to see Evra, Scholes, Nani and perhaps Valencia leave. {Ed004's Note - I'd prefer option one or three but two is much more likely. I really hope a left back is signed}

I very much doubt that we will sign a left back - as much as I would love us too.

Fabio, Buttner and Evra will battle it out with probably 2 of the 3 leaving at the end of the year. I would think though by that time Baines will have moved to a bigger club so we will have to look elsewhere for a new left back. {Ed004's Note - I agree unfortunately}

We have Zaha coming in, we never sign more than four players for the first team in one window as it can upset the balance of the squad to have too many changes in one go. Zaha is too good to be signed to play in the youth team, he will be in and around the first team squad so I think that only leaves three more players to come in.

Now we apparently are looking at defenders so maybe Jones is to play more in midfield or maybe one of Rio or Vidic is leaving. So it looks like a defender will come in. With Evra's improved form and Buttner and Fabio on the books I don't see us signing a LB. Sir Alex likes players who are versitle so maybe the player he signs will be able to cover more than one position maybe they could play at full back or in midfield too.

The two best options I think are out there atm are Angelo Ogbonna or Eliaquim Mangala.

Then there is the obvious midfield place that needs looking at. We need a good all round box to box type player, Jones can play DM when we need one, Cleverley and Carrick are your passers we need someone who can drive the ball forward from the centre. The obvious best options are Kevin Strootman, Axel Witsel or Lars Bender. With Strootman looking most likely.

Then we need to look at what we are likely to lose from the squad, Nani is likely to be moved on in the summer. He brings us that potential world class ability to do something to change a game at any moment. So the last position imo that we need to fill is an attacking player who can create something out of nothing, they need to be either world class or the potential to be. It would be better if they were left footed too as we have a lack of lefties in our squad, so a lefty would add abit more balance.

Obvious targets would be Bale or Ronaldo but both are unlikely if were honest with ourselves. The next best options imo are: Mesut Ozil, James Rodriguez and Erik Lamela.

We don't often sign players from Italy so maybe we could say that Ogbonna and Lamela are unlikely.

So maybe a summer like this is most likely:
Mangala, Strootman and either Ozil or Rodriguez along with Zaha. {Ed004's Note - Surely signing Zouma and Zaha wouldn't really affect the first team much for next season meaning there is still a chance of 3 or 4 experienced players signed. I think Strootman, Rodriguez and Lewamdowksi all look very likely and will add a lot to the first team I would still love Baines or izaguirre}

Ed, I don't see us signing another LB although I would be happier if we did. If we signed someone like Mangala then he can cover LB if needed but I think that's the best we could hope for.

I think both Zaha and Zouma would expect to be in and around the first team. Even if Zouma was to join he is very young, I think we need a more experianced CB as we have Jones and Smalling along with Blackett and M. Keane as young CB's we seem very well covered in that position.

I see Rio leaving with someone else coming in to compete with Vidic Smalling and Evans with Jones covering if needed but playing more often in midfield with him dropping back into defence more in a couple of years time when Vidic leaves.

I really think it will be Zaha and three others at most in the summer. hopefully though by only signing a few players we should be able to go for the higher class players. Our squad is probably as strong as it ever has been but we lack alittle more class in the first team. So we don't need a huge number of players but a higher class of player. {Ed004's Note - I reckon there is enough experience with Evans and Vidic along with Jones and Smalling so signing Zouma would be a good move IMO. He also wouldn't take up a spot in the 25 man squad. I know Zaha and Zouma will want to play but they would still get plenty of game time. I reckon wing options will be Rodriguez and Kagawa for when we are playing teams who sit deep and Young and Valencia for away games and in the counter. Zaha can cover for both those formations and can play left or right while all are Cb's get frequent game time}

In terms of Zouma, if he comes in then in summer then someone will most likely leave. OR our hand has been forced. I personally think Zouma could have the same impact that Varane has had at Madrid, so he would impact the first team.

Do you not think that it could well be either or when it comes to Lewandowski and an AM? If Rooney doesn't leave then I would of thought that we would need to get RVP, Lewandowski, Rooney and Kagawa all on the pitch most of the time. So having Rodriguez would over complicate things when we would still have Zaha, Young, Valencia and the ever so small chance of Nani.

Zouma, Strootman, Lewandowski, Zaha is pretty plausible - Zaha could be given that chance to shine. However, is Rodriguez too good to turn down if he becomes available or angles for a move? {Ed004's Note - I just think Rodriguez is a certainty as our wingers have been very poor this year but Lewandowski is a bargain for the reported 12 million}

Could we fit both in though? Unless we get rid of Young, Nani & Hernandez? For the wide spots we would have (as it stands plus signings):

Rodriguez, Valencia, Nani, Young, Zaha, Kagawa, Welbeck, Giggs.

Thats 8 players that need to / would play out there. I think 3 in and 3 out would make sense. So Rodriguez and Zaha to replace Nani & Young (I'd prefer to keep Nani over Valencia though)! And Lewandowsk to replace Hernandez. {Ed004's Note - I think Welbeck leaving is more likely. Giggs won't play as much, kagawa, will play more centrally and welbeck will leave. So we would have. Young, Valencia, Kagawa, Rodriguez and Zaha will be the options IMO.}

I'm foreseeing a lesser overhaul, along the lines of what Shappy says.

My guess would be Strootman for midfield, Rodriquez for the wing, Zaha as another wing option and finally a mystery signing - quite possibly a young CB. I honestly feel that if we improve both CM and the wings we'll have a very strong team/squad for next season. I don't see the need for major changes and think it could actually send us a step backwards as so many players would need time to gel.

I also believe Zaha will play a part next season, he'll need the chance to develop. I would think he'll get at least 15-20 appearances if fit.

How will Kagawa play more centrally? Rooney takes up that space? And I don't think that we would let the future England number 9 leave. We are building a young, and fairly 'English' squad - letting Welbeck go would be a strange move. Welbeck still gets much more game time than Hernandez who has become a bit part player. Henriquez is rather a lot like Hernandez anyway so we would still have that kind of player in the squad.

We should do whatever it takes to get Shaw. Ed do you think we have a chance or is he likely to go to Chelsea?

Dan {Ed004's Note - I can't see him being signed tbh unfortunately. He will be phenomenal}

Why does everyone dislike evra? Is it his age or do you question his ability?
I'd love to see ogbonna, strootman, lamela/ozil and lewandowski {Ed004's Note - It's his work rate that worries people and he is a massive liability at times defensively}

It's the fact that he will bust a gut to get forward but then ambles back when we get caught on the counter and someone else has to run back and do the defensive work Evra himself should be doing. The first job a defender should be doing is defending then the second is helping out with the attack, his attitude is more like a wingers attitude to be honest. It's this apparent laziness that people have an issue with. Were tired of seeing him walk back while Welbeck/Young/Rooney ect does his job.

Do you see Shaw going to Chelsea then Ed? Or perhaps staying on at Southampton?

Dan {Ed004's Note - I reckon he will stay one more season at Southampton if they stay up}

I've just changed my mind about signing him actually. Saw an article where he said he is a Chelsea fan and believes Lampard is better than Scholes, laughable. Obviously not too bright, let's go for Digne.

Dan

Evra is back to his best this season. Absolutely no reason to go for another left-back. The reason why he is so offensive most of the time is that we mostly use an inverted winger or playmaker on the left with Young or Kagawa which means that Evra has to provide a lot of width.

And to be honest Baines wouldn't be any better defensively for us than Evra. Keep Evra and use Fabio as a back up. Really no need to waste cash in that position.

A central midfielder (Strootman), an attacking midfielder who can play all positions behind the striker (Rodriguez), and a 1 or 2 young talents should be enough in the summer. I also see no need for a striker.

Hasn't zouma signed a new contract with st etienne though?are united still interested him?i do think its going to be a very busy summer at united.
I think with doubts over fletcher, Anderson under performing and not stepping up and scholes retiring I can see strootman/Wanyama arriving with strootman seemingly more like but I would like Wanyama. I also think Rodriguez seems very likely as he has been scouted quite amount of times. wouldn't be surprised if Quintero were to happen aswell. I can see lewandowski going to bayern though so overall I think garay/mangala/ogbonna/zouma+strootman/Wanyama+ a versatile attacker maybe Rodriguez. a left back is a possibility too

People thinking we going to get 4 first teamers are dreaming. When Fabio comes back, defensively we are sorted. No idea why people think we will be getting any CBs. We have Rio, Vidic, Smalling, Evans, and Phil Jones. let's be serious here, why would we waste money on a CB. Zaha along with another winger (Rodriguez, Isco, or whoever) will come in along with a CM like Strootman. Nani will leave. Business done.

Phoenix Smith

No name, Evra has been good going forward this season but he is by no means back to his best.

TK-Red

Strootman, Ronaldo, Lewandowski in.

Hernandez, Nani out.

I cannot see Rodriguez happening chaps because of the money being quoted for a player with no Premier league experience. I like him as a player but with Zahas arrival I think Ronaldo is more likely.

PJ

I'd love to see Ronnie on the left obviously. Even without that I would like to see Nani, Ando and Hernandez out to make room for a CM and one of W Keane or Henriquez to step up to the first team. We have to get Baines in for Evra and try to flog Evra to PSG. Neither of the two young strikers are ready for regular action but I would like to see at least one of them get some games next season. Even though wqe would be weaker defensively I would not be disappointed if we sold Vidic, we could still get a good price and We could do with giving Smalling and Jones more game time at CB to develop, they will fill Vidic' boots in the long term. No need for a new CB IMO, Rio, Evans, Jones and Smalling is enough.

Dan