31 Jul 2023 05:50:10
Hi Ed002 As you mentioned club would like to add an AM. Is Kudus the top target for AM position for club or anyone else? Thanks in advance for answering as always.

{Ed002's Note - Kudus has been of interest but much will depend on whether the club are looking for someone to play of the striker and how Fernandez and Mount are to be used.}

1.) 31 Jul 2023
31 Jul 2023 08:54:11
I don't get the Kudus links to be honest, attacking midfield/ second striker is his best position. With Bruno, Mount, Eriksen and young Hannibal looking bright we have a plethora of players with a good mix of ages (28, 24, 31 and 20 respectively) . Do we really need a 22 year old Kudus thrown into the mix. Especially as we haven't really played with a front two or a player playing just off the striker under EtH.

He can play wide right and is good there, but then we've spent 85m on Antony, 73m on Sancho, An initial 19m on Amad and 9m on Pellistri. That's a total of 185m spent on players who were/ are predominantly right sided wingers/ forwards. It would be madness to spend big again on another player to play wide right. Also seeing as EtH preferred to play Antony on the right ahead of Kudus while manager of Ajax would suggest that he believes he already has the superior option at the club.

Maybe he could be signed to play as a false 9, to give Højlund some competition and to remove some of the pressure on him. While at Ajax he did like to have two very different striker options, one in the mould of Haller or Dolberg tall strong traditional target man pure striker, and someone more creative like Tadic who played more in the mould of a false 9 or what some coin the 9 and a half. Someone who might start off as the central striker, but will also drop deeper, get on the ball and create chances for his teammates.

We are seeing EtH experiment with that sort of player now with Sancho on the pre-season tour.

Personally the next signing for me should be someone who can play deeper in midfield. Be that a traditional shielding player in the mould of Casemiro, or more of a deeper playmaker ala Carrick.

Fred and McTominay have shown they just aren't good enough sadly, despite the effort and fight they put in. Both need to move on which only leaves the 31 year old Casemiro, and the 18 year old Mainoo (who will miss the first part of the season) . Clearly that is the area we need to focus on next.

{Ed002's Note - I would largely agree but suspect he would be considered as playing off the striker by Manchester United.}

2.) 31 Jul 2023
31 Jul 2023 11:17:08
Signing a number 10 would indicate to me that Ten Hag is considering an option for something different formation wise for when he needs it. Be interesting to see what he would be planning.

I must admit i hadmt seen the Kudus rumours with us onky Arsenal and Chelsea.

3.) 31 Jul 2023
31 Jul 2023 15:58:14
I’m with you Shappy seems unnecessary.
Amad should get a chance.

4.) 31 Jul 2023
31 Jul 2023 16:44:12
Oakbark, simply by being an Ajax player Utd must want him. I'm actually more surprised we haven't been all over Brobbey like a rash.

5.) 31 Jul 2023
31 Jul 2023 20:03:17
Kudus would be pointless, and from what I’ve seen he wouldn’t be an improvement on Donny, and that’s saying something.

6.) 31 Jul 2023
31 Jul 2023 21:46:57
We don't need Kudus and I'm sure we won't sign him.
We don't need that profile.
As Shappy said, we need CDM/ CM, not AM/ SS.
According to reliable journalists, Amrabat chose us.
We r just waiting for VdB and Fred to be sold.

7.) 01 Aug 2023
01 Aug 2023 08:58:46
I agree that we need a defensive midfielder more to ease the burden on Casemeiro but would be happy if we got Kudus as well. Bruno plays too much and often has a spell where his energy levels and creativity suffer.

8.) 01 Aug 2023
01 Aug 2023 09:48:25
Salford, that is surely why we have Mount, Eriksen and even Hannibal.

The way I look at it is this, if Bruno got a season ending injury first game of the season could we cope without him? Probably, although we'd obviously see a decline in overall team performance. But we'd have Mount, Eriksen and possibly Hannibal to cover for him.

Now imagine if instead of Bruno it was Casemiro, how would that impact our season? Massively I'd say as neither McTominay or Fred are anywhere near the level we need.

I'd go as far as saying Casemiro is our most important player, simply based on the complete dearth of quality options to replace him. If we are to make another signing after Hojlund then it has to be a CDM.

9.) 01 Aug 2023
01 Aug 2023 10:20:17
Whilst almost everyone if not all agree that DM is a priority, Ed has said we are potentially looking at an AM to play off the striker, one assumes that Ten Hag has his reasons and that this most be something United are seriously looking at.

Of course we cannot know what order United are prioritising accept by reading into one rumoured certaain player would appear to be far morre advanced than another.

I rather fancy United themselves are wanting the DM before the AM simply becazse of the noise and rumours however if Ed is saying we are looking at an AM i am inclined to think we are and that if we can get to a point where its financially viable we will.

I think the outs in terms of both financial and squad space will dictate ins to a large degree.

10.) 01 Aug 2023
01 Aug 2023 11:03:28
I guess by now everyone knows my views on him. Top player imo and would let the manager figure out how he wants to utilize him. I for one would not complain if we got him. Better than Antony imo.

I suspect he ends up at a top team no matter what and will be the talking point in a year or two where ever he goes and very high valuations.

11.) 01 Aug 2023
01 Aug 2023 17:07:52
Don't get me wrong, I think Kudus is a wonderful player and someone who'll do very well at a top club. I wouldn't be unhappy if we signed him. I'm just not sure he is a player we need right now.

If we spent 50m+ on Kudus and don't get a another CDM, and then Casemiro had a bad injury I'm sure most people at the club involved in recruitment will feel pretty foolish for spending on a luxury player while actual needs haven't been addressed.

12.) 01 Aug 2023
01 Aug 2023 22:05:55
I obviously don’t know for definite but I think when Ed002 said we would look at another GK and an attacking mid, this is what we will look at after Amrabat has been signed, not instead of. They’ve said multiple times that we’re interested in Amrabat and looking to do a deal so I think that the 2 positions mentioned are what we would be looking at next.

13.) 02 Aug 2023
02 Aug 2023 00:27:14
I think that is s reasonable assessment.

14.) 02 Aug 2023
02 Aug 2023 01:32:15
Shappy I agree that a defensive midfielder should be the priority but if we can get Kudus as well go for it. Mount and Bruno don't really play in the same position and Ericsson doesn't have the legs any more. Plus Kudus can play in several positions.

15.) 02 Aug 2023
02 Aug 2023 06:44:57
Salford, Kudus himself has said his best position is as an attacking midfielder. What would you say is Bruno and Mounts best position?

Eriksen doesn't have the legs to play as a No.8 due to the role very much demanding you go box to box. However, he would still be a top class No.10.

So with Kudus that would be 4 players who's best position is probably as a No.10, with three of them (Bruno, Mount and Kudus) all able to play well in a free 8 role as well. Either on the left or the right of a midfield three.

16.) 02 Aug 2023
02 Aug 2023 21:10:54
What is our obsession with attacking midfield players?

If we complete Hojland, we have one striker, potentially good but one striker. One injury and we are back to struggling to score.

We need a back up striker, perhaps Greenwood will stay. We must have a DM, really must and if possible a young CB with potential.

17.) 03 Aug 2023
03 Aug 2023 08:40:33
I know this will not be popular but Martial seems to be our other striker and if you believe what is written eth seems to rate him. Maybe having Hoiland helps in keeping martial fit for selection and managing his game time as we all know he is incapable of playing week in week out. I know maybe wishful thinking:)

18.) 03 Aug 2023
03 Aug 2023 10:25:07
Ahmad, the club are open to offers for Martial, but typically none are forth coming. Maybe it has something to do with his 250k per week wages and his appalling injury record ?

I think like several players in the squad the club wout happily move them on if an acceptable offer came in. However, if not then they will stay and be squad players.

Martial has one year left on his deal and the club have no intention to extend it. I've always wondered whether Martial would be fitter more often if his contract was a low basic wage with big bonuses for playing/ scoring etc. He seems more like a flake to me rather than someone who is genuinely injured all the time like Phil Jones.

He seems to pull up and want to come off for every niggle. Doesn't want to deal with a little pain, and to be honest if you're going to get 250k per week regardless then why would you want to put yourself through the pain. He doesn't seem to have any real desire to make the most of his career. Maybe a classic case of having the talent but not the mentality/ attitude.

I expect he'll stay this summer as no one will take him and he won't be prepared to drop his wages. Then he'll leave on a free next summer, having to accept a lower wage but only after he's got every last penny owed to him from us.

19.) 03 Aug 2023
03 Aug 2023 10:45:06
Red man, for me it's fairly obvious what we need and in what order of priority once the Højlund deal is across the line.

Firstly it's competition/ cover for Casemiro. Ideally someone in their mid twenties, and maybe someone who can offer something slightly different, maybe more of a deep playmaker who could play alongside Casemiro when we need to lock down the midfield. Obviously Frenkie De Jong is the best option, but he'll be too expensive and doesn't want to move. On the surface Amrabat makes a lot of sense, ticks all the boxes. I'm just not fully convinced he is the required level. He's been hit and miss in a much slower Serie A. He had a great world cup and ses to be riding that wave. However, I'm always skeptical of players who do well at international level because in my opinion it's a lower standard. If he's the player EtH wants though then go and get him. Other options could be Sangare, Zubemendi or Caqueret.

The next option we need is a back up striker who maybe offers something slightly different to Højlund. I wouldn't be against signing someone who plays more like a false 9 to be completely honest. While EtH experimentation with Sancho in that role during pre-season suggests it's something the manager is looking at. In that respect maybe Kudus does make a little sense especially as he also regularly plays on the right hand side and despite massive investment in that area no one has tied down the role. However, the cost of him seems prohibitive. Although he does tick the played for EtH box?

I wouldn't be against a loan for João Felix, he's got so much talent and just needs the right manager to unlock it. Plus a loan with an option to buy not an obligation seems like a fairly risk free way of filling that need. Other than that it could be finding an older player who can guide Højlund and cover for him a little. Or taking a bit of a chance on a lesser known player for a reasonable fee and hoping they step up. Maybe someone like Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord who EtH will probably know of quite well.

Then we need to find a starting RB, whether that is one of AWB or Dalot kicking on or we bring someone in remains to be seen.

Finally a young CB to replace Maguire and act as an understudy. Although we could use Evans as a cheap alternative to delay any further outlay this summer.

We could also do with finding a top class back up keeper. That could be loaning Kovar for another year and relaying on Heaton until next season. Or we might have to bring someone in.

Those for me are what we need to look at over the next season or two and in that order of priority.

20.) 03 Aug 2023
03 Aug 2023 13:50:57
shappy

You can't fake hamstring tears and muscle injuries given the technology today. I think he is injury prone and some players are like that. I also think over the years he has gotten heavier than when he first came and that must be a factor.

The truth is he really never gets to show his capabilities given his stop/ start due to injuries and generally most players need a number of games post injury to get match sharp.

I agree the club would probably sell if a reasonable offer came in but looks like he is staying and a striker option when fit.

21.) 03 Aug 2023
03 Aug 2023 17:45:25
I think that the number one quality a player needa is availibility. Martial should never have been given that massive deal, its hamstrung us. Right now we can't make the moves we want because too much of our budget is tied up in players that don't contribute.