16 Jan 2024 08:36:20
Quick one for the eds if you would oblige-
vhalovic was a player allegedly on our list before going to juve is he someone still of interest? cheers.

{Ed002's Note - Not to Manchester United.}

1.) 16 Jan 2024
16 Jan 2024 11:02:39
cheers ed002.

2.) 16 Jan 2024
16 Jan 2024 11:02:39
cheers ed002.

3.) 16 Jan 2024
16 Jan 2024 20:03:17
Thank god. He's very average but would cost a good whack from Juventus and would demand big wages.

United need to be much smarter in the transfer market. We need a striker as Højlund is the only option at the club. Yet finding players who are good enough but who won't cost a kings ransom is difficult.

One option I've been thinking about lately is Dominic Solanke, he was highly regarded as a young player, but probably didn't really kick on. A spell at Liverpool after leaving Chelsea seemed to stagnate his development somewhat. He probably needed to step down slightly to play more regular football and keep on developing rather than swapping the Chelsea bench for the Liverpool one.

At Bournemouth though he's really developed into a really good around player. He's a big strong unit who can lead the line and be an aerial threat, he's quick enough and he works really hard and presses excellently from the front. 29 goals in the Championship shows that when given regular service that he can be a clinical finisher. However, the thing I really like about him is how he's a player who brings other players into the game and creates really good opportunities for his teammates. While at 26 (27 in September) he'd be a good player to lead the line for 2-3 years while a 20 year old Rasmus Højlund develops without the pressure of playing every game on him.

It'd mean that in 2-3 years time we'd have a 23/ 24 year old Højlund ready to explode and prove himself with a 29 year old proven EPL striker to back him up.

He wouldn't be cheap, 45-50m most likely. But given what some strikers are going for, I think you'd have to go some way to find a more cost effective option.

I mean options like Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord is reportedly going to cost 50-60m for a player who has never proven anything in one of Europe's top five leagues. Højlund cost 70m. Brentford want 80-100m for Ivan Toney.

To get any half-decent striker for less than 60m is a tough ask in the current market and only really possible if you take a gamble on a less proven player.

Considering we would still likely be spending 50m on a young player not proven in the EPL, personally I think a similar amount on a known quantity like Solanke would be the better option given the choices available.

4.) 17 Jan 2024
17 Jan 2024 09:28:41
I'd be testing Newcastle and the recent reports about they may need to sell 1 or 2 of their top players and make an approach for Isak. You're right Shappy, to get any half decent striker in is going to cost money but i'd rather pay a bit more and get an Isak than let's say £50M for Solanke.

5.) 17 Jan 2024
17 Jan 2024 12:36:28
Ports they bought Isak for more than 60m, they'd want more than that for him if they had to sell. Either way I highly doubt he'd be one of the players they'd consider selling to free up some funds.

I'd imagine the soon to be 32 year old Callum Wilson would more likely be the striker they would consider selling.

Personally I'm not enthusiastic about any of the potential options. They are either massively overpriced average players, or massively overpriced youngsters with potential.

There seems little point signing another young striker with potential after doing just that when we signed Rasmus Højlund.

Given that we don't really want to spend big on a long-term first choice option who would just restrict and hinder the development of the 70m long term striker we bought last summer. It means we need to buy at that next bracket down, someone who can lead the line and play regularly, but won't block the pathway for Højlund. Being the backup option for Højlund in a couple of years time.

In that case I think we are much better off signing a EPL proven player rather than take a gamble on a player with no previous experience in the EPL. Someone who'd be far more likely to flop, and who given the state of the market will only be marginally cheaper.

It's not sexy or exciting signing players like that, they are known quantities that we already know aren't likely to step up to being a star player for us. However, ultimately every team needs some players like that in their squad.

We've invested big on Højlund, now we need to make sure we do what we need to to to protect that investment. Bring in a player who'll help Højlund develop and not block his pathway while also giving the team what it needs on the pitch when they play.

These are often the hardest signings to find and sign.

6.) 17 Jan 2024
17 Jan 2024 16:17:38
I know you are the oracle Shappy and your posts are said as facts rather than opinions but you’re telling me you’d rather sign Solanke for £50M due to a current purple patch he is in and say he is EPL proven yet he scored 6 in 33 last season and 3 in 32 the season before. Hardly prolific stats is it. If you want to go off purple patches though why not go for Hwang Hee-Chan who’s only 2 goals off Solanke and would be a lot cheaper but that’s not a signing you’d ever consider!

7.) 17 Jan 2024
17 Jan 2024 19:02:48
If our number 1 anorak is suggesting we sign Dominic Solanke then we really have got problems…….

8.) 17 Jan 2024
17 Jan 2024 20:38:21
Shappy have to say your off on a mad one there. ??.