21 Mar 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Rangers and Scotland’s Youth Pathway Problem
0
Manchester United Banter Mobile
Use our rumours form to send us manchester united transfer rumours.
20 Mar 2026 16:37:33
Anyone else worried that the players mentioned for midfield are either playing for teams fighting relegation, costing 100m or over 28. I don't see it. They will look at someone young, but can't see them paying 100m for Wharton, Babale or Anderson, to be honest. Obviously where we finish will dictate spending, but think we need 3 to 4 players in the smmer.
Cas going, probably Urgarte too. We want Bruno more advaced, so big void in midfield. Might be a clause in Anderson's contrct if Forest go down too? Hopefully we get our work done early this summer.
0
20 Mar 2026 17:28:02
Baleba will be cheaper, more like 60 to 80.
Wharton and Anderson are also less than 100m, apparently, maybe 80.
Stiller in Germany is also less.
Of course, all rumors.
Bottom line is that we have to buy 2 top class midfielders who can play everyday. A club our size cannot only have 2 midfielders plus fringe youth players when we are in the UCL.
Probably need 3 players. 2 top class and 1 other a little cheaper, loan or experienced or younger. So, read into that what you will. I doubt any player comes out at $120m, for example. We can't afford it; we need too many pieces to blow our budget on one.
Lots of good players around, and I would like to see some more come in that we have not heard of.
2
20 Mar 2026 18:34:10
No one was concerned about Wolves' league position when we signed Cunha and they finished 16th.
Casemiro, at 34, is probably our player of the year behind Bruno.
£70m+ is the going rate for players who can come and fit straight into the team, because you're paying for the ability and experience.
0
20 Mar 2026 19:23:00
There are a lot of midfielder options available. Personally, I see us signing at least 2 midfielders, maybe 3 (definitely 3 if Ugarte leaves). Looking at the options we have seen linked, I think all of them do a job for us.
Eliott Anderson, 90-100m, 23 years old.
Carlos Baleba, 70m, 22 years old.
Adam Wharton, 60-70m, 22 years old.
Sandro Tonali, 80-90m, 25 years old (26 in May).
Joao Gomes, 35-45m, 25 years old.
Hayden Hackney, 20-25m, 23 years old (24 in June).
Bruno Guimaraes, 70m, 28 years old.
Noah Sadiki, 50-60m, 21 years old.
Alex Scott, 50m, 22 years old.
James Garner, 45m, 25 years old.
Angelo Stiller, 40-50m, 24 years old (25 in April).
Eduardo Camavinga, 50m, 23 years old.
Pablo Barrios, 60-70m, 22 years old (23 in June).
Lucien Agoume, 35-40m, 24 years old.
Lamine Camara, 45m, 22 years old.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, 40m, 18 years old.
Manu Kone, 45m, 24 years old (25 in May).
Javi Guerra, 45m, 22 years old (23 in May).
Felix Nmecha, 30m, 25 years old.
Andre Santos, 50-60m, 21 years old (22 in May).
Kees Smit, 50m, 20 years old.
Ederson, 45m, 26 years old (27 in July).
Mamadou Sangare, 35m, 23 years old (24 in June).
There are 23 players we have been linked with over the past 6-12 months, the ballpark figures they are expected to cost and their ages. Typically, we seem to be linked with players between the ages of 22 to 25, with a preference for EPL experience.
I fully expect us to sign at least two players from that list.
As for how much they will spend on midfield, well we spent around £195m on our attack last summer, so I wouldn't be surprised to see us spend a similar amount on our midfield this summer. Espinoza, if we have UCL qualification and the financial boost that comes with that.
3
21 Mar 2026 05:23:47
Linked to by whom, is the question you should be asking!
Or are we just listening to journalists when it suits? I have not heard the club or interim manager say we are linked with any of these or even want any of these!
Maybe this narrative is just that cheap talk that makes clicks, funny how it's selective when listening to journalists!
0
21 Mar 2026 06:08:12
Do you think them prices apply for us.
0
20 Mar 2026 09:25:22
Big game tonight away against a difficult opponent. The 4-4 draw earlier in the season was exhilarating and frustrating in equal measure so let's hope tonight we can get a positive result. We don't play again until Leeds in 3 weeks time so let's go off on a high note please 🙏😊.
2
20 Mar 2026 10:13:32
Would be great to get a good win, especially with some tricky fixtures for Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool. It would be nice going into this 3 week break before Leeds with a 7 or 8 point gap on 5th place. Being 4 points behind City would also get them looking over their shoulder.
3
20 Mar 2026 10:59:15
A good, conclusive, dominant and exciting win will be blinding, but any old scrape through 3 points will do at this moment in time.
2
20 Mar 2026 13:54:53
Alex Scott is a player I'm interested in viewing. He's potentially a good CM target for us. With Licha out, I'm expecting more of the rotation of Bruno into the middle we saw in the 2nd half against Villa. It's the pros and cons of Bruno's positioning - we want him closer to the opposition goals, but it's not much use if we can't get the ball up there.
We win, imo, if Maguire and Yoro don't slow the ball down too much. Let the ball into the attackers much quicker.
0
21 Mar 2026 05:29:16
Well, did not go too well. We are becoming very predictable with our line up and play. We are poor at the back, and still not that great up top. Lots of work still to be done, and many players are needed.
Said it so many times, we are full of average players.
Mbuemo, who looked like one of our better signings, has been so poor since AFCON. Sesko, for me, still got long way to go. We still need an experienced striker with pace.
Now got 3 weeks till next game, that won’t help us 1 little bit.....
0
21 Mar 2026 11:44:31
Je suis, what would your line up have been?
It's easy to say we are predictable with our line up, but then the manager can only pick from the players available.
We had no MdL, Martinez, Mazraoui or Dorgu available for the game. Mount has only just come back from injury, and almost certainly isn't ready to start a game.
So, really, the manager's options to rotate the line up are Ugarte, Sesko and Zirkzee.
If we are honest, Ugarte and Zirkzee probably aren't good enough or well suited to the EPL. I'm also 99% sure that if he did name them in the starting line up, you'd be complaining about that before a ball has even been kicked.
We've tried giving Sesko a couple of starts recently, and, to be honest, it didn't really change a lot. He also looks much better coming off the bench later in games, up against tiring legs and minds at this stage of his career.
In terms of threat going forward, we haven't looked as good since Dorgu's injury. That doesn't mean he's the answer per se, but his skillset opens up space and opportunities for other players. Ultimately, football is a team game, and it's the way the players combine their skills that gives you good or bad team performances.
This squad still needs a massive amount of work on it before it's genuinely good enough to compete at the highest level consistently. We probably need another 4 or 5 starting players, and another 3 or 4 top quality options to challenge the starting players and provide different tactical options within the squad. So we are 8 or 9 players away from the squad we need, and that is still dependent on the younger players in our squad reaching their full potential, such as Lammens, Yoro, Heaven, Mainoo, Dorgu, Amad and Sesko. All of which could be top quality starters if they reach their full potential. If not, then that's potentially another 4 or 5 players who will need to be upgraded in the coming seasons.
Ultimately, as fans, we put far too much on managers to affect the results. The difference between an average manager and a top quality manager is they maybe get an extra 10% out of the squad.
However, the way the club is structured and set up, and the quality of the players will ultimately dictate around 90% of what we see on the pitch.
0
20 Mar 2026 08:26:21
Changing the subject, what is your favourite United chant? I love 20Times, but my all time favourite was the Inspiral Carpets themed This Is How It Feels To Be City, which was great fun for many years but sadly no longer works.
What's your favourite?
0
20 Mar 2026 09:08:28
Gonna go on the piss with Georgie Best.
2
20 Mar 2026 13:42:10
Yip yap, Stam.
1
20 Mar 2026 13:44:00
And also, strangely, when we were winning the league "we shall not be moved", that rose up and echoed round the ground, the Seventies and Que Sera was great and Viva Ronaldo.
0
20 Mar 2026 17:02:18
Well, Fizz, can actually say I did on a few occasions, back in the 80s.
Some really good nights, but also one or two not so great.
Cannot believe it is 40 years ago.
Where in God's name has it gone?
It was amazing to watch the way he was like a flame to a moth when women were around, just as well he was such a sober and committed to his wife character!
2
20 Mar 2026 22:54:23
I loved Always Look on The Bright Side of Life, for the short time it was used.
0
21 Mar 2026 06:59:32
I loved ello, ello, there's 20 seconds to go, we're 1 nil down, now 2-1 up when Ole scored that goal, now we're champions of Europe.
1
20 Mar 2026 07:41:24
If 28 is seen as old why don't we go for 24 yr old Andre from Wolves? I think he can do the CDM perfectly and won't cost a lot. The only weakness he has is height for defending set pieces etc., but calm on the ball and always willing to take it out from the back. That leaves money for another position we need.
2
20 Mar 2026 09:09:33
Couldn't be bothered to join the previous thread?
0
19 Mar 2026 19:08:44
Rumours that we are after Bruno G for quote 70m.
Would he be your 1st choice or would Tonali be a better grab? We need DM and a quality one at that with consideration that we may sign 3 or 4 players max.
0
19 Mar 2026 19:43:40
Bruno G is a very good player, but too old at 28, isn't he? We bought Casemiro older. We need to be looking at a younger player.
3
19 Mar 2026 20:30:39
Lol... 28 too old. 😂
3
19 Mar 2026 21:17:00
Bruno G and Tonali are good players, but Newcastle have no control in their games. I don't think we win a league with either tbh. At that money there are better players at better age profiles.
2
19 Mar 2026 21:30:31
Tonali would be a phenomenal buy. Bruno is a great player, but he is 29 in November. I think that is too old for the price we would have to pay to get him.
3
19 Mar 2026 22:18:53
Either would be great buys, and would considerably lift the quality of what we have next season currently.
0
20 Mar 2026 05:19:53
Bruno G would be the better choice, imo... I'm never, ever going with this. 28 is rubbish, it's too old. That's just absolutely ridiculous talk. Maybe ok if you're more concerned about sell on value and happy being a mid-table club, so you can buy players with potential, and if it goes well sell them for a profit.
If that's what you want United to become, then good for you. I'm still hoping we build a squad to challenge, to win things, not a club that just acts as a feeder club for the big boys... But best in class is what big clubs do, not just keep buying potential.
3
20 Mar 2026 07:20:29
Maze, it isn't a question of a sell on value, it's much more about building a team around a player who hasn't much time before the risk of his legs going becomes an issue that has to be replaced, again, in short order. That's my issue with a player's age.
0
20 Mar 2026 08:05:37
I mean, because Casemiro is leaving, we need someone who can come in and hit the ground running. We cant afford to have someone take 6 months to settle and get going, by that time we could be knocked out of the Champions League (assuming we get in).
So for the primary midfield signing, I dont think age, especially 28/29, is an issue.
Then, the backups for that signing and mainoo, then yes, more room for a younger signing with potential and time to settle in.
2
19 Mar 2026 14:25:44
It feels like the consensus is to go for Tonali and Anderson but I think we'll end up getting one of these players rather than both. United more recently haven't been afraid of walking away from overpriced deals and there will be competition to go for these players (City also being interested in Anderson). Maybe the right move would be to go for a more affordable but still consistent midfielder alongside one of Tonali/Anderson.
Names that come to mind would be to go for Garner or Joao Gomes, who will likely both be available in a better price bracket and are reliable options. Bruno used to speak highly of Garner prior to his move away, or there are some other players that should be considered like Hayden Hackney and Amadou Onana.
1
19 Mar 2026 15:39:33
If I was a being man, and I'm not, I'd bet on us signing Baleba.
I hope we don't sign Wharton. I have not seen anything to suggest he is at the level required, or can get there.
Anderson, I really like the look of him and think he has a lot to offer and will improve.
Tonali is a player I admire, but I don't see it happening.
Bruno G, top player, I really like him. Is he attainable? I've no idea.
Gomes, good player.
Andre, good player.
Stiller, I know nothing about.
Garner would have happened on a free if we wanted him, but he just signed a new contract at Everton.
Lots of other options no doubt. I'm confident we will get good players.
It will be dependent on what our head coach thinks we need, I'm sure.
I suppose we just have to wait and see what happens, who we sign, and take it from there.
I'm not sure how anybody can say who we should sign until we know who the manager is, their philosophy and style of play, etc. Just saying we should sign this player or that player makes zero sense when we know so little, imo.
Some players can transcend seamlessly from coach to coach, others not so much.
Personality and character is as important as ability, and the adaptability to a move is crucial, and mostly we don't know a lot about those 3 elements.
It's not an exact science, so many unknowns. There are games that exist for fantasy football. I know some really enjoy them. I've never entered, as the thought of cheering on a Liverpool or City player just to get fantasy points doesn't sit well with me. 😅 imo there is no silver lining on a Haaland hat trick, even if he is captained and double points. 🤣
2
19 Mar 2026 16:14:26
Ken, you're a girl?!. 🤣
1
19 Mar 2026 16:34:14
Consensus? I think that's a stretch.
0
19 Mar 2026 18:42:29
I'd be really happy with Baleba + Tonali/Bruno G/Anderson, 2 fullbacks and Diomande.
1
19 Mar 2026 18:50:40
Dream big, Scholes. 👌👌
0
19 Mar 2026 19:55:27
Haha, too right, Jimbo. Dream big or go home.
Desperately want us to challenge for the league and cl. It's been so long, I forgot the feeling of it. Can't hide behind progress and processes for so long.
0
19 Mar 2026 22:20:06
I can't bring myself to watch the UCL, one, because we're not in it, and two, the quality has dropped significantly.
0
20 Mar 2026 01:51:33
Wharton is very good at splitting defences with inch-perfect, perfectly weighted passes. He might be one of those players who needs to be in a better team to be appreciated.
Paying £70m is a lot, but if you get 4 top-class years out of a player for that price, it's ok.
Lastly, if we could get Ollie Watkins for reasonable money, I think he would be a gt addition to our squad.
0
20 Mar 2026 06:32:47
Bruno G would be a fantastic signing. He would be the one to go for from the Newcastle team, which, by the way, have got one of the best midfields in the EPL. But lack of quality in other positions hinders them badly.
But who knows what we will do, so speculation is a bit pointless, really.
Everyone can chuck names into the ring, and most will deride those names, but what’s the point. When the club names or signs a player, then it’s worth the debate; until that, it’s all a bit childish.
1
20 Mar 2026 16:12:51
Childish to debate possible transfer options?
You state, 'wait until they are purchased, then debate them'? Weird. Wouldn't you just get behind the signing once signed, rather than debate it.
1
20 Mar 2026 22:56:44
Wharton has always reminded me a bit of Carrick. Wouldn't be too bad.
0
19 Mar 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Why Preseason Conditioning Shapes Tactical Success
0
18 Mar 2026 22:39:20
My academy knowledge has lapsed in recent years but saw some of the U18 game tonight. Does anyone have an opinion on Godwill Kukonki? Didn't see much but very physical left back. Is that his normal position?
0
19 Mar 2026 09:53:37
Normally a cb.
2
19 Mar 2026 21:35:52
He was a CB up until this season, where he has made that LB position his own and has been fantastic.
2
18 Mar 2026 17:03:22
So ignoring the third team selection of youth players and focusing purely on first team and back up
We currently have the following:
GK: Lammens, Vitek or Pope style transfer
RB: Kayode, Dalot
LB: Hall, Shaw
CB: Yoro, Heaven, New, Retain one of Maguire, MdL, Licha
CM: Anderson, Tonali (they seem to be everyone's preferred pairing), Gomes, Mainoo
LW: Cunha, Dorgu
RW: Mbeumo, Amad
AM: Bruno, Lacey (?)
SK: Sesko, back up signing
That's a 300-350m outlay.
Obviously we have funds coming in for some sales.
I think it is achievable.
Thoughts.
0
18 Mar 2026 17:48:13
I'm not convinced that squad wins anything. An injury to Bruno, and we are back to not a lot of creation. Is it much better than the current team?
1
18 Mar 2026 18:08:31
My thoughts are: wait and see what happens. This is entering the realms of fantasy, and that would not be my fantasy squad at all. Too many hypotheticals for me. Ask 1000 people, you'll get 1000 different squads they want.
I'll leave it to the subject matter experts to do their work and comment afterwards. We can't affect buys and have no influence or choice.
I'm happy to debate what we all see (God knows we can't agree on that most of the time), but not what we might never see. Go on what we do know, not what we don't.
I think at some point we've all put up who we would like or don't like, but looking for a consensus on this is futile imo.
2
18 Mar 2026 18:54:38
You don't have to join in if you don't want to.finding a consensus has in the main been widely received as a positive approach.
JSU, you never actually offer any alternatives. You say all the time, that team isn't better than what we currently have, yet when asked for alternatives you stay silent. But your balls on a block and throw some names out there.
4
18 Mar 2026 19:07:35
I'm not sure who we are gonna sign this summer, but I do have a slight concern over potential injury issues next season.
We aren't blessed with a lot of quality in depth, and when I look at our squad and think who I trust to be able to play an extra 10-15 games more next season than they've managed this season, the potential fragility of this squad becomes apparent.
I have doubts over Shaw, Maguire, MdL, Martinez, Mazraoui, Mount and Mainoo's ability to potentially play 45-50 games next season if called upon. Even Mbeumo hasn't played that many games before in a season, and he often looks like he tires later in games.
It is also probably not smart to put some of our younger players, like Yoro, Heaven, Mainoo, Amad and Sesko, under pressure to play a lot of games, potentially while carrying knocks, as their bodies continue to grow and develop.
That's before we even account for those unexpected injuries that just occur, like Dorgu's current injury.
Realistically, that leaves us with the keepers (who should never have a fitness issue from playing too many games), Dalot, Ugarte, Dorgu (should he recover without issue), Bruno, Zirkzee, and Cunha, who I think we can rely on to be physically capable of playing 50+ games next season, with maybe the older "young" players like Sesko and Amad, who are in their twenties rather than teenagers, and possibly Mbeumo.
That gives us 9 outfield players who we should be able to rely on being able to play 50+ games, and 9 players who we can probably expect to be able to manage 20-30 games.
That's a really thin squad. We probably need to add at least 5 or 6 players who are capable of playing 50+ games for us next season. Otherwise, we could be at the mercy of injuries.
2
18 Mar 2026 19:41:37
Of the 5 names mentioned, how many games have they missed this season? Tonali has had a couple of injuries, not sure on the others.
0
18 Mar 2026 20:44:32
If you offered me that squad to start next season I would take it just about.
1
18 Mar 2026 21:06:50
It is no world beating squad, DSG, but it is a marked improvement on what we currently have!
0
18 Mar 2026 22:24:25
Jimbob, over the last two seasons Lewis Hall has missed 28 matches, Sandro Tonali has only ever missed a few games here and there, no major concerns (bar the ban for betting on football matches), Elliot Anderson missed 25 games with a back injury during the 23/24 season, but not much since, Michael Kayode has been fairly fine, a few knocks but nothing major, Nick Pope has missed 36 games over the past three years with injuries. João Gomes has a perfect injury record.
The real issue is that you are looking to sign 3 players from Newcastle, now I know they might need to sell a player for financial reasons, but they will also receive a hefty sell on fee when Elliot Anderson moves from Forest this summer.
Also Anderson and Tonali are probably too similar in the role that they play, especially if you are going to be spending huge fees. I'd imagine it'd be either or with Anderson and Tonali.
Then we will probably look at a more aggressive/athletic ball winner like Baleba or João Gomes.
While I'm a big fan of Lewis Hall I'd probably steer clear of him due to his injury record. We can't afford to be signing a player with a patchy injury record to challenge Luke Shaw.
I'm not sure we will sign a RB before we sign a LW either.
I'd look to sign Marcos Senesi on a free transfer as he's EPL proven, at a great age, strong in his defensive duels and an expansive passer out from the back. The ideal cheap CB to bring in to provide support for our current crop without being a long term barrier to the likes of Yoro and Heaven.
At LB Malick Diouf has really caught the eye at West Ham this season, as is Adrien Truffert. Nathaniel Brown is getting good reviews in Germany if we want to avoid the EPL tax, or Quintin Merlin in France.
LW is an interesting position to try and fix, Yan Diomande is the hot property right now. He looks phenomenal, but would be a high risk high reward type signing as he won't be cheap. Other big names could be Bradley Barcola, or Kenan Yildiz.
Malick Fofana from Lyon could be a smart signing, he's still doing well but the media attention has moved on to the next hot thing so he would be available for a more reasonable price. Or we could go for EPL proven route like we did with Mbeumo and Cunha and look to sign someone like Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.
If it was down to me maybe something like Senesi, Diouf, Anderson, Baleba as EPL proven players, with Fofana as a high reward option on the LW (which I think is an easier position/role to adapt to the EPL than in midfield or defence).
3
19 Mar 2026 10:01:01
Did the 4 of you come to a consensus on the imaginary make-believe squad, Jimbob?
1
19 Mar 2026 11:30:55
Just a thought, don't shoot me down, but what about keeping Hoijland next season to fight it out with Sesko.
1
19 Mar 2026 12:50:12
We won't be signing 7 or 8 players.
0
19 Mar 2026 14:51:49
That would not be my choice, Sim. I can't think of any reason not to sell him.
He is miles off technically for the EPL. We have a decent deal lined up with Napoli, and I expect them to take up their option. If they do, it doesn't matter if we want to keep him or not; if they activate the option clause, we are not in control.
Carrick, more often than not, has not even played Sesko, so having another striker he won't start is not a priority.
Mbeumo has been played out of position a bit to accommodate Amad.
0
19 Mar 2026 17:06:47
Ken,
Yes, I like Senesi.
I only chose the players selected based off post and poll outcomes.
Personally, Hall and Kayode are not my choices and I wouldn't touch Pope if we go with Vitek (plus he is on a free from Newcastle, so only really signing 2).
I don't think we need a LW personally, but if the masses think we do, then it is a big outlay, and there are other areas we need to address.
The general overview was for constructive discussion. You have stepped up. 👍
0
19 Mar 2026 17:03:01
Ken, there have been polls and posts on individual positions for a reason.to try and gather a consensus.
Am I saying this is my preferred team, no, I have gathered opinions and outcomes from polls to generate a potential teamsheet.
Your comment of 4 people for a consensus is beyond stupid.
Again, you don't have to be part of it, equally you don't have to be a prat either.
1
19 Mar 2026 18:51:46
My Senesi response was for you happy. 👌
0
Manchester United Banter Archives