Date: 9th May 2012 at 5:21pm
Written by:
Muniain gives DDG no chance in the Europa

Muniain gives DDG no chance in the Europa

With the league title all but assured to be heading somewhere other than Old Trafford for only the second time in the last six years, it’s not time to panic but nor is it time for complacency.

United’s reliance on the ageing Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs highlight the need for strengthening the midfield Then there’s the imminent departure of Dimitar Berbatov, the startling loss of form of Chicharito, plus the obvious need for some form of competition/understudy for Patrice Evra which cannot be ignored. Oh and did I mention the uncertainty surrounding Darren Fletcher’s future, or Tom Cleverley’s ability to play a full season?

United may finish this season with a points total nine higher than 2010/11 when we actually lifted the title, but let’s face facts, trophyless seasons and ones in which we see our ‘noisy neighbours’ lift their first ever Premier League crown are hardly a success.

There’s work to be done this Summer and as Roy Keane noted recently its the ‘team not the squad’ United need to strengthen.

Here’s five players that Sir Alex Ferguson should pursue with vigour as soon as the season ends to help deliver title number 20 before the Bluenoses reach number three.

Leighton Baines.  The Everton left back can offer Patrice Evra a much-needed understudy as it’s obvious United are in serious trouble should our skipper get injured especially with Fabio off on a season long loan. The former Wigan man has excelled at Goodison and is more than adept at getting forward in the way most United full back’s are expected to. With Everton seemingly having a constant garage sale, it shouldn’t take a King’s ransom to prize Baines away from the blue half of Merseyside.  Price £7 million.

Iker Muniain. Dubbed the ‘Spanish Messi’ due to his diminutive size and willingness to run at defenders, the Athletico Bilbao winger was part of the side that quite frankly tore United a new one in the Europa League. With a full Spanish cap under his belt it wont be long before the nineteen year old starts adding a few zeros to his price should he make more appearances for the national side. With Paul Pogba’s boyhood heroes Juventus sniffing around, United may need to move quickly although a £29.5 million price tag may put the Glazers off, if we want to challenge on more than one front next season, it’s time to pay up. Price £29.5 million.

Cheick Tiote. Cue lots of “I stopped reading at Tiote” comments as most people will no doubt think I’m off my tiny little mind with this suggestion but let’s ask ourselves one simple question: “who is United’s ball winner in the middle of the park?” Darren Fletcher? Ji Sung Park? Anderson?! Exactly, United’s midfield is comprised of pass master, quarerback types rather than grafters willing to go and get hold of the ball. Tiote is just the type of no nonsense nasty little bugger who can get in people’s faces and do the old fashioned “get hold of the ball and give it to a more skillful player” job that used to exist at Old Trafford. Newcastle have benefitted enormously from having the Ivorian doing the donkey work in the middle of the park and so could United. Price £11 million.

Raúl. When I first heard the suggestion that a 34 year-old striker could come to Old Trafford and make a difference I scoffed with the same arrogance that made me doubt Henrik Larrsson was a good idea at the time. United woud like to win the Champions League yes? Then why not sign the competitions greatest ever goal scorer? Oh but he’s past it. Well someone should tell the Real Madrid legend that then as he’s scored over twenty goals this season for Schalke. I’m not suggesting playing him week in week out against the likes of Stoke and Fulham, but why not use his talents in the cup competitions and as another option in some of the bigger league games? Price Free transfer.

Stéphane Sessegnon. I realise he may not exactly fill the hearts of many Reds with  inspiration but let’s face some facts, if as I’m suggesting United buy all the other players on this list, then we aren’t going to be able to spend £40-50 million on an attacking midfielder, there simply isn’t the money available. Therefore it’s time to look at what we can afford and who can do a job and  Sessegnon fits the bill. He’s been one of the few bright spots in a pretty poor season for the Mackems, has an eye for goal – one in three ratio this season- and plays with the sort of energy that is needed at Old Trafford. Should Scholes and Giggs’s appearances be limited next season, then we simply cannot rely on Tom Cleverley to be our main attacking midfield option, such is the nature of his injury record. Sessegnon may not be Luka Modric but that may not be such a bad thing as he’s actually more consistent than his overpriced North London counterpart. Price £10 million.

There you have it for £57 million United can have an Evra understudy, a proven European goalscorer, a superstar youngster, and two midfielders capable of playing against the Premiership’s best. I may be oversimplifying the issue but at a time when it’s obvious we haven’t got the billions others have, less than £60 million for five players who would improve our side, hardly seems like a bad investment.

 Am I spouting the usual dribble I’m more than renowned for or is there a semblance of sanity in my musings? Answers on a brick through the usual window please.

Follow me on twitter @RFFH

 

58 responses to “The £57 Million United NEED To Spend This Summer”

  1. TIME says:

    SAF wont tinker too much

    continuity is the key, and youth. certainly not raul.

    what about rodwell and the young fella from crewe

  2. Steve Waite says:

    Some very interesting ideas, if a little far-fetches as others have said regarding prices.

    Tiote would be a solid buy. Whether he’s United calibre I’m not sure, but his performances for the Toon this season means that he’s more than earned his chance. Will be a fair bit more expensive than £11 million, but still cheaper than alternatives.

    Muniain

  3. TIME says:

    i personally would like

    rodwell, bale, the young ela from crewe

    moderic, ganso….joke

    just rodwell, bale and the crewe dude (wilshire would be nice too)

  4. Steve Waite says:

    Some very interesting ideas, if a little far-fetches as others have said regarding prices.

    Tiote would be a solid buy. Whether he’s United calibre I’m not sure, but his performances for the Toon this season means that he’s more than earned his chance. Will be a fair bit more expensive than £11 million, but still cheaper than alternatives.

    Muniain is overrated. He’s a good player don’t get me wrong, but nearly £30 million for a youngster whose hardly set the world alight, while we have three top wingers/wide players? I don’t think so.

    Hazard is a different prospect – proven in a top team in a top(ish) league and with bags of potential – one of the top young players around. If United felt they had spend a lot buying a young winger/forward, Hazard’d be the player rather than Muniain. They’d be a similar price, and Hazard is proven a d more talented.

    Baines and Alba are both quality solutions to the left back issue, Baines is the more proven while Alba is arguably the prospect. They’d also come in at a reasonable sum.

    Kagawa however is not the answer to our
    midfield woes. He plays primarily as an attacking midfielder or a second striker – much like the Wesley Sneijder situation, it’d mean converting him to an unfamiliar position. However, If he is as cheap as some are saying, I’d still snap him up. He’s a quality player and at around £7 million, even if he doesn’t start, he’d provide us with real options – especially in tandem with Rooney or if he got injured.

    Centre midfield is a sticky issue. For a start, we need to buy proper centre midfielders rather than attacking midfielders like Kagawa and Sneijder. There are lots if options out there (most expensive) and very few are proven. We could aim for Strootman, Martinez or Modric and we’d still play a lot. I’m looking for Fergie to produce a gem from no-where (Hernandez style) or else watch the Glazer’s open their cheque book for once. Modric being my preferred option – proven and would slot straight in.

  5. Danny says:

    Definitely an interesting read this, one thing for sure no matter what the outcome come this Sunday, our squad requires a little freshening up. I’v heard a lot of people ranting about Evra’s defensive displays this season and the truth being, we at Ot are so used to his top notch work rate that anything below par is considered to be sluggish to the high standards he has set. A new lb is needed if we are to compete for top European and domestic honors next season, Baines would be a good buy but I don’t see cash strapped Everton selling him to us for anywhere below 15-16 million, We all know how over priced English players are in the current transfer climate. That being said, i’d be glad if Fergie went in for Aly Cissokho (Lyon)He’s agile, quick and a good crosser of the ball, Should be available from Lyon for say 6 million at the most, as he’s fallen down the pecking order at Lyon.
    Another position that needs strengthening is central mid field. If we can get Kagawa or Montolivo from fiorentina (who’s available on a free)and a box to box midfielder in the mold of a Martinez or a Tiote, (Hijack the Yann M’vila deal to arsenal). Someone who can project our back 4 at all times, thus enabling us to unleash our potent attack force… I say come next season we’d be golden!
    P.s – If Berba and Owen do leave, I can see Fergie chipping in with a bid for a striker too, with Hernandez and Welback still honing their craft, we need a clinical finisher. RVN our class finisher was never really replaced. Sigh. Oliver Giroud or Huntelaar perhaps? With a 15-20 million bid in there.
    So all in all,
    Lb – £6 million – Aly Cissikho
    Cm – £15 + £15 millon each on a defensive and playmaker (Martinez/Tiote/Montolivo/Kagawa)
    St – £15 – £20 million (Huntelaar/Giroud)
    Total – £56 million – player sales.

  6. zein says:

    Rvp sneidjer or kagawa and baines.

  7. milky says:

    I think a brilliant signing would be Keisuke Honda from CSKA moscow, he can play behind the strikers or out wide and is a proven Free kick taker – which we don’t exactly have right now.

    For the full back situation, I think baines is a pretty safe bet. But we are desperate for a Decent, and consistent Right back… Everyone has gone quiet over this kid but he is forever getting better – Gregory Van der Wiel.

    For our strike force, the answer is simple… loan Welbeck out to a champions league club, get rid of berba and owen, bring Giuseppe Rossi back to United.

  8. wee says:

    oh , pls what man u need is 2 center mid , 1 center back and a full back, or maybe a stiker but all this is full of rubbish , and the prices is too low to the selling club

  9. MissMU says:

    Wow!
    57Million only.. i tot its gonna be 100million?

    well as for me.. i’d go for these 4 new faces :

    1. jordi alba – 20million
    2. gaitan – 24million
    3. kagawa – 7 million
    4. lorente – 25million??

    Hazard has set his heart to City move..

  10. Jack says:

    Munian is a great player and would be a top signing but given the suggested budget it would be a waste at £30m (hell sanchez didnt even cost that.)

    it would be a waste as we have 3 main wingers and others that can cover if needed plus we have many other needs.

    Tiote would be a good signing, for me we need to go out and buy a triangle for our midfield.

    an attacking midfielder, a ball winner and a passer to replace scholes (even if he signs a knew deal.)

    we need to be finding stars rather than buying those with high price tags, i feel our scouting of midfielders has been a let down.