United’s Potential Summer Signings Examined
Jack Rodwell
The young prospect on this list is player with great potential, a man who can play at centre-back and in defensive midfield, central midfield or attacking midfield. Unclear what his best position is, but some believe he has the potential to become another Roy Keane for United.
Potential Price: £15-25m
Verdict: I know there’ll be some stick for this but I feel that with United’s potential outlay probably standing at £20m or more on a goalkeeper alone if De Gea joins, we simply won’t be able to afford an outlay of up to £40m on Sneijder or £35m on Modric (Redknapp actually said he wanted £50m for Modric a few weeks ago). Therefore I’d sign both Adam and Rodwell from this list, adding another £23m to the £20m for De Gea.
Winger
A winger may well be a luxury rather than a necessity this summer, with Giggs, Valencia, Nani and Park already on the books but adding depth may well be useful given that, at times this season, players such as Fletcher, Hargreaves and Bebe have been pressed into service on the flanks.
Ashley Young
An exciting winger who can also play through the middle behind the striker, Ashley Young will only have a year left on his contract this summer and, with Giggs now at the age of 37, United will need a replacement soon.
Potential Price: £15m
Alexis Sanchez
Has set Serie A alight this season, firing in goal after goal for Udinese, as well as impressing for Chile at the World Cup. Was likened by Sir Alex to a young Cristiano Ronaldo.
Potential Price: £25-35m
Gareth Bale
The exciting young Welshman was recently voted Footballer of the Year by his fellow professionals and has been likened to a young Ryan Giggs.
Potential Price: £30m
Verdict: A winger is probably not essential, although if perhaps just one CM was signed, Young may also follow behind.
Signings: De Gea, Adam, Rodwell/Young
Total Outlay: £43 million
Even if Young were to be signed instead of Rodwell, is would not affect the total outlay of the club, which would still be £43m. I also wouldn’t rule out a striker being signed for £10-15m, making this a summer similar to 07/08.
Potential departures:
Van der Sar (Retired)
Scholes (Retired)
Owen (Free)
Kuzczak (£4m)
Diouf (£2m)
Berbatov (£15m)
If these departures occurred, United would recoup £21m in fees, making net spend £22m.
Please note, this is just my opinion about what may happen based on simple logic about the players who will retire (and therefore areas which need to be strengthened), but guessing what SAF will do is very difficult. The signings I suggested (De Gea, Adam, Rodwell/Young) would add immeasurable depth to United’s squad and provide potential for variation tactically, providing SAF with options. Feel free to disagree (as I’m sure many of you will), and leave comments below.
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Why has no one been talking about Alexis Sanchez…The kid is an amazing talent, hge has been setting seria A alight the last 2 season, the best winger in the league, easily. Big comparisons with ronaldo, but he crosses the ball better, however he doesn’t score as many as Ronaldo but he will get 8/14 goals per season.
Not only that Sanchez is a known Man United fan, he said last summer he’d love to join man utd. Problem is because he has had such a good season with Udinese (4th in league) his value has rocketed, last season around 20m now 30/£35m. But he’s worth it.
As for selling, Carrick has to go, he’s first on my list, i am bemused as to why Fergy offered him a new contract he’s utterly useless. He also makes massive mistakes that cost United goals in major games (Barelona final, Bayern QF and against Man city). Every says he is has a great pass, but he always gives the ball away, he cannot tackle, he doesn’t have a lethal shot, what does this guy add to united’s midfield?
Gibson, Brown, Macheda, Owen, Berbatov, Diouf (won’t cut it) can all go, we need a clear out.
There are 2 players must go, Carrick n Gibson. These 2 are totally junk! Gibson at most is wolve’s standard while Carrick is at most Sunderland standard.
Personally speaking i think we could do with a few going, reason i say that is it seems as though this is to be fergies last team/squad.so a clear out of players that have time and again been given chances and not taken them should go, the likes of Gibson,Obertan,Evans, along with players like Brown,Hargreaves,Owen,Carrick.Those coupled with retired players like VdS,Neville and in all likeliness Scholes, would tell me that aswell as promoting Morrison,Cleverley,Pogba and Welbeck, that fergie would want to leave behind a club that had everything in place to continue challenging for honours so I would imagine that Sneijder is a definate possibilty and we should not stop there!…getting a DM is also a top priority, now the point to all of this is does fergie buy for example a De Rossi(experience) or does he go for M’Vila(potential).
I wouldnt bother with Bale(far too pricey)and would rather we got Douglas or Hazard, and and the same with Young i would rather have Sanchez.
Between the keepers i actually would add Steklenburg to that as he is also a very good keeper and also at a good age!.
Exchange + cash Gibson for Adam…and my squad would read something like this:
Keepers:15-20m
?/Linsgaard/Amos
Defence:10-20m
Rafael/Fabio/Evra/O’Shea/
Rio/Vidic/Smalling/?(Thiago/Rolando/Cahill/Chellini)
Wingers:15-30m
Nani/Valencia/Park/Morrison/Giggs/?-(Sanchez/Hazard/Douglas/Young)
Midfield:10-30m
Sneijder/Anderson/Fletcher/Pogba/Cleverley/Adam/?-(De Rossi/Mascherano/M’Vila/Lass)
Strikers:20m
Rooney/Hernandez/Berbatov/Welbeck/? (Benzema/Cavani)
with the players sold and ronnies money…we can dream!
Neuer is going to Bayern Munich, havent you lot heard the news?!!!
Aaron- there is a 2nd page to this article which mentions Sanchez.
I don`t really fancy young I agree with degea,sniejder, and bale. anderson will go no where. diouf,obertan, gibson, owen, carrick, and berbatov should all leave
There is a theory going round that if we can win the champions league sir alex will step down. Let’s face it, when he does it will be a big shock – leave at the top – that’s why Neville retired & schools will too.
If we win it I think he’ll will step down & then who knows what will happen. If we don’t win the CL this year then I predict te following changes.
Macheda, cleverly & wellbeck return
Pogba & Morrison promoted
Sneijder – de gee & one more (hard tackling midfielder coming in) coming in
Berbatov – brown – obertan – owen – Thomas k – all transferred
Scholds – vds retire
Gibson – j Evans – loaned out
And honestly see Hargreaves given a pay as you play contract.
Final thought – no one has mentioned (dare I say it )
Drogba
Your analysis is very sound. The only flaw is you did not consider a defensive midfielder that can provide real cover for the defence. Rodwell has not proved himself in defensive midfield role. A defensive midfielder of the stature of Makelele/Viera/Hagreaves/Essien in their hey days is needed especially when Vidic and Ferdinand are not playing.