Hunt for a new ST

[O 20,759]

Greenwood was the future. Not anymore.

Martial is on loan at Sevilla and might end up staying there permanently if it's a successful spell.

Cavani turns 35 in a few days and is rumoured to be returning to South America to finish his career.

Ronaldo turns 37 this month. Even if we do secure CL football, he can't be our main ST next season.

So we basically need a new ST as much as we need a DM.

Some options:

• Erling Haaland - Likely to join Real
• Harry Kane - Turns 29 in July and would be expensive
• Alexander Isak - Arsenal want him to replace Aubameyang
• Amine Gouiri - Fnally showing his quality after leaving Lyon for Nice
• Lautaro Martínez - Inter's prize asset
• Patrik Schick - Attainable
• João Félix - Likely to leave Atlético
• Paulo Dybala - Available on a free
• Darwin Núñez - 20 goals for Benfica already this season
• Memphis Depay - Barcelona are looking to sell

 

[Alexander 227]

I'm probably in a minority of one when I say this, but I'm so relieved that Haaland is not coming to United. 

He'll probably be a star wherever he goes, but I'm so tired of mercenaries and entitled twats. That's a decent list, you could add Victor Osimhen to it, but that's beside the point. Ideally, we get a goalscorer who I have never heard of or who I'm only fleetingly aware of. That's the barometer of good recruitment for me. Preferably someone who runs and presses and has more to their game than mere goal-poaching.

 

[CB78 395]

My money’s on the board sorting out DM / midfield in the summer but then leaving us short up front going in to season 

Manchester evening news exclusive - Sep 1st, 2022- “Why Man UTD didn’t sign a striker”

Trust the process these guys know what they’re doing 

[Albert Quixall 3,910]

1 hour ago, CB78 said:

My money’s on the board sorting out DM / midfield in the summer but then leaving us short up front going in to season 

Manchester evening news exclusive - Sep 1st, 2022- “Why Man UTD didn’t sign a striker”

Trust the process these guys know what they’re doing 

So leaving us short up front going into next season is evidence that the board know what they're doing? Sorry but your logic escapes me.

[hdcantona 9,140]

I hear that Julian Alvarez is a cracking prosp-- never mind

[TheManc 4,063]

I actually think the new manager will stick with Martial for another year.

[O 20,759]

15 minutes ago, TheManc said:

I actually think the new manager will stick with Martial for another year.

It's rare that an established 1st team player goes out on loan and then returns to become a starting player again.

Look at Real & Barcelona i.e. James, Kovačić, Bale, Gomes, Coutinho, etc.

I think he'll end up loving life in Spain. They're treating him like a God so far.

[JJtheRed 7,200]

Could you class Felix as a striker? 
 

I’d bet Ralf would have an Ace up his sleeve - the board would fob him off, anyway… 

[O 20,759]

1 minute ago, JJtheRed said:

Could you class Felix as a striker? 
 

I’d bet Ralf would have an Ace up his sleeve - the board would fob him off, anyway… 

He's not an attacking midfielder. More of a second striker or False 9.

I actually think he'd be perfect for City. False 9.

[CB78 395]

12 hours ago, Albert Quixall said:

So leaving us short up front going into next season is evidence that the board know what they're doing? Sorry but your logic escapes me.

ermmm-   sarcasm mate?    board don't have scooby  IMO

[Albert Quixall 3,910]

Mbappe would be a dream signing but it won't happen. Haaland will go to the bitters or Real, Kane won't leave Spurs. Memphis won't come back to United if he's got any sense. We'll probably sign Danny Ings.

[JJtheRed 7,200]

Think Mbappe has signed a pre-contract with Madrid

[Albert Quixall 3,910]

50 minutes ago, JJtheRed said:

Think Mbappe has signed a pre-contract with Madrid

Then Haaland will go to City or one of the oil clubs. Maybe PSG will replace Mbappe with him. as I can't see Real buying two big name strikers. United is still a draw for players but not the young elite ones. As much as I like Cavani and Ronaldo, they are really stop-gaps. Isn't there anyone in the academy who can step up?

[Deez Nutz 379]

Going on form, probably someone in their twilight, Lewandowski or Benzema!

[JJtheRed 7,200]

48 minutes ago, Deez Nutz said:

Going on form, probably someone in their twilight, Lewandowski or Benzema!

More short-termism 

Then what after? 

[Deez Nutz 379]

1 hour ago, JJtheRed said:

More short-termism 

Then what after? 

With the Glazer's, don't expect a What after!

[parksey 1,082]

I could see us going for someone like Jonathan David.

Seems to be doing well in France and there's the marketing potential in Canada.

Feel like any of the true big hitters wouldn't give us the time of day if they were being serious.

Apart from that Martinez could be a great signing, I like Schick and Dybala is class but it would require some tactical aerobics to fit him and our other key players into the same side.

[O 20,759]

4 hours ago, parksey said:

I could see us going for someone like Jonathan David.

Seems to be doing well in France and there's the marketing potential in Canada.

Feel like any of the true big hitters wouldn't give us the time of day if they were being serious.

Apart from that Martinez could be a great signing, I like Schick and Dybala is class but it would require some tactical aerobics to fit him and our other key players into the same side.

Yeah, David is quality. Real are supposedly eyeing him up if they can't sign Haaland.

[rezzy 4,715]

We tend to leave things late, or let other teams scout, buy, test and then we pay them 3 or 4 times what they originally spent.

Denis Undav recently signed with Brighton, i know hes playing in Belgium, but he would have been a cheap gamble and he has 19 goals and 10 assists in 27 games this season. Wouldnt have cost us more than 6m. We tend to not go for these types of signings anymore, we only look at the bigger leagues and spend way over the odds.

I'm surprised we werent looking to spend 70m on Vlahovic. 

Darwin Nunez is probably a good bet. We should raid a few teams in Portugal. Just got full on Wolves strats.

Another player in Belgium i'd keep an eye on is Charles De Ketelaere, he's only 20 but hes highly rated and ive ran into him a fair bit in FM. He's got 10 goals and 7 assists this season in 20 games.

As it stands, you have a lot of top forwards over 30 years of age, 2 world class forwards who are probably both going to Madrid (or Erling to City) and then you have a lot of middle of the line forwards either underwhelming at top clubs, playing for lesser leagues (and being overlooked).

Arthur Cabral, 23, Brazilian and just signed for Fiorentina to replace Vlahovic. He's scored 14 in 18 league games, 13 in 12 European matches (Europa and Conference). Surprised again, more teams werent willing to take a gamble on him.

TLDR - Raid Portugal and Belgium. But also, theres not really much standout options out there beyond the big names.

[rezzy 4,715]

Karim Adeyemi might be a decent replacement for Martial/Greenwood.

Only issue is getting young German players to sign for you over Dortmund/Bayern.

[JJtheRed 7,200]

Think we should focus ‘middle of the line’ and hope we get a rough diamond…

We’re at the point where no top level striker who’s serious about doing something in their career would come anywhere near us. 

Being glad / grateful for the opportunity  now has to be a pre-requisite. That’s where we’re at, now 

[Alexander 227]

I'm surprised Nkunku never gets a mention. I never watched him play but he's posted good numbers. It's true Leipzig are a rich club and he'd command a hefty fee, but I don't think he's impossible to get.

EDIT: My bad, he's an 'attacking midfielder'

EDIT2: I'd take this kind of option to be honest, I always liked an interchangeable forward line

Edited February 3, 2022 by Alexander
River of consciousness

[SimplyGiggs 5,154]

I know it's a circus waiting to happen but the club should at least attempt at Haaland. He is going to be the best goalscorer in Europe for the next decade.

[O 20,759]

17 minutes ago, SimplyGiggs said:

I know it's a circus waiting to happen but the club should at least attempt at Haaland. He is going to be the best goalscorer in Europe for the next decade.

It seems to be a shootout between City & Real for Haaland.

Hopefully Rangnick is allowed some input on the matter and can use his network to identify a young talent like Patson Daka or Karim Adeymi (Haaland's replacement).

 

[Deez Nutz 379]

2 hours ago, SimplyGiggs said:

I know it's a circus waiting to happen but the club should at least attempt at Haaland. He is going to be the best goalscorer in Europe for the next decade.

Unfortunately, I can't think of A reason that would bring him here, unless he's playing for another club!