With the new additions in Manchester United’s forward line, I think going forward our team is pretty much set for the next few years. Maybe only needing one or two additions to add squad depth and competition.
While adding Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko has massively improved our front three, Amad and Dorgu from wingback I think should also be included as part of our attacking unit. I am very hopeful that both of them can continue to grow and improve into really exciting players for us.
Beyond those 5, we have some depth with the likes of Mount (who is looking reborn again over pre-season and the start of this year, hopefully he can stay fit), Bruno and Zirkzee. While I think we will look to develop young players from the academy as depth in the wingback positions with Amass, Leon and Mantato all being coached for these roles.
Where we need to focus now is the midfield and defence. Baleba has been linked and apparently that has been kiboshed by Brighton, yet I wouldn’t completely rule it out yet this summer. It could be (wishful thinking maybe) that the clubs have agreed to present a public appearance that the deal is off while Brighton bring in a replacement. An agreement that would suit both sides as it allows United to focus on selling players this week and bringing cash in while Brighton sign their replacement, only for Baleba to join United in the final days of the window. I believe something similar happened with Caicedo’s move to Chelsea.
However, if Baleba isn’t joining this summer then it presents a bit of a dilemma for United. Do we wait on trying to sign him next summer, and hope that our early move for him has convinced him to pick us over what will probably be better offers next summer (Liverpool and City rumoured) . Or do we sign someone else this summer to solve the midfield issues.
Given our weakness in midfield (struggle to get the right balance) along with Collyer heading out on loan I don’t think we can risk not signing a player this summer. It would be crazy to put all our eggs in the Baleba basket for next summer.
If we are to sign a midfielder this summer that isn’t Baleba then do we try and find someone with similar qualities, which might rule out a move for Baleba next summer, or do we sign someone who could complement Baleba.
Baleba is a strong ball winner, good in the air and can bulldoze his way through midfield carrying the ball. If we are to sign a player to complement him then we need a calmer, ball playing option. Someone who will sit deeper and control the tempo with his passing, while also being capable of doing their fair share of defensive work.
To that end we have been linked with Wharton, Hjulmand, and Hackney while I’d also consider Lamine Camara from Monaco. All of which can be that ball playing midfielder who can progress the ball with his passing. Yet personally I have slightly concerns over the physicality/ athleticism of all of them. Both Camara and Hackney are not the tallest and won’t win many aerial duels, Hjulmand is physical strong and tall, but is kind of slow, for me he is a Nemanja Matic regen, while Wharton has shown himself to be susceptible to picking up injuries, does he have the durability?
My other issue with this option is that I’m not sure this type of player actually suits the team Amorim is building for the EPL. This United side he is building seems far more geared towards quick transitions and counter pressing than sustained possession. Is that due to the players he has, or has he decided that the team needs to be more that way to be successful in the EPL?
He speaks about having more controlled possession, but he doesn’t pick players that suit what he’s saying, nor do we seems to be targeting that sort of player (none of Cunha, Mbeumo or Sesko have played for possession focused teams, and none of them typically play that way) . While we don’t want a ball playing, passing keeper which tends to be the go to for possession heavy sides.
We then have to ask is whether signing that sort of midfielder this summer solves the issues out midfield will have THIS season? Does Wharton or Hackney come in and be a good first choice partner for any of Bruno, Mainoo, Casemiro or Ugarte?
I’m not sure they do, I think that many of the same issues we have when pairing any of our current midfielders together would still exist if we added a Wharton, Hackney, or Hjulmand to the squad.
Which brings me to the obvious choice, if we are unable to sign Baleba this summer then we should try and sign a very similar player to him. That doesn’t rule out trying to sign him next summer, in fact if we signed Baleba this summer I still think we would need to sign another similar player to him next summer as competition anyway. Amorim wants the same sort of things from both his starting midfielders. I also suspect that unless Ugarte has a phenomenal season this year then he’ll be moved on next summer and we’d need a defensive, ball winning alternative signed to replace him.
If we can get Baleba this summer then great, as he’s the perfect option and a bit of a unicorn of a player. If we can’t then we should look to sign a similar player in terms of profile. The closest option I can find would be Lucien Agoumé from Sevilla. Tall, strong, quick, he ticks the athletic box, good in the air and successful at dribbling the ball through midfield, tick and tick (although not as good at either as Baleba is) . However, so far at least I think Agoumé has shown himself to be slightly better on the ball with his passing range.
Agoumé could also be available for a very reasonable fee (20-25m touted), but even upto 30m he’d still represent great value. Then next summer we could look to bring in Baleba with Ugarte likely to be moved on.