For the last 2 seasons the squad has looked desperately lacklustre and looking like it needs 3/4 top quality players to be able to consistently compete with top clubs. I genuinely think the club has tried hard to sort the issue of the playing staff, we have attracted some world class players such as Falcao, Di Maria and Schweinsteiger but for various reasons they haven't performed to the world class standard we have needed. It is not easy to adapt to the English game, and a lot of very, very good players come to the Premier League and just cant perform.
We have also signed some very good players. Ed Woodward has been criticized heavily, and I think its always easy to look at the negative signings he has made, but he signed Martial and kept De Gea for one more year! One thing is for sure, this summer we need an almost perfect transfer window, by getting a world class CB, CM and a CF and not selling too many players.
Centre Back is probably the position that we need strengthening most. Since Vidic left United I don't think we have ever looked convincing at the back. Although Smalling has played very well this season, the partnership in defence is very important and I think he needs a world class, and experienced Centre Back alongside him to further improve his own game and stability of the back 4. Leonardo Bonucci is the one that I would do everything to sign this summer. At the heart of Juventus' defence he has lead them to league titles and a champions league final in 5 years. At 29 years of age I think he could bring the experience and a certain aggression that we have missed at the back since Vidic left in 2013. He would cost in the region of £20-25 Million, and he has been linked with a move to the premier league with Chelsea often seen as leading the race for the Italian. But if we got in quick and with the possibility of champions league football, I think we could get him and that would sure up the defence a bit more for next season.
Centre midfield also still looks like it lacks something. I don't think defensively, as Schneiderlin for me is our out and our defensive midfielder and I think he's good enough. Someone that I have always rated very highly, and who I think could be realistic is Luka Modric. One of the best passers of the ball in Europe, and I think we still lack a creative, forward thinking passer. Also Real Madrid are a club who always want the galactico or the fashionable signing, and midfield is an area they will be strengthening in the summer, with Pogba or Gundogan potentially being the galactico. With Kroos, Casemiro, James, Isco and Kovacic already at the club playing in the centre of the midfield, they will have to surely let 1 or 2 go. I think one will be Modric and the other Casemiro. Modric has proven himself in Europe's toughest leagues in the Premier League and La Liga and for me is still one of the best, and underrated midfielder's in world football. Again I think he will cost in the region of £20-25 Million, but worth every penny. Still has 2-3 years at his peak and won't need anytime to settle into the league, having already extensively played in it with Spurs.
I also think that we need another CF because I to strongly challenge for titles you need 3/4 top, top strikers. In Martial we have that, and I think Rashford shows huge promise, but he cannot yet be called a top player. With Rooney seemingly now playing on a deeper role that leaves us with very little out and out forwards. Antione Griezmann is the striker I would bring to the club. Right now there are very few strikers in Europe that better him. 31 goals and 6 assists for Atletico Madrid this season and often playing as a winger shows he knows where the goal is. Also the versatility of Griezmann is also important. He can play anywhere across the front line and the wings and in the modern game with injuries occurring frequently, versatility is important. His brother, Theo Griezmann also tweeted in April saying "glory, glory man united", this of course should be taken with a pinch of salt, but could the possibility of linking up with fellow Frenchman, Anthony Martial be enough to persuade him? However, he won't be cheap by any means and could cost between £45-55 Million. But in today's transfer market I think we should pay up and secure one of the best forwards in Europe at the moment.
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