Who could/should United have signed to close the gap to City?

Tough question as I suppose you have to be realistic and go for players who actually concluded transfers.

Shaqiri I think would've made our right side stronger but you are talking maybe 3-6 points max.
Mahrez I think would've made it a lot stronger maybe 9 points as I think he's a top quality player.
Malcom would solve the right side but ready to be first choice at a top team? Big gamble but at least a specialist maybe 3-6 points.
Willian probably like Shaqiri improves us on the right because he's a quality player but mayve 3-6 extra points
Ronaldo obviously 20 point swing 100 plus points easy ha!

I can't think of a left back or right back that someone else signed who I think I wish we'd have got him same with centre backs really the top talent didn't really seem to move and the guys who have moved wouldn't really be an upgrade. The only one who did move was Bonucci but it sounds like he doesn't want to leave Italy so there's no chance of getting him, Barca got a guy from Sevilla Clement but I honestly don't know much about him.
 
I mean it's a tricky question. Alderwierald is one for sure. We absolutely had to get a CB this summer and we failed.

I think Fred will be a good signing but he needs to be given time to adapt to the EPL.

Beyond that? I think a RW was very much needed. Someone with pace who goes at players and can actually cross a ball. Someone who could just be direct and get us on the front foot.

I mean every summer we have hopes and dreams but this feels like the most disappointing summer I can remember. The Moyes one was bad, this one is right alongside it for me. We haven't backed Jose and he's left with a squad barely improved from last year. And with more rifts between players and the manager too.

To me it smacks of incompetence from Ed. And ultimately it'll end with Jose getting the sack or just walking. And tomorrow night the pressure will ramp up when we don't beat Leicester.

Yep sorry guys that's how I feel about this utter shambles of a summer. We haven't closed the gap on City. We face serious pressure from other members of the top 6 and it's a complete mess.
 
We know the areas in the team which should have been strengthed, but which players should United have signed, @RichH2016?

For me, Sandro at left back is the glaringly obvious one.
 
Alderweireld, Sandro and Dembele would have made it an unreal summer.

Clearly CB, LB and RW were areas we lack genuine quality in so those three above would have been the ideal.
 
A top class centre back would make the team better but I don't think it would necessarily close the gap to City.

If United's stance is not spend big on players who are in their late 20's - is the club right or wrong?

Dembele was probably unattainable.
 
A top class centre back would make the team better but I don't think it would necessarily close the gap to City.

If United's stance is not spend big on players who are in their late 20's - is the club right or wrong?

Dembele was probably unattainable.

I think the club is right but I think we need one in the defence to lead and organise them as I don’t think any of the current defenders do that and neither does De Gea.

The guys who are 28+ apart from Matic aren’t guys who’ve helped lead teams to titles I think there is a gap in the squad you need a balance of old heads, players in there peak years and those approaching peak years.

I don’t think signing lots of them is a good idea but I think the team needs one or two senior players who’ve been there done it having lost players like Rooney & Carrick in recent years. Valencia, Young, Fellaini, Mata, Herrera etc are the senior players but I don’t think anyone of them is a seasoned winner who knows what it takes. Valencia & Young have won titles but they weren’t key players in those seasons think you need players with a bit more clout leading the dressing room. That’s why I think Mourinho was desperate for an experienced CB.

Spot on with Sandro the rumours are Shaw said he’s not leaving wants to fight for a new contract or run down his contract and therefore club wouldn’t sanction buying a 3rd left back. Next summer both our LBs are out of contract and leaving for nothing.
 
Sandro, Alderweireld, Trippier, Rebic. On top of Fred. Along with young players hopefully improving we would have closed the gap.

I'd have let Shaw, Rojo, Darmian and Fellaini go, and would have left Dalot at Porto on loan to continue development.

I'm really disappointed we didn't get a left back (possibly a right back too but that'll depend on how good Dalot is) and also a proper right winger in, not one that's left footed cutting in but a proper right winger. Those 2 disappoint me the most. Rebic fit the bill on the right; tall, quick, strong, high work rate, technically gifted and loads of potential. Frankfurt bought him before the World Cup for €2m and after it he was worth €45m. I guess there were doubts over him but maybe if he carries on that World Cup form with a decent German club then maybe a January bid. I could have coped without a CB because we've bought 2 with potential in the past 2 summers and think we should back and work with them to improve them, I think Alderweireld would have been ideal to guide them along and even get more out of Smalling and Jones. I don't think we'll go back for Alderweireld now though, like Perisic last summer it was now or never.
 
We know the areas in the team which should have been strengthed, but which players should United have signed, @RichH2016?

For me, Sandro at left back is the glaringly obvious one.

Sandro at left back, yeah OK I mean he's a very very good player. Alderwierald at CB, that's another one that just makes sense. As for RW? I mean I don't know take your pick?

Bale? Willian? Or trust the scouting network and bring in a young exciting talent.
 
Haven't we been talking about this since about February?? Transfer window is closed now, time to move on.
 
Not good enough to play centre either. It’s a good place to get them minutes, as we have no one
 
Of the names mentioned in this thread only Sandro, Tripper and Bale would be significant upgrades. Bale was probably unattainable once Zidane and Ronaldo left Madrid. Trippier was possibly unattainable too due to Tottenham's situation unless the club paid over the top for him.
 
Spurs spent £25m on Aurier last summer I wouldn’t be surprised if a £50m bid like that of Walker to City would have been enough for Trippier. But even though he’s a cracking player I can’t stand him.
 
I think it would have taken a lot more than £50m to get Trippier as Spurs would have to replace him and as we found out there doesn’t seem to be a lot of top quality right backs around right now.

To me Sandro is the only one who was actually available that we should have gone for.
 
Trippier had a very good World Cup. I suspect he would cost more than £50m. Would Levy sell in a summer where Tottenham have made no signings?
 

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