This summer, the club should deal with the following, in order of importance:
1. Deciding what to do with Pogba.
His contract is up after the upcoming season, as the club triggered the last 1-year option. Its amazing that he's been here for 5 years, and the jury is still out on if he's been a success or not. On one hand, the expectations may have not been completely fair as his price tag wasn't his fault. He is a tremendously gifted player. Physically imposing while graceful with the ball, can ping a pass on a dime and by all accounts his teammates absolutely love him. And yet, there is a thought that he'd be better off moving on. Ole loves to play the 4-2-3-1 and Pogba ideally could use a try number 6 next to him in the holding roles, which allow him to go forward. Aside from an aging Matic, we do not have that. Mctominay and Fred do not have the positional discipline and though Mctominay was the only player to show up in the final, if we want to improve again on last season I think that position will have to be upgraded.
If Covid did not happen during last offseason, Pogba was a goner. Zidane wanted him at Real, and Juve fancied bringing him back. This summer the landscape looks different though as Zidane isn't at Real anymore and Juve just resigned Allegri. I'm sure Allegri would love to have him again but I don''t know if Juve have the funds available.
The worst case scenario is Pogba not renewing, winding down his contract, and going for free again. With each passing day, this unfortunately looks likely. I'd rather sign a 6 and keep him, but if he doesn't want to renew, selling him now is not the worst idea if the funds are used for new signings. The issue is who could afford and pay him...but he has the self proclaimed best agent in the world so...
2. New signings. Reports are the club wants a new RW, #6, CB, and striker if one becomes available.
After failing to sign Jadon Sancho last year, various outlets are saying United will go back in for him as he'd be cheaper this summer due to a combination of poor first half of the season, another year off his contract, and the covid economy. Sancho is the ideal marquee signing. He plays in a position of need, he's extremely young, and English. Signing Sancho would let Greenwood develop as a 9, learning one more year from Cavani.
There are other rumors that won't happen. I don't see Declan Rice coming, nor Varane. I won't pretend to know the scouting network of those two positions, but other rumored names have been Boubakary Soumare and Pau Torres. I also wouldn't mind Wilfred Ndidi.
3. Handling the keeper situation.
The club is in a tough spot here. De Gea was decent in stretches this year but his fall off is still such that he probably shouldn't be the #1 for a club with title aspirations, but he's also the highest paid goalkeeper in the world. Dean Henderson was given a run out and aside from a poor game against Liverpool was better than De Gea. However De Gea's contract makes it tough to deal him and off the top of my head I can't think of many big clubs looking for a keeper. PSG is always rumored but Navas is now beloved there and I'm not even sure De Gea is an upgrade.
You'll notice I haven't listed Ed Woodward's job opening up, nor anything about the owners. That's because, sadly, I expect nothing to change. The rumored names for Woodward's position are all Glazer stooges. The club will not be sold unless the government get involved.
My hope is that the owners want to have a successful transfer market to satisfy some of the fans. Joel Glazer is going to attend the fans forum on June 6th. The mad man. If he's smart, he'll make a few signings beforehand.
1. Deciding what to do with Pogba.
His contract is up after the upcoming season, as the club triggered the last 1-year option. Its amazing that he's been here for 5 years, and the jury is still out on if he's been a success or not. On one hand, the expectations may have not been completely fair as his price tag wasn't his fault. He is a tremendously gifted player. Physically imposing while graceful with the ball, can ping a pass on a dime and by all accounts his teammates absolutely love him. And yet, there is a thought that he'd be better off moving on. Ole loves to play the 4-2-3-1 and Pogba ideally could use a try number 6 next to him in the holding roles, which allow him to go forward. Aside from an aging Matic, we do not have that. Mctominay and Fred do not have the positional discipline and though Mctominay was the only player to show up in the final, if we want to improve again on last season I think that position will have to be upgraded.
If Covid did not happen during last offseason, Pogba was a goner. Zidane wanted him at Real, and Juve fancied bringing him back. This summer the landscape looks different though as Zidane isn't at Real anymore and Juve just resigned Allegri. I'm sure Allegri would love to have him again but I don''t know if Juve have the funds available.
The worst case scenario is Pogba not renewing, winding down his contract, and going for free again. With each passing day, this unfortunately looks likely. I'd rather sign a 6 and keep him, but if he doesn't want to renew, selling him now is not the worst idea if the funds are used for new signings. The issue is who could afford and pay him...but he has the self proclaimed best agent in the world so...
2. New signings. Reports are the club wants a new RW, #6, CB, and striker if one becomes available.
After failing to sign Jadon Sancho last year, various outlets are saying United will go back in for him as he'd be cheaper this summer due to a combination of poor first half of the season, another year off his contract, and the covid economy. Sancho is the ideal marquee signing. He plays in a position of need, he's extremely young, and English. Signing Sancho would let Greenwood develop as a 9, learning one more year from Cavani.
There are other rumors that won't happen. I don't see Declan Rice coming, nor Varane. I won't pretend to know the scouting network of those two positions, but other rumored names have been Boubakary Soumare and Pau Torres. I also wouldn't mind Wilfred Ndidi.
3. Handling the keeper situation.
The club is in a tough spot here. De Gea was decent in stretches this year but his fall off is still such that he probably shouldn't be the #1 for a club with title aspirations, but he's also the highest paid goalkeeper in the world. Dean Henderson was given a run out and aside from a poor game against Liverpool was better than De Gea. However De Gea's contract makes it tough to deal him and off the top of my head I can't think of many big clubs looking for a keeper. PSG is always rumored but Navas is now beloved there and I'm not even sure De Gea is an upgrade.
You'll notice I haven't listed Ed Woodward's job opening up, nor anything about the owners. That's because, sadly, I expect nothing to change. The rumored names for Woodward's position are all Glazer stooges. The club will not be sold unless the government get involved.
My hope is that the owners want to have a successful transfer market to satisfy some of the fans. Joel Glazer is going to attend the fans forum on June 6th. The mad man. If he's smart, he'll make a few signings beforehand.