Mercato Team (Ausilio, Marotta, & Co.) and Strategies

[NimAraya]

With the players performing to their current form and DDA and Dimarco covering RCB and LCB well, I don't think we need any reinforcements in January. Unless an injury happens or someone leaves.

 

[Alex de Large]

I doubt Lazaro can be worst than the Dumkoey

 

[CafeCordoba]

In other words we ain’t buying anyone either

We might loan someone. Marotta talked how we need to be creative. We indeed won't have funds to invest but I'm sure try to loan if a need occurs.

 

[brehme1989]

Still too early to speculate on potentail targets.

I don't see anyone leaving. Maybe we'll loan out Vecino and/or Sensi and get someone to replace him. Hakan is staying, poor guy Eriksen is irrelevant in terms of squads, doubt that anyone will ask for Gagliardini. Vidal and Sanchez will definitely stick around if we're Scudetto bound unless we push them away.

Maybe someone with Rafinha's style (or himself) to rotate for the LCM spot. Maybe someone like Nandez who can play a wide MC role as well as the WBR to add pressure to Dumfries as well? We'll see. We don't even know who's available at the moment.

I don't think we'll go for a wide center back short term solution just in case, there's no urgency there.

 

[Materazzi_23]

Getting Nandez and Rafinha would be enough imo. Of course we always want more and better players but for the situation we are in right now I would settle for these two.

Maybe put in a cheeky bid for Belotti as his contract runs out in 6 months and we might put Gags or Satriano on loan in the deal.

 

[Il Drago]

There's also Van de Beek who has no future at Man Utd as long as Ole is there. There could probably be more players who aren't getting playing time at top clubs and could become available on loan. The issue is as things stand we have no squad spots available. Someone needs to go.

 

[Materazzi_23]

Van de Beek is heavily linked to Everton but I think he is to similar to Vidal/Barella. A midfielder who has good technique and will run all over the pitch but lacks the magic someone like Rafinha or Ziyech(who is linked to Milan) has.

But true we need to offload players. But I'm afraid players like Vecino or Gags will not leave this winter so we are stuck with them.

 

[NimAraya]

Is this Nandez guy even good as RWB? The only position which I think we might look for reinforcements is RWB, but I don't know if Nandez is even good in that role or not.

 

[brehme1989]

Van de Beek is heavily linked to Everton but I think he is to similar to Vidal/Barella. A midfielder who has good technique and will run all over the pitch but lacks the magic someone like Rafinha or Ziyech(who is linked to Milan) has.

But true we need to offload players. But I'm afraid players like Vecino or Gags will not leave this winter so we are stuck with them.

I would say he's more similar to Sensi than those two, he lacks grinta. But he's not as good as peak Sensi is, but he's better than what Sensi is now.

 

[CafeCordoba]

And Van de Beek feels more like off-the-ball midfielder than ball playing passer guy. He was perfect at that Ajax team, making those box runs etc

Not sure how well would he fit to this team. All the language differences etc. In these short term deals, those things matter too.

Anyway, the key is we can't add anyone without selling/loaning someone else.

 

[Materazzi_23]

I would say he's more similar to Sensi than those two, he lacks grinta. But he's not as good as peak Sensi is, but he's better than what Sensi is now.

Debatable really.

Sensi is a dribbler, very good with the ball while VDB is far better in tactical and spacial awareness. I only compared him to Barella/Vidal because of their work rate and box-to-box mentality. And yes he lacks grinta compare to those 2 players for sure.

Anyways I would prefer someone who can create some magic on the field, VDB is a player who needs a Sensi to feed him through balls etc.

 

[brehme1989]

Debatable really.

Sensi is a dribbler, very good with the ball while VDB is far better in tactical and spacial awareness. I only compared him to Barella/Vidal because of their work rate and box-to-box mentality. And yes he lacks grinta compare to those 2 players for sure.

Anyways I would prefer someone who can create some magic on the field, VDB is a player who needs a Sensi to feed him through balls etc.

True, I see Sensi as a player capable of doing all of that, but unfortunately it wasn't consistent. He's no Recoba who was a world beater when in form to keep him around for years.

I think Rafinha will definitely be available and I don't see PSG willing to add another player onto their squad really to cause hell over a loan deal. But I wouldn't support a deal that makes the move mandatory, at most I'd accept us taking him on until his contract runs in 2023. If he's not made of glass until then, we will keep him on.

 

[CafeCordoba]

According to Sky, Barella is gonna sign the extension tomorrow and it would require a miracle for Brozovic extension.

Interesting stuff about Brozovic. I've started to wonder if it's just the player who wants to change the scenery, simple as that. And the club decided this summer we rather keep him and not rock the boat anymore than what already happened than sell him and rock the boat af and risk losing top4 spot.

But let's believe in miracles.

 

[Il Drago]

We're in deep trouble if Brozovic doesn't extend. We can't afford spending big on his replacement and the best options on free agency are Zakaria and Kamara. Promising players but it remains to be seen if they are ready for the next step.

 

[Materazzi_23]

He's no Recoba who was a world beater when in form to keep him around for years.

I don't think we will ever see someone like Recoba ever again, what a sweet left footer he was. Doesn't get the credits he deserve.

 

[thatdude]

Nandez on loan seems to make sense because he it also hedges our bet on Dumfries. However, no way Cagliari let’s him come on loan without an obligation.

 

[thatdude]

We're in deep trouble if Brozovic doesn't extend. We can't afford spending big on his replacement and the best options on free agency are Zakaria and Kamara. Promising players but it remains to be seen if they are ready for the next step.

Maybe there is a little more money then we think. If the rumors regarding the offer for Vlahovic were true. The issue is we need to spend on more then one position and this adds to the list. The other issue is I don’t really see a lot of quality in the market for this position. Zakaria is attractive because he’s free but otherwise I don’t really think we’d be all that interested. Not even sure we’re interested now tbh.

 

[brehme1989]

Nandez on loan seems to make sense because he it also hedges our bet on Dumfries. However, no way Cagliari let’s him come on loan without an obligation.

I don't think we should mind that. Nandez is a player we'd be happy to have around.

 

[thatdude]

I don't think we should mind that. Nandez is a player we'd be happy to have around.

Right but all of our deadwood refuse to leave. We also now potentially have an issue with Brozo so we need someone in that position.

 

[brehme1989]

Right but all of our deadwood refuse to leave. We also now potentially have an issue with Brozo so we need someone in that position.

Vecino is leaving at the end of the season unless Marotta likes his company as well.

Expiring contracts:
Kolarov
Vecino
D'Ambrosio
Ranocchia
Vidal
Handanovic
Cordaz
Perisic
Brozovic

Brozovic is the only one under 30.

Problem here is that we're losing 3+1 starters like this, with Handanovic probably not being the starter next year even if he renews, Perisic, Brozovic, plus Vidal.

The good thing is, we're saving a lot of money.
The bad thing is, even if we end up with Bosman deals, the quality gap is evident, assuming we stick with a 3-5-2.

I mean, the 'frees' this summer will be a great class if it stays like this, as apart from our guys we have Mbappe, Dybala, Insigne, Pogba, Kessie and other ones like Lacazette, Dembele, Ginter, Boga, Sule, Romagnoli, Freuler, Zakaria, Belotti, Christensen, Rudiger, Luiz Felipe and so on... Not many are compatible with what we're losing.

You could briefly replace Handanovic with Onana. Or maybe even Lloris for a year.
You could try replacing Brozovic and Vidal with the likes of Zakaria and perhaps Freuler.

There's no WBL, you cannot get Insigne and slot him there. So we're either giving Dimarco the main job, buy/loan someone or find someone to be converted there, which will add to the cost.

It's all downgrades as well.

The good thing is that even in this case, the budget we free is quite significant, so unless another 20% decrease is ordered by the owners, we'll be in good shape. I see D'Ambrosio, Ranocchia and Handanovic staying with less, the rest should go.


All this shows is that losing Brozovic will be a very bad thing because he's not our only issue. Keeping him is going to be a lot of help because it also allows us to divert resources elsewhere.
As I said in another thread, I see us targeting Zakaria, Castrovilli and Paredes as anti-Brozovic candidates.