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The three players Man Utd MUST sign after disappointing Fulham draw
Analysis
Man Utd have failed to beat Fulham, getting held 1-1 at Craven Cottage.
It's the first time since 2009 that Man Utd haven't won away to Fulham, ending a run of eight straight victories. The result also leaves United winless after two games this season.
While they played well a week ago against Arsenal, today the performance was embarrassingly bad and highlighted the drastic need Man Utd have for more signings in the transfer market.
Current ETV
Gianluigi Donnarumma
GK
PSG
Gianluigi Donnarumma
GK
PSG
ETV Range
€21.4M - €26.2M
New signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have looked effective so far this season, raising the performance level of the team. But with Benjamin Sesko only being eased into things, they clearly need more help to get things going in key positions across the pitch.
What are those key positions of need? And who are players that could help Man Utd fill them? FootballTransfers has a look!
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma (or Senne Lammens)
The biggest and most obvious need for Man Utd is in goal. The defeat to Arsenal only happened because Altay Bayindir was so miserably weak in the air that he palmed a Declan Rice corner onto the head of Riccardo Calafiori. Compare that to when United tested David Raya in a similiar situation and the Spaniard just thumped it clear.
And while Bayindir wasn't at fault for the Fulham equaliser today, he was still miserably weak. Fulham targeted him from corners the way Arsenal did and only some desperate defending from the Red Devils and Fulham's own profligacy stopped them from scoring at least one goal due to their weak goalkeeper.
Bayindir doesn't have what it takes to keep goal for Man Utd, and the alternative option to him is the never-ending comedy that is Andre Onana, and no one needs to see that again.
Man Utd have been linked with a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma due to the Italian stopper's discontent at PSG. He's also being linked to Man City, but he is so incompatible with the way Pep Guardiola plays football that move hardly makes any sense.
STATS
Gianluigi Donnarumma
GK
PSG
Gianluigi Donnarumma
GK
PSG
Ruben Amorim's system doesn't need a ball-playing goalkeeper, so Donnarumma's shot-stopping box dominance would shine. Obviously the wages (around £200,000 a week, allegedly) would be obscene, but the transfer fee (below €50 million) is very fair given how much he would save the club.
If Donnarumma does choose City, however, United need not fret and should turn their attention to Belgian teenager Senne Lammens.
Current ETV
Senne Lammens
GK
Antwerp
Senne Lammens
GK
Antwerp
ETV Range
€9.8M - €12M
The Anderlecht stopper stands a mountainous 6'5 and is dripping with potential. The only weakness is of course that, due to his youth, he may not have the mental stature to walk in and dominate the way Man Utd need their goalkeeper to do. But honestly, at this point, anyone would be an improvement!
CDM: Lucien Agoume
Against Arsenal, Casemiro rolled back the years and put in a top-class display. He dominated Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi for an hour before being subbed off for Manuel Ugarte, taking Man Utd's excellence with him.
Today against Fulham, Casemiro was still good but not quite as sharp. And once again was removed early and replaced, initially by Mason Mount and then by Ugarte again, and once again whatever semblence of football United had went with the Brazilian.
Current ETV
Casemiro
DM, M (C)
Man Utd
Casemiro
DM, M (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€6.4M - €8.7M
Man Utd are desperate for a defensive midfielder. Someone who can replace Casemiro, who can protect Bruno Fernandes, someone who can be such an effective pivot that Ruben Amorim even feels confident enough to give the brilliant youngster Kobbie Mainoo some minutes.
The Red Devils have been after Carlos Baleba, but with so many other positions needing to be strengthened, Brighton's asking price of at least €120 million has put United off bidding properly this summer.
But they do still need someone this summer.
Enter Lucien Agoume. The French U-21 international has been impressing for Sevilla, and he has a release clause of around €30 million. Physically imposing, he also has superb defensive instincts and ability, knowing where and when to make key interventions to protect his team.
Current ETV
Lucien Agoumé
M, DM (C)
Sevilla
Lucien Agoumé
M, DM (C)
Sevilla
ETV Range
€7.9M - €10.7M
He's not exactly Baleba, but for a United side trying to spread the money around? He would most assuredly get the job done and ensure the Red Devils don't spend every game sweating on if 33 year-old Casemiro can play 90 minutes (spoiler: he can't).
LWB: Alexander Prass
Patrick Dorgu is a solid defender. Blessed with impressive physical traits and a keen sense of defensive awareness, Dorgu is a reliable left wing-back for Man Utd. When the team is in full flow and everything is working through Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, while Lisandro Martinez is in the team to run the build-up play from the left side of defence, Dorgu will provide a nice counterweight to all the ball-dominant players.
However, when none of that is the case, like it is now, Dorgu's stodgy play on the ball and woefully inconsistent ball-carrying makes him a monstrous liability. Watching Dorgu and Luke Shaw try to play football together on the same flank is like watching two cats trying to operate an iPad. It's agonising.
United need an alternative to Dorgu who can, to borrow an Americanism, "create their own shot" - a player who can dribble with the ball and thus doesn't need complex passing patterns to release them into space so they can cross or shot.
Most players who can do that and defend with enough competence to play wing-back are untransferable, but Alexander Prass over at Hoffenheim could be an underrated gem.
Current ETV
Alexander Prass
D (L), M (CL)
Hoffenheim
Alexander Prass
D (L), M (CL)
Hoffenheim
ETV Range
€8M - €10.8M
The Austrian has the athleticism to cope with the physical demands of playing wing-back, and has the dribbling technique and skill to absolutely "create his own shot" when left 1-v-1.
Prass is a player of immense tactical intelligence, possessing a keen vision that means he's even comfortable drifting into central areas with the ball. For United he would provide a genuine alternative to Dorgu, someone who could come in and be an active creator rather than an impressive counterweight.
Most importantly, he wouldn't cost a fortune either.
In fact all three of these signings could be made for less than Carlos Baleba would cost himself, and they would help Ruben Amorim plug the massive holes in his team.
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Premier League
Man Utd
Alexander Prass
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Lucien Agoume
Senne Lammens
