With our pool of CMs i don't see us being in the market for someone to play in that area. If we were to buy a RWF who can also play CAM to cover Kulusevski then we are covered imo - that allows us to use 352 with two CFs and a creative player behind should we want/need to and we won't be left short in 343 if Kulu is out. I'm pretty sure that's how Conte sees it anyway.
RWB obviously an area to upgrade assuming that we are planning on moving on 2 of our current three before the start of next season.
Starting CCB & LCB the other areas of priority and a GK too.
Contrary to popular opinion i would have CCB as no.1 priority for January - an extra footballing defender to play alongside Romero and Davies/Lenglet would should allow Conte to play Doherty or Spence in the 2nd half of the season.
Same for me as well. I think we'd be up within a point or two of Arsenal if we had another central defender of similar quality to Romero.
I think over the next two windows we
need....
(At least one) Centre back - I think we really need this player in January to give us a decent chance of CL qualification.
A bona-fide first choice RWB (Dumfries would be perfect but I think the price and competition for him will be too big).
Another option to play RWF (I think this can probably wait until next summer)
A new GK.
A creative midfield option. I'd love Maddison as I think he could give this team and squad loads.
That's 5 players in 2 windows, which should definitely be easily doable in terms of pure numbers.
The problem is that we're not really going to be raising any money from selling those that aren't really good enough to be here like Sanchez, Tanganga, Royale, Doherty, Moura and Gill. Which means we might need to be looking to the bosman and <18 months left on contract market. For reference here are some of the players in those positions who will be in that circumstance come January....
Goalkeepers:
2024: Pickford, David Reya
Centre backs:
2023: Skriniar, Ndicka, Tosin Adarabioyo, De Vrij, Marquinos
2024: Bastoni, Lucas Hernandez, Pau Torres, Badiashile, Nico Elvedi, Mohammed Salisu, Matip
Right Wing Backs:
2023: Dalot, Stephane Singo,
2024: Pavard, Max Aarons
Attacking midfeilders
2023: Tielemans, Kamada, Thomas Lemar, Ruslan Malinovskyi,
2024: Maddison, Zielinkski, Olmo
Wide forwards
2023: Rashford, Zaha, Asensio, Tsygankov, Memphis Deepay, Adama Traore, Sergi Canos
2024: Ousmane Dembele, Pulisic, Zaniolo, Lozano, Nico Williams, Ismalia Sarr, Rayan Cherki