I'm amazed people rank CM above RWB in terms of priority.
Our ball progression has been fine with Bentancur and Hojbjerg. Conte's midfield 2 are required to be workhorses. Sure, we could add a bit more quality in there but it can't be at the expense of work rate and defensive awareness.
The wingbacks are our outball and constantly find themselves in good positions to deliver. It would be amazing if someone put together a compilation of all their failed deliveries from good positions - we'd have 10-15 more goals.
Not saying we need TAA and Robertson but get two wingbacks with composure who can pick out a man consistently and we will be flying.
I said specifically -
(70 mEUR) CM would start every game, and he would be first pick.
In attacking position we have Son and Kane (both worth way more than 70 mil and established world class).
So first of all - there was no argument whatsoever with getting RWB in.
Question was either to spend 70 mil for CM or ST. As things stand CM would make lot more difference.
Which brings me to my 2nd point.
"Our ball progression has been fine with Bentancur and Hojbjerg. Conte's midfield 2 are required to be workhorses."
I am not sure if I have seen statement I agree less with. Our ball movement is absolutely sub-par if we really aim for even top 3 in EPL or past first play-off stage in CL. Which should be our minimal aims. Ball progression happens - that much we can agree on. But ball progression also happens if CB / GK just blindly shoots the ball upfield. I am not saying it currently is that bad with us - no, it is not. But come on - look at us playing against teams that defend with low block. And then look at what situations do our attacking players receive the passes.
Ability to play quick, most harmful (for defending side) and accurate passes is something we do lack.
This comes together with ability to retain possession under pressure and control the tempo of the game. For that PEH and Bentancur are okay as squad options. One out of the two can even start - I am not saying that they would be shit. But if we use those two together, we cannot control the tempo enough and we cannot find attacking players in as good positions as we would need.
We absolutely need wingbacks. And in long run their delivery quality has been poor. On that we are on totally same page. At the same time, if we aim high we desperately need additional quality in CM area as well. To be able to retain possession better, to change the tempo of the game, to push inventive and accurate balls over/through opposition defense.
And to end my rant, I would put a clichee out there - "Midfield is where games are won and lost". So on wingback front we should and will improve, but area which impacts the whole game and performance across the field is midfield. Where we also need reinforcements. And usually high quality CMs tend to cost more than high quality wingbacks. Heck, Conte turned Moses into wingback - now show me who has taken random physically capable player and made him into quality playmaker / press resistant CM ?