How Manchester United could line up next season with three new signings
Whatever happens between now and the end of this season, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future for Manchester United's supporters.
Following the Ineos Group's 27.7 per cent investment in the club last month, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has grand ambitions to make United great again. He has already raided Manchester City for Omar Berrada, wants to appoint Dan Ashworth as the club's inaugural sporting director and dreams of building a brand-new stadium.
On the pitch, he dreams of returning United to their former glories, both domestically and in Europe. For either of those dreams to become a reality, he is going to have to invest in the squad, albeit wisely and sensibly, as he has already pointed out.
United drew up plans for this summer's transfer window as far back as September, pinpointing the key areas they have ambitions of bolstering. It is understood they identified the right-back spot, centre-back, central midfield and attack as areas that will require fresh blood.
United, of course, have spent lavish amounts of money in recent years, but have often been guilty of not spending it wisely. They have encountered more failures than successes in the transfer window since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.
Ratcliffe has already hinted at the direction he wishes to take United's recruitment, meaning they are expected to try and discover hidden gems and players with resale value. The Reds have spent big on established players in recent years, such as Raphael Varane and Casemiro, and they are both in danger of leaving M16 this forthcoming summer.
Varane is out of contract and Casemiro could be sold after an underwhelming second season at the club. If they both depart, they are key figures that will need replacing.
Starting in goal, there should not be any need for United to try and sign a first-choice goalkeeper ahead of next season. They swooped for Andre Onana to replace David de Gea last summer and he has improved as the campaign has developed, demonstrating why Erik ten Hag sounded him out as the ideal candidate to replace the Spaniard.
Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong is on United's radar to strengthen their right-back options, with the position having required fresh blood for some time. However, Diogo Dalot's recent form, provided he maintains it until the end of this season, could see him remain top of the pecking order. He has been one of the most consistent performers in recent months
In the event of Varane departing, he will need to be replaced with a long-term centre-back partner for Lisandro Martinez. Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is being monitored and would fit Ratcliffe's criteria, though he is unlikely to be cheap. Despite being left-footed, he is equally capable on his right to play in the right-sided centre-back berth.
Provided he can stay injury-free, Luke Shaw is good enough to remain United's first-choice left-back. However, it would be no surprise to see them consider signing an alternative option.
It is the defensive midfield berth that could require the most intense planning. It is a position that United have not had a long-term operative in for many years, meaning they need to find a player with the potential to make it their own.
As good as Casemiro was last season, he is not a long-term solution. United need a world-class destroyer to operate alongside Kobbie Mainoo, allowing him to strut his stuff without the fear of leaving his team exposed in the middle.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana is understood to be being monitored by the Reds, while they have been credited with interest in Wolves' João Gomes. Whoever the solution is to United's need for a defensive midfielder, he should operate alongside Bruno Fernandes and Mainoo in the middle.
If it wasn't for Alejandro Garnacho's impressive adaptation to the right-wing, United may have found themselves targeting the addition of a new right-winger as a leading priority ahead of the summer. Jadon Sancho's future at the club remains up in the air and Antony has not been good enough since his arrival from Ajax in September 2022.
Marcus Rashford should keep his place on the left-wing, but could benefit from some suitable competition. Pedro Neto of Wolves has occasionally been linked with a move to M16, but he would almost certainly command too high a fee to be treated as a back-up option.
As for the centre of the attack, there is no doubting United need to add another striker to their ranks, but Rasmus Hojlund should remain their main man. He will only get better.
Following the Ineos Group's 27.7 per cent investment in the club last month, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has grand ambitions to make United great again. He has already raided Manchester City for Omar Berrada, wants to appoint Dan Ashworth as the club's inaugural sporting director and dreams of building a brand-new stadium.
On the pitch, he dreams of returning United to their former glories, both domestically and in Europe. For either of those dreams to become a reality, he is going to have to invest in the squad, albeit wisely and sensibly, as he has already pointed out.
United drew up plans for this summer's transfer window as far back as September, pinpointing the key areas they have ambitions of bolstering. It is understood they identified the right-back spot, centre-back, central midfield and attack as areas that will require fresh blood.
United, of course, have spent lavish amounts of money in recent years, but have often been guilty of not spending it wisely. They have encountered more failures than successes in the transfer window since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.
Ratcliffe has already hinted at the direction he wishes to take United's recruitment, meaning they are expected to try and discover hidden gems and players with resale value. The Reds have spent big on established players in recent years, such as Raphael Varane and Casemiro, and they are both in danger of leaving M16 this forthcoming summer.
Varane is out of contract and Casemiro could be sold after an underwhelming second season at the club. If they both depart, they are key figures that will need replacing.
Starting in goal, there should not be any need for United to try and sign a first-choice goalkeeper ahead of next season. They swooped for Andre Onana to replace David de Gea last summer and he has improved as the campaign has developed, demonstrating why Erik ten Hag sounded him out as the ideal candidate to replace the Spaniard.
Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong is on United's radar to strengthen their right-back options, with the position having required fresh blood for some time. However, Diogo Dalot's recent form, provided he maintains it until the end of this season, could see him remain top of the pecking order. He has been one of the most consistent performers in recent months
In the event of Varane departing, he will need to be replaced with a long-term centre-back partner for Lisandro Martinez. Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is being monitored and would fit Ratcliffe's criteria, though he is unlikely to be cheap. Despite being left-footed, he is equally capable on his right to play in the right-sided centre-back berth.
Provided he can stay injury-free, Luke Shaw is good enough to remain United's first-choice left-back. However, it would be no surprise to see them consider signing an alternative option.
It is the defensive midfield berth that could require the most intense planning. It is a position that United have not had a long-term operative in for many years, meaning they need to find a player with the potential to make it their own.
As good as Casemiro was last season, he is not a long-term solution. United need a world-class destroyer to operate alongside Kobbie Mainoo, allowing him to strut his stuff without the fear of leaving his team exposed in the middle.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana is understood to be being monitored by the Reds, while they have been credited with interest in Wolves' João Gomes. Whoever the solution is to United's need for a defensive midfielder, he should operate alongside Bruno Fernandes and Mainoo in the middle.
If it wasn't for Alejandro Garnacho's impressive adaptation to the right-wing, United may have found themselves targeting the addition of a new right-winger as a leading priority ahead of the summer. Jadon Sancho's future at the club remains up in the air and Antony has not been good enough since his arrival from Ajax in September 2022.
Marcus Rashford should keep his place on the left-wing, but could benefit from some suitable competition. Pedro Neto of Wolves has occasionally been linked with a move to M16, but he would almost certainly command too high a fee to be treated as a back-up option.
As for the centre of the attack, there is no doubting United need to add another striker to their ranks, but Rasmus Hojlund should remain their main man. He will only get better.
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