Surajit Das
Manchester United will undergo a massive summer reconstruction as new boss Erik ten Hag attempts to assert his control over an underperforming side. Both Manchester City and Liverpool have already acquired superstar forwards Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez this summer.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, and Nemanja Matic have all confirmed their departures from Old Trafford – being the only activity United has executed so far.
Ten Hag should have plenty of time to work with his new players if United can act quickly in the transfer market. In light of the many rumours, here are 11 possible summer additions for Manchester United.
Goalkeepers
David de Gea is one of the few players who emerged from the 2021/22 season with some credit at Old Trafford after a lacklustre season for most at United. Lee Grant has retired, necessitating a replacement. United academy alumnus and West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is one of the players under consideration.
Defenders
There is a potential for Manchester United to recruit Sergino Dest, an Ajax starlet who made his debut for Barcelona in a Ten Hag-inspired Ajax side.
There is a good chance that Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire will continue with the team in central defence. Pau Torres, on the other hand, is on the club’s radar and may offer England and French internationals a much-needed challenge.
Also of interest to Manchester United is Ajax right back Jurrien Timber, who was a stalwart under Ten Hag for the Dutch champions.
Midfield
As United’s most creative midfielder in 2021/22, Bruno Fernandes is expected to be a vital member of the squad in the following seasons.
United’s primary transfer target in the centre of the pitch is Declan Rice, although it is uncertain if the club can afford to splurge more than £100 million for a single player. Additionally, there have been ties to Frenkie de Jong.
The club has also been interested in Ivory Coast international Ibrahim Sangare. The 24-year-old has previously played in France and the Netherlands and is eager to take on a fresh challenge. He rated first in the league in tackles won, first in duels won, second in ball recoveries, and third in interceptions last season.
The club is also said to have made an approach to recruit Christian Eriksen, whose Brentford contract expires at the end of the month and is available on a free transfer. The Danish star might be heading to Qatar in November, with his country being favoured to advance to the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup, according to some of the biggest FIFA World Cup betting sites. Bet365 is currently paying 3/1, while Unibet’s price is slightly lower at 11/4.
Manchester United are reportedly interested in Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, according to 90 min. Since joining Wolves in 2017 from Porto, Neves has developed into one of the Premier League’s most exciting midfield players. The Portuguese is one of Wolves’ most important players and is expected to be another vital figure in the upcoming Fifa World Cup. This season, the 25-year-old has appeared in 36 games and scored four goals for Bruno Lage’s side.
Strikers
Cristiano Ronaldo will almost definitely stay for a minimum of one more season. Anthony Martial wants to leave Manchester United permanently after his previous experience with Spanish outfit Sevilla. On the other hand, Marcus Rashford is planning a monumental return to compensate for a disappointing 2021/22 campaign.
Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga are strong challengers for the wing positions, having recently shown streaks of quality and brilliance. Man Utd are also interested in Ajax’s Antony and Sebastien Haller. The latter has been unable to live up to his expectations in the Premier League while playing for West Ham. Nevertheless, he has restored his reputation in the last two seasons, scoring 32 league goals within 50 league appearances in the Dutch capital.
