As the curtain falls on another disappointing season at the Theatre of Dreams, Manchester United are set to welcome their fifth permanent manager in 9 years. Erik Ten Hag will join the Reds in the summer and has a mountain of a job ahead of him. The past decade has rarely been easy for the supporters of the 20-time champions of England; however, fans will be clinging to the small glimmer of hope that somehow this time things might just be different. Ten Hag comes off the back of 5 successful seasons at Ajax, giving United reason to be cautiously optimistic. For the Dutchman to be successful, it’s imperative that the club’s hierarchy support him in his attempts to build a squad capable of matching the supporters’ lofty ambitions.
Across the current season, it’s been all too obvious that a good portion of the United squad either; a) don’t want to be here, b) aren’t good enough for United or c) all of the above. Ten Hag will need to quickly identify those who fit into the above categories and find suitable replacements for them. Or it could all quickly end with him receiving an early P45 form before he’s even unpacked. With all that said here’s a look into the main areas of the squad that need improving along with some of the players that could fit the mould. I could list several positions here and write 20,000 words about players, but we’d be here all day. Instead, I’ve tried to prioritise 3 main positions that I think would immediately improve the squad.
Defensive Midfield
For too long United have been crying out for a midfielder who can sit in front of the back four. Someone to help provide defensive cover by breaking up play and protecting the defence. With Ten Hag’s preference of using a 4-3-3 formation, a “number 6” midfielder is an absolute must-sign this summer. In another life, Nemanja Matic would have been ideal to do the job long term. But United picked him up too late and never got the best years out of him. With the Serbian having played his last game at Old Trafford, it’s crucial that an appropriate replacement is acquired.
Declan Rice – West Ham
Declan Rice’s meteoric rise this season has of course seen him linked with a move to United amongst other clubs. The young Englishman has proven himself to be a tenacious, intelligent, and adept midfielder, capable of disrupting opposition attacks and driving his team forward on the counter. He’s cemented himself in a David Moyes side responsible for one of West Ham’s best seasons in recent memory. He’s almost everything United have been missing in their midfield and would without a doubt improve the side.
However, West Ham have seemingly slapped a £100m+ price tag on the heir to Mark Noble’s throne. As we’ve seen with certain players, price tags this hefty can affect mentality and hinder their performances. Couple that with the pressure that already comes with playing for Manchester United and he would almost be set up to fail before he’d even kicked a ball at Old Trafford.
Furthermore, West Ham could find themselves playing Champions League football next season; if they manage to complete their run in this years’ Europa League and lift the trophy. With United’s chances of qualifying for a place amongst Europe’s elite all but a mathematical impossibility, it’s doubtful that Rice would abandon his opportunity to represent his boyhood club during their maiden campaign in the Champions League. That’s a lot of hypotheticals but it seems unlikely that Rice will playing at Old Trafford next season.
Aurélien Tchouameni – AS Monaco
Monaco seemingly have an innate ability of identifying brilliant young talents and showcasing them to the world. Tchouameni is one of the latest names to add to that list. Identified during his time at Bordeaux, the young Frenchman has become one of the most exciting young talents in Europe. His ability to read the game, commit to successful tackles and intercept opposition play would see him as a vital competent in Erik Ten Hag’s 4-3-3. He would provide some much-needed protection and security in front of an inconsistent back four.
At 22, his best years lie ahead of him and were United to secure his signature they would be acquiring a talent who is arguably only going to get better. With a reported price tag of £60m, he is much more affordable than Declan Rice. Yet, the issues with this signing could potentially lie with a current United midfielder. Being a young French Midfielder, it’s possible that Tchouameni would speak to Paul Pogba about any potential move to Manchester. Given the current sour relationship between Pogba and the fans; it’s unlikely he would give a glowing report of his time at United. However, with rumours circulating that Monaco’s Sporting Director, Paul Mitchell could be on his way to Old Trafford; there is hope that Tchouameni might follow him across the Channel.
Boubacar Kamara – Marseille
Sticking in Ligue 1, this is the one that almost makes too much sense for United to make it happen. 22-year-old Frenchman, Boubacar Kamara has spent his career as a mainstay in Marseille’s midfield. It seems he’s now ready for a new challenge as he’s not signed a new contract with the club. Securing Kamara on a free would be fantastic business for United and would (in theory) allow more funds to be directed to other positions. He’s adept in tackling and interceptions like the other two midfielders in this list; so could serve the same purpose for Ten Hag. But he’d be able to do it without the pressure of a hefty price tag. In my opinion he’s the one on this list of defensive midfielders who seems the most likely. He’s also the most achievable and the one I hope to see playing in red next season.
Centre Forward
United’s over-reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo has been all too obvious. The 37 year old has too often had to be the catalyst for anything positive that happens. Despite the undeniable pedigree of his career; it isn’t productive for any football team to rely so heavily on one player. With doubt surrounding Ronaldo’s future at the club, Edinson Cavani more than likely leaving in the summer and Anthony Martial’s loan spell at Sevilla not going the way he would have liked; it’s glaringly obvious that a new centre forward is needed this summer.
Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan
Potentially the most likely of the three suggestions but not necessarily the one I’d most like to see. Nevertheless Inter Milan’s Argentinian striker would be an upgrade on our current attacking options. Rumours are currently linking United with a cash + Martial swap deal for Martinez. It’s easy to see how both teams would benefit. United would be getting a work-horse centre-forward. One who can hold the ball up, is comfortable on the turn; with 14+ league goals for three consecutive seasons. Inter meanwhile, would be getting another player from United looking for a remontada; much like Lukaku, Sanchez and Young before him. While there’s a long way to go to see if the deal ever materialises. This is one transfer I wouldn’t be surprised to see happen.
Darwin Núñez – Benfica
The second South American on this list and the one I expect to see linked with every club under the sun this summer is Benfica’s talisman, Darwin Núñez and it’s easy to see why. So far this season, the Uruguayan has netted 26 times in 27 league games. He’s scored 6 in 10 Champions League games. All at just 22 years old, it seems the best is still yet to come. At 6ft 1½ he fits a very similar profile to Sebastian Haller. Under ten Hag Haller has dispelled the ghosts of his ill-fated spell at West Ham; scoring 20 goals and providing 7 assists in 28 league games for the Eredivisie leaders.
Similarities between the two strikers aside. It seems that Ten Hag knows how to get the best out of a more traditional number 9 and they suit his preferred style of play. Even if Haller was accidentally left out of the Ajax Europa League squad. Reports suggest Benfica have attached a £67m price tag to the attacker. This makes him the most expensive signing on this list. But if he could transfer his goal involvements across to United, it would be worth every penny.
Christopher Nkunku – RB Leipzig
A bit more of a wildcard option as a centre forward signing given that he’s spent much of his playing career occupying several positions across the midfield and forward line. However you can’t deny that Nkunku has been a prolific goal machine this season. Comfortable with the ball played into feet or the space behind the line; the French attacker was directly involved in 42 goals this season. A new club record for goal involvements in a single season.
Recently, United haven’t had the best of luck with Bundesliga transfers directly after a personal best season – Kagawa and Mkhitaryan spring to mind – but under Ten Hag that could all change. Nkunku currently sits fifth in the Bundesliga scoring charts (18) and second in the assist charts (13) showing that he’s just as happy providing for others as he his scoring them himself. His flexibility across a number of positions and eye watering performances this season make him my number one choice from this list. United will apparently need to stump up £50m and will no doubt face opposition from other clubs.
Centre Half
It’s clear to anyone that has even glanced at a United game this season, that defence has been almost non-existent. Everyone would be forgiven to have assumed that United’s long standing centre half problems had been solved when the club announced a deal to sign Raphaël Varane last summer. Unveiled in front of the first full capacity Old Trafford since the Covid restrictions; it seemed as though our prayers had been answered and we’d finally got the perfect partner for Maguire. Alas, things haven’t quite turned out like that. Despite Varane’s obvious talents, he’s only managed to start 19 of United’s 36 league games this season.
The less said about Maguire’s performances this season the better. A mixture of poor form and lack of confidence have seen United’s Club Captain dropped by Ralf Rangnick for two successive games against Arsenal and Brentford. With all this in mind and Eric Bailly’s future uncertain and Phil Jones always a doubt; it looks as if United will dip into the market for a centre half. After missing out on Rüdiger and Nico Schlotterbeck (who both would have been very good options) here’s 3 I reckon United should be on the look for.
Jurrien Timber – Ajax
It’s no surprise to see one of Erik Ten Hag’s current players finding themselves on this list. Jurrien Timber has been a stalwart in the Ajax defence for the last two seasons since being promoted from their reserve team. His height might initially seem a problem given that he’s only 5”10; but his talents lie in the technical aspect of his game.
Where Timber excels is in his ability to read the game and block the ball and then carry the ball from the defensive third. His dribbling and passing abilities make him a very good ball playing centre half; which is where United have found themselves struggling at times this season with no options out from the back. He’s only 20 years old so there’s inevitably some maturing and development ahead of him if he wants to be a top centre back. But if Ten Hag decides he wants to bring him to Manchester, it should be a priority for the club.
Pau Torres – Villarreal
Another progressive centre half to add to the list, and a player I’ve wanted at united for some time now is Pau Torres. United fans will be familiar with him as one of the players responsible for the Europa League final defeat in 2021. Comfortable both in and out of possession, Torres has established himself as one of Europe’s finest centre backs and has that much sought-after trait, reliability. He’s only missed 3 of Villareal’s league fixtures and that absence was for representing Spain in the Olympics. Compare that to some of the issues United have had with centre back availability over recent years. His consistency would be a much-needed boost to the defence. With a reported release clause of £50m the issue wouldn’t be the purchase, more the prospect of convincing him to swap Champions League semi-finals for UEFA Conference League obscurity.
Fikayo Tomori – AC Milan
A slightly more traditional centre back suggestion this time in the form of AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori considering his play seems to mainly focus on pressures, tackling and interceptions. His pace is also one of his biggest assets and something that United centre backs have rarely offered this season. Since swapping Chelsea for Milan, he’s cemented his place in a defence that find themselves top of Serie A having conceded the second lowest number of goals.
Tomori’s omissions from recent England squads have left me scratching my head as he looks a vastly better centre half than most that make the squad. He may have only permanently left Chelsea last summer but perhaps with some persuasion he could be convinced to swap the fashion lined streets of Milan, for the sights and sounds of the Northern Quarter. It’s a left field suggestion as I’m not sure how likely it is to ever happen but as we’ve seen in the past with players that move abroad for more game time, the allure of a return to the Premier League is sometimes too hard to resist and could help with his hopes of a place in the England set up.
Along with all the players mentioned here I expect to see multiple links every day to any player imaginable as that is always the way with Manchester United during a transfer window. I could have mentioned the likes of Raphinha, Anthony, De Jong and Dembele in this list as well as many others but perhaps we’ll save that for another time. Whatever happens it’s set to be an interesting summer at Old Trafford.