As much as it may pain him, Ed Woodward may be getting on the phone to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy a couple of times in the coming months.
Right now, as so many sides are doing, Manchester United are at work on their transfer targets for the summer. United transfers are going to dominate many a conversation in the coming months, with plenty of ins and outs expected.
United are still in with a shout of a place in the top four, and a Champions League spot, if they can finish an up and (mostly) down season with a winning run.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are all shelling points and that has given United hope of finishing in the Champions League spots. With it, they may be able to attract a higher calibre of player.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted at a major squad overhaul and, after the 4-0 loss to Everton, told his squad that he was determined to be a success at the club. If they were not willing to make United a success, they could head elsewhere.
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)The club is in dire need of decent, talented purchases in defence. The club would not splash out on either Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham) or Harry Maguire (Leicester City) last year but a well-placed source within the club said Woodward was willing to go all-out to get Real Madrid and France defender Raphael Varane.
The only problem was, Varane was happy at Real.
United simply cannot go on with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones at the centre of their defence. Game as the England internationals are, they have been comedically bad at times. Eric Bailly is not the answer, either.
Varane has, again, been linked to United but they may go for Aldeweireld (£25m release clause) if his wage demands are not too high, and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly (below, right).
Kalidou Koulibaly
Club captain Antonio Valencia is on his way in the summer and Ashley Young should only be retained as squad cover at this stage. Kieran Trippier has been linked with a switch from Tottenham but United have also scouted Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan Bissaka.
Wolves’ Matt Doherty should be considered, too, and this is an area Solskjaer is expected to get sorted as soon as possible.
United’s biggest outlay of cash over the summer, and in a long-term contract, could well be former Manchester City prospect Jadon Sancho. The 19-year-old has been excellent for Borussia Dortmund this season – scoring 12 and making 14 assists in 37 games – and has been linked with a £100m move to United.
Sancho would be vying with Jesse Lingard for a spot in the team but the competition may spur on the 26-year-old next season.
Jadon Sancho
United’s midfield may be completely overhauled over the summer. Alexis Sanchez has been a complete flop, Ander Herrera is set for PSG, Juan Mata is set to leave and Nemanja Matic has looked badly off the pace this season.
According to The Evening Standard, Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen is Solskjaer’s top transfer target over the summer. The Dane is contracted with the North Londoners until June 2020 and would reportedly cost United £60m.
Jack Grealish has also been linked with a switch to Old Trafford and has done well in the playmaker/No.10 role for Aston Villa, albeit in the Premier League.
If Paul Pogba stays on, in a new-look United, Scott McTominay may be pressed upon to take up the Matic role as holding midfielder. The United midfield desperately requires some protection and leadership, which is why Declan Rice could be hotly pursued over the coming months.
Declan Rice
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Up front, Romelu Lukaku has been linked with a Serie A move but United may hang onto the Belgian to keep their attacking options open.
Mason Greenwood looks set to get more game-time over the summer, and a chance to stake his senior squad claim.
UNITED XI WITH TOP TRANSFER TARGETS
That still leaves the likes of Jesse Lingard, Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay, Phil Jones, Andreas Pereira, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young in reserve.
Sources: Independent, BBC, Standard, Mirror, Manchester Evening News.
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