Few teams are mentioned in transfer window news and tips as frequently as Manchester United. This summer will be no different, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set to rebuild a squad that underachieved once again in 2018/19.
United have already signed Danny James, a young winger from Swansea City, but are expected to make several more notable additions before the window shuts in August.
This piece looks at FIVE players Manchester United should be targeting this summer.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Jadon Sancho exploded onto the scene this season, creating chances at an elite rate for Borussia Dortmund. His decision to leave Manchester City has been more than justified and he has already made himself a fixture in the England side.
He, like everyone on this list, will not be cheap. But that’s what you would expect for a teenager performing at the standard Sancho has. He’s only 19 years old, and the sky really is the limit.
Pairing Sancho with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial – who both are several years from their peaks – is a fearsome prospect for Premier League defences.
888sport's latest transfer betting odds show United at 6/1 to complete a deal for Sancho this summer.
Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)
Along with Leicester City's Harry Maguire, Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly has been a staple of Manchester United transfer rumour columns.
Koulibaly has been linked with a move to the Premier League for several years and has built a reputation as one of the best defenders on the planet.
Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones have all had their chances at the heart of United’s defence. One, or maybe two, central defenders are a must for Solskjaer.
Koulibaly will not come cheaply, however. He has a release clause of around £130 million in his Napoli contract, and even United could wince at that sort of fee.
Though he’s 3/10 to remain in Naples, United are the favourites to sign the towering centre-back should he depart. They are 3/1 to sign Koulibaly this summer in 888sport’s football betting markets.
Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
David De Gea’s future is uncertain once again. The Spanish shot-stopper had a difficult second half of the 2018/19 campaign, making several high-profile errors.
Jan Oblak has as good a claim as anyone as the best goalkeeper in the world right now. He benefits from a steely Atletico Madrid defence, sure, but he combines command of his area with spectacular reflex saves.
De Gea isn’t on the pedestal he once was, and while losing him would still be a blow for Solskjaer, an upgrade in the form of Oblak is possible.
It’ll cost the kitchen sink and more, but if De Gea is lured elsewhere (perhaps to Paris Saint-Germain), it will be worth every penny. A good Director of Football appointment will help United's chances of success in the transfer market.
Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon)
Tanguy Ndombele is one of the most sought-after players in Europe this season after a stellar campaign with Lyon. The 22-year-old can do it all, contributing all over the pitch; winning the ball, picking a pass who beating players in the middle third.
He has a game that would be perfectly suited to the electric pace of the Premier League.
Manchester United would face plenty of competition for his signature, and not being in the Champions League would make it an even greater challenge, but this is not someone they can afford to let slip.
With Ander Herrera departing and the midfield still a mess, Solskjaer needs reinforcements regardless of what happens with Pogba. Ndombele might be the best central midfielder on the market.
With Tottenham interested in Ndombele too, there’s the added bonus of stopping them making a major upgrade in midfield.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)
Aside from James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been the player most frequently linked with Manchester United. He’s 7/20 to join United in 888sport’s transfer betting odds.
As reported by Sky Sports, Crystal Palace want £50 million for their star right-back. While that may seem a steep price, it’s nothing to a club with United’s revenue and we know they’re not afraid to splash that kind of cash.
Right-back has been a long-running issue for United. Ashley Young got the majority of starts there last season and, while Diogo Dalot has shown promise, it’s an obvious weakness for Solskjaer’s side heading into 2019/20.
Wan-Bissaka has the potential to go to the very top of the game and is already a superb defender.
Going forward there are concerns, however, and he’d be required to play a different role at United than he is at Palace, where opportunities to get forward are comparatively limited.
This is the sort of move Manchester United should be making, signing young players is their best route to becoming a genuine contender again.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
