It was a constant theme of the last season when Erik ten Hag said that he had rarely been able to field a full-strength XI due to injuries.
While injuries are only in one’s hands up to a certain point, the lack of squad depth and some key players’ form falling off a cliff contributed to the malaise as well, both of which are controllable.
Consequently, United look to have attacked this window with renewed resolve and planning.
Problem positions have been identified, work is being done to secure players for those positions, and it’s still early in the window.
United have been concretely linked with a trio of players (more on them below) but the gap to the top is big.
Of course, it can’t be bridged in just a single window but in an ideal world, United would manage to make money by selling some players and add more.
If that happens, then Erik ten Hag’s strongest XI next season could look something like this, with five new additions-
Note: It’s a dream transfer window but not fantasy. Prospective player signings have been kept fairly realistic and as per the noise around their name. Selected for a 4-2-3-1 shape Ten Hag is expected to return to at full-strength after an experiment with 4-2-2-2 at the end of last season.
Goalkeeper- Andre Onana
Don’t fix what isn’t broken. That couldn’t be said for Onana when he started like a trainwreck at United but it is true now.
The Cameroonian emerged from the wreckage of last season with his reputation enhanced as he grew into the shirt which weighs heavily on players.
There is hope that he will continue to improve and with a stable back four ahead of him, we see more of his ball-playing skills too.
Right-back- Diogo Dalot
Going into the season last year, United were in an unenviable position where they had two right-backs on the books but none reliable in the long-term.
Fortunately, Dalot’s emergence changed that as he became United’s most consistent player and an ever-present individual as bodies around him kept falling.
A backup might be needed, especially if Aaron Wan-Bissaka departs but the starter position is Dalot’s to lose now.
Center-backs- Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez
Here comes the first addition to the squad and he is a dream fit next to Lisandro Martinez.
De Ligt is expected to become a United player this window after the club offered him a five-year deal, with talks taking place with Bayern Munich.
Him alongside Martinez is the perfect fit of physicality, positional nous, anticipation, and ball-playing skills.
Ten Hag had to compromise his principles last season as the defenders he had at his disposal weren’t ideal for playing from the back. That won’t be the problem with these two, enabling the whole team to play more assertively.
Left-back: Miguel Gutierrez
This is the first contentious call since a fully-fit Luke Shaw arguably remains one of the best left-backs in the world.
However, that “fully-fit” asterisk is too big to ignore anymore.
Gutierrez, at £34 million, is a bargain that can set United up on that flank for the next decade if he is brought along well.
His skill set is similar to Shaw’s and a season of rotating with the Englishman with Malacia easing himself in after injury would be ideal.
Defensive pivot- Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo
The third signing makes an appearance and like the other two, he makes perfect sense too.
Manuel Ugarte will be a straight replacement for Casemiro in defensive midfield and with his destroyer playing style, international experience, and young age, fits well next to Mainoo.
He will allow Mainoo to flourish in a more forward-thinking role of carrying the ball, crashing the box, and creating chances, while he sits and shields the defence.
Left-wing- Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho’s present on the left means Marcus Rashford could get sold in this window. It has been reported that United would be open to listening to offers for him and due to his status as an academy product, a fee for him will relieve United’s financial issues.
Marcus Rashford’s asking price has already been set and if someone meets it, it will allow United to strengthen elsewhere as Garnacho is a foundational core member of this squad now who needs minutes.
Attacking midfield- Bruno Fernandes
If there is one untouchable in the current squad, it’s Fernandes. He is arguably the only player who would walk into the star-studded squads of United’s rivals due to his quality, consistency, and availability.
Nothing more needs to be said about his inclusion. Mason Mount would be a worthy backup to provide him with a much-needed break.
Right-wing- Pedro Neto
This is where the fee for Marcus Rashford gets reinvested. It would be even better if Antony was sold for a good amount but that’s not likely. Therefore, if Rashford is sold, United can get Neto for around £60 million.
Add Sancho and Greenwood’s sale, and it would not only open up opportunities for Amad to become a proper rotational piece, but it would also allow Ten Hag to blood another academy youngster on the wings.
The Wolves man would add Premier League-proven quality to the attack on a wing that has lacked guile for too long.
Striker- Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee arrival would finally allow Rasmus Hojlund to have the role he should have had from the beginning- an explosive option off the bench as he develops into a lethal asset.
Zirkzee is a physical specimen with deceptively good playmaking skills. As Garnacho and Neto are both inside forwards, he can drop deep and supply them with chances while getting on the end of some too.
He fits well with attack-minded wingers that United have, something which was a problem for Hojlund as he has yet to develop a linkup game and playing with his back to goal.
Knitting the attack from the top has been a problem at United and Zirkzee fixes that.
With that starting XI, and backups like Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, Amad, Antony, Mason Mount, and others, United squad will be in good shape where backups will provide genuine competition as well as able options.
Now just to fulfill this dream!
