Manchester United seem to have a plan for the transfer window this season which is a welcome departure from windows under the Glazers’ ownership.
However, plans will be for naught if the money isn’t there to execute them. While some sales are expected to be completed to further strengthen the team, the real skill lies in finding bargains or distressed assets in the market.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said so himself, stressing that buying Mbappe doesn’t take skill but finding the next one does. Similarly, spending north of £100 million on Joao Neves doesn’t need explaining, finding somebody to do a job in his position for nothing is the smart thing, especially when United have a plethora of problem positions to fill.
Here are the three free transfers that can fix their problem positions immediately and leave money aside for marquee additions-
Defence- Mario Hermoso
United look likely to close the deal for Matthijs de Ligt who will provide much-needed stardust and injection of quality into the defence.
However, with Raphael Varane’s exit, and the future of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof uncertain, they need more. Jarrad Branthwaite has been chased but the wisdom of spending close to £70 million on a player who will undoubtedly be backup to a pairing of De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez is questionable.
They have tried to get around this by promoting academy star Jack Kingdon to the first team, while Willy Kambwala and Jonny Evans add to the numbers. Still, none of those names inspire much confidence for a backup role.
Enter Mario Hermoso, who is now a free agent after leaving Atletico Madrid. Matured in the Diego Simeone school of defending, he made 31 appearances in the league last season.
As a left-footed center-back, he will also be a perfect backup to Martinez, pushing Evans down one spot in the pecking order, the ideal place for the 36-year-old.
Hermoso is 29 so he is in the peak years of his career. His versatility means he can play as a left-back too, ideal for United who face injury questions over Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Unlike many free agents, he is not one off the scrap heap. There is a genuine quality player available on a free transfer whose fit at United is as tailor-made as it comes. They should pounce.
Midfield- Adrien Rabiot
Deja vu, anyone? It seems like Rabiot has become Erik ten Hag’s “Wesley Sneijder” in that he is forever linked to United but never arrives. However, the Frenchman is now a free agent after his Juventus contract expired.
He has started all four games for France in Euros so far so he is certainly not a club reject, having chosen to let his contract expire at Juventus to give himself freedom of choice.
The only worry with him might be his wages as he is 29 and United wouldn’t want a repeat of the Casemiro situation. However, in addition to wages, a £60 million fee went into securing the Brazilian, which is zero here. If United can convince Rabiot with a reasonable package, they would get an all-action midfielder who can easily contribute at the top level for the next 3-4 years. Third time’s the charm?
Attack- Memphis
The third time’s the charm for chasing Rabiot so maybe the second time’s the charm for Memphis at Old Trafford? Gone is the erratic, at times unprofessional kid that arrived in Manchester and in his place, a mature and driven Memphis has emerged.
His career after the ill-fated United spell has taken him from France to Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, where his contract expired on June 30, 2024.
Like Rabiot, he is an established international, starting every game for a Netherlands side that has gone past expectations at the Euros. He had 18 goal contributions for Atletico Madrid last season in 31 games across all competitions despite playing limited minutes.
He can play as a center-forward and can also deputise on the left as well as the right. His positional versatility and experience will help Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee ease into their roles while putting competition on Antony and Marcus Rashford. Rewriting his legacy will be a huge motivator for the Dutchman and with a Dutch core at United now, the circumstances for him settling in are finally ideal.