A preview of what Manchester United’s starting line-up might look like once their transfer business is done.
Manchester United’s summer transfer business has already been defined by their desire to overhaul the midfield following the departure of Casemiro – but although they’ve spent an estimated £85m on the position already, their spending won’t stop there.
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The Red Devils are believed to be keen to sign a third midfielder and likely a left-back at least, and the end result could be a much-changed (and rather costly) startling line-up by the time that the new season starts and the transfer window closes. We’ve taken a look at what Michael Carrick’s team might look like once the work is done…
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Lewis Hall has emerged as a major target for Manchester Unitedplaceholder image
Lewis Hall has emerged as a major target for Manchester United | Getty Images
GK – Senne Lammens (£18m): The Belgian did well enough in his debut season at Old Trafford to earn a chance to cement his place as the long-term number one that Manchester United have been missing for years.
LB – Lewis Hall (£50m*): Recent reports appear to have confirmed long-standing rumours that United want to sign Hall to fill the void at left-back - and with Newcastle enduring something of an exodus, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to think that they’ll get this deal over the line. £50m is probably the cheapest that Hall will go for, but it’s rumoured to be United’s valuation of the 21-year-old.
CB – Harry Maguire (£80m): Freshly signed on to a new contract, Maguire’s renaissance means that he’s likely to keep his starting berth next season, especially given the injury Lisandro Martínez suffered during the World Cup. It doesn’t seem to be too serious, but the Argentine could get a slow start to the new season.
CB – Matthijs de Ligt (£38.5m): De Ligt is likely still ahead of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in the pecking order, but Manchester United’s young guns may well be pushing for a regular spot by the end of the season.
RB – Diogo Dalot (£19m): As it stands, there’s no evidence that United are looking for an upgrade at right-back, which could end up looking like their weakest position once the summer’s transfer business is done.
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Youri Tielemans is one of two new midfield signing so farplaceholder image
Youri Tielemans is one of two new midfield signing so far | Getty Images
CM – Kobbie Mainoo (N/A): Although Carrick will have some new toys to play with in midfield, Mainoo seems set to maintain his starting place after flourishing following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim last season.
CM – Youri Tielemans (£35m): The former Aston Villa midfielder may have cost £15m less than Andrey Santos, but he’s likely to be at the front of the queue for starting minutes based on experience alone. If United do sign a third midfielder, however, the pecking order could quickly change.
AM – Bruno Fernandes (£68m): United’s best, most important and most consistent player, and his starting spot is nailed on – although some extra depth in midfield will perhaps allow him to put his feet up for the occasional less important match.
LW – Matheus Cunha (£62.5m): Cunha enjoyed a relatively strong debut season up at Old Trafford, scoring 10 goals, and is likely to get starting opportunities early, whether that’s on the wing ahead of Patrick Dorgu or up front over Benjamin Šeško.
RW – Bryan Mbeumo (£71m): Like Cunha, Mbeumo had a generally decent first year with Manchester United and is likely to get plenty of opportunities to impress next season too, especially given the scale of the investment involved in bringing him to Old Trafford in the first place.
CF – Benhamin Šeško (£70m): Similarly, United didn’t spend the GDP of a small island nation on the Slovenian striker to have him rot on the bench. Šeško may not be nailed on to start every match, but he’ll get the opportunity to find some of the consistency which eluded him last term.