After securing Champions League football for next season, the Red Devils are now plotting an assault on the market ahead of the 2020-21 campaign
As Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has repeatedly warned supporters, it will not be “business as usual” for the Red Devils this summer.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to hit all clubs’ transfer business, though United are still expected to be active.
And, despite securing a top-four finish and Champions League football for next season on the final day of the campaign, it is clear from recent performances that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad needs improving.
While United’s preferred starting XI have played with a flair that has been missing in recent years at Old Trafford, the club’s limited squad depth has meant that Solskjaer has been forced to overly rely on his favoured line-up, which in turn has led to fatigued displays and slow performances in the final weeks of the season.
Solskjaer has remained coy over potential incomings, but has not dismissed the notion that they need to add strength in depth if they are going to make any attempt at a push for the title in the coming seasons.
“Consistency has to be improved and we still have to improve on many aspects of the game,” Solskjaer said. “There’s definitely not going to be any complacency and thinking, ‘we’ve cracked it’, because we’ve got so much to do. It’s an enjoyable journey.
“We can see improvements but, yes, we need to make one or two – or more – very good decisions. It’s going to be an important summer, definitely.”
As well as additions, United will be hopeful of moving on a few squad players to make room for new faces and freshen up a team that wants to be challenging the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.
But where do United want to strengthen and who might be making way?
You only need to look at United’s last few games and Solskjaer’s over-reliance on his favoured starting XI to know he is lacking faith with his options from the bench.
Jesse Lingard was reluctant to speculate when asked about his future last week, with the England international having struggled for game time in the current campaign following a difficult season both on and off the pitch.
The 27-year-old started just one match since the restart – the Red Devils’ FA Cup quarter-final clash with Norwich City – and failed to make the matchday squad for five of United’s nine league games since the resumption of football in June
Andreas Pereira is another squad player who has struggled in the past two months. Having been a consistent part of Solskjaer’s matchday squad before Covid-19 forced the suspension of the Premier League, he has clocked up just 36 league minutes since the restart, with a departure this summer a possibility.
Phil Jones is one of seven centre-backs on United’s books right now, and the England defender does not have a long-term future at United. Injury has prevented the 28-year-old from being involved since the restart, but even before then he had no place in Solskjaer’s squad.
The club are also open to offloading fellow centre-back Marcos Rojo, who has been on loan at Estudiantes since the start of the year.
Chris Smalling , meanwhile, has impressed on loan at Roma, and United are open to agreeing to a permanent move away for the centre-back, though it is understood there has been no meaningful progress regarding either a permanent transfer or another long-term loan deal for the ex-Fulham man.
The same goes for Alexis Sanchez , whose loan spell at Inter is set to end in the first week of August
In defence, Luke Shaw has shown his importance in recent weeks while Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been one of the team’s most consistent performers this season.
Should United manage to agree a deal for Ake, Koulibaly or Mings, they would likely slot in next to Harry Maguire at the heart of the backline.
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes remains the star man and Paul Pogba is expected to stay despite links to Real Madrid.
Grealish could slot in ahead of them as a number 10 behind a front three of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, with Mason Greenwood waiting in reserve.