With new Manchester United head coach Louis van Gaal already busy lining up prospective new players for next season, this is how we expect the Red Devils to look on the first day of the new campaign in a 4-3-3 formation …
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GK: David de Gea
The young Spaniard was voted the club’s Player of the Year in the previous campaign, with the shot stopper one of the few players who can be confident of keeping his place in the first team under the new manager next season.
LB: Bruno Martins Indi
The Feyenoord star has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford to give some much-needed competition to veteran France international Patrice Evra, with the 23-year-old a far cheaper option than Southampton’s Luke Shaw.
CB: Phil Jones
Expect the versatile England international to get the nod to start in the heart of the Red Devils’ back four next season in the absence of the now departed usual first-choice pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
CB: Mats Hummels
Another defender that Van Gaal is said to be a huge fan of is Borussia Dortmund’s silky-smooth Germany international, with the 25-year-old set to move to the Theatre of Dreams for next season.
RB: Daryl Janmaat
What with the former Ajax and AZ Alkmaar boss such an expert of the Eredivisie, it should not be that much of a surprise that another of his new arrivals in the north west this summer is likely to be Feyenoord’s highly rated Netherlands international to replace Rafael da Silva in the right-back role next season.
CM: Daley Blind
The son of Danny, who was Van Gaal’s captain while at Ajax in the Nineties, has already developed a fine reputation as being one of his country’s best holding midfielders, so much so in fact that the 24-year-old is now set to switch from the Eredivisie champions to United to fill one of the club’s problem positions.
CM: Michael Carrick
The England international has the passing range and abilities to be a regular in the Red Devils first team next season under van Gaal.
CM: Shinji Kagawa
The new Dutch coach likes to utilise a ball-playing playmaker in the middle of the park, so expect the Japan international to be given far more of a run out under Van Gaal than he was ever afforded by the previous two United bosses.
FW: Juan Mata
The club’s record signing will be looking forward to the new campaign under Van Gaal, who is set to play the Spain international in his more favoured role in the ‘hole’ behind two front men.
ST: Robin van Persie
The Netherlands international is one of Van Gaal’s most trusted players in the current Oranje setup, and will also be at Old Trafford next season as well.
ST: Wayne Rooney
It will be interesting to see just how the England international fares under the Dutchman’s strict regime, although there is n doubt that Van Gaal will be able to find a place in attack for the Three Lions and Red Devils star.
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