Manchester United have made real strides under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season, and while we cannot yet be sure when the campaign will finish, there seems genuine hope that the club could embark on a late run into an all-important top four spot.
If the Red Devils manage that, or even if they narrowly miss out, they could really be just one good transfer window away from putting together a far more competitive squad ready to win major honours again.
MORE: Odds slashed on Manchester United winning race for potential £120million transfer
Solskjaer has made a lot of necessary changes from the struggling side he inherited from Jose Mourinho, with some smart signings in Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James, whilst also promoting quality young players like Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams.
Out have gone Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young, while we’ve also had a glimpse of life at Old Trafford without Paul Pogba as he’s missed so much of this campaign through injury.
Here’s a look at four players Man Utd could offload, and four they could bring in to create almost an ideal squad for Solskjaer to work with next season…
OUT – Paul Pogba
As mentioned above, United have been given decent preparation for life without Pogba, with the January signing of Fernandes showing they can build their team around a different style of midfielder.
It’s been clear for some time now that the former Juventus man just hasn’t adjusted to life in the Premier League and it’s no surprise the Manchester Evening News claim he’s still keen to leave Old Trafford.
Pogba’s reputation on the world stage surely still means United could cash in on the Frenchman for big money from a top club and use those funds to strengthen with some big names of their own.
IN – Jack Grealish
Despite the success of January signing Fernandes, another addition in midfield could be useful if Pogba leaves, and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish has enjoyed a superb season.
This has led to the likes of the Evening Standard linking the 24-year-old as a top target for Man Utd, and it’s easy to see how his playing style would make him an ideal fit in Solskjaer’s side.
OUT – Alexis Sanchez
A total flop at United, Alexis Sanchez remains on loan at Inter Milan for the time being, but no one would be surprised if the Italian giants did not take up the option to keep him permanently.
The Chilean looks well past his best now and MUFC would do well to offload him at pretty much any price at this point, and pave the way for a younger talent to come in and bolster their attack.
IN – Jadon Sancho
The ideal candidate for that is surely Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho, who has established himself as one of Europe’s top attacking players already despite being just 20 years of age.
The England international has been strongly linked with United by the Evening Standard, who state they could sign him for around £120million, though Chelsea are also mentioned as suitors.
Such big money could be a gamble given how much Sanchez flopped, but Sancho surely still has many of his best years ahead of him and looks a player who could take United to the next level if he continues to improve along his current trajectory.
OUT – Jesse Lingard
No longer playing regularly for Solskjaer’s side, it’s clear Jesse Lingard’s career at the club should now be over. More well known these days for a being a bit of a joker on social media, the 27-year-old just isn’t contributing enough and seems out of place at this level.
As with Sanchez, the potential signing of Sancho would surely just be the final nail in the coffin in terms of Lingard’s Old Trafford career, and many fans will be pretty relieved to see the back of him at this point.
IN – Erling Haaland
Along with Sancho, United are being linked with still pursuing the potential transfer of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
According to the Evening Standard, the Red Devils could try to raid the Bundesliga giants for both players, with Haaland’s goal-scoring form making him another of the world’s most exciting young talents alongside Sancho.
As good as Marcus Rashford has been, there seems room in Solskjaer’s squad for another forward, and perhaps for a more traditional all-out striker like Haaland, who, at a fee of around £66m (as per Mundo Deportivo) could be a cheap alternative to Harry Kane, who’d cost more like £200m, according to the Daily Mail.
OUT – Chris Smalling
After a fine season on loan at Roma, Chris Smalling shouldn’t be short of suitors if United, as is surely likely, decide to send him packing in the next transfer window.
While it might be tempting for MUFC to think about giving Smalling another chance, it would surely be wiser to cash in on him while his stock is high and sign a genuine upgrade at the back.
A recent report from Gazzetta dello Sport, as translated by the Daily Mirror, linked the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton as potential suitors for Smalling.
IN – Matthijs de Ligt
One of the finest young defenders in the world, Matthijs de Ligt looked world class at Ajax before sealing a big move to Juventus last summer.
Unfortunately, however, it hasn’t quite worked out there for the Dutchman and he could be on his way out again, with the Express reporting that Man Utd believe they could take advantage.
If they can manage it, this could be an ideal signing for the Red Devils to bring in a genuinely world class partner for Harry Maguire and build a rock-solid defensive duo for the long run.
