At no point in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era, after spending £1.67bn on new signings, did anyone think Manchester United would fall this far.
Recent results have been better, and they had to be, after the club suffered as many as nine losses from their opening 17 matches for the first time since the famous 1973-74 season, when Tommy Docherty’s team were sensationally relegated.
But don’t let four wins in five league games, all by a one-goal margin, fool you.
The real indication of where this excuse for a United team are at came in the Manchester derby, where the champions, in second gear, made their illustrious noisy neighbours look rather silly, again.
Things aren’t going to get any easier, either, with a visit to embattled Everton, in their first match since their 10-point deduction and a crucial trip to “Hell” in Galatasaray up next.
Newcastle United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Aston Villa are in the diary before the window even opens. Somehow things could be about to get even worse.
Where do they need to strengthen?
United possess a forward line with one league goal between them all season, a midfield that can be passed through like wet tissue paper and a backline that has 35-year-old Jonny Evans, deemed surplus to requirements by Championship side Leicester City in the summer, as a frontline centre-back.
Nonetheless, it is off the pitch where the club needs to focus on first. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe nearing being confirmed as a 25 per cent shareholder, part of the Manchester-born billionaire’s plan is to input a hierarchical structure, above the manager, worthy of what is left of United’s grandeur.
CEO Richard Arnold has already departed, with football director, John Murtough, likely to follow. A proper transfer committee, one with the credentials to match, is long, long overdue at Old Trafford.
How much money is available?
Given the lack of clarity as to what Ratcliffe will put in, it remains uncertain as to who will be funding any player incomings, especially with the 71-year-old unlikely to properly start his role until midway through the January window.
Financial Fair Play investigators remain parked outside Carrington with a pair of binoculars and a box of doughnuts, so there won’t be funds for any major overhaul, not yet.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t some money to spend.
Who are they being linked with?
Two figures Ratcliffe knows well could follow the Ineos chairman to Manchester. AS Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana is a long-term United target, while another player on the club’s radar for some time is Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, a Ratcliffe employee already. The latter could be a very simple deal to agree indeed.
The teenager who broke red hearts in Copenhagen, Roony Bardghji, is also still hot on everyone’s lips, with another talented youngster, Marcos Leonardo, seemingly headed for Europe – United are reportedly keeping tabs on his options.
However, while there are plenty weaknesses all over the pitch, until there is a more measured approach to how United conduct transfers, spending will be curtailed.
A new director of football is likely to be top priority. Former Tottenham Hotspur head of recruitment Paul Mitchell is a leading candidate, as i reported last month, as is Crystal Palace’s sporting director Dougie Freedman.
Atalanta’s Lee Congerton, former AC Milan pair Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, and Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta are reportedly also under consideration.
Which players could leave?
The most interesting player transfer saga this January could be surrounding Jadon Sancho.
Still training alone at United’s academy facilities after his public fallout with Erik ten Hag, the castaway is open to a January exit, i understands, given he has not been part of a matchday squad since early September.
Saudi Pro League clubs are willing to go “all out” to bring him in, sources have told i, while Juventus have also explored the option of signing Sancho on loan.
The player’s camp insist a move to Europe, or even remaining at United to see how things “play out” under Ratcliffe, are his two options.
Ratcliffe could begin a clearout in January, according to reports, with one flop United may be willing to offload being Antony, the club’s second most expensive signing.
i’s ideal signing – Paul Mitchell
Should Murtough go, as expected, getting the director of football appointment right at Old Trafford could be their most important signing of the past decade.
Mitchell has been described as the “perfect” option. He has recently left his position as sporting director at Monaco where he “operated in the same circles” as Ratcliffe and has moved back to the Manchester area.
After helping Mauricio Pochettino make his way in England, bringing Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic to Southampton, Mitchell went with Pochettino to Spurs, where he continued his impressive work in the transfer market, acquiring Dele Alli, Son Heung-min, Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld, before moving to RB Leipzig and then Monaco.
This is the kind of track record United need at the transfer helm. Quite how it has taken this long to come to this conclusion is unclear.
Possible starting XI at end of January
Onana, Shaw, Todibo, Martinez, Dalot; Fofana, Casemiro, Fernandes; Rashford, Hojlund, Garnacho.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/JFeWhoP
Post a Comment