UK Edition
Realistic summer transfer fixes for Manchester United's malaise
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed what the previous few Man Utd managers suspected (and also confirmed): rebuilding Man Utd is a long term project.
Several players are likely to leave the club in the summer, others have been told to wise up if they want to stay - and one, Alexis Sanchez, is causing all sorts of financial and contractual negotiation nightmares simply by being there and those in charge have still only completed one signing.
Solskjaer has experience of winning league titles and knows what forms a team that can challenge, but getting the right deal and attracting the level of player required while maintaining stability is something even the greatest managers would struggle to get right.
James Ducker's player-by-player, who should stay and go guide is an essential read for Man Utd fans (and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) but who could and should Man Utd realistically sign in the summer?
Goalkeeper
What they have
David De Gea, Sergio Romero, Joel Pereira, Lee Grant, Dean Henderson
David De Gea wants parity with Alexis Sanchez's wages, and considering his importance to the team and the feeling that Sanchez would struggle to win a Powerleague 5-a-side tournament on current form, it doesn't sound an entirely unreasonable demand. Can Man Utd afford £480,000 a week for a goalkeeper? Nobody can. Sergio Romero is a superb backup goalkeeper and an able replacement for De Gea.
What they need
Nothing at the moment but if they were able to cash in on De Gea, Romero could be promoted and another goalie promoted from the U23s or a replacement brought in on a sensible wage.
Who they could sign (if needed)
Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
Navas might be available due to Thibaut Courtois' presence at Real Madrid while Donnarumma is only 20 and already a full Italy international - the next Gianluigi Buffon? He would cost north of £50million based on Alisson, Ederson and Kepa Arrizabalaga's transfer fees but Navas may be allowed out for less.
Left-back
What they have
Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo
Shaw has improved over the last season and a half, looking like he's overcome his a broken leg suffered against PSV Eindhoven in 2015. It's almost as if having a manager who doesn't slag him off every time a microphone is held to his face is beneficial to self esteem. Rojo is absolutely fine as backup but isn't good enough to start for a top club and will be sold if it's possible.
What they need
A player capable of challenging Shaw for a first team place, who believes they can force their way into the first team. Nobody too expensive, ideally someone younger than Shaw. Ben Chilwell (Leicester) already looks a far better player but is almost certainly off to Man City.
Who they could realistically sign
Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax)
As a young captain and determined winner, Tierney is the exact sort of leader United could do with and could well push Shaw out of the team. Celtic are holding out for £25million and considering the meteoric rise of countryman Andrew Robertson - who was considered to be Tierney's equal under a year ago - Tierney's ability and age (22) it might represent a smart investment. The Scot would bring much-needed bite and aggression to United.
Tagliafico has impressed for Ajax (who hasn't?) over the last few seasons and shouldn't cost the earth. The Argentinian can play at centre-back too, helping provide extra cover if other players depart Man Utd, but he's 26.
Centre-back
What they have
Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe, Timothy Fosu-Mensah
The centre-back equivalent of the Alan Partridge shrug gif. Bailly could leave having failed to make the cut, Smalling can't get in the same England squad as Michael Keane, Jones makes rash decisions and isn't great on the ball, Lindelof has suffered from never having a settled partner or place in the team, while Rojo has struggled with injuries and should leave.
Tuanzebe did well at Aston Villa last season and can play at full-back too, something which might make him a decent John O'Shea type utility option. Timothy Fosu-Mensah hasn't impressed at Fulham but can also play at right-back.
One of the main reasons Jose Mourinho's football was so boring at Man Utd was his wild idea to protect a weak defence by making the whole team more defensive. We may very well have seen a more entertaining attacking outfit had the the foundations of the starting XI not been made of jelly. Solskjaer has to improve the centre-back pairing.
At least one, probably three, of these need to leave to free up space on the wage bill and improve the squad but they've just handed Phil 'Danger' Jones a four year contract so ignoring things like planning and sense is required to evaluate this position better. Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah may be shipped out on loan again unless Solskjaer believes they are good enough for a top four side.
Ideal signings
Matthijs De Ligt (Ajax), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Toby Alderweireld (Spurs), Harry Maguire (Leicester)
United need leaders, strong dressing room presences, proven winners with aggression and solid work rate, but who possess genuine quality on the ball. De Ligt is one of the best centre-backs in the world at 19 but can choose from any club on the same planet and will move for enormous money, probably to Barcelona. Edwin Van Der Sar could prove to be an invaluable middle-man and help his old club out - De Ligt could be the base that Man Utd's defence is built around for years to come.
Varane is a World Cup, La Liga and Champions League-winning defender used to performing at the absolute highest level. Noises have been heard from Madrid that he might fancy a new challenge but again, big money would be needed. Real Madrid are planning transfers of their own and could do with the cash, making this one possible.
Alderweireld's contract runs out in the summer of 2020, with a £25million release clause reportedly active in his final year. The Belgian is only 30 and would represent a relative bargain, bringing steel, aggression and determination to the back four, and knows what he's doing in the Premier League.
Maguire is determined, built like a fridge and represents the kind of player United want at the back. Confident at bringing the ball out from defence, at 26 years old, Maguire also has his best playing days ahead of him (in theory). For that reason it is expected that Leicester will hold out for £75million for their star defender, knowing full well that United really want him.
Realistic signings
Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton), Ruben Dias (Benfica), Kostas Manolas (Roma), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig), Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic), Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle), Nathan Ake (Bournemouth)
It might sound daft but United would do well to focus their attentions in the hunt for the next Virgil Van Dijk to his old club. Southampton's Jannik Vestergaard's statistics from last season make him look like the kind of physical, no-nonsense centre-back they need and though he isn't as good on the ball as Van Dijk, neither was Nemanja Vidic and that worked quite well for all at Old Trafford. Shouldn't be too expensive either, though with Manchester United tax added on, perhaps something close to £30-35million.
Dias came through at Benfica and the club would listen to reasonable offers for the 21-year-old Portugal international. He could be the defender Man Utd need to get the most out of Lindelof and was impressive in the Nations League recently too.
Manolas is a Greek centre-back with a realistic minimum fee release clause believed to be around £35million. Strong, quick and composed on the ball, it's believed he'll join Napoli this week.
Tah is versatile, a Germany international and a player you'd expect to sign for Bayern Munich at some point and represent a missed opportunity for a club like United. Could be a better idea to snap him up now for £30-40million rather than regretting being unable to afford him at £100million in two years. Upamecano is another youngster performing extremely well in the Bundesliga.
Van Dijk was doing the same things he does at Liverpool when playing for Celtic, which suggests the technically gifted 21-year-old Ajer might make a solid choice. His slender frame makes him less physically imposing but Ajer is great in possession and likes to get forward. Lascelles and Ake would be £20-30million signings but might not improve on what's already there.
Way too expensive
Milan Skriniar (Inter), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Mats Hummels (Bayern), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Right-back
What they have
Diogo Dalot, Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia
Dalot is supposed to be the next long-term Man Utd right-back, having signed for £19million last summer. Ashley Young will have a place as squad rotation right-back. Darmian and Valencia will surely leave.
What they need
A bit of trust in past purchases. If Dalot has a solid defence and coaching team around him, he should prove to be an excellent signing. Backup would be useful but Young has another year on his contract and for continuity's sake alone, there is no way he'll leave.
What they could get
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace), Max Aarons (Norwich)
Would command huge fees (Wan-Bissaka reported to be £55m!) but would fit if Solskjaer plans to build around a core of young English players. Considering the outlay on Dalot last summer and the improvements needed elsewhere, any signing would represent poor planning.
Central midfield
What they have
Nemanja Matic, Fred, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, Andreas Pereira, Juan Mata
Fred has been dreadful but should be given another season to prove his doubters wrong, Matic is absolutely fine and McTominay has shown himself capable of playing at Champions League level in high-pressure matches. Pereira appears destined to never fulfill his potential and though Pogba has the talent of a world star, he hasn't demonstrated the determination or consistency of one. Mata seems like a lovely guy, can hit decent set-pieces but should probably be considered a squad player at this stage in his career.
What they need
Ruben Neves (Wolves), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Ilkay Gundogan (Man City), Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford), Carlos Soler (Valencia), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting Lisbon)
Man Utd desperately need players who take responsibility, are solid defensively, will work to track back and block passes, and who possess genuine quality. Midfield is the position United must focus their attentions on improving.
Neves would cost something stupid but could command the midfield of any team in Europe - and at 22-years-old represents planning for the future too. He should be United's absolute first choice, but Wolves are highly unlikely to sell.
Ndidi, also 22, provides bite and snap as well as composure and the ability to play a short pass. A hard working ball-winner, signing Ndidi would be a very Sir Alex Ferguson transfer - buying other clubs' best players to improve your own.
Alcantara and Kroos are superb technicians and would work well with Pogba and Matic in a midfield three but wouldn't fix the soft underbelly of that section of the team. Gundogan still hasn't signed a new contract with rivals Man City and might fancy a guaranteed place in a team he would instantly improve. It's really unlikely.
Doucoure is a great all rounder at Watford and able to play in a midfield two, Soler is a neat-and-tidy passer of the ball who tends to sit in a more defensive role and fire passes from deep. Fernandes was excellent in Portugal last season but loves to shoot from range whenever the tiniest chance presents itself.
Players they (probably) can't get
Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Christian Eriksen (Spurs)
Ndombele might go to Barcelona, Rakitic already plays for Barcelona, Eriksen might currently consider Man Utd a step down.
Outside (unlikely) possibles
Idrissa Gueye (Everton), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Will Hughes (Watford), Joao Moutinho (Wolves), Donny Van de Beek (Ajax)
Gueye and Moutinho are a bit too old at 29 and 32 to be worth the money needed but would instantly improve the team, Hughes would cost too much and Van De Beek could either be brilliant or disappear into the wild. He suits Ajax's style of play, which is not the same as Man Utd's. McGinn is the wildcard. Every crew needs a wildcard.
What they're apparently going for
Sean Longstaff. That's Sean Longstaff. He's a midfielder. Played eight league games for Newcastle last season.
What they don't need
Any players who don't match the hype. Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lazio) is one example.
Left wing
What they have
Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard, Daniel James, Mason Greenwood
Sometimes Martial looks like he could be the Next Big Thing, at other times he sulks around the pitch like he's working a shift in a retail outlet. With a solid base behind him, Martial could absolutely go on to be a player who wins games on his own and must be considered the first choice left-sided forward, even if that isn't an ideal situation. Sanchez looks positively broken at Man Utd, like Fernando Torres 2: Revenge of the Age. Lingard can be superb on his day. James has (surely) been signed to contest a right wing position and Greenwood is more of a striker.
Possible transfer targets
David Neres (Ajax), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Joao Felix (Benfica), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Man Utd simply cannot afford to add any players in this position. Martial is paid too much to sit on the bench but wouldn't command a high enough value to sell on, while Sanchez's wages are a real problem. For those reasons, signing either Bale or Coutinho would be unwise and the final confirmation that Man Utd's transfer committee have lost their minds. United need aggression, workrate, quality and leadership - these two will not provide it and would cost insane money too.
Felix has been heavily linked with a move to Man Utd for some time and is a top player in the making, if not already. The only problems are that he tends to play as a central forward in a 10 role, meaning United would be shunting him out to the wing were he to join, and that he's almost certainly about to complete a move to Atletico Madrid.
Does signing Bale to play on the left wing make sense? No. Is he shiny and famous? Yes. Cuts to: Man Utd sign Gareth Bale.
Right wing
What they have
Juan Mata, Daniel James, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Tahith Chong
Only Rashford and James could be considered natural wingers but the former's best position is as striker, where his inconsistency in front of goal has prompted Solskjaer to stick him out wide (just like his previous managers) and new signing James impressed for Swansea almost exclusively on the left wing.
Chong could be the next great academy product at United but is left footed and runs inside the pitch. Mata is slow, Lingard is better through the middle - neither are wingers. United must strengthen this position if they plan to use Rashford as a striker.
Possible signings
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Hakim Ziyech (Ajax), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolas Pepe (Lille), Dan James (Swansea)
With 15 goals and 12 assists in 26 league games, Ziyech looks like the perfect right-sided signing. He's 26 so should have a great five years in him and wouldn't cost anything too scary... but Eredivisie stars often struggle in the Premier League and any fee would need to be considered carefully.
Dortmund have already made it clear that they'd need something like £90-100million for Sancho, which might mean more game time to Chong or other Man Utd youngster Angel Gomes is a better financial idea. Both could prove to be wonderkids if given time and trust and as proven with Sancho, why not just play the kids?
Nicolas Pepe had an impressive breakthrough year in 2017/18 at Lille but was ridiculous last season, scoring 18 goals and assisting 11 in Ligue 1. He's not as likely to immediately shift shirts as others and the risk of player performing well in France vs the Premier League would make the large bid required sit uneasy in the boardroom.
Havertz is a household name in waiting but is best as a 10 and in central positions - the same position that Pogba operates in.
Centre-forward
What they have
Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood
Lukaku has scored a lot of goals but goes missing in games, hides from the ball and his first touch lets him down. It's believed that Solskjaer wants rid.
If United only play one striker they need someone who can do everything a little better, rather than a poacher - which is Lukaku's best skill. Rashford is one of the best young players in Europe but must find consistency and Greenwood has just started getting game time for the first XI so might take a while to reach the level needed.
Potential signings
Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Moussa Dembele (Lyon), Pietro Pellegri (Monaco), Alexander Isak (Borussia Dortmund)
Icardi comes with a lot of baggage and could bring even more unwanted attention to United, and there are rumours Inter would happily swap him for someone like Lukaku. Griezmann is a world star who loves a video about himself but is expected to join Barcelona. Mbappe just isn't happening. Dembele is good but not outstanding.
In reality there are few top quality strikers available or anywhere near sensibly affordable in world football and even fewer currently good enough to force Rashford onto the bench. Pellegri isn't even in the Monaco first team yet but will become an international level goalscorer at some point soon, Isak has been great on loan in Holland but hasn't really performed in the Bundesliga yet... Luka Jovic has already joined Real Madrid.
Dream signings
Robert Lewandowski, Heung-min Son, Cristiano Ronaldo, any Liverpool forward, Harry Kane
Not happening.
Won't happen but might just be crazy enough to work
Aleksander Mitrovic (Fulham)
Fourth for Expected Goals (15.83) in the Premier League last season while playing for relegated Fulham, Mitrovic has the aggression needed, never hides from the ball and though he misses chances (has only scored 11) is in the right places to score them. His hold-up play is good too. Probably not an elite level forward like Lewandowski or Kane but Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis Saha weren't really either.
Do you agree with this list? Who do you think Man Utd could and should realistically sign in the summer? Tell us in the comments section below.