Manchester United Transfers: How Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Team Could Look in 2019/20

Manchester United have some big decisions to make this summer. 

The potential for high-profile exits – Paul Pogba and David de Gea are being consistently linked with moves away – is looming large at the moment following a recent form dip. But the current media talk goes heavy on United’s determination to spend big and address issues that have been holding the team back for years.

United fans will certainly hope their club can spend in the right places, and the latest reports suggest they could be ready to ​axe as many as six players, while signing another five.

Figures from between £200m-£300m have been floated as the potential outlay on the playing staff. Perhaps more dependent on player sales – maybe a Chinese Super League club will pay £100m for ​Alexis SanchezSo we’re going to imagine spending big money (£400m probs) by buying five players, fitting them in to the new-look team for next season at the same time.

Remember, this is fantasy and in no way are we saying this is going to happen. But nevertheless, we’re going to try and build a team that works, and a system that has balance, basing it on the speculation that’s come and gone around United’s likely business.

They want an “English core”, y’know…


David de Gea

David de Gea

United have problem, and that’s ​David de Gea’s contract. It’s up next summer, but the club are determined to dig their heels in and work out an extension – even while the player is looking to become one of the best paid players at the club.

It’d take a huge offer to convince United to sell this year, but they’ll need to be careful – the Spaniard could walk away for free in 2020.


Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Crystal Palace full back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is one of the Premier League’s most wanted, and United are right at the front of the queue to sign the £40m-rated star.

Roy Hodgson has admitted Palace will sell for the right price, so it’s all about getting this one done quickly. United may have Diogo Dalot’s promise to nurture, but they don’t have much else to rely on. Right back is a crucial position to strengthen.

You want Ashley Young playing in this position next season? No, of course you don’t.


Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof

The Swede has proven himself as United’s first choice central defender this season. He’s been very good barring the odd below-par game (most of which have come recently) and looks to have all the tools to actually succeed at Old Trafford.

He’s only 24, remember, so there’s still plenty more to come – but Lindelof could do with someone of the highest quality alongside him.


Kalidou Koulibaly

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And no, we don’t mean Chris Smalling or Phil Jones. United must spend big on a centre half this summer – a man at the top of their game – and Kalidou Koulibaly will fit the bill.

He won’t come cheap. The touted fee is in the region of £90m at the moment, but United need someone to have an impact on their defence at the levels that Virgil van Dijk has hit at Liverpool – as painful as it is to say. It’ll make a world of difference, and potentially take them up a level.

Latest talk is that the Senegalese has switched agents with the ambition of leaving Napoli, so watch this space.


Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw

​Shaw has been one of United’s most consistent performers this season, winning the club’s player of the month award three times, and he should retain his place next season regardless.

United do need cover at left back, but it’s not the most crucial part of the squad to address at the moment.


Declan Rice

Declan Rice

Nemanja Matic turns slower than it takes Earth to do one full rotation on its axis, so Manchester United need a new defensive midfielder for next season. Declan Rice looks the real deal, he’s English – not Irish – and he looks an actual realistic target. He’s excellent at bringing the ball forward from deep, distributes well and his first touch is exemplary.

West Ham have, similarly to Palace, admitted they’ll sell the 20-year-old for the right price (going to pluck £50m out of the air here) so it’s a worthwhile investment.


Saul Niguez

Saul Niguez

Okay, we’re entering dreamland now. United’s latest high-profile transfer target is Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez, and he will cost a lot, a lot (a lot) of money if they do end up landing him.

How much? Anywhere between €120m and €150m. What a signing he’d be mind you.

​Andrew Headspeath has written this ​excellent piece on why he’d be the perfect fit.


​Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba

​Paul Pogba might have his head turned, his agent might be turning it for him, or he might be completely happy in Manchester. You can expect this transfer saga to run and run as Real Madrid try and spend £8bn of “their own money” throughout this summer transfer window.

However, the World Cup winner is a huge commercial asset for United, as well as a huge asset on the pitch, and he has two years (with an option to extend for a third) on his contract. 

Good luck trying to buy him.


Jadon Sancho​

Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho has been dubbed “​Manchester United’s number one transfer target” for a number of weeks now, and you can see why.

England’s latest international star is lightning quick, direct, tricky and hungry to prove himself in the Premier League, and while United were recently said to be writing the deal off because of expense, they have a penchant for signing the big names. Sancho is nearly there.

If they don’t want to blow another £100m, PSV’s Chucky Lozano is a cheaper alternative option at around £35m. But this Sancho chat could run and run.


Anthony Martial

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Having signed a new contract recently, it’s now time for ​Tony Marshall to get down to business and start showing his quality on a consistent basis. 

United fans know he’s got it in his locker, but it’s time to deliver on that potential for the Frenchman. He’s got his chance now.


Marcus Rashford

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​Manchester United’s golden boy has come into his own since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment. He’s the club’s number one forward and he’s got levels to hit as he continues to mature in the central striker’s role. 

Expect Rashford to lead the line for a long time to come.


So, how could it actually look? Well…

Let’s see how they manage to do this summer…

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Pablo Zabaleta Reveals West Ham Deal Could Extend if He Triggers Clause Before End of Season

​West Ham right back Pablo Zabaleta has revealed he will trigger an extension in his contract if he plays a certain amount of games this season.

The 34-year-old Argentinian’s deal ends in the summer but he is set to trigger an extension to that if he plays just two more matches this season.

“If I play in 60 per cent of the games, automatically the contract can extend for another season,” he confirmed, as quoted by the Newham Recorder. 

Pablo Zabaleta,Chris Lowe

“This is something I am not too far away from. If I play a few more games, I will have a chance to sit with the manager and the club and decide what to do.”

Zabaleta has played in 24 of the 37 games ​West Ham have participated in this season which comes out at 64.86%, so even if the former Manchester City defender only plays twice in the last six games, he will still qualify for that extension.

“I haven’t decided what to do at the moment. There are still six games to go and I don’t want to rush myself or the manager,” he added.

Pablo Zabaleta,Grady Diangana

“The club brought me in to play for two years and this is all I wanted because I am 34 now. If you look at this season and last season, I have been playing in around 80% of the games, which is very good for someone of my age. 

“They wanted a player to come in and fix that problem with the right back, and so I did a job for the club. If I do stay then I would understand that I would have a different role in the team, not to play as much.

Pablo Zabaleta

“I know in myself that I cannot play the same amount of games that I have for this season and last season.”

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Eric Bailly in Real Madrid’s Sights Ahead of Old Trafford Summer Overhaul – Yes, Really

​Real Madrid have emerged as shock contenders to relieve Eric Bailly from his escalating frustrations at Manchester United, with a summer move on the cards.

The Ivorian defender has been plagued by a combination of injuries and lack of faith from his managers this season, resulting in the 24-year-old making only 13 starts across all competitions, and remaining a doubt for the club’s Champions League quarter final clash with Barcelona.


Now it appears, per ​The Sun, that the ​United outcast could be offered an escape route from Old Trafford, with ​Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane still a fan of the player despite a less than fruitful two-and-a-half year stint in Manchester. Prior to the defender’s £30m move to England, the Spanish outfit were keen on the player themselves, but were pipped to the post.

Bailly was the first signing of the Jose Mourinho era but never succeeded in nailing down a first team role under his former boss, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has preferred Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof in recent weeks ahead of the crocked centre half.

While there is undoubtedly a talent there, reports of Madrid’s interest must be taken with a decent pinch of salt, after the article claims the Red Devils are even considering lining up a player-plus-cash deal with Los Blancos in return for ​Raphael Varane, with the Frenchman currently trying to engineer an exit from the ​La Liga side.

Eric Bailly

Supposedly, Bailly’s camp are aware of Solskjaer’s interest in reinforcing his options at the heart of defence, seemingly banishing any hopes the former Villareal player may hold in returning to the first team fold. As such, a summer exit from the ​Premier League appears likely, however, the proposed destination remains unclear.

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The Stat That Shows Why Ruben Loftus-Cheek Must Start for Chelsea More Regularly

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was in eye-catching form during Chelsea’s convincing 3-0 win against Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Put into the starting XI after his injury time winner against Cardiff, the 23-year-old picked up a goal and an assist in the second half and worked in tandem with Eden Hazard to cause constant problems for Brighton’s defence.

His 63rd minute strike was the highlight of the match as he casually stroked the ball into the top right corner after exchanging passes with Hazard and Jorginho on the edge of the box. 


Loftus-Cheek has spent much of the season competing with Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic for the third midfield role in ​Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 system but has frequently  fallen behind them in the pecking order.

However, after the match a stat emerged which hinted that the England international should arguably be Sarri’s first choice – he now has more goals in the ​Premier League this season than Barkley and Kovacic combined.

​Loftus-Cheek’s curler yesterday was his fifth league goal of the season, putting him ahead of ​Barkley and Kovacic’s combined total of three.

This is particularly impressive considering injury problems with his back have reduced him to just two league starts so far this campaign, considerably less than the 31 Barkley and Kovacic have managed between them.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Barkley and Kovacic have become something of a running joke this season due to how often one has been substituted for the other. However, for Maurizio Sarri, the key to finding a goalscoring midfielder might have been sat on the bench all along. 

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Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Where to Watch, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

Bayern Munich host Borussia Dortmund in a season-defining derby on Saturday afternoon, as they contest the 100th Bundesliga edition of Der Klassiker.

Dortmund and Bayern are separated by just two points at the top of the table, with BVB currently on top. However, with just seven games to play a win for either side could be the deciding factor in where the Bundesliga title goes this season.

Die Roten return to action just three days after their DFB-Pokal success, where they beat second division Heidenheim 5-4 in the quarter-final. Dortmund have not played since last weekend, when they prevailed over Wolfsburg 2-0 at the Signal Iduna Park.

Here’s our breakdown of Saturday’s Bundesliga clash.


Where to Watch

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 6 April
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Allianz Arena
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport 1
Referee? N/A

Team News

Bayern Munich are without Arjen Robben and Alphonso Davies, who have calf and knee injuries respectively. Corentin Tolisso may also be unavailable for Die Roten, as he continues his long recovery from a knee injury. 

Borussia Dortmund have lost in-form defender Achraf Hakimi for the rest of the season, after the Real Madrid loanee was ruled out with a metatarsal injury. Christian Pulisic is also confirmed to be absent for Saturday’s trip, with the American picking up a thigh injury last month.

Dortmund also have a quartet of key players that could miss out on the trip to the Allianz. Abdou Diallo, Maximilian Philipp and Lukasz Piszczek are all doubts, while star striker Paco Alcacer may be ready following injury.


Predicted Lineups

Bayern Munich Neuer; Kimmich, Sule, Hummels, Alaba; Martinez, Thiago; Gnabry, Rodriguez, Coman; Lewandowski.
Borussia Dortmund Burki; Wolf, Akanji, Zagadou, Guerreiro; Witsel, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Bruun Larsen; Alcacer.

Head to Head Record

This is the 100th Der Klassiker to be played in the Bundesliga, and the 117th meeting in the fixture’s history.Bayern prevail in the number of wins, with 52 victories compared to Dortmund’s 31 wins.

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The two sides last met last November, as Dortmund edged triumphed in a thrilling encounter at the Signal Iduna Park. The Schwarzgelben won 3-2 thanks to a brace from Marco Reus and a goal from Alcacer, after former BVB man Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Bayern.

Bayern have won three of the last four meetings, and have lost just one of the last eight derbies at the Allianz. Meanwhile Dortmund are hoping to win both Klassikers in a Bundesliga season for the first time since 2012, when they pulled off two 1-0 victories.


Recent Form

Bayern are in excellent goalscoring form at the moment, having scored 17 goals in their last three domestic home games. They are unbeaten in the Bundesliga since the start of February, last losing at home in the league last October.

Dortmund have recovered well from their mid-season blip, winning three league games in a row. They have only failed to score twice this season in the Bundesliga, scoring an impressive 66 goals which is only bettered by Bayern.

Here’s how each team has performed in their last five fixtures:

Bayern Munich Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich 5-4 Heidenheim (03/04) Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Wolfsburg (30/03)
Freiburg 1-1 Bayern Munich (30/03) Hertha Berlin 2-3 Borussia Dortmund (16/03)
Bayern Munich 6-0 Mainz (17/03) Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Stuttgart (09/03)
Bayern Munich 1-3 Liverpool (13/03) Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Tottenham (05/03)
Bayern Munich 6-0 Wolfsburg (09/03) Augsburg 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (01/03)

Prediction

It is going to be a huge game at the Allianz Arena, with the winner taking a huge step closer to the Bundesliga title. Dortmund could extend their lead at the top to five points, while Bayern could return to the summit of the table as the season begins to draw to a close.

Robert Lewandowski,Thomas Mueller

It will certainly be a tight affair in Bavaria, but with the momentum and outstanding home form it looks like Bayern could edge it. Both sides need to win this game, and it may well be the defining match of the season for two of Germany’s finest.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund

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