The four signings Manchester United need this summer
The Red Devils sit fourth in the Premier League table, hoping to consolidate their position and keep rivals Liverpool at bay in their bid to return to the Champions League next season. With Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham the opposition in their last three games, Erik Ten Hag and his side will fancy themselves favourites to finish ahead of the Merseyside club and secure a return to Europe’s top table in the process. The Old Trafford side would be further bolstered by a much anticipated takeover at the end of the season which would see a much needed cash injection. However, Chelsea’s plight must serve as a cautionary tale to United fans who would be eager to see the club splurge millions in the summer transfer window in a bid to catch up to Manchester City ahead of the 2023/24 season. There’s no doubt work needs to be done and upgrades made if Erik Ten Hag wants to see his side challenging for titles again, but the strategy must be focused and with purpose; there are a lot of areas on the pitch that need some good old fashioned TLC. Here’s a look at who United should bring in if they want to challenge for the title next year.
Harry Kane
The most high-profile signing made this summer is likely to be England’s all-time leading goalscorer Harry Kane. The Tottenham striker is in the midst of one of his most prolific campaigns to date with 27 goals in the league this year. It hasn’t been enough for a lacklustre Spurs side to end their long wait for silverware though and with Kane’s contract coming to an end next year, the exit door is beckoning for the Englishman. Daniel Levy has managed to keep the various interested parties at bay successfully thus far, but it seems like this could finally be the year that Kane could make his move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and for a fairly reasonable fee too. At 29-years-old he still has a few years left in his prime in which he will likely remain on track to break Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record and if rumours are to be believed, he could well hit that landmark wearing red in front of the Stretford End. It’s no secret that United are the favourites to land his prized signature and with the lack of options in that role at Ten Hag’s disposal, his arrival couldn’t come soon enough. According to trusted betting sites in the UK, the odds of Kane playing for United after the summer transfer window are 5/2. It seems harsh but Wout Weghorst in reality has been not much more than a stop gap for a team that is desperately lacking in depth up front. Rashford has been revitalized this year and delivered on multiple occasions this season but they could really do with someone the calibre of Kane entering the fold if they are to push on.
Jurrien Timber
Harry Maguire’s stock is at an all time low. The England defender has endured a calamitous spell at United, going from one blunder at the back to the next until Ten Hag finally made the call to pull him from the starting lineup. In his stead Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have stepped up to provide the solid centre-back pairing United were in desperate need of. The untimely injury to the Argentinian just before the run-in could not have come at a worse time and has exposed the club’s need to replenish their centre backs knowing that Eric Bailley is unlikely to return from his loan to Marseilles and that Maguire is unlikely to enter the fold anytime soon. An immediate starting option is required to partner Varane at the back ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and 21-year-old Jurrien Timber looks to be the primer candidate. Ten Hag looks set on yet again revisiting his former club to bolster his ranks with his eye firmly set on the Dutch International. Timber has certainly impressed for Ajax this year even if the famous Amsterdam club has fallen well off the pace in the Eredivisie title race. Rivals Liverpool are looking to sneak in a bid ahead of Ten Hag this summer but it is critical the boss beats Jurgen Klopp to the punch.
Girogi Mamardashvili
David De Gea has had an up and down campaign in between the sticks for United this year with a few notable howlers costing the Red Devils dearly at key intervals during the season. Despite that the 31-year-old Spaniard is expected to stay at Old Trafford until Ten Hag can find a replacement that can distribute from the back the way he wants to. With that said it seems there are far more pressing issues to solve elsewhere on the pitch than goalkeeper. However, the lack of competition for a starting position in that spot could become a problem for 2023/24. Should De Gea get injured at any point or need a rest then Ten Hag would likely need a high-profile keeper to fill those shoes. With Valencia struggling in La Liga, the Georgian shot-stopper could be bought well below the initial asking price of £45 million. Chelsea and Spurs are both hoping to sign the keeper but United with Champions League football would surely be the more attractive prospect for the 22-year-old.
Jeremie Frimpong
Despite Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan Bissaka’s good form this season, Ten Hag will be looking to strengthen that area by signing another right-back who can get forward and support the attackers. Wan Bissaka’s lack of attacking output remains an issue and Ten Hag could look to cash in on the 25-year-old in the summer, with Crystal Palace, West Ham and Wolves all reportedly interested. United have a few right-backs on their radar but chief among them is Manchester City academy graduate Jeremie Frimpong. The Bayer Leverkusen superstar is an attack-minded full-back and has registered plenty of goal contributions in 2022/23 thus far while maintaining solidity at the back. The 22-year-old is reportedly valued at around £25m and would be a perfect fit and suitable stylistic replacement should Dalot leave this summer or is unavailable.
