Things are on the up for Manchester United after Sunday’s 2-1 victory over fifth-placed Aston Villa reduced the deficit for United to just five points. Despite signs of a change in fortune for the short term, it is clear that the club needs to rebuild the squad around the burgeoning talents of goalscorer Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
How Manchester United Can Rebuild Around Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho & Kobbie Mainoo
Reduce Erik ten Hag’s Transfer Influence
Erik ten Hag has had a strong level of influence on transfer business and has been backed in the market by the ownership. Since joining the club, they have permanently signed: Casemiro (£70 million), Lisandro Martinez (£57m), Tyrell Malacia £14.5m), Antony (£85m), Andre Onana (£47.2m), Rasmus Holjund (£72m), Mason Mount (£60m), Christian Eriksen (free).
While 21-year-old Rasmus Hojlund has begun to repay some of the faith shown in him, Casemiro is 31 years old and it’s beginning to show at times. Lisandro Martinez has been excellent but now faces a third lengthy spell on the sidelines in just two seasons.
Onana has struggled early in his United career and suffered several costly mistakes in the Champions League group stage. Mount has looked out of place on the occasion he’s been match-fit. Just as concerning, Antony has recorded zero goals and assists in 19 league appearances. Last season, he only managed four goals and two assists.
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Key players in the squad have begun to age, Raphael Varane (signed for £41m in 2021) is 30, Bruno Fernandes is 29. Harry Maguire is now 30, while Victor Lindelof is 29, leaving an ageing defensive partnership in the centre when Martinez is unavailable.
For all the money spent on Erik ten Hag’s targets, it simply hasn’t shown results and has failed to refresh the squad. As a result, they are now limited by profit and sustainability requirements and will need to maximise the sale prices of their ageing talent.
If United’s squad can’t carry out the tactics the manager would like, as he has previously suggested, and he has helped build the squad, then perhaps the ownership needs to restore the power balance in favour of senior recruitment staff.
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Red Devils Need to Steadily Build Around Emerging Talents
The saving grace of this dire season for the Reds is the emergence of young talent in the form of Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garancho, Hojlund, who is growing in confidence, bagging his fifth Premier League goal at Villa Park.
To maximise their potential and build around other key players in the squad, sales are needed to fund moves.
Club Must Prioritise Sales of Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan Bissaka
To create funds for new moves in the summer and subsequent transfer windows, United should aim to shed Raphael Varane’s huge £250,000 wages. It’s becoming clear that the cost probably isn’t justified by a player who is undoubtedly solid but has been unavailable far too often. Collecting a fee for him and offloading the wages could create options for bigger moves on young stars.
A sale of Victor Lindelof, who has played only 13 of the 24 league games so far, would also free up funds.
Diogo Dalot has clearly been the first choice right back for United for quite some time, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka limited to featuring in 31 league games over two seasons.
At just 26 years old, he could have a few bidders with a strong offer, with his excellent one-versus-one defender extremely valuable for teams lower down the table.
These potential sales could provide a cash injection to help Manchester United hunt for deals in the summer. Offloading Christian Eriksen and Anthony Martial’s wages could also free up room in the budget.
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Manchester United Rebuild Should Feature Frimpong, Bastoni, Bennacur
One opportunity for a bargain in the summer is Bayer Leverkusen’s 23-year-old Jeromie Frimpong (£34 million release clause in July). With Xabi Alonso linked with the Liverpool job to replace Jurgen Klopp, Frimpong could be tempted by a move to the Premier League.
🇳🇱 Understand Bayer Leverkusen stance on Jeremie Frimpong is very clear: no intention to sell Dutch RB or any other player in January.
Top clubs want Frimpong but it’s one for June as €40m release clause will become active in the summer.
The clause is NOT valid in January. pic.twitter.com/QsyU3O67WJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 4, 2024
Playing as a wing-back for Xabi Alonso’s side, Frimpong has provided six goals and six assists in 20 Bundesliga appearances. On Saturday night he was a substitute in Leverkusen’s 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich, where he rounded off a dominant display by finding an empty net from 30 yards out on the wing after Manuel Neuer went up for a corner.
Inter Milan’s owners are facing financial difficulties with their other business ventures, and have had to sell key players over successive seasons. Alessandro Bastoni, a 24-year-old left-sided centre-back has over 130 Seria A appearances for Inter Milan and could be a fantastic alternative to Martinez and Maguire, the latter of whom could serve as a third option.
Alternatively, United could target another Leverkusen talent in Ivorian centre-back Odilon Kossounou, fresh off of a dramatic AFCON victory in his home nation. At just 23-years-old, he could be integrated into the squad with less pressure by being rotated with his other central defenders.
Ismael Bennacur of AC Milan will be available this summer for a reported £42.6 million release clause, according to Fabrizio Romano. While it isn’t cheap, it could be a worthwhile investment in a 26-year-old central midfielder who can recover the ball and build up from the back. He would give them options in the midfield to reduce the pressure on veteran Casemiro and teenager Mainoo.
INEOS Could Gamble on Jarrad Branthwaite
There is one clear gem in the premier league for a future rebuild in the defence: Jarrad Branthwaite. At just 21-years-old the Everton centre-back has been one of the most impressive players in the entire league.
He is said to be hoping to make England’s Euro 2024 squad and would appear to have a chance, although he is yet to have the call up to the senior international squad.
An excellent man-marker and overall decision-maker in defence, Branthwaite is composed, physical and a smart, switched-on player. If he can develop his passing skills, he could be a cornerstone of the next decade at Manchester United.
