{"id":640888,"date":"2024-06-11T04:20:19","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T08:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=640888"},"modified":"2024-06-11T04:20:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T08:20:19","slug":"five-players-manchester-united-should-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2024\/06\/11\/five-players-manchester-united-should-target\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Players That Manchester United Should Target This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Manchester United, under the new stewardship of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS following their acquisition of 25% of the club back in\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/sir-jim-ratcliffe-completes-purchase-of-25-stake-in-manchester-united-13076565#:~:text=Petrochemicals%20billionaire%20Sir%20Jim%20Ratcliffe,operations%20from%20the%20Glazer%20family.\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">February<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, including control of the football side of the club, will be looking to reinforce their squad with four or five players this summer after a difficult season on the pitch and a season of upheaval off of it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With most areas of the squad in need of attention <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">as<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> well as<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2024\/06\/07\/who-is-leaving-manchester-united-summer\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">departures<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0of some key players, this transfer window promises to be a pivotal one as Ratcliffe and his newly appointed team of football experts set about rebuilding a team to target success on the field. Here are five players that Manchester United could look to target to strengthen the squad going into the new season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Five Players Manchester United Should Target As Ratcliffe Revamp Begins<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jarrad Branthwaite<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The 21-year-old centre-back has enjoyed a breakout season at Everton, becoming one of the best defenders in the Premier League and ensuring his first cap for England in a pre-Euro 2024 friendly against Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina. It <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/football\/news\/11095\/13144899\/jarrad-branthwaite-manchester-united-interested-in-signing-everton-defender-this-summer\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">rumoured<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0that the Red Devils are preparing a bid for the young star, with a transfer mooted sooner rather than later following Branthwaite <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">being cut<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> from Gareth <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Southgate&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> final squad for the summer tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Read More:<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2024\/06\/06\/milos-kerkez-bournemouth-manchester-united-watchlist\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2018<\/span><\/a><\/strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2024\/06\/06\/milos-kerkez-bournemouth-manchester-united-watchlist\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Being Monitored<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019 <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2013<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> \u2018<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Crazy<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019 <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Youngster On Manchester <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">United\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Watchlist<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Although there is excitement regarding the Carlisle <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">native&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> potential, he and likely centre-back partner Lisandro Martinez are both left-footed, going against manager Erik ten <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hag&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> preference of having a right-footed centre-half paired with a left-footed one.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Joao Neves<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Defensive midfield is a priority position for Manchester United this summer, with 32-year-old Brazilian Casemiro exhibiting signs of drastic physical decline last season and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/football\/2024\/05\/13\/man-utd-saudi-clubs-sign-casemiro-bruno-fernandes\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">rumoured<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to be of interest to Saudi Pro League clubs. There are few better-holding midfielders in Europe right now than <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Benfica&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Neves, the 19-year-old belying his years with an\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.coachesvoice.com\/cv\/joao-neves-position-and-style-of-play\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">outstanding all-round game<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0as part of a double pivot in the Portuguese <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">club&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> 4-2-3-1 formation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Adept both in and out of possession, capable of driving forward and dropping deep to link play, Neves is one of the hottest properties in world football right now and would command a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">huge<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> fee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">L\u00e9ny Yoro<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">18-year-old Lille defender L\u00e9ny Yoro has been\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingthelines.com\/player-analysis\/leny-yoro-lilles-next-diamond\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">making waves<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in Ligue 1 this season, his assured performances in the back line helping the 2020\/2021 champions to a creditable 4th place. Whilst astute in duels and possessing all the requisite physical capabilities to compete in high-level football, Yoro is <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">especially<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> proficient in building up from the back, regularly featuring near the top of the Ligue 1 passing stats this campaign. As a right-footed player, the Frenchman would also compliment Lisandro Martinez at the heart of Ten <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hag&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> defence.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Benjamin Sesko<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">14<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> goals and two assists in 32 Bundesliga games for RB Leipzig this season, along with an impressive and ever-improving all-round game &#8211; has made the Slovenian a prime target for several of <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Europe&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> top clubs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Read More:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2024\/06\/07\/who-is-leaving-manchester-united-summer\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Who Is Leaving Manchester United This Summer?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tall, athletic and a top finisher, having two of the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">continent&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> top young attackers in Sesko and Rasmus Hojlund would instantly give the Red Devils more firepower and have creators like Bruno Fernandes licking their lips at providing service to two high-potential, hungry attackers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Michael Olise<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ten goals and six assists in just 19 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace have seen 22-year-old Olise catapult himself into the conversation of best wingers in the Premier League, notably as the Eagles <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were rejuvenated<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> by the arrival of highly-rated German coach Julian Glasner in the latter stages of the season. With \u00a390M winger Antony failing to justify his place in the team last season, the left-footed France U21 international could be a promising addition to a squad desperate to challenge at the top end of the table again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Which of these five players could make the difference at Old Trafford?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester United, under the new stewardship of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS following their acquisition of 25% of the club back in\u00a0February, including control of the football side of the club, will be looking to reinforce their squad with four or five players this summer after a difficult season on the pitch and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5004,"featured_media":639969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,3],"tags":[9334,4629,31802,31796,8729,3534],"class_list":["post-640888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manchester-united","category-premier-league","tag-benjamin-sesko","tag-jarrad-branthwaite","tag-joao-neves","tag-leny-yoro","tag-michael-olise","tag-sir-jim-ratcliffe"],"modified_by":"Ricky Carroll, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5004"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640888"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640888\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/639969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=640888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}