How Manchester United could line up if they sign all their January transfer targets
The January transfer window is important for all clubs, but more so for Manchester United. The English giants have been punching well below their weight. Interim manager Ralf Rangnick hasn't been able to get the desired level of performance from the players. There has been a pattern of inconsistencies from the players.
Manchester United need a serious rejig, especially in midfield
While Manchester United need a complete turnaround in several areas, midfield has been the Achilles heel. Naturally, most of the rumors have revolved around this notion. Names like Ruben Neves and Amadou Haidara have been the most common. If Manchester United could sign all their January transfer targets, a 4-2-3-1 formation would be ideal considering the resources at hand.
Goalkeeper: David De Gea
There has been a certain debate about who should be the rightful starter in the goal for Manchester United. David De Gea has been an assured starter, although the club could potentially lose Dean Henderson due to this. Ralf Rangnick has also chosen to entrust the veteran to the goal, and the Spaniard will certainly continue to guard between the sticks.
Clean sheet đź”’
Next round âś… https://t.co/48itBLRHaY
De Gea has already made 26 appearances across all major competitions. His 6 clean sheets are poor returns, but that has largely been due to the extremely leaky defense that has let him down.
Right Back - Aaron Wan-Bissaka
There have been reports that Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been declared not to be good enough by Ralf Rangnick. There are certain grounds for Wan-Bissaka's criticism, especially given that he can't carry the ball well. While he could be suitable for many teams, Wan-Bissaka doesn't fit into the general style of United.
Could be a crazy idea, but watching some videos of cdm targets and until the summer could wan bissaka be trained to do a job at CDM?
He's a great tackler and has a lot of the attributes required, don't think he suits the modern day wing back so could be an option. Thoughts? https://t.co/XIJYu8NSqo
But the club doesn't have many options as they have to choose between him and Diogo Dalot. Dalot's appearances have increased since Rangnick took over, but it's unlikely that Wan-Bissaka will be put on the bench permanently this season.
Right Centre-Back - Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane's purchase may have looked like a bargain at the start of the campaign, but there's a lot left to be proven. There is no doubt about Raphael Varane's talent and ability. However, his stay at Old Trafford has been plagued by injuries that greatly affected his rhythm.
Roy Keane:
Which players would you keep from Man United?
"Honestly … well I don’t know. Maybe three. Bruno Fernandes for sure. Then Cristiano Ronaldo yes. With these two the situation doesn’t seem so bad. There is also Varane who is among the best of the team.” https://t.co/DSjQGPKOCJ
Given he is fit once again, Varane will look to get a good run of games behind him. His good performances will determine how well the United defense can contain the opposition.
Left Centre-Back - Harry Maguire
Captain Harry Maguire has been one of the club's most underwhelming performers this season.. He had remarkable Euros, and the general expectation was that he would justify the huge sum paid to him. Much to the fans' disappointment, Maguire's current season has been riddled with poor performances and errors.
Ralf Rangnick has told the Manchester United hierarchy that Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire are not good enough to be playing for the club and will need replacing.
🚨 Ralf Rangnick has told the Manchester United hierarchy that Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire are not good enough to be playing for the club and will need replacing.
(Source: @GraemeBailey) https://t.co/oLlnOjtBuY
Maguire is recovering from a chest injury. He was on the bench against Aston Villa but will likely start against Brentford. Maguire, like Varane, has the ability, and it's all about finding the groove and then staying consistent.
Left Back - Luke Shaw
There has been a serious rotation between Alex Telles and Luke Shaw in recent times. Luke Shaw was a guaranteed starter following an excellent last campaign and a successful Euros. However, he has been poor and inconsistent since then. His indifferent performances have been the main reason for Rangnick opting for Telles.
Luke Shaw https://t.co/JXTcoYMxYH
The Brazilian may be offensively better, but Telles has been defensively poor. The left-back area has been a major area of concern for the team. While Luke Shaw will likely be the starter of the two, it won't be too surprising to see Rangnick continuing with his rotation between Shaw and Telles.