Manchester United has a big headache on their heads as the Red Devils look to return to their glory days. With new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the helm, fans are expecting the club to have a big summer transfer window. The team has never shied from spending the big bucks during the transfer window, and I do not expect it to be any different this summer.
You see, Manchester United had their poorest campaign under head coach Erik ten Hag last season. The team lost a record number of games and only the surprising win over Manchester City in the FA Cup finals saw the Dutchman keep hold of his job. If Ten Hag wants to stay at Old Trafford, the United boss will have to come up with some big plans and that has to revolve around overhauling his squad.
Transfer Strategy
Manchester United needs a lot of areas to work on if they want to come anywhere close to challenging for the top four spots, much less the title. The team’s defense has been a big headache for the management and with Raphael Varane leaving the side, the team needs a reliable player to pair up with Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine center-back has established himself as a key player and will need a good ball-playing defender to cover him up in the center of defense.
United’s midfield is no better with only Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo guaranteed starters for the upcoming season. The team needs a really good central midfielder/central defensive midfield if they want to play a good possession game. While the attack also needs improvement based on how things went, the midfield and defense have to be the priority for Erik ten Hag.
Squad Needs & Areas of Improvement
Midfield
There have been massive doubts that Mason Mount will reach the same levels of success he did with Chelsea. The player is a good attacking option, but he isn’t good enough to replace someone like Bruno Fernandes. Manchester United desperately needs a defensive midfielder following Casemiro’s absence.
Defense
Apart from Lisandro Martinez, the Red Devils don’t have a single world-class defender in their ranks. The back line could be the team’s biggest problem this season and the management needs to do their best to fix the issue before the start of the season.
Potential Signings & Top Targets
While the club needs a lot of names in the summer, it’s unlikely that Manchester United will be making a plethora of signings. The management wants to make sure that Erik ten Hag is the right man for the job and the Dutchman could be given a couple of big names at max to show his capabilities.
| Manchester United Transfer Targets | Position | Current Club | Estimated Fee |
| Jarred Branthwaite | Defender | Everton | €42m |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Defender | Bayern Munich | €55m |
| Joao Gomes | Midfielder | Wolves | €35m |
Both Jarrad Brathwaite and Matthijs de Ligt could be a great option for Manchester United. The club has been interested in the Branthwaite but has seen Everton knock their bids because of their poor valuation. A move for De Ligt could be a great option, as the Dutchman has fallen off the pecking order at Bayern Munich, and could be a great option for Erik ten Hag to improve his squad. Meanwhile, the midfield could see Kobbie Mainoo pair up with Wolverhampton’s Joao Gomes as both players have a similar playstyle and can be deployed in box-to-box roles.
Manchester United’s Financial Capabilities
With new owners at the helm, it’s unlikely the Red Devils will have any worries about spending the big bucks during the transfer window. While overpaying for a player might become an issue for the team considering their past purchases, the team doesn’t have a lot of options.
Budget Overview
The team will have a decent budget to operate on this summer considering the side will part ways with multiple names. The team has also transferred multiple players for sale and will make a good amount from the transfers. Rumors suggest Sir Jim Ratcliffe could provide Erik ten Hag with a budget of more than €120 million to bolster his squad.
Financial Fair Play (FFP)
Manchester United despite having no major success over the years, does not have to be worried about the FFP guidelines. The team is well within the regulation of the rules and should have a good transfer window.