“We’re still not where we want to be, close enough to challenge for the Premier League trophy but we take one step at a time,” Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had said when asked about whether his team was ready to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for the title.
Take note; one step at a time.
Manchester United, as things stand, are unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions, but the bigger picture remains that they are still off of achieving the final UEFA Champions League spot in the league, having acquired sixth place in the standings.
It’s quite early to judge Solskjaer in his first full season, to say the least, but if he tends to stay at the helm, results need to be more consistent. Having already brought in necessary reinforcement in the previous summer, it’s time for him to dive into the market once again in order to take his beloved United to the top.
Having said that, we look at five players that Solskjaer might be very interested in bringing to Old Trafford.
Jack Grealish
United, regardless of having a star-studded midfield, lack a leader, and this is exactly what Jack Grealish would bring. And given that Aston Villa are on the verge of being relegated to the Championship, it wouldn’t be hard for United to lure him to the Theatre of Dreams.
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Grealish, as we have seen this year, is a typical English midfielder, who not only contributes to the attack but also loves to do the dirty work. Not afraid of a challenge, the 24-year-old’s work-rate is something that would interest Solskjaer. That, added with his movement both on and off the ball, coupled with his ability to add pace in the counters is likely to make an already frightening United attack more lethal.
Wilfred Ndidi
With Nemanja Matic ageing, United will be on the hunt for a cover for their back-four, and as of this moment, no one comes close to Leicester City’s Wilfried Ndidi.
The 23-year-old, who joined Leicester City in January 2017 from Genk, holds a stupendous record in the league, averaging 3.8 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per game. Known for his sheer concentration, the Nigerian’s addition would provide both Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes significant freedom to do the damage upfront.
Ndidi is someone who loves to put his body on the line, much like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and his awareness of spotting potential danger somewhat remains underrated equity. He could possibly be one of the finest additions under Solskjaer.
Philippe Coutinho
This might very well seem like a long shot, but just imagine an attack consisting of Philippe Coutinho, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Three pace merchants wreaking havoc would be a heavenly sight for every Manchester United faithful.
As things stand, despite a decent return of eight goals in 23 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern Munich while on loan from Barcelona, the Brazilian remains an unwanted commodity at both these clubs.
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Luring him to Old Trafford would be an arduous task for Solskjaer given his past with Liverpool, and that, coupled with Barcelona’s asking price might complicate the matter further. But that doesn’t mean the parties can’t reach the middle ground. At 28, the speedster still has a lot to offer, and given his six years of experience in the Premier League, it won’t take long for him to assert his authority.
Jonathan Tah
A key player for Bayer Leverkusen for quite some time now, center-back Jonathan Tah is one of the most underrated defenders in all of Europe.
Known for his sheer technical approach coupled with a calm head on his shoulders, the 24-year-old would be an ideal signing for Manchester United, who only have three main center-backs in Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Harry Maguire at their disposal.
The nine-time capped German international made 25 Bundesliga appearances this season and averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 3.8 clearances per game. His current situation at Leverkusen, however, is quite bewildering, having fallen behind Sven Bender and January signing Edmond Tapsoba in the pecking order. And although he remains positive about his future, an offer from Manchester United could prove to be too tempting to decline.
Moussa Dembele
A goalscoring machine at Celtic and now at Lyon, 23-year-old Moussa Dembele has been tipped to arrive in the Premier League sooner rather than later.
Having scored 42 goals in 88 appearances for the French side in all competitions, Dembele could be that wildcard that United desperately needs in attack. Being versatile enough means he can operate either in a three-man attack system or even as a sole central striker. And the one thing he’d guarantee is goals.
Known for his poaching skills, Dembele is your ‘Fox in the Box’ who not only bags you the goal, but his extensive work-rate means he also brings others into play. Watching him combining with both Rashford and Martial would be a sheer delight for United fans.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Odd Andersen, Laurence Griffiths, Romain Lafabregue
