With no men’s World Cup or Euros this summer the 2023/24 Premier League season is under the spotlight in the UK, as England’s biggest clubs all try to strengthen their hand, with a title push the chief ambition.
Manchester United is one of the main challengers to Manchester City’s dominance and the early Premier League 2023 betting odds place United in fourth place, but the former kings of England and Europe are currently off the pace and have some serious strengthening to do in the close season.
But it won’t be easy.
Erik Ten Hag’s task is to bring the Red Devils out of the shadow of the Sky Blues, and sooner rather than later. But the club is in a state of limbo at the moment, waiting for a takeover deal to be completed and, until then, funds will be carefully used. The proposed takeover of Manchester United has dominated the Premier League 2023 news on the red side of Manchester. Neither of the two main bidders Sheikh Jassim or Qatar and Jim Radcliffe if Ineos are near to taking the reigns at Old Trafford and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll continue to watch this story, though we don’t expect a new owner to be in place before the campaign begins, and that means incomings will be covered by outgoings.
Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Fred, Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly and Alex Telles all seem likely to leave for pastures news, though no exits have yet been confirmed.
The Red Devils are currently pursuing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and, while two offers have been rebuffed so far it seems the two parties are not so far apart and a deal can be done. Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is on the radar as a possible alternative but I suspect Mount will become a Red at a cost of around £65m. That would take up a big chunk of United’s war chest; but Ten Hag also desperately needs to bring in a striker.
Spurs talisman Harry Kane looks like he might finally be heading away from North London, but it seems that The Red Devils’ interest has cooled and they may be looking for a younger model to continue the Ten Hag evolution. Eintracht Frankfurt’s rising star Randal Kolo Muani would fit the brief but he may be too expensive, so Atalanta’s 20-year-old star Rasmus Hojlund could be the man. The United boss is a fan of the Danish star who has scored six goals in six games for his nation and would be able to link up with countryman Christian Eriksen at Old Trafford.
Hojlund could play alongside Marcus Rashford in attack with exciting young left winger Alejandro Garnacho set to play a bigger role this season. There may well be more movement in the market and, particularly up front, there is plenty of uncertainty. With Martial on the way and Burnley forward Wout Weghorst unlikely to renew his loan in Manchester, there is a gap. Brazil striker Antony will probably push on and there may even be a return for disgraced star Mason Greenwood, but I think some new blood will start the campaign up front.
Brazil ace Casemiro is a shoe-in to sit in the centre of midfield and the back five too looks settled. David de Gea isn’t totally certain to be at the club in August and is yet to sign a new contract, with Manchester United reported to be interested in Everton and England stopper Jordan Pickford. That would seem an odd move to me. Pickford always performs well for the Three Lions but his form for Everton has often come under scrutiny, while De Gea won the 2022/23 Premier League Golden Glove, which is some achievement up against the likes of Ederson, Allison and Nick Pope.
Even if Maguire stays at Old Trafford I can’t see him dislodging the centre back pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. Former Real Madrid star Varane is a Rolls Royce of a defender while Martinez has become a fans favourite with his high octane, ‘in your face’ defending. While neither wingback are particularly impressive going forward, United have gifted wingers and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw both improved defensively as the 2022/23 season went on.
Manchester United’s predicted line-up to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday 14th August:
1: David De Gea: Goalkeeper
2: Aaron Wan-Bissaka : Right back
3: Luke Shaw: Left back
4: Raphael Varane: Centre back
5: Lisandro Martinez: centre back
6: Casemiro: Centre midfield
7: Christian Eriksen: Right wing
8: Mason Mount: Attacking midfield
9: Rasmus Hojlund: Centre forward
10: Marcus Rashford: Forward
11: Alejandro Garnacho: Left wing
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