• IN: Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo in a Manchester red would be like the second coming for United fans. Juventus have reportedly offered the prolific Portuguese forward 'everywhere, even Barcelona' in an effort to trim their wage bill following another Champions League failure. At 35, Ronaldo's reported annual salary of €31 million (Dh135m) are beyond the reach of most clubs but one United may feel comfortable negotiating. His powers show no signs of waning, having become the first player to reach 50 or more goals in England, Spain and Italy with 37 goals - 31 of them in Serie A - this past season. Reuters
    IN: Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo in a Manchester red would be like the second coming for United fans. Juventus have reportedly offered the prolific Portuguese forward 'everywhere, even Barcelona' in an effort to trim their wage bill following another Champions League failure. At 35, Ronaldo's reported annual salary of €31 million (Dh135m) are beyond the reach of most clubs but one United may feel comfortable negotiating. His powers show no signs of waning, having become the first player to reach 50 or more goals in England, Spain and Italy with 37 goals - 31 of them in Serie A - this past season. Reuters
  • OUT: The notion that Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba formed a dream midfield pairing following the coronavirus-enforced shutdown is weighted more heavily for the Portuguese maestro's performances than the Frenchman's. The sense is that it's just not going to happen for the World Cup winner at Old Trafford. United could still command a sizable fee for Pogba's talents to strengthen other areas. Reuters
    OUT: The notion that Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba formed a dream midfield pairing following the coronavirus-enforced shutdown is weighted more heavily for the Portuguese maestro's performances than the Frenchman's. The sense is that it's just not going to happen for the World Cup winner at Old Trafford. United could still command a sizable fee for Pogba's talents to strengthen other areas. Reuters
  • IN: Saul Niguez is a long-term target at Old Trafford, with the Daily Mail reporting this week that United are set to step up their interest in the the Atletico Madrid midfielder in this transfer window. The 25-year-old Spain international is under contract with Atleti until June 2026, but fits perfectly in manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's vision of a lean, box-to-box midfielder with his best years still ahead of him. AFP
    IN: Saul Niguez is a long-term target at Old Trafford, with the Daily Mail reporting this week that United are set to step up their interest in the the Atletico Madrid midfielder in this transfer window. The 25-year-old Spain international is under contract with Atleti until June 2026, but fits perfectly in manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's vision of a lean, box-to-box midfielder with his best years still ahead of him. AFP
  • OUT: Spanish playmaker Juan Mata has had mainly a watching brief under Solskjaer this term and that's unlikely to change with Fernandes now firmly established as creator-in-chief. AFP
    OUT: Spanish playmaker Juan Mata has had mainly a watching brief under Solskjaer this term and that's unlikely to change with Fernandes now firmly established as creator-in-chief. AFP
  • IN: Jack Grealish was the most fouled player in the Premier League in 2019/20 but what is overlooked is that he created the most chances of any player bar Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne. To do that in a struggling team like Aston Villa speaks wonders of the young English forward's talents. Imagine what he can conjure with better players surrounding him. Reuters
    IN: Jack Grealish was the most fouled player in the Premier League in 2019/20 but what is overlooked is that he created the most chances of any player bar Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne. To do that in a struggling team like Aston Villa speaks wonders of the young English forward's talents. Imagine what he can conjure with better players surrounding him. Reuters
  • OUT: The fact Sergio Romero was left out of the Europa League semi-final - with David de Gea preferred in a competition almost exclusively the domain of the Argentine - coupled with Dean Henderson's return from Sheffield United on loan, could spell the end of the 33 year-old's time at Old Trafford. Getty Images
    OUT: The fact Sergio Romero was left out of the Europa League semi-final - with David de Gea preferred in a competition almost exclusively the domain of the Argentine - coupled with Dean Henderson's return from Sheffield United on loan, could spell the end of the 33 year-old's time at Old Trafford. Getty Images
  • IN: Jadon Sancho has emerged as Solskjaer's primary target, according to reports in Britain and Germany, following a stellar season. The Borussia Dortmund winger scored 17 goals and supplied just as many as the club finished runners-up to perennial Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich. Sancho, 20, has earned his Spurs in Germany to emerge as one of Europe's hottest properties, though United are yet to meet Dortmund's €120 million (Dh519m) valuation. AP Photo
    IN: Jadon Sancho has emerged as Solskjaer's primary target, according to reports in Britain and Germany, following a stellar season. The Borussia Dortmund winger scored 17 goals and supplied just as many as the club finished runners-up to perennial Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich. Sancho, 20, has earned his Spurs in Germany to emerge as one of Europe's hottest properties, though United are yet to meet Dortmund's €120 million (Dh519m) valuation. AP Photo
  • OUT: Marcos Rojo's days at United appear numbered after the versatile Argentine defender was loaned to Estudiantes in January. Well down the pecking order at both left-back and centre-back. Reuters
    OUT: Marcos Rojo's days at United appear numbered after the versatile Argentine defender was loaned to Estudiantes in January. Well down the pecking order at both left-back and centre-back. Reuters
  • IN: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is another to have enjoyed a standout season with his club, helping Lazio qualify for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in Serie A. The silky Serb with an eye for goal represents an upgrade on several United midfielders. Reuters
    IN: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is another to have enjoyed a standout season with his club, helping Lazio qualify for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in Serie A. The silky Serb with an eye for goal represents an upgrade on several United midfielders. Reuters
  • OUT: Few have suffered a fall from grace quite like Jesse Lingard since the 2018 World Cup. Questions over the English midfielder's application and attitude have seen him overlooked by Solskjaer. Reuters
    OUT: Few have suffered a fall from grace quite like Jesse Lingard since the 2018 World Cup. Questions over the English midfielder's application and attitude have seen him overlooked by Solskjaer. Reuters
  • IN: Kalidou Koulibaly has been on the radar of Europe's top clubs for the past several seasons with no-one seemingly willing to take a punt on the tough-tackling Senegalese centre-back. Could be the perfect partner for captain Harry Maguire, though, with Napoli reportedly holding out for a fee of €60 million. EPA
    IN: Kalidou Koulibaly has been on the radar of Europe's top clubs for the past several seasons with no-one seemingly willing to take a punt on the tough-tackling Senegalese centre-back. Could be the perfect partner for captain Harry Maguire, though, with Napoli reportedly holding out for a fee of €60 million. EPA
  • OUT: Once compared by Fabio Capello to Franco Baresi and Fernando Hierro, Phil Jones, while his commitment is never in doubt, lacks the finesse to be mentioned in such exalted company. Made only eight appearances for United in 2019/20. AFP
    OUT: Once compared by Fabio Capello to Franco Baresi and Fernando Hierro, Phil Jones, while his commitment is never in doubt, lacks the finesse to be mentioned in such exalted company. Made only eight appearances for United in 2019/20. AFP

Football

Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba: 6 players Manchester United should sign, 6 who should leave this transfer window

Potential recruits on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's transfer list

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

August 18, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Close, but not close enough.

If ever a line summed up a season, the one above neatly fits Manchester United's season.

While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side finished the Premier League season like a rampaging bull to take third place – and with it Champions League football – their semi-final exits in the League Cup, FA Cup, and Europa League, left no one in any doubt that a turnover in playing staff is needed to turn United into genuine contenders again.

While the prolific troika of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood offer more than green shoots of optimism, the continuing debate over Paul Pogba and the alarming dip in form of David de Gea has certainly given the United hierarchy plenty to mull over as they plot their next plunge into the transfer market.

While Jadon Sancho appears the primary target, could United launch an audacious bid to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford? And have the likes of Phil Jones and Juan Mata played their last games for the Red Devils?

Take a look at the potential ins and out at United in the picture gallery above. To move on to the next image, swipe or click on the arrows.

Aston VillaEuropa LeagueBruno FernandesBorussia Dortmund