Jadon Sancho replaces Mason Greenwood, Alex Telles picked ahead of Luke Shaw – How Manchester United could line up with transfer targets
Manchester United have endured a rocky start to the Premier League season.
The critics had a field day when their opening match of the campaign ended in a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man United have had a slow start to the season
They put in a lacklustre performance – which the manager blamed on a lack of adequate preparation.
United got back to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday but it was far from a convincing performance.
In yet more VAR drama and controversy, the Red Devils actually scored a penalty after the final whistle had gone.
A spot-kick was awarded for a handball by Neal Maupay and 10 minutes into added time of the encounter Bruno Fernandes scored the winning goal.
Jadon Sancho remains on of Man United’s top targets
United were hardly magnanimous in victory. Fernandes said: “Maybe they [Brighton] say they did better. The point is to score goals not to hit the post or crossbar.”
The Man United match winner was referencing the five times Brighton hit the woodwork – a Premier League record.
Leandro Trossard hit the post and bar three times, while Adam Webster and Solly March were also denied by the woodwork in the remarkable encounter.
Solskjaer used it as a chance to have a dig at Jose Mourinho.
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“We have to be grateful Jose is not here to measure the goalposts,” began Solskjaer in his post-match interview, “it might have been smaller goals!”
For all the jovial statements made after the game, the three points merely papered over the cracks.
United will likely be dipping into the transfer market before the window closes on October 5.
Defensive reinforcements are a must with reports suggesting that a deal with for Porto left-back Alex Telles is close.
Luke Shaw remains injury prone while Brandon Williams is still inexperienced and cannot be relied upon for the whole season.
Alex Telles is also wanted by Man United before the transfer window closes
The fee for Telles appears to be the sticking point for the Red Devils as they are hoping to drive down the price.
They already missed out on one left-back because of an unwillingness to meet demands, with Sergio Reguilon joining Tottenham from Real Madrid.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is under pressure to make signings but he is reluctant to spend over the odds.
That same reason is preventing Man United from signing Jadon Sancho.
The Sancho links have been rumbling on all summer and refuse to go away. Borussia Dortmund insist they will not sell the England international.
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Reports at the end of last week suggest that United will make one final ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ bid of £90million for Sancho.
It would still be well short of the £108million price tag the Bundesliga club have placed on him.
If those two deals got over the line, to join Donny van de Beek, who moved from Ajax earlier in the window, it would give a different look to the United starting XI.
Van de Beek may have to fight for a spot in the starting XI
How Man United could look with Telles and Sancho
Sancho would automatically take up the place on the right side of a front three with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
It would relegate Mason Greenwood down to the bench, which could hinder his development, but Sancho has the chance to be a generational talent.
Meanwhile, the 4-3-3 formation means Van de Beek, Fernandes and Paul Pogba are fight for two places in the XI.
Telles would shore up some of the problems United have at the back in a back four alongside Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The Red Devils still need another centre-back but signing the Porto man would be a good start.
His attacking prowess on the left will put less pressure on Wan-Bissaka to get forward and provide a threat when his qualities lie on the defensive side, and is better placed in a deeper role to strengthen the back-line.
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