Premier League giants Manchester United reportedly have up to six transfer targets for the summer transfer window. Their list includes three players from the top English league and three more from the Bundesliga.
Manchester United have not been at their best this season. They failed to make it to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League and were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup. They were also well ahead in the Premier League and have suffered twelve defeats in 33 games so far. With 53 points to their name, United are in sixth place in the rankings. They are currently 13 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa. Winning the FA Cup will help them avoid a trophy-less season, but beating Manchester City in the final will certainly be no walk in the park.
Six young players on Manchester United’s summer shopping list
In order to face a stronger challenge next season, Manchester United is looking for new faces. According to The Mirror, the club is keeping a close eye on six young players ahead of the summer transfer window.
From the Premier League they like Everton’s 21-year-old centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and the Wolverhampton Wanderers duo, 24-year-old winger Pedro Neto and 23-year-old central midfielder Joao Gomes. The Red Devils have also shortlisted a few players from the Bundesliga. Champions Bayer Leverkusen could receive offers for 23-year-old full-back Jeremie Frimpong and 25-year-old central defender Edmond Tapsoba. At the top of United’s shortlist is 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker Donyell Malen.
Manchester United need to shake things up and it will come as no surprise if INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe pursue an aggressive recruitment strategy. However, checking off the list is easier said than done. Everton could sell Branthwaite to stay on the right side of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) cap, but it is unlikely to be an affordable purchase for United. The same goes for Wolves pair Neto and Gomes. The team values the duo very much and won’t let them go in vain. Neto in particular could be a difficult signing as his valuation may be inflated given the interest from other European clubs.
Bayer Leverkusen duo Frimpong and Tapsoba, meanwhile, could opt to stay in Germany, at least until Xabi Alonso sticks around. Dortmund’s painting could be achievable. But he may not represent an improvement on the options United already have.