5 players Manchester United should sign this summer
By Harvey Cruz
Manchester United need to bring in big-time players after a trophyless season. Here are five signings they need to make.
Despite spending big on Nemanja Matic, Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Alexis Sanchez – Manchester United have no trophy to show for it. It’s been a season of clear frustration for Jose Mourinho.
Despite a hot start to the Premier League season, inconsistencies soon followed. They were bounced out by second-tier Bristol City in the Carabao Cup. Then followed their humiliating elimination at the hands of Sevilla at the Champions League round of 16.
It wouldn’t stop there as uninspired performances became a theme. First was their embarrassing 1-0 home loss to bottom-now-relegated West Brom, that handed Manchester City the league title. And then a 1-0 loss away to Brighton & Hove Albion that helped the Seagulls retain Premier League status.
The FA Cup loss to Chelsea will send warning signs to the Red Devils throughout the summer. Finishing second will be seen as an improvement, only to realize they ended 19 points behind City. United have some serious catching up to do if they are to be seen as a threat next season in England and in Europe.
With that being said, here are five players they need to target.
5. Fred
When Manchester United signed Matic, it was viewed as a masterstroke. They took him away from Chelsea, and Mourinho knew how to get the best out of him. It was also seen as a way to get Paul Pogba more freedom going forward.
Then the performances came and Pogba was still dropping deep, alongside Matic. It resulted in Pogba grabbing six goals and 10 assists in the Premier League. In short, Matic wasn’t the solution.
In comes Fred, a bruising defensive midfielder that can step in and start for Manchester United. At 25, he’s got time on his side to improve and come into his prime working under Mourinho. Matic is slowly on the downside at 29, and Ander Herrera can’t sniff a start unless it’s in other cup competitions.
The Brazilian has a lot of things going for him, and according to Gianluca Di Marzio, United are ready to pull the trigger for a move. Further more, United are desperate to bring in another defensive midfielder following the retirement of Michael Carrick and the inevitable departure of Marouane Fellaini. His physical play and ability to bring the ball up the pitch suits him well to England.
Tactically, Fred can help protect a back-four, something Matic had difficulty doing in a 4-3-3. He did better in a 4-2-3-1 with Pogba alongside him, but it limited the Frenchman’s influence on games.
If Fred shines in Russia, all the more reason for United to bring him in. It’s a position of need, for a team needing big overhaul of talent. This is the likeliest of the five to happen.