Man United are already looking ahead to next summer when it comes to their recruitment plans.
Manchester United got their house in order early this summer and made three major signings before the Premier League season got underway – and they are looking further ahead still.
Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund were summoned – for a combined £172million – to address three ‘problem’ areas within their first-team squad. What happens next will be governed by outgoings as United attempt to generate more funds for what is an ongoing recruitment drive.
While there are still matters to attend to for the here and now, United are already jotting down future targets for next summer when certain players will be into the final 12 months of their contracts elsewhere. It is an avenue they have used to full effect in the last few years to sign Raphael Varane, Donny van de Beek and Mount.
However, they might not even have to coax some clubs into selling as there are several high-profile names out of contract next summer. Here are seven potential targets for United in that respect;
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Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina): A name firmly doing the rounds this summer, Amrabat has 12 months to run on his contract at Fiorentina and the Italians have one last chance to cash-in on him. Following his eye-catching displays for Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar, this winter, the central midfielder will have no shortage of takers. However, with a possible fee understood to be around the £25million-mark, he might move on before then.
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona): Nobody realistically thought Gavi would end up elsewhere when he found himself right at the centre of another contract conundrum at Barcelona last summer. The same goes for his fellow La Masia graduate. Despite his tender years (18), left-back Balde is already a regular for club and country.
Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain): Having recovered from an Achilles injury, Kimpembe is back training with PSG just in time to catch up on the chaos that has ensued this summer. Aged 27, the France centre-back has plenty of years ahead of him at the top level and someone could grab themselves a real bargain. Of course, there is some chance he will eventually put pen-to-paper and renew his deal, but that is not the case right now.
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain): A non-starter with Real Madrid lurking. It’s been well-documented how much the France captain wants to touch down at the Santiago Bernabeu eventually and for all the world it looks like that will finally happen next summer. Mbappe, 24, remains at a stand-still with PSG as they explore alternative plans to ensure the striker does not leave them for nothing, to recoup at least part of their €180m outlay.
Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich): Similarly to Amrabat above, Pavard has been tipped to move on this summer and United have, yet again, been linked with a high-profile swoop there. Ten Hag and key figures behind the scenes are mulling over potential replacements for West Ham-bound Harry Maguire after an agreement in principle, worth £30million, was reached for his impending switch. Edmond Tapsoba, Jean-Clair Todibo and Pavard are on their radars
The transfer window is in full swing and United have got their hands on three players well in advance of the September 1 deadline, with Rasmus Hojlund joining Mason Mount and Andre Onana at Old Trafford.
A goalkeeper, a midfielder and a striker were Erik ten Hag’s priorities heading into the summer window, but that doesn’t mean their business ends here, with a move for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat also on the cards, as well as plenty of possible departures, including Harry Maguire to West Ham.
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Adrien Rabiot (Juventus): Here we go again! United were rebuffed by Rabiot two summers ago and, before he penned a new contract at Juventus in time for this season, he might have become a free agent already. Rabiot, 28, was once front and centre when it came to midfield options, but United have moved on.
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao): Perhaps not as much of a household name as other players on this list, Williams – whose brother Inaki also plays for the same club – went to the World Cup in Qatar with Spain and is regarded as a hot-property in his homeland. Barcelona, Real, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been mooted as destinations, which probably tells you all you need to know. Another fix for that long-standing right-wing issue.
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