Manchester United have encouraged supporters through their transfer business so far this summer, transforming Ruben Amorim’s attack with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. But the Red Devils’ glaring need for a new goalkeeper and a midfield upgrade grew all the more obvious against Arsenal on Sunday.
Amorim needs player sales, though. There has not been one so far. Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia remain exiled after fellow ‘bomb squad’ dweller Marcus Rashford escaped to Barcelona. United may need to push through exits from within the current first-team squad if they are to generate the funds required for further recruits.
Express Sport picks out four players who Amorim could afford to sell before the deadline if there was sufficient interest.
Andre Onana
United will only sign a goalkeeper this summer if one of Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir leaves, and the former would likely demand a greater transfer fee.
It is unlikely at this stage, but Onana must be sacrificed for a better goalkeeper if the opportunity arises.
If the Red Devils wanted to be ruthless, they should push ahead with plans to sign his replacement and force his hand.
Onana’s time at Old Trafford should be up, and the fact that it looks like it isn’t is a major concern.
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Diogo Dalot
Perhaps controversial, but I am not convinced that Diogo Dalot fits. He is not a bad player and should carry value that can be invested in a natural wing-back.
Amorim seems to view him as a right-wing-back rather than a right-centre-back, where Noussair Mazraoui should play most of his minutes this season. Yet, Dalot is not an effective enough attacker.
The decision to start him over Amad against Arsenal made sense, given that United likely expected to have less possession.
But the game did not pan out like that, and when Amad replaced him early in the second half, it was night and day in terms of threat from the right.
Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte is only entering his second year as a United player and, in theory, he should suit Amorim’s system, having worked with him at Sporting.
But this is a quality issue. Casemiro is 33 and out of contract next summer, but currently looks like a far better option alongside Bruno Fernandes.
Ugarte showed promising glimpses last term, but they were far and few. His cameo off the bench against Arsenal was disastrous.
There would be few complaints if United replaced him this summer and then pushed for Carlos Baleba to succeed Casemiro in 12 months.
Rasmus Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund is the only inclusion on this list who is likely to depart before the deadline. He does not feature in Amorim’s plans.
A brutal exclusion from the Arsenal squad was as strong a message as he will receive about the lack of opportunities to come, should he stay put.
If United sold Hojlund, as well as the four exiled players, there would surely be room in the budget to play with in the next two weeks.
But whether the Dane will go quietly is a different issue entirely.