Starting the 2018/19 campaign, Manchester United had signed a young Portuguese right-back in the form of Diogo Dalot from Porto and a midfielder to help out Pogba in the form of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. However Mourinho's need for a central defender wasn't completed and he entered the season with Lindelof, Bailly, Smalling, Jones and Rojo as his defenders.
Without a shadow of doubt, Manchester United have struggled at the back and are now on the lookout for a new defender to replace an injury-prone and rather inconsistent Eric Bailly and to get rid of either of Jones, Smalling or Rojo, with only Lindelof having shown promise of being a good defender of the lot.
Along with the defense, their midfield has struggled all season apart from Paul Pogba who, although inconsistent, has shown what he can do even with players under performing around him.
With players like Ander Herrera and Juan Mata looking to be leaving for a free in the summer, Ole has got a lot of work to be done with this squad and here are some of the players who he should target.
5. Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been a sensation this season for Crystal palace, donning the right-side of the Palace defense all on his own. The 21-year-old England international has made 149 tackles so far this season with a tackle success percentage of 68% which is amazing for a player so young.
He has also made 85 interceptions, 147 clearances and 221 recoveries -- the best for any other full-back this season. Although his attacking output has not been as impressive as fellow England international Trent Alexander-Arnold, it is something that can be improved if he plays for a side like Manchester United.
If United go for him, it is safe to say he is a significant upgrade over Ashley Young and can don the jersey for at least the coming decade.
4. Adrien Rabiot
Adrien Rabiot is all set to leave the Parisians for a free, come summer, after failed contract negotiations between the club and the player. Having been touted to be on his way to Barcelona, it is safe to say the ship has sailed after they signed Frenkie de Jong in January.
With Ander Herrera all set to leave the club in the summer to PSG as per reports, it will be a significant upgrade for the Manchester club if they could snap up the Frenchman for a free.
Rabiot is miles better than Herrera when it comes to defensive ability. Rabiot is dribbled past only 0.2 times per game compared to Herrera's 1.9, which is a massive difference.
With United's wage structure, it is more than capable for them to meet Rabiot's wage demands and also have a player who is better than Herrera in every way possible.
3. Wilfred Ndidi
Wilfred Ndidi has been exceptional for Leicester City this season as he has helped them out defensively a lot more than any other player in the Leicester team. He is second in the league for tackles behind Everton's Idrissa Gueye and has a very remarkable success rate of 70%.
With Leicester building a young squad with a very impressive midfield trio of Maddison, Tielemans and Ndidi, it may be hard to get the Nigerian international from the Foxes for cheap, but if they do manage, it will be a very good investment for Manchester United.
Still only 22, it may cost United upwards of ยฃ50 million to get him to the Theater of Dreams but given Nemanja Matic's current form, they can't afford to take risks with the Serbian slowing down pretty evidently and help shore up United's midfield which has been struggling off late.
2. Jadon Sancho
The teenage sensation who left Manchester City for Dortmund in search of playing time shows what talent City and Pep have missed out on. He has had a sensational season for Borussia Dortmund, helping them alongside Marco Reus and Paco Alcacer to put on a title challenge in what has been a long time.
He has scored 11 goals and assisted 14 more this season in the Bundesliga alone and has been dragging them through their rough patch when Reus along with other attackers were having a tough time.
Sancho is still only 19 and it will be very tough to lure him out of the German outfit. Also the fact that he was a former City player will be tough but the right price will surely bring him to United and make him one of their own.
1. Kalidou Koulibaly
Napoli's defensive stalwart has become a major target for many clubs in need of defensive reinforcement this season and rightly so. Koulibaly has been a rock at the back so far and he is having his best season of his playing career thus far.
He has made 1.7 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 3.9 clearances and 1 block per 90 in all competitions and also has been dribbled past only 0.5 times this season. With United's squad sorely lacking in defense this season, he can cause an instant impact to this United squad. If he is utilized properly, he can be vital for them.
It may cost United a world record fee for Napoli to sell him but if he does join, he will be head and shoulders above every defender right now in the United squad and help them and De Gea, who has been suspect this season, gain his confidence back. He can be the defensive leader they have missed all these years.
batdekno
217
this should be the new Manchester United
Rashniccr7
114
They should add Mustafi in the list๐๐๐๐
Lytonkushwant
84
De jong: are you not going to united this summer De ligt: no De jong: why De ligt: I don't want to battle for champions league spot I am used play every UEFA season De jong: okay"""" so were are you going De ligt: I want to knock out juventus next season with barcelona """
lupbdmrty
77
all he need is focus on midfield and defence. strikers need sum1 to feed them. pogba can not.. Mata is evn bettr. pogba holds the ball until he lost it.
Niaeilmors
62
if United buy sancho they will give city 30% as stated in the buy on clause ๐๐
ZainHingorjo
59
Please Woodward pleaae sign these players they are all cheap except Saul Niguez and mauro Icardi who we can sign by selling Pogba and Lukaku, please save money and sign them they are all affordable in 200 million
Pepadinr
51
MANUTD: INS Def; CB-De ligt, Ruben Diaz, M. Savic/Dayot Upamenco LB-Alex Telles/R. Sessegnon RB-Achraf Hakimi/Wan-Bissaka MF; DM- W. Ndidi, A. Rabiot, Nico Barella/Ruben Neves CM/AM- Joao Felix, Kai Haverts, Zaniolo, Bruno Fernandes/Julian Brandt, Coutinho/Dybala, Nabil Fekir/T. Hazard Wingers: Jadon Sancho, Lozano, Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Delay/Zaha Attackers: Inaki William, Icardi/S. Haller PROMOTION: T.Chong, A. Gomes, J. Garner, M. Greenwood.. Make them integral team players OUTS: Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Bailly, Valencia, Mata, Sanchez, Pereira, Fred, Romeo, Matic, Young, Damian, POGBA, LINGARD, LUKAKU... Please can kindly leave united for nothing. Thank you. REBUILD! REBUILD! WE TIRED OF BEING THE LAUGHING STOCK N PAST GLORY COMMENTS!!
yaoadlopry
50
Take Munir on free transfer, he once admitted the he's a United fan right from childhood and will love to play for united someday. I think United should get Koulibaly and Ake in CD. Koulibaly as the main man, Ake and lindelof will play support. Ndidi or Ruden Neves in CDM ,then Rabiot or Ndoumbele as box to box midfield. If Pogba leaves then buy Bruno Fernandes to replace him. Sancho is good but I think English players are being overrated, he's still in the same class as Lingard but if united can get him, that's OK. Buy Icardi, he can score with the both legs and he's good in hair too. with this addiction and prayers like Jones, Rojo, young, Valencia, matic, and Lukaku leaving united will be good.
loccikrt
44
elvis99blata
44
I hope we get rabiot...he is on free transfer and he is an improvement to herrera
Zaodrst
42
would only take rabiot, wan bissaka (who is more defensive, dalot will b an attacking altenative), sancho and probably koulibaly if de light is not available. United need vibrant young players who will b engrained with the echos of the club! not reject/retarded pension seekers
Ribin24
40
Manchester United needs players in all areas except the forward area (They have young players in the forward like Rashford, Martial,Lingard and Lukaku also). They should make a great impact in the coming transfer window. They need players from the goal to the midfield. They will search for a new goalkeeper if De Gea repeats the same horrible mistakes. They should also focus on their defence line. New and good defenders should come. In the midfield, Pogba should have a one or two consistent companions. #GGMU