We appear to be seeing something quite different this summer with the Manchester United transfer dealings. Both in terms of a more mature and measured approach, but also a slightly different focus to what many of us expected.
We didn’t make a move for Olise that was well publicised prior his move to Bayern.
Despite being linked with sales of Greenwood, Sancho and Pellistri, as well as rumours the club are open or even wanting to sell Antony, we haven’t been linked with any other wide players.
Are the club happy with the options they have? Or are they thinking about a change in shape with less emphasis on wide players?
We have all but signed Zirkzee who emerged as the top target for the striker role. Yet interestingly we have also been linked with a move for Ivan Toney in recent days, which seems odd as he was thought to be an alternative to Zirkzee.
If we sign two strikers and no wide players does that suggest a change of shape? Maybe a midfield diamond with a front two?
With players like Højlund, Toney, Rashford and Zirkzee we would have four good options for the two striker roles. While Bruno, Garnacho, Sancho, Mount, Amad and even Zirkzee could all play at the tip of the diamond, with Bruno and Mount also capable of playing slightly deeper.
Interestingly other than Ugarte we haven’t had any other strong links with any other midfielders. Which seems odd.
While the area where we have seen both the most links and the most serious links and moves is in defence. It’s very clear that the club is focusing on rebuilding the defence this summer. They were annoyed with the UEFA ban on them signing Todibo, they even hired lawyers to explore if they could challenge that ruling. Which strongly suggests that he was a very serious target. We have since placed bids for Branthwaite, MdL and Yoro. Interestingly all at the same time. Is it a case that the club wants one or two of those three or do they want all three?
Do they just want a three new CB options to go along with Martinez and Evans, with plans to move on the other current CB options, or are they thinking of keeping one or two of them as well giving us 6 or even 7 CB options. If we had that many could that suggest a change in shape to a back three system?
Any three of MdL, Yoro, Martinez, Branthwaite, Maguire and Evans starting as part of the three man defence? That sort of set up could mitigate Evans declining pace/ mobility, it’s a system that has proven to suit Maguire, while having three CB’s on the pitch would also give more support to young players like Yoro and Branthwaite.
We’ve also seen links to players like Aït-Nouri, Kerkez, Chilwell, Hancko, Kadioglu and Kayode in defence. Suggesting that defence is our primary focus this summer.
While this isn’t the summer we were expecting, it is shaping up to be a very different and refreshing summer of transfer business.