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29.06.2022 » The potential Manchester United summer targets
The appointment of Erik ten Hag is an undoubted move by United to turn their disjointed squad into something that is more than the sum of its parts, and this season could hardly fail to be better for the Red Devils than 2021/22. So, even without the prospect of Champions League football, it's easy to see him buckling down for another season at the club. One thing that's for sure, though, is that Man U needs some major surgery if the team is to have even the slimmest hope of running their two biggest rivals close this season. Liverpool and Manchester City had fairly successful seasons last time out, and both have already added serious firepower to their squads for the coming campaign. If the gap is not to grow, there will need to be some high-profile signings made to slot in alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at the Theatre of Dreams. The following are some names for whom you can get odds for a transfer to United at betting sites not on Gamstop. How likely are they, and how would they fit in?
Manchester United - Potential signings:
Declan Rice
(West Ham)
To get the best, you often have to prise them away from the top clubs, which could be complicated for the United money men. Declan Rice does not pose such a problem - although the Hammers finished above United last season, they don't offer the same opportunities as the England defensive midfielder could enjoy at Old Trafford. Rice was the player many people thought should have been signed last summer before Ronaldo arrived, and some real presence is sorely needed in that position. He'd probably set United back at least $120million in the transfer fee alone, but he'd win the ball back in areas where Ronaldo could do some damage, so he's worth considering...
Frenkie De Jong
(Barcelona)
De Jong is typically referred to as a defensive midfielder, but he's a defensive midfielder in the Dutch sense of the term. Which is to say that he can play at the base of midfield, but also further forward or further back without losing any effectiveness. He might fit best at Old Trafford in the role they unsuccessfully tried to crowbar Paul Pogba into - a busy box-to-box player who could link attack and defense.
United's major problem for several years has been that they often seem like a messy collection of individuals. De Jong, who may be available at a bargain price due to Barcelona's serious financial difficulties, could be the glue that helps every player, Ronaldo included, make a more significant impact. The fact that the player has also already worked with ten Hag in the past, makes this transfer seem like a no-brainer.
Christian Eriksen
(Brentford)
There may not be anyone in the world of football who has a bad word to say about Eriksen. His return from a terrifying collapse during last summer's European Championships was a rare good news story from a season that seemed filled with doom and gloom. What was so good about it, though, was not just that he returned, but that he seemed if anything to have become more effective for the time away.
Now comes the big question: does he stick with the club that gave him that route back, or does he seek a bigger patch on which to play? If it's the latter, he could be the attacking playmaker United need - and for an attacker with the instincts of Ronaldo, he'd be a dream to play alongside.
Pau Torres
(Villarreal)
Some would argue that with Edinson Cavani gone, Mason Greenwood a pariah and Anthony Martial increasingly a misfit, United should add a striker - but there are still multiple options in that area including some younger prospects. At the back, there is still a need for at least one reliable defender.
Torres could be the best prospect available. His composure in central defence was essential in Villareal's run to the Champions League semis, and he's everything Harry Maguire isn't. Pacey, calm in possession and still only 25, Torres is a defender ten Hag could build a side around. A solid defensive base helps out everyone further forward, and while Torres won't be at that end of the pitch very often, his presence in the side would allow Ronaldo to attack more confidently...
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Manchester United is on July 12, against Liverpool. You can watch Man United vs Liverpool, Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Olot vs Barcelona, Man City vs Club America, Everton vs Arsenal, and Kawasaki vs PSG, all matches provided from our live soccer game pages.
Manchester United next game:
Manchester United vs Liverpool kick-off time (12-07-2022):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 21:00
Jakarta (Indonesia) | UTC/GMT+7: 20:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 18:30
Italy (Turin) | UTC/GMT+2: 15:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 15:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 14:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 10:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 09:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 06:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / downthewings.com / espn.com
