Manchester United are in chaos.
Even their coach described them as “perhaps the worst team in the history of the club”. Ruben Amorim tried to retract it today and blame it on his own performance, but his words on Sunday after the defeat to Brighton were unequivocal.
They are 13th in the Premier League table and that is not a false position. The team lacks quality in all areas. Nobody can be blamed for that – the gradual slide towards mediocrity started a few years ago – but the current set-up has to take its toll.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group took ownership of the ground operations when they bought a 27.7 percent stake in United in December 2023.
Ratcliffe sensed a lack of footballing knowledge within the club structure and set about bringing in the likes of Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox, while previous head coach Erik ten Hag was given a new contract after an inglorious search for a replacement.
Terrible summer window 2024
Among them, they sanctioned the signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined £60m from Bayern Munich, Leny Yor from Lille for £52m, Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £36.5m and Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain for £42. million pounds. .
Five players for over £190m and, with the possible exception of Yoro who has struggled with injuries and clearly has potential, it feels like money wasted.
Not one of them would make the Liverpool team and not one of them would make the Arsenal team. It is debatable how many of them would make United’s best XI if they were all fit.
So what now? Well, only Wilcox remains of the trio who oversaw the summer rebuild, which is a positive and the main problem the club will have is trying to rid the squad of dead wood, most of whom are on big wages.
United are unlikely to have many financial options, but here we’ve identified five players we feel could make a difference.
1. Victor Osimhen
Rasmus Hojlulnd continues to look out of his depth. He is clearly not out of the number nine, as his record of two goals in 17 Premier League appearances this season proves.
Napoli forward Osimhen almost joined Chelsea last summer but, after the move broke down at the last minute, he was shipped out on loan to Galatasaray for 2024-25.
Napoli are reportedly interested in United winger Alejandro Garnach and some form of swap would make sense for all parties.
Osimhen reportedly has a break-out clause in his loan deal, meaning the January move, although complicated, is feasible.
2. Nuno Mendes
United have struggled all season on the left side of the defense. Amorim plays 3-4-3, a system in which Mendes would thrive given his natural athleticism.
The Portuguese international is out of contract in 18 months and would likely welcome the chance to move to Old Trafford and reunite with Amorim.
Could be a deal for the summer.
3. Guillaume Restes
United need a new goalkeeper, and Andre Onana’s games are becoming more erratic by the week. Restes will need time to settle in given that he is only 19 years old, but the Toulouse stopper is already regarded as the best young goalkeeper in France. He won’t be playing in Ligue 1 for much longer.
If the price is right, the deal could be done in this window.
4. Arda Guler
The Turkish star failed to win a place at Real Madrid, and the 19-year-old does not seem to have convinced coach Carlo Ancelotti. Still, anyone who watched him play for his country at Euro 2024 would have been impressed. Madrid are unlikely to sell a player with such potential, but an 18-month loan move to Milan is being mooted. United must move in quickly and persuade him to try his luck in England.
An agreement should be made in January.
5. Joshua Kimmich
Kimmich’s contract with Bayern Munich expires in the summer and his future remains uncertain. The smart money is on him staying at the Allianz Arena, but he would fit in perfectly at Old Trafford. He can play a number of positions, but perhaps more importantly, he would bring a winning mentality that he sorely lacks.
Given his contract status, United could now talk to Kimmich, although he will almost certainly remain in Germany until the end of the season.
