MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 13:11:22| >> :60:3543:3543:

How Manchester United could line up with Odion Ighalo, Bruno Fernandes

How Man Utd could line up with Ighalo, Fernandes
© Reuters
Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up following the late January signings of Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo.

Manchester United have left it late to do their business during the January transfer window, bringing in Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo in the final two days.

Fernandes was the biggest signing of the month as his protracted transfer saga finally came to an end with an initial €55m (£47m) switch from Sporting Lisbon which could rise to €80m (£67.7m).

While that deal was a long time in the making, Ighalo's arrival came as a surprise as United's exhaustive search for a new striker landed on the Shanghai Shenhua man.

The 30-year-old has joined on a short-term loan deal until the end of the season, while United have the option to make that move permanent in the summer.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could line his side up following the deadline-day business.



MNUXI w/IODIGH

Solskjaer's options are currently limited by injuries to some key players, most notably Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay.

However, a fully-fit squad looks like an attractive proposition for United fans following their January business, with Fernandes slotting directly behind fellow new arrival Ighalo.

Fernandes has scored 48 goals over the past season-and-a-half in addition to creating 20 more in the league, so his presence in attacking midfield looks likely to increase United's goal threat.

Ighalo also has a proven goalscoring record in the Premier League from his time with Watford, where he netted 39 times in 99 appearances for the Hornets.

Rashford remains United's main goal threat when fit and he would be a shoo-in to start on the left, but Ighalo's presence could force Anthony Martial out to the right rather than his preferred central role, which he has occupied for much of the current campaign.

The likes of Daniel James, Andreas Pereira and Juan Mata would see their first-team chances hurt by that, while further back Pogba and McTominay are likely to be the first-choice midfield pairing in a fully-fit squad despite the good form of Fred and Nemanja Matic in their absence.

The back five would remain unchanged, with young Brandon Williams having now seemingly moved ahead of Luke Shaw in the pecking order at left-back.

ID:388395: cacheID:388395:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4872:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Odion Ighalo pictured in June 2019
Read Next:
Manchester United 'complete Odion Ighalo deal'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!