Transfer Centre

How Manchester United could line up with Neymar

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 18 July 2019

Manchester United have allegedly emerged as a potential destination for Neymar, but where would the Brazilian feature in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting lineup.

Neymar has made it known that he wishes to leave Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window, just two years after moving to Parc des Princes for a world record fee.

Barcelona are interested in securing a reunion with the Brazil international, who enjoyed a successful spell at Camp Nou between 2013 and 2017.

However, there remains doubts over whether the Catalan giants can afford to re-sign the forward, or whether PSG are prepared to accept players in part-exchange.

That has allegedly resulted in the 27-year-old having to contemplate alternatives, leaving open the possibility of a switch to Manchester United.

Like with Barcelona, the Premier League giants may have to sell before they can meet PSG's valuation, although chief executive Ed Woodward may be prepared to press ahead with an approach, aware that the club's off-the-pitch revenue would be significantly boosted.

Here, Sports Mole assesses where Neymar may feature in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting lineup if he completes a transfer to Old Trafford.

Neymar is capable of playing across the forward line, but Solskjaer would have to weigh up combinations in several areas of the pitch before making a decision on the attacker's role.

With the Norwegian wary of his side's defensive frailties, he is likely to avoid playing Neymar and Anthony Martial in the same side, leaving the Frenchman to drop down to the substitutes' bench.

Using Jesse Lingard on the right-hand side would give Solskjaer the option of dropping the Englishman back into a deeper role when required, or switching to a midfield diamond and leaving Neymar alongside Marcus Rashford.

Providing that he remains at the club, the position of Paul Pogba would come scrutiny with Solskjaer potentially against using Pogba and Neymar on the same side of the pitch.

That could see Pogba shifted over to the right of a midfield three, with Scott McTominay entrusted with doing the dirty work on the left to limit the need for Neymar to track back past the halfway line.

That would leave Pogba over with new arrival Aaron Wan-Bissaka but the energy of the former Crystal Palace man - as well as Daniel James further forward - may help cover for Pogba's lack of work-rate off the ball.

While there is talk of centre-back Harry Maguire joining from Leicester City in an £80m deal, it remains to be seen whether that move would still go through if United were given the chance to sign Neymar.