Transfer Centre

Manchester United 'want three players in next phase of squad rebuild'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 16 September 2022

Man United 'want three players in next phase of squad rebuild'

Manchester United want to sign a right-back, a central midfielder and a forward in the next phase of their squad rebuild, according to a report.

Manchester United will reportedly look to sign a right-back, a central midfielder and a forward in the next phase of their squad rebuild.

New head coach Erik ten Hag was backed during the summer transfer market, with Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka all arriving at the club.

Man United are seemingly only at the start of their squad overhaul, though, with a number of players leaving over the summer in search of pastures new.

Ten Hag recently revealed that the Red Devils would hold transfer meetings this month with a view to potentially being active during the January transfer window.

"Always to use such breaks [is] useful," Ten Hag told MUTV following Thursday's 2-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League. "We have many meetings, we have to improve the structures in and around the club, we will do.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring their second goal with Bruno Fernandes and teammates on September 4, 2022 © Reuters

"We will also look to the window in January or next summer already but also to improve our way of playing by making plans and, of course, this coming period with every third day a game we have to get ready for that.

"The players: 90% is away, the others will train proper and for the rest we have to prepare very well and I hope everyone stays fit, return, healthy back and we have to go in and attack."

Meanwhile, a recent report claimed that Ten Hag could have as much as £100m to spend in the January market, with the club prepared to further back the Dutchman.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Man United want to sign a right-back, a midfielder and a forward in order to continue their squad rebuild.

The report claims that a new goalkeeper could also be signed, with David de Gea's long-term future at the club unclear.

David de Gea in action for Manchester United on August 7, 2022 © Reuters

Dean Henderson - currently on loan at Nottingham Forest - is due to return to Old Trafford next summer, while the club have the option of signing Dubravka on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

However, a recent report claimed that the 20-time English champions were considering moving for Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak as a replacement for De Gea.

Man United are allegedly planning to activate a one-year extension on De Gea's deal, which would take him to the summer of 2024, but there have been question marks over his suitability for Ten Hag's system.

The Red Devils would allegedly be willing to double Oblak's salary to €18m (£15.6m) per season in a bid to tempt him to join the club next summer.

Man United were linked with a number of forwards late in the transfer window due to the uncertainty surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's future, while they spent much of the summer pursuing Frenkie de Jong but were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the Barcelona midfielder.