Transfer Centre

How Manchester United could line up next season

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 23 March 2020

With Manchester United being linked with numerous players over recent months, Sports Mole predicts how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side could line up next season.

With Manchester United having recently defeated rivals Manchester City, some of the club's supporters may feel that the starting lineup from that game should continue in the long term.

However, the Premier League giants intend to make several high-profile additions when the next transfer window presumably opens at some point during 2020.

Despite their recent progress, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to be looking at several areas of the pitch, aware that he can raise more transfer funds through player sales.

With that in mind, Sports Mole predicts how United may line up at the start of next season, whenever that may be.

While Dean Henderson would like to become first-choice goalkeeper upon his return from his loan spell at Sheffield United, David de Gea will almost certainly retain his place in the starting lineup.

Having witnessed Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw improve as the season has progressed, Solskjaer is also likely to opt against making any alterations in the full-back areas.

However, despite Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire having formed a strong partnership in the middle, the Norwegian may look to bring in Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly as a replacement for the former.

Should Solskjaer decide on three at the back, the trio could all feature at the same time, with Wan-Bissaka and Shaw being deployed at wing-back.

Regardless of the system, convincing Atletico Madrid to part ways with long-serving midfielder Saul Niguez would almost certainly lead to the Spaniard forming a partnership with Scott McTominay.

That would allow United to get the best out of Bruno Fernandes, who would be able to flourish in a position further forward with less defensive responsibility on his shoulders.

Since the turn of the year, the North-West giants have been linked with Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and versatile Arsenal attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

In combination with Marcus Rashford, another frontman who can play in a number of positions, Solskjaer would feel that he had the best attack in the Premier League if he could attract Sancho and Aubameyang to Old Trafford.