In the final weeks of the season, questions doused in recency bias and hyperbole began to latch on to discussions around Manchester United‘s summer transfer plans.
With the partnership between Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba flourishing, where would Jack Grealish even fit in? He could play on the left but what becomes of Marcus Rashford then who’s enjoyed his finest season yet?
Meanwhile, Mason Greenwood’s performances from the right wing since the restart confirms him as a genuine prodigy. So why spend around £100m on Jadon Sancho and stunt the development of potentially the best teenage talent in the game?
With Champions League qualification comes a substantial war chest and the ability to attract top players. But do they even need the likes of Sancho or Grealish?
If United’s final five games proved anything, it’s that they most certainly do need those players in addition to others.
The Red Devils emerged from the lockdown with a swagger, brushing aside all who stood in their path, but in the final stretch of this hectic period that Ole Gunnar Solskajer aptly referred to as a ‘mini tournament’ they had to drag their weary legs and tired minds over the finish line.
Two draws and an FA Cup semi-final defeat in the last five games dampened the mood a little but also provided much needed perspective.
Beyond the first XI, United suffer from a steep drop off in quality, that much was evident as early as the third match after the restart when Solskjaer fielded a weakened team in an FA Cup encounter with Norwich City that required extra-time and a host of substitutions to get through.
Fernandes’ arrival was the catalyst for a remarkable recovery that saw the club reel in a 15-point gap to Leicester City over 14 games and claim third place for themselves. Yet, the Portuguese was clearly running on fumes in the final few games and that spark he provided was nearly extinguished.
Greenwood had his off games as well and needs to be nurtured carefully during these key developmental years. Sancho is an established star who would offer a new dimension to go with his incredible efficiency and consistency.
United shouldn’t concern themselves with how playing time will be distributed, that is a headache Solskjaer will be most pleased to endure.
Simply adding Sancho to the mix opens up a plethora of options in attack. Greenwood could get more chances through the middle and the likes of Rashford and Anthony Martial wouldn’t be required to start every game. Over the course of a 55-60 game season that includes Champions League fixtures, the ability to rotate the front line or have appropriate cover in the event of injury is invaluable.
Grealish on the other hand doesn’t even have to nail down a specific position to be a regular in the starting XI. His versatility means he’s capable of playing anywhere in midfield and even on either flank, particularly the left one.
United were completely devoid of creativity during the first half of the season when Pogba was sidelined and Fernandes hadn’t yet arrived. An injury to even one of them would have a significant impact on the midfield set-up. In Grealish, Solskjaer would not only have back-up but a different option capable of pushing those players for a starting berth.
And it’s that intense competition within a squad that extracts the best out of players and breeds success on the pitch. Manchester City for instance have the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Ilkay Gundogan all battling for starting berths. Apart from Foden, the combined cost of the other three is over £125m and none are guaranteed a spot in the first XI.
United also need reinforcements at the back with a more capable central defensive partner for Harry Maguire being the obvious position to strengthen. But adding to their quality in midfield and attack remains just as important.
With most European powerhouses struggling financially, now is the time for United to make a splash in the transfer market and begin to close the gap at the top or risk backsliding into mid-table irrelevance.
