There is no shortage of speculation on the potential transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Man United, but one big question remains: Can a Manchester club get the same player as Real Madrid? Clearly, the answer will depend on the terms of the deal. Let’s take a closer look. Here are some possible options. Read on to find out what the future holds. Firstly, let’s look at the current state of the club.
Frenkie de Jong
The Netherlands international has been linked with a move to Manchester United but the price tag of EUR80 million may prevent a move. De Jong has privately said a move to Old Trafford would be a good option. But the club have a long list of top targets and the deal may not be finalised for a couple of months.
The Dutch midfielder has also been linked with a move to Manchester United, but the club have yet to make an official offer. Frenkie de Jong is reportedly open to a move to Manchester. United have not made a formal offer but have been holding talks with Barcelona. The two clubs have different valuations. They would also like to sign a forward who can play across the frontline, but who could fit in with the squad at the club?
Christian Eriksen is another player who is weighing up his options this summer. He was the most expensive teenager in the world seven years ago and has admitted that he lost his love of football in Manchester. Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham and Cristiano Ronaldo have been linked with the club. However, these transfers are unlikely to happen. But there are some interesting names to watch this summer.
Christian Eriksen
According to reports, Christian Eriksen has agreed a three-year deal with Manchester United. The defender has been out of contract with Brentford for over a year and had been a target of Manchester United. Eriksen has not scored or registered an assist in seven games for Inter since joining them from Tottenham Hotspur in 2020. The deal could be worth PS18m.
While United are still in the process of signing the Denmark international, they have an advantage over Arsenal. The Red Devils are currently on a preseason tour of Australia and Asia and hope to have Eriksen and De Jong signed by the time they board their flight. But they may not get their desired player this summer. It remains to be seen whether Jose Mourinho will be able to lure Eriksen to Old Trafford.
With all of the talk surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United have also been linked with the transfer of Frederik de Jong. According to Goal, United and Barcelona are close to reaching an agreement on the transfer fee for De Jong. However, the deal has been delayed as the Dutch forward has expressed his desire to stay at Ajax. Despite the high value of Frederik de Jong, Manchester United have failed to attract a high-profile striker.
Ruben Neves
Apparently, Erik ten Hag has been a big admirer of Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves and is looking to sign him. The new manager at Manchester United is in need of reinforcements in midfield as Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic will be leaving the club. Manchester United have been linked with a move for Neves, but Wolves are determined to hang on to the Portuguese. According to reports, Erik ten Hag has spoken to the midfielder and has offered PS50 million to buy him from Wolves.
However, Manchester United are not the only club interested in Neves. There have been rumours linking the Portuguese international with Manchester United for some time. After all, Neves has been linked with a move to Old Trafford before. But if the Portuguese international were to leave, would United be willing to pay PS40 million for him?
Meanwhile, Manchester United have made enquiries about Ajax winger Antony, who was a regular for Ajax under Erik ten Hag. And if the Portuguese international is unavailable, United are looking to sign a player who is keen to leave. In this case, a move to Ajax would make him Manchester United’s fifth most expensive signing in history. However, Ajax are reluctant to sell a key player, so they are looking to make a move for someone else.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The summer transfer window is now open and Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for any of their players. The English full-back has been disappointing since signing for the Red Devils in July. He cost the club a whopping PS50million, so the club may be willing to recoup some of their investment. It seems that the club is willing to entertain offers for a player that can give them the best chance of playing in the Premier League.
Despite the huge price tag, the youngster is still a better option than either Martial or Lingard. He is a good passer and is very comfortable moving the ball quickly. His passing ability is also good, and he is also comfortable interchanging with teammates. He would provide a similar attacking contribution to Wan-Bissaka, but with the added benefit of a more reliable option going forward.
There have been rumors in recent weeks about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future. The Portuguese ace has been keen to join a club that can challenge for a trophy, and he is willing to take a pay cut to secure the position. Likewise, Erik ten Hag is reportedly keen to sign Barcelona defender Sergino Dest for the same price. The United players conceded 57 league goals last season, and they lack depth on the right side of the defence.
Jesse Lingard
There has been much speculation about the future of Manchester United star Jesse Lingard. The 22-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at West Ham last season, scoring nine goals in 27 games. Since then, many people have wondered why Lingard decided to stay at the club, with first-team coach Stuart Pearce revealing his intention to bring him back to the Londoners. Lingard has a lifelong affinity with the Red Devils and has been a club player for nearly half of his career.
The England international is reportedly in high demand for a move to a bigger club. The Red Devils were very close to signing him, but reportedly rejected their offer due to Manchester United’s valuation. Leicester, Everton and Aston Villa are also interested in signing him. Spurs have also been linked with a move for Lingard, but their loan approach has been rejected by West Ham. Meanwhile, Martial has agreed a short-term deal with Sevilla.
It looks as though Martial and Lingard have signed to separate clubs, with Martial heading to Sevilla for the rest of the season and Lingard likely to sign for Newcastle. While the absence of Ronaldo is a blow for United, the lack of attacking options will not affect the team. Martial will be a central midfielder and Jadon Sancho will play on either wing, making Martial a first-choice option.
Ralf Rangnick
Interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that Jesse Lingard will leave Old Trafford in the summer. Lingard had been struggling to earn regular first-team football at the club. A fan has urged Rangnick to keep Lingard. After all, he is one of the fan’s favourite players. However, his departure from the club has thrown Manchester United into a frenzy of speculation, with the club’s fans calling for him to be sold.
According to Rangnick, Manchester United should target two or three strikers in the summer. Although Cristiano Ronaldo is a major target, the club need to address other positions first, such as attacking midfield. While Erik ten Hag is expected to arrive in the summer, Lingard’s situation isn’t any better. The England international needs to play more games in the Premier League and is a target for other clubs.
However, it is difficult to ignore the impact of the recent 4-0 defeat by Liverpool on the club’s transfer policy. The manager looked shell-shocked after the match, and said that Manchester United are six years behind Liverpool in terms of squad harmony. If the club’s current situation continues, there is little room for optimism. After all, the Red Devils need to finish fourth or better this season, and their fans are more than willing to wait.
Ralf Rangnick’s former club
The interim manager of Manchester United has revealed that Jesse Lingard will leave the club this summer. The midfielder has failed to establish himself as a regular first team player at Old Trafford. One fan has urged Rangnick to keep the player despite his poor form. Rangnick has now rejected the fans’ pleas for him to stay.
Manchester United are not in a rush to sign Anthony Martial, with the club already possessing a top-six target. Lingard has been linked with a move to Newcastle, but Rangnick will not discuss this at length. However, the club’s squad was too big before January. The Premier League rules state that clubs can only field a 25-man squad.
Aside from the player power at the club, Rangnick’s transparency in addressing player issues has led to a raft of interesting developments in Man Utd. The interim manager has made claims that Jesse Lingard asked for a break from training to clear his head. Both Martial and Lingard have refuted the claims.
