Manchester United will discover their Europa League play-off opponents in this afternoon’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
After finishing second to Real Sociedad in Group E, Erik ten Hag‘s side will be drawn against one of the eight third-placed Champions League sides.
The Red Devils could be drawn against Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Red Bull Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sevilla, Juventus.
Ahead of today’s draw, United in Focus has picked out one player from all eight potential Europa League play-off opponents that would improve Manchester United.
Ajax – Jurrien Timber
Ten Hag was keen to bring the Netherlands international with him to Old Trafford, but the 21-year-old decided to stay in Amsterdam unlike former Ajax duo Lisandro Martinez and Antony.
The pacey and classy centre-back will likely be one of the big Ajax players to depart next summer and with question marks surrounding Raphael Varane’s fitness, Ten Hag may look to reignite his interest in Timber and reunite his fellow countryman with Martinez in the heart of our defence.
Bayer Leverkusen – Jeremie Frimpong
With Aaron Wan-Bissaka not forming part of Ten Hag’s plans at Old Trafford, the 52-year-old will be keen to provide cover and competition to Diogo Dalot.
According to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils are interested in signing the 21-year-old Dutchman, formerly of Celtic, who has five goals and three assists to his name this season.
Barcelona – Frenkie de Jong
If Robert Lewandowski was ten years younger, or if there was any chance of luring Gavi or Pedri to the Theatre of Dreams then we may have gone differently.
But given how highly Ten Hag rates the former Ajax midfielder and the quality he would bring, the De Jong saga isn’t likely to be over despite our failed summer pursuit.
Sporting Lisbon – Pedro Porro
After two seasons on loan at Sporting, the right-back joined the Portuguese giants on a permanent deal from Manchester City in the summer.
Like Dalot and Frimpong, Porro is an attack-minded full-back who would add depth at right-back.
From 87 games for Sporting, the 23-year-old, who has one senior cap for Spain to his name, has scored nine goals and provided 14 assists.
Red Bull Salzburg – Benjamin Sesko
After missing out on the Slovenian wonderkid to RB Leipzig, The Telegraph report that United are ‘prepared to play the long game over one of the continent’s best young players’.
The 19-year-old, who screams parallels of Erling Haaland, is going to remain on United’s radar for many years to come, but all of Europe’s top sides will be monitoring the talented teenager.
Shakhtar Donetsk – Mykhaylo Mudryk
The Ukranian sensation is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after youngsters across the continent.
Manchester United have a wealth of attacking options, but with seven goals and seven assists to his name already this season from 14 appearances this season, the 21-year-old looks set for a big money summer move.
Sevilla – Bono
The Mirror has previously reported that the Red Devils were weighing up a move for Sevilla stopper Yassine Bounou.
The 31-year-old Morocco international would certainly provide competition to David de Gea and with uncertainty surrounding De Gea, Dean Henderson and Martin Dubravka’s futures, the goalkeeping situation is going to have to be resolved in the summer.
Juventus – Dusan Vlahovic
The Telegraph report that the twenty-time league champions are monitoring the Serbian while Juventus’ struggles continue.
Like Sesko, the signing of the Serbian superstar would be the start of a new era upfront for Manchester United with Cristiano Ronaldo likely to leave the club in the summer at the latest.
Vlahovic has 17 goals from 36 games for The Old Lady since making the move to the Allianz Stadium from Fiorentina in January.
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