The transfer window at Manchester United is finally in the rearview mirror after a hectic deadline day, and Ruben Amorim can finally begin to plan for the future.
Man Utd were extremely active in the window, especially considering this is a club Sir Jim Ratcliffe said would have gone bust last December had he not intervened with his investment.
They spent nearly £225 million on four players, with Diego Leon and Enzo Kana-Biyik arriving after sealing moves in January.
After all that work on the squad, also recouping close to £100 million, here’s what Man Utd’s best XI looks like.
Man Utd’s best XI after the transfer window
GK: Senne Lammens
This might not happen straightaway because Amorim will want to avoid giving him his debut away at Man City, but Senne Lammens‘ crowning as Man Utd’s No. 1 is a matter of when, not if.
It speaks more about Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir than how good the Belgian is, but Lammens’ style of play is certainly coachable to become elite eventually.
Expect Amorim to trust him with major minutes right away.
CBs: Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui
This is the trickiest call in this XI because Matthijs de Ligt has been in brilliant form this season. However, by replacing him with Leny Yoro as the central centre-back, this Utd team moves a step closer to Amorim’s ideal vision.
Yoro has De Ligt’s physicality with added pace and athleticism, while Mazraoui and Shaw are the perfect wide centre-backs due to their full-back pedigree.
Amorim’s wide centre-backs need to overlap as well, which makes Mazraoui ideal for the role. He’s always delivered a sparkling cameo in his only appearance this season.
Wing-backs: Patrick Dorgu and Amad
Dorgu is the no-brainer selection on the left, as Diego Leon is not ready to challenge him as yet. Amad joins Mazraoui as the second player so far to have a permanent new position.
He has shown signs of being electric in that role of late, and his understanding will only improve with games in that position.
CMs: Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo
This is not a selection Ruben Amorim necessarily agrees with, but there’s overwhelming evidence that having a controller next to Fernandes instead of a destroyer is the way forward.
Amorim wants United to play in the opposition half, and United have bossed possession in three of the four games they’ve played so far.
With Fernandes trying his Hollywood passes, they need someone to circulate the ball to add calmness, not add to that chaos by running around, plugging gaps.
Mainoo is that player, and for all parties’ sake, hopefully that becomes common wisdom soon. Fernandes joins Amad and Mazraoui as the third player with a new permanent position.
Attacking midfield: Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha
No-brainer picks for the No. 10 positions, adding two new signings to the XI to take the total to three. Mason Mount can provide energetic backup, or even start as a tactical tweak, but Mbeumo and Cunha are undroppable.
Striker: Benjamin Sesko
Sesko caps off the fourth new signing in this XI, and Amorim is sure to start loosening his reins in the near future. Mount over Sesko is not the answer for a team struggling to score, and the long-term upside is too tantalising to ignore.
United have too much invested in him for him to remain an option off the bench for much longer.
With that XI, United retain plenty of game-changers off the bench, like Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Casemiro, Diogo Dalot, or even Manuel Ugarte.
If Diego Leon surpasses expectations, then the options increase further. A fully fit United side should be contending for a European spot this season.
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