Manchester United’s transfer window so far has been a case of quality over quantity, but nobody is mistaking the window for being over.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are world-class additions, but they arrived without Man Utd making a single sale.
Clearly, there are gaping holes in the Man Utd squad, and as the window inches forward, movement will be expected on those fronts.
Here is what Man Utd’s dream XI could look like if Ruben Amorim gets his transfer wishes fulfilled. It’s a dream XI, but with fairly realistic options!
Goalkeeper – Senne Lammens
The first of the three new additions comes straightaway, as United are pushing for Senne Lammens, especially now that the Emi Martinez trail looks as good as done and dusted.
Unlike the other two additions, Lammens won’t be an undisputed starter, but he has star potential, and a deal worth £17m or so would be a no-brainer.
Right wing-back – Amad
Amorim’s first XI in the two pre-season games has confirmed what everyone thought to be the case – Amad is his own Geovany Quenda at Old Trafford.
The Ivorian’s future looks set to be at right wing-back as Amorim tries to add attacking thrust from wing-back positions. His partnership with Mbeumo on that side will be one to watch.
Left wing-back – Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Dorgu remains the undisputed starter at left wing-back despite Diego Leon’s arrival. Dorgu has impressed in pre-season, and it could be a true breakout season for him, with Leon pushing him to be better.
United will have options at wing-back this season, and it’s a welcome development in a physically demanding position.
Right centre-back – Leny Yoro
There is no question that, if fit, Leny Yoro is United’s best centre-back and one with the highest ceiling.
His ball-playing has improved massively, and he has always been a defender who was physically dominant. A season in England with, hopefully, fewer injury worries, will have Man Utd fans seeing the best of him.
He’s a sure-fire starter in United’s strongest XI.
Central centre-back – Matthijs de Ligt
This is the most tricky position to predict right now because only one of De Ligt and Maguire will play in Amorim’s XI, and in an ideal scenario, neither will.
However, until Lisandro Martinez is back fit or Ayden Heaven is trusted to play week-in and week-out, De Ligt is the player whose age aligns with the rest of the squad.
His pedigree and safe contractual status give him the nod over Maguire, who has been faultless, but United might have to start reducing his role this season.
Left centre-back – Luke Shaw
This is a straight shoot-out between Shaw and Heaven, but if Shaw is fit, then he’s a world-class player, by Amorim’s own admission.
It is a safe bet that Heaven won’t be thrown into the deep end despite his world-class potential, and he will mainly serve as backup to Shaw and De Ligt.
Shaw’s dynamism changes the wide centre-back role for the better, and a bounce-back season is on the cards, injury permitting.
Defensive midfielder – Bruno Fernandes
This change is already in the works after Cunha and Mbeumo’s arrival. Expect Fernandes to become a playmaker this season who drops deep to help with ball progression, and ghosts into the box to score goals.
That is the role Amorim wanted from him last season, but a lack of goals had him function as two players at once.
Now, Cunha and Mbeumo can help Fernandes and share the scoring load, so Fernandes can focus on the supply and reaping benefits of the havoc created by the two No. 10s.
Defensive midfielder – Morten Hjulmand
Morten Hjulmand is the second addition, and he completes a reunion with Amorim in this Man Utd XI.
Amorim’s transfer demand to Ineos is clear. He wants an athletic midfielder who can also help with ball progression.
Who better to play that role than somebody who already has? For all the talk around Sporting players, none have actually joined United.
There’s smoke around Hjulmand’s name, and if United manage some sales, they could do a lot worse than tempt Sporting with an offer.
Attacking midfielder – Matheus Cunha
The two no-brainer additions are coming, one of which is Matheus Cunha. He’s tailor-made for the left-sided No. 10 role, where he can dribble inside and scramble defensive lines.
Cunha has already impressed at Man Utd, and as his understanding develops with his teammates, it should only get better.
Attacking midfielder – Bryan Mbeumo
Talking about Cunha’s understanding with his teammates, his potential partnership with Mbeumo is setting the pulses racing already.
Mbeumo’s left-footedness makes him the ideal foil for Cunha in that right No. 10 position. That’s 35 Premier League goals added to the squad.
Striker – Ollie Watkins
Talking about Premier League goals, Ollie Watkins adds a further 16 to those 35, taking the total beyond 44, which is the amount Man Utd managed as a whole team last season.
Watkins is a Man Utd target and should be the choice over Benjamin Sesko for his Premier League pedigree and lesser price.
Watkins makes an immediate impact at Old Trafford and unlocks everyone else to play at their best with his all-round game.
That XI is easily capable of finishing in Europe, and even qualifying for the Champions League if things click quickly.
The likes of Ayden Heaven, Mason Mount, Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hojlund (if he stays), Joshua Zirkzee, Casemiro, and more fill up a strong bench that can easily navigate a season without European football.
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