The intentions of Manchester United to add reinforcements in the transfer market have been clear for a while now. The team needs to improve ahead of their return to the UEFA Champions League. And honestly, The Red Devils could use depth on both sides of the ball.
Considering some of the best players in the world are currently playing in the FIFA Confederations Cup, we will take a look at four players from the nations in that tournament that could fit well for Manchester United as soon as next season.
Cedric Soares
Manchester United has several players who can play as a right back. However, none seems ready to challenge Antonio Valencia for the starting spot. And if Jose Mourinho wants to add some competition to the side, the arrival of another right defender wouldn’t be a bad thing. With that in mind, the club should at least kick the tires on a potential signing of Cedric Soares.
The 25-year-old defender scored against Mexico, and was one of the team’s top players in the win against Russia. He excels defensively, but has also shown he can be quite a threat going forward when given enough space on the flank. And to make things even better, Cedric is used to the pace of the Premier League because has been playing for Southampton since the 2015-16 campaign. He seems like a player who could be had for a cheaper fee than other talented right backs.
Arturo Vidal
Manchester United needs depth in the middle of the pitch, but particularly in the central midfield role. Mourinho currently has Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera as players who can feature on that role. But adding another quality player could go a long way in putting the squad back near the top of the English Premier League. And out of all the midfielders that have featured in the tournament so far, none has looked better than Arturo Vidal.
The Bayern Munich star has emerged as one of Chile’s most important players, and for good reason. Vidal can thrive on a number of roles, and his versatility would be huge for Mourinho. He has been playing as a defensive midfielder in Bayern, but spent most of his career on a central position in both Juventus and Bayern. And he plays on a more attacking stance while Chile, constantly appearing as a scoring option in a role that would resemble one of an attacking midfielder. Not to mention him and Paul Pogba would form an excellent tandem in the middle of the pitch.
Igor Akinfeev
The club has the goalkeeper position well covered. David De Gea, Sergio Romero, and Joel Pereira give the team a sense of security for both the present and the future. But at the same time, De Gea is the team’s most profitable player, and if things go the right way, then United could receive a massive fee on a potential transfer for the Spaniard. Selling him is not out of the question, and if that’s the case, then the club needs a viable replacement who can both upset Romero, and play for around five to six years on a high level.
Claudio Bravo would have been a good choice. But his struggles in Manchester City indicate he doesn’t fit in the Premier League. Therefore we can point out at Igor Akinfeev as a potential candidate. The CSKA Moscow goalkeeper has loads of international experience, as he has been Russia’s and CSKA’s starting goalkeeper for almost 10 years. And we have already seen in him competing at a high level. One might think his age is a downside, but goalkeepers reach their peak at around 30 to 32 years old. In other words, United would get a player on his prime who could cost less than other available options in the market.
Julian Draxler
Out of the four players we have mentioned, Julian Draxler might be the toughest one to land during the summer. The German winger was clearly out of favour in the Bundesliga, but he looks like a different player since he arrived to PSG. And if we consider he is still only 23 years old, he would be a signing for the present and the future of the club.
There is no question Draxler would fit in nicely in the Premier League. He has the pace, the strength, and the creativity to improve any team in the final third. However, he would be especially useful at United. He would give Mourinho something the side currently lacks: someone who can play all over the final third with equal proficiency. He has played as a left winger for Schalke 04 and Wolfsburg. We have seen him as a right winger for PSG. And he currently features as a central attacking midfielder in the German side. He would be quite expensive, but at the same time he’s worth the investment.
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