There are three days left in the transfer market in Europe. This means United have roughly 72 hours (depending on when are you reading this) to add new pieces into the squad.
Let’s remember United already signed Victor Lindelöf, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But there could be room for one more if the chance arises. Here are three options United could (and should) consider before the market closes in the coming days.
Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean forward recently handed a transfer request at Arsenal, and he is not happy with the current state of The Gunners. At odds with Arsene Wenger and with a clear desire for playing in the UEFA Champions League, Sanchez’s time at the Emirates Stadium should end already. And Manchester United would certainly welcome him with open arms.
Sanchez spent last season playing as a striker for Arsenal, but it is not a secret that he fits better on a wider role. He can play on the left, on the right, or even as an attacking midfielder. That positional versatility would be huge for Mourinho, and there is no question Alexis and Lukaku would complement each other quite well. Plus, it would be foolish to think he won’t be an upgrade over in-house options such as Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial. Those three players are very good on their own right, but Sanchez is on another level at the moment.
It’s hard to imagine Arsenal selling him to United, though, especially when they have rejected Manchester City time and time again. And yes, he will be expensive, but he is worth every single penny. The management should at least kick the tires on him. The worst thing they can get is “no” for an answer.
Ivan Perisic
Perisic has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer long. But so far nothing has happened, and the Croatian winger remains an Inter player – at least for now. Perisic’s potential arrival to Manchester United has cooled off a bit considering United’s start to the season and Inter’s solid form in the Italian Serie A. And recent matches indicate Perisic is an important piece for Luciano Spalletti. But that doesn’t mean United should stop asking for his services.
As we mentioned above in Sanchez’s paragraph, Perisic would also be an upgrade over Rashford, Martial, and Lingard. The Croatian is not as versatile as Alexis and would be confined to a left-wing role, however, but that doesn’t mean he can be useful. If anything, he would increase the team’s depth in the final third. And paying around €55M for a world-class winger IN HIS PRIME does not sound crazy if we analyse other signings this summer.
Granted, landing him is going to be tough and there is a chance he stays in Italy for the foreseeable future. But if past reports are true and he really wants to come to Old Trafford, United should keep trying. He can give a lot of the team.
Gareth Bale
Much like Perisic, Bale is another name that has constantly appeared in United’s links. And even though the speculation of his arrival to Old Trafford was nearly dead after he appeared in the UEFA Super Cup against The Red Devils earlier this month, things have changed for the former Tottenham star. Bale is quickly falling down Zinedine Zidane’s pecking order at Los Blancos, and he does not look like a bonafide starter like he was a few months ago.
When Cristiano Ronaldo returns from his suspension, Bale would have to fight with Marco Asensio and Isco for a starting spot on the wing. Benzema is not going anywhere, and everybody knows Ronaldo will always start if fit. The main problem for Bale is that both Isco and Asensio have been on torrid form at the moment, while the Welsh has struggled to convince the manager he deserves a bigger role in the team.
Bale has said time and time again he is happy at Madrid. But that could change if he is not playing as much as he wants. And considering the 2018 World Cup is getting closer and closer, he is not going to sit on the bench for a long period of time. United should take advantage of that chance and submit one final offer for Bale. After all, he is one of those special talents who can takeover a game and change everything on his own. And as we have seen before, one team never has too many of those players.
United should buy Gareth Bale
Buy sanzcse
I would like Sanchez to be man utd signing.