The summer transfer window is getting closer to the end. The final day for clubs to get new players in will be the following Thursday, yet Manchester United seem to have finished all their business.
Instead of getting into the last week of summer window in a frantic fashion, trying to buy in the last moment, Manchester United opted for a different solution. Jose Mourinho and Ed Woodward finished most of their business early. This gave the squad time to gel and prepare for the new season.
Not Many Signings, But Obvious Quality
Manchester United did not buy in a manner Manchester City or Everton did. The base of the team was good enough for the Reds to only bring in few faces. First signing was Victor Lindelof and he will be eased into the starting XI during the season. The centre-back pairing of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones will be the first options until then.
Romelu Lukaku came in from the blue side of Merseyside in the second most expensive deal of Manchester United’s history. He already has four goals next to his name and will be expected to score many more. Nemanja Matic came on last day of July and has stabilised Man United’s displays since. He controls the centre of the midfield very well and Mourinho showed he knows how to get the best out of the Serbian.
Just few days ago, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s new one-year deal was confirmed. He will not be ready to play in the next few months, but his experience and voice will be heard in this team.
More Youngsters Around The First Team
This is the part all Manchester United fans like. The Red Devils should have more youngsters around the first team with a true role in the team. Finish of the last season saw Mourinho use many academy players, yet only because he was resting his main players for the final matches of the Europa League.
This time should be different. Andreas Pereira is now a backup option, not a player loaned out. Axel Tuanzebe used his chance to prove himself very well during pre-season and is part of the squad. Scott McTominay impressed Man United fans at the United States tour, while Marcus Rashford is already part of the starting XI.
Manchester United And The Summer Of 2018
This brings us to the summer of 2018. The summer of 2017 seems to be done for Manchester United’s representatives. Three important signings in key areas of the team already improved the team.
Now the planning for the next year starts. Manchester United have nine players in the final year of the contract. Still it is not as big problem as Arsenal faces with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Four of those nine players have an option for automatic renewal for another year (Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind). While it remains unknown if Shaw has any place in this team next season, Blind, Herrera and Mata are all important players for Mourinho.
Michael Carrick will unlikely be offered new contract, while Ashley Young will also leave next summer at the latest. Marouane Fellaini is still to negotiate a new deal, but the player would definitely want to stay at the club.
All of this means more arrivals in the summer of 2018 than this year. This summer was all about stabilising the team for new challenges. Next season will be about creating the team ready to conquer any competition.
Zlatan will return in January most likely
But his recovery is still incredible – he’s already using his knee again. He is a real!