Transfers: Three players to be signed in January as Mauricio Pochettino wants Manchester United rebuild
Manchester United's desperate hunt for a left-back means Ait-Nouri and Barcelona's Alejandro Balde are the two realistic options before them
Manchester United is preparing for a busy January transfer window under Mauricio Pochettino, with plans to sign at least three new players including a striker, a left-back, and potentially a center-back to revitalize their struggling Premier League season.
Manchester United is preparing for a busy January transfer window under Mauricio Pochettino, with plans to sign at least three new players including a striker, a left-back, and potentially a center-back to revitalize their struggling Premier League season.
Manchester United is preparing for a busy January transfer window under Mauricio Pochettino, with plans to sign at least three new players including a striker, a left-back, and potentially a center-back to revitalize their struggling Premier League season.
Mauricio Pochettino has been promised fresh signings in the January transfer window, and at least three new players who fit his attacking football can be expected to arrive at Old Trafford this coming winter, a new report said. While a striker and a left-back are a must for the former champions to improve their situation, the third player could well be a centre-back, it said.
AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun could well be the striker that United go for, as he has worked with Pochettino in the US national team set-up. Balogun fits into Pochettino's system perfectly, and the availability of another striker means Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha can return to their more natural roles. Also, Benjamin Sesko's fitness could improve with another quality striker available for squad rotation.
FULL STORY | Will Manchester United sign Folarin Balogun as Monaco striker wants January exit?
Injury-ravaged Luke Shaw can play second fiddle to Rayan Ait-Nouri or Antonee Robinson in the second half of the season if United can pull off a deal for either of them. While Algerian Ait-Nouri is frustrated by the lack of playing time at Manchester City, many are unsure whether they will let a quality ace join their arch-rivals. If he is hell-bent on an exit, City may choose to ship him out of England altogether.
Antonee Robinson, another American playing in the Premier League, has always been on the periphery of United's plans but has hardly made the main list. Pochettino getting the job over Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann means the 29-year-old Fulham full-back now stands a realistic chance of donning the red shirt, TEAMtalk said in a report. Both US stars are estimated to cost United £40 million each, the report added.
The uncertainty persisting over the rebellious Lisandro Martinez could be the reason why the Red Devils are forced to look for a new centre-back. According to reports, Harry Maguire's future at the club also remains uncertain.
Martinez is Pochettino's countryman, but his relationship with the club remains strained, and Barcelona are very much interested in him. Calvin Bassey of Fulham and Nathan Collins of Brentford are two centre-backs who are currently being tracked by United. Irishman Collins, 25, stands a more realistic chance of making a switch in January.
With eight points after 10 games, Manchester United are currently 18th in the Premier League, which cost Michael Carrick his job. After the international break, they are up against Liverpool next on November 22.