Two GK Alternatives Man United Could Look at Should PSG Attract De Gea This Summer

Paris St Germain have been linked with Man United’s David De Gea this summer, following a very un-De Gea season between the sticks.

The Spaniard has been the only player to come out with credit in the post-Fergie years. Without him United would be in even more of a sorry state than they currently are, with him single-handedly pulling them out of trouble on several occasions.

Every player has a rocky period within his career, unfortunately for a goalkeeper when this happens, it usually results in a goal. There’s no hiding for a GK, and it seems its De Gea’s time to be in the unwanted spotlight.

A ‘Keeper of his class and level would be very hard to replace. United found it hard to replace Peter Schmeichel for years until Edwin Van Der Sar turned up at Old Trafford. They got lucky going from Van Der Sar to De Gea, albeit taking the Spanish international time to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League.

However, De Gea turned into one of the world’s best, and no player goes from that level to a bad ‘keeper overnight.

PSG are sniffing around, much like Real Madrid have been doing for years. The difference is PSG have money and are willing to offer De Gea 450,000 a week, and with United in a transitional period once again – he may think it’s a good time to jump ship. Many of United’s fans will be hoping not of course.

Nevertheless, should he move on, Solskjaer should look to these goalkeepers as replacements…

Alessio Cragno

At 24-years-old the Italian shot-stopper is still young in the goalkeeper world, however being Cagliari’s number one in Serie A has given Cragno a lot of experience.

Cragno has great close-range reactions, brilliant passer of the ball be it short or long, his concentration levels are up there also. There’s rumored interested from Roma for the 13.50m man, but a little thinking outside the box for the Red Devils may yield another David De Gea.

Jan Oblak

Atletico Madrid’s number one has been touted as a direct replacement for De Gea, should he leave. Oblak possesses similar qualities to De Gea, and has been a mainstay in the Madrid side since his move in 2014.

He would be a sound investment, with the 72m rated star having a wealth of experience behind him under Diego Simeone.

It depends on which way United want to go with this, Red Devils – Which one do you prefer?

Man United Ending Up In Sixth Would Not Be a Bad Thing

Much as been made over the need for Champions League football at Old Trafford next season.

Granted last time the Red Devils qualified for the Europa League, they went big in the transfer market and massively overspent on players to lure them to Manchester, eventually winning the competition.

However, this time around is a completely different feel to back then. Solskjaer needs to rebuild a squad that has lacked any sort of consistency over the years, there’s deadwood in there that should have gone a long time ago and a need to bring in players to suit the style and history of Old Trafford.

Being in the Europa League may not be what the financial people want at the club. However, what United must learn from the last time they were in this position is not splash the cash to hunt for instant success. United now need to rebuild over two, three transfer windows, time has to be given and recruitment needs to be on point.

United are competing in the market with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs and going toe-to-toe in a bidding war is not what the board want to get involved in.

Looking outside the box, using their vast scouting network and most of all being shrewd. Man United is still a big attraction for the majority of players around the world, and throwing cash at players shouldn’t have to be the answer. The Norwegian needs to convince players to be apart of the rebuild – one that could see some further bad times for the United faithful.

However, if they now and understand that the club is restructuring from top to bottom, they’ll be a little more forgiving: as long as they don’t go into mid-table mediocrity of course.

United could attract the type of player that is up for the battle over the salary, players with prospect. So maybe, just maybe finishing in the Europa League spots could be a blessing and drive United into going a different direction. They can’t afford to throw more money at flops and underperforming players anymore.

This is a crucial time in United’s recent history, and one they can’t afford to get wrong.

Solskjaer Reportedly Looking To Eriksen, But What About Two Goalscoring Alternatives

Transfer rumours will be rife in the coming months, as speculation mounts over the incomings and outgoings at Old Trafford.

This week alone we’ve seen rumours of Real Madrid feeling confident of securing Paul Pogba, and Solskjaer wanting Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen to build his new team around.

The latter would be a great signing for the Red Devils, however dealing with Daniel Levy is never an easy task. If Solskjaer is wanting to bring in a creative midfielder like Eriksen, the easier option maybe to look for alternatives.

The Danish international has been a pivotal figure at Spurs for a number of seasons now, and this year he seems to have stepped his game up immensely. Not only playing a key part in key passes and assists, but wading in with a few goals himself.

Unlike Pogba, Eriksen has been consistent, and Pochettino can rely on the midfield to produce nine out of ten weeks. With United youth and pace in Martial, Lingard and Rashford, United’s man in charge needs an experienced head to pop off the key passes needed to tie it all together.

Here’s two alternatives to Eriksen, United should cast their eye over this summer…

Nabil Fekir

The Lyon midfielder brought much attention last season after a fantastic season in Ligue 1. So far this year he has started 27 times for Lyon, scoring 12 and assisting 9, albeit not has impressive as last season but still an important figure in the team.

With reported interested from Juventus, the 70m rated star may be a little out of the price range of the Red Devils. However, he could come cheaper then the 85m Eriksen and the added bonus of not dealing with Levy.

Marco Reus

Marco Reus has had a great season so far this year with Borussia Dortmund. He’s been used in a wide variety of positions across the midfield, but when used in his natural attacking midfield role, in which he’s featured 24 times this campaign – Reus has scored 16 goals and assisted nine for his team, who currently sit second in the Bundesliga, one point behind leaders Bayern.

At 29-year-old, the 50m rated star may seem too old, in footballing terms anyway, to invest in. Especially if Solskjaer is looking to rebuild the team. However, a wise, experienced head would be a great asset to have when surrounded by the youth United have in the side.

Two Centre-Backs Man United Should Be Looking at This Summer

There has been much made over Man United’s need to revamp the backline, with reports suggesting Ed Woodward is going to allow a turnstile of transfers this summer. It very much seems the Red Devils are going to have to be transfer savvy in the market, which will no doubt fluctuate again in high prices.

Alongside Real Madrid and Bayern Munich who are looking to rebuild their teams, and inevitably the likes of the top six – the competition for players is going to be high, and the highest bidder will probably get their man.

Woodward and Solskjaer need to think outside the box a little, furthermore, after some poor recruitment in recent years, the need to get it right is unparalleled. United will be looking to find the likes of Vidic, Evra, Irwin, Stam, the type of players that won’t break the bank but will deliver on the pitch on a consistent basis.

Below is a two-man shortlist of centre backs who have performed very well this season and mainly kept under the radar…

Marc Bartra

The Real Betis defender has played 34 times this season in La Liga and the Europa League, although his one goal proves he is not going to be the aerial threat in the oppositions box.

He has a very strong passing game, with an overall accuracy this season of 88.6%. His strengths are tackling, ball interception and high concentration levels. He also likes to dribble out of defence, however, he can hold on to the ball a little to long at times.

The former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund player has a host of trophies under his belt, and with his 22m price tag – could be a steal!

Willi Orban

The RB Leipzig defender has starred in the Bundesliga this season, helping his side up to third in the table.

Orban is very strong in the air and likes to play the ball out of defence, with no visible weaknesses, this 24-year-old Hungarian international could be a gem of a defender for the Red Devils.

Having scored four goals in his 20 appearances for RB Leipzig, he seems a nuisance in and around the box. Alongside his 13.50m price tag, here is another defender that could be a snip of a signing with a bright future ahead of him.

What do you think of the above two Man United fans?

Solskjaer Needs a Good Clear Out This Summer, and These 8 Are In The Firing Line

Another loss last night as further shown up the task Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be dealing with in the summer transfer window. United have gone through four permanent managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Poor recruitment and a reluctance to ship out much needed deadwood over the years, has seen United battling for a top four finish each season. Under Fergie, United won 13 titles in his 21 years in the Premier League, however the Red Devils are now entering their sixth season without a title, nevermind coming close.

We’re at a stage now where it’s the players that need changing and wholesale changes will happen this summer.

We take a look at EIGHT potential players that should be out of the Old Trafford exit door, as Solskjaer starts the biggest job of his career…

Lee Grant

Having signed for United under the previous manager in the last summer transfer window, it left everybody scratching their heads. A great move for Grant in the twilight years of his career, but a player who offers nothing to the team and rarely makes the bench.

Phil Jones

Having been at United since 2011, he came with great expectation – a future England Captain, Fergie mentioned. Regardless of his potential back then, through injury and poor form he has never risen to the heights many thought of him. Furthermore, after eight years with the club Jones still doesn’t feel like an assured United defender.

Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling arrived from Fulham the season before Jones in 2010, since then he hasn’t convinced many that he can be a United stalwart in the centre of defence. Smalling has the odd good game here and there but on the whole he makes United fans nervous and never seems fully in control.

Marcos Rojo

While i’m a fan of Rojo, he imply hasn’t been given the playing time under Solskjaer. He isn’t a first team defender and more of a squad player. He’s your typical Argentinian defender, tough and fearless – It’s something United need but he is also very reckless and always a shoe-in for a yellow card.

Matteo Darmian

How the Italian is still at United is beyond me, he has nearly been shipped out in the past few transfer windows but still remains on the books. He got his first start last night in three months, and that was only due to injuries. His contract is up in the summer and would be an easy one to let walk away.

Alexis Sanchez

The Chilean has failed miserably since the move up north from Arsenal. He’s never really got going, and with his huge wages has come in for some flack. With his contract still having three years left to run, it would cost United a fair whack to offload him, they’ll have to take a loss and hope someone will be willing to take a chance on the former Barcelona forward.

Romelu Lukaku

The forward seems to be getting worse since, the Belgian is struggling to hold a place down and when he does get on the pitch it seems he’s forgot how to control a ball never mind find the back of the net. With the emergence of the more consistent Rashford, Lukaku will not be wanting to wait around on the bench to make numbers up, a move to Serie A looks likely.

Paul Pogba

On his day he is one of the best players to watch, however, when United need him he tends to go missing and United fans never know what Pogba is going to turn up. If Pogba wants to be one of the best players in the world and be up there with Messi, Ronaldo and even Hazard, he needs to be more consistent and stop letting his ego take over. Stop worrying over social media followers, and start concentrating on the pitch.

If Solskjaer Wants To Bring Back The Fergie Years, Then He Has To Do What Fergie Did With Pogba

After Tuesday night, if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t know already – United need one hell of a rebuilding job.

The levels between the Red Devils and Barcelona was clearer than the sea in the Maldives. United have been carrying plenty of passengers within the squad for many a year, going back to the Fergie years.

This current squad needs ripping apart to its core. United have plenty of squad players but no stand out first teamers, Paul Pogba on his day is a stand out first team player – however, them days don’t come around to often or consistently enough.

Again, in recent weeks there are murmurings of Pogba’s unrest. It seems very much like, from an outsider looking in, that Pogba has a big say in what goes on.

If his match performances were of a high quality, even 80% of the time, you would give him a little movement to be demanding. Because on his day, Pogba is as good as anyone, he can control a game and turn a game around.

The inconsistency of the French international lets him down massively.

He tends to go missing in a lot of big games, especially when United need him the most. This couldn’t have been more evidential than the match this week against Barca.

No player is bigger than the club, however in an age of social media and followers – Pogba’s huge online presence serves what United need in the marketing department well. I feel it’s one of the reasons he is allowed a little more leeway than others.

Pogba’s been called a virus within the dressing room, sometimes there’s no smoke without fire. He clearly has ambitions of moving on, as he had indicted in a recent interview when openly courting Real Madrid.

There’s is plenty of internet chat about a Hazard/Pogba double swoop by Los Blancos this summer happening, and while Hazard has continued to be Chelsea’s top performer, Pogba again seems to have faded away in recent weeks.

In my personal opinion, if United sell Pogba this summer, on the bigger scale of things – I don’t think he’ll be missed.

They could then add to their transfer warchest and really go all out and get the seven or eight players they need to turn around this club and become a consistent title challenger once again.

Should Solskjaer add David Neres To His Shopping List This Summer?

Manchester United are plotting a £45 million move for Ajax striker David Neres claims The Sun. The Red Devils were the latest to join the transfer race with some of Europe’s elite clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton.

David Neres is a star in the making, a youth product of Brazilian outfit, Sao Paulo, Neres signed for the Amsterdam club in 2017. After making an immediate impact with the reserve side Jong Ajax, the 22-year-old soon was promoted to the main team.

The following season, the Brazilian forward was more effective scoring 14 goals and providing 13 assists in just 32 league appearances. Furthermore, he has been in red hot form this season so far, bagging 12 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

His notable performance came at the Champions League when he scored a goal against the defending champions Real Madrid. Later the Dutch giants were able to eliminate Los Blancos out of the competition in a 4-1 win.

Furthermore, Neres scored a stunning equalizer against Juventus last week in the quarter-finals thus keeping alive his side’s semi-final hopes, who completed the job last night.

Man United were off to an underwhelming start in Premier League this season under Jose Mourinho but dragged themselves back to top-4 four race lately under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The key aspect that went missing with the Red Devils is the lack of attacking prowess up in front, despite Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial’s decent run, United struggled to find a consistent striker.

With Romelu Lukaku’s fluctuating form and Alexis Sanchez becoming injury-prone, the Old Trafford side ran out of options on several occasions. Neres possesses tremendous dribbling skills, agility and attributes which pertain to a typical Brazilian striker.

Moreover, he is much more effective with the counter attacks and precisive passing inside the boxes that makes him a perfect fit for all the top clubs.

Ed Woodward should seriously consider Neres as their next striker to succeed Belgian ace, Lukaku.

…And Solskjaer Has Won It!

Every Man United fan knows them words, them words created little goosebumps on your arms, the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. The glorious night back in 1999, the venue was the Nou Camp, two goals in the injury time three minutes to secure the treble for that unbelievable side. It capped off an incredible couple of week for all players, staff and fans.

Solskjaer has been down 1-0 before in the Catalan’s stadium, we all know the outcome. However, 20 years on and things are very different. United simply don’t have the team of ’99, they are also facing a very good Barcelona side who have a certain Lionel Messi in their side. A Barcelona side who are cantering to the La Liga title and a side who could rest 10 players at weekend.

Ole can certainly draw experience from them type of matches, knowing they have to stay in it until the very end – Look at PSG in the last round, albeit a dubious penalty helped them but they still had to be in the position to force the ref to make the call.

United since then have stuttered their resurgence under the Norwegian, and not looked the same side having only won two in six games.

The players will have a point to prove and, a classic European night in one of the biggest stadiums in the footballing world has to force you to up your game.

Ole needs Rashford, Lukaku, Martial, Pogba and even the invisible Sanchez all to show up tonight. They all need to make a statement, one that could define their season. If United do somehow turn Barca over in their own back yard, let’s hope it doesn’t have the same effect as the PSG game in the last round. Otherwise they’ll be in a posiiton of Champions League or bust.

Furthermore, with a very important transfer window on the horizon, Champions League football is a must has they look to overall the squad.

Every Red Devil will be hoping for a 1999 Nou Camp result. What’s your score predictions Man United fans for tonight?

Three Players That Ole Will Hope To Light Up Old Trafford Tonight

Man United face the mighty Barcelona in the Red Devils first quarter-final since 2014, when they were dumped out by Bayern Munich under David Moyes and only the second since 2011.

United haven’t fared well in the Champions League, after a purple patch of reaching the final three times in four years. Coincidentally losing two of those finals against tonight’s opponents Barcelona. At that time the Catalan outfit were THE team in Europe under Pep Guardiola, as they changed the footballing landscape with their brand of tiki-taka style.

Barca added to their Champions League tally last in 2015, beating Juventus 3-1 in the final.

The Red Devils have only beaten Barcelona once in the Champions League era, in that memorable Paul Scholes 1-0 win back in 2008. Barca have won three times, with the teams drawing on four occasions including back-to-back 3-3 draws.

If United are to get themselves a leg up to take to the Camp Nou, we’ve identified three players that need to be on their game tonight…

Paul Pogba

The Frenchman’s performances have tailed off lately and after an impressive start under Ole. However, Pogba is more than capable of changing the momentum of the game.

He can go missing in the big games, but tonight Solskjaer will be hoping for Pogba to bring his A-game and control, what will be a fascination midfield battle.

Chris Smalling

Smalling seems to be one of Ole’s first choices in the defence. Smalling can make United fans nervous at times, and often looks like bambi on ice. However, when he wants to, he can defend with the best of them but it’s that inconsistency within games that United fans can’t put there full faith and confidence in the English defender.

Anthony Martial

The Frenchman can light up the stands at times. His goalscoring form has certainly taken an upward trajectory this season, there was point in the season he was simply undroppable.

Unfortunately, injury derailed this and he’s struggled to re-find his groove. Martial can get Old Trafford up on their feet, and set the tone for the evening.

Solskjaer Rues Missed Opportunity Once Again

Man United once again lost to Wolves 2-1 for the second time in a matter of weeks. What was a lively start by the Red Devils, which should have had three goals early on in the half at least. United went on to stutter after that and Wolves slowly got into the game and found themselves in front.

That loss played right into the teams arms in and around them, with Arsenal, Spurs & Chelsea all winning this week and leaving United back down in sixth, albeit two points off the much coveted fourth place.

It seems a growing trend in the post-Fergie era, that the United teams when given the opportunity to make a leap forward, don’t take advantage and the defeat to Wolves was another prime example.

United could have been sitting in fourth on 64 points, joint with Spurs and it very much in their own hands. After the results last night, United have to hope for losses elsewhere and have given them a uphill task once again.

Solskjaer if anyone will know how to close seasons out, how to chase down the pack – as we seen at the start of the Norwegians United reign.

Many people once again are blaming the players, however, this United squad is too imbalanced and in all honesty, not good enough to compete. It’s not a new thing, it’s been a problem since Fergie’s latter years. Unfortunately for his successor’s, Fergie’s ability to get a top-class tune out of any Joe Bloggs has done them no favours.

Poor transfer decisions and a rotation of managers has halted United’s Premier League success, with the club now entering their seventh season without a Premier League title – or a close chance of one.

Ole has to find the cutting edge many of the United teams have had in the past, he has a big job in the summer and all the fans will be hoping to see less of the Wolves results and missed opportunities going forward.