DAYOT UPAMECANO could be the man to push Manchester United towards glory this season.
The club failed to sign a new centre-back in the summer and, with a title tilt on the horizon, January could be the time to invest.
Dayot Upamecano could be the best available centre-back for Manchester United this monthCredit: AFP or licensors
Jack Grealish may also be a target if Paul Pogba leaves Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It will be a busy month, at least in terms of departures for the Red Devils.
Here, Tom McDermott delivers his Fan’s View on the January window for SunSport.
What positions do Man Utd need to buy in and why?
You could argue that United could do with strengthening almost every area of their side.
If we’re being realistic, the centre of defence is still an overwhelming concern.
Harry Maguire is getting better, but he and United are desperate for a world class partner in order to help them try to reach the next level.
Ruben Dias looked exceptional for City in midweek and that’s the level of player United should be targeting in January.
With the coronavirus pandemic and the reluctance of other clubs to sell, the ‘big’ business may have to wait until the summer though.
Who should they be looking at as transfer targets?
Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Juventus’s Matthijs de Ligt and Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar are regularly linked to United to solve the troubled central defensive problem, but a more realistic target is probably RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano.
The Frenchman, 22, had a torrid time when he played at Old Trafford earlier this season, but he’s tipped to leave Germany sooner rather than later, and given his age and defensive capabilities it would be foolish of United if they didn’t make a move.
Further up the pitch, Jadon Sancho is still being linked with a move back to Manchester, but I wonder if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his scouting department might prefer Jack Grealish instead.
The Villa man nearly moved to Old Trafford in the summer and would fit in perfectly if, as expected, Paul Pogba eventually moves on.
Jadon Sancho continues to be linked with a move to ManchesterCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Who should be heading out the exit door this January and why?
Where do we start?
Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero could all do with moving on for a multitude of different reasons, but such are the huge wages they find themselves on, it may prove problematic.
Solskjaer, in general, has done well explaining the type of player and personality required to succeed at Old Trafford, so it’s up to Ed Woodward to move the unwanted ones out of the door and generate funds for future windows.
No one knows how bad the coronavirus will impact summer spending, so any money United can make from player sales would be most welcome.
Do you expect more backing from board and are they doing their bit?
I don’t think Solskjaer got what he wanted in the summer window. For example, if he really wanted Donny van de Beek, why hasn’t he featured more?
We know United wanted Sancho and a central defender, and if you look at the league table, the addition of both might have put them in an even better position.
The board must take credit for securing Bruno Fernandes 12 months ago, but their inability to move players out of the door and secure Solskjaer’s signings, has frustrated fans and probably the manager as well.
Get a signing ‘right’ like Fernandes, and you can see what a positive impact it can have on the squad.
Follow Tom on Twitter.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
