Manchester United have been busy making some interesting moves in the summer transfer window, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aims to mount a serious title challenge in the upcoming season.
The Red Devils have significantly strengthened their squad with the signings of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. Sancho, acquired from Borussia Dortmund, is one of the hottest young talents in Europe and will be expected to make an impression at his new home straightaway. Varane adds Champions League, LaLiga and World Cup-winning pedigree and experience to a relatively young Manchester United side.
Yet, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad appears light in other areas of the pitch. According to the Daily Star, Manchester United remain in the market for a defensive midfielder, with West Ham’s Declan Rice understood to be a top target for Solskjaer. However, the Red Devils will have to offload some of their current players to continue their spending in the transfer window.
Even after the likes of Axel Tuanzebe, Facundo Pellestri, Tahith Chong and Will Fish have departed the club on loan, the Red Devils currently have more than 30 players on the books. Solskjaer certainly needs to get rid of some players permanently in order to recruit an elite holding midfielder.
Here are the 3 players Manchester United should sell before the transfer window closes down.
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Andreas Pereira
Andreas Pereira has failed to cut the mustard in the Premier League, despite being given plenty of chances by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He spent the last season on loan at Lazio, making 26 appearances and scoring a solitary goal. The Brazilian midfielder failed to set Serie A on fire with his performances—nearly all from the bench—and returned to Old Trafford earlier this summer after his loan expired.
Ideally, Pereira finds himself way behind the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Nemanja Matic, Donny van de Beek, Fred, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay and Juan Mata in the midfield pecking order. Despite his wonder strike during United’s pre-season friendly 2-2 draw with Brentford at Old Trafford, it’s time for the club to move the Brazilian midfielder on in this transfer window.
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Jesse Lingard
Out of the current crop of players, Jesse Lingard is the most in-demand after a highly successful short loan spell with West Ham last term.
The English midfielder scored nine goals and produced five assists in 16 games for West Ham to reinvigorate his career. The Hammers are keen to sign him permanently but are unwilling to match United’s £30million asking price, given the fact that the 28-year-old is in the final year of his contract.
This could see Lingard stay put at the club but having seen him fail to make the matchday squads often in the first half of last campaign, the Reds must lower their asking price and allow West Ham manager David Moyes to get his summer’s number one target.
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Phil Jones
It’s pretty grim to even think about Phil Jones at the moment—once touted for big things at Old Trafford with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson going as far as saying he could be United’s ‘greatest ever’ player. (h/t The Manchester Evening News)
Jones, 29, has recently returned to training after recovering from a long-term knee injury. He hasn’t played for Manchester United for more than 18 months now and buying minutes in Solskjaer’s side this season will only get tougher for him upon the imminent arrival of Raphael Varane.
Without any doubt, the time is right for United to offload Jones in the ongoing transfer window.