How could Manchester United line up at the start of next season?

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The transfer season is in full swing and Manchester United fans are loving it. Eric Bailly the first addition of the new Jose Mourinho era and more are following. Reports say that a fee of just £26.3 million has been agreed with Borussia Dortmund for assist king Henrihk Mkhitayan.

The Armenian midfielder has been at the German club since 2013, making 88 appearance in which he scored 23 times. However, it is his assist record that would have impressed Mourinho along with other assets. With 15 assists he was the highest goal-creator in the Bundesliga last season. He also won Player’s Player of the Year in a league with the likes of Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Abameyang.

Considering Liverpool just forked out £34 million on Southampton’s Saido Mane; a player who was not an assured starter at the club, it seems like pretty good business by Manchester United. The Old Trafford outfit are getting a guaranteed goal-maker, whether he is scoring or assisting. Predominantly a right-sided midfielder, he is something that United have been screaming for.

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Although Juan Mata is a great player, he is simply not a winger. We will have to wait until pre-season to see whether Mourinho will play the Spaniard in his favoured position behind the striker, otherwise he could be surplus to requirements. Jesse Lingard had a strong season swapping between out on the right and as the central attacking midfielder. The competition of Mkhitaryan would be beneficial for the youngster and could learn from his experience.

So, with Mkhitayan on the right and Anthony Martial set to have at least one more season as a left winger before eventually becoming the main striker at United, that leaves a vacant striker’s position. No prizes for guessing who will be filling that role.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set for a medical at Carrington in the coming week to finalise a one-year deal at Old Trafford. The recently-retired Sweden international was Ligue 1 top goal-scorer in his final season at PSG, and still believes he has a lot to offer. Who would argue with him? A mouthwatering prospect for United fans – Martial on the left, Mkhitayan on the right with Zlatan Ibrahimovic up top. That is some front three!

However, where would last seasons wonder kid Marcus Rashford fit into his star-studded United side. At 18 years old, there is still plenty of time for Rashford. The chances are, that Zlatan will only be there for one or two seasons at most, in which time Rashford would still be number two striker – hardly a catastrophe. He would learn so much from the big man and still get game time with Ibrahimovic sure to be rested on occasion. You would only really worry for Rashford if Mourinho brought in another striker in addition to Zlatan.

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Mourinho is not known for his patience with youngsters. Instead, he is more of the ‘buy now, ask later’ kind of manager, but there are surely no doubts he would have been told when taking the job that playing youth players is a must.

There has been little talk of any other players signing. FC Basel’s Breel Embolo who was romoured with a move to Manchester has now signed for FC Schalke. This could end up being a blessing in disguise, as the talented younster could have trod on the toes of Rashford.

David De Gea looks like he is staying for the forseeable future, that faulty fax machine has proved its weight in gold in keeping the Spanish number one at Old Trafford.

Luke Shaw is said to be ready for pre-season and no doubt he will be straight back in the side. The Englishman did begin to show glimpses of his huge talent before the horrible leg break suffered back in September.

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So, the team is starting to take shape, and the only outstanding question regarding the starting 11 would be at right-back. Matteo Darmian looked good early on but faded out and struggled in the busy festive period. Timothy Fosu-Mensah had a fantastic debut season and really looks a player. Big, tall, strong and pacey – he could be the perfect Mourinho player at right-back. United struggled with injuries in the full-back positions all, season so don’t be surprised if we see another before the window closes.

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