There is never a quiet day at Manchester United. As the international break rumbles in the background, fresh claims have emerged that the Red Devils could be the subject of a takeover bid by a Middle Eastern billionaire.
Saudi Arabia could give them a chance this time, with head of sports Turki Alarusik leading to speculation about a possible investment. The Glazers handed Sir Jim Ratcliffe a 27.7% stake in the club for £1.25bn a few years ago, but Alarcik hinted that United could be looking to secure further investment.
Sports chiefs have not revealed exactly who it is, but cryptic messages on social media have fans wondering if it is the Saudi himself. As such, Express Sport have detailed who they think United could target in the upcoming transfer window if they were to land a huge sum from Saudi Arabia.
Goalkeeper: Costa
The goalkeeper is a long-time fan of many Premier League clubs, and there was some surprise at the fact that Diogo Costa would remain in Portugal. The Portuguese No. 1, who is poised to become one of the best players in the world over the next few years, could be the solution to United’s problems.
Defense: Martinez, Yoro, Diomande
Despite United’s recent struggles, their defense has held up pretty well. Lisandro Martinez and Lenny Yolo have impressed for the 20-time champions and are likely to keep their spots in the team even if there are wholesale changes. However, this does not mean that new players will not be welcome, with Ousmane Diomande, who starred alongside Ruben Amorim at Sporting, potentially a target.
Midfield: Amad, Bareva, Anderson, Dorg
Moving up into midfield, United’s wing-backs could remain the same, assuming Amorim is still at the club and insists on playing in a 3-4-3. There are high expectations for Amad and Patrick Dorg, but it’s the central area that needs attention. Carlos Baleva has emerged as a target for the three-time European champions and Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson is the ideal man to partner him in the middle of the park. That would mean a move for Bruno Fernandes, with a sale to Saudi Arabia being the most likely outcome.
Attack: Mbeumo, Kane, Barcola
It was an area of the pitch that saw a lot of investment in the summer, but Brian Mbeumo is the only name to retain a place in the starting XI. At the other end, United could try their luck at signing Bradley Barcola, who enjoyed a good spell with Paris Saint-Germain. Leading the way is Harry Kane, who is rumored to be aiming for a return to the Premier League after his stint at Bayern Munich.
