3 players Manchester United could realistically sign this January

Manchester United are, at the moment, an utter shambles in every way. With a sub-standard starting XI, lack of choices off the bench, lack of attacking patterns, and essentially no midfield, the club's decision to not strengthen effectively in the summer has already begun to haunt them.

Granted, the Red Devils did spend a British and world-record fee of £80m to attain the services of England's best centre-half, Harry Maguire, in the summer of 2019. Alongside the Englishman, they also dropped nearly £50m on his compatriot Aaron Wan-Bissaka and an electrifying prospect in Daniel James, who was untested in the Premier League.

Although, the underlying factor is that most of the money that was spent was already recouped from the offloading of Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Chris Smalling, and others, be it via transfer fees or massive wages off their bill.

Football has, time and again, proved that a bottomless pit of financial support doesn't necessarily equate to results on the pitch. For all their might in the transfer market, clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have hardly breached the penultimate stages of the Champions League since the turn of the last decade, let alone win it.

For United, though, it is now not only a matter of spending on quality but also spending on numbers, which has recently developed into a massive issue. With two prominent starters in Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay expected to face long spells on the sidelines, we take a look at 3 players the Red Devils could potentially sign this winter.

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3. Emre Can

Emre Can

Emre Can's fall from grace has been a rather spectacular one. This isn't to say that the German was at any point a consistent performer for seasons together but he always had an evident set of qualities to his game. Liverpool signed him with a great deal of hope and expectation for a cut-price fee of €12.5m and Can did provide them with a handful of memorable moments including a Goal of the Season strike against Watford. Yet, with his failure to build on his 4 years at Anfield, the former Bayer Leverkusen man moved to Juventus on a free transfer with considerably higher wages.

Things haven't worked out well for the 25-year-old as he was sensationally omitted from Juventus' Champions League squad, sparking a rant from Can regarding his disappointment. The former Liverpool man has failed to break into Maurizio Sarri's plans and hasn't earned a single start for himself this season.

Now, this might not be the most ideal transfer for United for a number of reasons, also given his Liverpool connection. But Can does come with a few attributes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could do within his current setup.

A relatively versatile player by nature, Can has been used in a number of positions on the pitch including centre-half, right-back, and more. Due to the number of injuries the Red Devils have accumulated this season, it could benefit them greatly from a versatile presence in the squad. The German offers a physical presence in midfield, which is, of course, the most important aspect of this move.

Emre Can for Liverpool

Fred is perhaps the only midfielder operating at a consistent and respectable level at the moment, with an unfortunate injury to McTominay and Pogba's spell on the sidelines being reportedly extended. Can could provide Fred with some protection as well as that to Harry Maguire & co., allowing the Brazilian to stamp his authority on the game. With an average 83% pass completion rate and 2.4 tackles a game, the Juventus midfielder could be a possible solution for the present and an important squad player should or when the club find an available upgrade.

If reports in England are to be believed, Can could be available for a price in the region of £35m.

2. Sean Longstaff

Sean Longstaff

Sean Longstaff, on the face of it, ticks most if not all boxes for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 22-year-old English midfielder has caught the eye of a number of clubs for his impressive but limited number of performances since the 2018/19 season and United are understandably leading the chase for the Newcastle United man.

Born and raised in Newcastle, Longstaff has played a total of 27 games for the Magpies, scoring and assisting twice. The Englishman is an incredibly industrious midfielder and plays with great intensity, which fits perfectly with the evolving and increasing reliance on energetic and powerful midfielders. Apart from his injection of energy in midfield due to his willingness to cover every blade of grass, his end product is hard to judge considering the stature of Newcastle.

With the Toon Army currently battling for survival, Longstaff perhaps lacks the surroundings to be expressive on the pitch but has displayed his eye for an accurate long pass. Last season, the 22-year-old averaged 3.3 long balls per game in his 9 appearances at an 80% pass succession rate. Considering the runners that United have upfront, it could be an interesting aspect to delve into.

Longstaff could be a valuable addition for the right price

Even stylistically, a workhorse midfield of McTominay and the Newcastle man along with a creative force such as Pogba would be a resolute, effective and defensively sound set-up, enabling the team's more expressive players to damage the opposition. Against lesser teams, he could even be an option off the bench to sweep up loose balls around the box late into the game to protect a lead.

The major stumbling block here apart from his lack of professional games under his belt is the reported price tag united were quoted last summer of £50m. Should United manage to convince Steve Bruce's side to sell him for a reasonable price, he could be a valuable addition to the side.

1. Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen

There is a certain bracket of superstars in football that Ed Woodward and the Manchester United hierarchy have always dreamt of signing, such as the likes of Gareth Bale, Wesley Sneijder and Antoine Griezmann. Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur is most certainly a player in the same category of footballers.

The Dane has had a history of being scouted by Manchester United who have tried to lure him away for a while now, only to have their advances rejected. But, with his contractual obligation to Spurs entering its final months and the possible hike in wages he could be offered elsewhere, the 13-time Premier League champions have reignited their interest in the former Ajax man.

Stylistically, the signing of Eriksen could change the dynamic of the current midfield set up at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old could be the catalyst to a midfield that lacks one chance creator towards to lead the midfield and deliver a composed and accurate ball in clutch situations. A space currently occupied by the likes of Andreas Pereira, Juan Mata and most infamously Jesse Lingard, Eriksen would be a significant upgrade on all of United's current No. 10s.

Christian Eriksen is a perfect fit for Solskjaer's side

Playing in a counter-attacking team, Eriksen's ability to produce exquisite, defence-splitting passes could be maximised and the likes of Anthony Martial, Dan James and Marcus Rashford can be assured of quality service in the final third. He's registered an incredible 51 goals and 66 assists in the Premier League with Spurs, which is further evidence of his end-product.

Considering he could walk away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for free come summer, there is a possibility that Daniel Levy could choose to cash in on his star playmaker in the winter. However, with Inter Milan reportedly stepping up their efforts to sign the Dane, United could have a battle on their hands to sign their long-term target, who could cost in the region of £25m.

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