5 potential free-agent signings that can transform Manchester United into title-challengers

When Manchester United signed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, they were immediately viewed as title contenders. It didn't take much time for all that initial hype to fizzle away and the way things are going, the Red Devils might not even qualify for the Champions League next season.

Raphael Varane has done well in defence. Jadon Sancho has been one of Manchester United's best players since the turn of the year. Cristiano Ronaldo did well initially but has seemed lost in recent weeks.

Manchester United are set for a hectic summer transfer window

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that signing a young striker is now a priority for Manchester United in the summer transfer window. It is clear now that the Red Devils need to bolster a few other departments as well.

This summer's transfer window is going to be an exciting one, with plenty of high-profile stars set to become free agents. Here, we take a look at five free agent signings that can absolutely transform this Manchester United side.

#5 Boubacar Kamara (Marseille)

Bouacar Kamara in action for Marseille (pic cred: Alley Sport)

Boubacar Kamara is one of the most exciting midfield prospects to emerge from France in recent times and that is saying something. The Marseille academy graduate was linked with the Red Devils in January but a move didn't materialize.

The 22-year-old is the kind of well-rounded midfielder that Manchester United should look to sign in the summer. He is a tenacious presence in the middle of the park and excels at making blocks, interceptions and recoveries. Kamara is a ball-winning midfielder who is also adept at retaining possession.

He is press-resistant, is an excellent dribbler and has the technical finesse to link-up with teammates even in tight spaces. Kamara's long balls are also pretty accurate and he would be a great long-term signing for the Old Trafford outfit.

He made his senior debut for Marseille a little more than five years ago and already has plenty of experience playing in Europe as well.

#4 Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)

FC Barcelona v Club Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander

Ousmane Dembele has been heavily linked with Manchester United in the past. The Barcelona winger's current contract expires in the summer and the Catalans have confirmed they won't renew his contract.

When he is fit and playing, Dembele is a world-class winger. But his persistent injury problems could be a real pain in the neck for Manchester United, who are currently without an out-and-out right winger.

The 24-year-old has scored 31 goals and provided 23 assists in 129 appearances across all competitions for the Catalans since joining in 2017. He could be worth the gamble for Manchester United.

They will need to pay him a hefty sum in wages, which was the bone of contention between him continuing at Barcelona in the first place

But if they can keep him fit and disciplined, they will have landed themselves a world-class winger.

#3 Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan)

FC Internazionale v Spezia Calcio - Serie A

Inter Milan defensive midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is 29 years old. As a result, he is not a long-term solution to Manchester United's midfield problems. However, he is a top quality midfielder and can be a great stopgap signing for the Red Devils.

The Croatian international's contributions to the Nerazzurri's cause over the past few seasons are undeniable. He played a crucial role in their Serie A triumph last season. Brozovic is an all-action midfielder who can play anywhere across midfield.

He has slotted into various positions with ease and has consistently dispensed his duties with aplomb. Inter Milan are reportedly keen to extend his contract but as things stand, Brozovic joining Manchester United in the summer is still a possibility.

Brozovic could be a great short-term asset for the Red Devils as they figure out their next moves since there are quite a few other key areas they need to strengthen as well.

#2 Franck Kessie (AC Milan)

Manchester United's best bet in midfield right now is the double pivot of Fred and Scott McTominay. Although they have their qualities, the Red Devils desperately need a strong presence at the heart of midfield.

Signing a holding midfielder is a priority for them this summer and they shouldn't look any further than Franck Kessie.

The AC Milan midfielder will have plenty of options to choose from this summer. He has done a great job for the Serie A giants since joining the club in 2017. In 207 appearances across all competitions for the Rossoneri, the 25-year-old has scored 36 goals and provided 16 assists.

In addition to being a combative midfielder, Kessie is difficult to shrug off the ball thanks to his ball-retention abilities and upper body strength. He is also very calm and composed on the ball, which is something that cannot be said of Fred or McTominay.

Kessie is also an excellent passer of the ball and loves to bomb forward to join the attack and score goals. If Manchester United are serious about restoring their lost glory, this one is a no-brainer. They have to sign Kessie.

#1 Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)

Chelsea v Palmeiras: Final - FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021

Harry Maguire has been so consistently poor this season that it is difficult to chalk the deterioration in his levels up to a dip in form. Manchester United need to partner Raphael Varane up with someone who is more sure-footed and aggressive at the back.

Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger is set to become a free agent this summer. The German international is one of the best defenders in the world right now. He has earned a lot of praise for his tenacity, work-rate and mentality. Rudiger is a warrior-like presence at the back and he could be a great partner for Varane.

He is well-settled in the Premier League and has a penchant for turning in excellent performances in clutch situations. It's hard to even imagine this one going wrong.

If Rudiger does not extend his contract with Chelsea before the end of the season, Manchester United should leave no stone unturned in trying to secure his services.

About the author

Shambhu is a European and international football journalist at Sportskeeda who focuses on previews, listicles and news articles. An ardent Manchester United supporter since before his teenage years, he started following the Red Devils by age 10 watching MUTV on television. Shambhu is also a highly-revered rapper and a playback singer on Spotify, having a whopping 1 million monthly listeners.

For his articles, Shambhu believes in triple-checking every piece of information, relying on trusted websites like Transfermarkt and Opta, and staying away from speculative publications. He believes that his law degree helped him to be more articulate and meticulous with his content and one of his core strengths is seamlessly involving emotion in his write-ups owing to the love for the sport. For Sportskeeda, has done exclusive interviews with Spanish legends Gaizka Mendieta and Fernando Morientes so far, and his articles boast of a huge readership of close to 50 million.

Shambhu's favorite footballer is Lionel Messi, and the Argentine attaining glory in 2022 is his favorite FIFA World Cup moment. He believes only Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland could replicate Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's rivalry in the years to come. His favorite manager is Sir Alex Ferguson due to the Scot's unmatched longevity at the top.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith