It looks increasingly like that Paul Pogba’s world record fee is nothing but a tease of what’s to come and especially from Manchester United. Rumours are flying about the club – and Jose Mourinho – reportedly willing to dump buckets of notes should it attract the world’s top talents.
Their chances of finishing within UEFA Champions League slots this season seems likely but it’s too tough to call but should they win the UEFA Europa League, they’ll directly qualify for Europe’s top competition. And that could help significantly in signing the world’s best players.
So here’s looking at five superstar signings who could join Manchester United this summer: (Obviously not all five)
#1 Neymar Jr
Yup, Manchester United are reportedly willing to activate Neymar’s massive £173 million release clause. The Brazilian is tantalisingly close to achieving god-like status at Camp Nou and yet he might be off to join one of Europe’s most sought-after footballing projects.
The team are in need of someone who can inject that piece of skill, that charisma and that never-lose attitude, Neymar is all of those things and still at an age where he can grow into becoming one of the greatest football players of all time.
And especially under someone like Jose Mourinho, the chances of him doing so are exceptionally high. With Luis Enrique set to leave the club in the summer and Barcelona feeling the strain of an ageing squad, Neymar would do well to assess his options before he gives in to the Catalan way.
Chance of joining Manchester United: 4/10
Also Read: 5 reasons why Manchester United is the perfect club for Neymar
#2 Toni Kroos
Real Madrid ensured their midfield general, Toni Kroos, signed a new long-term contract and even though there hasn’t been a talk of any release clause in said contract, expect the German to command an almost-world-record fee should he leave the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kroos is 27 now and heading into the brightest parts of his career and should he decide to join Manchester United now, it’ll be a decision that could bring about a shift in power, especially on the European stage. Kroos next to Paul Pogba is the footballing equivalent of a Christmas miracle.
The German is an astute passer of the ball, great with the little shifts he put in the middle passing the ball around making the opposition work and he rarely gets caught off guard – something that speaks volumes about how prepared he is for situations. Mourinho misses someone like that in the middle and should he get Kroos, expect next season’s matches to get heavily one-sided.
Chance of joining Manchester United: 5/10
#3 Thiago Alcantara
Should’ve been a Manchester United player for almost three years now yet here he is again being linked with the club. Thiago Alcantara is an exceptional midfielder who’s only gotten better with every passing game at Bayern Munich.
There’s talk of him reportedly being tapped up by his former club, FC Barcelona, to replace Andres Iniesta. That’s how highly he’s valued. At Manchester United, he’ll likely play slightly deeper than Paul Pogba ensuring his side don’t get stung on the counter while also making sure the forwards are well fed with delicious goalscoring chances.
So far, he’d be the cheapest in the window but given the kind of money Manchester United seem to be churning out, expect Bayern Munich to ask for a couple of millions more just because they can.
Chance of joining Manchester United: 5/10
#4 Kylian Mbappe
Thierry Henry, Arsene Wenger, Florentino Perez and Sergio Ramos are just four giant footballing names to have talked about AS Monaco’s latest prodigy, Kylian Mbappe. The 18-year-old forward is enjoying quite the season with the club from the principality.
Mbappe is quick, great with the ball at his feet, an incredibly mature finisher and has shown a strong mental capability of wanting to win every battle picked. Off the four mentioned attributes, the latter is the one that’ll probably appeal to Jose Mourinho the most.
He’ll fit right into this young Manchester United lineup alongside Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford and should he actually make the move, he’ll be the most expensive teenager ever and one who could potentially make that sum look fine in a few years’ time.
Chance of joining Manchester United: 6/10
#5 Romelu Lukaku
The Premier League’s top goalscorer has refused a new contract with Everton and is seemingly on the move this summer. He’s being lined up by the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Lukaku is turning out to be the best young striker in all of Europe and should he finish the season with the most number of goals in England, expect him to cost a fortune despite the lack of years remaining on his contract. He’s the complete package and all the teams scouting him currently know that.
The experience in the Premier League will make it easier for Jose Mourinho to work with Lukaku. The Belgian knows how the defences work, the pace of the league, the physicality of the league and has netted past every defence – an obvious bonus given Mourinho is on a mission to win. Expect this deal to be in the works for a long period of time.
Chance of joining Manchester United: 7/10
