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Alternatives
Manchester United's squad depth has been an issue that has plagued them for a few seasons. Several players fall into the category of being considered 'deadwood' who United are actively trying to offload, such as the likes of Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Andreas Pereira, and many others.
That being said, Solskjaer still does have a few very impressive options should he need them off the bench or from the start of certain games. Here, we analyse a few notable alternatives available at Solskjaer's disposal.
Donny van de Beek for Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United's most recent acquisition is one of the most exciting profiles of midfielders in Europe. Van de Beek is an attacking midfielder by trade, but has been known to be extremely versatile in nature. The former Ajax man has come to be known for his lethal movement in the final third and ability to find the back of the net from tight angles after ghosting into the box. He would directly solve one of United's most pressing concerns, which is a lack of a reliable deputy for Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese looked visibly burnt out towards the end of the campaign due to playing a large percentage of minutes available to him. Should Fernandes need a rest or face a dip in form, Manchester United have a precious option in Van de Beek to freshen up the XI. The Dutchman could even fill in for Paul Pogba, albeit in a different system, should the need arise.
Mason Greenwood for Marcus Rashford
There is little doubt over Mason Greenwood's gifted talent on the football pitch. The teenager is a phenomenal finisher, earning massive praise from his coach, who in turn was one of Manchester United's deadliest strikers in front of goal. Greenwood scored a whopping 17 goals last season, levelling the all-time Manchester United record for most goals scored as a teenager along with the likes of Wayne Rooney and George Best.
After a mighty impressive season, it would be difficult to keep Greenwood out of first-team action for too long, and he could slot into the attack with ease in place of Marcus Rashford. Due to Greenwood's versatility, he could essentially slot into any of the three attacking spots, but Rashford has struggled with injuries in recent times due to which Carrington's crown jewel is likely to deputise for his compatriot.
Fred for Nemanja Matic
Manchester United's £50m signing from 2018/19 had a superb spell in the first-team in the absence of Paul Pogba before Fernandes arrived in January. However, the Brazilian has found it difficult to win his place back, and even when he did play, he lacked match sharpness and was often poor in possession.
With Matic having already turned 32, it would be difficult to imagine him playing week in week out, due to which Fred is likely to step in for the Serb. Should he regain his confidence and the form he showed earlier on in the 2019/20 campaign, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man will be an excellent deputy to the two-time Premier League winner.
Daniel James for Jadon Sancho
Right wing has been a problem position for Manchester United for the best part of a decade, with the likes of Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, and many other players being shoe-horned into the slot. While Sancho instantly solves this issue, he cannot be expected to start all 50-60 games that United could potentially have to play this year.
Despite his poor goalscoring form, Dan James offers United an alternative in the wide areas. The Welshman's breathtaking pace and ability to beat his full-back will give the Red Devils' frontline a more direct option. Although he is a vastly different player to Sancho both in terms of approach and quality, he could still have a lot to offer to this United side, particularly against tiring legs towards the end of games.
Also read: Most expensive footballers in the world in each position
