#4. Neymar
Current Club: FC Barcelona
Yes, yes, this borders on the realms of fantasy (as can be seen in the likelihood-of-transfer rating) but Neymar’s arrival at Old Trafford could truly revolutionalise the way United play at the moment. Forget the inconsistent Neymar you see for Barcelona – where he has to play second fiddle to one-part of the two-man act that rules football – and picture the one you see for Brazil... given the freedom of the park, having the team built around him and generally allowed to be himself, Neymar would rip apart the Premier League in a way that -few have done before. With Neymar, United could build either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1; or even a 3-4-3 with Neymar in his usual habitat of the left attacking third, Romelu Lukaku the sharp end of the spear whilst Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard would vie for the remaining attacking spots.
For the first time since 2009, United and the Premier League could once again lay claim to being home to one of the world’s best footballers.
But with Neymar’s love for Barcelona (he chose the club from an army of suitors whilst at Santos), his camaraderie with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and that zillion-dollar (205 million USD to be a touch more precise) release clause... It’s really not going to happen, is it?
Potential impact of transfer: 10/10
Likelihood of transfer: 2/10