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In what has been a season of change at Manchester United, off-field issues have added to their woes on the pitch, as they find themselves with a mountain to climb to secure UEFA Champions League qualification. The Red Devils could miss out football's biggest club competition for the second season running and it could have massive implications with regard to their transfer business, as a big summer is reportedly on the cards at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not shied away from spending the big bucks and has sanctioned big-money moves for the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire, with the latter joining the club on a world-record deal with £80 million in the summer.
Fernandes, who was a long term target for the club, finally swapped Portugal for England, as the Red Devils added some much-needed quality to their squad in the January transfer window.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been ripped apart in recent years for failing to secure several signings in the transfer market but the Englishman's rallying cry earlier this week was music to the ears of United fans across the globe, as he ensured that the club will not hesitate to splash the cash in the summer if the right player became available.
While Manchester United have been linked with numerous players in recent weeks, here are 5 players who they could realistically target in the summer, as they look to spend the reported £200 million war chest which has been made available to Solskjaer to recruit new players.
#5 Jude Bellingham (Birmingham City)
Birmingham City's teenage sensation Jude Bellingham is reportedly attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in the country, with Manchester United reportedly in the front of the queue to secure his signature. The 16-year-old, who is the youngest debutant in the club's history, is hailed as one of the biggest talents in his age group and is valued at £30 million, a figure that has not put away the Red Devils.
Described as a powerful all-action midfielder, Bellingham is described as a central midfield player who is as equally adept with a tackle, as he is with playing a defence-splitting through ball to free one of the strikers. With Paul Pogba's future uncertain and Nemanja Matic past his best, United are looking for midfield reinforcements and the youngster has emerged as a viable candidate.
His box to box ability and his tendency to contribute to both phases of play makes him an intriguing prospect and if he were to sign, he'd add some fresh blood and energy to the squad.
The Red Devils signed Daniel James from the Championship in the summer and the Welshman's first season at the club has gone down as a success, which means they will not have any inhibitions about shopping in the second tier if the right player were to come by.
#4 Moussa Dembele (Olympique Lyonnais)
Since the departures of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United have been on the lookout for a striker and were thwarted in their efforts to land Erling Haaland, Edinson Cavani and Krzysztof Piatek in the January transfer window amongst others, as they settled for the loan signing of Odion Ighalo on deadline day.
Lyon striker Moussa Dembele has long been tipped to make a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Chelsea heavily linked with him in recent seasons. At the age of 23, the Frenchman could be the ideal candidate to lead the line, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial starting either side of him.
Dembele has scored 19 goals and registered a further 6 assists this season and is a lethal striker on his way, as he comes with an impressive goalscoring record regardless of where he's played. Dembele's pace on the counter coupled with his ability to aid the team's buildup play fall hand in hand with Solskjaer's style of play, making him a viable candidate for the Red Devils.
Lyon will not part with their star man easily but are expected to face a battle to retain him beyond the summer, as Premier League clubs look set to intensify their interest in him.
#3 James Maddison (Leicester City)
James Maddison's rise from the Championship to the glitz and glamour of the Premier League has been a story in itself, and the Englishman could add another chapter to his fairytale by securing a transfer to Manchester United - a club he supported as young boy.
Maddison is the perfect modern-day attacking midfielder who is capable of winning his side games with a moment of magic, a la Philippe Coutinho.
A set-piece specialist with a keen eye for goal, Maddison's long-range shooting, in particular, has been one of his standout traits, as he's firmly made a name for himself as one of the brightest young players in the country.
While Manchester United will approach Leicester City cautiously and return to the West Midlands for one of their key assets for the second season running, the Foxes will demand an astronomical fee - which might be a potential stumbling block in the deal.
However, sources close to the club have claimed that there is cautious optimism amongst the club's hierarchy that they can agree a deal for the 23-year-old, who has contributed 9 goals and 3 assists in all competitions in the current campaign.
Maddison is a top target for Solskjaer in the summer and it will be interesting to see if United meet Leicester's valuation for a player they've had their eyes on for well over a year now.
#2 Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Jack Grealish has not only been Aston Villa captain and shining hope this season in an otherwise lacklustre campaign for the newly-promoted side but also one of the best players in the country in terms of overall impact. The 24-year-old has led from the front and contributed to both phases of play effectively, making him an indispensable asset of Dean Smith's side.
Known for his dribbling and ball-carrying ability, Grealish is never shy of taking players on and beating them - as no player in the country has covered more ground with the ball and drawn more fouls than the Englishman. His tally of 9 goals and 7 assists from midfield whilst playing for a side like Aston Villa underlines his undeniable quality, as he's stepped up massively and has refused to be fazed by top-flight football.
Aside from his ability on the pitch, the Villa captain looks like a natural leader and has that aura about him that screams Manchester United. The Red Devils have a relatively inexperienced squad and could do well with a character like Grealish in the dressing room, who has matured brilliantly as a player and a human being over the last 18 months or so.
The dynamic midfielder is reportedly the club's priority signing in midfield and with Paul Pogba's future looking uncertain, Grealish could be the ideal man to take over the reins from the Frenchman in the centre of the park.
#1 Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Since swapping the blue half of Manchester for Germany two years ago, Jadon Sancho has made a name for himself as one of the most sought after attackers in world football and the Englishman has been in astonishing form this season, carrying on from where he left off last time around.
Sancho is one of the biggest matchwinners in the Bundesliga currently and is equally proficient in front of goal, as he is when he turns provider and sets his teammates up. Occupying the right flank, the 19-year-old has shown in his time at Borussia Dortmund that he has the composure under pressure to make the right calls - be it teeing up one of his teammates or putting the ball into the back of the net himself.
With a stunning record of 15 goals and 17 assists across all competitions this season, Sancho has been Dortmund's talisman and is set to be one of the most coveted players in the summer, with Liverpool and Real Madrid reportedly set to rival Manchester United for his signature.
Sancho is expected to cost in the excess of £100 million and while United aren't put off by that valuation, they need to secure UEFA Champions League qualification to have a realistic chance of signing England's newest superstar.
