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Ole's at the wheel!! It's official, Manchester United's new permanent boss is the baby face assassin. It was just inevitable, wasn't it? In no time, he made Manchester United fun to watch again. Fast, free-flowing, exciting, counter-attacking football, that the Red Devil's faithful have become accustomed to watching under Sir Alex Ferguson is back.
It looks like the club have finally found his successor and who else but him. He' has brought the philosophy of Manchester United back and that's the fundamental aspect of his success. The amount of respect Ole has for Ferguson is inspiring. In interviews, Ole still refers to his former boss as 'gaffer' and reminds the United fans of how it used to be under him.
That being said, this fairytale story will come to a premature end if he doesn't back this early promise up with trophies. He has got the best out of the current players at his disposal, but this team doesn't really look capable enough to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool across a season to win the Premier League.
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It's been a while since the trophy had United's red ribbons on it and here's a list of 3 players who United need to sign to return to being the kings of England.
He has gotten the best out of the likes of Pogba, Rashford, Martial, Lingard, and Herrera among others and in my opinion, he has taken this side as far as he could take them. However, if he doesn't get the following three players mentioned in this list there isn't much he can do. He galvanized the side and brought back the feel-good factor to the club but if the squad isn't up to the standard of the world's elite, all of this would be a sheer waste.
Here are the 3 players Manchester United need to sign to be genuine contenders for the title next season.
#3. Milan Skriniar
The centre back position has been an issue for Manchester United especially since Ferdinand and Vidic left the club. Although Jones and Smalling have been pretty decent over the years, they are nowhere close to the legends who have played in that position for the club. Jaap Stam to Steve Bruce and Bill Faulks to Paul McGrath were genuinely world-class players who guarded the Red Devil's backline to astute effect.
From the current options, Lindelof is the only one who has been able to nail down a spot in the starting XI. Jones, Smalling, and Bailey have all been switching under Solskjaer. Milan Skriniar would be the perfect partner for him at the heart of the defense.
Skriniar this season, has averaged a pass success rate of 91% combined with 3 tackles and interceptions and a mammoth 4.3 clearances a game. This shows his diverse skill set. Comfortable on the ball, he can carry the ball out of the defense and allow the likes of Pogba and Herrera to stay higher up the field while being great at his own job, which is to defend of course. Standing at over 6'' tall, he is extremely strong in the air and can go toe-to-toe with the league's physical strikers.
The 24-year-old has been one of the best defenders in the Serie A this season. Given the quality of the defenders in Italy, it proves that he'll be a great signing for the club. Signing a strong, young centre back would be a step in the right direction for the club as they look to return to being one of Europe's elite clubs.
#2. Gareth Bale
Another big hole currently in the side is the lack of a left-footed winger. Although Mata can put in a shift, he is more suited to playing as a no.10 behind the striker. He lacks the pace, physicality and goal output to be a winger for a club like Manchester United. If United make a half decent offer, Real Madrid will surely let Bale go.
It is no secret that Bale is reaching the end of his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Injuries over the years have robbed him of kind of impact he was expected to have. Perez saw him as Ronaldo's successor at the club, but it was just too big an ask of him. That being said, Bale is still one of the best right wingers in the world.
A man who lives for the big occasions. Scoring in two different Champions League finals, Copa del Rey final, he's been there and done it all. At 29, he is approaching the peak of his powers with a solid few seasons of goals and serious European pedigree left in him. A 4-time Champions League winner and a trophy cabinet of fourteen trophies in the Spanish capital is no mean feat.
Manchester United has played Mata, Lingard, and Sanchez out on the right this season, and interestingly enough, Bale has comfortably outscored all of them. With Rashford up top, Pogba bombing forward and Martial and Bale providing goals from the wings, United will be a force to reckon with.
Currently valued at £63 million, he wouldn't really take up too much of the club's transfer budget while getting the club a world-class winger as well.
#1. Tanguy Ndombele
One of Manchester United's main focuses come summer should be bolstering their midfield. Somehow, they have let Herrera rundown his contract and are yet to offer him an extension while Matic hasn't really been able to replicate his form at Chelsea for Manchester United. This means two out of their three starting midfielders need to be replaced. While Ole can turn to the likes of Pereira or McTominay, both are more defensive in nature. The perfect box to box midfielder for Manchester United to complement Pogba would be none other than Lyon's Ndombele.
He has been a revelation for Lyon this season, averaging just under 4 tackles and interceptions while committing a foul once every two matches. For a Lyon side that does not hold a lot of the ball, these numbers are absolutely fabulous. A midfield of either McTominay or Pereira sitting in front of the defense, with Ndombele pressing high and allowing Pogba to shed his defensive duties and put his offensive prowess on display would be the perfect midfield for Solskjaer.
Links to European royalty like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and PSG are a testament to the impact he has had this season. Other than his defensive work, Ndombele is also great going forward. In Ligue 1 this season, he has averaged 2 dribbles per match with 1.1 key passes per game, showing that other than doing the dirty work for his side, he also knows what to do once he gets the ball back. A decent return of 2 goals and 6 assists shows he can chip in with a few goals for his side as well.
Although United will face competition to sign him, the project at the club would get any player excited and when a club of the stature of Manchester United calls most players would say yes to the move in a heartbeat.
