Five Free Agents Manchester United Should Look to Buy This Summer

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The Red Devils have confirmed the exit of many high-profile first-team players in this window. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been provided a limited budget and he could turn to free transfer agents to bolster the squad ahead of the next season.

United have had a disappointing season as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faced the axe halfway through the campaign. The club later appointed Ralf Rangnick as their interim manager but things did not improve much. The German was supposed to remain at Old Trafford on a consultancy position, but decided against continuing on the role.

United signed Jadon Sancho for £73million and Raphael Varane for £34 million. To add to that, Cristiano Ronaldo also returned home to where it all began. Despite that, the Red Devils finished 6th in the Premier League, with their worst ever points tally and failed to win any trophy or even reach a cup final.

United had 0 goal difference at the end of the season and are now making some major changes to turn things around. Erik ten Hag has been appointed as the new manager of Manchester United. Moreover, the club also made a few more appointments in the coaching staff and also in the board room.

Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, free agents — Image obtained via United in Focus

The Red Devils had used up a lot of their funds in their previous season and had failed to get anything out of it. It is understandable if they are strapped for the transfer budget this summer. Most of their budget will be generated from the players moving out of the club but the problem is that many of those players are leaving on free transfers.

This could, however, prove to be very effective for the English side too. There are several good players available as free agents and Manchester United could use that to their advantage. This will maximise their number of recruitments while also allowing them to go for other necessary players on whom they need to spend the majority of their transfer funds. Let us look at five free agents Manchester United can sign this summer.

1. Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen has returned to playing football in the Premier League. He suffered a shocking cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field while playing in the Euro 2020 for Denmark. He miraculously survived but was away from the pitch for several months. He has returned to professional football and has been playing for Brentford for the past six months. He could slot into the United squad and even the first XI as Paul Pogba has confirmed that he will be leaving the club this summer.

Chirstian Eriksen — Image obtained via The Telegraph

Christian Eriksen could help United to create chances as he is widely known for his passing and vision. He will also bring the work rate that Paul Pogba had struggled to provide during his time at Old Trafford. Eriksen could form a great partnership alongside Bruno Fernandes or he can also be an excellent backup option for cup matches.

2. Corentin Tolisso

United’s priority should be strengthening their midfield and Corentin Tolisso could do just that. The 27-year-old Frenchman has struggled with his game time at Bayern Munich. It is because of his injuries that he has conceded his place in the starting lineup. However, he now looks ahead to being a core part of a team.

Tolisso looks forward to joining the Premier League and could help United with the skills he has. For a midfielder, he has excellent finishing skills and could arrive late in the penalty box from the midfield to finish the chances for United. His energy will also allow the Red Devils to dominate their opposition and win the ball back within a few minutes of losing it.

3. Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele is another free transfer agent Manchester United could take advantage of. The 25-year-old winger has returned to his best form after Xavi took over as the manager at Barcelona. Ousmane Dembele had spent most of his time at Barcelona on the sidelines due to injuries and rarely played continuously. However, that seems to have changed after Xavi joined but it is not likely that Dembele will sign a contract extension. He becomes a free agent this month and United should keep tabs on him.

Ousmane Dembele at Barcelona, Manchester United, Free Agents — Image obtained via ESPN

Barcelona are unwilling to extend his contract because of the high wage demands that the player has. If Manchester United sort that out with Dembele and his agents then it will solve United’s problems on the right-hand side. Currently, United do not have a right-winger and Dembele could be a real threat to any opposition in the world. Dembele is also a prolific scorer and can help Cristiano Ronaldo by sharing the assists and goal-scoring duty for United.

4. Andrea Belotti

Manchester United are left with only one striker and that is the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo. United will need a backup striker when Cristiano Ronaldo is not available or when the manager decides to rest the Portuguese. The 28-year-old striker was heavily linked with United in 2017 but ended up staying at Torino.

United will have one more opportunity to sign the Italian and get the best out of him. Belotti is a proper 9 similar to that of Edinson Cavani. He is very energetic in winning the ball back and has good instincts to be in the right place at the right time inside the box. He is also very good at physical duels and at holding the ball.

5. Florian Grillitsch

Manchester United are in dire need of a central defensive midfielder. The 25-year-old Austrian is going to be out of contract this June and has been attracting several other big clubs including Arsenal. He has been a top midfielder in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim for the past five years. However, he has struggled on the pitch after illness and injuries. A new club might give him a fresh start.

Grillitsch has the ability to break down the opposition plays and screen the defence which is exactly what United need at the moment. He is also very capable of winning the ball and starting a counterattack. He would also cost nothing, making him almost the perfect signing for United. However, he has to figure out a way to remain fit for the majority of the season and avoid missing the bulk of the games due to injuries.

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