With the January transfer well and truly shut, we must all look ahead to the summer transfer window and the mayhem that will inevitably ensue.
Although Manchester United may not look to strengthen as much as one would think, there are some areas of the team that could use some improvement.
The team are set with goalkeepers. With the return of Ben Foster from injury and the consistent form of Edwin van der Sar, Tomas Kuszczak looks like he could be a potential casualty as he searches for first-team football.
Or would van der Sar be happy to sit on the bench while an improved Foster gets the chance he so richly deserves? Only time will tell.
Defensively, United may recruit during the summer months. Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are unlikely to be usurped as they continue their glorious form they have maintained over the past year.
Gerard Pique is an able deputy but question marks could well be raised if injury or suspension was to affect two or more of these players. Jonny Evans, on loan at Sunderland, could play a part but is the Northern Ireland international prepared to wait for his chance at United as he continues to play first team football at the Stadium of Light.
John O’Shea and Wes Brown are both proven full backs and doubts could be raised over their performance to perform at centre back.
A purchase could well be expected in the summer of a centre back and many names have been thrown around throughout the season. These include the likes of Ezequiel Garay from Racing Santander of Spain and Fernando Amorebieta from Athletic Bilbao also of Spain.
At full back the likes of Patrice Evra and Wes Brown continue to impress and with the possible retirement of Gary Neville due to injury the impressive Danny Simpson has too been given his chance to shine.
Mikael Silvestre is a possible departure so the purchase of a new left back may be a priority for Sir Alex Ferguson with Nicky Shorey’s name being touted around the English media.
In midfield it is hard to fault their strength in depth.
It is hard to pick a full strength midfield with all players performing consistently on a regular basis.
Cristiano Ronaldo: irreplaceable.
Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes: timeless.
And with the likes of Michael Carrick, Anderson and Nani as good rotation and the steely Owen Hargreaves performing the holding role, United have nothing to improve in the midfield area.
Not to mention the likes of Darren Fletcher, Chris Eagles and Darren Gibson (on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers) the future is bright for Manchester United in this area of the field.
Up front leaves a lot to be desired.
The acquisition of Angolan striker Manucho gives promise to a particularly weak front line. Named in the African Nations Cup team of the tournament, he has been loaned to Greek side Panathinaikos to gain experience in European competition.
Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez are the starting forwards, no question. With injury-prone Louis Saha and youngster Danny Welbeck as back up to these star strikers another forward could be in the pipeline.
Amauri from Palermo in Italy has invited United’s scouts to come watch him and scouts have also been to watch Fabio Quagliarella of Udinese. Both names would be welcomes at Old Trafford.
Names that have constantly come up have been Klass Huntelaar of Ajax and, of course, Dimitar Berbatov of Tottenham Hotspur.
All of the above names are a real possibility and with the right dedication and the chase of one of these targets, a new striker is a real possibility in the summer of 2008.
Although United are well and truly in the title chase in the EPL this year and in both the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League at the time of writing, the 2008/2009 campaign looks even more promising than the current one.
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5 months ago
Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Nathan
5 months ago
A rather well-written article in my opinion, although I reckon that there wouldn't be a need to replace Silvestre with another player as we would have Fabio there to deputise shld the need arise. But yes I agree with the need for at least another centreback just in case. Pique and Evans would form a promising partnership in the future, but it is difficult to see em displacing Ferdinand and Vidic anytime soon.
The midfield is as strong as it has been in a long time and I agree with the reasoning that we do not need any replacements for a while. Rodrigo Possebon is another player who has similar qualities to Hargreaves so I reckon he might be given a chance to shine if the situation called for it.
Up front, we're definitely in need of another striker. If the derby loss was anything to go by, it was clear that we need a proven centre forward to partner either Rooney or Tevez in the event if one of them was not available for one reason or another. Amauri would be a gd acquisition, although he is advancing in years. I reckon Quagliarella would be a more favourable option as he is a proven goalscorer of international quality and at 25 is still young enough to give us about 8 to 10 years of service up front. But make no mistake when I say that I really want to see Danny Welbeck get a chance to succeed. That kid has talent.
Saha is a wee bit too injury prone to keep faith in, so I reckon we should let him leave so that we could make room for more options up front. Cheers.
5 months ago
I think Karim Benzema or Dimitar Berbatov might be the big money striker Utd will go for in the summer. Lyon's Aulas drives a hard deal, so I think Berbatov looks the more likely option. If rumours are to be believed, Spurs have a tacit understanding with Berbatov that they'll let him go in the summer since he craves Champions League football and Spurs will probably not break the top 4, even under Juande Ramos. As has been pointed above, Danny Welbeck has enormous potential and looks the real deal - the first Utd striker to make it to the first team from the youth team since Mark Hughes, back in 1982/83.
The other positions, as you have correctly pointed out, are the full backs. Gary Neville's 33 and struggling with injuries. Jose Bosingwa, the Porto and Portugal international, and Philip Lahm, the Bayern Munich and German international (who can also play at left back) have been linked heavily in the British press. Lahm, with his versatility, looks very appealing, but can Utd cough up big money to lure him away from Munich? Nicky Shorey is an interesting possibility, but I'm not sure he's good enough for any of the big 4. For the future, the Brazilian twins - Fabio and Rafael - look promising.
Hatem Ben Arfa, of Lyon, has also been enquired about by Alex Ferguson, raising an intriguing probability of being Ryan Giggs' ultimate replacement, rather than Nani. Or it could all just be tabloid tattle...
5 months ago
Man Utd should have gone for Hutton. I think Gary Neville is really struggling and may never be the player he was. Wes Brown is an adequate stop gap but he is not an out and out right back.
5 months ago
I have to agree with Andrew on Hutton...I thought at one stage United were enquiring about his availability? I don't know what to believe in the papers these day but Four Four Two magazine can be quoted from their February 2008 issue as throwing Drogba into the frame as a possible United target in the summer. It's no secret that he wishes to leave Chelsea and apparantly he's a United fan and has already confided in close friends about his desire to play at Old Trafford. Although with Ronaldo's career all but over in Milan, they could also try to tempt the goal machine to Italy.
Personally I'm not sure Berbatov will leave Tottenham now but he would also be a desirable signing in my opinion.
from 5 months ago
The way I know it is that Hutton was offered to all the big EPL clubs by his agent as he was unsure about Spurs but nothing bit and Rangers convinced him to go now.
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