Manchester United suffered a disappointing defeat against Liverpool in the Northwest derby. The game finished 4-2 in the favor of the away side at Old Trafford. It meant Ole Gunnar Solksjaer saw his men suffer consecutive defeats at home in over two days and for the sixth time in the entire campaign in the Premier League.
Amid the protest and fixture congestion, this result left a sour taste. As much as United have improved this campaign, seeing their noisy neighbour lifting another Premier League title has pinched them again. Questions remain whether the current side is good enough to be on top of England like in the past.
This summer window will be key for Manchester United if they are to challenge the authority of Manchester City for the Premier League trophy. The competition will be intense next time with Chelsea and Liverpool also coming back into the fold. So if the Red Devils are serious enough in their ambition, they need some shrewd signings to strengthen up the squad. Here is the list of transfer possibilities.
Raphael Varane (Center Back)
The center-back position needs a revamp at Manchester United. Although, they haven't leaked goals in a cataclysmic way the 13-time Premier League champions need someone commanding in that position. Victor Lindelof had a good season but an upgrade is a necessity alongside Harry Maguire. A character like Raphael Varane will work. The Frenchman has proven himself to be one of the most reliable defenders on the planet. His experience and trophy-laden career at Real Madrid are not new to football gazers. Varane also brings a passing game to his play which will help Man United to move away from their counter-attacking play. The 28-year-old is in a dispute with Real regarding his extension on his contract that runs out in 2022. So, it will be a good time to land him in the summer.
Declan Rice (Center/ Defensive Midfielder)
The next position that needs pairing is the midfield. The partnership of Scott Mctominay and Fred has been committed this season but it won't help a side win the league. Comparing it to the midfield of Manchester City or Chelsea, it is without a doubt they are lacking behind. Against Liverpool, they showed their vulnerability of resisting quick movements in the middle of the park. There is a solution. Manchester United have been monitoring West Ham's Declan Rice for quite some time now. The Hammers have put a high price tag on him to fend off interest. Rice has been immense for his club since making the breakthrough two seasons ago. Capable of playing both as a center mid or a defensive mid, Rice's contribution this season is helping West Ham to gun for a European place. Without him, their sensational rise is off the cards. Rice is a dominant figure in midfield. United have to lure him sooner than later.
Jadon Sancho (Right Winger/Midfielder)
Fans of Manchester United have craved for Jadon Sancho's signing for over a season. Last summer, United failed to bag him for his huge price tag set by Borussia Dortmund. His speculation arises again. Academy product Mason Greenwood has also made great strides since, providing enough goal contribution coming from the right. He has also been a top scorer at the age of 20 in Premier League history. Greenwood's development is very important for he looks like a future star. However, a world-beating signing like Sancho is required to get the club to that elite level of claiming multiple honors each season. The Englishman's price will also drop to €85m this summer so he could be handy this time.
Although, it is left to see whether the ongoing protest against the Glazers rings any bells and forces them to listen to the fans to make the upcoming negotiations window a remarkable one.
