Manchester United will kick off their 2020/21 Premier League campaign at home to Arsenal if the leaked fixtures are to be believed. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will also welcome Champions League football back to Old Trafford after a third-place finish in his first full season in the club’s dugout.
The Red Devils’ marathon 2019/20 campaign came to a close on Sunday as they exited the Europa League at the semi-finals stage after a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla.
The pressure to qualify for the Champions League was off due to their Premier League form but falling short in the last four of all three cup competitions suggests a few quality additions are needed to make the next step.
Ed Woodward has indicated the club would not be splashing the cash due to the financial problems posed by the coronavirus crisis but offloading a number of fringe men could swell the transfer kitty.
Express Sport brings you an overview of how Solskaer’s starting XI and squad could look for the upcoming campaign.
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Goalkeepers
The biggest headache of the summer is the situation between the sticks which could get messy.
David De Gea will feel he has enough credit in the bank to continue as No 1 despite a gaffe-prone campaign.
Dean Henderson is determined to take the gloves, however, and will point his numbers on loan at Sheffield United as proof that he deserves a go.
While Sergio Romero surely has ambitions beyond the occasional cup appearance and has admirers at Leeds United.
It will be difficult to keep all three happy but keeping them on the books would have rival clubs casting admiring glances. Expect De Gea to continue in goal.
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Defence
It is an open secret that Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is the dream target for Solskjaer.
The United boss wants a partner for Harry Maguire, with his eagerness to sign a new centre-back likely to be heightened after conceding two sloppy goals against Sevilla.
Koulibaly is priced at around £62million by Napoli – a big fee for a 29-year-old but potentially worth the investment if he were to live up to the billing.
United also face the challenge of Manchester City for the Senegal international.
Otherwise, a number of outgoings should be sanctioned to fund Maguire’s new partner. Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot and Marcos Rojo could all collect a fee.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw are set to continue as first choice on the flanks.
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Attack
The biggest fee will be spent on Jadon Sancho if Borussia Dortmund soften on their stance that he is not for sale after their artificial August 10 deadline to strike a deal was missed.
If Woodward comes up with the £108m package that Dortmund were looking for then a deal would be on the cards.
Sancho’s arrival would come at the expense of Mason Greenwood, who would likely get minutes in rotation with Marcus Rashford on the left and Anthony Martial through the middle.
Daniel James would fall down the pecking order while a new centre-forward is likely to be on the back-burner while Odion Ighalo remains on loan.
Man Utd Dream XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Koulibaly, Shaw; Matic, Pogba; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Man Utd Second XI: Henderson; Fosu-Mensah, Lindelof, Bailly, Williams; Fred, McTominay; James, Grealish, Greenwood; Ighalo
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