Why Manchester United’s decision regarding January transfers could be a wise strategy
The Theatre of Dreams has become sort of nightmarish after Manchester United’s faltering start to the season.
The Red Devils came into the season with a lot of hype, especially after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first 19 games after taking over, but things haven’t panned out as expected.
Manchester United seem to be missing that attacking threat they possessed under previous managers despite them having talents such as Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.
The defence has been slightly better after the arrivals of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, however, United are still a work in progress. Solskjaer still needs more time and transfers to build United, but the Red Devils will not be rushed into signings during the winter window.
The Daily Mail (h/t Metro) claims that United will be patient regarding transfers in January, and will wait for the right player, rather than make knee jerk signings.
Solskjaer also wants signings to be more analytical and data
The right player at the right club
The Red Devils have made some questionable signings under previous managers, and some of them just haven’t worked out. Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo are a few that couldn’t cut it at Old Trafford, and one addition to that list is Fred.
The Brazilian has struggled since joining in the previous campaign and doesn’t seem to be United quality at the moment.
It is difficult to say if a lot of analysis wasn’t done under the tenures of Jose Mourinho or Louis van Gaal, but the team’s quality has fallen below standards under Sir Alex Ferguson’s successors.
Waiting for the right player instead of splurging on alternatives doesn’t always work these days. Liverpool are prime examples of that as they waited six months to land Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.
The Dutch defender has turned things around for the Reds and won the Champions League last season. They have built a team with several quality signings, and no one questions their transfer policy now.
United, for their part, did get a couple of things right in the summer. Maguire and Wan-Bissaka are possibly two of their in their position, but future signings need to fit into a plan.
The haphazard signing of players has cost United as they have fallen way behind Manchester City and Liverpool. Not to forget, Mourinho did finish second with United a couple of seasons ago, but poor recruitment has been a problem at the club for years.
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- Why Manchester United should go for Everton Soares in January
The Red Devils might have a lot of money to spend but they need to do it wisely. Signing more duds will only take United backwards, and that cannot take place right now.