Fans here inside the Football Transfer Tavern are getting very, very excited about the upcoming Premier League season.
Manchester United supporters are piling into the Tavern to watch their side face off against German giants Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly over in the China.
This will be Jose Mourinho’s first major test at the Red Devils, with Thomas Tuchel’s Dortmund one of Europe’s super clubs.
Our landlord over by the bar is excited about this match up, and cannot wait to see some of Man United’s new signings in action, with the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly set to feature.
The United supporting punters have devised a 4-3-3 line-up that Man United should field against Dortmund if they want to win the match…..
GK: David De Gea
Who else?
The Spaniard is one of the world’s best goalkeepers and is surely a certain starter for Mourinho’s men.
De Gea provides everything you want in a modern day goalkeeper, and our landlord feels he is as good, if not better than German keeper Manuel Neuer.
LB: Luke Shaw
The 21-year-old is basically a new signing for Manchester United.
After suffering a horrifying injury last season, Shaw has finally got back to action and is set to play a role in the club’s pre-season friendly with Dortmund.
Our landlord feels Shaw will play a MASSIVE role in Man United’s season, and tips him to win the United player of the year award.
CB: Eric Bailly
The 22-year-old was Jose Mourinho’s first signing at Manchester United.
The centre-back looked incredibly composed and comfortable in United’s pre-season match with Wigan Athletic, and our landlord expects much of the same against BVB.
CB: Phil Jones
Phil Jones? Who’s Phil Jones, exclaims the Man United fans in the Transfer Tavern!
The ex-Blackburn ace is set to start alongside Bailly against Dortmund, and he’ll be hoping to impress Mourinho in the match to help him earn a regular starting spot in the new season.
RB: Timothy Fosu-Mensah
The versatile 18-year-old is one of Manchester United’s most promising players at the club right now.
His versatility makes him an excellent squad player, with Fosu-Mensah able to play across the backline and in midfield.
Mourinho is likely to slot the youngster in at right-back to give him experience against a top club like Dortmund.
Michael Carrick
Carrick has been a United mainstay over the past few years and brings a rare mix of quality and experience to the Red Devils midfield.
Having seen his stock fall slightly over the last season, he will be extremely keen to impress Mourinho on the Asian Tour, especially with the arrival of Paul Pogba looking imminent.
Ander Herrera
The Spaniard can really dictate a game when he wants to, with the ability to impose in a defensive role as well as being able to carry the game forward and had a go at goal as well, he is a real asset.
Everyone’s position in the side is up for grabs at this stage of the season and the 26-year-old will want to cement himself in the thoughts of his new boss.
Juan Mata
Juan Mata is a man with a point to prove.
He is really fighting for his place in the side, especially considering Mourinho played a big role in his departure from Chelsea which landed him at United.
The 28-year-old will have to put the work in over the pre-season with his manager having previously labelled him as a ‘luxury player’ who doesn’t put the effort in defensively.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Operating on the right of an attacking trident, Henrikh Mkhitaryan sent tongues wagging amid the Red Devils’ faithful with his performance against Wigan on his debut.
Signed from the German giants ironically enough, the Armenian is wonderful and finding space that appear to lay between defender’s heartbeats, dragging opposition all over the park.
He can drop deep, pull wide or break behind enemy lines with ease, providing a one-man creative hub.
Likely to show Dortmund what they are missing after his messy exit from the club, he should relish playing his former charges.
Memphis Depay
While Memphis Depay struggled to convince during his first campaign with Manchester United, the lack of a certain Swede opens up a gap in Mourinho’s central striking options.
With Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford unlikely to feature after their exploits for England, only Will Keane can be deployed in that area.
Surely, Will Keane won’t start. Surely.
With that in mind, the £25m Dutchman could be utilised through the middle, as he was at times under Louis van Gaal last term.
Jesse Lingard
Having reached the final of EURO 2016, Anthony Martial has been afforded extra leave,
With that in mind, Jesse Lingard will surely take his place on the left of the attacking trident, looking to recreate some of the fluid movement he showed with his two previously mentioned teammates shown against Wigan.
