Punters in the Football Transfer Tavern are eagerly awaiting the start of the new seasons, especially with all the high profile managers and players making their way to the Premier League. But none are more excited than the Man Untied fans who have a lot to look forward to!
In only one month at the helm of Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho has identified and seemingly fixed the biggest problem with his new side, attack. Last season United scored a dismal 49 league goals, their lowest ever tally in a league season.
It’s a strange sight to see a Man United side struggling to score goals after decades of watching legendary strikers like Cantona, Van Nistelrooy and Van Persie don the famous red kit. However, with Ibrahimovic and Mkhitaryan already bought in from PSG and Borussia Dortmund respectively – two players who are probably capable of scoring 49 goals between them – United’s goal scoring options have increased dramatically.
With just over a month until the start of the season and United’s trip to Anfield you Red Devils in the Transfer Tavern will need to be a little bit more patient until you get to see your new stars in action. In the mean time however, check out Manchester United’s possible frightening front four for next season.
Wayne Rooney
Mourinho has already outright stated that Wayne Rooney will not be playing in the centre of midfield in his team, the Portuguese manager still looks on the club captain as an attacking midfielder or a striker as he confirmed earlier this week.
The new United manager made a good point when revealing his intentions for the 30-year-old, whilst age may chip away at fitness and to a certain degree, ability, the appetite for goal never goes away for a striker and he believes the England captain still has that appetite.
Whether you like him or not, the United stalwart netted 15 last season which from the position he was playing in, isn’t a bad tally at all and joined by the likes of Ibrahimovic, the England captain has the ability to add something extra to an already devastating attack.
Anthony Martial
14 goals and 5 assists in all competitions in his debut season for the biggest club in the country isn’t a bad start at all for the young Frenchman. Constantly compared to the legendary French forward Thierry Henry, Martial has got a lot of promise and is certainly one for the future, but ideally Mourinho and United need him now.
He brings pace and a delightful finish with him to the first team, as showcased by his phenomenal goal in his debut against Liverpool last season and with slightly slower players like Rooney and Ibrahimovic, pace is exactly what the attack needs.
Whether he uses that pace to get out wide and deliver a ball to the big Swedish striker or if Zlatan drops off to get the flick on and get the 20-year-old in behind the defence, he is a big name that defences won’t want to see running at them next season.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
United’s new £26m man. The Armenian attacking midfielder who was voted the Bundesliga’s players’ player of the year last season has finally joined the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund.
A versatile player with a spring in his step, Mkhitaryan can play on any side in behind the striker whether it is on the left, right or down the middle, he can be used to devastating effect.
If you want a pacey winger then you’ve got one with him or if you want an attacking playmaker to thread the needle into the striker he can play there to good effect too. With 16 assists last season, th 27-year-old may be the perfect sort of player to be able to feed constant balls into the striker that, with the quality of striker on show at Old Trafford – we’ll get to that – the goals should come quickly and constantly.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
After a while you run out of adjectives to describe a player, not to worry as Zlatan will surely provide you with some new ones to feed his ego.
With most players, the arrogance that the former PSG man carries himself with would be enough to put any manager off, but if you back it up then it’s a whole different story and with 9 league titles in his last 10 seasons, the self proclaimed ‘King’ definitely backs it up.
Simply put, he’s one of the greatest strikers of the last 15 years if not ever. He is proven in some of the biggest leagues in the world and internationally he is Sweden’s all time top scorer. Wherever this man goes, goals are sure to follow.
Strong, tall, good with both feet, his hold up play is good and he can take a man on, if you drop deep he’ll shoot from range and he has a good free-kick on him. Is there anything he can’t do? No actually, I don’t think there is. Be afraid Premier League defences, be very, very afraid.
Man United fans, what do you make of this front four? Would you have anyone else in there? Where can they take you next season? Let us know below…
