The Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern have not been best pleased with their start to the 2016/17 campaign, with Jose Mourinho’s team already way off the pace in the race for the Premier League title.
United plunged millions on their squad in the summer but it still looks some way short of being capable of challenging for the biggest prizes in football, with the Red Devils in desperate need of a boost to try and reclaim a place in the Champions League.
January cannot come soon enough for Mourinho, who will undoubtedly have a list of targets in mind who can come in and revive the club’s poor run of form.
The United contingent here in the Tavern have a list of players in mind, with one fan hopeful that the club will continue to spend heavily, to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.
Tavern writer Lee Clarke looks at three deals that Mourinho must plead with the board to pull off this January.
Marouane Fellaini – OUT
The Belgian midfielder proved just how clumsy he can be in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Everton, given away a penalty just two minutes after his introduction from the bench.
The 29-year-old has somehow managed to make 100 appearances for United, but if the club has serious ambitious then they could do without the eccentric midfielder being part of their squad.
One United fan is over by the fruit machine and he thinks that Fellaini would do a job for someone like West Bromwich Albion or Crystal Palace, but concedes that he is nowhere near good enough for Manchester United.
Aymeric Laporte – IN
Thursday night saw the return of impressive summer signing Eric Bailly but United will likely look to secure another top central defender soon.
French defender Laporte has made over 100 appearances for Athletic Bilbao despite being just 22-years-old, with the player destined to move to one of Europe’s top clubs at some point.
One United fan is tucking into his Sunday lunch here in the Tavern and he thinks that the central defender would be a quality signing for United, stating that he could form a solid partnership with Bailly.
Memphis Depay – OUT
The Dutch winger simply hasn’t got to grips with the Premier League at all and if United do see a future for him at Old Trafford, then they must let him go out on loan to another English club.
The youngster could still have a decent future at the Red Devils, although he isn’t doing anyone any good sat on the United bench every week.
Our landlord knows his onions when it comes to football and he says that Depay can definitely have a future at Old Trafford, but does accept that a loan move would be useful for the player.
