Just when you thought the hectic period was coming to an end more football is just around the corner with AFCON 2017.

The Christmas period has certainly served Manchester United well and their fans here in the Transfer Tavern are very thankful for seeing their club get themselves back into the title race this season.

They’re on a fine run of wins that suggests their new signings have bedded in nicely now and our landlord reckons Jose Mourinho could be looking for more via the tournament in Africa that kicks off next week.

Indeed, it’s the perfect chance for African players to put themselves in the shop window with the transfer market open for much of the tournament and so it would be wise for all the top clubs to keep across the games.

Certainly, our landlord agrees and thinks Mourinho needs to keep tabs on these three AFCON stars in particular…

Serge Aurier

Aurier’s got a bit of notoriety about himself and not all of it is good at PSG at the moment.

Nevertheless, he is a very good full back and if he can show he’s maturing with the Ivory Coast at this tournament he’ll surely be able to suggest that he’s got the potential to play for Man United. The Red Devils could do with some extra options at full back at the moment and with Ivorian Eric Bailly already at the club, this one could make sense.

Mario Lemina

Lemina was signed by Juventus last season with the idea that he would learn off Paul Pogba.

We all know how that’s gone since but there’s no doubt that the midfielder has got traits of the French midfielder in the way he plays. He is a very mobile player and is more than adept at getting forward as well as working back. He’s made ten appearances for Juventus this year and could be the ideal man for United.

Kalidou Koulibaly

Koulibaly is an absolute rock at the back and would be more than ideal to help strengthen United in that area.

The Napoli man is at AFCON with the Senegalese national team and so should go fairly far in the tournament if things go to plan. That means there’s plenty of opportunity for him to impress potential suitors and our landlord reckons the Old Trafford club need to ensure they are one of them.

Agree, United fans? Let us know below!