Manchester United fans in the Transfer Tavern this morning are in good spirits, wetting their whistles with a round of ale whilst considering what the future may bring.
Jose Mourinho seems to have started something good at Old Trafford; the Red Devils have really turned a corner under the Portuguese and are back in the frame for Champions League qualification, amid a run of just one defeat since losing to Fenerbahce at the start of November.
Of course, no one can predict what will happen in five years’ time, especially in the ever-chaotic world of Premier League football. Mourinho’s never actually lasted that long in one job, but it’s clear he’s laid out the framework for long-term success at Old Trafford.
With that in mind, our landlord’s whacked out his crystal ball, encircled by United patrons at the bar, hoping for a glimpse into the future. Combining well-documented transfer targets with prodigious youngsters, this is what United’s starting XI could look like in five years.
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GK: David De Gea
David De Gea will have surpassed the 30-mark in five years’ time but if his career thus far is anything to go by, the Spaniard will still be one of the best shot-stoppers in the world. The real question, however, is whether Manchester United can actually hold onto the 26-year-old; Real Madrid famously came close to signing him in summer 2014 and it’s likely the move will be mooted again more than once before 2022.
RB: Thomas Meunier
Thomas Meunier shot to European football’s attention with a commanding performance against Barcelona in the Champions League last week and was quickly linked with Manchester United after admitting his admiration for the Old Trafford club. Aged 25, he still has plenty of years left in the tank and seems like the perfect Jose Mourinho right-back – decent going forward yet blessed with a physically imposing 6 foot 3 frame in Branislav Ivanovic style.
CB: Eric Bailly
Eric Bailly has only been at Manchester United for half a season but he’s already looking like the real deal, combining old-fashioned no-nonsense defending with brutal physicality – strength, pace and aerial prowess in almost equal measure. Aged 22, the Ivory Coast international has a huge future ahead of him and if he progresses as expected, he’ll be one of the first names on the Red Devils team-sheet in five years.
CB: Victor Lindelof
A name frequently linked with Manchester United, it seems to be a case of when rather than if Victor Lindelof turns up at Old Trafford. The 22-year-old has been making a name for himself in Portuguese football for some time and represents something the current United squad lacks – a ball-playing defender who can help build from the back. That could make him the perfect accomplice alongside the more attritional Eric Bailly.
LB: Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw may have endured a difficult start to life under Jose Mourinho but let’s not rule out the youngster just yet. He commanded a world-record transfer fee for a full-back when he moved to Old Trafford and is still an exciting talent, blessed with stocky strength, the pace to threaten in behind and fantastic technique. If he can gravitate more towards the Mourinho mindset, there’s no reason he can’t be United’s resident No.3 in the years to come. He’s still just 21!
CDM: Tiemou Bakayoko
Many have questioned what Manchester United’s midfield will look like without the ageing Michael Carrick anchoring it but Jose Mourinho appears to already have one successor in his agenda in the form of Monaco’s Tiemou Bakayoko. The Frenchman has been in fantastic form this season, averaging 3.6 tackles and 3.4 interceptions per match in the Champions League whilst helping Monaco hold onto pole position in Ligue 1 with his commanding engine room displays.
CM: Paul Pogba
Brought back to Old Trafford for a world-record transfer fee, Paul Pogba won’t be going anywhere anytime soon – which is fantastic news for the Red Devils. The Frenchman has performed well in the No.10 role at times this season but logic suggests he’ll be moved backwards on a more permanent basis as the years roll by. Currently aged 23, Pogba will expect to be the best central midfielder in the world by the time he’s 29.
CM: Dele Alli
Manchester United haven’t been directly linked with Tottenham’s Dele Alli for some time but as the most successful club in the history of English football, we’re certain the England assassin would at least be tempted by the idea of moving to Old Trafford. Furthermore, he’d be perfect for Mourinho – hardworking, energetic and feisty off the ball yet clinical in front of goal. The Portuguese once got the absolute best out of Frank Lampard and Alli feels like the Chelsea legend’s natural successor in the Premier League.
RF: Antoine Griezmann
It may not be his best position but part of the beauty of Antoine Griezmann is that he seems to effect the scoreline no matter where he’s asked to start. Manchester United’s interest in the Atletico Madrid sensation, who has netted 73 times in 140 appearances for the Mattress Makers, is no great secret and he’d be an exceptional addition to their forward cast. Even in five years, when he’s aged 30, the France international should still have the natural intelligence and predatory instincts to score regularly for the Red Devils.
LF: Anthony Martial
Another young talent enduring a tricky time under Jose Mourinho yet undoubtedly destined for great things. Anthony Martial demonstrated how brilliant he can be last season, finishing up as the Red Devils’ top scorer, but hasn’t quite found his role with the Portuguese at the helm. Still just 21, however, United fans will be hoping Martial can take the rough with the smooth and come out the other side to become one of the club’s leading talents in the years to come.
ST: Romelu Lukaku
It seems inevitable Romelu Lukaku will leave Everton this summer and Manchester United will likely be billed as one of the contenders for his signature, having been mentioned as potential suitors before. The Belgian battering ram didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea but it’s hard to look past him as one of the Premier League’s guaranteed goalscorers, netting 16 times in the top flight already this term. Still aged just 23, a move to Old Trafford would give Lukaku a real chance of breaking Alan Shearer’s all-time top scorer record in the Premier League.
