United are looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine games against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tonight, however, they must still look to bring some extra firepower into the squad over the course of the January transfer window if they are seriously thinking about a top four spot.
United’s tally of 20 goals in only the 10th-best in the Premier League, and super Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic has eight of them. The impressive Henrikh Mkhitaryan bagged the only goal of the game as United ended a run of four home draws in the league with a 1-0 victory against Spurs and United fans, who gave the Armenian a standing ovation when he was stretchered off in the 82nd minute with an ankle knock, would love a couple more players like him on board.
Red Devils fans brought up on a diet of attacking wing play, think Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelkis – or for the middle-aged generation, Gordon Hill and Steve Coppell, will be delighted to hear that United are being linked with Porto’s exciting talent, Yacine Brahimi. Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool are also said to be in the frame for the 26-year-old’s signature. Galatasaray winger Bruma is another player said to be on Mourinho wish-list. The 21-year-old is valued at around £20m by the Turkish club and impressed against United in a pre-season game.
With Wayne Rooney’s future at Old Trafford uncertain, United are reportedly keeping close tabs on French international striker Antoine Griezmann, who has a £83.5m release clause. A prolific goal scorer for Athletic Madrid since his switch from Real Sociedad in 2014, Griezmann was recently voted the third-best player on the planet at the Ballon d’Or awards, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and would likely be one of the leading tips amongst betting tipsters for the Premier League’s Golden Boot award if he came over to the UK.
One for the future could be Ajax’s United-bound teen sensation, Daishawn Redan. The 15-year-old has a prolific record in the academy of the Dutch giants and represents Holland at Under-17 level, one year above his age group. The club has yet to announced a deal but it is believed to be a foregone conclusion.
At the back, where uncertainty remains over United’s central defensive pairing of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, United are said to be considering a bid for Southampton’s highly-rated Jose Fonte, who looks set to leave St Mary’s despite having 18 month left to run on his existing Saints deal. United are just one of many Premier League clubs keen to pounce, although with a £15m price tag placed on his head, Southampton are doing their level best to keep hold of the centre half.
If anyone is going to prise him away, you’d think it would be United. Jose Mourinho and the player share the same agent Former academy player Michael Keane is also being strongly tipped to ‘do a Pogba’ and return to Manchester United after making his name elsewhere, in this case Burnley.
