da jogodeouro： Jose Mourinho has endured a difficult start to life at Manchester United.
da esport bet： Although most now agree there is no short-term remedy to the club’s struggles in the post-Ferguson era, few expected the Red Devils to be essentially out of the Premier League title race just three months into the season.
Indeed, a late equaliser from Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud on Saturday, ensuring the Gunners took a point back to London, has seemingly decided the kind of season United can have – with a place in the top four now their most realistic aim.
But we at Football FanCast have never been of the pessimistic variety and as Leicester City proved last season, anything is possible in the Premier League.
That’s all the more true when you have a transfer budget the size of Jose Mourinho’s. So with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at four January signings who would transform United back into genuine title chasers.
Virgil van Dijk
With Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly both currently sidelined, and the former struggling to replicate the form we’ve become accustomed to from the last few seasons, Mourinho could certainly do with another centre-back option in the second half of the campaign.
In that regard, it’s impossible to overlook Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, who has continually excelled since moving to the south coast from Celtic in summer 2015. The Dutchman has been in fantastic form once again this season, combining aerial dominance – averaging the joint-most successful aerial duels of any Premier League centre-back this term – with real quality on the ball.
Accordingly, however, VvD is hot property and Southampton know they’ll be able to drive a hard bargain after he signed a six-year contract during the summer.
Alessandro Florenzi
Mourinho doesn’t appear fully convinced by his full-back options, with the No.2 slot particularly leaving a lot to be desired as winger Antonio Valencia continues to fill the void, and Roma’s Alessandro Florenzi represents a potential solution.
Versatile, technically gifted – the extent that he was nominated for the Puskas Award last year following an incredible strike against Barcelona – and incredibly hard working, the Italy international is the kind of footballer Mourinho tends to warm to.
But the 25-year-old, who can also operate on the wing or in central midfield, is famously devoted to the Roma cause and United may struggle to convince him to leave Stadio Olimpico – especially mid-season.
Leon Goretzka
Despite plenty of options to choose from and the £89million arrival of Paul Pogba, Manchester United are still yet to unearth the perfect formula in midfield – although Michael Carrick made a pretty strong case for his permanent re-introduction versus Arsenal.
Enter Schalke prodigy Leon Goretzka, who has been mooted as a future star of world-class proportions for some time and is producing once again this season, grabbing two goals in nine Bundesliga appearances whilst averaging 2.6 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per match.
The 21-year-old is seemingly blessed with a bit of everything; the tactical intelligence to play in a number of positions, typically German fantastic technique and a physically dominant 6 foot 2 frame that has seen him bag a number of headers for the Miners since making his debut as a teenager.
Furthermore and most appealingly, the German international’s contract expires at the end of next season – meaning Schalke could be pressed into selling when the transfer window opens in the new year.
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann has recently expressed a desire to play alongside compatriot Paul Pogba at club level and although fans are probably tired of the relentless rumours, there’s no doubt he’d be a fantastic signing for Manchester United.
The Frenchman is a very unique kind of player, capable of operating across the front line or as a No.10, with a phenomenal supply of goals – namely 65 in 121 appearances since signing for Atletico Madrid in summer 2014.
He appears destined to become the next major Premier League import and his £85million release clause has been well documented. That puts a January switch within the realms of possibility but the 25-year-old won’t want to turn his back on Diego Simeone.