Man Utd's dream line-up if PSG midfielder signs in Jadon Sancho swap deal

Manchester United are making a splash in the transfer market, and are closing in on their fifth major signing of the window. Despite being on the brink of dismissal just a few months ago, Erik ten Hag has received significant financial backing from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and the pair appear to have been working closely together to identify transfer targets.

The first arrival this summer was Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee, quickly followed by the acquisition of defensive prodigy Leny Yoro. Deals for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, both previously managed by Ten Hag at Ajax, were then secured.

Next on the list could be PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, with a potential swap deal involving Jadon Sancho moving the other way, as reported by the Independent. With this in mind, Express Sport has envisioned what the Red Devils’ best starting XI might look like this season – assuming everyone is fit.

Goalkeeper

Andre Onana has steadied the shaky ship he boarded after joining United last year, and despite the occasional lapse, isn’t under threat of losing his place in the first team anytime soon. The Cameroon international worked with Ten Hag at Ajax and fits the team’s style well.

Defence

He might face competition from Diogo Dalot, but we reckon new arrival Noussair Mazraoui, will be the first choice right-back. The Moroccan international, who was signed from Bayern Munich for a cool £12.8million this month, has a solid record of consistent performances in both the Bundesliga and the Eredivisie and should prove a shrewd signing.

At centre-back, Matthijs de Ligt will surely get a starting berth. The Dutchman, once hailed as one of the world’s top young defenders, will be looking to regain his Golden Boy award-winning form under Ten Hag, who managed him at Ajax, after less than stellar spells at Bayern and Juventus.

Alongside him, Leny Yoro is our pick, despite Lisandro Martinez’s strong performances over the past two seasons. If Yoro lives up to his potential, United could have a powerhouse on their hands.

The Frenchman, known for his speed, strength and midfield-like technical skills, is currently sidelined with a metatarsal injury but is predicted to go straight into the starting line-up upon his return.

At left back, we’ve chosen Luke Shaw. Despite injury concerns, the Englishman is highly reliable and, unlike his positional rival Tyrell Malacia, he’s skilled both with and without the ball.

Midfield

Ten Hag likes to use two No. 6s at the base of his midfield, and it shock us if Kobbie Mainoo didn’t secure one of those spots following his impressive performances last season. The 19-year-old was arguably United’s standout player last season and was among England’s top performers at Euro 2024.

He will likely be partnered with Manuel Ugarte, whose technical skills, tenacity, and boundless energy will add an extra layer to Ten Hag’s team. Despite a less-than-successful stint at PSG, the Uruguayan midfielder, who was highly sought after in Europe last year, has all the attributes of a top player.

Bruno Fernandes, with his consistent performances and knack for scoring goals, is expected to play ahead of these two. Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen will be ready to step in when needed, and with United competing in the Europa League, there will be plenty of opportunities for everyone to get game time.

Attack

As for the front three, we’ve got Marcus Rashford on the left. He had a disappointing campaign last season by his standards, which resulted in him missing out on Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad, but remains one of the best players around when on form.

On the right, we have Alejandro Garnacho. The 20-year-old is quickly becoming a key player for United, and with Sancho set to leave and Antony struggling recently, he could make the right-hand side his own.

Leading the line is Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish sensation had a stellar end to the last season, netting 16 goals across all competitions despite an initial slow start. A regrettable injury will sideline him for approximately six weeks, but upon his return, it would take a monumental effort to displace him from the starting lineup.