With Manchester United already behind in the Premier League top-four race, these three players would be worthy first-team additions. After Manchester United’s average start to the campaign, which three players should they be looking to bring in when the January transfer window opens?
1) Duvan Zapata – Atalanta
Colombia international Zapata has been in magnificent form since joining Atalanta on a two-season loan deal in July 2018, scoring 23 goals from 37 Serie A appearances to finish second in the league’s scoring charts.
The 28-year-old striker played a key role in helping La Dea finish last season in third in the Italian top flight, qualifying for the Champions League, where they have been drawn against Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group C.
He has started the 2019/20 Serie A campaign in fine form, bagging two goals from as many games, and it is largely expected Atalanta will take up the option to make the loan permanent at the end of this season.
However, with the Red Devils in need of attacking reinforcements, attempting to hijack this deal in January would be a shrewd move for the 20-time English champions and significantly add to the club’s current firepower.
2) Toby Alderweireld – Tottenham Hotspur
Although signing Harry Maguire from Leicester City this summer for £80million, making him the world’s most expensive defender, United are still in need of another quality centre-back to play alongside the England star.
One player the Red Devils are still said to hold an interest in is Tottenham’s Alderweireld, whose contract runs out next summer and talks are still believed to be ongoing between both parties over an extension.
The 30-year-old is regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, having helped form Spurs into a regular top-four outfit, but he seems ready to move on to pastures new.
With Alderweireld’s deal running down, Tottenham may decide to sell the defender in a cut-price deal come January and United would do well to make a concerted effort to acquire his services.
3) Declan Rice – West Ham United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already shown he is trying to build a squad for the future, having brought in right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James, who are both 21, from Crystal Palace and Swansea City respectively.
Along with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay, there is a youthful look about this United side and they should seriously consider the signing of West Ham’s rising star Rice.
The 20-year-old has become an established member of the Hammers’ first team over the past two seasons, while he is also a prominent member of Gareth Southgate’s England’s set-up.
United are in desperate need of a central midfielder, somebody to break the play up in the middle of the park and distribute possession, and Rice would be a fantastic addition.
