Six signings Ralf Rangnick could bring in to steady the ship at Manchester United
- Sean Fisher
- 7 January 2022
With Ralf Rangnick now realising the size of the task at Manchester United, Planet Sport picks out six players who could help him start to repair the damage at Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick is already feeling the pressure at Manchester United despite his new side having only suffered one defeat under his stewardship.
As a result, it's been said that up to 11 United players are feeling "disillusioned" at the club and could seek a way out.
Given recent performances it'd be hard to blame Rangnick for wanting to bring in 11 players of his own, but for now we'll stick to six players the German could turn to this month.
Ruben Neves
Rangnick's first Premier League loss came at the hands of Wolves last week, and reports have since suggested that the Red Devils are after their talisman midfielder, Ruben Neves.
The 24-year-old ran the show at Old Trafford as Wolves claimed a 1-0 win, and Rangnick was clearly a fan of his performance.
With Nemanja Matic ageing, Donny van de Beek out of favour and Paul Pogba on his way out, there's no hiding the fact that United need reinforcements in midfield.
Rangnick hasn't yet found the best system to suit his current squad, but a revamped midfield will help him hugely, and Neves' consistency and control in the heart of the pitch is exactly what United are missing.
A £35million fee has been mentioned and United are favourites to secure his services before the start of February.
Kalvin Phillips
Could another Leeds United star make a switch to Manchester? It's happened in the past, despite the side's sharing a fierce rivalry.
However, while Rio Ferdinand and Eric Cantona remain persona non grata around Yorkshire, you can't help but feel the backlash would be even worse if local-born, Leeds-supporting Kalvin Phillips was to don the red of United.
Still, Manchester United have been heavily linked to the 26-year-old. Phillips is defensively-minded, impressive with the ball at his feet and boasts superb athleticism. He ticks every box for United's dream midfielder, it's just a shame he's a fan favourite of their arch rivals.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice to Manchester United is a transfer rumour that has done the rounds for the past two seasons, and with the 22-year-old still impressing at West Ham, it's back once more this January.
In the last two years, Rice has nailed down an England spot, became captain of West Ham, and is now leading his side in their fight for Champions League qualification.
With that said, it's hardly surprising that he's one of the most sought after stars in the Premier League, with Chelsea, Manchester City and United all in the running for his signature.
But while West Ham are flying up in fifth in the Premier League, they won't want to let go of their captain, and Rice won't want to jump ship midway through a season.
David Moyes has previously stated that West Ham would require a hefty £100million to consider selling their captain, and in his current form it's impossible to argue with their demands.
Amadou Haidara
Not only has Haidara become a favourite of Rangnick's due to their work together in Salzburg, but he also fits the bill as the type of player they need to bunker down in midfield.
With United needing to get the best out of summer signings Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, Haidara could help give the duo more freedom in the attacking third.
Rangnick brought Haidara to Salzburg back in 2016 as the club's sporting director, but it'll set him back £35million if he wants to reunite with him in Manchester.
Antonio Rudiger
He's been linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich as he approaches the end of his contract, but the 28-year-old defender also has close ties to Rangnick, so could he be tempted to swap London for Manchester?
Well, it's very plausible - Rangnick is good friends with Rudiger's half-brother Sahr Senesie, who is also his agent. It's been reported that Senesie is willing to negotiate with the Manchester United interim manager this January.
Having just been part of a Champions League-winning campaign, acquiring Rudiger on a free would be superb business from United, but they'll have to wrestle with Europe's elite for his signature, and without the promise of Champions League soccer that could be difficult.
Raphinha
Another Leeds United star on Manchester United's radar is Raphinha, who has shone at Elland Road since his £17million move from Rennes in 2020.
The tricky Brazilian has been a consistent goalscorer as well as a creative output for the Yorkshire side, scoring 14 goals and assisting a further 10 in his 47 appearances.
With both Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial looking set to depart Old Trafford this summer, Rangnick will need to replace them sooner rather than later, and having played under Marcelo Bielsa's physically-demanding system, Rangnick will know Raphinha is able to meet his high training demands at Manchester United.
Leeds won't be giving up Raphinha easily though, and their prized winger is likely to demand a fee upwards of £50million. Even if that fee was matched by United, the Yorkshire side will be keen to hold on to him until at least the summer as they fight off the threat of relegation.
While Raphinha would be a welcome addition for most United fans, they'll also tell you that there's plenty of other areas that need addressing first, with a central midfielder highest on the priority list.
