Man United given 14-man transfer shortlist made entirely of English talent for summer rebuild

Manchester United face a massive tie with Real Sociedad in a competition which could have huge meaning for the next few years of the football club.

Win the Europa League and reach next year’s Champions League against all odds, and any hopes of being title challengers within five years will be given a huge boost.

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To get there, director of recruitment Christopher Vivell – who joined in a permanent capacity last week – will need to be near-perfect. His predecessor Dan Ashworth lasted five months in the job and in my opinion, bought terribly, something Sir Jim Ratcliffe clearly agreed with.

At the heart of United’s recruitment this summer are five key areas. Lower wages, lower fees, lower age, stronger character and for me, English talent.

English players still look up to the behemoth that is United in ways that some players from abroad may not.

It’s been the basis of their greatest teams and I don’t want to come across too patriotic but given the club’s famous academy and incredible contribution to the game here, it is only right that United should want to be seen as the Pride of England.

So, here are 14 players I believe United should be looking at in their squad overhaul – although some are clearly more likely to happen than others…

Aaron Ramsdale

Southampton will almost certainly be relegated and it’s likely Ramsdale will be available at a very cut price. For me the jury is very much still out on United’s keeper Andre Onana but if he is to stay, Ramsdale has shown he is a superb teammate, with the public show of support he gave David Raya while his then manager Mikel Arteta pretended there was ‘no real number one’.

The question for Ramsdale would be, ‘Can I go to United and start immediately?’ I would give him that opportunity, if he’s to cost around £15million. If he shows the form he did at Arsenal, it could make a lot of financial sense.

Fikayo Tomori

Having gone to Italy and won a Serie A title with AC Milan in 2022, the former Chelsea man found himself close to a reported £25m move to Tottenham in January.

If he’s still available at a similar price, he could provide some good value and experience, while hopefully providing a springboard for the centre-back to add to his five England caps. He can play in a back three, which is integral for Amorim going forward.

Keane Lewis-Potter

Brentford’s Lewis-Potter is beginning to look like the second coming of another former Hull City man; Liverpool’s Andy Robertson. There’s a fantastic energy and tenacity to his game, he has quality on the ball and a fast-paced attacking flair going forward.

As a winger at heart, he could be ideal for Amorim’s wing-back system. At 24 years old, he would come into his peak over the space of a five-year deal and provide much needed balance down the left hand side.

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Tariq Lamptey

Many may argue that United need higher quality players than Lamptey but the club has too often shied away from making free transfer deals for players like this to bolster the depth of their squad.

The Brighton full-back has the right attitude on and off the field and knows the Premier League – that can’t be bad for a squad player for their current state.

Yes, there is clear room for improvement to be a starter at a top club but Amorim could help him make a step forward. In United’s current financial position, he could make a lot of sense for two to three years.

Chris Rigg

The Sunderland midfielder has a huge future ahead of him. United can’t delay on making a deal with the Black Cats, he may cost in excess of £20m but I believe he’s a future England starting midfielder.

He has a quality left foot to go with a real maturity in his game, despite still being just 17-years-old. He’s already played over 50 league games in the Championship and could yet be promoted with an impressive young Sunderland team under Regis Le Bris.

Either way, he could well move on this summer and would be worth every penny, if United can help him deliver on his promise.

Jobe Bellingham

The man with the heaviest surname in football right now. All eyes on him whenever he takes to the field, with many wondering if he can deliver the same remarkable trajectory of his older brother, Jude.

It is an unfair expectation, but the man who goes by just ‘Jobe’ on the back of his shirt, is beginning to really mature and deliver performances that mean he will be a Premier League player within two years.

Can United get in early or like his brother, will he take the continental route? The pressure at United is immense and although Jobe has done fantastically well to keep a mature head on his shoulders, it may be a little too hot to jump into the frying pan at Old Trafford.

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Adam Wharton

It’s almost impossible to see Crystal Palace selling a player they brought from Blackburn for an initial £18m a little over a year ago, who hasn’t yet fully delivered due to struggles with injury.

When he has played, he’s shown enough control, energy and intelligence in the middle of the park to earn his first England cap last year and will certainly be hoping to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans for next summer’s World Cup.

It’s fair to say Crystal Palace gives him a better opportunity to do that and so he will likely stay put, but United have to keep very close tabs on his progress moving forward, especially with Real Madrid reportedly lurking.

Carney Chukwuemeka

The Chelsea man finds himself on loan at Borussia Dortmund for the second half of this season, having failed to force his way into Enzo Maresca’s plans after struggling to return from knee injuries he picked up last season.

If he can get himself back to his dynamic best, and still just 21 years old, he could be worth taking a punt on, to see if he can be a big part of a British core at Old Trafford. The talent is there, and could well be unleashed under Amorim’s tactics.

Jacob Ramsey

Again, another player that his club would be desperate to avoid selling. However, with Aston Villa looking to take big strides forward, as demonstrated by the eye-catching loan moves for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, it could be time to cash in on a player who finds himself regularly a substitute.

As an academy graduate, his sale would also help Villa manage the Premier League’s PSR rules, representing ‘pure profit’ on their balance sheet.

A player with the right attitude on the pitch, still 23 years old and given his injury record there might be business to be done at around the £30m mark.

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Harvey Elliott

Liverpool to Manchester United?! Sounds like blasphemy and I agree, it’s just about as unlikely to happen as any move in football.

Liverpool wouldn’t want to strengthen United in any way, however, over the last decade the Reds have sold very well and there is no doubt in my mind that Elliott will have many suitors this summer.

I’m a huge fan of his game. He’s versatile, creative and has an eye for a goal, but would he want to be the first player to move between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall in 1964?

Tyler Dibling

The 19-year-old has burst onto the scene at Southampton this season and has been one of the few success stories from their rather miserable campaign.

High energy, quick and incredibly direct, he’s already given plenty of Premier League full-backs a torrid afternoon.

He would certainly add some of the dynamism missing on the pitch for United of late.

As expected for someone so young, there is still plenty to improve on in his game, but he will be moving on after the Saints go down and could well be available for a low price, with a very affordable salary.

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Tammy Abraham

By sending the England man on loan to AC Milan, Roma have sent a strong message about where he lies in their pecking order, but with the club currently sitting just outside the Europa League spots in Serie A, it may have been prudent to keep him at the Stadio Olimpico.

One thing is for sure, he hasn’t delivered goals of late having struggled to find a consistent starting spot since returning from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in June 2023.

I wouldn’t sign him permanently but a reasonably priced one-year loan deal would help provide an option if Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee depart or are loaned out.

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Liam Delap

Who doesn’t want to sign Ipswich’s Liam Delap? It looks likely he’ll be on the move this summer after a breakout season for the former Manchester City academy star.

His barn-storming style and aggressive energy are a draw, coupled with touches of real quality in front of goal.

Reports suggest City have a buy-back clause and Chelsea are big admirers, but could the size of Manchester United sway his decision?

He might not be a true cut-price deal but if United believe he could be their no.9 for many years to come, it might represent long-term value and a very reasonable salary to boot.

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Ollie Watkins

When Arsenal bid £60m for Watkins at the end of January, it was felt Aston Villa’s rejection was more to do with timing than anything else.

Turning 30 in December, it’s felt it may soon be time for Unai Emery to cash in on the front man and use the money to invest in the future.

I still feel Watkins has lots to offer, with plenty of goals in him and teams at Champions League level may well feel the same.

He’s a great professional that keeps himself in good shape and importantly has good experience and a strong character – exactly what United need in their transition period.

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