da poker： Manchester United’s form since their derby defeat to Manchester City has been borderline abysmal. Jose Mourinho faces the arduous task of trying to overturn this once fearsome club back into one of English football’s premier teams.
da fazobetai： As it stands, the Red Devils sit closer to the relegation zone than the summit of the Premier League – where they’re demanded to be by the club’s stakeholders.
While United seemed to have made significant progress in their path to recovery in August, the club now looks like its going in a backward direction under the Portuguese manager rather than progressing as expected.
The over-reliance on players such as Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the downfall of the team, with injuries and lack of form affecting the duo.
To completely overturn the team’s recent form, Mourinho must use the club’s power in the transfer window this January. Here are five things ‘The Special One’ must prioritise during the four-week window.
Find a midfield hardman
A major cause for concern for Mourinho must be the team’s lack of steel and grit in midfield. Historically, United have had some notorious figures in midfield commanding proceedings on a weekly basis such as Paul Ince and Roy Keane.
Other rivals, such as Chelsea (N’Golo Kante) and Manchester City (Fernandinho), can lay claim to having a monster in the middle proving the catalyst to their success.
If Mourinho is to become a success at United, he must identify the new Nemanja Matic, someone that proved a major success for him at Chelsea through height and physicality.
Free Wayne Rooney
Of late, Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United career has gone on a downward spiral. The legendary striker and soon-to-be club record goalscorer has become the scapegoat for the Red Devils’ recent demise.
Mourinho must consider flogging his club captain for the sake of his career, his iconic status and the team, with everyone seemingly in need of a fresh challenge.
Everton could be one of the club’s leading the chase for his signature if Mourinho considers selling, whilst a move to the MLS or the Far East can’t be ruled out either.
Solve the on-going right-back issue
It wouldn’t be harsh to describe Matteo Darmian’s Old Trafford career and meaningless and ineffective.
The Italian international was signed in 2015 from Torino in the hope of finally filling the void left by Gary Neville since his retirement in 2011. Darmian has struggled to settle into life in Manchester but oddly, still maintained his starting birth in the Italian national team.
For everyone’s sake, Mourinho must sell the defender and prioritise the position this winter with a long-term solution to a long-standing problem.
Make room for Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The signing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan had the footballing world in awe at United’s ability to capture one of the most in-form playmakers in world football.
The Armenian midfielder has struggled in England thus far, however, and his relationship with Mourinho doesn’t seem secure. This January, Mourinho must make space in his squad to ensure Mkhitaryan can play on a regular basis – which means offloading some of his other options in the middle-to-final third.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder could be the light to spark a title bid.
Snap up Virgil Van Dijk
The transfer market can be likened to the stock exchange. Regularly investments fail, however, often bargains can be found before their value increases.
This could be the case with Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. Aged just 25 years-old, his stock is set to rise in the coming months, and a move now could save United a fortune in the long run.
Not only the financial side of things, Mourinho could also ensure a young and vigorous partnership of van Dijk and Bailly for years to come.