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Man Utd can save their season and secure their future with €80m double signing
3 min read
Analysis
Manchester United have made a miserable start to the season, but the January transfer window could transform their fortunes with two signings for an investment of €80 million.
The Red Devils have been linked with a move for Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but the Old Trafford side should be setting their sights on younger players who better fit into Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stated project when he arrived at the club.
Two in particular stand out: scoring machine Nicolo Tresoldi of Club Brugge and Mexico’s World Cup sensation Gilberto Mora, who plays with Tijuana.
Although both are wanted by a large number of Premier League clubs, Man Utd have a strong argument for signing the pair given that they can offer them better prospects than their rivals – despite their current struggles.
This is the argument that is made by the cold dispassion of SciSports’ Career Advice tool, which uses various metrics to judge potential moves for a player by giving teams a Club Fit score.
Manchester United rank among the best options for most and should use the January transfer window as an opportunity to sign both comparatively cheaply while they still can.
Tresoldi can solve Man Utd's immediate problem
Tresoldi is the player more likely to have an immediate impact at Old Trafford as Benjamin Sesko continues to suffer from his injury woes.
The Germany U21 international has scored eight goals in 11 games for Club Brugge in the league and Champions League this season, firmly establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier young strikers in the process. While goals provide the headline numbers, his all-round performances have typically been excellent.
He would arrive as competition for Sesko and a player capable of pushing United’s established No.9 but, initially at least, he would be below the Slovenian in the pecking order.
For a potential transfer fee of €40 million, that seems a reasonable investment, particularly given Tresoldi should only improve in the coming years.
Mora could become Man Utd's next superstar
Mora is a different type of prospect. The 18-year-old Mexican is a little rawer, but his potential is higher than that of Tresoldi.
Given that United are now starting to look into the post-Bruno Fernandes era, the diminutive Tijuana playmaker, who can also feature on the left, represents an interesting option.
He is already one of the best in his role in Liga MX, having supplied five goals and one assist in seven appearances this season. Had it not been for an ankle injury, he would have played a good deal more.
Mora’s potential is what really makes him stand out. If he were to reach his ceiling, he would be the best player at Man Utd, according to SciSports.
He would arrive as a talent to be groomed but would represent the type of forward-thinking, high-potential signing that the Red Devils need if they are to build a foundation for the future.
Spanish media report that he has a release fee of €40m, though there is no universal agreement over this figure and the competition to sign him is likely to be fierce, so United will need to be on it to complete this deal.
Given the success they had in launching the career of Mexican great Javier Hernandez in similar circumstances back in 2010, they can argue there is a precedent.
An €80m double signing could transform Man Utd's future
Tresoldi and Mora would represent genuinely forward-thinking signings in January.
With price tags around the €40m mark, neither is lavishly expensive while both are liable to see their value and ability grow over the foreseeable future.
Signings like this could help set United up for the next decade and deliver the type of ambitious moves INEOS promised the fans when they arrived at the club. It's time the ownership started keeping its word.
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