The right-wing berth at Manchester United has been a problem position ever since Cristiano Ronaldo left the club in 2009, with only the Juventus star’s compatriot Nani looking up to the task of playing on that side – and even he never blossomed into a consistent player before leaving in 2014.
At the moment, almost all of the players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could play in the position prefer the opposite flank, with Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, and Marcus Rashford all more effective either through the middle or on the left. There’s no doubt that signing a right-sided attacker is one of the priorities for the upcoming transfer window.
Here are the three targets United should look at this summer. Also, take a look at our picks for centre-back, right-back, centre midfield and striker.
Dream: Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala is more a No10 than a right winger, though he does often play on the right of a front three, and when he’s on song there aren’t many better players out there. His continued falling-out with head coach Massimiliano Allegri might mean he’s available this summer, as he looks to move to a club which will give him more playing time.
He’s had his ups and downs at Juventus, with his form suffering as a result of being in and out of the side, and he’s struggling to fit alongside Ronaldo.
But his talent is unquestionable, and he would walk into United’s starting XI. His ability to play anywhere in an attacking three is already a point in his favour.
He’d essentially be the hyper-upgraded version of Juan Mata, with greater tactical flexibility and offering more energy as part of a pressing game along with his superior attacking skills.
101 - @PauDybala_JR is the forward that has made the most recoveries in Serie A current season (101). Perseverance. pic.twitter.com/gIcIsokn3e
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 30, 2019
Realistic: Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho is an ideal signing for United. He’s young, he’s English, he’s already a rising star, and to top it off, any success he achieved in United red would serve as a twist of the knife to the club across town, as he left Manchester City in search of first-team football after graduating from their academy.
Petty one-upmanship would be a bonus, but Sancho also brings genuine talent and excitement to the table. Alongside Marco Reus he’s been a key player in Borussia Dortmund’s push for the Bundesliga title this season, with eight goals and 12 assists in the league.
And at 18, he’s the sort of player who could conceivably be at his next club for the next 10 to 15 years, if his career’s managed properly. Sancho may cost anywhere from £80m to more than £100m, but he’d be worth every penny.
Alternative: Nicolas Pepe
It’s a sign of the times that Sancho, at his price, is a realistic transfer and Nicolas Pepe with his roughly £42.5m reported release clause at Lille can be considered a cheaper alternative.
But at that price, the France-born, Ivory Coast international would be a steal.
Lille are second in Ligue 1 at the moment, and not many would have expected them to be above the likes of Lyon, Marseille, and Monaco this late into the season, though their top-three spot, with the Champions League qualification that brings, remains in a precarious position.
But whether they qualify for Europe’s premier club competition or not, it’s hard to see how they hold on to Pepe, who has 18 goals and eight assists in 31 appearances in 2018/19, this summer.
Drogba on Nicolas Pepe: "He has some very good statistics and will easily surpass my goals record in a Ligue 1 season (19 in 2003/2004). He is a fast, complete, very efficient player. We need players like him in Ligue 1." pic.twitter.com/ChFNVqDTrn
— Bsadiq (@beesaadiq) March 16, 2019
