How Man Utd could line up with Kylian Mbappe

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 15 Feb 2023 16:45 GMT
• 5 min read

Kylian Mbappe has excited Manchester United fans with a recent social media post. Is the PSG man on the way to Old Trafford? How would they line up if so?

Mbappe posted 'Tout reste à faire…' on his Instagram following Paris Saint-Germain's 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the first league of their Champions League last 16 meeting on Tuesday.

The literal translation from French to English is 'Everything still to do', but a glitch on the platform made it read: 'All that remains to be done…Manchester United's team is now on @psg.'

READ: Kylian Mbappe: 'All that remains to be done... Man Utd'

Unlikely to have been a cryptic message that he was in fact joining Man Utd, club and player have nonetheless been linked in recent weeks, with the former in line for as multi-billion pound buy-out and the latter cutting a frustrated figure at PSG.

Mbappe would likely lead the line at Old Trafford. Frustrated at having to do so in Paris with Lionel Messi and Neymar given license to roam deeper, a central striker is nonetheless the gap that needs plugged long-term at United with Cristiano Ronaldo gone and Wout Weghorst only a temporary solution.

Marcus Rashford is the Red Devils' top scorer this season with 21 goals and eight assists in all competitions. He also does his best work from the left flank, but he and Mbappe could alternate if playing in the same team, making them a nightmare for opposition defenders to mark.

READ: Fans believe Man Utd CAN win Premier League this season

Man Utd with Mbappe?

Behind them, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen would likely be Erik ten Hag's first-choice double pivot, although Marcel Sabitzer has made a promising start in Eriksen's injury-enforced absence, and United appear to be increasingly likely to make his loan deal from Bayern Munich permanent for €20 million.

At the back, Ten Hag's preferred defensive unit has emerged, with club captain Harry Maguire relegated to the bench behind Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

Goalkeeper David de Gea's future is uncertain, though. The Spaniard has been offered reduced terms of £200,000 per week if he is to stay, while better ball-playing goalkeepers like Diogo Costa and Jordan Pickford have been linked.