The four World Cup stars Man Utd want to sign

Stuart Telford

• 20 Dec 2022 15:45 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United are set to spend big in the January transfer window, and the winter World Cup in Qatar has thrown up a number of fresh targets for the Red Devils…

United might have been expected to open their cheque book anyway in Erik ten Hag's second transfer window as manager, but now the Glazer family have made the club available for sale, he could have some serious money to spend.

"It'll be even better because more money will become available for this project," Ten Hag said of the prospect of anyone from Apple to Saudi Arabian private investment taking over. "My information is that it will only be a good thing because there will be more investment possible, which is good."

READ: Ten Hag's Dream Man Utd XI

United are fifth in the table, 11 points off leaders Arsenal, ahead of their return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest next Tuesday, and they also face Wolves before they can add to their squad from 1 January.

Ronaldo ruction

The Red were at the centre of one of the biggest transfer storms in recent memory when they released Cristiano Ronaldo on the eve of the World Cup following the Portuguese's explosive interview with Piers Morgan, and they could be set to replace him with a man who has begun to fill his boots for the national team.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) December 6, 2022

Goncalo Ramos played in Ronaldo's stead in Portugal's last 16 clash with Switzerland, scoring a hat-trick and assisting one more as Fernando Santos' men thrashed their opponents 6-1. Rated at €37.4m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm, Benfica could now demand more, but he will remain inside United's budget, and they need a striker.

READ: Revealed: Barca's solution to problem position playing in Scotland

Further back, Ronaldo's compatriot Diogo Dalot has proved to be one of the biggest winners under Ten Hag, becoming his undisputed first choice, but his current contract is up in the summer and even though United have an option to extend by a year, his future is less certain than it might be.

Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic could prove to be an affordable alternative. He started six of his country's seven games as they finished third in Qatar and looks to be onto bigger things at club level, with Barcelona also recently linked with a move for the 27-year-old.

Croatia may have surprised in reaching a second consecutive semi-final, but perhaps the biggest upset in Qatar was the fact that Morocco made just as far. The Atlas Lions were underpinned by Sofyane Amrabat and Fiorentina are willing to cash in on a player who could be the perfect foil for Casemiro at the base of Ten Hag's midfield.

Finally there is Yann Sommer. He may have been on the receiving end of the aforementioned six-goal thrashing from Portugal, but he otherwise impressed at the World Cup, as he has been doing with Borussia Monchengladbach for many years.

Unlike with Dalot, David de Gea's expiring contract is unlikely to be extended in the summer, and Sommer could prove a budget-friendly alternative who, crucially for Ten Hag, is comfortable with the ball at his feet.