Manchester United have been linked with Lucas Moura and Robin van Persie. How could they fit them both in?
There has been a lot of talk of Manchester United shifting formation to accommodate new signing Shinji Kagawa.
If United are successful in a pursuit of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, those assessments will need to change.
Another player United are strongly linked with is Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura, with the Mirror reporting last night United had agreed a fee for the teenager.
Here’s a look at the potential line-ups United could start with depending on who they sign.
1) If they do not sign anyone else:
De Gea
Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra
Carrick, Scholes
Valencia, Kagawa, Young
Rooney
2) If they sign Lucas Moura
De Gea
Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra
Carrick, Moura
Valencia, Kagawa, Young
Rooney
3) If they sign Lucas Moura and Van Persie
De Gea
Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra
Valencia, Carrick, Moura
Rooney, Kagawa
Van Persie
Analysis:
Lucas Moura is a highly skilled midfielder who can play a variety of positions, but is comfortable dropping deep. With Kagawa signed it is unlikely Ferguson will interchange the two in an attacking role, and seek to fit them both into the same side.
When Anderson was signed many expected him to play further forward but he was played in the centre of midfield and this is how we expect Lucas will fit in too. He will likely be a long-term successor to Paul Scholes, and will interchange with him in the starting line-up with Carrick holding.
If Van Persie signed it could see Rooney dropping deep, and United playing a 4-3-2-1 to accommodate Kagawa also, or a 4-3-1-2 if Rooney stayed up top with the Dutchman. The man who would lose out is Ashley Young, who himself is no automatic pick in the previous teams but a more natural fit on the left side than Nani.
With United having Tom Cleverley and Anderson in reserve, along with Ryan Giggs and Nick Powell, plus Welbeck and Hernandez up front, suddenly their team would look a whole lot stronger.
Of course it should be pointed out neither are signed yet, and we’ll believe it when we see it, but they are possibilities which may just happen.
Which formation should United play with their potential new additions?
image: © eirikref
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