There may still be a few weeks remaining of the Premier League season but clubs are already starting to plan ahead for the summer, trying to line up transfer deals now so that they can be completed smoothly when the transfer window opens.
A couple of the big dogs of English football, particularly Manchester United and Liverpool, are in desperate need of strengthening if they are to keep up with Manchester City, Arsenal and Newcastle United's continuous growth. United boss Erik ten Hag was given a harrowing realisation last week as his side were beaten 3-0 by Sevilla, ending their Europa League journey.
With his side missing key players Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in Seville, the huge drop in quality and squad depth was clear for all to see, highlighting that a huge overhaul is needed at Old Trafford in the summer.
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As for Liverpool, their players have largely looked tired for most of the season, suggesting that the current crop have peaked under Jurgen Klopp. The German is in need of fresh faces to try to reinvigorate his squad and get them back to the side that was competing for a historic quadruple only a year ago.
Both clubs are in desperate need of strengthening in the summer and their recruitment teams will be drawing up their targets now.
Two players who are likely to be high up their wish lists are Borussia Monchengladbach duo Marcus Thuram and Manu Kone. Thuram has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United this season and the forward will become more appealing now that it has been confirmed that he will be leaving Borussia Park at the end of term as a free agent.
The striker is blessed with pace and trickery on the ball as well as natural goalscoring capabilities. And like any decent forward in today’s footballing world, he can play anywhere across the front line, something that is bound to grab Liverpool’s interest - even though they are currently stacked in forward areas.
In United’s case, they need to replenish their attacking ranks. Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst has worked tirelessly since he joined in January but scored just two goals, neither of which he bagged in the Premier League, United need a more reliable goal threat to help lead the line, particularly with their only other recognised striker, Anthony Martial, constantly blighted by fitness problems.
Inch perfect from Manu Konรฉ ๐
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Enter Thuram. A six-foot four-inch striker who knows where the back of the net is and offers all the attributes needed to aid United in their growth. The Frenchman can hold the ball up well to help his team mates, get away from defenders with his incredible acceleration and, most importantly, score and create goals. The 25-year-old has scored 16 and provided six assists in 30 games across all competitions this term in a Gladbach side that is languishing in mid-table. Imagine what he could do surrounded by the likes of Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.
Unfortunately for United and Liverpool, if they wanted to lure Kone to Old Trafford ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, they would need to pay a serious fee to Gladbach as he still has another two years on his deal.
The young French star has been impressive once again this term as his development is continuing at an exciting speed, but with Gladbach further distanced from European football, they are bracing themselves for a lot of interest. Ten Hag is clearly in need of reinforcement in midfield as we have seen how out of tune the side can be when the likes of Eriksen, Fernandes and Casemiro are not around. And with the futures of Scott McTominay and Fred up in the air, the club needs to drastically improve its squad depth.
Liverpool’s midfield has been most troubling this year and Kone is the kind of profile that Klopp would love to have in his team. With a move for Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham unlikely in the next transfer window, Kone could be another talented acquisition from the Bundesliga.
Kone offers support both defensively and offensively and is tipped for a huge future in the game. His style of play and skill is likened to that of Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga, who United were interested in two summers ago. His standout traits are his passing, dribbling and tackling, something which United need to have in reserve among their ranks to get them back competing for the league title.
The 21-year-old is already playing at a high level and possesses all the attributes of a midfielder who can thrive in the Premier League. A huge summer is on the horizon for both clubs and these two Bundesliga stars could be huge additions to help both of them reinvent themselves.
