After securing control of football operations from the Glazer family earlier this year, Manchester United’s INEOS governed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe things have changed regarding who the club is going to sign.
Manchester United has since offloaded players who had no future at the club. These players include Aaron Wan-Bissaka who has been like prime Cafu since leaving United and Facundo Pellistri.
When it comes to signing new players Manchester United has focused on signing players who are 26 years and below unlike the previous years.
Arsenal are currently facing multiple injuries and absentee players heading to this season's second London Derby.
Similar to the other transfer windows Manchester United focused on strengthening the midfield particularly to add quality and squad depth to the team.
In 2022, they signed both Cristian Eriksen and Casemiro from Real Madrid and the signed Mason Mount from Chelsea a year later. These moves seemed promising but Manchester United have been underperforming ever since these signings were made.
Arsenal will play without their desired midfield trio in the absence of their injured captain but there are ways manager Mikel Arteta can solve the problem.
Casemiro has been unlike himself, Mount has been struggling with injury and Eriksen has been struggling with game time. Manchester United have been surviving on the services of Kobie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandez who doesn’t seem to ever get injured.
Now, with their new acquisition in Manuel Ugarte from PSG, thing are getting thick for the Denmark international who has barely played for united this season.
When Ugarte gets incorporated into the team, he is expected to replace Casemiro and he would be Erik Ten Hag’s first choice alongside Bruno Fernandez and Kobbie Mainoo.
Although Casemiro is Manchester United’s most solid defensive midfielder he is likely to stay longer and United. The player who will suffer the most is Eriksen. Why?
Cristiano Ronaldo has said that Ruud Van Nistelrooy is better at steering Manchester United because he understands the locker room better
Ugarte is a proficient midfielder who can play as a number 6 and a number 8. Mason Mount who is expected to come from injury this month, is proficient in the number 8 and 10 position. Couple these two players with the already consistent Mainoo and Bruno. Does Eriksen have a chance? Maybe not.
In addition, Manchester United have another option in midfield in Todd Collyer who can also play as a number 8. Despite him not being completely proficient for the engine room role, he will definitely give Eriksen tough competition for the spot
Eriksen has entered the final 12 months of his contract and will turn 33 in February. With Manchester United’s focus changing from old to young players, Eriksen’s role might be reduced to a squad player playing in the cup competitions and not in the top league like the Premier League or the Europa League. Eriksen is slowly being phased out and could ultimately leave the club soon.