Manchester United and their new Sugar Daddies

Manchester United's imminent Qatari ownership: Lessons from Newcastle, squad improvements, and transfer targets.

Manchester United will get new owners but how much of their fortunes will change under the Qatari billionaires? (Photo credit: GOAL)

Manchester United is about to feel like PSG and Manchester City, but what can fans expect from the imminent announcement of new Qatari owners?

When Newcastle got fresh cash injections from their new Qatari owners last January, the acquisition of Eddie Howe proved a masterstroke.

And, contrary to expectations from anxious quarters, Newcastle didn’t splurge in the market, and they were better for it.

Newcastle signed Bruno Guimaraes and a few loan deals; Howe fixed the leakages in the defence.

And they went on a run that took them from the bottom three to eleventh on the log that season, and beyond expectations, the Geordies finished in the top four in the just concluded season.

What can Manchester United learn from Newcastle? 

You won’t expect a club of United’s stature to use the Toon Army as their benchmark, but focusing on PSG and Manchester City could hurt expectations and force lots of errors.

It didn’t start well early on for Manchester City. 

The Citizens didn’t get it right at first with managerial changes and player signings. 

They spent lots of money in the wrong direction until Roberto Mancini and Sergio Aguero happened.

PSG may even be a worse example for the Old Trafford landlords. 

Till date, winning the Champions League has been impossible for the Paris club, and that’s the only thing they’re playing for.

If Manchester United wants to get back to the top even with all the Qatari money, they will need to tilt towards the Newcastle example.

As it stands, Manchester United has a manager who understands tactical football and has the confidence to talk the talk and walk the walk; they have some players in all departments to improve on. 

Rafael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are solid centre backs that can give them good runs, and Luke Shaw is available to deliver on the left. 

One more centre back to join Victor Lindelof as a backup and a fullback cover would do.

In midfield, Christian Eriksen’s battery needs help; a solid central midfielder would do a lot of good for that midfield to support Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as the club returns to the Champions League. 

Another defensive midfielder wouldn’t hurt, but they must move on from Scott McTominay.

Jadon Sancho has proven to be a waste of patience and investment; they can listen to offers for him. 

Manchester United needs a strong winger that can actually pop in with goals every other match; Antony and Alejandro Garnacho are players to keep.

Everyone knows United needs a striker, someone who can put the ball in the net, and that’s why it’s a surprising development to hear United pulled out of the race for Harry Kane. 

Victor Osimhen would be expensive, but he’s worth it. 

Rasmus Hoijlund is another name to consider, as is Goncalo Ramos.

Goalkeeper? De Gea’s contract is up this summer, and it’s left to be seen if Manchester United will extend it or bring in a new keeper. 

A ball-playing one won’t be bad, but for the errors De Gea committed last season, he has the saves in him to defend himself.