MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 17:52:58| >> :120:4882:4882:

How Manchester United could line up with Odion Ighalo, Bruno Fernandes

How Man Utd could line up with Ighalo, Fernandes
© Reuters
Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up following the late January signings of Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo.

Manchester United have left it late to do their business during the January transfer window, bringing in Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo in the final two days.

Fernandes was the biggest signing of the month as his protracted transfer saga finally came to an end with an initial €55m (£47m) switch from Sporting Lisbon which could rise to €80m (£67.7m).

While that deal was a long time in the making, Ighalo's arrival came as a surprise as United's exhaustive search for a new striker landed on the Shanghai Shenhua man.

The 30-year-old has joined on a short-term loan deal until the end of the season, while United have the option to make that move permanent in the summer.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could line his side up following the deadline-day business.



MNUXI w/IODIGH

Solskjaer's options are currently limited by injuries to some key players, most notably Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay.

However, a fully-fit squad looks like an attractive proposition for United fans following their January business, with Fernandes slotting directly behind fellow new arrival Ighalo.

Fernandes has scored 48 goals over the past season-and-a-half in addition to creating 20 more in the league, so his presence in attacking midfield looks likely to increase United's goal threat.

Ighalo also has a proven goalscoring record in the Premier League from his time with Watford, where he netted 39 times in 99 appearances for the Hornets.

Rashford remains United's main goal threat when fit and he would be a shoo-in to start on the left, but Ighalo's presence could force Anthony Martial out to the right rather than his preferred central role, which he has occupied for much of the current campaign.

The likes of Daniel James, Andreas Pereira and Juan Mata would see their first-team chances hurt by that, while further back Pogba and McTominay are likely to be the first-choice midfield pairing in a fully-fit squad despite the good form of Fred and Nemanja Matic in their absence.

The back five would remain unchanged, with young Brandon Williams having now seemingly moved ahead of Luke Shaw in the pecking order at left-back.

ID:388395: cacheID:388395:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4872:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Odion Ighalo pictured in June 2019
Read Next:
Manchester United 'complete Odion Ighalo deal'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
Result
Cachin
Ofner
6 6
3 3
Result
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
64 6 1
77 4 6
Result
Gasquet
Sonego
2 5
6 7
Result
Hanfmann
Mensik
4 63
6 77
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
Result
Lajovic
Monteiro
4 3
6 6
Result
Machac
Ruusuvuori
6 1 6
4 6 2
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
Result
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
6 1 4
4 6 6
Result
O'Connell
Arnaldi
4 1
6 6
Result
Purcell
Giron
4 6 77
6 4 62
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
Result
Tabilo
Cobolli
7 4 4
5 6 6
Result
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
3 2
6 6
Result
Azarenka
Maria
6 6
3 1
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
Result
Gauff
Rus
6 6
0 0
Result
Keys
Camelia-Begu
77 78
63 66
Result
Podoroska
Navarro
2 1
6 6
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
Result
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
6 7
3 5
Result
Vekic
Sakkari
3 2
6 6
Result
Arango
Yastremska
6 5 4
0 7 6
Result
Osaka
Samsonova
2 6 5
6 4 7
Result
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
6 6
3 1
Result
Haddad Maia
Errani
6 6
3 2
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!