Manchester United are about to go into the winter transfer window with a new manager in charge at Old Trafford, and Ralf Rangnick will be working hard to ensure he can salvage the Premier League season, but should he delve into the market to do it?
What's the story?
The Manchester United interim manager has spoken out about the upcoming transfer window, making his feelings clear on the situation the side are currently in: "If I look at the number of players we have it's still a big squad, we definitely do not have not enough players but we also need to make sure that players want to stay here.”
And it seems as though he has already identified one target, with talkSPORT reporting this week that the Red Devils and Arsenal will now compete with Tottenham for the signature of Dusan Vlahovic.
The Fiorentina star has apparently rejected an enormous contract offer from his current employers, practically guaranteeing he will find a new club soon. But should it be Manchester United? We don't think so...
Why not?
There is a big opportunity here to save money and reinvest funds in other positions by nurturing the talents of young rising star, Mason Greenwood.
The 20 year old has already impressed Rangnick, who hailed Greenwood a "massive talent" after the Champions League group game against Young Boys earlier this month.
"He is a massive talent – left foot, right foot, good on the ball. Also the way that he set up the goal for Fred on Sunday, so it’s about continuity," Rangnick said.
“He has to develop physically but technically for his age he is a great player.
“My job is to develop him, to make an athlete out of him and if he manages to do that, he can be become a regular player for this club.”
The German coach has the opportunity to get the best out of Greenwood, who has scored five times for Manchester United and bagged two assists in 17 appearances so far this season - he is only beaten by Cristiano Ronaldo for top goal scorer at the club this term, level on goals with Bruno Fernandes.
When you compare the teenager to potential signing, Vlahovic, of course the Serie A star has more goals with 15 Serie A strikes to his name in 2021/22, but with Greenwood pushed out to the right flank and on 365 minutes less game time, it's hard to imagine he couldn't replicate those numbers if given the chance.
Greenwood offers more than just goal scoring to the side too, with incredible pace that fits Rangnick's pressing style perfectly, whereas Vlahovic plays more of a target man role, something that Ronaldo already covers with ease in the Manchester United system.
Manchester United and Rangnick will have some work to do to get the club back to it's feared stature, something that Greenwood should be a massive part of - perhaps the funds identified for Vlahovic should be set aside for a truly world class defensive midfielder instead.
In other news: Fabrizio Romano provides Edinson Cavani update