The Hard Tackle lists five players Manchester United should scout at the upcoming month-long UEFA Euro 2024.
The much-awaited UEFA Euro 2024 is nearly upon us, with the month-long extravaganza kicking off on Friday. Teams are deep into their preparations for the quadrennial event, and they will hope to leave no stone unturned as they get set to vie for the top prize. However, every club in the world, including Manchester United, will take the tournament as an opportunity to scout players.
The summer transfer window will open midway through UEFA Euro 2024. So, with games coming thick and fast, the talent-spotters will have the opportunity to earn their stripes. That also holds true for Manchester United, especially with the Premier League club making slow progress thus far in the market.
Erik ten Hag’s future remains unresolved, and the new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has made an inauspicious start to his tenure behind the scenes. However, the Red Devils can set the record straight by getting things right in the summer transfer window.
So, the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 presents an opportunity for Manchester United. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists five players the Premier League heavyweights should closely monitor during the highly-anticipated European gala. With the Red Devils scouring the market to bolster multiple positions, we have an array of suggestions, starting with a versatile full-back.
Ferdi Kadioglu
Manchester United will likely delve into the market for a right-back and a left-back in the summer transfer window. And we present them with a one-stop solution to the issues on both flanks. We are talking about Ferdi Kadioglu.
Primarily a left-back, the 24-year-old utility man can play as a right-back and a holding midfielder. That makes him an attractive prospect in the market. So, it is hardly surprising that high-profile clubs like Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Tottenham.
Tyrell Malacia did not play a single game in the 2023/24 season, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford. So, what better way to replace both players than by signing Ferdi Kadioglu? He can give Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot a run for their money. So, he should be on the menu for Manchester United at UEFA Euro 2024.
Lutsharel Geertruida
We continue with another right-back and another versatile full-back. However, this player is primarily a right-sided full-back and can play as a centre-back. So, he can also be a one-stop solution for two positions. We are talking about Lutsharel Geertruida.
Geertruida is one of the most pivotal figures for Feyenoord and played his part in the Dutch club winning the Eredivisie title in the 2022/23 season. Full-backs usually do not make for reliable central defenders. However, Geertruida is not cut from that cloth and can reprise both roles equally adeptly.
So, it is hardly surprising that the 23-year-old is a target for several high-profile clubs, including Liverpool, Tottenham, and Real Madrid. The Red Devils should also consider pursuing the Dutchman, who might not be the first-choice right-back for the Netherlands but has the quality to force his way into the reckoning. In addition, his nine goals and five assists show he can be a productive asset for Manchester United.
Mikel Merino
We move into the midfield picks, starting with one of the best players in La Liga. We are talking about Mikel Merino, who has gone from strength to strength at Real Sociedad while alerting several high-profile clubs across Europe.
The Spaniard is a mainstay in the middle of the park for his club and country. A tough-tackling midfielder, Merino is also imposing in the air and possesses the vision to play line-breaking passes. Those qualities make him an attractive target for Manchester United heading into the summer transfer window.
The 27-year-old is also a target for high-profile clubs like Barcelona and Arsenal. So, the Red Devils must beat stiff competition to sign the Spanish international in the summer transfer window.
Adam Wharton
From a midfielder in his peak years to one whose career has recently taken off, we recommend a player closer to home for Manchester United. We are talking about Adam Wharton, who has taken the Premier League by storm since joining Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers in the winter transfer window.
The young Englishman is still honing his skills, which should not be surprising, considering he is in the early years of his professional career. However, Wharton does a lot of things right, including line-breaking passes, reading the game, and putting in rough tackles.
Signing such a well-rounded midfielder will set Manchester United up for a decade, considering he can pair up with Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park. However, the Red Devils will face stiff competition from several high-profile clubs, including Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
Nico Williams
Our list ends with an attacker who can be a long-term solution in the final third for Manchester United. Unsurprisingly, the said player is another La Liga star. We are talking about Nico Williams. But before we talk about the Spanish international, we should give an honourable mention to Viktor Tsygankov, who should also be on Manchester United’s radar.
Nico Williams is a target for the who’s who of European football, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Liverpool interested in him. That is hardly surprising, considering the 21-year-old is already a mainstay in the final third for his club and country.
The Spanish international has an electric burst of pace, and he possesses mind-boggling vision. Williams’s creativity in the final third should take some burden off Bruno Fernandes’s shoulders. In addition, he has an eye for a goal and should improve that aspect of his game as the years pass. So, Manchester United should aggressively scout the Athletic Club attacker at UEFA Euro 2024.
