United Interim Manager Ralf Rangnick has had a long and solid career managing in Germany. Lokomativ Moscow was his most recent employer, prior to that he spent a lot of time in the Red Bull set up.
From 2012-219, Rangnick served in the Red Bull system, starting as director of football in 2012 and later managed RB Leipzig in the 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 seasons. A lot of talent has come in and out of the Red Bull system the last few seasons.
He must be aware of some of the current talent in the system obviously and have connections still in that system.
It seems that Bayern Munich have also exploited that connection with Julian Nagglesman, an ex-manager at Leipzig. They have signed Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer, two terrific talents in recent windows.
Those connections could yield United some terrific talent.
8 is a decent sized list, but there is a lot of talent in the system and three teams: Leipzig, Salzburg and New York.
Christopher Nkunku
Nkuku has to be the first player listed. There are plenty of good talents, that will be discussed later but none that look more promising right now than Nkunku.
The French attacking midfielder is currently going through his best form of his career and is easily the best outfield player at Leipzig at the moment. Nkunku has the 13 goals and 6 assists in 19 matches, all competitions.
Nkunku has yet to be called into the French national team. The recently turned 24-year-old plays in a loaded French position, attacking midfielder. Also, like United, attacking midfielder is not a need at the moment.
Nkunku currently is value at around €47mil. A fantastic talent that looks like he will continue to get better. Probably not a fit for United at the moment, but could be playing against United in the Premier League one day.
Nordi Mukiele
Mukiele could be one of the most realistic players on this list that could start for Manchester United right now, slide in the lineup. That has more to do with the recent run of form of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Wan-Bissaska is a great defender. Recently he has had made some big mistakes and there is a consensus that he does not add much going forward, he could be on his way out if he does not grow into Rangnick’s side. I do think Wan-Bissaka could, it is hard to give up on a player that cost so much also.
But, if Mukiele was on the bench, he would get a shot. Even, Alex Telles is getting a shot at left back while Luke Shaw deals with injuries and poor form.
Mukiele has started the last few seasons at RWB/RB for Leipzig. The 24-year-old’s recent form has seen him called up by France. This season, Leipzig have played four at the back, with Mukiele being a more traditional right back, but Leipzig switches it up.
Mukiele likes to get forward and in 84 league appearances he has 8 goals and 6 assists. Decent for a full back, not spectacular. Nordi is a good defender and might not be far away from Wan-Bissaka in that respect, but makes up for it by being better going forward.
Nordi Mukiele is valued at €27.5mil according to Transfermarkt. United could sell Dalot and fund the rest to buy Mukiele.
United need competition for Wan-Bissaka.
Dominik Szoboszlai
The Hungarian Prince. It is unfortunate that Szoboszlai plays in a stacked position at United. Bruno, Jesse Lingard, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek play and could play the 10.
A good amount of players on this list play in that position, but Szoboszlai is young and United could be losing Lingard on a free soon, there could be some space for a younger player.
Szoboszlai could make the bench of any top club in Europe probably and develop into a starter for most. At only 21-years-old the Hungarian is turning heads in the Red Bull system and in Europe.
The Hungarians had a good summer at the Euros, despite Szoboszlai not being pivotal to their success in the summer, he had a decent tournament.
At Leipzig he has fit in well. This season he has 3 goals and assists in 12 league games. A couple of cup goals and a penalty in the Champions League with Neymar in his ear, rounds out his goal contributions for the season so far.
Karim Adayemi
Salzburg have had a great success rate at producing solid forwards lately with the gem being Erling Halaand. Patson Daka and Hwang Hee-chan are playing well for their Premier League Clubs lately.
Adayemi was in the shadows of some of those guys the last couple of seasons, mainly because he is only 19-years-old, but turns 20 at the beginning of the year.
The 20-21 campaign the forward scored 7 goals in 29 games, not bad for being so young and Daka being the main striker. This season he has hit the ground running with 11 goals in 15 matches in the Austrian Bundesliga and 4 goals in 7 Champions League matches.
His form has caught the eye of the German national team. Adayemi netted a goal on his international debut in September against Armenia.
The youngster is from Munich and would likely choose the Bavarians in the long run and they might get a nice deal for that past business with the system. United have a lot of good young talent at forward, but if the price is right for United, you can never have enough talented forwards.
Luka Sucic
The 19-year-old has a nasty left foot. For being as tall as he is (6ft 1in), he has great control with the ball at his feet similar to a Szobalzai, likely a similar career path as the Hungarian.
The Croatian international, one cap, has been turning some heads and rumors are already popping up of teams interested. It is very likely he goes to Leipzig, especially if someone calls knocking for the Hungarian Prince.
AC Milan are interested in the young talent. Still too early to tell, but if he keeps getting games in Salzburg and in Europe, more teams will begin to circle.
United have Bruno Fernandes as an attacking midfielder and if Bruno gets dropped it is not going to be for another attacking midfielder. Plus, Jadon Sancho and even Donny van de Beek can play the 10. Sucic is one to keep an eye on.
The Americans
The American market is getting bigger. Christian Pulisic to Chelsea, Weston Mckennie Juventus and Sergino Dest Barcelona are three of the biggest transfer moves by Americans in football history. Clubs see the opportunity of cashing in on American players.
Those seeds have been planted for awhile with some clubs. Bayern Munich has great relations with FC Dallas. Mckennie came through the FC Dallas academy. Red Bull sporting group has been invested in New York for awhile and a couple of decent players have been produced.
NBC Sports just recently signed a deal with the Premier League to extend their coverage of the league in a deal worth around €2 billion the next 6 years. United could cash in on more on that market.
United have not had an American since Tim Howard.
Tyler Adams
Adams was linked to Arsenal in the summer. Adams plays a RWB/CDM role at Leipzig. In the system he can move to RWB and then transition to CDM depending on the instructions. Similar to things Mykel Arteta likes to do at Arsenal.
Adams is flexible and has done that for a couple of matches with the USMNT under Greg Berhalter. With the USMNT you will see him primarily operate as the 6, shielding the two center backs. The RB role in the USMNT is deep, so he might not be used like that with them going forward, unless an emergency.
United need a 6. Someone who could shield the defense and get the ball out of his feet quick to start counters. Adams is the only American on this list with a serious shot of playing for United because of the need at that position.
Caden Clark
The young American burst onto the scenes in MLS in his debut season, in America rookie season. His season started of hot with a couple of goals.
An appendicitis put him for a bit during the season. His season was ultimately good enough for Leipzig to come calling. American coach Jesse Marsch will get a look at him soon. The season ended recently for NYRB, Clark should be in Germany.
The soon to be 19-year-old has a lot of work to do yet. The attacking midfielder will have to fight for playing time against a lot of talented players at Leipzig in a similar position.
Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson is not at Leipzig like Clark or Adams, but could be soon after a good year at Salzburg and decent performances for the USMNT has the stock of the 21-year-old from New Jersey rising.
Since breaking out for Salzburg and the USMNT in the least year, Aaronson has 34 league appearances with 6 goals and 8 assists. 7 Champions League appearances with 2 goals. In World Cup qualifiers he has 2 goals and appearing in all matches for the USMNT.
Aaronson is fast, really fast. Majority of the time he plays on the left, but can play in the middle also. High work rate offensively and defensively. Not always the focal point in attack, but finds away to insert himself into the game.
Similar to Dan James, but a better crosser and a slightly more precise finisher. At the least he gets his shot on target, but has squandered good opportunities like most players.
Honorable Mentions
Josko Gvaridol, Angelino, Brian Bobbery, Dani Olmo and Noah Okafor.
