Sancho returns and Zirkzee joins

The Manchester Evening News has predicted Manchester United's possible starting lineup for next season, which includes Jadon Sancho, Joshua Zirkzee, and Matthijs de Ligt, among others. Head coach Erik ten Hag was awarded a contract extension at the end of last season, and the club is currently looking to bring in new players. Zirkzee is seen as a promising player who will compete with Højlund for a starting spot. United fans are optimistic about the upcoming season, hoping to secure a Champions League spot and win domestic trophies.

Ten Hag's team finished last season in a record low eighth place, but their FA Cup victory against Manchester City saved him from scrutiny at Old Trafford, and his contract was extended by a year. Reports suggest that Manchester United will announce the signing of Dutch international Zirkzee in the coming days, with a transfer fee of £36 million. Jim Ratcliffe aims to provide Ten Hag with a squad capable of competing for the title.

Zirkzee is already regarded as a promising player, but he truly came into his own this season at Bologna. He is a traditional center forward and will compete with Højlund, who had an impressive first season in England. Statistically, Zirkzee slightly outperformed Højlund last season.

After resolving a dispute with Ten Hag, Sancho has returned to Manchester United for preseason training. This dispute led to his loan move to Borussia Dortmund, where he performed well during their run to the Champions League final. The 24-year-old looked confident in the latter half of last season, nearly returning to his best form. However, he hasn't played for Manchester United since August 26, 2023.

United confirmed this in a statement on Friday, saying: "Sancho returned on Wednesday for testing after his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund last season. The 24-year-old forward trained with the team on Thursday." United will travel to Norway next week, but according to the Manchester Evening News, Sancho will not participate in the preseason matches.

Sancho primarily plays on the left wing, and after a difficult season, Garnacho has become Ten Hag's first choice, but Sancho can also play on the right flank, where Amad Diallo and Antony primarily play. Despite scoring the crucial winning goal in the FA Cup match against Liverpool, Amad's form has been inconsistent, and Antony has also struggled to find form after scoring in the same match. If Sancho can integrate positively with the first team during preseason, he has a strong chance of becoming a key part of United's starting lineup next season.

The club has several other targets, with center-back being the most notable. United has shown interest in De Ligt and Branthwaite. Everton has already rejected two bids from United, while the deal for De Ligt looks more likely to go through.

The addition of a top center-back, along with the return to fitness of Luke Shaw and the continued strong performances of Bruno Fernandes, combined with the presence of Sancho and Zirkzee, gives United fans reason for optimism. Next season, they will aim to secure at least a Champions League spot and hope to win domestic trophies.

This means United's possible starting lineup for next season could be: Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Lisandro Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Mejbri; Garnacho, Zirkzee, Sancho.