Failed Manchester United bidder Sheikh Jassim was reportedly eyeing a big-money triple deal for three French players if he bought the club. It is reported that had the Qatari royal been successful with his £5billion offer to buy the Premier League club, he would have pumped hundreds of millions into the playing squad to ensure it caught up with their domestic and European rivals.
Express Sport looks at how United might have lined up with the three players he admires…
Goalkeeper: Onana
Despite reports that the Glazers were set to sell United, the siblings still funded a mega £150m summer transfer splurge. The addition of goalkeeper Andre Onana was part of the spending spree, costing around £43m from Inter Milan. It is unlikely that Sheikh Jassim would have sought to improve the goalkeeping department any time soon.
Defenders: Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez’s solid partnership might have prompted Sheikh Jassim to postpone a major renovation of United’s defence. Although injuries have limited the amount of time the duo have spent on the pitch together, it is a centre-back pairing that Erik ten Hag seems to back.
The Glazers funded a loan move for Sergio Reguilon in the summer and that deal could have been made permanent by Sheikh Jassim in the summer. But there were few reports suggesting that the Qatari royal was set to spend big on a new back four.
Midfielders: Casemiro, Camavinga, Mount
According to the report by German publication Bild, a trio of French stars might have arrived at Old Trafford under Sheikh Jassim. The first of those was claimed to be Real Madrid talent Eduardo Camavinga.
The 20-year-old joined Real Madrid in 2021 but there have already been reports of a move. United would have apparently been one of the interested clubs. Camavinga could have lined up alongside Casemiro and either Mason Mount or Bruno Fernandes.
Forwards: Coman, Mbappe, Rashford
Sheikh Jassim was set to give United’s front three a drastic makeover. There would have been no room for Antony, Jadon Sancho or, likely, £72m summer signing Rasmus Hojlund.
Kylian Mbappe was supposedly set to be the headline arrival of the Qatari takeover. A positive relationship with Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatar Sports Investment owners might have helped a transfer take place.
Kingsley Coman, another France international, might also have joined Ten Hag’s squad, the report claims. The pair would have presumably started in a front three alongside Marcus Rashford despite the big-money signing of Hojlund last summer.
