How will United line up?

Following the announcement of Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United for £89m, we take a look at how Jose Mourinho’s side could shape up this season…

It was at Mourinho’s first press conference that he outlined where he was looking to strengthen Manchester United. “We made a nucleus of four positions a priority to give a certain balance to the squad and a push in terms of quality that I want,” he explained.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly were already secured. Paul Pogba is now the fourth man, brought back to Old Trafford in a record deal. So with the signings in place, how can we expect Mourinho’s Manchester United to line up?

The 4-2-3-1 formation has been the template for Mourinho in winning each of his last two league titles – in Spain with Real Madrid in 2011/12 and more recently with Chelsea in the Premier League in 2014/15.

Prior to that there was more room for manoeuvre at Inter, in a league that necessitates tactical flexibility, while he favoured a defensively-minded midfield during his first spell at Chelsea. Such a 4-3-3 would appear to be unlikely given the attacking options at United.

The forthright confirmation that Wayne Rooney will remain as captain obliges Mourinho to at least attempt to get him into the same starting line-up as new arrival Ibrahimovic. Assuming one of the two experienced forwards drops in, that makes a 4-2-3-1 probable.

Anthony Martial, who has even switched to the No 11 shirt for the forthcoming campaign, will need to provide pace on the left with the versatile Mkhitaryan most likely to fit in on the right, where he made the majority of his appearance for Borussia Dortmund last …

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