Who will Mourinho select once Pogba signs?

Manchester United are on the verge of signing Paul Pogba in what will be the most expensive transfer ever seen after an agreement worth �112m was reached with Juventus. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Manchester United are on the verge of signing Paul Pogba in what will be the most expensive transfer ever seen after an agreement worth �112m was reached with Juventus. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Published Jul 30, 2016

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Manchester United are on the verge of signing Paul Pogba in what will be the most expensive transfer ever seen after an agreement worth £112m was reached with Juventus.

After completing the signings of Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan earlier in the transfer window, United manager Jose Mourinho has got his fourth “pivotal” signing that he called when he took the reins at Old Trafford last month.

The question now is how will Pogba slot into United's starting 4-2-3-1 line-up? With a large squad to choose from, Mourinho has a number of selection dilemmas on his hands, although that could be alleviated by the departure of nine fringe players including Bastian Schweinsteiger, as has been suggested.

There are also question marks over Wayne Rooney's role in the team, given the introduction of attacking players like Ibrahimovic and the emergence of Anthony Martial last season.

And with a number of players fighting for the wide positions to flank the lead striker, who will Mourinho give the nod to when he has Mkhitaryan, Martial, Memphis Depay and Juan Mata to choose from among others.

David de Gea

Has been Manchester United's best player for the last four or five seasons and, after having a move to Real Madrid collapse last summer he is now more important than ever. He saved United repeatedly under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal and will hope under Jose Mourinho that there is less to do.

Matteo Darmian

A good player whose first season at Old Trafford was badly affected by injuries, Darmian should improve next year under the guidance of Mourinho. He has played for a similarly prescriptive coach for Italy in Antonio Conte and will provide exactly what Mourinho wants in the role.

Chris Smalling One of United's most improved players under Louis van Gaal, he established a leadership and consistency that he had lacked before. Now he is near the peak of his powers and gives Mourinho someone to build around at the back.

Eric Bailly

The first of Mourinho's summer signings, the £30million man from Villarreal has looked good in preseason already. Will need to adjust to the speed of the Premier League but looks well equipped to do that and form a strong pairing with Smalling.

Luke Shaw

Had his last season ruined by a broken leg against PSV Eindhoven and without him United lacked pace and width down the left. Mourinho will like his competitive attitude and Shaw will surely feature in Sam Allardyce's England squads soon enough.

Morgan Schneiderlin

Mourinho teams always have a midfield anchor, what he calls a 'number 6', and there is no-one better suited to the job at United now than Schneiderlin. Did not play as much as he should have done last year but that should change now.

Paul Pogba

The big issue for Mourinho will be where to fit in the £100million man. There will be times when he plays alongside Schneiderlin in a 4-2-3-1, when United can afford to attack more, and others where he is pushed further up with two midfielders behind him. Finding the perfect platform will be Mourinho's hardest task.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan Not the highest profile summer signing at Old Trafford but a technical wizard who excelled in his three seasons at Borussia Dortmund, which is why Arsenal wanted him too. Likelier to be on the right of a 4-2-3-1, where he will provide creativity and intelligence.

Wayne Rooney

Mourinho said very clearly that Rooney will not play in midfield this season for United, so he will have to partner with Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front. Rooney will likely start as a second striker or number 10, but has a job to prove that he is still sharp enough for the job.

Anthony Martial

Never looked weighed down by his fee last season and showed pace, class and natural calm in front of goal.

Likely to continue on the left this season where he will provide pace on the break, as long as he does the defending Mourinho demands too.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

One final challenge for the big Swede who has won the league everywhere else he has played. Still has incredible strength and skill, even if he will be one of the slower strikers at the top this year. Just needs to find a way to be a focal point for his team-mates. – The Independent

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