Manchester United have approached this summer's transfer window with serious ambition.
Jadon Sancho's £73million move to Old Trafford has been signed and sealed and Raphael Varane is also through the door from Real Madrid.
United also remain hopeful of securing Kieran Trippier for around £20million — despite Atletico Madrid wanting more — given he is out of contract in the Spanish capital in less than 12 months. Continental interest in Diogo Dalot could mean United go back in the market for Trippier, who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admired for some time, to bring more competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back.
With that in mind, we've taken a look at three different ways in which United could line up with Sancho, Varane and Trippier in the starting XI..
4-2-3-1
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's favoured formation from last season saw Fred and Scott McTominay form an axis at the base of the midfield, with Bruno Fernandes in the No.10 role. Paul Pogba played some of his best football off the left flank earlier in the year, and early this season against Leeds — and that is the most logical position for him in this system.
The right side of this back four is comprised entirely of new signings, with Varane and Trippier lining up, with Sancho ahead of them and Edinson Cavani at the tip of the apex.
4-3-3
It has been heavily reported this season that Solskjaer is eager implement a more attacking 4-3-3 system regularly this season, although that hasn't been the case against Leeds and Southampton.
That would suit Pogba down to the ground, judging by his impressive performances in a similar set-up for France at Euro 2020. Pogba playing centrally and one of Fred or McTominay dropping out allows Marcus Rashford to come in on the left flank.
If they don't sign a new holding midfielder this summer — and it is looking unlikely that they will before the deadline — McTominay probably just edges Fred as the more capable lone anchor, although the Brazilian shouldn't be discounted following an impressive Copa America showing with Brazil.
3-4-3
This is the formation that Solskjaer favours when he wants his team to play on the counter-attack.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has the defensive nous to operate, or least be trialled, in a back three, with Trippier and Shaw as the wing-backs. Victor Lindelof could always play as the third centre-back.
This formation sees a return of the McTominay-Fred pivot, with Fernandes in behind a pacy pairing of Mason Greenwood and Rashford, although it leaves out Sancho, Pogba and Cavani.
