How Manchester United could line up next season with three new signings

Whatever happens between now and the end of this season, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future for Manchester United's supporters.

Following the Ineos Group's 27.7 per cent investment in the club last month, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has grand ambitions to make United great again. He has already raided Manchester City for Omar Berrada, wants to appoint Dan Ashworth as the club's inaugural sporting director and dreams of building a brand-new stadium.

On the pitch, he dreams of returning United to their former glories, both domestically and in Europe. For either of those dreams to become a reality, he is going to have to invest in the squad, albeit wisely and sensibly, as he has already pointed out.

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United drew up plans for this summer's transfer window as far back as September, pinpointing the key areas they have ambitions of bolstering. It is understood they identified the right-back spot, centre-back, central midfield and attack as areas that will require fresh blood.

United, of course, have spent lavish amounts of money in recent years, but have often been guilty of not spending it wisely. They have encountered more failures than successes in the transfer window since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.

Ratcliffe has already hinted at the direction he wishes to take United's recruitment, meaning they are expected to try and discover hidden gems and players with resale value. The Reds have spent big on established players in recent years, such as Raphael Varane and Casemiro, and they are both in danger of leaving M16 this forthcoming summer.

Varane is out of