Given the riches on offer to Manchester United, as one of the biggest and most decorated clubs on the planet, free agents do not tend to register on their recruitment radar all that often. With some deep pockets boasted at Old Trafford, funds are there to be invested in the best talent available.
Those deals rarely come cheap, with pedigree coming at a considerable cost, but there is plenty to be said for dipping into a bargain bin occasionally. The new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag needs to find value and inspiration from somewhere ahead of his debut campaign at the helm, with the squad he inherited still a work in progress.
What’s Ahead?
Few know what to expect from United in 2022-23, but a Betfair welcome offer that delivers up to £30 in free bets to new customers is available to those that like the look of +125 for a top-four finish or +3300 for the Red Devils to complete a FA Cup and Europa League double.
Fresh faces have been acquired to help aid a quest for major silverware, with one notable addition seeing a Denmark international with prior Premier League experience acquired with no transfer fee required.
Manchester United’s Top Five Free Agents
Christian Eriksen
It remains to be seen whether the Danish playmaker proves to be a hit or miss at the Theatre of Dreams, but his previous exploits at Tottenham, Inter, and Brentford suggest that he represents a shrewd business. Eriksen knows what the English top-flight is all about and boasts the creative qualities to make United tick.
Laurent Blanc
How often do you get the chance to sign a World Cup winner for absolutely nothing? United made the most of a rare opportunity in that department when snapping up Blanc in 2001 following his departure from Inter. The French defender made around 75 appearances across two seasons and won the Premier League title.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The enigmatic Swedish striker found himself looking for a new challenge in 2016 after reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. A reunion with Jose Mourinho was put in place at Old Trafford and Ibrahimovic would score 28 goals during a memorable season in England that delivered three pieces of silverware.
Having enjoyed considerable success with Ibrahimovic, the Red Devils headed down a familiar path in 2020 when plucking Cavani out of a free agent pool that he had surprisingly occupied for some time. Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading goalscorer would go on to hit 17 goals during his debut campaign and 19 in total.
Michael Owen
Given the England international’s strong ties to arch-rivals Liverpool, a move to Manchester in 2009 came as something of a surprise. Owen made no secret of the fact that he was looking to land a Premier League title and, after previously hitting a dramatic derby winner against City, achieved that feat in 2010-11.
United will be hoping that Eriksen proves as productive during his time at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils having shown down the years that you do not need to break the bank in order to land trophy-winning talent.