How will Manchester United line up?

The signings of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin will transform Manchester United's midfield, but there were other additions.

Memphis Depay's purchase means, in the long term, Ashley Young should be phased out on the left wing, and Matteo Darmian means that Antonio Valencia will now, deservedly, merely be a back-up right-back.

It currently seems as if David de Gea is staying with United, but that could change in a matter of days, with all Real having to do is to meet United's high, but fair, asking price.

United also look likely to add Nicolas Otamendi to the central defence, with Edinson Cavani rumoured to be the striker to replace Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao. James Wilson is expected to step up to be the third-choice striker, having failed to feature prominently last season.

This means that - save for De Gea, and potentially Chris Smalling, United's first choice eleven will feature no Alex Ferguson signings. Wayne Rooney, in comparison to Cavani, has faded so far he is no longer the superior, or even the equal, to the Uruguayan, though one might expect him to line up for much of the season too. Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, and Daley Blind, too, could expect to play much of the season that, United fans will hope, will take in the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League as well as the Premier League.

Potential line up: